The Complicated Relationship Between City Parks and Crime Rates

Guest: Lincoln Larson, Assistant Professor of Human Dimensions, Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism, North Carolina State University

If you have the choice between a park and an empty lot in your neighborhood, you’d choose a park, wouldn’t you? And if the choice was between a park or a business of some sort – you’d probably also choose the park. But somewhere in the back of your mind, would you be just a tiny bit worried that the park would become a magnet for drugs or homeless camping? A park can be a blessing or a curse for a neighborhood – depending on how well it’s designed and maintained. (Originally aired 8/7/2019) 

Despite an Incredible History, the Future of Heart Disease Treatment Will Require Serious Work

Guest: Haider Warraich, MD, Cardiologist and Clinical Researcher, Harvard University, Author of “State of the Heart”

Just a generation ago, having a heart attack was an automatic death sentence. Today, open heart surgery, pacemakers, stents and artificial valves make it possible for people with weak or damaged hearts to live long lives. Statins to prevent heart disease from cholesterol build-up are the most-prescribed medication in the country.  And yet, heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the US. And that’s true for both men and women. (Originally aired 9/9/2019) 

Why Paid Family Leave Doesn’t Increase Gender Equality in the Workplace

Guest:  Professor Elena Patel, PhD

Some lawmakers and activists argue that paid family leave is a way to fix gender inequality in the work place because working mothers are able to spend time with their child and keep their job. But one study found that the opposite may be true. Paid family leave may actually increase the gender wage gap. (Originally aired 11/6/2019)

Who We Are With Dogs Is Who We Are as People

Guest: Alexandra Horowitz, Senior Research Fellow, Dog Cognition Lab, Barnard College, Columbia University; Author of “Our Dogs, Ourselves: The Story of a Singular Bond”

Euthanasia of dogs and cats has declined dramatically in the US over the last 40 years. That’s partly because better veterinary care is available and it’s become trendy to “rescue” a dog from a shelter. When the pandemic lockdown rules hit, many US shelters were emptied of dogs and cat because people wanted a companion in quarantine. You can bet that most of those new pets will get “fixed.” That’s another reason euthanasia is less common today. But dog researcher Alexandra Horowitz says there are some uncomfortable truths embedded in our willingness to make spay-neuter the default for pets. Horowitz directs the Dog Cognition Lab at Barnard College and wrote the New York Times best-seller “Inside of a Dog.” Her latest is “Our Dogs, Ourselves.” (Originally aired 9/5/2019) 

Fake News Isn’t Just Misleading. It Can Create False Memories.

Guest: Elizabeth F. Loftus, PhD, Is a Distinguished Professor of Psychological Science, Criminology, Law and Society; Cognitive Science; And Law at the University of California, Irvine

It’s hard to know what’s true and what’s not anymore. Anything online can be faked to look legit. The pandemic and the protests against racial inequality are both great examples – misinformation is all over social media. And here’s a troubling fact – these fake news stories aren’t just misleading. They also have the potential to rewire your memory. (Originally aired 1/21/20)