KERA's Think
Think is a daily, topic-driven interview and call-in program hosted by Krys Boyd covering a wide variety of topics ranging from history, politics, current events, science, technology and emerging trends to food and wine, travel, adventure, and entertainment.
Tue, March 25, 2025
The power of shame in human rights
For human rights organizations dealing with oppressive governments, sometimes humiliating them on the world stage actually gets things done. Kenneth Roth, former executive director of Human Rights Watch, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss his organization’s tactic of “naming and shaming” countries that violate human rights and why Americans are sometimes blind to the lessening of freedoms and dignity around the world. His book is “Righting Wrongs: Three Decades on the Front Lines Battling Abusive Governments.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Mon, March 24, 2025
The liberal case for limiting immigration
Denmark is known as a progressive bastion in a right-moving Europe – and its leadership is making the case that restricting immigration is the path to maintaining its liberal society. David Leonhardt is an editorial director at The New York Times. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss Denmark’s Center-Left party, which argues that restraining immigration and demanding immigrants assimilate quickly is the only way the country can continue to provide its generous social programs. And we’ll hear if U.S. Democratic Party leaders are taking note. His article is “In an Age of Right-Wing Populism, Why Are Denmark’s Liberals Winning? ” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Fri, March 21, 2025
Is your brand the same as your identity?
Rebekah Taussig has chronicled her life in a wheelchair – a rewarding experienced that has also proved limiting. Taussig is the author of “Sitting Pretty: The View From My Ordinary Resilient Disabled Body,” and she joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why, while she’s a champion of disability rights, she worries this has pigeonholed her when she wants to explore so many other topics and possibilities. Her article “I’m a Disabled Woman. Is That My Brand?” was published in Time magazine. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Thu, March 20, 2025
How people get skipped for organ transplant
Close to 100,000 people will wait for a donated kidney this year – and 1 in 5 perfectly healthy candidates will be passed over. Brian M. Rosenthal is an investigative reporter at The New York Times. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the problems with the system of organ donation, why healthy matches are routinely skipped and what can be done to fix a broken process. His article is “Organ Transplant System ‘In Chaos’ as Waiting Lists Are Ignored.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Wed, March 19, 2025
The visa process is absurd
Legally immigrating to the United States involves red tape, legalese, mounds of paperwork, money and a lot of finger crossing. Felipe Torres Medina is a Peabody and Writers Guild of America Award–winning writer for “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss his seemingly impossible journey to obtain a green card, why navigating the system can feel Kafkaesque, and what a proposed option for the rich to buy their citizenship could mean for the American Dream. His book is “America, Let Me In: A Choose Your Immigration Story. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Tue, March 18, 2025
Why measles keeps this doctor awake at night
The measles outbreak in West Texas is a harbinger for a very real public health threat America currently faces. Dr. Adam Ratner is a pediatric infectious diseases physician in New York City, and he joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the return of measles, what it does to the body — especially in young children — what it took to develop the very safe and effective vaccine we have today and what it means that vaccine hesitancy rates are rising. His book is “Booster Shots: The Urgent Lessons of Measles and the Uncertain Future of Children’s Health.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Mon, March 17, 2025
Who gets treated as ‘disposable’ in America
Five years after the Covid pandemic gripped the nation, it’s time to reflect on how socioeconomic status determined life or death. Sarah Jones, senior writer for New York magazine, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the cracks in the social fabric that Covid revealed, why denialism of the illness proved to be so devastating and the death of her own grandfather from the disease. Her book is “Disposable: America’s Contempt for the Underclass.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Fri, March 14, 2025
How Pope Francis changed the Church
Pope Francis has been recently hospitalized with respiratory problems, and now Catholics worldwide watch for news from the Vatican. Christopher White is the Vatican correspondent for National Catholic Register, and he joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the current pontiff’s health and history – and what being the first pope from Latin America means for his legacy and the church going forward. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Thu, March 13, 2025
When moving day was an American holiday
Americans were once encouraged to “Go West, young man.” Now, people are increasingly sticking to their own, familiar neighborhoods. Yoni Applebaum is deputy executive editor of The Atlantic and author of “Stuck: How the Privileged and the Propertied Broke the Engine of American Opportunity.” He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how a decline in geographic mobility has reshaped the last 50 years – and his theory that it’s affecting our nation’s ingenuity and prosperity. His Atlantic companion piece is “Stuck in Place.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Wed, March 12, 2025
Eureka! How your brain figures it out
“By Jove, I think I’ve got it!” A-ha moments can feel electrifying, but where do these bursts of insight come from? John Kounios is professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences and director of the Creativity Research Lab at Drexel University. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss what scientists understand about how the brain solves problems – and how we might tap into this phenomenon more often. His article “The Brain Science of Elusive ‘Aha! Moments’” was published in Scientific American. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Tue, March 11, 2025
What’s your conflict style?
If you’ve achieved a managerial position at work, that also means you’ve unlocked a whole new world of dealing with interpersonal conflict. Jim Guinn is president of the Resolution Resource Group, a training and development company. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how managers spend the equivalent of one full workday a week managing team problems and his plan for identifying stressors before they get out of hand. His book, written with co-author John Eliot, is “How to Get Along with Anyone: The Playbook for Predicting and Preventing Conflict at Work and at Home.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Mon, March 10, 2025
There’s no perfect substitute for human blood
Life-saving advancements have come a long way, but engineering artificial blood has been a challenge. Nicola Twilley is a New Yorker contributor and co-host of the podcast Gastropod. She talks to Krys Boyd about the breakthroughs — and setbacks — in the quest for artificial blood, why it’s needed more than ever, and why eyes are on Big Pharma to finance it. Her article is “The Long Quest for Artificial Blood.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Fri, March 07, 2025
Will DOGE really kill the bureaucracy?
