Think from KERA

Latest Episodes:

Psych lessons from one of Yale’s most popular classes Mar 03, 2023

Show notes

The field of psychology mines the depths of our personalities, but it also says a lot about brain function, too. Paul Bloom is Professor of Psychology at University of Toronto and the Brooks and Suzanne Ragen Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Yale University. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the science of the mind, from nature vs. nurture, to what these insights can tell us about the most hot-button topics of our time. His book is “Psych: The Story of the Human Mind.”

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David Cross on why he’ll never stop doing stand-up Mar 02, 2023

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David Cross is known for his razor-sharp wit and commentary. The performer, writer, producer, Emmy Award winner and two-time Grammy Award nominee joins host Krys Boyd to talk about his new show that plumbs topics like raising children in America, cops and abortion, and Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill. His show, which is touring in 40 cities across North America, is “David Cross: Worst Daddy in the World.”

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Are celebrities pandering to queer fans with gender-fluid style? Mar 01, 2023

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With new standards of gender fluidity, dressing in femme styles is en vogue—but is it co-opting gay culture? Mark Harris, a contributor to T: The New York Times Style magazine, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss Gen Z’s approach to sexuality through fashion, and the questions it raises about LGBTQ labeling and identity. His article is “Is Celebrity ‘Queer Baiting’ Really Such a Crime?“

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Staying athletic as you age is a mental game Feb 28, 2023

Show notes

Don’t let middle age stop you from pushing your physical boundaries. Steven Kotler, Executive Director of the Flow Research Collective, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss his quest to keep his mental and competitive edge with trick skiing, and talks about the benefits of testing your limits. His book “Gnar Country: Growing Old, Staying Rad.”

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How to have police reform and lower crime rates, too Feb 27, 2023

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After the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police, there were ample calls for reckoning in law enforcement. Neil Gross, professor of sociology at Colby College, is a former patrol officer in the police department in Berkeley, California. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how three police departments have taken on reform efforts, trying to change police culture from the inside to view justice from a new lens. His book is “Walk the Walk: How Three Police Chiefs Defied the Odds and Changed Cop Culture.”

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From the archives: The true history of lie detector tests Feb 24, 2023

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The polygraph was heralded as an infallible way to detect a criminal, but soon after, controversy arrived. Writer and director Rob Rapley joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the invention of what is known as the lie detector test, its uses and abuses, and how it’s used today. His American Experience film, “The Lie Detector,” is available on PBS streaming apps.

This episode originally aired on January 10, 2023.

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Menopause doesn’t have to be this bad Feb 23, 2023

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Women have suffered through hot flashes and hormone fluxes thinking there was no help for symptoms of menopause. New York Times Magazine staff writer Susan Dominus joins host Krys Boyd to talk about hormone therapy, which was once regularly prescribed but now is rarely used following a flawed study that doctors are hesitant to move past. Her article is “Women Have Been Misled About Menopause.”

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Why freedom of speech is not absolute Feb 22, 2023

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The First Amendment protects freedom of speech, but that protection isn’t absolute. Dennis Baron, Emeritus Professor of English at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss times when employers, schools and, yes, the government have the authority to curtail what you say. His book is “You Can’t Always Say What You Want: The Paradox of Free Speech.”

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From the Archives: Mourning a loved one is complicated by suicide Feb 21, 2023

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After her mother’s suicide, Laura Trujillo faced a reckoning. Trujillo is managing editor for Life and Entertainment at USA Today, and she joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the shock she faced when her mother took her own life, the dark secret she had to plumb to move forward, and where she ultimately found peace. Her book is “Stepping Back from the Ledge: A Daughter’s Search for Truth and Renewal.”

This podcast was originally aired on August 15th, 2022.

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Presidents come and go, but Putin remains Feb 20, 2023

Show notes

Russia invaded Ukraine a year ago, but Vladimir Putin’s provocations toward the West have been ongoing for decades. Frontline filmmaker Michael Kirk joins host Krys Boyd to discuss Putin’s relationship to not only President Biden, but to Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump. The PBS Frontline documentary “Putin and the Presidents” is now streaming at PBS.org.

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