Goats and Soda

editor's note

Clockwise from top left: Claire Harbage/NPR; Danielle Villasana for NPR; Muntaka Chasant for Fondation Carmignac; Garry DeLong/Science Source

Dear readers,

Can I start my note with a humble brag? This week a reader wrote us: "You gather and report stories I don't read anywhere else. No judgment, both sides and factual."

That's been a goal since Goats and Soda began 10 years ago. We are grateful for comments from readers who enjoy our stories -- as well as from folks who raise concerns. Yeah, no one likes to be told they've fallen short. But your honest critiques of our work help us do our job better.

As we prepared our a roundup of our best of 2024 stories I was struck by the range of topics. We wrote about a worrisome new virus called Oropouche. We profiled a 14-year-old Sudanese refugee who's the sole caretaker for his 5-year-old twin brothers. We talked to Latino families about how they teach siblings to be nice to each other. And we had a blast watching -- and learning from -- Bolivian women skateboarders who visited Washington, D.C., this summer.

Our mission is to "cover stories of life in a changing world." We'll continue to do so in the year ahead. We hope you continue to share your views -- praise (of course) but also critiques. And suggestions. We're always glad to get a story pitch! Write to us at goatsandsoda@npr.org

Our newsletter will take the next week off. But we'll have plenty of stories in the remainder of December -- a look back at articles that made us grin, a profile of one of the countries that wiped out a disease in 2024 (spoiler alert: trachoma in Pakistan), top global TikToks and more.

Best wishes for a good new year.

Marc Silver,
Editor, Goats and Soda

in the news

Ted Aljibe//AFP via Getty Images

HIV is spiking in new hot spots. Here's what's being done to control it
Sub-Saharan Africa has been the epicenter for years but now the virus is rearing its head elsewhere. What's the cause? And the solution?

Genital herpes is a 'forgotten' virus. But that doesn't mean it's gone away.
Over 800 million people have genital herpes — and in many cases the virus can flare up over a person's lifetime, causing painful symptoms. So why doesn't the world pay more attention?

food

Maya Levin for NPR

This cookbook is unlike any other from India. Pass the honeycomb, please!
In Dalit Kitchens of Marathwada, Shahu Patole pays tribute to a cuisine that has long been considered not worthy of documentation. We interviewed Patole — and share some of his recipes.

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links we like

NPR reports: "Bird flu update: California declares emergency and U.S. sees 1st severe human case"
Here are NPR's "don't miss podcasts" from 2024.
Nigeria's twin Lijadu Sisters revolutionized the male-dominated music scene in the 1970s. Now their music is being revived, reports The Guardian: They sang in "their native Yoruba language" and "tackl[ed] themes such as social justice, corruption, poverty, women’s rights and romance."

What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: goatsandsoda@npr.org

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