President Trump has focused much of his first two months in office on slashing the federal bureaucracy – an effort that has already been met with lawsuits and protests. Andrew Cockburn is Washington editor of Harper’s Magazine, and he joins us to talk about why reigning in federal agencies has been a challenge for previous administrations – and if the Department of Government Efficiency has figured out how to do it. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Thu, March 06, 2025
A scientific guide to a better brain
The brain operates all of our thoughts, feelings and movements — and it also helps us adjust to a rapidly changing environment. This hour, host Krys Boyd is joined by three guests who will explain how we can regain our ability to focus and tame our overactive minds – plus we’ll learn all about the growing research into the many ways listening to music benefits our brains. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Wed, March 05, 2025
The link between gun violence and family violence
Gun violence reduction programs are often run by men and targeted to men. Meanwhile, Black women who are victims of domestic violence often are ignored. Abené Clayton is a reporter for the Guardian’s Guns and Lies in America project. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why Black women are especially vulnerable to gun violence and community violence, why root causes aren’t being addressed, and why the outreach programs that do exist are ineffective. Her article is “Two women make sense of a lifetime of abuse and gun violence: ‘How did I get here?’” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Tue, March 04, 2025
Why guys are still paying for dinner
Traditionally, men paid for dinner on dates and women just said, “thank you.” Today, however, lots more ladies are flush with cash and ready to spend. Certified clinical sexologist and dating coach Myisha Battle joins host Krys Boyd to discuss courtship in the modern world: who pays for what and why – and how the rise in women’s paychecks is upending dating norms. Her Time magazine article is “The Dating Wealth Gap Is Getting Wider.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Mon, March 03, 2025
Is recycling a waste?
Journalist and author Alexander Clapp joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the countries that take our trash — and the ones that don’t — how much of what’s deemed recyclable actually gets made into something new and how we’re actually producing less trash today than a few decades ago. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Fri, February 28, 2025
Would Trump give Ukraine to Russia?
President Trump has directed Secretary of State Marc Rubio to negotiate a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine without Ukraine at the table. U.S. Army Lt. Col. (retired) Alexander Vindman was the director for European Affairs on the White House’s National Security Council, former Political-Military Affairs Officer for Russia and diplomat at the American Embassies in Moscow and Kyiv. He is also a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Institute and leads the Here Right Matters Foundation organization, which focuses on helping Ukraine win the war against Russia. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why he believes U.S. policy towards Russia has only emboldened Vladimir Putin and how tenants of liberal democracy might right the ship moving forward. His book is “The Folly of Realism: How the West Deceived Itself About Russia and Betrayed Ukraine.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Thu, February 27, 2025
Do we really need the Dept. of Education?
The Trump White House has its sights set on reducing the size of government, including a proposal to dismantle the Department of Education. Rick Seltzer writes the Daily Briefing newsletter at The Chronicle of Higher Education. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss what the Department of Education does on a daily basis, which services might lapse in its absence, and the response from educators across the country over the possibility of shuttering the department. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Wed, February 26, 2025
ARCHIEVE: How to survive your grief
We’ve all heard of “the five stages of grief;” problem is, they’re not based on solid science. Lucy Hone, director of the New Zealand Institute of Wellbeing & Resilience, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why grieving looks different than what we’ve been taught previously and strategies for finding your way back to hope and normalcy. Her book is “Resilient Grieving: How to Find Your Way Through a Devastating Loss (Finding Strength and Embracing Life After a Loss that Changes Everything). ” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Tue, February 25, 2025
The uncertain future of DEI
Corporations embraced D.E.I. efforts after George Floyd’s murder, and now we’re seeing an about-face. Pavithra Moha, staff writer for Fast Company’s Work Life section, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the backtrack of corporate D.E.I. efforts, how President Trump’s directives have cooled or eliminated programs put in place to attract or retain historically marginalized workers, and what employees think of shifting workplace values. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Mon, February 24, 2025
Can God speak through A.I?
The mysteries of spirituality have been with us since the dawn of man — could A.I. help us to better think through some of life’s biggest questions? New York Times reporter Eli Tan joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how religious leaders are experimenting with artificial intelligence, asking questions and even generating sermons, and how this might connect with modern audiences searching for answers. His article is, “ At the intersection of A.I. and spirituality. ” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Fri, February 21, 2025
Breaking down the first month of Trump 2.0
President Trump signed more than 50 executive orders on his first day in office —the contents of which are already fundamentally changing the federal government. David E. Lewis is the Rebecca Webb Wilson University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Political Science at Vanderbilt University. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss Trump’s first month in office, from tariffs to foreign policy, domestic actions to DOGE, and what it all means to the American people so far. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Thu, February 20, 2025
The wisdom of dogs
A dog chasing a squirrel is the most wholesome thing; maybe we could learn a lesson from our pups about what happiness looks like. Mark Rowlands, professor and chair of the philosophy department at the University of Miami, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss what he’s learned from observing his dog, Shadow, from microlessons in morality to understanding the temporal nature of life itself. His book is “The Word of Dog: What Our Canine Companions Can Teach Us About Living a Good Life.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Wed, February 19, 2025
Trumponomics and the price of eggs
From egg prices to tariffs, a strong job market and stubborn inflation, this economy is hard to wrap your head around — but we’ll give it a try. Rogé Karma, staff writer at The Atlantic, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the many swirling factors that go into taking a bird’s eye view of the current economy, including what looks promising and what leaves economists in doubt. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Tue, February 18, 2025
The cost of writing about Black trauma
When perusing a career in writing, author Chad Sanders didn’t fully anticipate the personal cost of writing about Black pain. The screenwriter, public speaker and host of the Yearbook podcast, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss what he learned about being a Black writer for audiences hungry for stories about race and racism, and the unexpected toll that took on him emotionally. His book is “How to Sell Out: The (Hidden) Cost of Being a Black Writer.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Mon, February 17, 2025
How to buy more time on the doomsday countdown
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists’ Doomsday Clock is now set to 89 seconds — the closest to midnight yet. So why is this hopeful? Daniel Holz, chair of the Bulletin’s Science and Security Board, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the many factors that go into the Doomsday Clock calculations and why determining how close we are to disaster is an exercise in our capacity to change for the better. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Fri, February 14, 2025
Haven’t found ‘the one’? You’ll be ok.
