Culture - Think

How jeans became an American wardrobe staple

February 15, 2022 Culture, History

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.

The many ironies of the 1990s

February 10, 2022 Culture, History

Author Chuck Klosterman talks about his examination of a decade or so defined by burgeoning tech and 9/11, plus Seinfeld and Oprah.

The changing seasons of friendship

February 9, 2022 Culture, Literature

Essayist B.D. McClay joins us to discuss the many phases of a friendship, from joy to loss, using touchstones from classic stories.

What’s lost when English dominates the world

February 7, 2022 Culture, Global Issues, Language

Linguist and lawyer Rosemary Salomone talks about the implications for a world dominated by English – from legal issues to class divisions.

Photo illustration of a marionette in human hand.

How language keeps cults together

February 4, 2022 Culture, Language

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.

America Ferrera in a scene from the NBC show "Superstore"

In Search Of Latinos On TV

February 3, 2022 Culture

Frederick Luis Aldama joins host Krys Boyd to talk about Latino representation on television – and about how too often that representation devolves into stereotype.

Is it time to move on from the Beatles and Stones?

February 1, 2022 Culture, Economics, History

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.

Why your kids are obsessed with toy videos

January 26, 2022 Culture, Economics

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.

For historians, the past Is written in pencil

January 24, 2022 Culture, Current Events, History, Politics

James M. Banner, Jr. is founder of the National History Center of the American Historical Association, and he joins us to talk about why history is never really set in stone.

The life-changing prospects of prom night

January 20, 2022 Culture, Race/Identity

Author Navdeep Singh Dhillon discusses his YA novel set at a high school prom, where a young Sikh boy wants to radically change his identity.

Cover of the book "Fat Chance, Charlie Vega."

A YA Novelist Takes On Fatphobia

January 18, 2022 Culture, Literature, Mental Health, Race/Identity

Author Crystal Maldonado joins us to discuss her YA novel about a young woman dealing with the typical subjects of boys and friends, but also a deepening understanding of how she’s viewed by the outside world.

A photo of someone holding a sign that reads, "equality."

For Racial Justice, We Have To Get Past Our Shame

January 14, 2022 Culture, Race/Identity, Science and Technology

Shakil Choudhury is a consultant with 25 years of experience in justice, equity, diversity and inclusion training, and he joins us to talk about addressing racism with the science of psychology.