Biden Promises a Climate-Centered Presidency (0:30)

Guest: Brigham Daniels, Professor of Law, Brigham Young University

President-elect Joe Biden has promised to put the US back in the Paris Climate Agreement on his first day in office. But meeting the requirements of that agreement will require a major reduction in carbon emissions from all aspects of America’s economy, and Biden may not have the votes in Congress to get big climate change laws passed. There’s a lot the President can do without Congress, though–and President-elect Biden’s approach to climate change is shaping up to be even more aggressive than his former boss President Obama. 

 

Why the World Loves Dolly Parton (and Really Needs Her Now) (21:15)

Guest: Sarah Smarsh, Author of New York Times Bestselling Memoir “Heartland” and “She Come By It Natural: Dolly Parton and the Women Who Lived Her Songs”

There’s a petition–with tens of thousands of signatures–calling on the state of Tennessee to take down all of its Confederate monuments and replace them with a “true Tennessee hero, Dolly Parton.” Not so long ago, Dolly Parton was best known to many people as the punchline of jokes about her body. Today she’s regarded as a living saint in her home region of Appalachia. Young music stars clamor to collaborate with her. Back in 2016, Dolly packed arenas on her latest world tour. It was at one of those shows that author Sarah Smarsh looked around the audience and decided she needed to take a closer look at why Dolly is so popular right now.

 

How Humans Are Altering Life on Earth (52:21)

Guest: Helen Pilcher, Science and Comedy Writer, Author of “Life Changing: How Humans are Altering Life on Earth”

We just can’t help ourselves, really. Humans are pushing the evolution of living species into overdrive. Some of it is deliberate–like domesticating animals and modifying the genetics of plants. Some of it is accidental–like how our presence and pollution are prompting species to mate that wouldn’t have normally. Ever seen a Pizzly Bear? It’s a hybrid Polar/Grizzly. Not all of our influence on nature is bad, though. Humans are starting to use this power to bring species back from the brink of extinction. (Originally aired on June 25, 2020).

 

Studying Cockroaches and Snakes to Help Robots (1:31:13)

Guest: Chen Li, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Principal Investigator of the Terradynamics Lab, Johns Hopkins University

Robots can do a lot of amazing things, but unfortunately, they’re pretty limited in movement. Your robot vacuum can’t climb up the couch to clean it, and a self-driving car can’t move over rubble to assist in a search and rescue operation. To make that happen someday, a team at Johns Hopkins University is studying cockroaches and snakes. (Originally aired June 25, 2020).

Do pandemic restrictions that limit the size of church gatherings violate religious freedom?

There’s a whole science to why lines happen and how–with the right planning and technology–they don’t have to be so long. The pandemic may just be the thing that ends the line as we know it.

The election exposed just how deeply divided America is–politically, socially, racially, religiously.

Given that state of affairs, is there any way for religious differences to be a unifier, rather than a divider? The Interfaith Youth Core thinks so.

New research shows that as algorithms get better at making predictions for what one group of people will like, other groups get left in the digital dust.

A story now of humans successfully restoring a marine habitat.

Whether a child is anxious, aggressive or hyperactive around age 10 is a pretty good predictor of future relationship success.

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Big First Amendment Cases on Supreme Court’s Calendar (0:30)

Guest: RonNell Andersen Jones, Lee E. Teitelbaum Endowed Professor of Law, SJ Quinney College Of Law, University of Utah

Do pandemic restrictions that limit the size of church gatherings violate religious freedom? The Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn has filed an emergency request with the US Supreme Court asking that it overrule the New York Governor’s strict limits on religious meetings as COVID-19 cases rise. The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the question in the next week or so.

 

How COVID-19 is Changing Lines (23:53)

Guest: Richard Larson, Professor of Data, Systems, and Society, Massacusets Institute of Technology

We all hate waiting in line. But during a pandemic, lines are also a public health hazard. Do they have to exist at all? There’s a whole science to why lines happen and how–with the right planning and technology–they don’t have to be so long. And they definitely don’t have to be so annoying. The pandemic may just be the thing that ends the line as we know it.

 

Bridging Ideological Divides with College Students (41:20)

Guest: Mary Ellen Giess, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, Interfaith Youth Core

The election exposed just how deeply divided America is–politically, socially, racially, religiously. Demonstrations for and against President Trump in Washington, DC on Saturday ended in fist fights. And troublingly, reports of anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim hate crimes are up in the United States–including on college campuses. Given that state of affairs, is there any way for religious differences to be a unifier, rather than a divider? The Interfaith Youth Core thinks so. All year, the nonprofit has been sponsoring collaboration and dialogue between universities that are very different–a religious school paired with a secular, liberal arts college.

