Having Two Dominant Political Parties Is Not Good for America (0:29)

Guest: Lee Drutman, Senior Fellow, Political Reform Program, New America, Author of “Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop: The Case for Multiparty Democracy in America”

America’s system of government was not designed to work well under the current conditions–where two dominant political parties with nothing in common are locked in one election battle after another to clobber the other side and take control of the White House and Congress. The Founding Fathers had something very different in mind. In fact, what we’re experiencing now is pretty much their worst fear for American government.

 

The Letters Sent from Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood (20:41)

Guest: Court Mann, Utah Journalist, Reporter for the Article "The many, many, many letters of Fred Rogers"

For more than 30 years, Mister Rogers looked out from TV screens and connected with children. It wasn’t just an act for Fred Rogers. Off camera, he was the most amazing pen pal, responding personally to every fan letter. And he was a dedicated pen pal to friends, family and acquaintances. But the story of these letters isn’t well known.

 

Drivers are Largely Responsible for Raised Speed Limits—Should They Continue To Be? (38:22)

Guest: Brian Taylor, Professor of Urban Planning and Public Policy, Director of Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Los Angeles

Why is the speed limit on your street what it is? How do cities and states decide what’s the safest speed for a given road? Believe it or not, much of the time it’s based on how fast people are driving. Many cities and states use a guideline called “the 85th percentile rule.”

 

How Swing States Came to Be and Why They Decide the President of the United States (52:50)

Guest: David Schultzis, Professor of Political Science, Hamline University, Co-Editor of "Presidential Swing States: Why Only Ten Matter"

The number of battleground states for presidential elections has been slowly declining over the years. So now this year’s election is pretty much over except for in several states where the vote could easily swing republican or democrat. Is the fate of the country really only in the hands of a fraction of the population? And what makes these “swing states” so unique?

 

Gratitude in the Face of Difficulty (1:11:54)

Guests: Kristi Nelson, Author of “Wake Up Grateful: the Transformative Practice of Taking Nothing for Granted,” Executive Director of A Network for Grateful Living

With a big election going on and a global pandemic and wildfires in the west... a lot of us are stressed and anxious right now. Gratitude may be the furthest thing from your mind, but Kristi Nelson says it can change your life. She's a stage four cancer survivor. Because of that experience, Kristi has made it a life mission to help other people discover the power of gratitude.

 

The Physical Pain of Working From Home (1:28:45)

Guest: Ronald Tolchin, Medical Director, Spine Center, Miami Neuroscience Institute

When the pandemic started back in the Spring, lots of people transitioned to working from home, hunched over laptops at the kitchen table or lounging on the couch. It was kind of novel at first, but nearly eight months in, the situation is taking a toll on our bodies. Chiropractors and spine doctors report a surge in complaints of back and neck pain.