Why No One Listens to You

March 12, 2020 Health, Language

Reporter Kate Murphy joins us to talk about why listening—even to gossip—is good for our brains and human connection.

English Needs A Unisex Pronoun

February 13, 2020 Language, Race/Identity

Dennis Baron joins us to talk about how language has evolved to the point where “they” is often used in the singular form.

Why Debates Don’t Change Minds

February 10, 2020 Culture, Current Events, Language, Politics

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.

Do Colleges Really Need Safe Spaces?

September 18, 2019 Culture, Current Events, Education, Language, Politics, Race/Identity

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

Who Am I Without My Mother Tongue?

September 9, 2019 Culture, Language, Race/Identity

Journalist Melissa Hung joins us to talk about reconciling the loss of a generational language in the face of her mother’s mortality.

Assimilation Is A Two-Way Street

August 27, 2019 Culture, Current Events, History, Language, Race/Identity

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.

To Win An Argument, You Need More Than Facts

June 13, 2019 Culture, Language

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.

Why Talking With Your Hands Helps You Think

June 10, 2019 Culture, Language

Psychologist Barbara Tversky joins us to make the case that our brains are actually filled with pictures and ideas that revolve around spatial cognition.