Dennis Baron joins us to talk about how language has evolved to the point where “they” is often used in the singular form.
Read moreWhy 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.
Read moreDo 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
Read moreWho 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.
Read moreAssimilation 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.
Read moreTo 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.
Read moreWhy 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.
Read moreThe Purpose Of Silence
Harriet Shawcross joins us to talk about how traumatic experiences can interrupt our ability to communicate.
Read moreWhy 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.
Read moreThrowing Shade — The Shakespearean Way
Historian Ruth Goodman joins us for a rollicking trip back to a low-brow time.
Read moreWho Or Whom? Who Cares.
Lane Greene joins us to talk about how language evolves despite laws of grammar.
Read moreBest Of Think: The Power Of Profanity
This hour, we’ll talk about the complex set of rules that guide our usage of taboo words – and about why some words get declared off limits.
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