Think from KERA

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Meet the nuns of Texas’s death row Apr 02, 2025

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Sisters of Mary Morning Star is a group of Catholic nuns who work with women on Texas’ death row. New Yorker staff writer Lawrence Wright joins guest host Courtney Collins to discuss the deep bonds the sisters have with condemned inmates, what it says about faith and friendship, and how they view the death penalty as law. His article is “The Nuns Trying to Save the Women on Texas’s Death Row.”

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Where do the Democrats go from here? Apr 01, 2025

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In the 2024 election, Democrats lost the presidency and control of the Senate. What now? Katie Glueck covers American politics with an emphasis on the Democratic Party for The New York Times. She joins guest host John McCaa to discuss why the Blue Wave never materialized, the current mood of a party marked by in-fighting, and strategies Democratic Party leadership might employ heading into the 2026 mid-terms.

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The story of Black literacy in the South Mar 31, 2025

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If knowledge is power, withholding an education is also a way of denying power. University of South Carolina School of Law professor Derek W. Black joins guest host John McCaa to talk about the history of Southern leaders withholding literacy from Black people from the end of the Civil War through Reconstruction and beyond – and about the lengths that Black Americans have gone to get an education. His book is, “Dangerous Learning: The South’s Long War on Black Literacy“.

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The scientists who believe in near death experiences Mar 28, 2025

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Researchers are diligently gathering data about near-death experiences to better understand the thin line between life and death. Science journalist Rachel Nuwer joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the phenomenon, which has been recorded since ancient times, and how it may offer insight into how we understand consciousness. Her Scientific American article is “Lifting the Veil on Near-Death Experiences.”

This episode originally aired on June 10th, 2024.

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Are teens afraid of dating? Mar 27, 2025

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“Do you like me? Check yes or no.” Say goodbye to the childhood love note — teens aren’t dating anymore. Faith Hill, staff writer at The Atlantic, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the demise of teenage dating, what kids are missing out on when they don’t practice being in adult-like relationships, and how a new idea of adolescence is being formed — for better or worse. Her article is “Teens Are Forgoing a Classic Rite of Passage.”

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Are school grades failing students? Mar 26, 2025

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As far as student motivation goes, letter grades get a big fat “F.” Author Daniel Pink joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the history of letter and number grading, why they don’t move students to care about their education or help with material retention, and why it might be time to ditch them altogether. His article “Why not get rid of grades?” was published in The Washington Post.

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The power of shame in human rights Mar 25, 2025

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For human rights organizations dealing with oppressive governments, sometimes humiliating them on the world stage actually gets things done. Kenneth Roth, former executive director of Human Rights Watch, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss his organization’s tactic of “naming and shaming” countries that violate human rights and why Americans are sometimes blind to the lessening of freedoms and dignity around the world. His book is “Righting Wrongs: Three Decades on the Front Lines Battling Abusive Governments.”

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The liberal case for limiting immigration Mar 24, 2025

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Denmark is known as a progressive bastion in a right-moving Europe – and its leadership is making the case that restricting immigration is the path to maintaining its liberal society. David Leonhardt is an editorial director at The New York Times. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss Denmark’s Center-Left party, which argues that restraining immigration and demanding immigrants assimilate quickly is the only way the country can continue to provide its generous social programs. And we’ll hear if U.S. Democratic Party leaders are taking note. His article is “In an Age of Right-Wing Populism, Why Are Denmark’s Liberals Winning?”

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Is your brand the same as your identity? Mar 21, 2025

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Rebekah Taussig has chronicled her life in a wheelchair – a rewarding experienced that has also proved limiting. Taussig is the author of “Sitting Pretty: The View From My Ordinary Resilient Disabled Body,” and she joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why, while she’s a champion of disability rights, she worries this has pigeonholed her when she wants to explore so many other topics and possibilities. Her article “I’m a Disabled Woman. Is That My Brand?” was published in Time magazine.

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How people get skipped for organ transplant Mar 20, 2025

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Close to 100,000 people will wait for a donated kidney this year – and 1 in 5 perfectly healthy candidates will be passed over. Brian M. Rosenthal is an investigative reporter at The New York Times. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the problems with the system of organ donation, why healthy matches are routinely skipped and what can be done to fix a broken process. His article is “Organ Transplant System ‘In Chaos’ as Waiting Lists Are Ignored.”

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