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 TV learned to take teenagers seriously
Shows like “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and “My So-Called Life” were pioneers of prestige TV in that they took the experiences of teenagers seriously…
Think from KERABeyond Beyond Burgers: The future of ‘meat’
Lab-grown meat is here. Who’s going to eat it? Annie Lowrey, staff writer at The Atlantic, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the new world of “cultivated meat” –…
Think from KERAYou should really spend more time with people
The pandemic kept us apart; it’s time to rediscover the beauty of being together. Andy Field is an artist, writer and curator, and he joins host Krys Boyd to…
Think from KERAIn movies and TV, Asian American stories are claiming the spotlight
For much of Hollywood history, the myth of the model minority has limited the roles available to Asian-American actors. Matt Stevens is an arts and culture…
Think from KERAYour favorite movies would not be the same without John Williams
What would the Star Wars or Indiana Jones movies be without their memorable musical scores? Frank Lehman, associate professor of music at Tufts University…
- Think from KERA
Hollywood’s big bet on Barbie
The upcoming “Barbie” movie will introduce the beloved doll to a new generation. At the same time, older generations are pondering why she’s even still around?…
Think from KERAHollywood’s shut down. Now what?
TV and movie actors have joined Hollywood writers for the biggest strike in four decades. Dominic Patten, senior editor for Deadline, joins host Krys Boyd to…
Think from KERAMeet the humans who power A.I.
Behind ChatGPT or Bard, there’s a programmer who cataloged every single item in play. Josh Dzieza, an investigations editor covering tech, business and climate…
Think from KERAThe eternal allure of old books
Behind the comfort of an old book is the wild story of how it got to your home. Oliver Darkshire is an antiquarian bookseller at Henry Sotheran Ltd., and he…
Think from KERAWhy does a potato chip have 20 ingredients?
Next time you reach for that bag of chips, you might be surprised by the very long list of ingredients on the bag. Chris van Tulleken, associate professor at…
Think from KERAThe many different lives of Latinos
The term “Latino” covers a vast array of experiences – new immigrants from Guatemala, third-generation Mexican-Americans and many, many others. Héctor Tobar…
Think from KERAThe right questions for better health
Who makes the best doctor? When is the best time of year to have a baby? Answers to questions like these are in medical data. Dr. Anupam B. Jena is an…
Think from KERAWhat we could learn from Vienna’s public housing
For a great example of public housing practices, look to Vienna, Austria. Francesca Mari, contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine, joins host Krys…
Think from KERAWhat our quest for alien life says about humanity
The search for life in the universe helps reaffirm what it means to be human. Jaime Green is a science writer and series editor of The Best American Science…
Think from KERAAre we deluding ourselves about the value of travel?
If you need a souvenir from a great trip, was it all that memorable to begin with? Agnes Callard, associate professor in philosophy at the University of…
Think from KERAThe real beneficiaries of affirmative action
Affirmative action had been in place for decades, now schools must fine-tune the process. Bertrand Cooper joins host Krys Boyd to make the case that…
Think from KERAHow to keep going when it feels like you’re getting nowhere
Feeling stuck in life is common, but good news: There are tried and true strategies for greasing the wheels. Adam Alter is professor of marketing and the…
Think from KERAHow criminals do their banking
Billions of dollars are being stolen from individuals, businesses and governments … and banks are turning a blind eye. Kurt Eichenwald, senior investigative…
Think from KERAHow South Korea became the beauty capital of the world
Whether you realize it or not, your beauty routine is very likely imported from South Korea. Elise Hu is a correspondent and host-at-large for NPR and host of…
Think from KERATranslating trauma for asylum seekers
Translating the credible fear interviews of asylum seekers means finding the language to accurately relay trauma. Alejandra Oliva is an essayist, translator…
Think from KERAFixing what the Fair Housing Act didn’t
The Fair Housing Act recognized more than half a century ago that with redlining and racist policies, neighborhoods were never segregated by choice. Leah…
Think from KERALoathe small talk? You’re not alone
If you dread small talk and squirm in the corner at parties, the return to in-person get-togethers has probably been unwelcome. Julie Beck, senior editor at…
Think from KERAHow a plan for hemp riches went up in smoke
Finn Murphy discusses his attempt at a Colorado hemp farm, battling the elements and a disappearing bank account, and his pivot to middleman as he pursued his…
Think from KERAHow old is too old to be president?
President Joe Biden is 80-years old, and he’s soon to ask the American people for four more years in office. Vanity Fair contributing editor Chris Smith joins…
Think from KERAThe science of figuring out if ice cream is good for you
Good news: A bowl of ice cream might be good for you. And researchers are now trying to figure out why. David Merritt Johns is a journalist and public health…
Think from KERAImagine growing up in the Ice Age
Finding fossils from the Ice Age is difficult; finding fossils of children in the Ice Age is next to impossible. April Nowell, Paleolithic archaeologist and…
Think from KERAMeet the eco-warriors fending off invasive plants
A lesser-discussed threat of climate change is the loss of biodiversity due to the encroachment of invasive species. Wired contributor Sonya Bennett-Brandt…
Think from KERAHow to talk to your kid about weight
Even with cultural messaging about body positivity, talking to children about weight is still tricky. Journalist Virginia Sole-Smith joins guest host Courtney…
Think from KERAWe all hate open-space offices, so why are they still around?
You know who thinks open-office designs are a good idea? People with offices. Scientific American contributing editor George Musser joins host Krys Boyd to…
Think from KERAJoy is made sweeter because we know pain
Sometimes joy can be found in moments of relief from life’s burdens. Ross Gay is an author and poet who teaches at Indiana University, and he joins host Krys…
Think from KERAWhat makes big projects fail?
