A Fine Mess

On the podcast 'This Is Actually Happening,' host Whit Missildine shares stories from people who've undergone life-changing events. After years of making the podcast, he had his own life-changing, near-death experience. In this episode, host Sabrina Merage Naim and Whit discuss what he's learned—most importantly, how we might be able to tear down the protective walls around us, embrace vulnerability, and forgive.

You can hear more about Whit and his story in this episode of This Is Actually Happening: https://wondery.com/shows/this-is-actually-happening/episode/5675-what-if-they-couldnt-wake-me-up/

In a surprise to literally everyone, Evan Weissman somehow made civics…fun. The founder of Warm Cookies of the Revolution—the world’s first civic health club—joins host Sabrina Merage Naim to discuss how he’s made civic engagement enjoyable and why that matters. Together, they discuss what civics actually is, why our local governments get overlooked, and how these grassroot efforts can cultivate relationships.

What would a Black, progressive artist be doing at the January 6th insurrection? Filmmaker Michael Premo spent years documenting the lives of men involved in far-right movements, including the attack at the capital, for his documentary “Homegrown.” Our globalized world has become, in many ways, more narrow. So, what makes someone leave their cushy echo chamber and venture into parts unknown? There is a real emotional risk and, in Michael’s case, a real physical risk. In this episode, he tells host Sabrina Merage Naim how he forged relationships with his subjects, what he learned from making the film, and his feelings about the state of American politics now.

Host Sabrina Merage Naim still believes in the American Dream. Does that make her an asshole? In this episode, she sits down with Samhita Mukhopadhyay, the author of “The Myth of Making It: A Workplace Reckoning.” They discuss what Samhita has learned about America’s workplace culture, the challenges women face when trying to ‘have it all,’ and what a new definition of success might be for Americans.

You are probably aware that entertainment influences our behavior. Maybe you noticed the surge of pink clothing when the Barbie movie premiered or the rise of chess set sales after the release of The Queen's Gambit series. But did you know there are people who are actively trying to shape the narratives of TV and movies? Host Sabrina Merage Naim is one of them. In this episode, she examines the ethics of this practice with Vicki Shabo, a Senior Fellow at The Better Life Lab.

For most of her life, Paula Stone Williams was an influential figure in the evangelical community – serving as an executive and pastor. Then, she transitioned. As essential as it felt to be living as her authentic self, she couldn’t have anticipated the fall from male privilege. Host Sabrina Merage Naim sits down with Paula to discuss the significant and subtle ways that gender impacts society and how external perceptions can shape our sense of self.

Senator John Hickenlooper and ‘Cannabis Czar’ Andrew Freedman led the charge on Colorado’s recreational marijuana legalization ten years ago…reluctantly.  Host Sabrina Merage Naim sits down with both of them to reflect on the past decade and learn why they ultimately consider the legalization a success. They discuss why they were skeptical in the first place, the lessons they learned, how other states and the federal government could follow suit, and whether cannabis legalization will be the blueprint for legalizing other illicit substances in the future.

Artificial Intelligence is gaining power and freaking people out, but is there a reason to panic? Sabrina Merage Naim sits down with Jason Feifer, the Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur magazine and history buff to discuss what we can learn from cultural panics of the past. She also speaks with Meredith Broussard, AI expert and the research director at the NYU Alliance for Public Interest Technology who has written two books about artificial intelligence. They discuss how the technology works and why our control over it means there’s less to fear.

Modern relationships are challenging. Love has never been easy, but the introduction of dating apps and the political polarization we face have made it harder to meet someone and stay with them. Sabrina Merage Naim sits down with Dr. Katherine Hertlein, a psychologist, author, and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Professional Development at Boonshoft School of Medicine, to understand how to navigate relationships now.

Women's sports are often overlooked and cast aside, leaving the spotlight on men. Lately, however, the viewership and ticket sales for women's sports have increased. Will women's sports soon be as popular as men's? Sabrina Merage Naim sits down with Jill Ellis to discuss. Ellis is the President of The San Diego Wave Fútbol Club. She's also the winningest head coach of the US Women's National Team – she led the team to victory in back-to-back FIFA World Cup Championships. Together, they discuss Ellis' experiences, her success, and why the future of women's sports is promising.