Think from KERA

Latest Episodes:

Where to find the wonder that gives meaning to life Sep 17, 2024

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Of all the human emotions to explore, wonder may be low on the list – but it’s essential to our survival as a species. Helen De Cruz, Danforth Chair in the humanities and a professor of philosophy at Saint Louis University, Missouri, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how wonder pushes us to explore the world around us, leads us to love more fully and helps us to get the most out of our brains. Her book is “Wonderstruck: How Wonder and Awe Shape the Way We Think.”

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There’s no vaccine for the loneliness epidemic Sep 16, 2024

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We know that loneliness takes a toll on mental and physical health, but solutions for the problem are hard to come by. Matthew Shaer is contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine, an Emerson Collective fellow at New America and a founder of the podcast studio Campside Media. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how our phones and computers might have made the problem worse – but aren’t the root cause of our social disconnection – and the ways researchers are trying to approach what is now an epidemic. His article is “Why Is the Loneliness Epidemic So Hard to Cure?”

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Will we love A.I too much? Sep 13, 2024

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As artificial intelligence becomes more sophisticated, are we in danger of creating a world in which people turn to computers for companionship instead of living, breathing humans? Robert Mahari, JD-PhD Researcher at MIT Media Lab and Harvard Law School, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why the doom and gloom of A.I. taking over has got it all wrong — that the real problem is we might actually like it too much to put it down. His article “We need to prepare for ‘addictive intelligence’” was published by the MIT Technology Review.

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How shame is used as a weapon Sep 12, 2024

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Shame might work as a deterrent, but it also affects self-esteem deeply and can backfire as a tool. Journalist Melissa Petro joins host Krys Boyd to discuss her own story as a sex worker-turned-elementary school teacher until she was outed by a newspaper, and how she had to grow to be shame resilient. Her book is “Shame on You: How to Be a Woman in the Age of Mortification.”

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How free money helps low-income households Sep 11, 2024

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For three years, a thousand people receiving an extra $1,000 a month were tracked — and now we know how that income changed their lives. Chabeli Carrazana, economy and childcare reporter for the 19th News, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how guaranteed income meant people could move beyond paycheck-to-paycheck, contribute to the economy and help support other family members. Plus, we’ll consider what the presidential candidates have to say about economic policies. Her article is “The results of the biggest study on guaranteed income programs are finally in.”

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The curse of the ‘gifted’ label Sep 10, 2024

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Being labeled “gifted” in school can come with perks — but research is showing those don’t always carry over into adulthood. Constance Grady, senior correspondent for Vox, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the nature/nurture arguments around giftedness, how being tapped as gifted changes mental health outcomes well into adult years, and how a gifted education model affects future potential. Her article is “Does being a gifted kid make for a burned-out adulthood?”

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Is it time to rewrite the Constitution? Sep 09, 2024

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With all the disagreement about how to interpret the Constitution, maybe we need to consider that the problem is the Constitution itself. Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, joins host Krys Boyd to make the case that this document – written for a low population, rural society 200-years ago – has trouble incorporating modern life into its scope, and why it might need to be rethought. His book is “No Democracy Lasts Forever: How the Constitution Threatens the United States.”

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Cynicism won’t protect you from getting hurt Sep 06, 2024

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If you’re someone who always thinks the sky is falling, chances are you’re not very happy. Jamil Zaki, professor of psychology at Stanford University and the director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why cynicism leads to not only a more dismal outlook on life, but deleterious health effects. Plus we’ll hear why a little dose of hope can inject joy into everyday living. Zaki’s book is “Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness.”

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Can cheapskates and big spenders coexist? Sep 05, 2024

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If one partner in a relationship holds the purse strings tightly, and the other wants to spend freely, can they co-exist? Scott Rick, marketing professor at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how money affects relationships, what happens when being frugal goes up against spending beyond one’s means, and how two people can get on the same page when it comes to money. His book is “Tightwads and Spendthrifts: Navigating the Money Minefield in Real Relationships.”

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Music as medicine Sep 04, 2024

Show notes

Our favorite songs may move us deeply, but do they also benefit us in other ways? Daniel Levitin is a neuroscientist, musician and visiting professor at UCLA. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the many ways the brain responds to music —from warding off disease to helping those who stutter to releasing oxytocin — and what science is uncovering about this phenomenon. His book is “I Heard There Was a Secret Chord: Music as Medicine.”

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