Think from KERA

Latest Episodes:

Unpacking passport privilege Dec 21, 2023

Show notes

It’s much easier to act on your wanderlust if you hold a U.S. passport. Shahnaz Habib is a writer and translator who consults for the United Nations. She joins host Krys Boyd to talk about the privilege of who gets to travel and who doesn’t, and about how the Western-centric view of exploring the world differs from how other people across the globe look at leisure travel. Her book is “Airplane Mode: An Irreverent History of Travel.”

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Journalists of color carry extra burden Dec 20, 2023

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Black journalists may have the power of the pen, but that doesn’t shield them from racism while doing their jobs. James E. Causey is Ideas Lab reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the hate mail he’s gotten through the years, why he initially hid his pain from his readers and colleagues, and why he feels it’s time to confront hate head on. His recent column on the topic is headlined “I’m worn from years of racial slurs. But I’ll no longer be silent about bigotry.”

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Why do our bodies age? Dec 19, 2023

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As researchers continue their search for the fountain of youth, they’re turning their attention to an unlikely source: worms. Coleen T. Murphy is professor of genomics and molecular biology at Princeton and director of both the university’s Glenn Foundation for Research on Aging and the Simons Collaboration on Plasticity in the Aging Brain. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how worms and other simple organisms offer insights into the aging process and how we might slow it down. Her book is “How We Age: The Science of Longevity.”

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An astronaut’s guide to life Dec 19, 2023

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Astronaut Mike Massimino executed the most dangerous and complex mission in space shuttle history, so he knows a thing or two about leadership. He’s now a professor at Columbia University, and he joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how to build effective teams and pursue your biggest dreams. His book is “Moonshot: A NASA Astronaut’s Guide to Achieving the Impossible.”

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Our constitutional right to lie Dec 18, 2023

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If lying became illegal, that probably wouldn’t curb “fake news.” Jeff Kosseff, associate professor of cybersecurity law at the United States Naval Academy, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss what is constitutionally accepted free speech, and why he believes we need a marketplace of ideas so people can make up their own minds. His book is “Liar in a Crowded Theater: Freedom of Speech in a World of Misinformation.”

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An astronaut’s guide to life Dec 14, 2023

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Getting around your community is a right not a privilege Dec 13, 2023

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Transportation systems have been historically marred by inequality. Veronica O. Davis is a civil engineer, planner, public speaker and community activist. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how we should measure success by counting how we move people instead of vehicles – and about how we might take a more human-centric approach to urban planning. Her book is “Inclusive Transportation: A Manifesto for Repairing Divided Communities.”

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On comedy and cancel culture Dec 12, 2023

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The history of comedy is littered with pearl-clutching reactions to off-color bits. Historian Kliph Nesteroff joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how comedians have always pushed societal boundaries – and about how audience reactions range from complicity to virtue signaling. His book is “Outrageous: A History of Showbiz and the Culture Wars.”

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The geography of American Poverty Dec 11, 2023

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There are parts of the country where upward mobility is simply unobtainable. Kathryn J. Edin, William Church Osborne Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs at Princeton University, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the intersection of poverty and geography and why in rural parts of the country residents feel the American Dream is on life support. The book, written with co-authors H. Luke Shaefer and Timothy J. Nelson, is “The Injustice of Place: Uncovering the Legacy of Poverty in America.”

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Could deep brain stimulation cure depression? Dec 08, 2023

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Treatment resistant mental illness is a debilitating condition, and scientists are searching for breakthroughs. Laura Sanders writes about neuroscience for ScienceNews. She joins host Krys Boyd to talk about the pros and cons of deep brain stimulation, where electrical pulses are delivered straight into the brain during surgery. Her article is “The science behind deep brain stimulation for depression.”

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