Think from KERA

Most of us plan for the ends of our lives by just putting the idea out of our minds. Katy Butler joins host Krys Boyd to talk about how we can better manage our later years and maintain a high quality of living even at the end. Her new book is called “The Art of Dying Well: A Practical Guide to a Good End of Life” (Scribner).

One thing every American can agree on is that we’re living in a particularly divided political landscape. Daily Beast columnist Michael Tomasky joins host Krys Boyd to talk about ideas that might bridge the gap – from ranked-choice voting to at-large congressional districts. His new book is called“If We Can Keep It: How the Republic Collapsed and How it Might Be Saved”(Liveright).

Marie Kondo has been equal parts sensation and curiosity with her book on organizing and subsequent Netflix series. Margaret Dilloway grew up with one Asian parent and one white parent, and she joins host Krys Boyd to talk about how Shinto beliefs influenced Kondo – and about what it’s like to see the Kondo phenomenon from two perspectives. Her essay“What White, Western Audiences Don’t Understand About Marie Kondo’s ‘Tidying Up’”appears in The Huffington Post.

Protest songs are arguably most closely associated with the Civil Rights movement and the Vietnam War. James Sullivan joins host Krys Boyd to trace the evolution of these songs – from the early days of World War I to the present, which he writes about in“Which Side Are You On? 20th Century American History in 100 Protest Songs”(Oxford University Press).

Lt. General Russel Honoré served as commander of Joint Task Force Katrina, leading his home state of Louisiana’s effort to rise above the devastation. He joins host Krys Boyd to talk about how his military training prepared him to tackle a natural disaster – and about how governments and organizations can be better prepared to handle emergencies.

Medicare-For-All has turned into a litmus test for Democrats throwing their hats into the 2020 presidential election. Dylan Scott joins host Krys Boyd to talk about the biggest roadblock to expanding Medicare: the 160 million Americans who receive insurance through their jobs. His story“Is Employer-Sponsored Insurance Really a Good Deal for Workers?”appears on Vox.

This month, Facebook marks its 15th anniversary. Julie Beck joins host Krys Boyd to talk about how the social network has changed the way we view friendship – and about how we now hold onto friendships long past their expiration date. Her essay “Facebook: Where Friendships Go to Never Quite Die” appears on the website of The Atlantic.

Over the past 250 million years, humans have actually become nicer to one another on an individual level. At the same time, we’ve gotten a lot better at fighting on a grand scale. Harvard anthropologist Richard Wrangham joins host Krys Boyd to talk about the evolution of human violence, which he writes about in“The Goodness Paradox: The Strange Relationship Between Virtue and Violence in Human Evolution”(Pantheon).

The Ganges River flows more than 1,500 miles – from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal. University of California, Davis history professor Sudipta Sen joins host Krys Boyd to talk about the religious significance the river holds for Hindus – and the lifeline it provides to millions living in India. His new book is called “Ganges: The Many Pasts of an Indian River” (Yale University Press).

Recreational marijuana is legal in nine states and the District of Columbia. As more states debate its availability, Alex Berenson joins host Krys Boyd to talk about the pluses and minuses of ending the prohibition on pot. His new book is called“Tell Your Children: The Truth About Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence”(Free Press).