Think from KERA

Type in a couple of prompts and A.I. programs can spit out an original song based on your parameters. So should composers quit their jobs? Matteo Wong, staff writer at The Atlantic, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the changing face of the music industry now that A.I. music is on the scene and what separates music made by people from music made by algorithms. His article is “ AI Can’t Make Music .”...

To win a high-stakes poker game, the ability to calculate risk is essential – and it’s a skill that can carry over to everyday life. Nate Silver is a statistician and founder of The New York Times political blog FiveThirtyEight.com and writer of the Substack “Silver Bulletin.” He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how risk-takers win big, how to calculate pros and cons of major decisions, and to weig...

Some people can get others to do what they want through the sheer strength of their charm – a quality many candidates running for office try to use to their advantage. Julia Sonnevend, associate professor of sociology and communications at The New School for Social Research, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how politicians tap into their own personal magnetism to earn your vote – and sometimes lead...

If your company’s data is hacked, there’s a person to have on speed dial — a ransomware negotiator. Journalist Amanda Chicago Lewis joins host Krys Boyd to discuss this brand-new profession that is both an art and a science, how they negotiate with hackers and how to avoid falling victim to your own data being breached. Her article “Secrets of a ransomware negotiator” was published in The Economis...

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 Scienc...

Regional tensions in the South China Sea are in danger of spilling over into a global conflict between the U.S. and China. Craig Singleton is a senior China fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a former U.S. diplomat. He joins guest host John McCaa to discuss the ways China has made end runs around the policies of the Biden, Trump and Obama presidencies and the troubling clashes...

America has endured eras of political violence before. But after the assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump, is political violence now part of our current reality? Adrienne LaFrance, executive editor of The Atlantic, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why feelings of powerlessness can lead to violence and the disturbing historical patterns that seem to be repeating today. Her article...

For an underprivileged student to succeed in college, it takes much more than financial aid. Anthony Jack is inaugural faculty director of the Boston University Newbury Center and associate professor of higher education leadership at the Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why, even as colleges and universities have moved to m...

When Kamala Harris announced her presidential bid after President Biden dropped out, a record $81million poured in in 24 hours. So what role will cash play in her race against Donald Trump? Theodore Schleifer covers campaign finance for The New York Times. He joins host Krys Boyd to give us an overview of the immense amount of money the campaigns are raising, a refresher on how PACs work, and how...

In these politically divisive times, it’s a challenge to remember we have so much in common. Diana McLain Smith joins host Krys Boyd to discuss building bridges to connect with people with whom we disagree and how most people can resolve to meet in the middle on even the most challenging political issues. Her book is “Remaking the Space Between Us: How Citizens Can Work Together to Build a Better...

For anywhere from $100 to $3,000 or more, you can get ready for doomsday with a prepper kit. Michael Mills, lecturer in criminology at the University of Kent, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the phenomenon of preparing for disaster, if this is unique to America or to a political party affiliation, and if stockpiling food and supplies actually does anything to relieve anxiety.  Learn about your ad...

Autocrats are rising across the globe — is democracy to blame? Anne Applebaum, staff writer at The Atlantic, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss dictators from Putin to Maduro, the networks they rely on, and why democracies around the world have been complicit in the rise of these despots. Her book is “Autocracy, Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx...

Roxane Gay has written extensively about everything from Black feminism to office culture – and now she tackles a new topic: gun ownership. The author and contributing opinion writer for The New York Times joins host Krys Boyd to discuss her surprise at the thrill of shooting, why owning a gun is a political act for a Black American and what “stand your ground” laws mean to her. She writes about t...

One underreported fact about obesity: you could have it and still be considered healthy. Christie Aschwanden is host and producer of “Uncertain,” a podcast from Scientific American. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss what being overweight and metabolically healthy means, why BMI might not be a great tool for understanding health and body size, and what new research is revealing about the how weig...

As our understanding of gender evolves, it’s important for caretakers of young people to understand this new reality. Diane Ehrensaft is a developmental and clinical psychologist and the cofounder and director of mental health at the Child and Adolescent Gender Center, as well as professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how to supp...

The Heritage Foundation’s policy document “Project 2025” has gotten a lot of press, but what exactly is included in this 922-page document — and is it even relevant after the Trump campaign slammed it? Andrew Prokop, senior politics correspondent at Vox, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the policy suggestions laid out in the conservative think tank’s agenda, how much of it might actually be adopted...

Terms like “revenge porn” have a way of pasting over what’s really happening – a crime. First, Jasmine Mithani of The 19th News joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the damaging effect of labeling all sexually explicit images as “porn” – and how victim advocates are working to rebrand these terms. Her article is “They’re crimes — so why do we keep calling them ‘porn’?” Then, Hollie Toups, a victim of p...

When Jennifer and James Crumbley were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter this spring, it was the first time parents were convicted for a role in a school shooting. John Woodrow Cox, enterprise reporter for The Washington Post, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss his time embedded with the prosecutor who built the case against the parents of a son who killed four students at his high school – and...

More than 7,000 new books are released every day — but most of those writers won’t make a living off their work. Author Michael Castleman joins host Krys Boyd to discuss three distinct eras of book publishing, from the first printing press to Amazon, and why today it’s fairly easy to find yourself in print — but much harder to find an audience to read it. His book is “ The Untold Story of Books: A...

Supreme Court justices are selected by presidents and confirmed by senators – but does that mean they necessarily represent the will of the people? Kevin J. McMahon, John R. Reitemeyer Professor of Political Science at Trinity College, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how we got to a court that doesn’t reflect the majority of the electorate, what that means for its reputation, and ideas for how to...

Non-disclosure agreements were once primarily used for guarding corporate secrets. These days, though, you might have to sign an NDA for a first date. New York Magazine features writer Reeves Wiedeman joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the bold new world of NDAs – from professional settings to personal affairs – and why they are suddenly showing up everywhere. His article is “Hush Hush Affair. Learn...

Space is the final frontier — and not too long ago, to explore it you had to be a man. Cady Coleman is a former NASA astronaut, retired U.S. Air Force colonel, scientist, pilot and musician. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how hearing Sally Ride speak changed the trajectory of her life and what months on the International Space Station taught her about career and motherhood. Her book is “Shari...

  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 Throug...

With President Joe Biden in the White House at 81 and Donald Trump at 78 running to replace him, plenty of Americans are wondering how people at advanced ages handle high-pressure jobs. Stacy Vernon is program manager, head of adult assessment at the Center for Brain Health at the University of Texas at Dallas. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss what makes a “super ager,” common health ailments f...

 The pandemic exposed plenty of systematic flaws – including in the patchwork structure that is the global supply chain. Peter S. Goodman, global economics correspondent for The New York Times, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how the supply chain changed after WWII, how labor practices and shipping routes revealed deep-seeded problems in the system, and what needs to happen to ensure economic cert...