Being single surrounded by couples can be rough – especially on Valentine’s Day – but there’s plenty to celebrate about singledom. Meghan Keane, founder and managing producer for NPR’s Life Kit, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss her journey from dreading her singlehood to finding joy in it – and her advice to not put big life plans on hold as you look for love. Her book is “Party of One: Be Your Own Best Life Partner.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Thu, February 13, 2025
A world without USAID
The Trump administration has frozen funding for foreign aid, putting workers out of jobs and threatening the future of USAID in doubt. Brett Murphy is a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter on ProPublica’s national desk, and he joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the rapid dismantling of the humanitarian agency and what will happen to the people around the world who rely on its help. His article, written with Anna Maria Barry-Jester, is “‘People Will Die’: The Trump Administration Said It Lifted Its Ban on Lifesaving Humanitarian Aid. That’s Not True.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Wed, February 12, 2025
The Ozempic diabetes dilemma
Ozempic is the hot drug for weight loss, but its original purpose was to help diabetics – putting its creator in a bit of a bind. Wired contributor Virginia Heffernan joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk is stretched thin as demand for the drug skyrockets – and how President Trump’s designs on Greenland might actually affect supply. Her article is “The King of Ozempic Is Scared as Hell.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Tue, February 11, 2025
Should you be worried about bird flu?
To get the price of eggs under control, we first need to address bird flu. New York Times science and global health reporter Apoorva Mandavilli joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the H5N1 virus that has virologists concerned with its rapid evolution. And we’ll hear why poultry producers and dairy farmers are nervous about the future of their livelihoods and their ability to feed the nation. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Mon, February 10, 2025
The consequences of cutting people off
If America is in the throes of a loneliness epidemic, why do we keep casting aside established friendships for minor infractions? Vox senior reporter Allie Volpe joins host Krys Boyd to discuss a new trend toward cutting out “toxic” friends —even if the toxicity is easily overcome with dialog — and why we’re shying away from the hard work of interpersonal relationships in the digital age. Her article is “‘Protecting your peace’ can kill your friendships.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Fri, February 07, 2025
Could Trump really kill birthright citizenship?
President Trump has made it a goal to end birthright citizenship, a fight that is putting the Constitution to the test. Hiroshi Motomura is the Susan Westerberg Prager Distinguished Professor of Law and faculty co-director of the Center for Immigration Law and Policy at UCLA. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how birthright citizenship came to be, what the Trump administration’s challenge looks like, and what it means for immigrants and their families living in the U.S. today. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Thu, February 06, 2025
Why did we stop hanging out?
We’ve heard a lot about the loneliness epidemic in this country, but it might be worth asking: Do we even like spending time with people anymore? Derek Thompson, staff writer at The Atlantic, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the phenomenon where we’re on our phones but digitally surrounded by people, and how this isolation is rewiring us to be more anti-social – including in both our personal relationships and political lives. His article is “The Anti-Social Century.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Wed, February 05, 2025
Does science explain racism?
In order to better understand why racism still exists, it helps to study it like a science. Keon West, social psychologist at Goldsmiths at the University of London, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss his rigorous research into racist beliefs, the results of social experiments that show how far we’ve moved the mark since the Civil Rights era and what we can definitively say about prejudice today. His book is “The Science of Racism: Everything You Need to Know but Probably Don’t—Yet.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Tue, February 04, 2025
The best life may not be the most comfortable
Psychologists and philosophers have debated what makes a good life, traditionally focusing on the search for happiness and meaning. Recently, though, the quest for another sensation has entered the conversation: fulfillment. Shigehiro Oishi, Marshall Field IV Professor of Psychology at the University of Chicago, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss his concept of “psychological richness,” where curiosity and spontaneity provide the stimulation we need, and how this outlook can carry us even through the hardest patches of our lives. His book is “Life in Three Dimensions: How Curiosity, Exploration, and Experience Make a Fuller, Better Life.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Mon, February 03, 2025
The beauty of the color blue in Black culture
For Black identity, the color blue goes beyond the sky and water and speaks to the fabric of daily life. Imani Perry is a National Book Award–winning author, Henry A. Morss Jr. and Elisabeth W. Morss Professor of Studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality and of African and African American Studies at Harvard University, and a 2023 MacArthur Fellow. She joins host Krys Boyd to talk about the significance of the color from indigo cultivation, singing the blues, even how “Blue Lives Matter” was used to counteract “Black Lives Matter” protests. Her book is “Black in Blues: How a Color Tells the Story of My People.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Fri, January 31, 2025
What are the chances Trump gets Greenland?
