Learning about our ancestors may not seem all that interesting – or important. So why do family history? It turns out that there is a compelling case for learning about our past. Research suggests that learning about our ancestors’ stories, culture, traditions, and lives can help us understand our own identity, connect with others, and inspire us to be better people. But what happens if our past is filled with dark stories that we would rather not be associated with? Is doing family history still worth it? In this podcast episode, we explore how family history can open new doors, build resiliency within families, and the value in digging a little deeper to understand your past.

Podcast Guests:

Christopher Jones, BYU History Professor

Libby Copeland, author of “The Lost Family: How DNA Testing Is Upending Who We Are”

Edward Di Gangi, author of “The Gift Best Given: A Memoir”

Gaynell Brady, owner of Our Mammy’s

People with synesthesia perceive the world very differently from the rest of us. Their senses merge so that sounds might also have tastes. The days of the week may be different colors. Numbers and letters might correspond to musical notes. This final installment in our summer series of archive interviews is especially meaningful to Julie because it drives home how two people can look at the same thing and see it very differently. What can the science of synesthesia teach us about navigating divisive issues we feel strongly about?

Guest:

Richard Cytowic, Clinical Professor of Neurology at George Washington University, author of "Wednesday is Indigo Blue" and "The Man Who Tasted Shapes"

Caregiving for a loved one can be difficult and confusing. Julie and her siblings are among the more than 20 million Americans who currently care for an aging parent- so this week's pick from the Top of Mind live radio archive hits close to home. In 2020, Julie spoke with Zachary White and Donna Thomson who combine their personal and professional experience into a "how to" handbook for the rest of us called “The Unexpected Journey of Caring."

Guests:

Donna Thomson, author, caregiver, activist, author of "The Four Walls of My Freedom: Lessons I've Learned from a Life of Caregiving"

Zachary White, professor of communication, Queens University of Charlotte, co-author (with Thomson) of "The Unexpected Journey of Caring: The Transformation from Loved One to Caregiver"

Sarah Valentine grew up believing she was the white daughter of her white parents. As an adult she learned her parents had been lying to her. She’s actually half Black. That truth completely unraveled Valentine’s sense of identity, which she writes about in her memoir “When I Was White.” Top of Mind host Julie Rose says she thinks often about this interview from our daily radio show archive because it really led her question her assumptions about race and racism. Top of Mind is a BYUradio podcast.

Guest:

Sarah Valentine, author of "When I Was White: A Memoir"

Netflix star Samin Nosrat shares the one amazing meal that inspired her to become a professional chef. Her cookbook “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat” is a guide to the essential elements of successful cooking. In another of Julie’s favorite conversations from the Top of Mind live radio show archives, Nosrat explains how to make delicious food whether you’re a conscientious recipe-follower or a free-wheeling experimenter (like Julie). Top of Mind is a BYUradio podcast.

Guest:

Samin Nosrat, chef and author of "Salt, Fat, Acid Heat" (which is also a Netflix documentary series)

This week, Julie shares a conversation from Top of Mind’s live radio show archive that changed her life. In 2017 she spoke with Dan Brule, who is one of the world’s leading experts on breathwork. He recommends taking time daily to practice breathing. The techniques he shared have become Julie’s best tool for coping with stress and anxiety.

Guest:

Dan Brule, author of “Just Breathe: Mastering Breathwork for Success in Life, Love, Business and Beyond"

A professional magician teaches magic tricks to inmates, and it is changing their whole prison experience.

The American Chestnut tree is nearly gone for good. These people are working hard to bring it back.

A special type of wall creates a radiating cooling effect. Here's how it works.

The humanitarian needs across the world right now are enormous. War, political corruption, natural disasters, debilitating poverty, and economic failure can all cause a humanitarian crisis. When these crises occur, our natural instinct is the help. And, helping out seems straightforward – you just send money or show up. But can assistance sometimes do more harm than good? What is the true impact of humanitarian efforts? If you’re not careful, your time and money may do no good to help those in crisis. Worse, it might end up hurting those you’re hoping to help. In this podcast episode, we consider how best to respond in a humanitarian crisis, why doing a “service trip” to a distant country isn’t necessarily helpful and ways to boost the impact of your humanitarian aid.

Podcast Guests:

Svitlana Miller, founder, ToUkraineWithLove.org

Meg Sattler, director, Ground Truth Solutions

Bocchit Edmond, Haiti’s Ambassador to the United States

Pippa Biddle, author of “Ours to Explore: Privilege, Power and the Paradox of Voluntourism”

Kat Rosqueta, founding executive director, Center for High Impact Philanthropy (impact.upenn.edu) at the University of Pennsylvania

College education is traditionally seen in America as a worthwhile investment that can help people get ahead, find better jobs, and earn higher salaries. But with our ever-changing social and economic landscape, does a college degree matter? Some employers are no longer requiring a degree for professional jobs. As the cost of getting a degree continues to rise, is a college education worth the expense if it doesn’t lead to lucrative job after graduation? In this podcast episode, we’ll explore how American society determines the value of a college education and how to know when pursuing higher education is the right choice.

Podcast Guests:

Alexis Ayala, Business Development Representative at Okta

Anthony Carnevale, Director of the Georgetown Center for Education and the Workforce

Ron Lieber, New York Times Finance Columnist, Author of “The Price You Pay for College: An Entirely New Road Map for the Biggest Financial Decision Your Family Will Ever Make”

Ken Rusk, Entrepreneur, Author of “Blue Collar Cash: Love Your Work, Secure Your Future, and Find Happiness for Life”

Clues to Beethoven's inner life are all throughout his music.

Developing a less expensive portable MRI machine.

Desensitization treatment works well for food allergies. Why do so many people still suffer?