Think from KERA

The word “liberal” is used pejoratively or as a point of pride, depending on your viewpoint. And as such, the definition of liberalism is often misunderstood. New Yorker staff writer Adam Gopnik joins host Krys Boyd to set the record straight by introducing us to the people from history who invented the liberal tradition. His new book is called “A Thousand Small Sanities: The Moral Adventure of Liberalism”(Basic Books).

Through the 1970s and ‘80s, it was fairly common for a Supreme Court nominee to be approved unanimously by the Senate. Michael Kirk joins host Krys Boyd to talk about how a fairly uneventful process became ground zero for partisan conflict. Kirk’s Frontline documentary“Supreme Revenge”airs Tuesday night on PBS stations.

Americans spend more on healthcare than other developed nations. So why are we not the healthiest country on Earth? Sandro Galea, dean and Robert A. Knox Professor at the Boston University School of Public Health, joins host Krys Boyd to talk about how we should rethink our understanding of what it means to be healthy – and how that shift will guide our approach to healthcare. His new book is called “Well: What We Need to Talk About When We Talk About Health” (Oxford).

About 1.5 million ransomware attacks occur annually, putting individuals and corporations in a no-win situation. ProPublica technology reporter Renee Dudley joins host Krys Boyd to explain how these attacks work, how firms can sometimes recover the stolen data, and how sometimes the solution is just to pay up.Her recent story on the topic is a joint investigation with The Guardian.

Most of us probably have room for improvement when it comes to leading moral lives. Clemson humanities professor Todd May joins host Krys Boyd to talk about taking a realistic approach to becoming a more ethical and responsible person. His new book is called “A Decent Life: Morality for the Rest of Us” (University of Chicago Press).

The death of a child is the most traumatic event a parent can experience. Jayson Greene knows – he lost his 2-year-old daughter, Greta. Greene joins host Krys Boyd to talk about the courage it took for him and his family to realize there could be life after death, which he writes about in his memoir, “Once More We Saw Stars” (Knopf).

Kim Horner was urged by her doctors to undergo a double mastectomy after she learned she had inherited a genetic mutation that put her at high risk for cancer. She joins host Krys Boyd to talk about how she and other women make such a drastic choice to fight a disease they don’t even have. Her new book is called “Probably Someday Cancer: Genetic Risk and Preventative Mastectomy” (UNT Press).

As chief justice, John Roberts has overseen monumental Supreme Court decisions on everything from voting rights to marriage equality to campaign finance. Joan Biskupic joins host Krys Boyd to talk about Roberts’ commitment to conservative principles and his dedication to preserving the court’s image. Her new book is called “The Chief: The Life and Turbulent Times of Chief Justice John Roberts” (Basic Books).

Corporate America is a favorite punching bag for people fed up with the country’s economic status. Tyler Cowen, Holbert L. Harris Chair in Economics at George Mason University, joins host Krys Boyd to make the case that corporations actually get a bad rap and are vital to the overall success of our society. His new book is called“Big Business: A Love Letter to an American Anti-Hero”(St. Martin’s Press).

Youngsters who participate in spelling bees spend countless hours preparing for the contest. But rather than being stressed and burnt out, these competitors are proving that hard work at a young age sets them up for victory going forward. That’s the conclusion of Northwestern anthropologist Shalini Shankar, who joins host Krys Boyd to talk about her new book“Beeline: What Spelling Bees Reveal About Generation Z’s New Path to Success”(Basic Books).