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 KERAThe case for letting children vote
Ending child labor at the beginning of the last century allowed children more room to grow – but there’s still work to be done. Drexel University law professor…
Think from KERAThe science, culture, and history of periods
Half the world has a menstrual cycle, and yet it’s still greatly misunderstood. Kate Clancy, professor of anthropology at the University of Illinois…
Think from KERAThere have always been trans people in Texas
Texas lawmakers have filed 30 bills targeting trans rights this legislative session. April Ortiz is a writer, artist and professor, and she joins host Krys…
Think from KERAStudying the universe before there was light
No matter how many galaxies astrophysicists can see, when it comes to understanding the early days of the universe they are still in the dark. Emma Chapman is…
Think from KERAUntangling the true story of a scandalous shipwreck
In the 1740s, a shipwreck produced stories of heroes and mutineers — but who was telling the truth? New Yorker staff writer David Grann joins host Krys Boyd to…
Think from KERAYou know your rights, what about your obligations?
In these politically divided times, it can be hard to come to a consensus on what makes a good citizen. Richard Haas, president of the nonpartisan Council on…
Think from KERAFrom the archives: Why you don’t know that people of color were some of the first environmentalists
Marginalized communities often feel the impact of climate change the most. Leah Thomas, founder of The Intersectional Environmentalist climate justice…
Think from KERAWhy so many adults feel traumatized by their adoption
The prevailing narrative is that adult adoptees should be grateful, which ignores the deep trauma that adoption can create. New Yorker staff writer Larissa…
Think from KERAIt won’t be easy getting Evan Gershkovich back from the Russians
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was detained by Russia last month and accused of espionage – further eroding U.S.-Russian relations. Warren P…
Think from KERAWhy fictional villains are often portrayed as disabled
From disabilities to disfigurements, fictionalized villains are reflections of an ableist worldview. Jan Grue, a professor at the University of Oslo and…
Think from KERAIs your intelligence about nature or nurture?
Intelligence is better measured across a spectrum, rather than with a simple IQ test. Rina Bliss, associate professor of sociology at Rutgers University, joins…
Think from KERAHow learning a new skill helps you appreciate mastery
Thousands took up sourdough baking during the pandemic, but how many actually mastered it? New Yorker staff writer Adam Gopnik joins host Krys Boyd to discuss…
Think from KERAThe year before your kid moves away to college is a big deal
Like countless others, Mary Louise Kelly juggles the demands of a career with motherhood. The host of NPR’s “All Things Considered” joins host Krys Boyd to…
Think from KERAThe trauma of slavery did not end with Emancipation
Emancipation freed enslaved people, but it didn’t do much to help them succeed. Kidada E. Williams is an associate professor of history at Wayne State…
Think from KERAThe surprising musicality of animals
A love of music connects us as people – but did you ever stop to think that animals might have a favorite song, too? New Yorker staff writer Burkhard Bilger…
Think from KERAWant to strengthen your brain? Learn another language
Higher brain function might be as easy as learning to say “hello” in several different languages. Viorica Marian is Ralph and Jean Sundin Endowed Professor of…
Think from KERAWhere are flying cars? Predicting future technology
“Futurist” sounds like a fairly new job title, but previous generations were full of people writing about their educated guesses of what was to come. Yale…
Think from KERAWhy do you care so much about your job?
Our approach to work is ever-evolving – from where we physically do our jobs to the meaning we derive from our careers. Derek Thompson writes about our work…
Think from KERAWe’re doing the wrong things to fix poverty
How can a country as rich as the United States have so many people living at or below the poverty line? Sociologist Matthew Desmond won a Pulitzer Prize in…
Think from KERAThe story of a recovering foodie
Many of us have a passion for good food and drink – but what happens when your high standards lead to disappointment more often than pleasure? Dan Ahdoot is a…
Think from KERAWill new weight loss drugs change fat-shaming culture?
