The State of Us

Science is a diverse and wide-ranging field that is often underappreciated. Justin and Lance are joined by Ann Druyan, author of Cosmos: Possible Worlds, to discuss what makes us human and our place in our universe. tags: universe, space, tsou, cosmos, ann druyan, human, justin weller, lance jackson, earth, stars, national geographic

A recent Pew Research Survey shows that 85% of Americans are in favor of policy to restrict automation. Justin and Lance discuss if we should be concerned about automation and go into the history of automation from Gutenberg to 2020. tags: politics, jobs, economy, worker, pay, wages, robot, automation, technology, news, careers, tsou, truechat, justin weller, lance jackson

Images of amazing vacations, flawless bodies, and amazing homes that once dominated social media feeds are being replaced with snapshots of real life. Influencers sharing more about anxiety and depression cause teens to do the same, but this might not be all positive. Justin and lance are joined by producer Bradley Butsch to discuss the current landscape of social media. tags: tsou, social media,...

Religious, not religious, or somewhere in-between, we all have a set of beliefs. How can we better discuss faith by understanding where and when atheism originated and how it has evolved. Justin and Lance are joined by Alec Ryrie, a Professor of the History of Christianity at Durham University, to discuss the origins of unbelief and how everyone on the spectrum shares some commonalities. tags: tso...

With about 25 trillion in official national debt and record setting stimulus packages, it is essential that we examine the true value of these initiatives. Justin and Lance are joined by Joe Minarik, former Chief Economist for the Clinton Administration, to discuss the economics behind stimulus packages and printing money in the age of COVID-19. tags: tsou, economics, government, politics, covid-1...

May of 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of the Kent State shootings. During this time of remembrance, we have an opportunity to examine our nations appetite for war. Justin and Lance discuss America's current attitude towards war and the history that got us here. tags: tsou, history, politics, war, military, history, youth, kent state, kent state shootings, 1970, protest, government, national guard...

Corporate and political power brokers with access to Washington framed big oil and Christianity as the twin pillars of American exceptionalism in the modern age. Justin and Lance are joined by Darren Dochuk, author of Anointed With Oil, to discuss how Christianity and crude made modern America. tags: tsou, darren dochuk, oil, Christianity, crude, Christian, economy, money, God, Rockefeller, politi...

In recent weeks, protests have broken out in response to government orders related to COVID-19. Not surprisingly, most of this dialogue is happening on Facebook. Justin and Lance discuss if Facebook should censor those who detest healthcare officials in the age of the corona virus. tags: tsou, censorship, facebook, covid-19, economy, business, corona virus, instagram, politics, government, social...

The Paycheck Protection Program was created by Congress in response to COVID-19. With billions of dollars allocated, the PPP could result in legalized fraud if not carefully allocated. Justin and Lance discuss who should qualify for this money and the ethics of taking unnecessary government funding. tags: tsou, politics, economy, money, covid-19, corona virus, paycheck protection program, trump, g...

What do Biden and Trump need to do to win the presidency and how should they confront one another in the 2020 campaign run? Justin and Lance discuss how America should ensure a safe and fair election in the age of COVID-19. tags: tsou, trump, biden, health, republican, democrat, politics, government, president, election, vice president, pandemic, covid-19, corona virus, safety, fairness, policies,...

At a time when our nation's leadership is being critically tested, the very notion of how the United States came to be is as important as ever. To frame our understanding of the news media, women's rights, and words like "unconstitutional," we have to look at the years leading up to the American Revolution. Justin and Lance are joined by Mary Beth Norton, a professor of American history at Cornell...

The Education Department is set to cut off federal funding for some rural schools. Also, schools across the country have made a huge push to ensure that all students have devices, but now parents are pushing back. Justin and Lance discuss the current state of education and how schools should implement technology in the classroom. tags: education, tsou, technology, chromebook, school, high school,...