President Trump says he wants to buy Greenland — the Danish say it’s not for sale. Joshua Keating is a senior correspondent at Vox covering foreign policy and world news with a focus on the future of international conflict. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the idea that the U.S. could take Greenland – possibly by force – and why that has international leaders worried about the potential for future land grabs. His article is “The real danger of Trump’s Greenland gambit.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Thu, January 30, 2025
What if we build houses on federal land?
To build affordable housing you need land — and the federal government has an ample supply. Michael Albertus, professor of political science at the University of Chicago, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the plusses and minuses of an idea that’s been floated in many administrations: selling federal lands to cities and developers to address the affordable housing crisis. His article “The U.S. Government Is Sitting on a Possible Solution to the Housing Crisis” was published by Bloomberg. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Wed, January 29, 2025
Booze causes cancer, too
Earlier this month, then U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called for alcoholic beverages to feature cancer-warning labels similar to the ones on packs of cigarettes. Dr. Ernest Hawk is vice president and head of the division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and holds the T. Boone Pickens Distinguished Chair for Early Prevention of Cancer. He talks with host Krys Boyd about the ways alcohol causes cancer and what your risk might be. And later in the hour, Isabella Cueto, who covers chronic disease for Stat, talks about the fight the alcohol lobby is waging to stop this idea. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Tue, January 28, 2025
These fires in California won’t be the last
The California wildfires are a stark example of how climate change is making its presence known. Author John Vaillant joins host Krys Boyd to discuss these fires – plus other recent outbreaks in Texas, Canada and Australia – and to explore what it will take to keep densely populated areas safe. His book is “Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Mon, January 27, 2025
How to spot ultra-processed food
The American diet consists mostly of ultra-processed foods — and it’s time we take a closer look at those nutrition labels. Jancee Dunn is the Well columnist for The New York Times, and she joins host Krys Boyd to offer simple ways we can identify the worst offenders in our diets and break our reliance on these foods. Her series is “The 5-day Well Challenge.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Fri, January 24, 2025
A weakened Iran is still dangerous
The quickly shifting political landscape in the Middle East has Iran recalculating its place in the global order. Council on Foreign Relations president emeritus Richard Haass joins host Krys Boyd to discuss Iran after Israel’s crippling blows to the leadership of both Hamas and Hezbollah — and the possibility of inroads for U.S. diplomacy. His article “The Iran Opportunity” was published in Foreign Affairs. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Thu, January 23, 2025
When doing the right thing starts with saying no
For the conflict-averse among us, just agreeing to something is often the easiest path. Sunita Sah is a trained physician and professor at Cornell University. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why it’s so hard to go against the grain in our lives, strategies for putting your foot down and why we should look at defiant teenagers in a new and positive light. Her book is “Defy: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Wed, January 22, 2025
With telehealth, the E.R. comes to you
Telehealth is everywhere, and both doctors and patients are adjusting to its ubiquity. Helen Ouyang is an emergency physician and an associate professor at Columbia University, and she joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why she initially objected to telehealth shifts but now believes the tool can further public health objectives – plus, she’ll offers tips on how to get the most out of a remote doctor-patient visit. Her essay “How Virtual Appointments Taught Me to Be a Better Doctor” was published in The New York Times. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Tue, January 21, 2025
The equity case for standardized testing
For a brief period, colleges and universities suspended the use of standardized tests; now they’re bringing them back in the name of equality. New York Times senior writer David Leonhardt joins host Krys Boyd to discuss using the SAT and ACT to asses students, why grade inflation and test-prep courses make admissions harder for institutions hoping to diversify their student bodies, and why test scores are more indicative of class than ability. His article is “The Misguided War on the SAT.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Mon, January 20, 2025
Archive: Why signing that online petition isn’t enough
You may have signed a petition online, but what about actually meeting in-person with your representative to advocate for a public policy change? Sam Daley-Harris founded Results, a citizen lobby committed to creating the political will to end hunger and the worst aspects of poverty. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss effective strategies for advocating for change that won’t leave you frustrated by the process. His book is “ Reclaiming Our Democracy: Every Citizen’s Guide to Transformational Advocacy .” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Fri, January 17, 2025
Who decided that north was up?
