Clinical psychologist Molly Howes joins us for a lesson in what it truly takes to make amends.
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How Shakespeare Spun Tragedy And Comedy From An Epidemic
Stephen Greenblatt, John Cogan University Professor of the Humanities at Harvard University, joins us to talk about how an epidemic influenced Shakespeare.
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Why No One Listens to You
Reporter Kate Murphy joins us to talk about why listening—even to gossip—is good for our brains and human connection.
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English Needs A Unisex Pronoun
Dennis Baron joins us to talk about how language has evolved to the point where “they” is often used in the singular form.
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Why Debates Don’t Change Minds
Eleanor Gordon-Smith joins us to talk about why, with all our power to be rational, analytical, empathetic and reflective, we’re still prone to refusing to listen to another side.
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Do Colleges Really Need Safe Spaces?
Michael S. Roth, president of Wesleyan University, joins us to talk about his approach to civil discourse and toning down heated rhetoric to get to the heart of important issues
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Who Am I Without My Mother Tongue?
Journalist Melissa Hung joins us to talk about reconciling the loss of a generational language in the face of her mother’s mortality.
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Assimilation Is A Two-Way Street
Stanford University associate professor Tomás Jiménez joins us to take on the idea of assimilation, the history behind it, and what’s lost when immigrants are encouraged to change who they are.
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To Win An Argument, You Need More Than Facts
Former New York Times op-ed editor Trish Hall joins us to explain the core principles of persuasive writing and how that enhances your argument.
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Why Talking With Your Hands Helps You Think
Psychologist Barbara Tversky joins us to make the case that our brains are actually filled with pictures and ideas that revolve around spatial cognition.
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The Purpose Of Silence
Harriet Shawcross joins us to talk about how traumatic experiences can interrupt our ability to communicate.
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Why Your Grandma Says That
Martha Barnett and Grant Barrett, the hosts of “A Way With Words,” join us to talk about what they’ve learned about how we talk.
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