Jennifer Berney joins us to talk about how same-sex families are redefining our understanding of heredity and paternity.
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‘Race Science’ Is Still a Thing
BBC science reporter Angela Saini joins us to talk about why some scientists cling to the idea that race is a biological characteristic instead of a social construct.
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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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Fat Phobia’s Racist Origins
University of California, Irvine sociologist Sabrina Strings joins us to talk about how societal attitudes towards fatness – particularly when it comes to black women – became increasingly negative in the years that followed.
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Spelling Bees As Preparation For L-I-F-E
Youngsters who participate in spelling bees spend countless hours preparing for the contest. Northwestern anthropologist Shalini Shankar joins us to talk about how these competitors are proving that hard work at a young age sets them up for victory going forward.
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Is Racism Still A Problem? Depends Who You Ask
Juliana Horowitz joins us to talk about how Americans’ views on race break down across racial lines, which she researched for the Race in America 2019 survey from the Pew Research Center.
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When A Therapist Needs Therapy
Lori Gottlieb is a therapist by trade, and she joins us to talk about what it’s like to dispense advice at the same time she was struggling through her own personal problems.
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Relax Late Bloomers, You’ll Be Fine
Forbes publisher Rich Karlgaard counts himself among the group of “late bloomers”, and he joins us to talk about the scientific explanation for why so many of us make something of ourselves later in life.
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The Runaway Powers Of Prosecutors
Emily Bazelon joins us to talk about ways to level the playing field for defendants, which she writes about in “Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration.”
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Why Diverse Schools Are Good For Every Kid
Rucker C. Johnson, associate professor in the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley, explains why students attending integrated schools have historically benefited from learning alongside children from other backgrounds.
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An LGTQ Activist and his Mormon Mom Find Common Ground
Oscar winner Dustin Lance Black joins us to talk about his formative years in a Mormon household near San Antonio – and how he left that life behind to become an LGBTQ activist and sought-after screenwriter.
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For A Meaningful Life, Get Over Yourself
New York Times columnist David Brooks joins us to talk about how acquiring fame and fortune can still leave us empty inside – and about how true joy is found when we begin to lead our lives in service to others.
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