Think from KERA

The idea that owning will make you happy and fulfilled is part of the self-determinism ideal of the American Dream. Benjamin C. Waterhouse, associate professor of history at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss myths about being your own boss and why you might actually be happier working a regular 9-5 job. His book is “ One Day I’ll Work for Myself: The...

So, you’ve already fallen short on your New Year’s resolutions. Time to reset, recharge and start again! Jancee Dunn is the Well columnist for The New York Times, and she joins host Krys Boyd to discuss a simple, step-by-step way to find energy in the New Year, from tips from psychologists to what to eat and how to exercise. Her series is “ The 6-Day Energy Challenge. ” Learn about your ad choices...

Anyone who can get pregnant in America has been touched by the fall of Roe v. Wade. The 19th News health reporter Shefali Luthra joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why life-saving treatments for miscarriage are now harder to get – and the people with high-risk pregnancies who are now in harm’s way. Her article “ What it means to choose pregnancy in post-Roe America ” was published by The 19th. Learn...

As president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte ordered extrajudicial killings as part of his war on drugs. Patricia Evangelista is a trauma journalist and former investigative reporter for the Philippine news company Rappler. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the killings, carried out by police and vigilantes, and the people whose lives were shaped by fear in a lawless time. Her book is “ Some...

You don’t have to be at TED Talk level to exhibit great public speaking skills. Matt Abrahams, lecturer in organizational behavior at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss tips and tricks for capturing an audience, embracing improv to think on your feet and how to tame stage fright. His book is “ Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully Whe...

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 b...

If the eyes are the windows to the soul, eyeliner is a signifier of power. Journalist Zahra Hankir joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the religiosity, spirituality and cultural significance of eyeliner and its use throughout the ages and around the world. Her book is “ Eyeliner: A Cultural History .” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

You might’ve heard of the “slow food” movement – maybe it’s time to try the “slow buy” movement, too? Chip Colwell, lecturer in anthropology at the University of Colorado, Denver, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the pact he made with his family that they buy no more than five items in a year and what it taught him about consumption in this country. His book is “ So Much Stuff: How Humans Discovere...

It isn’t hard for parents to love their children unconditionally, but they might not always like how they behave. Jeffrey Bernstein is a parent coach and psychologist. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss methods of dealing with a defiant child, offering advice on allowing kids to develop healthy coping skills and for parents to find peace in the house again. His article “ What Children Need Most fr...

Climate change affects us all, but women are often left to pick up the pieces of families in poverty and crisis caused by climate disasters. Zainab Salbi, co-founder of the nonprofit Daughters for Earth, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss her efforts to empower women to counter climate change with activism, her previous work helping survivors of war and conflict and why she’s made justice for women h...

Chatbots are becoming more sophisticated and are better able to mimic human speech. That can be exciting … and problematic. Washington Post tech reporter Gerrit De Vynck joins host Krys Boyd to break down what’s next for this new technology. His article is “ Microsoft’s AI chatbot is going off the rails .” This episode originally aired March 6, 2023. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/a...

Feeling stuck in life is common, but good news: There are tried and true strategies for greasing the wheels. Adam Alter is professor of marketing and the Stansky Teaching Excellence Faculty Fellow at New York University’s Stern School of Business. He also holds an affiliated professorship in social psychology at NYU’s psychology department. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the emotions, thoughts...

For centuries, we humans have placed ourselves above other animals in part because of the belief that we are the only creatures with the cognitive ability to turn thought into speech. Science journalist Sonia Shah joins host Krys Boyd to discuss what it means now that researchers are discovering that animals communicate in languages, too, and the moral dilemmas that is bringing up for biologists....

The term “Latino” covers a vast array of experiences – new immigrants from Guatemala, third-generation Mexican-Americans and many, many others. Héctor Tobar, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and novelist, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss his conversations with a multitude of voices identifying as Latino in the U.S. and the many ways they contribute history and culture to the American landscape. Hi...

Many of us have a passion for good food and drink – but what happens when your high standards lead to disappointment more often than pleasure? Dan Ahdoot is a stand-up comic and restaurateur, and he joins host Krys Boyd to talk about how his foodie obsessions took a toll on his happiness and relationships and how he finally learned to let go of the pursuit of perfection. He’s the author of “ Under...

If there’s one thing a woman loves, it’s pockets in her outfit. Hannah Carlson teaches dress history and material culture at the Rhode Island School of Design. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the gender politics of why men get pockets when women don’t, and why pockets can be seen as signs of everything from laziness to respectability. Her book is “ Pockets: An Intimate History of How We Keep T...

It’s much easier to act on your wanderlust if you hold a U.S. passport. Shahnaz Habib is a writer and translator who consults for the United Nations. She joins host Krys Boyd to talk about the privilege of who gets to travel and who doesn’t, and about how the Western-centric view of exploring the world differs from how other people across the globe look at leisure travel. Her book is “ Airplane Mo...

Black journalists may have the power of the pen, but that doesn’t shield them from racism while doing their jobs. James E. Causey is Ideas Lab reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the hate mail he’s gotten through the years, why he initially hid his pain from his readers and colleagues, and why he feels it’s time to confront hate head on. His recent column...

As researchers continue their search for the fountain of youth, they’re turning their attention to an unlikely source: worms. Coleen T. Murphy is professor of genomics and molecular biology at Princeton and director of both the university’s Glenn Foundation for Research on Aging and the Simons Collaboration on Plasticity in the Aging Brain. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how worms and other s...

Astronaut Mike Massimino executed the most dangerous and complex mission in space shuttle history, so he knows a thing or two about leadership. He’s now a professor at Columbia University, and he joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how to build effective teams and pursue your biggest dreams. His book is “ Moonshot: A NASA Astronaut’s Guide to Achieving the Impossible .” Learn about your ad choices: do...

If lying became illegal, that probably wouldn’t curb “fake news.” Jeff Kosseff, associate professor of cybersecurity law at the United States Naval Academy, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss what is constitutionally accepted free speech, and why he believes we need a marketplace of ideas so people can make up their own minds. His book is “ Liar in a Crowded Theater: Freedom of Speech in a World of M...

Astronaut Mike Massimino executed the most dangerous and complex mission in space shuttle history, so he knows a thing or two about leadership. He’s now a professor at Columbia University, and he joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how to build effective teams and pursue your biggest dreams. His book is “ Moonshot: A NASA Astronaut’s Guide to Achieving the Impossible .” Learn about your ad choices: do...

Transportation systems have been historically marred by inequality. Veronica O. Davis is a civil engineer, planner, public speaker and community activist. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how we should measure success by counting how we move people instead of vehicles – and about how we might take a more human-centric approach to urban planning. Her book is “ Inclusive Transportation: A Manifes...

The history of comedy is littered with pearl-clutching reactions to off-color bits. Historian Kliph Nesteroff joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how comedians have always pushed societal boundaries – and about how audience reactions range from complicity to virtue signaling. His book is “ Outrageous: A History of Showbiz and the Culture Wars .” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

There are parts of the country where upward mobility is simply unobtainable. Kathryn J. Edin, William Church Osborne Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs at Princeton University, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the intersection of poverty and geography and why in rural parts of the country residents feel the American Dream is on life support. The book, written with co-authors H. Luke Shaefer...