Innovation Hub

Latest Episodes:

The Complicated Story of Reading in America Mar 24, 2017

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Millions of American adults can’t read at a high enough level to keep track of their health care or help with their kids’ homework. Professor Mark Seidenberg says a disconnect between reading researchers and teachers is partly to blame.

How The New Health Care Bill Could Affect Your Uber Ride Mar 17, 2017

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The gig economy has exploded over the past decade. Could Paul Ryan's new health care proposal halt that progress?

Full Show: Walking the Divide Mar 17, 2017

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How does inequality affect our lives? Alan Berube and Alexandra Killewald explain. Then, according to Walter Scheidel, there are ways to significantly reduce inequality. But they're all... uncomfortable. Then, why does America spend more on health care than any other country in the world. And finally, you can thank Obama for your next Uber ride. But don’t get too comfortable: here’s how the new health care proposal might affect the gig economy.

What Inequality Looks Like Right Now Mar 17, 2017

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Beyond the headlines, beyond the soundbites, what is the state of inequality in America? Alan Berube of The Brookings Institution, and Harvard’s Alexandra Killewald joins us to answer that question.

The High Cost of Health Care Innovation Mar 17, 2017

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The innovations that have made our health care so effective also contribute to what makes it so expensive. MIT economist (who also worked on the Affordable Healthcare Actt) Jon Gruber says we should do a cost-benefit analysis on new drugs to keep costs low.

Inequality's Terrible Cure Mar 17, 2017

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There’s a way to reduce inequality… but you aren’t going to like it.

Full Show: Making Connections Mar 10, 2017

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Dating in the digital age equates to a slew of websites and apps that all purport to offer paths to love. But, while we may have more ways to find that special someone than ever before, actually forging those bonds isn’t quite as easy as swiping right.

Full Show: Mismanagement Mar 03, 2017

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Three things to know: Con men - and women - have been around for as long as we’ve been around. So why do we keep falling for their tricks? Maria Konnikova explains the science of the swindle. There’s no international law on time zones or daylight savings. And the result? Chaos. But Steve Hanke has a simple solution: universal time. Flint, Michigan, was just the beginning. Marc Edwards says that our country is relying on a network of very old pipes, many of them lined with lead.

We're All Suckers Mar 03, 2017

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Should you respond to that suspiciously attractive suitor on OkCupid? Should you invest your money in a “too good to be true” land deal? Before you trust anyone, listen to Maria Konnikova talk about the history and psychology of cons.

Why Scheduling Your Free Time Might Ruin It Mar 03, 2017

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Americans are becoming increasingly dependant on our calendars. But what happens when you start to schedule free time? Bad things, says Selin Malkoc.