 

Better Algorithms Are Also Worse Algorithms (52:22)

Guest: James Zou, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University

We’re constantly influenced by computer algorithms–that’s how you get movie recommendations tailored to you on Netflix or articles about things you’re interested in on your Facebook feed. But new research shows that as algorithms get better at making predictions for what one group of people will like, other groups get left in the digital dust. That might be innocent when it comes to movie recommendations, but algorithms also sometimes decide who should get a bank loan or interview for a job.

 

Bringing Seagrass Meadows Back to Virginia, One Seed at a Time (1:08:39)

Guest: Robert Orth, Professor, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary

A story now of humans successfully restoring a marine habitat. Off the coast of Virginia, seagrass had been entirely absent since the 1930s. Then Robert Orth and his colleagues at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science at William and Mary started planting seagrass by hand along the coast. Twenty years later, it’s a real success story and–as the researchers write in the journal “Science Advances”–it’s part of a growing movement of “ocean optimism” when so much of the news about human impact on the environment is bleak.

 

Childhood Behaviors Predict Partnership Patterns in Adulthood (1:28:50)

Guest: Francis Vergunst, Postdoctoral Fellow, Developmental Public Health, University of Montreal

Whether a child is anxious, aggressive or hyperactive around age 10 is a pretty good predictor of future relationship success. A study of thousands of Canadian children that followed them from kindergarten into adulthood found that people who remained single were more likely to have been anxious children. And those who partnered but split up early in adulthood were more likely to have been aggressive or disobedient as kids. So there are some important insights here for parents and teachers.

The latest iteration of Wonder Woman’s story from DC Comics rolls the clock back to her teenage years–when she was just Diana Prince.

The American Religious Sounds Project has been tracking the sound of religion during the pandemic.

There’s a small town in Maine keeping tradition alive with an annual ice harvest on a local pond.

With Veterans Day this past week, we were reminded, once again, just how large the Vietnam War looms over America’s psyche.

Three years ago, Eugenia Kuyda created an artificially intelligent bot that can take the place of a friend in some cases.

Wonder Woman as an Awkward Teenaged Refugee Confronting Injustice in America (0:33)

Guest: Laurie Halse Anderson, New York Times Best-Selling Author of “Speak” and “Chains,” Author of “Wonder Woman: Tempest Tossed”

Wonder Woman has become edgier and more empowered on screen over the years. The latest iteration of Wonder Woman’s story from DC Comics rolls the clock back to her teenage years–when she was just Diana Prince. She’s awkward, uprooted from home, living as a refugee in New York City. The new graphic novel is called “Wonder Woman: Tempest Tossed." (Originally aired on June 22, 2020).

 

Capturing The Sound of Religion (24:55)

Guests: Isaac Weiner, Professor of Comparative Studies, The Ohio State University, Co-Director, American Religious Sounds Project; Amy DeRogatis, Professor of Religious Studies, Michigan State, Co-Director, ARSP

During the isolation of this pandemic, religious experience has looked different. Felt different. Sounded different. For instance, Catholics in Milwaukee banged their pots and pans along with the ringing of church bells on Easter Sunday. Audio from that day is part of the American Religious Sounds Project which has been tracking the sound of religion during the pandemic. (Originally aired May 27, 2020).

 

Preserving the History of Ice Harvesting (41:14)

Guest: Kenneth Lincoln, President of the Thompson Ice House Preservation Corporation

Winter is coming on, and that means lakes and ponds are going to start freezing over across the country. Back in the day, people relied on that happening to provide the blocks of ice that would go into iceboxes–they were literally boxes with ice in them-to keep things cool. Then came electric refrigerators and ice harvesting went out of business. That was a century ago. But there’s a small town in Maine keeping the tradition alive with an annual ice harvest on a local pond. (Originally aired March 11, 2020).

 

“The Mountains Sing”: Trauma, Resilience and the Legacy of War in Vietnam (52:52)

Guest: Nguyen Phan Que Mai, Author of “The Mountains Sing”

With Veterans Day this past week, we were reminded, once again, just how large the Vietnam War looms over America’s psyche. Six million American men and women who fought in the Vietnam War are still alive today–they’re the largest surviving group of veterans from a single conflict and far outnumber the veterans who’ve fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. So, it’s really no wonder that most of the books and movies about the Vietnam War that we’re familiar with are from the perspective of those veterans–from the perspective of America and its allies. Nguyen Phan Que Mai’s new novel is the rare exception. It tracks the effects of war on four generations of one Vietnamese family. The novel, which is called, “The Mountains Sing,” draws from the real experiences of Que Mai’s family. (Originally aired March 7, 2020).

 

An App That’s Designed to Be Your BFF (1:30:44)

Guest: Eugenia Kuyda, Co-Founder and CEO, Replika

A lot of things during this pandemic have moved online–including work, therapy, and routine doctor’s appointments. Many of our relationships have moved online, too. Three years ago, Eugenia Kuyda created an artificially intelligent bot that can take the place of a friend in some cases. It’ll talk or text with you about your day, offer support or insight and, because it’s artificially intelligent, it learns from your conversations over time. It’s like a warm fuzzy Siri or Alexa. The app is called Replika. (Originally aired April 16, 2020).

Afternoon Doctor Appointments (0:30)

Guest: Mara Gordon, Family Physician and Assistant Professor of Family Medicine, Cooper Medical School, Rowan University

The next time you schedule a doctor’s appointment, you might want to make it for the morning. Turns out that if you go see a physician in the afternoon, you could get worse healthcare. (Originally aired June 2, 2020).

 

The Divers Who Watch Over the Underwater Resources at National Parks (17:15)

Guest: Dave Conlin, Chief of the Submerged Resources Center, National Park Service

The most iconic images of America’s National Parks – the ones on the posters and license plates - are aboveground. Well, okay, there are some caves in the mix. But the National Park Service also has a team dedicated to caring for resources that are underwater – kelp forests, coral reefs, sunken ships like the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor. (Originally aired June 2, 2020).

 

Measuring the Effect of Social Media on Body Image (37:33)

Guest: Sophia Choukas-Bradley, Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh

It's tricky to take a flattering selfie. You have to get the right angle, lighting, facial expression. But some women online – young women especially – look great in every picture. Is it because they’ve basically been posting photos to social media all of their lives? Or that they just put a lot more effort into making sure they look good in those photos? (Originally aired June 2, 2020).

 

Microplastics Are Airborne, Come Down in Our Rain, and Are Virtually Everywhere (52:54)

Guest: Janice Brahney, Professor of Watershed Sciences, Utah State University

We’ve got a problem with plastic in our oceans. But now it’s in our wind and rain, too. New research shows that air and water deposit more than 1000 tons of plastic every year in US protected lands – and that’s just in the Western part of the country. (Originally aired June 29, 2020).

 

New Recommendation for Anxiety Screening in Women & Girls (1:08:41)

Guest: Heidi Nelson, MD, MPH, Professor of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology, Oregon Health & Science University

Women are twice as likely as men to have anxiety. Nearly half of American women will experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. So a coalition of women’s health professionals say screening for anxiety should be a regular part of routine check-ups for all women and teenaged girls. (Originally aired June 29, 2020).

 

The Glass Cliff (1:26:26)

Guest: Alexis Smith Washington, Associate Professor in the Management Department, Oklahoma State University

Most of these companies making public statements of support for Black Lives Matter and their commitment to do better on issues of race, have a lot of work to do when it comes to hiring and promoting people of color. There are currently only five black CEOs of Fortune 500 companies. None is a black woman. But, there’s a real risk that companies in a rush to address their lack of diversity right now will end up promoting minority workers to positions where failure is likely because we’re in a recession. It’s a phenomenon known as the glass cliff. (Originally aired June 29, 2020).

The next time you schedule a doctor’s appointment, you might want to make it for the morning.

The National Park Service has a team dedicated to caring for resources that are underwater.

It's tricky to take a flattering selfie. You have to get the right angle, lighting, facial expression.

We’ve got a problem with plastic in our oceans. But now it’s in our wind and rain, too.

Nearly half of American women will experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives.

Most of these companies making commitments to do better on issues of race, have a lot of work to do when it comes to hiring and promoting people of color.

Millions of American men and women have served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan over the last 20 years.

Why is a thriving food scene such a reliable precursor to gentrification?

While Democrats celebrate their victory in the Presidential Election, the picture on the state level is quite different.

Eating disorders are common on college campuses and extremely debilitating for students.

The vast majority of characters with disabilities in film and television are portrayed by actors who do not have the same disability.

A Veteran’s View on Why He Served (0:30)

Guest: Captain Frank “Gus” Biggio, Former US Marine, Author of “The Wolves of Helmand: A View from Inside the Den of Modern War”

Millions of American men and women have served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan over the last 20 years. Most have seen the gains they fought for–whether it’s territory, or peace and stability for a region-lost as those conflicts drag on. How do veterans square that? Was the time away, the injuries, the trauma, the death of their comrades, worth it?

 

Restaurants Setting the Table for Gentrification (35:30)

Guest: Joshua Sbicca, Associate Professor of Sociology, Colorado State University

If you want to know which rough neighborhood in a city is about to become the next hipster enclave, look where a new coffee shop opens upselling organic brews and smoothies. An upscale restaurant is bound to follow. And maybe a pop-up farmer’s market on the weekend. And before long you’ve got new condos and art spaces moving in, along with wealthier–and often whiter–residents. Why is a thriving food scene such a reliable precursor to gentrification?

 

With Redistricting Power at Stake, Republicans Win Big in States (52:53)

Guest: Wendy Underhill, Director of Elections and Redistricting, National Conference of State Legislatures

While Democrats celebrate their victory in the Presidential Election, the picture on the state level is quite different. Republicans maintained control of all the state legislatures they held before the election, plus picked up New Hampshire. And because this is a Census year, that puts Republicans in charge of redrawing voting district boundaries in the majority of states.

 

App Gives Greater Access to Eating Disorder Treatment (1:09:45)

Guest: Ellen Fitzsimmons-Craft, Professor of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis

Eating disorders are common on college campuses and extremely debilitating for students. In fact, almost all first-time cases of an eating disorder happen before age 25. Problem is, most college students with an eating disorder don’t get help. So a research team came up with an easier way for these students to get treatment through a phone app. And it’s working.

 

Disabled Actors Face Double-Standard in Casting (1:27:11)

Guest: Kurt Yaeger, Actor, Producer and Activist for Disabled Performers

It’s become politically incorrect for a white actor to play a character of a different ethnicity on screen. But those casting rules don’t apply to playing characters with disabilities. The vast majority of characters with disabilities in film and television are portrayed by actors who do not have the same disability. And not only is that considered acceptable, those actors often get all kinds of Oscar buzz for portraying the disability so convincingly. Actors with disabilities say they constantly battle a double-standard, where they only ever get cast to play characters with disabilities.

Status of Trump Campaign Lawsuits Challenging Election Outcome (0:31)

Guest: Douglas Spencer, Professor of Law and Public Policy, University of Connecticut

President Trump has not conceded the election to Joe Biden and his campaign continues to allege problems in how ballots were counted in several states. The Trump Campaign and Republican allies have filed a number of lawsuits to that effect.

 

How Deaths are Investigated in the US (18:20)

Guest: Gregory Davis, Forensic Pathologist, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Chief Medical Examiner, Jefferson County, Alabama

Autopsies are a critical tool for public health officials tracking the COVID-19 pandemic–how far it’s spread, how deadly it is, how it harms the body. But the system of doing death investigations differs from state to state. In fact, in some places, the coroner responsible for declaring a patient’s cause of death isn’t required to have any medical training at all. In some places, coroners are elected, so politics and public opinion can influence their decisions–say if there’s pressure to downplay the deadliness of the virus.

 

Rapping for STEM Representation (33:24)

Guest: Raven Baxter, Founder, STEMbassy, PhD Student, Science Education, University of Buffalo, Fortune Magazine’s 2020 40 Under 40 List

Microbiologist Raven Baxter–AKA Raven the Science Maven–has had quite the year. Fortune Magazine named her one of their 40 under 40. A video she made of a COVID-19 rap went viral. So did a post about her experience as a Black woman in science and academia under the hashtag #BlackintheIvory. Baxter’s got deals for a children’s book and a TV show in the works, now, too. Her whole mission is changing the culture of science so that it’s more inclusive and real.

 

Tombstone and the Frontier’s Last Gasp of Lawlessness (51:01)

Guest: Tom Clavin, Author of “Tombstone: The Earp Brothers, Doc Holliday and the Vendetta Ride from Hell”

Even if you don’t know the details, you’ve heard of the Gunfight at the OK Corral. It happened in Tombstone, Arizona–a morbidly perfect name for the site of the legendary shootout. October 1881. It made Wyatt Earp famous. Beyond that, does it matter? Or was it just another example of violence in a violent frontier town? (Originally aired June 11, 2020).

 

Taking Risks, Facing Anxiety (1:28:18)

Guest: Anne Marie Albano, Professor of Medical Psychology, Columbia University Medical Center, Director, Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disordrs, Columbia University

American children are very anxious. Pandemics, natural disasters and political upheaval are stacked atop already stressful scenarios like making friends, achieving in school and being on social media. If you have one of these anxious kids, you might actually be making the problem worse. (Originally aired June 11, 2020).