Think from KERA

Maternal mortality rates are on the rise in Texas, and lawmakers and public health officials are trying to figure out why. Marissa Evans joins us to talk about the numbers – which show among other things that black women are disproportionately at risk. Her story “Dangerous Deliveries: Is Texas Doing Enough to Stop Moms from Dying” appears in the Texas Tribune.

In June of 2017, Colombia’s guerrilla rebels handed over their weapons to the United Nations, ending 50 years of war in the country. Alma Guillermoprieto joins us to talk about where Colombia goes from here. Her story “After Five Decades of Civil War, Colombia’s Healing Begins” appears in National Geographic magazine.

Throughout American history, hucksters have tried to pull a fast one on unsuspecting marks. Kevin Young joins us to talk about how everyone from P.T. Barnum to Edgar Allan Poe helped bring on our post-truth society. His new book is called “Bunk: The Rise of Hoaxes, Humbug, Plagiarists, Phonies, Post-Facts, and Fake News” (Graywolf Press).

In September, Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, ringing up an estimated $100 billion in damages. Journalist Petra Bartosiewicz and photographer Christopher Gregory join us to talk about how U.S. policy towards the island almost guarantees that it will never recover from the disaster. Their story “Before the Deluge: How Washington Sealed Puerto Rico’s Fate” appears in Harpers magazine.

Study after study confirms the important role that preschool plays in a student’s academic success. That significance, though, isn’t reflected in preschool teachers’ paychecks. Jeneen Interlandi joins us to talk about this disconnect – her story “Why Are Our Most Important Teachers Paid the Least?” appears in The New York Times magazine.

When undocumented immigrants cross the border into the U.S., they can count on Ignacio Rivera to protect them. He’s the superhero of the “El Peso Hero” comic books. The series is written by North Texas teacher Hector Rodriguez, who joins us to talk about creating a character who seeks justice for those without hope.

For U.S. diplomats, 2016 began as a year spent putting the finishing touches on President Obama’s global policies. And when they learned that Hillary Clinton would not be moving into the White House, those same State Department workers began a race against time to lock in their achievements. Their efforts are captured in a documentary called “The Final Year,” and we talk with director Greg Barker about traveling the world with Samantha Power, John Kerry and other key figures.

Melba Pattillo Beals became a Civil Rights hero in 1957 when she was one of nine black students who integrated Central High School in Little Rock. She joins us to talk about that day – and about barriers to equality that remain. Her memoir is called “I Will Not Fear: My Story of a Lifetime of Building Faith Under Fire” (Revell).

In 2018, tacos feel as American as hamburgers and apple pie. And in tracing the taco’s path to integration, it’s also possible to study the paths of the people who brought them here. St. John’s University assistant professor Steven Alvarez covers these ideas in a course he teaches called “Taco Literacy,” and he joins us to talk about what can be learned about Mexican immigrants through the food they eat and share.

Impulse control is a common trait among high achievers. Psychologist David DeSteno joins us to talk about how the use of social emotions factor into our abilities to persevere and make the most of our lives. His new book is called “Emotional Success: The Power of Gratitude, Compassion, and Pride”(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt).