Shows / Think from KERA
Think from KERA
Think is a daily, topic-driven interview and call-in program hosted by Krys Boyd covering a wide variety of topics ranging from history, politics, current events, science, technology and emerging trends to food and wine, travel, adventure, and entertainment.
Episodes
Think from KERAHow refrigeration revolutionized the world
Three-quarters of everything on the American plate is shipped and refrigerated —which is pretty revolutionary. Nicola Twilley, co-host of Gastropod, joins host…
Think from KERAThe economy needs workers who can really connect
If you enjoy the small talk you have with your barista or grocery clerk —A.I. could soon make them a thing of the past. Allison Pugh, professor of sociology at…
Think from KERAWhat animals think, feel and love
It was once considered sloppy science to assign human characteristics to animal subjects — now there’s a new school of thought. Journalist Brandon Keim joins…
Think from KERAHow climate change affects the human body
We regularly hear about how climate change affects the ecosystem, but we rarely hear about how it affects human bodies. Jeff Goodell is an author and senior…
Think from KERAWill the FAFSA fiasco push some schools over the brink?
The Department of Education rolled out a new Federal Student Aid form, but its many glitches have negatively impacted students and colleges alike. Danielle…
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The Democrats’ Biden Dilemma
After a shaky debate performance, even loyal Democrats are wondering if it’s time for President Biden to remove himself from the 2024 ticket. Jeffrey Engel…
Think from KERAThe surprising power of willful forgetting
When it comes to prosecuting Jan. 6 cases, maybe we should take a top-down approach and not bottom up. Linda Kinstler is a visiting researcher at Georgetown…
Think from KERAThe attention economy rising around toddlers
New Yorker staff writer Jia Tolentino joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how CoComelon, a low-tech animation show featuring nursery songs, capitalized on the…
Think from KERAWhy Europe is bracing for a second Trump term
If Donald Trump retakes the White House, will he pull out of NATO? Europe is bracing for the possibility. McKay Coppins, staff writer at The Atlantic, joins…
Think from KERAA crisis of faith…in science
The odds of a child and a wife being diagnosed with two different types of brain cancers are astronomically small – and yet, it happened to one family. Alan…
Think from KERAHow much pesticide is on your plate?
We’re told to eat healthy fruits and vegetables, but how can we avoid the pesticides that cover them? Catherine Roberts, associate editor for health at…
Think from KERACan you really get your news from TikTok?
Christian Paz, senior politics reporter at Vox, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the social media platform’s influence on voting habits, how stylized and highly…
Think from KERADo the muscles make the man?
The modern notion of the ideal man involves a lot of lean muscle mass — but why does our culture demand so much bulk from men whose lives for the most part no…
Think from KERAA cultural history of UFOs
Last summer, former military officials testified to Congress about UFOs, and once again the nation’s imagination was ignited. Greg Eghigian, professor of…
Think from KERAWho decides what is hate speech on college campuses?
During summer break, campus protests over the war in Gaza have subsided, but the questions about what constitutes free speech remain. New York Times Magazine…
Think from KERAThe scientists who believe in near death experiences
Researchers are diligently gathering data about near-death experiences to better understand the thin line between life and death. Science journalist Rachel…
Think from KERAThe historic hurdles of women runners
When elite women runners cross finish lines they are stepping over a history that didn’t want women running at all. Maggie Mertens joins host Krys Boyd to…
Think from KERAThe business of veganism
Only about 3-percent of the nation is vegan, but big business sees a growth opportunity. Nina Guilbeault is cofounder of Plant Futures, a nonprofit affiliated…
Think from KERAWhy crowdfunding healthcare rarely works
Crowdfunding has gone from a resource to boost startups to a way for patients to plead for money to cover medical bills. Nora Kenworthy is a professor at the…
Think from KERACongress is not gridlocked. No really.
Despite the charged rhetoric to the contrary, there actually is work getting done in Washington. David Leonhardt, a senior writer at The New York Times…
Think from KERALife, liberty and the pursuit of grievances
This country was founded on a grievance, but 250 years later, we may be taking those sentiments too far. Frank Bruni, a contributing opinion writer for The New…
Think from KERAThe unfair hierarchy of eating disorders
Emmeline Clein joins host Krys Boyd to discuss her own struggles with an eating disorder, how she didn’t meet the weight requirements to be considered…
Think from KERAThe straight story about posture panic
Chances are you’re slumped over in your chair reading this — a constant in our modern world. Historian Beth Linker is the Samuel H. Preston Endowed Term…
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The author of ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ on race, social satire and beach reads
After the blockbuster success of his novel “Crazy Rich Asians,” Kevin Kwan is back with a new summer read. The author joins host Krys Boyd to discuss his new…
Think from KERAAre you too good at delaying gratification?
Are you too good at delaying gratification? Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Think from KERADecoding your dreams
After a long day when we lay down to rest, that’s when our brains really fire up to help us dream. Dr. Rahul Jandial is a neurosurgeon and neuroscientist who…
Think from KERASexism in sports
With Caitlin Clark making headlines in the WNBA, money in women’s sports is currently a hot topic. Macaela MacKenzie is a journalist who covers women’s…
Think from KERACancer is becoming a younger person’s disease
Bad news: more young people are getting cancer. The good news? Better drugs are targeting the disease. Dylan Scott, a reporter for Vox’s Future Perfect, and…
Think from KERAHow Nicholas Kristof still has hope for the world
In his work as a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter, Nicholas Kristof has seen the best and worst of humanity. The op-ed columnist for The New York Times joins…
Think from KERAA.I could drive most languages to extinction
The ease of A.I. translating for us via apps is also speeding the erasure of lesser-used languages. Matteo Wong is a staff writer for The Atlantic, and he…
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You can love your kids but still regret having them
It’s possible to both love your children and regret having them – though very few parents would actually admit to those dual feelings. R.O. Kwon, author of the…
Think from KERAWhat makes a job worth doing?
