For individuals and families of color, carceral contact has long-lasting effects well after a traffic stop, arrest, conviction or prison sentence ends. Guest expert Brandon Davis explains that one of the most sinister outcomes of overpolicing is the resulting suppression of political power in communities of color.

Even though two of the last three U.S. presidents were elected without earning the popular vote, the Electoral College remains the method used for picking our national leader. Political scientist Paul Schumaker has written a book that details a strategy for replacing what he calls an antiquated system.

What are people getting wrong about school closures? Several things. Don't assume you can put a child in front of a computer and they will learn. Some students who don’t normally do well in school may actually do better in a new environment. Students' social and socioeconomic backgrounds have always been important, but they are especially crucial now.

The last time we spoke with Anthony Fehr, it was before human-to-human transmission was confirmed, before the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic, before we all started living under stay-at-home orders. We wanted to talk again with the coronavirus researcher to find out what he’s thinking.

In the second part of our discussion with KU associate professor of psychology Stephen Ilardi, he advises how we can continue therapy remotely, maintain healthy relationships under distancing and look to help other people so that we uphold our own psychological health in the era of COVID-19.

Stephen Ilardi, associate professor of psychology at the University of Kansas, discusses his six steps to beat depression without drugs and how we can apply them during the coronavirus pandemic. He tells us to consume omega-3 fats, avoid rumination, get exercise, take in the sun, stay socially connected and sleep well.

People assume that news should be free and that it’s not as important as hand sanitizer or toilet paper in the Coronavirus pandemic. In this episode, journalism professor Scott Reinardy argues paying for reliable news is just as important as paying for household supplies. While layoffs at media outlets are already happening, this crisis could be good for newspapers in the long run, bringing in more readers and badly needed revenue.

Sushi historian Eric Rath debunks the notion that sushi is raw or that it’s a good idea to dunk your sushi in a wasabi-soy slurry. This episode might revolutionize the way you approach Japanese food. Rath even mashes up his closing Theremin solo with Noh theater vocalizations — before signing off with the Japanese colloquialism “I have done rudeness!”

With social distancing being the mode du jour, many are relying on Facebook and other channels to keep in touch. Will that make us feel even more isolated? Communication guru Jeff Hall has done study after study whose findings push back against the common misconception that smartphone and social media use increase loneliness.

There are billions of dollars at stake — seriously. Data doyenne Xan Wedel is wading into her third U.S. Census. In this conversation, recorded as notices were going out to households across the nation, she says it’s worth filling out the Census — that is if you like representation in the U.S. House and funding for schools. Half data geek-out and half confab about the 2020 Census, this episode spells out why it’s important to get counted and why the real heavy lifting takes place after the data is collected.