Dr. Kathleen Casey, Professor of History and Director of the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program at Furman University, a small liberal arts college in South Carolina, studies how everyday objects can reveal deeper stories about culture, identity, and history.

A purse isn’t just an accessory. It can be a story, a statement, and sometimes even a lifeline. In her book The Things She’s Carried: A Cultural History of the Purse in America, Dr. Casey explores how this seemingly ordinary object reflects powerful connections to gender, identity, privacy, and survival.

In this episode, we discuss how purses have intersected with major moments in American history, from the civil rights movement to workplace struggles and personal memory, revealing how a simple item people carry every day can hold a rich tapestry of cultural meaning.

Dr. Steven Lee-Kong, Professor of Surgery and Colorectal Surgeon at Hackensack University Medical Center, studies colorectal diseases and emerging trends in colon cancer.

Colon cancer has long been considered a disease that primarily affects older adults. But in recent years, doctors have noticed a troubling rise in cases among younger patients. While genetics play a role, researchers are increasingly exploring other possible contributors, including changes in diet, lifestyle, and the gut microbiome.

One area receiving growing attention is the widespread use of protein supplements, particularly among teens and young adults. With protein shakes, bars, and high-protein diets often promoted as part of a healthy lifestyle, researchers are asking an important question: could there be hidden risks to long-term colon health?

Dr. Jacqueline Bober, Pediatric Emergency Medicine Physician at Stony Brook University Hospital and the Stony Brook Children’s Hospital on Long Island, New York, works on the front lines treating childhood emergencies and preventing accidental injuries.

Every summer, headlines warn about rising temperatures, air quality, and the need for sunscreen. But there is another silent danger that increases this time of year: drowning. It can happen quickly and is tragically common among young children. While many people think drownings only occur in oceans or rough waters, most actually happen in backyard pools, vacation rentals, or even bathtubs.

In this episode, Dr. Bober shares what she has seen as a pediatric emergency physician and explains why she has made it her mission to prevent these tragedies before they happen. Through public awareness campaigns, community partnerships, and practical safety steps, she offers guidance every parent should know.

Dr. Dustin Scheinost, Associate Professor in the Departments of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging at Yale School of Medicine, studies how brain imaging and artificial intelligence can help scientists better understand psychiatric disorders.

What if brain scans could help explain the symptoms of a psychotic episode as they happen? And what if artificial intelligence could identify patterns in brain activity to help predict them?

In this episode, Dr. Scheinost discusses a new frontier in mental health research that combines functional MRI and machine learning to study psychosis. By examining the brain not just through behavior but through networks, circuits, and connectivity, researchers hope to better understand how psychiatric illness unfolds and how future tools might help clinicians detect and treat these conditions earlier.

Professor Angus Fletcher of The Ohio State University’s Project Narrative, a Professor of Story Science, studies how storytelling, creativity, and imagination affect the brain and emotional well-being.

Parents of children with anxiety are often willing to try anything that might help their kids feel better. Many traditional approaches focus on calming an overactive mind to reduce intense emotions. But Professor Fletcher’s research suggests a different path.

Instead of quieting the brain, his work explores how activating the brain through creativity and imagination-based play may help unlock the brain’s natural ability to regulate itself. In this episode, we discuss how storytelling and creative thinking might be powerful tools for helping children and adults manage anxiety and build resilience.

Dr. Bradley Cannon, Assistant Professor of Finance at Binghamton University, studies how social networks and personal relationships influence financial behavior.

Many people feel uncomfortable talking about money with friends. For some, financial topics are almost taboo in everyday conversation. But Dr. Cannon’s research suggests that these conversations may actually play an important role in shaping financial outcomes.

By studying the social networks of high-income individuals, he found that friendships can influence financial knowledge and opportunities. In particular, being connected to wealthier individuals, and openly discussing financial decisions, may help people learn strategies that improve their own financial well-being.

Dr. Megan Buning, Clinical Associate Professor at Florida State University and instructor in the FSU Coach Interdisciplinary Center, studies mental performance and helps athletes and professionals perform under pressure. She is also a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology.

Exceptional athletic performance often depends on mental toughness. While some people seem to develop this naturally, the good news is that these skills can also be taught.

A former professional softball pitcher herself, Dr. Buning understands what it takes to get “into the zone.” In this episode, she explains the science behind staying calm and focused under pressure, whether on the playing field or in high-stakes moments like presentations and leadership decisions. Her insights show how mental performance training can help anyone perform better in sports, careers, and everyday life.

Dr. Leda Kobziar, Professor of Wildland Fire Science at the University of Idaho, is a pyroaerobiologist studying the surprising biological components of wildfire smoke.

Last January, as heavily populated parts of Los Angeles burned, images of the disaster brought the destructive power of wildfires into the public consciousness more than ever. Today, as thousands of acres burn in the Pacific Northwest and in Canada, wildfire smoke is causing hazy skies and air quality warnings across much of North America.

But beyond the danger of flames and pollution, Dr. Kobziar’s research asks a surprising question: what if there is something alive in that smoke? Her work examines how microbes such as bacteria and fungi can be lifted from burning forests and soils and carried through the air, potentially affecting ecosystems, agriculture, and human health hundreds of miles away.

Dr. Phoebe Hughes, Lecturer in Musicology at Binghamton University, studies popular music and how it reflects cultural and musical change.

Taylor Swift is one of the most influential musicians of our time, but what exactly explains her impact? Dr. Hughes is the author of Cranking Up Taylor Swift: Her Musical Journey in 11 Songs, a book that explores Swift’s work not just to celebrate her success, but to understand why it resonates so strongly with audiences.

We look at how Swift’s music reflects broader cultural shifts and what her career reveals about the evolving sound of country and pop music in the 21st century.

Dr. Resh Gupta, Postdoctoral Research Associate with the Mindfulness Science and Practice Cluster and the Cognitive Control and Psychopathology Laboratory at Washington University in St. Louis, studies how mindfulness practices affect the brain.

Mindfulness practices are more popular than ever, from transcendental meditation to yoga and breathing exercises. But with so many options available, an important question remains: does the type of mindfulness practice actually make a difference?

Some techniques focus attention on a single object, like the breath, while others encourage open awareness, allowing thoughts and feelings to come and go without judgment. In this episode, Dr. Gupta explains how researchers are using functional MRI to observe brain activity in people with anxiety as they practice different forms of mindfulness, helping scientists understand why certain techniques may work better than others.