The Arik Korman Show

Science writer David Quammen, author of Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic, talks about why political leaders ignored the science behind COVID-19, how we can talk to our kids about the virus, and what the short-term and long-term prognosis looks like. Info at DavidQuammen.com

Sameer Pandya, author of the new novel Members Only, shares how a person of color navigates today's focus on racial equity and Black Lives Matter, how to talk to our kids about race, and what racial equity means.

Arlan Hamilton, Founder and Managing Partner of Backstage Capital, talks about her career path to becoming a venture capitalist, the role that race plays in the investment community, and why diversity is so important. Arlan’s new book is It's About Damn Time: How to Turn Being Underestimated Into Your Greatest Advantage. Info at ItsAboutDamnTime.com

Internationally acclaimed speaker and #1 national bestselling author John O'Leary talks about how we can help our kids to not lose their sense of awe, how we can help ourselves rise above difficult situations, and how we can find beauty and meaning around us - even in this time of COVID-19. John O’Leary’s new book is In Awe: Rediscover Your Childlike Wonder to Unleash Inspiration, Meaning, and Joy...

Stanford Graduate School of Business Professor and Social Psychologist Deborah Gruenfeld talks about whether we can determine how much power we really have, how Beyonce can inspire us to be more powerful, and what our leaders' reactions to COVID-19 say about them. Professor Gruenfeld’s new book is Acting With Power: Why We Are More Powerful Than We Believe.

Two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Rohde talks about how COVID-19 has impacted rhetoric about the "Deep State," what we can say to our kids to encourage them to constructively engage with government, and whether the Deep State really exists. David’s new book is In Deep: The FBI, the CIA, and the Truth About America’s “Deep State.” Follow David on Twitter @RohdeD

Veronica Roth, the bestselling author of the Divergent series, talks about how to handle fame, what we should say to our kids going through tough times, and how COVID-19 compares to a dystopian future. Veronica’s new book is Chosen Ones, her first adult novel.

Political strategist David Plouffe, who ran Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign, talks about what the election season could look like in the wake of COVID-19, what we can say to our kids who don't like Donald Trump yet still respect the office of the presidency, and how to counter lies from the Trump campaign and his supporters. David’s new book is A Citizen’s Guide to Beating Donald Trump....

Paleontologist, evolutionary biologist, and author Neil Shubin talks about what we should say to our kids about COVID-19, how life evolved to leave the water and live on land, and how we humans will continue to evolve. Neil’s new book is Some Assembly Required: Decoding Four Billion Years of Life, from Ancient Fossils to DNA.

Rahm Emanuel, 55th Mayor of Chicago and President Obama's Chief of Staff, talks about why he decided to give up a chance to be Speaker of the House, why he left the Obama White House to run for mayor of Chicago, and whether a mayor is qualified to be president. Mayor Emanuel’s new book is The Nation City: Why Mayors Are Now Running the World.

Physicist and Mathematician Brian Greene talks about what may have happened before the Big Bang, whether anything is permanent, and what the End of Time really means. Professor Greene's new book is Until the End of Time: Mind, Matter, and Our Search for Meaning in an Evolving Universe. Follow him on Twitter @bgreene

Gilles Nicault, the world-class Director of Winemaking and Viticulture at Long Shadows Vinters, talks about what makes Washington Wine unique, what he's looking forward to at 2020 Taste Washington, and what happened after President Obama served his 2009 Chester Kidder red blend to French President Francois Hollande at a 2014 White House state dinner.

Award-winning author Tim O'Brien talks about the challenge of balancing family and career, why its important to be present for our kids, and why he wrote his latest work, Dad's Maybe Book.

Magdalena Newman and her son Nathaniel, featured in an inspiring '20/20' profile about living with Treacher Collins syndrome, talk about secrets for resilience, the power of story, and what Nathaniel sees when he looks in the mirror. Magdalena and Nathaniel Newman tell their stories in their new books NORMAL: A Mother and Her Beautiful Son and NORMAL: One Kid’s Extraordinary Journey.

Paul Tough, bestselling author of How Children Succeed, talks about what higher education institutions can do to help students complete their credentials, what we can say to our kids about the importance of college without stressing them out, and how K-12 schools can best prepare students for what comes after high school. Paul’s new book is The Years That Matter Most: How College Makes or Breaks U...

'Supernatural' actress, writer, and web series creator Felicia Day talks about how Buffy and Avengers creator Joss Whedon has impacted her life, how to find your inner superhero, and why facing your fears head-on is not always the best thing. Felicia’s latest book is Embrace Your Weird: Face Your Fears and Unleash Creativity.

Dr. Marc Brackett, Founder and Director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, talks about what to do with our 'negative' emotions, how to teach our kids to manage their feelings, and how our feelings affect workplace productivity and ethical behavior. Dr. Brackett’s new book is Permission to Feel: Unlocking the Power of Emotions to Help Our Kids, Ourselves, and Our Society Thrive.

Accomplished literary editor Adrienne Brodeur talks about how to give children perspective on their own lives, how to set proper boundaries between parents and children, and what could happen when those boundaries get blurred. Her new memoir is Wild Game: My Mother, Her Lover, and Me.

Legendary travel writer Paul Theroux talks about the many misconceptions about people in and from Mexico, how to encourage more curiosity and exploration in our kids, and whether traveling in Mexico is safe. Paul’s latest book is On the Plain of Snakes: A Mexican Journey.

Acclaimed young adult author Nic Stone talks about whether we can move beyond judging people based on race and class, what she has learned from meeting with high school kids across the country, and how to be a good ally in the fight against racism. Her latest novel is Jackpot: All Bet$ Are Off.

Award-winning author Jonathan Safran Foer talks about which of our activities contribute the most to climate change, how we can adjust our diets to be more planet-friendly, and what we could say to our kids about how they can have an impact. Jonathan’s latest book is We Are the Weather: Saving the Planet Begins at Breakfast. More info at WeAreTheWeatherBook.com

Ask a Mortician web series creator Caitlin Doughty talks about how best to involve our kids in the funeral process, what kinds of options we have for burial when our time comes, and what happens if we're on a spacewalk and our space suit gets perforated by flying space junk. Caitlin's newest book is Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? Big Questions from Tiny Mortals about Death. Follow her on Twitter @Th...

Award-winning nature author Robert Macfarlane talks about what he learned from seeking the deepest, darkest place on earth, what he predicts will happen to the human species and our planet, and how we can speak to our children about climate change. Robert's new book is Underland: A Deep Time Journey.

Ibram X. Kendi, one of America’s foremost historians and leading anti-racist voices, talks about how we can be anti-racist ourselves, how, in Dr. Kendi's words, he evolved from internalizing racist thoughts to being an anti-racist, and what we can do to create a more equitable, anti-racist society. Dr. Kendi's book is How to Be an Antiracist.

Award-winning author John Lanchester talks about what would happen to Europe if the Gulf Stream went away, what collective action to fix climate change could look like, and whether he thinks he accurately predicted the future when he began his latest novel, The Wall.