To drop a dress size or two, some celebrities and other wealthy people are turning to prescriptions designed for very heavy people to lose significant weight…
Think from KERAAri Shapiro on journalism, music and being human
Ari Shapiro, host of NPR’s All Things Considered, has stories to tell from his years in journalism. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss his new memoir, a…
Think from KERAThe mental health effects of caring for dementia patients
Often, the challenge for caring with those with forms of dementia is trying to understand the loss of time and context of one’s mind. Dasha Kiper is consulting…
Think from KERAMaking U.S. cities more pedestrian-friendly is an uphill battle
The pandemic lockdown emptied roadways of cars and provided a brief look at what cities could look like with less-congested streets. Reis Thebault is a West…
Think from KERAUnscrambling the science and history of eggs
The simple egg is a universal symbol of power and nourishment. Designer and author Lizzie Stark joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the history and culture of eggs…
Think from KERAFrom the Archive: The jobs used to deny disability benefits are stuck in 1977
The Social Security Administration is using decades-old job data to bar applicants from disability benefits. Lisa Rein covers federal agencies and the…
Think from KERAPlenty of people hear voices nobody else can hear
Have you ever felt like another being was near you even when you were completely alone? Ben Alderson-Day is an associate professor of psychology and a fellow…
Think from KERAIs the state too quick to remove children from their families?
When a murder-suicide of parents and six children occurred in California, questions about the foster care and adoption system were raised. Journalist Roxanna…
Think from KERAWhy an online community for exchanging free stuff became controversial
The Buy Nothing movement started as a way to share items between strangers. The trouble came when corporations wanted in. Wired contributing writer Vauhini…
Think from KERAThe big business of blood: Exploitation in the plasma industry
Twenty-million people sell their plasma each year, and the most vulnerable populations are usually the first in line. Journalist Kathleen McLaughlin joins host…
Think from KERATechnology has racial biases—and its human developers are responsible
Implicit bias is a problem for humans, and humans are programming it into computer algorithms. Meredith Broussard is an associate professor at the Arthur L…
Think from KERAWhat if we didn’t think of time as money
Our days are marked by appointments dictated by the clock. What would happen if we just walked away? Artist and author Jenny Odell joins host Krys Boyd to…
Think from KERAThe mysteries of memory and how to improve it
Memory is key to who we are and, yet forgetting is so common. Boston University School of Medicine neurology professor Andrew E. Budson joins host Krys Boyd to…
Think from KERADoes being an American kill your ancestral culture?
Ethnocide refers to a systematic erasure of an ancestral culture. Barrett Holmes Pitner, founder of The Sustainable Culture Lab, joins host Krys Boyd to…
Think from KERAMeet your new AI shrink
The next job for sophisticated chatbots might be to stand in for mental health professionals. Dhruv Khullar is a contributing writer at The New Yorker and a…
Think from KERACities are full of wildlife, if you know where to look
Urban landscapes are spreading throughout the globe, pushing nature out. Ben Wilson joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the modern quest for biodiversity within…
Think from KERAFrom the Archive: The late Judith Heumann on her 50-year fight for disability rights
Judith Heumann has used a wheelchair since childhood – which forced her to fight for her right to an education. And that was just the beginning of her activism…
Think from KERAFrom the Archive: The impossible expectations on American mothers
The perfect mother on TikTok or Instagram is a far cry from the reality of motherhood off the screen. Jessica Grose is an opinion writer at The New York Times…
Think from KERAWhy governments have such a hard time hiring
The nationwide shortage of police officers has made headlines, but cities are struggling to recruit for jobs of all types. Daphne Duret is a staff writer for…
Think from KERAWhat veterinarians do for pet parents
Veterinarians might not care for humans, but they still tend to members of the family. Karen Fine is a veterinarian working in Massachusetts, and she joins…
Think from KERAChatbots say wild things, and they learn it from us
Chatbots are becoming more sophisticated and are better able to mimic human speech. That can be exciting … and problematic. Washington Post tech reporter…
Think from KERAPsych lessons from one of Yale’s most popular classes
The field of psychology mines the depths of our personalities, but it also says a lot about brain function, too. Paul Bloom is Professor of Psychology at…
Think from KERADavid Cross on why he’ll never stop doing stand-up
David Cross is known for his razor-sharp wit and commentary. The performer, writer, producer, Emmy Award winner and two-time Grammy Award nominee joins host…
Think from KERAAre celebrities pandering to queer fans with gender-fluid style?
