Think from KERA

Latest Episodes:

A look at eyeliner Jan 05, 2024

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If the eyes are the windows to the soul, eyeliner is a signifier of power. Journalist Zahra Hankir joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the religiosity, spirituality and cultural significance of eyeliner and its use throughout the ages and around the world. Her book is “Eyeliner: A Cultural History.”

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The gift of buying less Jan 03, 2024

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You might’ve heard of the “slow food” movement – maybe it’s time to try the “slow buy” movement, too? Chip Colwell, lecturer in anthropology at the University of Colorado, Denver, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the pact he made with his family that they buy no more than five items in a year and what it taught him about consumption in this country. His book is “So Much Stuff: How Humans Discovered Tools, Invented Meaning, and Made More of Everything.”

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What your child really needs from you Jan 02, 2024

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It isn’t hard for parents to love their children unconditionally, but they might not always like how they behave. Jeffrey Bernstein is a parent coach and psychologist. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss methods of dealing with a defiant child, offering advice on allowing kids to develop healthy coping skills and for parents to find peace in the house again. His article “What Children Need Most from Their Parents Isn’t Love” was published in Psychology Today.

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Best of 2023: Why we should put women in charge of climate change Jan 01, 2024

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Climate change affects us all, but women are often left to pick up the pieces of families in poverty and crisis caused by climate disasters. Zainab Salbi, co-founder of the nonprofit Daughters for Earth, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss her efforts to empower women to counter climate change with activism, her previous work helping survivors of war and conflict and why she’s made justice for women her life’s calling. This episode originally aired Oct. 16, 2023.

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Best of 2023: Chatbots say wild things, and they learn it from us Dec 29, 2023

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Chatbots are becoming more sophisticated and are better able to mimic human speech. That can be exciting … and problematic. Washington Post tech reporter Gerrit De Vynck joins host Krys Boyd to break down what’s next for this new technology. His article is “Microsoft’s AI chatbot is going off the rails.” This episode originally aired March 6, 2023.

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Best of 2023: How to keep going when it feels like you’re getting nowhere Dec 28, 2023

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Feeling stuck in life is common, but good news: There are tried and true strategies for greasing the wheels. Adam Alter is professor of marketing and the Stansky Teaching Excellence Faculty Fellow at New York University’s Stern School of Business. He also holds an affiliated professorship in social psychology at NYU’s psychology department. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the emotions, thoughts and behaviors that hold us back — and tricks for flourishing amid our anxiety. His book is “Anatomy of a Breakthrough: How to Get Unstuck When It Matters Most.” This episode originally aired July 6, 2023.

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Best of 2023: Do animals have inner lives? Dec 27, 2023

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For centuries, we humans have placed ourselves above other animals in part because of the belief that we are the only creatures with the cognitive ability to turn thought into speech. Science journalist Sonia Shah joins host Krys Boyd to discuss what it means now that researchers are discovering that animals communicate in languages, too, and the moral dilemmas that is bringing up for biologists. Her article “The Animals Are Talking. What Does It Mean?” appeared in The New York Times Magazine. This episode originally aired Oct. 13, 2023.

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Best of 2023: The many different lives of Latinos Dec 26, 2023

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The term “Latino” covers a vast array of experiences – new immigrants from Guatemala, third-generation Mexican-Americans and many, many others. Héctor Tobar, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and novelist, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss his conversations with a multitude of voices identifying as Latino in the U.S. and the many ways they contribute history and culture to the American landscape. His book is “Our Migrant Souls: A Meditation on Race and the Meanings and Myths of ‘Latino.'” This episode originally aired July 14, 2023.

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Best of 2023: The story of a recovering foodie Dec 25, 2023

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Many of us have a passion for good food and drink – but what happens when your high standards lead to disappointment more often than pleasure? Dan Ahdoot is a stand-up comic and restaurateur, and he joins host Krys Boyd to talk about how his foodie obsessions took a toll on his happiness and relationships and how he finally learned to let go of the pursuit of perfection. He’s the author of “Undercooked: How I Let Food Become My Life Navigator and How Maybe That’s a Dumb Way to Live.” This episode originally aired on April 4, 2023.

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The gender politics of pockets Dec 22, 2023

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If there’s one thing a woman loves, it’s pockets in her outfit. Hannah Carlson teaches dress history and material culture at the Rhode Island School of Design. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the gender politics of why men get pockets when women don’t, and why pockets can be seen as signs of everything from laziness to respectability. Her book is “Pockets: An Intimate History of How We Keep Things Close.”

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