North, South, East and West — the cardinal directions have a surprising history of cultural and social significance. Jerry Brotton, professor of English and history at the University of London, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how something as simple as a compass has come to define our world — from how “the West” defines political power, what we mean by “the Global South,” and why cardinal directions might have been some of the very first words used in human language. His book is “Four Points of the Compass: The Unexpected History of Direction.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Thu, January 16, 2025
The price of optimizing your donations
When choosing a charity, the go-to idea is to give to an entity that helps the most people/pets/places, etc. But is that always the right move? New York Times business features writer Emma Goldberg joins host Krys Boyd to discuss hyper-efficiency in philanthropy — attracting donors by promising the most bang for their buck — and why this leaves smaller nonprofits behind. Plus, we’ll ponder the question: Should multiplying our dollars be the only reason we give? Her article is “What if Charity Shouldn’t Be Optimized? Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Wed, January 15, 2025
Why coincidences are more math than magic
Coincidences may seem like random occurrences to many of us – but not to a mathematician. Sarah Hart is professor of geometry at Gresham College and professor emerita of mathematics at Birkbeck, University of London. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why we so often look for coincidences in our lives — and why that’s a mathematically futile endeavor — why the blind luck behind lottery wins might not be so blind after all, and why revealing this magic with numbers makes the phenomenon all the more interesting. Her article, “The surprising maths that explains why coincidences are so common,” was published in New Scientist. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Tue, January 14, 2025
The real reason fentanyl is killing fewer Americans
There’s good news: Opioid deaths are down. The caveat: Marginalized communities aren’t seeing the benefits. Maia Szalavitz is a contributing Opinion writer for The New York Times. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss age and race gaps in opioid death statistics, how naloxone is helping to prevent overdoses, and why people of color aren’t seeing the same results as their white peers. Her article is “Not Everyone Is Benefiting From Drops in Overdose Deaths.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Mon, January 13, 2025
Inside the movement to dismantle the government
The conversation about limited government has morphed from looking at ways to reduce bureaucracy to an effort to eliminate large pieces of the government all together. Russell Muirhead is Robert Clements Professor of Democracy and Politics at Dartmouth College, and he joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why non-elected workers in “the administrative state” find themselves in the crosshairs from both the right and the left, how Donald Trump’s term might affect them, and what elimination of their functions might mean for the nation. His book, written with Nancy L. Rosenblum, is “Ungoverning: The Attack on the Administrative State and the Politics of Chaos.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Fri, January 10, 2025
Tech has outpaced evolution
It took 3,000 years for our brains to develop to this point — and about 30 for it to get scrambled by screentime. Richard E. Cytowic, professor of neurology at George Washington University, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how our attention is now pulled in multiple directions, how that affects our neurotransmitters and dopamine levels, and to offers tips on how to get our habits back on track for a healthier mind. His book is “Your Stone Age Brain in the Screen Age.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Thu, January 09, 2025
The psychology of willful ignorance
Modern life means information is a click away, but often it feels better to keep our heads in the sand. Mark Lilla, professor of the humanities at Columbia University, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the age-old impulse to shield ourselves from information, why that might save our sanity, and what that means for our deep-seated ideas of innocence. His book is “Ignorance and Bliss: On Wanting Not to Know.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Wed, January 08, 2025
The American myth of hard work
“Pull yourself up by your bootstraps” might as well be an American saying; trouble is, it doesn’t always work. Journalist and author Adam Chandler joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the myth of meritocracy, his travels around the country talking with people from all walks of life who have the work ethic but success still eludes them, and what needs to change for us to really obtain that American dream. His book is “99% Perspiration: A New Working History of the American Way of Life.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Tue, January 07, 2025
Why hypochondria isn’t just in your head
Hypochondria is an illness marked by intense health anxiety over perceived problems — and it’s very real. Joanne Silberner, co-founder of the Association of Healthcare Journalists, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why it’s taken so long for the mental health community to take hypochondria seriously, the new ways it’s being diagnosed, and the devastating outcomes for those who don’t find help. Her Scientific American article is “Hypochondria Is a Real and Dangerous Illness, New Research Shows.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Mon, January 06, 2025
How zoning codes affect your life
It might seem like policy-wonk stuff, but zoning actually shapes the dynamic world around us. Sara C. Bronin, architect, attorney, and policymaker, and professor at Cornell University, joins host Krys Boyd to talk about how code dictates our daily lives from parks, housing, restaurants, and the architecture around us, and why it’s difficult to overcome inequalities built into the books. Her book is “Key to the City: How Zoning Shapes Our World.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Fri, January 03, 2025
Best of Think: The benefits of being in your feels
Nobody actually enjoys feeling down in the dumps – but there’s a lot we can learn about ourselves when we’re not at our best. This hour, host Krys Boyd talks about how we can find fulfillment in experiencing the bittersweet parts of life, how sensitive people can use their temperament as a strength, and why being positive all the time isn’t actually very helpful. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Thu, January 02, 2025
Best of Think : A.I. is coming for knowledge workers
Relying on a dictionary or a library of materials to create something new is really just a centuries-old version of what A.I. does today. Dennis Yi Tenen, associate professor of English and comparative literature at Columbia University, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why we shouldn’t be afraid that A.I. is coming for jobs, how we’ve always turned to outside sources to help generate original works, and how the real conversation should be about who’s labor is valuable. His book is “ Literary Theory for Robots: How Computers Learned to Write .” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Wed, January 01, 2025
How to actually motivate young people
Kids may never think you’re cool – but it is possible to at least earn their respect. David Yeager is a professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin and the cofounder of the Texas Behavioral Science and Policy Institute. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how to be a supportive mentor for youth age 10-25 – when their brains are still taking shape. His book is “ 10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People: A Groundbreaking Approach to Leading the Next Generation―And Making Your Own Life Easier . ” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Tue, December 31, 2024
Best of Think:Could animals possibly understand death?
