OZY Daily Dose

Dads play only a bit part in raising children, right? WRONG! As you’ll find in today’s Daily Dose, a growing cache of research shows that fathers are getting ever more involved in their children’s lives. Not only is the idea of the attentive, present father a fairly recent concept, it’s one with virtually no precedent in the animal kingdom. Consider that 95% of mammals are raised solely by their mothers — and there are no known cases of male-only care. Yet scientists are finally breaking new ground at a time when the role of pops has evolved with shifting gender norms, economic realities and the rise of work-from-home parenting during the pandemic. Ahead of Father’s Day on Sunday, we dig into the DNA of dads at a time of daddy disruption.

America’s original sin — slavery — may have been outlawed more than 150 years ago, but it’s far from an arcane issue that was put to rest centuries ago. It still plagues the soul of that nation, and beyond, with its many modern-day iterations — whether in West Africa, the Gulf or on cruise ships — a crushing reality for countless misfortunate people. And yet, the debate around how, or even if it’s possible, to make amends for the past has rarely been as vibrant. In today’s Daily Dose, we pick up that discussion, exploring how long-standing structures of racism have shaped the modern world, and what’s being done to acknowledge a historic cruelty that continues to resonate in our lives today.

Pop music blaring from car stereos, sizzling street food and stylishly dressed women and men strutting about town . . . this sounds like a normal day in New York, right? But in fact, this is actually describing the neighborhoods of Tehran set against the snowcapped backdrop of the Elburz Mountains. As Iran votes for its next president on Friday, those streets will be buzzing with questions over its future. The world will be watching as well. To some, Iran poses a dangerous threat. To others, it’s a stabilizing regional force. In truth, it’s much more complex than either of those. Today’s Daily Dose introduces you to Iran’s likely next president and the individuals who could shape the Islamic Republic’s destiny. We’ll also dive into how sanctions on Tehran impact your fine dining choices, check out the country’s unlikely new friends and the Madonna of the Middle East. One of the world’s oldest civilizations is at a crossroads, and its choices will impact you.

The COVID-19 pandemic isn’t the world’s first modern public health crisis — Zika, Ebola, SARS, MERS and HIV preceded it. Yet its rapid spread, global reach and repeated waves have changed the world in ways that are impossible to have imagined 16 months ago. Nearly 4 million people have died from the virus. Now, epidemiologists are already preparing for the next pandemic, trying to predict where and how it might emerge and developing the tools we need to combat it better than how we tackled COVID-19. Today’s Daily Dose lifts the curtain on that race against time.

How about a little good pandemic news? While Black Americans have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 — getting sick, losing family members, suffering unemployment — there have also been those in the community bringing strength and hope. To celebrate Juneteenth, the anniversary of the day when enslaved people in Texas were freed — two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed — today’s Daily Dose shines a light on the pandemic heroes serving Black American communities. From health care workers on the front lines to local leaders delivering on food security, from people working to reduce vaccine hesitancy to those offering much-needed comic relief, these pandemic champs are helping Black communities weather the COVID-19 storm.

As we draw closer to Juneteenth on June 19, the anniversary of the day when enslaved people in Texas were emancipated — two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Today’s Daily Dose highlights some fascinating podcasts exploring the issues of racial injustice and equality, as well as the latest in audio-related news from around the globe.

Rejoice, soccer fans! Over the coming four weeks, the world’s top men’s players will strut their stuff in stadiums across Europe and Brazil, with the European Football Championship starting tomorrow followed by the Copa América on Sunday. Around the world, day and night, millions of fans will be glued to their screens. But the premier soccer championships of Europe and South America are being held under the shadow of political unrest and COVID-19 risks. As the beautiful game returns to a global scale, today’s Daily Dose examines -- can the beautiful game unite the world as it has in the past? Or will it come at a cost to players, fans and soccer itself? Will it score a win or is it setting itself up for an own goal? It’s time for kickoff.

Are you a gamer? I’ve just gotten into video games myself, but I remember “Gamergate” in 2014, when women involved in gaming faced a barrage of vicious abuse from online trolls. Now, some in an industry often associated with toxic masculinity are challenging stereotypes and taking steps toward greater inclusivity, creating teachable moments in the process. Today’s Daily Dose looks at the women of color making waves in gaming, as well as how video games are being used both in the classroom and for therapy. So put down your headset and controller for a minute, and take a deep dive into the world of Xbox and avatars.

There was a time not too long ago when music could be divided into genres fairly neatly. Today, even seemingly polar opposite strains such as country and hip-hop are merging and Black artists are leading this bold new world. As America celebrates Black Music Appreciation Month and as we journey to Juneteenth, on today’s Daily Dose we meet the rising star musicians who are breaking boundaries and could soon shatter records.

Throughout history, Black writers have strived to share the Black experience through their own powerful voices. Today’s Daily Dose highlights some remarkable reads from Black authors that speak to a broad range of audiences. From uplifting children’s books to thought-provoking anthologies, and from gripping political thrillers to descriptive nonfiction, these books crystallize what it means to be Black in a world grappling with issues of racial justice and equality.