Think from KERA

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We should hang out more. It’s healthy. Mar 03, 2026

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There’s a push toward frictionless interactions with other people, but our need for socialization is key to good health. Ben Rein is a neuroscientist, chief science officer of the Mind Science Foundation, adjunct lecturer at Stanford University, clinical assistant professor at SUNY Buffalo and science educator. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why, like good sleep and proper nutrition, social interaction is critical, why we need to fight the urge to socialize less, and offers tips for how to make a great first impression. His book is “Why Brains Need Friends: The Neuroscience of Social Connection.”

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How the Smithsonian frames American history Mar 02, 2026

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The Smithsonian holds thousands of objects in their collection. The conversation about what to display can get contentious. Lily Meyer is a staff writer at The Atlantic and she joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the battles behind the scenes to tell the story of the United States, when Congress has a say in what the public sees and reads, and what the Trump administration’s latest rhetoric means for the future of the museum. Her article is “The Real Fight for the Smithsonian.”

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How vulnerability strengthens relationships Feb 27, 2026

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Ever feel embarrassed about oversharing at a cocktail party? Turns out, you might’ve been on the right track. Leslie John, James E. Burke Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why sharing our feelings garners trust, why we’re so often reluctant to let people into our lives, and why there is a cost to undersharing. Her book is “Revealing: The Underrated Power of Oversharing.”

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How can the war in Ukraine end? Feb 26, 2026

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It’s been four years since the beginning of the Ukraine war, and the consequences continue to reverberate across Europe and the world. David Kramer, Executive Director of the Bush Institute and former Assistant Secretary of State, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why he thinks the U.S. should increase military assistance to Ukraine, why more pressure needs to be put on Putin, and why conceding land to Russia is not the answer to unprovoked aggression.

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Crime rates are actually falling. Really. Feb 25, 2026

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After a pandemic-era spike in crime, public safety numbers are improving. The reasons are surprising. Henry Grabar is a staff writer at The Atlantic and he joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why the national murder rate has gone down 20 percent even with understaffed police forces around the country, the strategies being employed to patrol cities, and why a Biden-era policy might’ve opened a path to less crime. His article is “The Great Crime Decline Is Happening All Across the Country.”

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How healthy is President Trump? Feb 24, 2026

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Personal health information is usually considered private, but what kind of privacy should the president of the United States be afforded? Ben Terris, Washington Correspondent for New York Magazine, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss President Donald Trump, whom the White House says is incredibly healthy, even though observers point out discrepancies in their reports, and consider what is, in fact, normal aging for a 79-year-old. His article is “The Superhuman President.”

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Who gets to be an American? Feb 23, 2026

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Behind the very public discourse about citizenship and how to achieve it are very personal family stories. Daisy Hernandez, associate professor of creative writing at Northwestern University, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss her father – a refugee from Castro’s Cuba – and why we welcome some immigrants and shun others. Her book is “Citizenship: Notes on an American Myth.”

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Assessing 250 years of U.S. foreign policy Feb 20, 2026

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As the nation nears its 250th anniversary, it’s a fitting time to consider the very best – and very worst – of our foreign policy decisions. James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, joins guest host John McCaa to discuss the strategies that expanded U.S. reach and influence, the ones that plunged us into war and conflict, and why some of the least well-known strategies became the most consequential. The Council on Foreign Relations paper is called “The 10 Best and 10 Worst U.S. Foreign Policy Decisions.”

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The Black experience of Vietnam Feb 19, 2026

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Coretta Scott King fought to end the Vietnam War because of its outsized impact on the Black community. Matthew L. Demont, Sherman Fairchild Distinguished Professor of History at Dartmouth College, joins guest host John McCaa to discuss how the lives of King and a Medal of Honor recipient intersected, the fight Black military personnel faced to gain civil rights at home, and what patriotism looked like for Black Americans fighting at home and abroad. His book is “Until the Last Gun is Silent: A Story of Patriotism, the Vietnam War, and the Fight to Save America’s Soul.”

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How communities grow Feb 18, 2026

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The benefits of maintaining a neighborhood garden go well beyond the dinner plate. Kate Brown is distinguished professor in the history of science at MIT, and she joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how community gardens often turned impoverished neighborhoods into thriving city centers, why they can yield sometimes more than professional farms and how they continue to build community even today. Her book is “Tiny Gardens Everywhere: The Past, Present, and Future of the Self-Provisioning City.”

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