The concept of death can trigger an existential crisis in humans. Do animals face the same fears? Susana Monsó is associate professor of philosophy in the Department of Logic, History, and Philosophy of Science at the National Distance Education University (UNED) in Madrid. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss what animals know about dying – from mourning rituals to attempts at saving lives – and if this newfound understanding means we should treat animals differently. Her book is “Playing Possum: How Animals Understand Death.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Mon, December 30, 2024
From Charley Pride to Beyoncé: The Black roots of country music
Beyoncé might’ve been the first Black woman to hit No. 1 on the Billboard country album chart, but she stands on the shoulders of giants. Alice Randall, the first Black woman to write a No. 1 country hit, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the Black roots of country music, from Grand Ole Opry acts that broke boundaries, to rising stars shaping the genre’s bright future. Her book “ My Black Country: A Journey Through Country Music’s Black Past, Present, and Future .” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Fri, December 27, 2024
Best of Think: Calming Your Brain in a Busy World
Type-A people, with their drive, focus and relentless pursuit of perfection, are at risk of burnout and health problems. Dr. Romie Mushtaq is a physician and chief wellness officer for Evolution Hospitality. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss what she calls the “busy brain” – linked to insomnia, ADD and anxiety – and offers strategies to tame overactive minds. Her book is “ The Busy Brain Cure: The Eight-Week Plan to Find Focus, Tame Anxiety & Sleep Again .” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Thu, December 26, 2024
Best of Think: A just world starts with imagination
Real progress on racism and other social issues requires the imagination to think beyond our current approach. Ruha Benjamin is a professor of African American Studies at Princeton University, where she is the founding director of the Ida B. Wells Just Data Lab. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why we are failing at imagining a better world and how thinking big is the path to unlocking good. Her book is “ Imagination: A Manifesto .” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Wed, December 25, 2024
Best of Think: Paris through the eye of a food writer
Ruth Reichl made a name for herself writing about food for The New York Times and Gourmet magazine. And now she turns her talents to the world of fiction – while keeping one foot planted in her first love. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss her new novel, which tells the story of a woman one a life-changing culinary trip to France. It’s called “ The Paris Novel .” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Tue, December 24, 2024
Best of Think: The history of Gospel music
For generations of Black Americans, when times were tough – or when it was time to celebrate – gospel music provided the soundtrack. Shayla Harris is director and producer of a new PBS documentary series called “ Gospel ,” and she joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the legacy of this American art form, from its birth in churches to its rise to the mainstream. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Mon, December 23, 2024
Best of Think: Is your culture cool with therapy?
Being a “third culture” kid—someone pulled between their immigrant parents and U.S. culture—can take a mental toll. Sahaj Kaur Kohli is the founder of Brown Girl Therapy, a mental health and wellness community organization for adult children of immigrants, and an advice columnist for the Washington Post. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why seeking out therapy is really difficult for the children of immigrants—from finding someone aware of cultural nuances, to understanding why sometimes family isn’t supportive. Her book is “ But What Will People Say?: Navigating Mental Health, Identity, Love, and Family Between Cultures .” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Fri, December 20, 2024
Comedian Hari Kondabolu on how fatherhood changes everything
For comedian Hari Kondabolu, becoming a father changed how he accesses pure joy. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how becoming a parent has shifted his worldview, how he sees roles for Indian Americans changing in Hollywood and how making a live audience laugh helps him process his new philosophies. His most recent comedy special available for streaming is “Vacation Baby.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Thu, December 19, 2024
How Trump’s deportations will work
President-elect Trump has promised mass deportations starting day one of his second term; how far will he really be able to take it? Edward Alden is a columnist at Foreign Policy, the Ross distinguished visiting professor at Western Washington University and a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. He joins guest host John McCaa to discuss this unprecedented effort to expel undocumented immigrants, how Trump might utilize the military, how the economy might be impacted and how this might shape immigration policy going forward. His article is “The Great Deportation of 2025.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Wed, December 18, 2024
The surprising shift in identity politics
One surprise from the presidential election is that a voter’s class, not race, was a greater factor in which box was ticked in the voting booth. Wall Street Journal economics reporter Jeanne Whalen joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why Democrats are reeling from being labeled the party of “elites” when they could always count on communities of color for votes in the past, how Republicans have capitalized on economic concerns, and what this means for race relations moving forward. Her article is “The New Driving Force of Identity Politics Is Class, Not Race.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Tue, December 17, 2024
Elon Musk vs. The Federal Budget
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have promised to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget with their Department of Government Efficiency. Simon Rabinovitch is U.S. economics editor for The Economist, and he joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how it may actually be possible to generate significant cost cutting – but not in the time frame the president-elect is hoping for. His article is “How to make Elon Musk’s budget-slashing dreams come true.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Mon, December 16, 2024
Why we haven’t narrowed the racial health gap
Despite some progress, Black Americans continue to have worse health outcomes than other racial groups. KFF Health News senior correspondent Renuka Rayasam joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why we’re failing to close the health gap – especially for rural, low-income African Americans – and why access to quality care is sometimes blocked by the states. Her article, written with Fred Clasen-Kelly, is “Black Americans Still Suffer Worse Health. Here’s Why There’s So Little Progress.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Fri, December 13, 2024
Author Colson Whitehead talks about ‘Nickel Boys’
With the movie adaptation of “Nickel Boys” in theaters, Colson Whitehead’s celebrated novel is reaching new audiences. Whitehead joins host Krys Boyd to talk about his story of two boys assigned to a 1960s juvenile reformatory, bound by the trauma around them as they swing between hope and cynicism. “Nickel Boys” earned Whitehead his second Pulitzer Prize. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Thu, December 12, 2024
The best books of 2024
Of the thousands of books published each year in English, The New York Times has the task of winnowing that list down to the very best. Times Book Review editor Gilbert Cruz joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the best nonfiction and fiction books of 2024, from an 800-page biography of a president to a funny romantic comedy — there’s a book for everyone to enjoy. The list is “The 10 Best Books of 2024.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Wed, December 11, 2024
America’s gamble on online sport betting
You can’t watch American sports without a barrage of commercials about sports betting — and it’s changing how fans interact with the action. Rolling Stone writer David Hill joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how new sports betting laws have opened up the market for all kinds of wagers and types of gamblers, the people who can’t stop, and the ways professional sports is changing because of the new money involved. His article is “Is the $11 Billion Online Sportsbook Bubble About to Burst?” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Tue, December 10, 2024
How to get your brain in gear
We’ve innovated our workplaces since the factory-floor work of the Industrial Revolution, but our brains haven’t caught up. Mithu Storoni is a physician, neuroscience researcher and ophthalmic surgeon. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why the 9-to-5 workday breaks up the natural rhythms of optimal brain function and offers tips for finding the best time to do your most creative and productive work. Her book is “Hyperefficient: Optimize Your Brain to Transform the Way You Work.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Mon, December 09, 2024
Could DNA testing cost you your life insurance?