The book of books or how many of us have come to know it, the Bible. Religious, not religious, or somewhere in-between, we all have preconceptions about the Bible. Justin and Lance are joined by Timothy Beal, a professor of religion, to discuss how the Bible came to be and its place in the modern world. tags: bible, tsou, christian, Christianity, god, Jesus, book of books, evangelicalism, capitali...

Recent data shows that there may be strong biological reasons that girls spend more time on social media and boys spend more time playing video games. Also, half of Millennials believe gender is a spectrum, and that some fall outside of conventional categories. Justin and Lance discuss gender identity and how different generations perceive this topic. tags: gender, tsou, identity, sex, spectrum, d...

Is the success of The New York Times bad for news journalism? The company now has more digital subscribers than The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and 250 local Gannett papers combined. Justin and Lance give their perspective on the rise of The Times, as well as news diversification. tags: tsou, news, new york times, journalism, wall street journal, media, politics, trump, president, ca...

Large and small hospitals are rushing to move doctor visits to virtual settings as quick as possible. Moreover, one-third of large employers were planning to offer on-site behavioral counseling this year before the pandemic struck. Justin and Lance discuss how how COVID-19 is changing these industries and how workplaces are adapting. tags: COVID-19, corona virus, workplace, economy, mental health,...

In the age of mass information and social media, the truth can be difficult to find. For example, a study in 1977 found test subjects were more likely to believe false information the more it was presented to them. Justin and Lance layout how all of us can avoid misinformation and question our own beliefs. tags: misinformation, covid-19, corona virus, politics, government, information, social medi...

As states across the country move to keep more than 100 million Americans in their homes, a divide has burst into public view with the White House raising concerns over the impact of the economy from COVID-19. Justin and Lance discuss some of the moves that are being considered to stabilize the economy amidst this global pandemic. tags: corona virus, covid-19, tsou, pandemic, social distancing, mo...

John Adams and John Quincy Adams played a crucial role in the development of our nation. How did the first American political dynasty lose its prominence? Doug Egerton, author of Heirs of an Honored Name, joins Justin and Lance to discuss the significance of the Adams family in early America, and how a few fatal flaws of the family eventually lead to their downfall. tags: john adams, john quincy a...

American entrepreneurship has been declining since the early 1970's. Also, in the late 1980's, more than half of American businesses were less than five years old. Justin and Lance question why our nation is stagnating and what it means for our future. tags: tsou, politics, economy, america, dream, innovation, stagnation, decadence, entrepreneurship, risk, change, business, travel, communicate, co...

America has a housing crisis. About a quarter of renters send more than half of their income to their landlord, homelessness is resurgent, and eviction displaces 1,000,000 households a year. Justin and Lance question what direction is best to conclude this housing crisis. tags: housing, economy, jobs, opportunity, commute, politics, climate, health, tsou, housing crisis, California, infrastructure...

Researchers recently asked three married couples that consisted of heterosexual, gay, and lesbian partners, to keep daily diaries to track marital stress. The results showed that same sex spouses feel more satisfied than different sex couples. Recent data also suggests that some older couples are staying together by living a part. Justin and Lance discuss why this might be the case and what all co...

Most students have no idea how to format an email properly. Also, new members of the workforce are having trouble communicating effectively. Justin and Lance discuss what a proper email should look like, and what schools and parents can do to improve this situation. tags: email, tsou, technology, school, education, computers, google, chromebook, texting, emoji, communication, justin weller, lance...

Is the American dream dead or do younger genertions have a different dream? Justin and Lance discuss a Wall Street Journal piece that contends the dream is alive and well. tags: tsou, politics, dream, america, economy, wages, business, jobs, boomers, millennials, house, gnerations, college, education, tuition, history, justin weller, lance, jackson

Most people suffer from ailments later in life, but before age 50, people are affected at far lower rates. What if we could stop people from physically aging? How would that change things? Lance and Justin were joined by Chip Walter, a National Geographic explorer, journalist, and filmmaker, to talk about his new book Immortality Inc. tags: tsou, national geographic, immortality inc, life, science...