Some megaprojects, like the Empire State Building, are success stories while others, like Boston’s Big Dig, flop on a massive scale. Bent Flyvbjerg, First BT…
Think from KERAThe beauty of beetles
Insects can give us the creepy-crawlies, but they can also fascinate and spark innovation in the human world. Entomologist Arthur V. Evans joins host Krys Boyd…
Think from KERAIt’s time to check in with your senses
Our eyes and ears do a lot of the heavy lifting to guide us through the world – what if we attempted to engage with all of our senses equally? Author Gretchen…
Think from KERAYou don’t need the best of everything
We’re awash in a world of rankings – but is acquiring the best hair dryer or washing machine always worth the effort? Writer and critic Rachel Connolly joins…
Think from KERAWhen bad people make great art
When great artists do very bad things, do we discard their work wholesale? Claire Dederer joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the lens #metoo has put on work…
Think from KERAYour watery eyes don’t deceive you: Allergies are on the rise
With all the TV commercials for treatments for hay fever to eczema it’s clear that many people suffer from allergies. Theresa MacPhail is a medical…
Think from KERAYou should schedule more time to do nothing with your friends
We are all scheduled to the gills, but actually setting aside time dedicated to nothing in particular is key to both maintaining relationships and your health…
Think from KERAThe alliances and rivalries of Cold War-era journalists
During the early years of the Cold War, the Washington press corps was quick to deliver the U.S. company line without much public skepticism. Kathryn J. McGarr…
Think from KERAHow toxic masculinity reads to a gay man
Models of macho masculinity are everywhere —but for young, gay men, are they meant to be how-to manuals or merely thirst traps? Manuel Betancourt is a queer…
Think from KERADeception is a part of our nature (and nature itself)
Nature is full of imposters – from animals that impersonate other animals down to genes and even individual cells that get by through dishonest means. Lixing…
Think from KERAThe many identities of Gen Z
Gen Z-ers are more likely to identify as gender fluid, trans or nonbinary than older generations. The question is: Why? Jean M. Twenge, professor of psychology…
Think from KERAOur dark moods have a lot to teach us
We all go through dark periods – it’s an experience that connects us as humans. Mariana Alessandri is associate professor of philosophy at the University of…
Think from KERAYou’ve only got one life – here’s how to make the most of it
Some of the simplest questions have the most complex answers. Among them: What makes a good life? Ryan McAnnally-Linz is associate director of the Yale Center…
Think from KERAWorkplace bullies and how you can stop them
Bullying, unfortunately, doesn’t end when we leave the playground. Megan Carle is founder of Carle Consulting LLC, where she gives workshops on handling…
Think from KERAFacing an ethical dilemma? Here’s some help
Our daily lives are filled with ethical dilemmas – from what we eat to where we shop and how we move about the world. As the Ira W. DeCamp Professor of…
Think from KERAIf you can’t tell if a purse is a knockoff, does it matter?
As the prices for luxury goods rise, so does the shadow industry happy to fill the demand for cheaper knockoffs. Amy X. Wang is assistant managing editor of…
Think from KERAWhat happens if we don’t raise the debt ceiling
The nation faces a default of its debts as soon as June 1. Robert Hockett is a professor of law at Cornell University, an adjunct professor of finance at…
Think from KERADoes it matter how long we work if it all gets done?
There’s a reason a Slack notification can trigger anxiety — these days WFH means not a moment off. Fred Turner is Harry and Norman Chandler Professor of…
Think from KERAWhat’s up with inflation? Check tire prices
A nail in your tire isn’t just a pain to repair but a potentially devastating financial hit when the bill comes due. Michael Grabell is a senior editor with…
Think from KERAGun sellers peddle more than just weapons
Defending the 2nd Amendment is one of the bedrocks of conservative politics – to the point that gun culture and conservative culture are nearly one and the…
Think from KERAThe superpowers of sensitive people
Like introversion, being highly sensitive offers extraordinary and under-appreciated traits. Jenn Granneman, author and founder of online communities Sensitive…
Think from KERAWhy do we still judge women who don’t have kids?
Women who choose not to have children are not abnormal. Peggy O’Donnell Heffington is an instructional professor of history at the University of Chicago, and…
Think from KERAIt’s giving linguistics: How young people slay English
For some people, using slang is, like, not the vibe. But for others, it’s hella easy to embrace in everyday life. Valerie Fridland is a professor of…
Think from KERAWe need more research on women athletes
To be an elite athlete, you need to follow the latest science and training routines — which, unfortunately, are built for men. Journalist Christine Yu joins…
Think from KERAThe myth of American self-reliance
There’s an American myth that with enough self-determination we can pull ourselves up by our bootstraps in hard times. Alissa Quart, executive director of the…
Think from KERAWhat Holocaust education misses
Holocaust education was brought about to battle antisemitism, but perhaps there’s more that could be done. Dara Horn joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why…
Think from KERAPregnant people deserve better
The U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate compared to the world’s wealthy nations. Host Krys Boyd and guest host Courtney Collins talk with journalists…
Think from KERAThe tech that could change babymaking
In Japan, scientists created baby mice from a mouse’s tail cells — and they were perfectly healthy. New Yorker staff writer Emily Witt joins host Krys Boyd to…
Think from KERAAre we over Twitter?
Twitter revolutionized how we communicate; it also might’ve broken human interaction. Willy Staley is story editor for The New York Times Magazine, and he…
Think from KERAThe purr-plexing evolution of cats
House cats are more akin to wild animals than dogs are (something cat owners already know). Jonathan B. Losos, evolutionary biologist at Washington University…