Think from KERA

Scientists warned for years that a coronavirus could trigger the next big pandemic, but those warnings were largely ignored. Science writer David Quammen joins host Krys Boyd to discuss what we know about the origins of SARS-CoV-2 and how it spread so quickly in the human population. Plus, we’ll meet the virologists trying to head off future pandemics. His book is “ Breathless: The Scientific Race...

For-profit hospice-care providers can expect the highest profits with the least amount of care is provided. ProPublica reporter Ava Kofman joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why the yield margins are so high, and the ways some companies are maximizing Medicare benefits to the detriment of those in their care. Her article is called “ Endgame: How the Visionary Hospice Movement Became a For-Profit Hust...

We live in deeply divided times, but scientific research says there are proven ways to meet in the middle. Geoffrey L. Cohen is professor of psychology and the James G. March Professor of Organizational Studies in Education and Business at Stanford University. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why establishing connections and reflecting on core values are keys to creating empathy. His book is “ B...

There are so many ways the world could meet a catastrophic end, but don’t worry, experts are working on which one is the most plausible. Joel Achenbach is a reporter covering science and politics for The Washington Post. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the scientists working on ways to save planet Earth from extinction and how to manage all that existential dread. His article is called “ Astero...

The search for aliens is shifting from looking for signs of life to scouring the cosmos for signs of technology. New York Times Magazine science writer Jon Gertner joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the search for traces of machines throughout the universe, and what happens if we actually find them. His article is “ The Search for Intelligent Life Is About to Get a Lot More Interesting. ” This episod...

In a culture focused on winning, it can be hard to know when to walk away. Annie Duke is a former professional poker player, and she joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why quitting is a key element of success and how to know when it’s time to fold ’em and move on. Her book is “ Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Abraham Lincoln was president of a divided country, and the lessons from his life might help guide America today. Jon Meacham is a Pulitzer Prize–winning biographer, the Rogers Chair in the American Presidency at Vanderbilt University and a fellow of the Society of American Historians. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss his biography of the 16th president, from birth to assassination, and Lincoln’...

Geopolitics is more than international relations – it’s also rooted in the very real maps and boundaries that define places. Daniel Immerwahr, associate professor of history at Northwestern University, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why map reading is key to understanding hot spots around the globe and how topography is related to history. His article “ Are we really prisoners of geography? ” was...

With the launch of Artemis I, NASA has placed its focus back on the moon. Joseph Silk is Bloomberg Research Professor at Johns Hopkins University and a researcher at the Institute of Astrophysics in Paris and the Beecroft Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology at the University of Oxford. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss what lunar exploration looks like more than 50 years since the f...

There are plenty of reasons why we love our dogs – and now science has turned its eye on our furry companions to better understand why we can’t live without them. Animal expert Jules Howard joins host Krys Boyd to discuss advancements in dog research, what we know about dog cognition and emotion, and the decades of study that brought us to where we are today. His book is called “ Wonderdog: The Sc...

We’re often told to forgive and forget, but it’s important to not skip over the repair for what was broken. Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg is an author, speaker and scholar in residence at the National Council of Jewish Women. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss apology, consequences and restitution in the modern world using the works of a medieval philosopher as her guide. Her book is “ On Repentance And...

It’s time to test how well you know the U.S. Constitution. Julie Silverbrook, constitutional scholar in residence at iCivics, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss 35 new short-form videos designed to engage children about the basics of American democracy. And while the program is designed for kids, we’ll also talk about gaps in what adults understand about the law of the land. The series is called “ Th...

The Wall Street Journal called Billy Collins “America’s favorite poet,” and now he’s back with a new book. The former U.S. poet laureate joins host Krys Boyd to discuss his new work full of small poems, built to pack an emotional punch in just a few, short lines. The collection is “ Musical Tables: Poems .” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices