Daniel E. Lieberman, professor of human evolutionary biology at Harvard University, joins us to talk about why we exercise and how that’s changed, the myths and realities of its benefits, and helpful motivations for getting off the couch.
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Regrets… thankfully we’ve had a few
Author Daniel Pink discusses research drawing on regret that shows how it can be a force for improvement, even providing greater meaning to our lives.
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The ugly history of fast fashion
Sofi Thanhauser of the Pratt Institute discusses her research into linen, cotton, silk, synthetics, and wool, how they shaped civilization and why, today, fashion has become a leading producer of pollution on the planet.
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Motherhood: The pressure to be perfect
Author Jessamine Chan discusses her novel “The School for Good Mothers,” which focuses on a Big Brother-like future in which perfect parenting is judged by the state.
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How jeans became an American wardrobe staple
Michael Bicks talks about the history of jeans, how they’ve swept the globe as a fashion staple, and why they are a touchstone for major moments in our nation’s history.
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The many ironies of the 1990s
Author Chuck Klosterman talks about his examination of a decade or so defined by burgeoning tech and 9/11, plus Seinfeld and Oprah.
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The changing seasons of friendship
Essayist B.D. McClay joins us to discuss the many phases of a friendship, from joy to loss, using touchstones from classic stories.
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What’s lost when English dominates the world
Linguist and lawyer Rosemary Salomone talks about the implications for a world dominated by English – from legal issues to class divisions.
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How language keeps cults together
Amanda Montell is a language scholar and host/creator of the “Sounds Like a Cult” podcast, and she joins us to talk about how language is used to develop the us vs. them mentality that solidifies people’s membership in cults – and cultish organizations.
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In Search Of Latinos On TV
Frederick Luis Aldama joins host Krys Boyd to talk about Latino representation on television – and about how too often that representation devolves into stereotype.
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Is it time to move on from the Beatles and Stones?
Music historian Ted Gioia talks about why 70 percent of music demand today is for old songs, with publishing companies investing in vintage catalogs while ignoring new, emerging talent.
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Why your kids are obsessed with toy videos
New York Times writer Jay Caspian Kang talks about 10-year-old Ryan Kaji and the $25 million a year toy empire he built with the help of his parents that has major brands angling for partnerships.
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