Think from KERA

One year ago today, a man allegedly drove 10 hours, stopped at a Walmart in El Paso, and opened fire, killing 23. On the anniversary of the deadliest anti-Latino attack in American history, we’ll revisit the debate about guns in America. Jennifer Carlson, associate professor of sociology and government and public policy at the University of Arizona, joins host Krys Boyd to look at how the discussion has changed during COVID-19 and explore how the conversation will be framed during the 2020 presidential campaigns.

The promise of the middle class began in the 1920s with a promise of “a chicken in every pot.” By mid-century, the dream became much more expansive—even as it turned away a significant portion of Americans. David Stebenne, teaches political, legal and constitutional history at The Ohio State University, and he joins host Krys Boyd to talk about the social movements and government policies that defined the mid-20th century. His new book is “Promised Land: How the Rise of the Middle Class Transformed America, 1929 – 1968.”

For most Americans, President Trump’s border wall is an abstract idea. But for people living along the border, its physical presence actually affects their lives. D.W. Gibson spent two years observing a section of the wall’s development – from prototype to construction – and he joins host Krys Boyd to talk about what he learned from talking to people who live and work near it. His new book is called “14 Miles: Building the Border Wall.”

Dr. Ross Slotten experienced the AIDS crisis both as a newly-minted physician caring for patients and as a gay man watching many friends die from the virus. He joins host Krys Boyd to talk about his personal experience caring for people amid the epidemic. His new book is called “Plague Years: A Doctor’s Journey through the AIDS Crisis.”

Each day we’re inundated with new data about the spread of COVID-19. But which numbers tell the real story? Caroline Chen covers healthcare for ProPublica and is currently reporting on the coronavirus pandemic. She joins host Krys Boyd to talk about how we should interpret the numbers to get a sense of where we’re headed. Her recent article is headlined “How to Understand COVID Numbers.”

It seems unreal: a conspiracy that connected online retailer Wayfair to organized child sex trafficking. But so many believed it that the National Human Trafficking Hotline was overwhelmed with calls. Where do these ideas originate? And how do they affect our society? Filmmaker Michael Kirk talks to host Krys Boyd about how hoaxes and conspiracies are perpetuated and the battle between truth and lies. His Frontline documentary “The United States of Conspiracy” airs tonight on PBS stations.

You might remember the glitzy days of nationally televised beauty pageants: parades of beautifully coiffed young women representing every corner of America. Was this a celebration of femininity or a slap in the face for feminism? City University of New York professor Margot Mifflin joins host Krys Boyd to take us backstage, where battles for social change butted up against traditional models of who should wear the crown. Her new book is “Looking for Miss America: A Pageant’s 100-Year Quest to Define Womanhood.”

When we hurt someone’s feelings, it’s hard to cop to our mistakes. It’s even harder to repair the damage by asking for forgiveness. Clinical psychologist Molly Howes joins host Krys Boyd to examine how we make amends and how acknowledging harm heals the future. Her book is called “A Good Apology: Four Steps to Make Things Right.”

We all need some self-care these days, so if someone growls at you to “take a hike,” definitely take them up on it. After all, it’s one of the healthiest things you can do. Trinity College Dublin neuroscientist Shane O’Mara joins host Krys Boyd to talk about why ditching the car is great for your body, your mood and your connection to your fellow man. His new book is “In Praise of Walking: A New Scientific Exploration.”

Forests move. When a tree dies or is felled, a new one sprouts and shifts the landscape, leading to a natural migration. Enter: climate change. Science reporter Zach St. George joins host Krys Boyd to talk about ecological efforts to protect woodlands and his hikes with experts to understand the path we’re on. His book is called “The Journeys of Trees: A Story About Forests, People, and the Future.”