Aspen Ideas to Go

David Agus, author of The Lucky Years: How to Thrive in the Brave New World of Health, says we’re living in a golden age when the latest science and technology can customize care. Tools that track behavior like how much we sleep and walk are now widely available. Such technology, says Agus, can help us control chronic conditions, reverse aging, and improve health overall. In his conversation with Jessica Herzstein, a doctor who specializes in preventive medicine, he also talks about the Covid-19 pandemic and when we might expect to have a vaccine. The views and opinions of the speakers in the podcast do not necessarily reflect those of the Aspen Institute.

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Across the United States, from rural areas to cities and suburbs, people have been hitting the streets to protest racism and police brutality. How is the national fervor around anti-racism different than in the past when people rallied following the death of Trayvon Martin in 2012, or when Civil Rights protestors called for an end to segregation in the 1960s? Alicia Garza, co-creator of #BlackLivesMatter, says she hopes it’s a moment of change when institutions, like police departments, examine their practices, and communities take a close look at rules and roles that disenfranchise Black people. She speaks with Michael Eric Dyson, sociology professor at Georgetown University, and Eugene Scott, political reporter at The Washington Post, about fighting racial oppression in America. The views and opinions of the speakers in the podcast do not necessarily reflect those of the Aspen Institute.

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Social unrest and physical distancing are not making it easy to connect with other people. Mia Birdsong says it’s particularly important that in this time we show up for one another to offer strength, support, and accountability. Birdsong’s new book, How We Show Up: Reclaiming Family, Friendship, and Community, digs into why many people feel isolated in a society built on community. In this polarized time, she says the ever-present injustices built around race, class, gender, values, and beliefs aren’t what separate us. Instead, it’s denial of our interdependence and a need for belonging. She speaks with friend and fellow author Courtney Martin. The views and opinions of the speakers in the podcast do not necessarily reflect those of the Aspen Institute.

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Nearly three decades ago, the play “Twilight Los Angeles” — about the Rodney King trial verdict — premiered. Just like in 1992, the world is seeing the problem of racial injustice come back into focus. How is art confronting a racist system in America? What has changed since the riots in LA? Oskar Eustis, artistic director at the Public Theater in New York, speaks with Anna Deavere Smith, the creator of “Twilight Los Angeles.” They discuss how, even though arts institutions are mostly closed because of the coronavirus pandemic, artists continue to work. They’re thinking deeply about how to use their craft to push the country forward in a critical moment. The views and opinions of the speakers in the podcast do not necessarily reflect those of the Aspen Institute.

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When Covid-19 first started appearing in the United States, it was perceived as an illness that affected travelers, like Tom Hanks. Soon, though, it became clear the disease was infecting people of color more than any other group. Black people are 3.5 times more likely to die of the virus than white people, and Latino people are nearly twice as likely to die, according to researchers at Yale and the University of Pittsburgh. Why is this? Part of the problem is that racism is embedded in the country’s health care system. Raegan McDonald-Mosley, chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood of Maryland, and Thomas Fisher, emergency medical physician at the University of Chicago, speak with Maria Hinojosa, anchor and executive producer of NPR’s Latino USA, about American racism through the lens of Covid-19. The views and opinions of the speakers in the podcast do not necessarily reflect those of the Aspen Institute.

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As we’ve seen with the coronavirus pandemic and anti-racism protests — distance no longer means much. What started in a Chinese city spread to the corners of the earth and what happened on the streets of Minneapolis launched action around the globe. We live in a global era and what happens thousands of miles away can deeply affect our lives. Richard Haass, author of the new book The World: A Brief Introduction, says global literacy is a must this day in age because what happens outside a country matters enormously to what happens inside. He speaks with Jane Harman, president of the Woodrow Wilson Center, about his book and relevant contemporary issues. The views and opinions of the speakers in the podcast do not necessarily reflect those of the Aspen Institute.

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Demonstrations over race and police brutality have erupted after the death of George Floyd. Floyd, and African-American, died in police custody in Minneapolis. A leading voice on antiracism, Ibram X. Kendi says countering racism is essential to the formation of a just and equitable society — so, how can we fight it? To recognize racism, we need to define it and then understand it’s opposite. Racism, Kendi says, is powerful and can change the way we see and value others and ourselves. In his conversation with Jemele Hill, staff writer for The Atlantic, Kendi talks about his own battle with racism, why it’s so difficult to talk productively about it, and why understanding history is essential to combatting it. This conversation was originally held in 2019. The views and opinions of the speakers in the podcast do not necessarily reflect those of the Aspen Institute.

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Are Zoom connections and physical distancing making us lonelier? Vivek Murthy, former Surgeon General and author of Together, says prior to the pandemic people dealt with loneliness, which affects our health and well-being. Now, feelings of disconnection may be more difficult to bear. “If we allow physical distancing to translate into social distancing, we will experience a deepening of our loneliness,” he says. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Instead, we can choose a path of social revival in the pandemic, he says. Murthy speaks with Olga Khazan, staff writer for The Atlantic, about his book Together, which took him on a journey to discover why people experience loneliness. The views and opinions of the speakers in the podcast do not necessarily reflect those of the Aspen Institute.

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The Covid-19 crisis isn’t easy to bear as adults but what about young kids and teenagers? How are they coping with virtual learning, changes to their routines, and quarantine? Even before the pandemic, an increasing number of kids were experiencing anxiety, depression, and suicide. How can parents best support kids who may be dealing with additional stressors now? A panel of child experts including Tovah Klein, director of the Barnard College Center for Toddler Development, and Lisa Damour, adolescent psychologist and author of Under Stress, weigh in. They’re interviewed by Kate Julian, a senior editor at The Atlantic who’s latest story is “The Anxious Child, and the Crisis of Modern Parenting.”

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Have you considered adopting a dog lately? You’re not alone. Animal shelters and nonprofits are seeing a rise in the number of people adopting and fostering pets during the Covid-19 crisis. Before you bring home a new canine companion, dog cognition expert Alexandra Horowitz says there are a few things to consider. Horowitz, who runs the Dog Cognition Lab at Barnard College, wants these newly formed dog-human relationships to last beyond the pandemic. She also speaks with Brian Hare, professor of evolutionary anthropology at Duke University, about the mind of a dog. What’s your dog thinking when they welcome you home? How do they perceive you and the world around them?

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