n pursuit of a distinguished career, are we missing out on a good life? Christopher Wong Michaelson is Opus Distinguished Professor and academic director of…
Think from KERAThe ancient inventions that made the modern world
Without nails and other simple inventions, we wouldn’t have bustling megacities of today. Roma Agrawal is an engineer, author and broadcaster best known for…
Think from KERALiving the Constitution’s many contradictions
Originalism is a legal argument that we should follow the Constitution to the letter; living that out is quite a conundrum. Author and journalist A.J. Jacobs…
Think from KERAThe grief of institutionalizing a child
It wasn’t uncommon for previous generations to hide away family with disabilities in institutions. Jennifer Senior is a staff writer at The Atlantic, and she…
Think from KERAStrategies to staying focused with ADHD
We all could use tips on how to stop scrolling and pay better attention to the world around us. Jeff Karp is a biomedical engineering professor at Harvard…
Think from KERAWhy prisoners rarely get furloughed
It wasn’t that long ago that life in prison actually lead to early release, and it was considered part of the tradition. Reiko Hillyer is associate professor…
Think from KERAWhat it takes to be top dog at a dog show
Some people tune into the sports; for others, the Westminster Dog Show is all the Super Bowl they need. Tommy Tomlinson is host of the podcast SouthBound and…
Think from KERAWhen joy and heartbreak overlap
That first year of motherhood is a blur of heightened emotions; now compound that with the heartbreak of a marriage falling apart. Leslie Jamison teaches at…
Think from KERAThe bad advice you’re getting about concussions
Cocooning with little activity and bed rest is still prescribed for concussion patients – and that could be harmful. Science journalist Isobel Whitcomb joins…
Think from KERAHow EV Batteries are getting a major upgrade
If the thought of running out of energy on long road trips is keeping you from a buying an EV, the next wave of technology is coming. Christopher Mims…
Think from KERAParis through the eye of a food writer
Ruth Reichl made a name for herself writing about food for The New York Times and Gourmet magazine. And now she turns her talents to the world of fiction –…
Think from KERAFrom Charley Pride to Beyoncé: The Black roots of country music
Beyoncé might’ve been the first Black woman to hit No. 1 on the Billboard country album chart, but she stands on the shoulders of giants. Alice Randall, the…
Think from KERAWhy so many people love the suburbs
More than half the U.S. population lives in the suburbs—so why all the dissing? Julie Beck is a staff writer at The Atlantic, and she joins host Krys Boyd to…
Think from KERAIs your culture cool with therapy?
Being a “third culture” kid—someone pulled between their immigrant parents and U.S. culture—can take a mental toll. Sahaj Kaur Kohli is the founder of Brown…
Think from KERAIt’s 2024: Where are our flying cars?
A running joke in the tech world is that flying cars are perpetually three to five years away. So when will they ever be a reality? New Yorker staff writer…
Think from KERAYou're not crazy: Gaslighters are real
We bandy about the phrase “gaslighting” a lot these days, maybe it’s time for a refresher on what it really means. Kate Abramson, associate professor of…
Think from KERAWhy screenwriters can’t make a living
The Writers Guild of America strike was settled – so why is selling screenplays in Hollywood harder than ever? Daniel Bessner is a contributor to Harper’s…
Think from KERAFeathers, fur and freedom: The birth of the animal rights movement
The animal rights movement of today traces its roots to just after the Civil War. Bill Wasik, editorial director of The New York Times Magazine, joins host…
Think from KERADoes spying on your kids really protect them?
For many parents, policing a child’s online activity is a challenge. Devorah Heitner, an expert in young people’s relationship with digital media and…
Think from KERAIs ‘less than lethal’ force by police actually safe?
Police officers use a variety of means to subdue agitated and sometimes violent suspects, all of which involve risk. Serginho Roosblad, video producer for the…
Think from KERAFor Asian Americans, affirmative action is complicated
Last year, the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in college admissions, leading to an array of reactions from Asian Americans. OiYan Poon is a…
Think from KERAHow rich is too rich?
What if it were possible to put a cap on capitalism? Christine Emba, staff writer for The Atlantic, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how extreme wealth buys…
Think from KERAFree will does not exist
If everything happens for a reason, and those reasons are beyond our control, maybe we don’t have free will after all. Robert Sapolsky, professor of biology…
Think from KERAThe unintended consequences of color-blind casting
Putting actors of color into historically white roles might not be as progressive as we’d like to think it is. Writer and filmmaker Kabir Chibber joins host…
Think from KERAShe tried to abort her baby — it didn’t work
One woman’s failed abortion attempts turned into a positive for another woman, illustrating some of the real-life effects of new reproductive laws. Amber…
Think from KERAYou might have to move because of climate change
Wildfire and hurricane seasons are growing more severe, forcing some Americans to rethink where they live. Abrahm Lustgarten is an investigative reporter…
Think from KERAGuiding souls: The compassionate journey of a death doula
We celebrate the birth of a child, but so often the quietness of a death is left as an unceremonious moment. Alua Arthur, founder of Going with Grace, a death…
Think from KERAClimate change and its new ethical dilemmas
On a planet with 8 billion people, what’s the argument for an individual doing the right thing if it’s barely a drop in the bucket? Travis Rieder, faculty…
Think from KERAIs there a cure for medical racism?
Only 2-percent of Black women are physicians, which leaves millions without doctors that look like them. Uché Blackstock MD is the founder and CEO of Advancing…