Genetic tests can help predict future health risks or just be a fun way to learn about your ancestry – but is that information just for you? Kristen V. Brown, staff writer at The Atlantic, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss giant loopholes in anti-discrimination laws that might allow disability and long-term care providers to exploit genetic testing results — even if a person never gets sick — and what that means for those told by a physician they should get tested. Her article is “Genetic Discrimination Is Coming for Us All.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Fri, December 06, 2024
Malcolm Gladwell revisits ‘The Tipping Point’
Twenty-five years after the success of “The Tipping Point,” Malcolm Gladwell is back with new insights. The author and co-founder of Pushkin Industries joins host Krys Boyd to discuss new anecdotes from social science that help explain the world around us – and to update the theory of contagion for our modern world. His book is “Revenge of the Tipping Point: Overstories, Superspreaders, and the Rise of Social Engineering.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Thu, December 05, 2024
Why don’t fish sink?
For scientists to solve the mysteries of the ocean, they need to start with questions like “how do fish float?” Duke University biology professor Sönke Johnsen joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the wonders of vertical migration, why sharks must keep swimming to stay alive, and the clues offered to biologists that help piece together the questions of aquatic life evolution. His book is “Into the Great Wide Ocean: Life in the Least Known Habitat on Earth.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Wed, December 04, 2024
How does RFK Jr. define health?
President-Elect Trump has tapped Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Health and Human Services department with promises that dismay many public health officials. Yasmin Tayag, staff writer at The Atlantic, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss RFK Jr’s strategy to “Make America Healthy Again,” his distain for everything from vaccines to fluoride to processed foods – and his approach to managing a $1.7-trillion agency. Her article is “‘Make America Healthy Again’ Sounds Good Until You Start Asking Questions.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Tue, December 03, 2024
The states that voted for Trump…and abortion rights
Of the states that just passed measures protecting abortion, a majority of them also delivered their Electoral College votes to Donald Trump. New York Times Magazine staff writer Emily Bazelon joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why Democrats’ call to restore reproductive rights didn’t bring voters to their side, how Trump has been inconsistent in his messaging about the issue, and what this signals for efforts to keep abortion legal in America. Her article is “America’s Split Screen on Abortion.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Mon, December 02, 2024
The politics of school vouchers
Despite hard evidence that they work, school voucher programs are still gaining steam. Josh Cowen, professor of education policy at Michigan State University, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why “school choice” is such a hot-button issue, the influential people behind its growth, and why this push is signaling distrust of public schools. His book is “The Privateers: How Billionaires Created a Culture War and Sold School Vouchers.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Fri, November 29, 2024
For better cities, think small
The truly walkable city seems like something only small European cities can obtain, but urban planners have grand plans. Natalie Whittle is a contributor to the Financial Times, and she joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the idea of the 15-minute city, where cars aren’t necessary, bikes abound, and all amenities are a short walk away. Her book is “Shrink the City: The 15-Minute Urban Experiment and the Cities of the Future.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Thu, November 28, 2024
ARCHIVE: The foods that keep your brain young
A look at brain-friendly eating patterns, understanding how “good” and “bad” fats affect us and simple recipe ideas for incorporating these foods into every meal. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Wed, November 27, 2024
Are we losing our appetite for big portions?
As Thanksgiving’s heaping helpings loom, it might be good to remember both obesity and food waste are linked to your plate’s portions. Hank Cardello is Chair of the Portion Balance Coalition and executive director of the Leadership Solutions for Health + Prosperity program at Georgetown University’s Business for Impact. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how restaurant meals and prepared foods have doubled in size since the 1970s – and why cutting them back down would be good for the planet and people. His research paper on the topic is called “The Power of Portions.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Tue, November 26, 2024
Why are groceries so expensive? It’s complicated
The election might have been won or lost on the price of eggs, but beyond inflation, there are other reasons your grocery bill is so high. Jesse Newman is a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, and she joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the middleman between producers and supermarket shelves – grocery distribution companies – the razor-thin margins the industry operates on even as prices rise for the consumer, and how everything we eat is brokered by these distributors. Her article is “The Mysterious Fees Inflating Your Grocery Bill.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Mon, November 25, 2024
The complexities of Native identity in America
The process to be officially considered Native American, can be complicated – and heartbreaking for those who identify but don’t qualify. Carrie Lowry Schuettpelz is an enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina who spent seven years working in the Obama Administration on issues of homelessness and Native policy. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why tribal membership is so difficult to achieve, why thousands of acknowledged tribes each have their own enrollment criteria, and what it means to win that recognition. Her book is called “The Indian Card: Who Gets to Be Native in America.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Fri, November 22, 2024
Tracy Chevalier crafts a novel out of glass
A novel about the glass trade in Murano, Italy, finds magic in characters that age hundreds of years and never die. New York Times bestselling author Tracy Chevalier joins guest host Courtney Collins to discuss her enduring characters who live and work in the decorative glassmaking trade outside Venice, why the author chose to follow one family continuously from the Renaissance to modern life and the beauty found in small moments. Her book is “The Glassmaker.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Thu, November 21, 2024
There’s nothing magical about 10,000 steps
You’ve got to get your 10,000 steps in today, right? Except that’s not based on any real science. Courtney Rubin writes about medicine, health, fitness, and wellness and she joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how the myth of the 10,000 steps came to be, why science is complicating that number and what you should know when you hit the pavement for that daily walk. Plus, we’ll consider the joys of walking. The article, “ The accidental step-count scam ,” was published in Women’s Health. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Wed, November 20, 2024
Does the NFL even care about concussions?
