Radio Appearances

Author Beth Finke with Hanni, her guide dog.

Beth Finke is a regular contributor to Chicago Public Radio's 848, and a commentator on National Public Radio's Morning Edition. The links below go to a sampling of her past radio pieces. You'll need Real Audio to listen.

National Public Radio, Morning Edition Commentaries

• Christopher Reeve's Legacy for the Disabled
  Just after the actor and activist's death, NPR aired Beth's essay on why people with disabilities had special reason to mourn.

• My Seeing Eye Dog
  On the 75th anniversary of the Seeing Eye guide dog school, NPR ran an audio demonstration of what makes guide dogs so special.

• Group Home
  In this essay, Finke talks about placing her developmentally disabled son in a faraway facility. Originally aired January 6, 2003. Approximately three minutes.


• Blind Fashion
  On what it's like to pick out clothing when you can't see. Originally aired June 11, 2002. Approximately three minutes.

Chicago Public Radio, Eight Forty-Eight
848 is Chicago Public Radio's morning magazine program hosted by Steve Edwards.

• A Love of the Theatre
  A personal essay on the writer's appreciation of Chicago theatre. December 2, 2005.
• Go Go White Sox
  Beth shares stories of her love of the White Sox in the wake of their 2005 World Series sweep. October 26, 2005.
  
• Pride of the South Side
  Why the White Sox are Chicago's team. October 14, 2005.
  
• Jaywalking
  Beth urges Mayor Daley to reconsider his plan to curb jaywalking. October 7, 2005.
  
• The Sensory Pleasures of New Orleans
  Recollections of the sounds, tastes and smells of the Big Easy. September 16, 2005.
  
• Listening to Toulouse Lautrec
  Beth takes an audio tour of the Art Institute of Chicago's exhibition, Toulouse-Lautrec and Montmartre. September 9, 2005.
  
• Learning to Sail
  Beth takes a sailing lesson designed for the blind. May 25, 2005.
  
• Blind Services Association Forced to Move
  An organization that provides indispensable services to the blind is forced to move. May 3, 2005.
  
• Blind Justice
  Beth weighs in on a new TV series about a blind cop. March 9, 2005.
  
• Teaching Seniors How to Write
  On teaching a memoir class to people with a lot to write about.
  
• A Day in the Life of Sox Park
  A very special tour of the home of U.S. Cellular Field, home of the White Sox. August 30, 2004 .
• Getting A Taxi with a Seeing Eye Dog
  A good cabbie makes all the difference. Scroll to June 23, 2004.
• Stem Cell Research in Illinois
  Commentary on the ongoing debate. June 21, 2004 .
• Geraldine Lawhorn—Trailblazer for Blind and Deaf Students
  A talk with Geraldine Lawhorn, the first African-American blind and deaf woman to graduate from college, as Lawhorn prepared to deliver the 2004 commencement address at the Hadley School for the Blind. The 88-year-old Lawhorn teaches poetry at the school in north suburban Winnetka . June 17, 2004 .
• Seeing Eye Dog: 75th Anniversary
  Think guide dogs read traffic signals? Think again. Steve Edwards follows Beth and her guide dog Hanni around Chicago's South Loop. In the process, he provides a superb primer on how human-canine teams work. January 28, 2004 .
• Interview
  Beth talks with Steve Edwards about writing "Long Time, No See." Originally aired September 4, 2003. Approximately 20 minutes.

Minnesota Public Radio, Midmorning
Beth appeared on MPR's daily interview/call-in show on June 23, 2003. Approximately one hour.

WILL-AM, Focus 580
WILL is the public broadcasting service of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Focus 580 host David Inge talked with Beth and her husband about the book, and took callers' questions. Originally aired April 4, 2003. Approximately one hour.