Stephanie Tam joins us to tell the story of one man’s quest for a lingua franca that would bridge communication and why it was blocked by colonial ideas of English superiority.
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The U.K. Ambassador On The Very Special Relationship
Dame Karen Pierce is British Ambassador to the U.S., and she joins us to talk about her country’s economic relationship with both Texas and the country as a whole – and we’ll hear how Britain is faring in the fight against Covid.
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The World Needs More Toilets
Science journalist Chelsea Wald joins us to talk about what’s behind the plumbing and introduce the scientists and activists working to make sanitation healthy and accessible for all.
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After Vaccination, The Next Steps To Normal
Dr. Celine Gounder joins us to talk about how we should think about reopening schools, offices and maybe even our vacation plans as more and more people become vaccinated.
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NFTs And The Future Of Digital Art
Kyle Chayka is a contributor to The New Yorker, and he joins us to discuss the high stakes, high-price world of digital art and why galleries, museum curators, auction houses, even everyday people are jumping on this cutting-edge trend.
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How The Quest For Flavor Drove Evolution
Rob Dunn, professor of applied ecology at North Carolina State University joins us to talk about why we prefer cooked food, the various ways we taste, and how our pursuit of a good meal might’ve led to starting the first fire.
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The Limits Of Identity Politics
University of Manchester sociology professor Gary Younge joins us to talk about how societies operate based on assumptions and privileges granted to people based on their identities.
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What Would We Do If There Were No More Nurses?
Theresa Brown is a nurse and author, and she joins us to talk about the nurses charged with healing despite a lack of support and how, even as the demand for care skyrockets, the nation faces a severe nursing shortage.
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The Human Cost Of Cheap Goods
Journalist Amelia Pang joins us to discuss the extraordinary discovery that led to international outcry – and about why we should re-examine what we’re willing to pay for products.
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Artificial Solutions To Preserve The Natural World
New Yorker staff writer Elizabeth Kolbert joins us to talk about how scientists are looking to address climate change by studying the ways plants and animals have already adapted to live alongside humans.
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Rethinking Russia’s Place On The International Stage
Kathryn E. Stoner is the deputy director of Stanford’s Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, and she joins us to explain how Vladimir Putin has used his iron grip on domestic power to rachet up his country’s influence on international affairs.
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Economic Growth Isn’t The Answer To Inequality
Stephen J. Macekura of Indiana University joins us to make the case that an ever-increasing GDP isn’t the answer to inequality and other social issues.
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