'Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour' is currently the top grossing live show in North America. The Cirque du Soleil production earned more than $79 million dollars the first half of this year alone. But it's pretty easy to be the hottest ticket in town when your primary focus is the King of Pop. Host Michel Martin speaks with the show's artistic director Tara Young about the concert-like, acrobatics-infused tribute to Michael Jackson.
As the 19th International AIDS Conference continues in Washington D.C., Tell Me More looks at the epidemic in Africa. More than 5 million people are living with AIDS in South Africa — more than in any other country. But Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi, health minister of South Africa, says things may be changing for the better. He's in town for the conference, and he speaks with host Michel Martin about how changing attitudes towards testing and medicine are easing the country's staggering epidemic.
The Beauty Shop ladies weigh in on the passing of astronaut Sally Ride and why her death has become a political issue. They also discuss the shootings in Aurora, Colorado. Host Michel Martin checks in with blogger Viviana Hurtado, editors Bridget Johnson and Danielle Belton and Deepa Iyer of South Asian Americans Leading Together.
In the early years of HIV and AIDS, Haiti was considered an epicenter of the epidemic. As dignitaries from around the world meet for the 19th International AIDS Conference, host Michel Martin speaks to Haiti's First Lady Sophia Martelly about the Caribbean island's progress against the epidemic and challenges that persist.
The President of Ghana unexpectedly died Tuesday, and Ghana's former Vice-President John Dramani Mahama has been sworn in as the country's new leader. The peaceful transition is in contrast to past coups and political problems. Host Michel Martin recently spoke to Dramani Mahama about the Ghana's turmoil, which he details in his new autobiography My First Coup D'Etat.
Actor Sherman Hemsley was best known for his role as George Jefferson on the hit sitcom The Jeffersons. He died Wednesday at the age of 74. Host Michel Martin speaks with Tampa Bay Times media critic Eric Deggans about the actor's career and the impact his roles had on TV and in our culture.
Last week's movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado is raising questions about America's gun laws and gun culture. Host Michel Martin speaks with Paul Barrett, author of the book, "Glock: The Rise of America's Guns." They discuss whether this mass shooting has the potential to change public opinion and laws about guns in the United States.
America's first woman in space inspired thousands of women and girls. Astronaut Sally Ride died Monday of pancreatic cancer. For more on Ride's life and legacy, host Michel Martin speaks with Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic American woman astronaut; and retired Air Force Colonel Pamela Melroy, a former NASA astronaut and the second woman to command a shuttle mission.
Sydney Leroux has been called one of the most dangerous forwards at her level. This year, she has played in nine games and scored seven goals — five in one game. Host Michel Martin speaks with Leroux about her passion for soccer and her hopes for the Olympics.
Yahoo's next CEO Marissa Mayer sparked a debate on maternity leave after she said she plans to return to work shortly after giving birth. Host Michel Martin discusses this issue with regular moms contributors Leslie Morgan Steiner and Jolene Ivey. She's also joined by Sharon Lerner, author of The War on Moms: On Life in a Family-Unfriendly Nation.
For many people of African descent, a lack of registry information and genetic diversity make bone marrow matches tough to find. Lawyer and Winter Olympic hopeful Seun Adebiyi made his battle with leukemia a quest for more donors and better registries in African countries.
Host Michel Martin discusses HIV and AIDS within the Latino community in the United States with Jesus Aguais of AID for AIDS International, which promotes prevention and treatment for Latin American patients. Also, Alicia Wilson, the Executive Director of La Clinica del Pueblo.
Last week's rampage at a Colorado movie theater has left many looking for answers about how people can commit such deadly acts of violence. Host Michel Martin speaks with Dave Cullen, journalist and author of Columbine, and psychiatrist Dr. Carl Bell about what we conclusions we should be careful not to draw in the aftermath of the Colorado shooting.
Getting politicians to talk about their past and most vulnerable moments is a difficult task. But one man has managed to get more than 60 prominent politicians to talk about their first campaigns. Host Michel Martin speaks with Columbia University oral historian Jeffrey Brodsky, who wrote about this project for the Washington Post Magazine.
The NCAA laid out severe penalties against Penn State University today - in light of a child rape scandal. The school's football team has been banned from post-season play, docked scholarships, fined heavily, and stripped of past victories. Michel Martin discusses the penalties with Sports Illustrated's Pablo Torre.