The State of National Parks (0:00)

Guest: Becky Lomax Is Author of “USA National Parks: The Complete Guide to All 59 Parks.”

Congress just passed the Great American Outdoors Act, which will give billions of dollars to the National Parks for sorely needed repairs. President Trump is expected to sign the bill into law. And it couldn’t come at a better time – people are flocking to the outdoors during the pandemic.

What Ancient Oyster Piles Can Teach Us About Sustainable Harvesting (20:08)

Guest: Victor Thompson, Professor of Anthropology, Director of the Laboratory of Archaeology, University of Georgia

Over the last 100 years, oyster populations around the world have declined dramatically, and scientists are alarmed. But recently discovered piles of ancient oyster shells could give us a clue on how to restore oyster reefs.

A Rom-Com for Teens About...Voting? (35:51)

Guest: Brandy Colbert, Author “The Voting Booth”, “The Only Black Girls in Town”, “Little & Lion”, “Pointe”

Do you remember the first time you voted in an election? Award-winning author Brandy Colbert’s latest novel for young adults unfolds in the span of a single Election Day in America. The two main characters are 18-year-old high school seniors. Both African American. Both have some complicated personal lives. In the span of 300 pages, Brandy Colbert weaves a story about racism and voter suppression with charming love story that ends on an upbeat. It made me smile. And it made me want to get out and vote.

Naked Mole Rats May Hold Answers for Children With Seizures (52:44)

Guest: Dan McCloskey, Neuroscientist, Psychology Professor, College of Staten Island, The City University of New York

Naked mole rats are not your typical rodent. For starters, they are completely hairless—as their name suggests—and they live in colonies, like ants or bees. They are also cold-blooded mammals and live for a long time, often 30 years or more. Of particular note: mole rats are prone to seizures. How they avoid seizing could provide some insight for treating epilepsy in humans.

Should Police Officers Be in Schools? (1:06:05)

Guest: Jason Nance, Law Professor, University of Florida, Associate Director for Education Law and Policy at the Center on Children and Families

Police presence is being looked at with a critical eye around the country. But what about police in schools? There are about 30,000 of these school resource officers in the US to keep campuses safe. But critics say that what they’re really doing is creating a direct pipeline from school to prison for students.

Diverse Superhero Films for the Family (1:24:43)

Guest: Kirsten Hawkes, ParentPreviews.com

Summertime is when we’d normally be gorging on popcorn in air-conditioned movie theaters with the latest superhero blockbuster on screen. Since we can’t have that, we’ve got the next best thing: a roundup of superhero films with a twist.