The Lure of Celebrity

Guest: Sharon Marcus, author, "The Drama of Celebrity"

The concept of celebrity, as we know it, is pretty new—but, love celebrities or hate them, we're all complicit in their creation. 

 

Complaining Brain

Guest: Rick Hanson, psychologist, author, and Senior Fellow of the Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley

Your negative thoughts may have trained your brain to fear the worst. Break the cycle once you understand the science behind the "complaining brain."

 

Enslaved Colonial Cooks and Modern American Cuisine

Guest: Kelly Fanto Deetz, author, "Bound to the Fire: How Virginia's Enslaved Cooks Help Invent American Cuisine"

The estates of colonial Virginia required enslaved cooks to maintain their high standards of living. Deetz reveals a complicated relationship between slave holders and enslaved kitchen staff, and she gives credit where due for the dishes that are still with us today, from chitlins to gumbo. 

 

Calluses are Good; Shoes are Optional

Guest: Daniel Lieberman, Professor of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University

Daniel Lieberman’s most recent study finds that wearing shoes while walking prevents the development of helpful calluses and increases strain on the leg bones. His findings echo his groundbreaking work that led to the modern trend in barefoot running.