With new standards of gender fluidity, dressing in femme styles is en vogue—but is it co-opting gay culture? Mark Harris, a contributor to T: The New York…
Think from KERAStaying athletic as you age is a mental game
Don’t let middle age stop you from pushing your physical boundaries. Steven Kotler, Executive Director of the Flow Research Collective, joins host Krys Boyd to…
Think from KERAHow to have police reform and lower crime rates, too
After the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police, there were ample calls for reckoning in law enforcement. Neil Gross, professor of sociology at Colby…
Think from KERAFrom the archives: The true history of lie detector tests
The polygraph was heralded as an infallible way to detect a criminal, but soon after, controversy arrived. Writer and director Rob Rapley joins host Krys Boyd…
- Think from KERA
Menopause doesn’t have to be this bad
Women have suffered through hot flashes and hormone fluxes thinking there was no help for symptoms of menopause. New York Times Magazine staff writer Susan…
Think from KERAWhy freedom of speech is not absolute
The First Amendment protects freedom of speech, but that protection isn’t absolute. Dennis Baron, Emeritus Professor of English at the University of Illinois…
Think from KERAFrom the Archives: Mourning a loved one is complicated by suicide
After her mother’s suicide, Laura Trujillo faced a reckoning. Trujillo is managing editor for Life and Entertainment at USA Today, and she joins host Krys Boyd…
Think from KERAPresidents come and go, but Putin remains
Russia invaded Ukraine a year ago, but Vladimir Putin’s provocations toward the West have been ongoing for decades. Frontline filmmaker Michael Kirk joins host…
Think from KERAThe lies you’ve heard about fat people
In an era of increased sensitivity to everyone’s personal experience, anti-fat bias remains an openly pervasive form of discrimination. Aubrey Gordon writes…
Think from KERAIf you needed asylum, who would believe you?
No matter how closely you stick to the truth, it only really matters if the person you’re talking to believes you. Dina Nayeri is on faculty at the University…
Think from KERAYou have to work on platonic relationships, too
Forging and maintaining adult friendships requires a lot of self-reflection and work. Author Christie Tate joins host Krys Boyd to discuss a dear friendship…
Think from KERAThe early history of hip-hop
Fifty years ago, a DJ spun some records in an unconventional way at a back-to-school party and created an art form that dominates pop music today. Hasan…
Think from KERAWhy identity conversations are so uncomfortable
Conversations about race, gender and sexuality can be tricky—but they don’t have to be. Kenji Yoshino is Chief Justice Earl Warren Professor of Constitutional…
Think from KERAYou’ll probably get fooled—learn to live with it
P.T. Barnum said there’s a sucker born every minute — and we’re all worried we’ll be the next one. University of Pennsylvania Law School professor Tess…
Think from KERAWhen you suspend students, they might not come back
Punishing kids for being late to school often means students won’t show up to school again at all. Tara García Mathewson is a reporter covering inequality and…
Think from KERAWe’re closer to the end of the world than we’ve ever been
The Doomsday Clock, which counts down how close humanity is to total destruction, is now at 90 seconds to midnight. Rachel Bronson is president and CEO of The…
Think from KERAWhat TV and books get wrong about women
Cultural expectations for women run deep and are highly controlled. Sophie Gilbert is a staff writer at The Atlantic, and she joins host Krys Boyd to Western…