Jaw-dropping images released from the James Webb Space Telescope have both scientists and laypeople awestruck. Lee Billings, senior editor of space and physics for Scientific American, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the latest scientific discoveries of the $10 billion telescope and the secrets of the universe astronomers hope to unlock now that information is pouring in.

Even for those in the media, reading the news can be tedious—and that’s an ominous sign for the industry. Amanda Ripley, host of the Slate podcast “How To!” joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why many of us are tuning out, and to offer solutions to make the news relevant again. (Hint: a little hope goes a long way.) Her piece in The Washington Post is called “I stopped reading the news. Is the problem, me — or the product?”

When a reporter covers tragedy, it’s especially tough when the community effected is their own. Liliana Soto is assistant professor of practice at the University of Arizona School of Journalism and an assistant director for the school’s Bilingual Journalism Program. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the emotional toll of Latino journalists covering the El Paso and Uvalde mass shootings, necessary coping skills, and why self-care is so difficult for reporters. Her article published by Palabra is “Flipping the Lens.”

The Western world has been shaped by music, from 11th Century hymns to jazz today. Stuart Isacoff is a pianist, writer and the founder of Piano Today magazine. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the history of Western music, guiding us through how the sounds we hear have changed, and how politics and religion pushed their trajectories. His book is “Musical Revolutions: How the Sounds of the Western World Changed.”

Every region of the country has an accent, but it also has a writing style that sets it apart. Ellen Jovin, founder of Syntaxis, a communication skills training consultancy, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss her travels around the nation answering grammar questions, why people are so keen to reveal what they don’t know and don’t understand, and how written language connects us all. “Rebel With A Clause: Tales and Tips from a Roving Grammarian.”

Optimistic leaders show patience when dealing with public and foreign policy, while pessimistic leaders take more risks. Daniel Drezner, Professor of International Politics in The Fletcher School at Tufts University, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why power should be measured in how a country’s leader views the future, why that’s key to approaching world affairs, and how a negative outlook puts the population at risk. His article published by Foreign Affairs is called “The Perils of Pessimism.”

Inequality can even have an impact on something money can’t buy: our dreams. Karen A. Cerulo, professor of sociology at Rutgers University and editor of Sociological Forum, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why socioeconomic status, gender, race, and more impact the scope and outcomes of dreaming, and why studying dreams can help shape public policy. Her book, coauthored with Janet M. Ruane, is called “Dreams of a Lifetime: How Who We Are Shapes How We Imagine Our Future.”

When the pandemic hit, we stopped touching one another, the irony being: Humans need touch to stay healthy. National Geographic writer Cynthia Gorney joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why, out of the five senses, touch is so key to well-being, and the latest tech helping amputees to feel again. Her June cover story is called “The Power of Touch.”

Within 100 miles of the border and coastlines, the Border Patrol can conduct warrantless stops and interrogations. Reece Jones is a Guggenheim Fellow and professor and the chair of the Department of Geography and Environment at the University of Hawaii. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the almost-unfettered agency, how the Supreme Court has authorized its powers, and how it’s becoming a national police force. His book is “Nobody Is Protected: How the Border Patrol Became the Most Dangerous Police Force in the United States.”

Corporations are looking to implement anti-racist policies within their organizations – and some of that work involves actually talking with the people who work there. Y-Vonne Hutchinson is the CEO and founder of ReadySet, a diversity, equity, and inclusion consulting firm, and she talks to host Krys Boyd about how employees can have frank and honest conversations with management about race and achieve real results. Her book is “How to Talk to Your Boss About Race: Speaking Up Without Getting Shut Down.”

This episode originally aired on March 1, 2022.