A Song Called Life

Dr. Michael Goran is Professor of Pediatrics and Vice Chair for Pediatric Research in the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. Dr. Goran’s research has focused on the causes and consequences of childhood obesity for 30 years. His work is focused on understanding the metabolic factors linking obesity to increased disease risk during growth and development and using this information as a basis for developing new clinical, behavioral and community approaches for prevention, treatment and risk reduction. He is also especially interested in ethnic disparities in obesity and obesity related diseases including type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease, with a special interest on the effects of dietary sugar on obesity and metabolic diseases among Hispanic populations. His work also covers maternal-infant nutrition and identifying modifiable factors that can be targeted for interrupting the developmental programming of obesity, including bioactive elements of breastmilk and infant microbiome development. 

In Episode #167, Steven Brill joins Osi to delve into his new book, The Death of Truth. They explore how social media platforms facilitate the spread of misinformation, the crucial role of shared truths in society, and the ways misinformation has undermined trust in our institutions, among other topics.

Steven Brill is a renowned journalist and author, recognized for his pioneering work in media and legal journalism. He is the co-CEO and co-founder of NewsGuard, a company dedicated to combating misinformation and promoting trustworthy news. Brill's illustrious career includes founding Court TV, The American Lawyer Magazine, American Lawyer Media, Brill’s Content Magazine, Journalism Online, and The Yale Journalism Initiative.

His areas of expertise span the media business and journalism practices, law and criminal justice, homeland security, the Trump businesses, education reform, and health care. Brill's recent book, The Death of Truth: How Social Media And the Internet Gave Snake Oil Salesmen And Demagogues The Weapons They Needed To Destroy Trust And Polarize The World – And What We Can Do About It, explores the impact of social media and the internet on public trust and societal polarization.

Dr. Theresa Haskins is the host of the Think Differently podcast, a podcast dedicated to exploring the power of neurodiversity and sharing practical strategies for creating more inclusive opportunities in work and life. She is an organizational development and disability-inclusion leader with decades of experience working with corporations, nonprofits, and educational institutions to develop leaders and create inclusive cultures where diverse groups of people thrive. Theresa is the CEO of Haskins Consulting Group, a neurodiversity inclusion company that helps individuals and organizations identify and achieve their goals for learning and improved performance. Theresa has served in a multitude of learning, organizational development, and change management roles over her 24-year career with the company.

In Episode #165, Jean-Martin Bauer joins Osi to discuss the global struggle against hunger. In his latest book, The New Breadline, Jean-Martin investigates the troubling rise of hunger, despite worldwide efforts to eradicate it by 2030. He delves into the political complexities of hunger, the stark reality of food insecurity even in affluent nations like the United States, and more.

Jean-Martin Bauer is the Country Director of Haiti for the World Food Program. He has served with the World Food Programme in the Sahel and central Africa and has responded to food emergencies in Afghanistan and Syria. Bauer has led WFP country offices in the Republic of the Congo and in Haiti. His work has also focused on leveraging digital tech and analytics to fight hunger. A Washington, DC, native, Bauer holds degrees from the London School of Economics and the Harvard Kennedy School.

In Episode #164, A.J. Jacobs joins Osi to discuss his book The Year of Living Constitutionally. In this witty and thought-provoking read, A.J. humorously embarks on a quest to follow the original meaning of the Constitution, all while tackling one of the most pressing questions of our time: How should we interpret America’s foundational document?

A.J. Jacobs is an author, journalist, lecturer and human guinea pig. He has written four New York Times bestsellers that combine memoir, science, humor and a dash of self-help. He is an editor at large for Esquire and has worked for the Antioch Daily Ledger and Entertainment Weekly.

Daniel Nation is a Professor of Gerontology and Medicine, holding the Merle H. Bensinger Professorship in Gerontology at USC Leonard Davis. His research focuses on vascular risk factors and biomarkers of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease, including markers of cerebrovascular dysfunction, blood-brain barrier breakdown, and endothelial progenitor cell depletion.

Kevin Heisinger is a comedian and writer based in Los Angeles. He hosts a weekly open mic night at The Roost in Atwater Village and has graced the stages of top comedy venues, including the Comedy Store and Laugh Factory.

Cassie Mogilner Holmes is a chaired professor at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management, an award-winning teacher and researcher on time and happiness, and bestselling author of Happier Hour: How to Beat Distraction, Expand Your Time, and Focus on What Matters Most.

Cassie’s research examines such questions as how focusing on time (rather than money) increases happiness, how the meaning of happiness changes over the course of one’s lifetime, and how much happiness people enjoy from extraordinary versus ordinary experiences. Across these inquiries, her findings highlight the joy that stems from interpersonal connection and paying attention to the present moment.

Kyle Kondik analyzes American campaigns and elections and is frequently cited by national and international media outlets. He is based in Washington D.C. and is the managing editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball, the University of Virginia Center for Politics’ authoritative, nonpartisan newsletter on American campaigns and elections. He is the author of "The Long Red Thread," a history of the growth of Republican power in the U.S. House of Representatives, and "The Bellwether," an analysis of Ohio’s presidential voting history.

He has appeared on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, PBS NewsHour, and Comedy Central’s The Daily Show. Kyle is also a member of the CBS News Election Decision Desk team.

In Episode #159, political scientist Dr. Bruce Cain joins Osi to discuss the latest developments in the upcoming presidential election. They delve into the behind-the-scenes strategy that led to Biden's decision to end his run for President, the importance of the Democratic Party unifying behind Kamala Harris as the nominee, and what it will take for Harris to have a chance against Trump.

Bruce E. Cain is a Professor of Political Science at Stanford University and Director of the Bill Lane Center for the American West. His areas of expertise include political regulation, applied democratic theory, representation and state politics. Some of Professor Cain’s most recent publications include “Malleable Constitutions: Reflections on State Constitutional Design,” coauthored with Roger Noll in University of Texas Law Review, volume 2, 2009; “More or Less: Searching for Regulatory Balance,” in Race, Reform and the Political Process, edited by Heather Gerken, Guy Charles and Michael Kang, CUP, 2011; “Redistricting Commissions: A Better Political Buffer?” in The Yale Law Journal, volume 121, 2012; and Democracy More or Less (CUP, 2015). He is currently working on problems of environmental governance.