The NFL knows that concussions are a risk for its players – and it’s largely the players who carry the burden of protecting themselves. New York magazine features writer Reeves Wiedeman joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how the league’s approach to concussions has affected high-profile players like Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, why CTE is still a major concern, and why the NFL is changing its positioning on the matter. His article is “The End of the NFL’s Concussion Crisis.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Tue, November 19, 2024
Why white kids are skipping college
One surprising trend that’s come out of the higher education demographics: white college-age Americans are ditching school. Katherine Mangan, senior writer for The Chronicle of Higher Education, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why white student enrollment has been declining for years, why administrators are just now catching on to this fact, and the delicate balance of recruiting underrepresented groups while maintaining a baseline of traditional students. Her article is “Where Are the White Students?” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Mon, November 18, 2024
The toxic tradeoffs of a fully electric future
As the world goes electric, drilling for fossil fuels will increasingly be replaced by digging for metals. Journalist and author Vince Beiser joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the increased demand for cobalt, nickel, copper and other metals to fuel everything from batteries to the wires that transfer energy – and how access to those resources feeds geopolitical relationships. His book is “Power Metal: The Race for the Resources That Will Shape the Future.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Fri, November 15, 2024
What now for Democrats?
After polls teased a close presidential race, swing-state votes offered a sharp rebuke to the Democratic party. Wall Street Journal reporter Ken Thomas joins host Krys Boyd to discuss what some Democratic strategists are calling a disaster for the party, why the Left’s cultural issues aren’t bringing in the votes, and who the party might turn to next. His article, written with Annie Linskey, is “Harris’s Loss Triggers Soul-Searching, Recriminations Within Democratic Party.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Thu, November 14, 2024
Cynicism won’t protect you from getting hurt
If you’re someone who always thinks the sky is falling, chances are you’re not very happy. Jamil Zaki, professor of psychology at Stanford University and the director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why cynicism leads to not only a more dismal outlook on life, but deleterious health effects. Plus we’ll hear why a little dose of hope can inject joy into everyday living. Zaki’s book is “Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness.” This episode originally aired on September 6, 2024. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Wed, November 13, 2024
The never ending cycle of racism
Waves of Black progress have historically been accompanied by waves of significant backlash. Anthony Walton is a poet, professor and the writer-in-residence at Bowdoin College, and he joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why gains in Black life have so often come with periods of reckoning, why racial trauma in this country so often repeats itself, and why the country wasn’t prepared for its first Black president. His book is “The End of Respectability: Notes of a Black American Reckoning With His Life and His Nation.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Tue, November 12, 2024
Virtual reality will never match the real thing
What exactly are we missing out on when we only experience something online rather than IRL? Christine Rosen is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a columnist for Commentary magazine, senior editor at the New Atlantis and fellow at the University of Virginia’s Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the lure of the digital world, with its ease and convenience, and the physical and personal connections we leave behind when we choose a contactless experience. Her book is “The Extinction of Experience: Being Human in a Disembodied World." Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Mon, November 11, 2024
The population boom goes bust
For years, we worried about overpopulation, but the reality is now there aren’t enough babies being born to replace a greying population across the globe. Nicholas Eberstadt is Henry Wendt Chair in Political Economy at the American Enterprise Institute. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss depopulation occurring on five continents, why pro-natal programs cost a lot but aren’t seeing results, and what this means for how we measure economic growth in the future. His article “The Age of Depopulation” was published in Foreign Affairs. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Fri, November 08, 2024
How to put your money where your values are
Jasmine Rashid is a financial activist and Director of Impact for Candide Group. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why taboo discussions about wealth and money need to happen for social change, how shopping small businesses can put pressure on multi-national corporations, and her easy how-to guide for a budding activist that starts with pinching pennies. Her book is “The Financial Activist Playbook: 8 Strategies for Everyday People to Reclaim Wealth and Collective Well-Being.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Thu, November 07, 2024
Hearing is science, listening is art
There’s a difference between hearing and listening, and there’s an art to cultivating the latter. Elizabeth Rosner, novelist, poet, and essayist, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how listening is the skill of interpretation, how she learned to hear the important things left unsaid in her own upbringing, and what science can teach us about the sounds that envelop us. Her book is “Third Ear: Reflections on the Art and Science of Listening.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Wed, November 06, 2024
Some top college students can’t get through a novel
Think of students who made it into the Ivy League — can you believe some of them made it there without ever actually finishing reading a book. Rose Horowitch, assistant editor at The Atlantic, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why top students are complaining about having to read books for college classes, how testing culture has contributed to this problem, and what this means for developing critical thinking skills. Her article is “The Elite College Students Who Can’t Read Books.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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