Think from KERA

While experiencing a childhood mired in abuse, pain and murder, Allison Moorer somehow also found music. The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter joins host Krys Boyd to talk about how she’s mined those dark memories – and how she and her sister survived through moments of creativity, imagination and song. Her new book is called “Blood: A Memoir.”

Last week, President Trump ordered a drone strike that killed Qassem Soleimani, commander of Iran’s Quds Force. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has promised revenge, putting politicians, security experts and world leaders on high alert. Ilan Goldenberg, senior fellow and director of the Middle East Security Program atthe Center for a New American Security, joins host Krys Boyd to talk about what might happen next – and about if a face-saving option exists that could keep the two countries from war.

So much of America’s current opioid crisis lies in how doctors use these powerful drugs to treat pain. Science writer Yudhijit Bhattacharjee talks with host Krys Boyd about how researchers are developing a more nuanced understanding of pain and how that’s informing treatment. His article “A World of Pain” appears in the current issue of National Geographic.

In 2036, Texas will commemorate its bicentennial – a celebration that will be joined by 10 million more Texans than today. That has the state planning for how it will accommodate its growing population and the challenges that accompany it. Former Secretary of Education, Margaret Spellings is president and CEO of Texas 2036, and she talks to host Krys Boyd about how the nonprofit organization is taking a nonpartisan approach to assessing state data to prepare for the next 16 years and beyond.

Chances are advertisements are bombarding you with deals on gym memberships, diet services and apps to workout at home. The reality, though, is that for many people, New Year’s resolutions rarely last. ABC News’ Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton joins host Krys Boyd to talk about taking a realistic approach to health in mind and body without upending your life. Her book is called “The Self-Care Solution: A Year Of Becoming Happier, Healthier, and Fitter – One Month At A Time.”

When women leave the workforce to raise children, they often find that picking up their career where they left off is tough. Pamela Stone, professor of sociology at Hunter College and The Graduate Center, City University of New York, joins host Krys Boyd to talk about the struggles of highly-educated, well-connected women with résumé gaps. Her new book – written with Meg Lovejoy – is called “Opting Back In: What Really Happens When Mothers Go Back to Work.”

When we go for a hike, most of us don’t need to concentrate on walking around trees and not *into *them. And while that sounds silly, there’s actually a very complex mind-body system at work to keep that disaster at bay. Scott Grafton, chair of the neuroscience department at the University of California – Santa Barbara, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the science of how we move without thinking. His book is called“Physical Intelligence: The Science of How the Body and the Mind Guide Each Other Through Life.”

Raising a son with a language disorder pushed Sarah Schleuning to reconsider how visitors to a museum might react to exhibits. Schleuning is the Margot B. Perot Senior Curator of Decorative Arts and Design and interim chief curator at the Dallas Museum of Art, and she joins host Krys Boyd to talk about the exhibit she curated, which features site-specific works that encourage the use of multiple senses. “Speechless: Different By Design” is on view through March 22.

In 1999, transitioning from a man to a woman was a much different experience than today. Now with 20 years to reflect, one woman asks: was her personal freedom worth the pain? Deirdre Nansen McCloskey, distinguished professor of economics, history, English and communication at the University of Illinois at Chicago, has updated her ground-breaking memoir with a new afterword discussing the rejection — and acceptance — she’s received then and now. The book is called “Crossing: A Transgender Memoir.”

On Sunday, a gunman killed two members of a church near Fort Worth, Texas, before a trained member of the church’s security team killed him, likely preventing further loss of life. That incident, coupled with a recent uptick of anti-Semitic violence, has leaders across faith traditions wondering how they can better protect their communities. In “Sanctuary And Safety: A National Call-In Special from Think,” guest host Courtney Collins talks with a diverse group of faith leaders about their approaches to creating safe spaces for worship – and about what’s lost when congregants no longer feel comfortable gathering in public spaces.