Think from KERA

[2016-06-01 12:00:00] Hoarding disorder is an actual condition recognized by the Mayo Clinic and other health organizations. This hour, we’ll talk about why some people find it difficult to discard possessions – and about how they can be helped – with Smith College psychology professor Randy Frost. He’s the author of a number of books about hoarding, including “Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things,” and he’ll deliver the keynote address at the Southwest Conference on Hoarding being held Friday in Hurst.

[2016-05-31 13:00:00] Most of us have someone whose validation we seek – a parent, a sibling, a supervisor. And even if we receive it, we have to ask ourselves if the thumbs up was worth all the effort. This hour, we’ll talk about the constant drive to please others – even at our own expense – with Faith Salie, author of “Approval Junkie: Adventures in Caring Too Much” (Crown Archetype).

[2016-05-31 12:00:00] When very sick patients have exhausted all treatment options, they can occasionally receive experimental drugs through the “compassionate use” protocol. This hour, we’ll talk about how the program works – and about why it may actually make it more difficult for future patients to receive these drugs – with Helen Ouyang. Her story “Hashtag Prescription” appears in the June issue of Harper’s.

[2016-05-26 13:00:00] In the age of hook-up culture, it’s easy to wonder whatever happened to asking someone to dinner. The truth, though, is that generations of Americans have looked askance at the dating practices of their progeny. This hour, we’ll talk about how courtship has evolved over the last century with Moira Weigel, author of “Labor of Love: The Invention of Dating” (Farrar, Straus and Giroux).

[2016-05-26 12:00:00] Each year, the population of Texas grows at one of the highest rates in the nation. And it’s important that all of those new Texans learn a little about their adopted home state. This hour we’ll talk about how to take the perfect bluebonnet photo, dance the two-step and other important cultural touchstones with Texas Monthly writer Andrea Valdez, author of “How to Be a Texan” (University of Texas Press). P.S. – no beans in that chili, please and thank you.

[2016-05-25 12:00:00] Throughout human history, we’ve maintained a strong drive to live in close proximity with one another. This hour, we’ll talk about where that desire comes from – and why it’s important to hold onto it tightly – with bestselling author and journalist Sebastian Junger. He writes about the idea in “Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging” (Twelve).

[2016-05-25 13:00:00] If the 20th Century was the American century, there’s a real possibility that the 21st could go down as the Asian century. This hour, we’ll talk with former State Department strategist Anja Manuel about how America can extend its leadership in the world by partnering with Asia’s two largest populations. Her new book is “This Brave New World: India, China, and The United States” (Simon & Schuster).

[2016-05-24 12:00:00] Everyone possesses traits that set them apart from others, but a person’s voice might be one of the most unique characteristics they have. This hour we’ll explore what it takes to provide vocal identities for those without them with Rupal Patel, director of the Communication Analysis and Design Laboratory at Northeastern University. She founded the VocaliD voice-bank to transform donated voiceprints and speech patterns into new individual voices for people who lack the ability to physically speak for themselves.

[2016-05-24 13:00:00] Those of us who own pets appreciate the unconditional love they give us when we walk through the door. But is the care we give to them a fair exchange for their freedom? This hour, we’ll talk about the morality of owning cats, dogs, fish, birds and other animals with bioethicist Jessica Pierce, author of “Run, Spot, Run: The Ethics of Keeping Pets” (University of Chicago Press).

[2016-05-23 13:00:00] We spend a third of our lives asleep – at least that’s the idea. And when we get less than our eight hours, we’re probably lowering the quality of the time we spend awake. This hour, we’ll talk about why our bodies need rest, the role of dreams in our subconscious and the consequences of sleep deprivation with Arianna Huffington ofThe Huffington Post. She writes about the topic in “The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life, One Night at a Time” (Harmony).