Cultural Heritage

Delve into the rich tapestry of humanity’s cultural heritage, encompassing arts, history, and beyond.

With over 3,800 distinct cultures worldwide, as cataloged by anthropologists and recorded in Price’s Atlas of Ethnographic Societies—a number potentially underestimated—we can only begin to fathom the profound influence of these myriad cultural legacies across the globe.

Cultural heritage, as defined by Wikipedia, comprises the tangible and intangible assets inherited by a society from past generations. Not all remnants of the past qualify as “heritage”; rather, heritage emerges through societal selection.

This expansive term encompasses a vast array of elements, including customs, beliefs, rituals, arts, music, and more, shaping culture and behavior. It extends to practices related to the natural environment, religious and scientific traditions, language, cuisine, and even cyber cultures in the digital realm. Emerging cultures of the present are poised to become the heritage of the future.

Below, discover a diverse array of cultural heritage assets, ranging from the architectural influences of Indigenous communities to the impact on fashion, cuisine, and beyond. These narratives also shed light on historical events, viewed through the lens of contemporary society.

  • A far cry from sunset

    A far cry from sunset Can 4 friends travel through 5 countries on two continents to get 10 major music artists to appear on a tribute album to 1 unknown songwriter?  That is the question we'll have answered with today’s Book Club reading, A Far Cry From Sunset. The unknown songwriter is our book’s author, Billy Franks. The first chapter has Billy admitting that he is a man whose dreams didn’t come true. The latter chapters describe a verbal altercation with singer Bryan Adams and everything in between offers a cross between science fiction, suspense, and comedy relief.  Did Billy Frank and his friends achieve their goal or did they realize unexpected dreams?  Tune in to hear the answer to this question and others like: When did Billy Frank's lifelong friendship with Prince Harry begin?  Did Billy Frank and his friends actually steal from Led Zeppelin? What was the biggest [...]

  • Mexico.mayan architecture

    Today we’ll embark on an around the world race with skipper Donald Lawson, we’ll journey among the people of the rainforest with Maya Roads author Mary Jo McConahay.

  • CI cover2

    ou may know actress/singer Gloria Loring from her character Liz Chandler on the soap opera Days of Our Lives, or as the singer in the number-one hit song "Friends and Lovers" or as the mother of singer Robin Thicke. 

  • CI cover2

    You may know actress/singer Gloria Loring from her character Liz Chandler on the soap opera Days of Our Lives, or as the singer in the number-one hit song "Friends and Lovers" or as the mother of singer Robin Thicke.  But what you may not know is that Gloria has wrestled with real-life dramas throughout her life.  Her oldest child was diagnosed with a chronic illness, she struggled through an unraveling marriage and faced countless professional challenges.  But Gloria Loring also experienced the saving grace of timely coincidences.  Today's Book Club reading "Coincidence is God's Way of Remaining Anonymous" is a detailed account of Gloria Loring's compelling life's journey and her exploration of the mystery of divine intervention.  Gloria Loring experienced many 'accidental miracles' that occurred at just the right time.  One example was her discovery of a business card with the words "expect a miracle" that someone or something placed [...]

  • Champagne.FoodandWineFesitval

    Every year Sarasota, Florida hosts its annual Forks and Corks Food And Wine Festival, featuring wines, vineyards, and wineries from France, New Zealand, Argentina, Italy, California and Washington state, and the city's finest cuisine from Mexican fare to locally sourced farm delights.

  • Boats at Tobago Cays 0

    Photo:  Tonya Fitzpatrick This World Footprints show will journey to the Grenadines and unlock the mysteries of the sea in a way few seldom see or experience.  The Grenadines are a haven for scuba divers, some of the world’s most spectacular aquatic scenery and much more.  Our first stop takes us to Bequia (pronounced Beck-way), the largest of the Grenadines.  Fresh from a dive at Devils Table with her dive buddy Cathy Sachs of Dive Bequia, Tonya and Cathy will recount their dive and why Bequia offers an unusual diving experience.  Cathy will also share how this island has changed her life. Then we’ll visit Bequia’s Park Bay, home to the Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary, where a native retired skin-diving fisherman affectionately known as “Brother King”, has spent  more than a decade of his life to helping to conserve the endangered hawksbill turtle.  Brother King and his helpers monitor the [...]

  • Baltimore Grand Prix 1

    Ladies and Gentlemen…Start Your Engines!  That was the start command heard during the inaugural IZOD Indycar Baltimore Grand Prix. World Footprints went behind the scenes into Pit Row and trackside to bring interviews with racing icons Roger Penske and Chip Ganassi and Baltimore Grand Prix winner Will Power, a Team Penske member. 

  • Encore.Road2Freedom.4.13.10 0

    World Footprints will travel along The Road To Freedom with author and former civil rights activist Charlie Cobb as he introduces us to the places of the movement and the personalities who made those places historically relevant. His book titled " On the Road to Freedom " gives a guided tour of the Civil Rights Trail. Then meet fellow travelers Scott Hartblay and Christine Bischoff as they recount their independent journeys along the civil rights trail through Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana. 

  • London Olympics.tower bridge pixabay

    In March 2012, Washington, DC celebrated its 20th anniversary of the Environmental Film Festival.  This Environmental film festival has become one of the world’s largest and most influential showcases of environmental films. The Environmental Festival presents a diverse selection of high quality environmental films, including many national and world premieres.  Executive Director Peter O’Brien shares with World Footprints audiences what this year’s festival holds. The Environmental Film Festival aims to connect students to the environment through educational film programming and interactive learning experiences. The Fest presents more than 150 films to an audience of over 33,000.  Often combined with thematic discussions and social events, our films screen at museums, embassies, libraries, universities and local theaters. Many of the screenings are free, and all are open to the public. Becoming a world-class athlete takes enormous determination, courage and faith. Anjali Forber-Pratt has all of those characteristics and more.  She is a [...]

  • ghandi statue

    This broadcast is a favorite legacy show that we produced under our old name Travel'n On and before rebranding as WORLD FOOTPRINTS. Rajmohan Gandhi grandson of Mahatma Gandhi will share his views on various topics. Travel'n On listeners will discover the beautiful country of Israel with Arie Sommer, Israel Tourism Commissioner with the Israel Ministry of Tourism. Then Tonya & Ian will share the recording of a recent Town Hall meeting they facilitated for their good friend Rajmohan Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi. Rajmohan will share his thoughts about current world events, his grandfathers legacy and his role as the new president of Initiatives of Change (IOC). Author of more than a dozen books, Rajmohan Gandhi is a historian and biographer involved in efforts for trust-building and reconciliation. He has served as a Research Professor at the College of Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. From 1997 to 2012, he [...]

  • bayou

    This broadcast is a favorite legacy show that we produced under our old name Travel'n On and before re-branding as WORLD FOOTPRINTS. Let's go to Northern Louisiana. Travel "Louisiana's Other Side" with Tonya & Ian as they take you to the northern parts of the State. First stop: a journey through Webster Parish and the Dorcheat Museum. Then Pro Bass Angler Homer Humphreys, the pride of Webster Parish, will regal you with countless stories about life on the Bayou and his encounters with Donald Trump and Tina Turner. Finally, you’ll walk through the Ford Museum in Homer, LA and discover how the museum is helping to preserve the history and culture of the North Louisiana Hill Country. The mission statement of the Dorcheat Historical Association & Museum, Inc. is to establish and promote a strong sense of community pride by preserving our past for our future generations. We will make [...]

  • guitar. musician

    This broadcast is a favorite legacy show that we produced under our old name Travel'n On and before rebranding as WORLD FOOTPRINTS. Let us take you through Washington DCs Duke Ellington Jazz Festival Your Traveling enthusiasts continue their destination music series with two men who have seen the world through and because of their music. Folk recording artist Willy Porter tells us all about some the unique music venues he has played at during his travels. Then, legendary Jazz manager and producer Charles Fishman, founder and executive producer of Washington DCs Duke Ellington Jazz Festival, shares some tales from the road from his travels with Dizzy Gillespie.