Tell Me More

The Barbershop guys discuss the mania surrounding NBA player Jeremy Lin, and the controversial decision by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to fly flags at half-staff to honor Whitney Houston. Host Michel Martin hears from journalist Jimi Izrael, civil rights attorney Arsalan Iftikhar, sports reporter Pablo Torre and columnist Mario Loyola.

The labor market is improving, but Friday's consumer price index news shows that workers' paychecks are not keeping up with limited inflation. Hundreds of people visited NPR's Facebook page to comment on whether things are really getting better. Host Michel Martin and NPR Senior Business Editor Marilyn Geewax sift through the stats and comments.

Love InshAllah features personal essays from 25 women of different backgrounds and circumstances. Fans of love stories are curious and fascinated, but critics say the collection is salacious and sensational. Host Michel Martin and the book's contributing editor Ayesha Mattu discuss these stories of faith, love and the will to open up.

Former model B. Smith now has a growing brand that celebrates her love of Southern cuisine, including restaurants, cookbooks, home goods and wine. As part of Tell Me More's series, 'In Your Ear,' B. Smith offers up the playlist she listens to in her kitchen.

For the last decade, the 26-member choir has captivated audiences including Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela. Their blend of high energy, languages and musical traditions has won them numerous awards and a loyal fan base. They're now on a 43-city North American tour, and they stopped by for a performance chat with host Michel Martin.

International pressure is building on Iran. On Wednesday, Iranian leaders claimed they made strides in their nuclear program and threatened to stop supplying oil to six European countries. Host Michel Martin hears what people inside the country think about the tensions. She speaks with writer Hooman Majd and human rights activist Sussan Tahmasebi.

Mark Whitaker's family memoir, My Long Trip Home chronicles his upbringing in an interracial family, and his parents' struggles with personal demons and the weight of history. As part of Tell Me More's Black History Month series on memoirs, host Michel Martin speaks with Whitaker.

Yesterday, some singles saw Valentine's balloons and heart shaped boxes as reminders of the single life. With more Americans flying solo, how important is it to find "the one"? That's the question Ellen McCarthy set out to answer in a piece for The Washington Post Magazine. Host Michel Martin speaks with McCarthy and author Bella DePaulo.

The recent Chinese New Year marked the start of the Year of the Dragon. Children born this year, according to the Chinese zodiac, are supposed to be smarter, stronger and more successful. That's why some Asian American parents are pulling out all the stops to get pregnant. Host Michel Martin speaks with Los Angeles Times reporter Rosanna Xia.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is perhaps one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He recently added another chapter to his storied career when he was named U.S. Cultural Ambassador by the State Department. Host Michel Martin speaks with the author and hall-of-famer.