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 KERAWhat it’s like to fight a wildfire
Wildfires are more dangerous than they’ve ever been — take if from a former firefighter. Jordan Thomas is a former Los Padres hotshot wildland firefighter and…
Think from KERAThe demise of the open casket funeral
Open caskets used to be fairly standard, but we’re losing the artists who make that possible. John Semley joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the history, culture…
Think from KERAUgly is a four letter word
There is a word that no woman wants to be called: ugly. Stephanie Fairyington is a journalist who writes on gender, sexuality, family and parenting. She joins…
Think from KERAMarco Rubio is pulling the strings in Caracas
On top of his responsibilities as Secretary of State and National Security Advisor, Marco Rubio is running Venezuela. Tyler Pager, White House correspondent…
Think from KERABad parents need elder care, too
For millions of caregivers, taking care of parents is a matter of love. But caregiving gets complicated when relationships are estranged. Katie Engelhart…
Think from KERAWhat Jefferson really thought about race
Thomas Jefferson wrote passionately about individual freedoms, yet he enslaved hundreds. How did he square the two? Annette Gordon-Reed, Carl M. Loeb…
Think from KERAThe cultural evolution of your face
We use our faces more than any other part of our body to communicate with others and that communication has evolved a lot over the centuries. Fay Bound-Alberti…
Think from KERAHow to live with uncertainty (you don’t have a choice)
There is comfort in certainty, but there is resilience in embracing the uncertain. Simone Stolzoff joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why striving for certainty…
Think from KERAConsumer protection is on the decline… you’ve probably noticed
Consumers are mad as hell, and they’re not going to take it anymore. Heather Timmons writes about consumer rights for The Guardian. She joins host Krys Boyd to…
Think from KERAThe trend in global entertainment: hyperlocal
Taylor Swift’s world tour was a huge hit, but will there be like it? Tom Wainwright, media editor at the Economist, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the rise of…
Think from KERAShe created space for women astronauts
Training to blast off in a rocket is one thing, but being the first mother in space turned out to be much harder. Anna Fisher was a NASA astronaut from 1996 to…
Think from KERAThere’s a dad bod and a dad brain
Motherhood changes a woman’s brain in many ways and now we know dad’s minds are impacted, too. Darby Saxbe is a clinical psychologist and professor of…
Think from KERAThe new mission of the DOJ
The Department of Justice traditionally operated with a certain level of independence until President Trump took office. Devlin Barrett writes about the…
Think from KERAMichael Pollan: Your guide to consciousness
Consciousness is something we can’t touch, see or even measure and yet each of us possesses it. Michael Pollan joins host Krys Boyd to explore what we do and…
Think from KERAGreat Replacement Theory is exploding all over the world
Racist and discredited ideas behind the “Great Replacement Theory” are fueling the rise of authoritarianism across the globe. Ibram X. Kendi is professor of…
Think from KERAHow novelist George Saunders thinks about free will
George Saunders’ latest novel takes readers into a journey of the soul this time quite literally. The Booker Prize-winning author talks with host Krys Boyd…
Think from KERAThe unbreakable bond of found family
Unraveling the history of the Jim Crow South, personal stories are interwoven with humor and heartbreak. Tayari Jones is an author and C.H. Candler Professor…
Think from KERADavid Sedaris on the absurdity of aging
When you have the natural curiosity of David Sedaris, ordinary observations turn into moments of humor and humanity. The best-selling author joins host Krys…
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Is America a bad neighbor?
America has long enjoyed a relatively calm home in North America, but President Trump’s recent moves could upend that stability. This hour, Krys Boyd sits down…
Think from KERADo nukes still prevent wars?
Nuclear weapons have long been thought to be deterrents for global warfare– are they still? Rose Gottemoeller is William J. Perry Lecturer at the Center for…
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The joy of small moments
We often look for happiness in big, emotional moments but something as simple as touching grass can spark joy. Ian Bogost joins guest host Paige Phelps to…
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To understand class, check out a grocery store
Grocery stores serve as hubs for many communities, and you can learn a lot about how our society functions (or doesn’t) by looking closely at one. Ann Larson…
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Why adoption tourism is booming in Utah
Couples desperate to adopt often turn to underregulated for-profit adoption agencies. Filmmaker Gabrielle Glaser joins host Krys Boyd to discuss a system ripe…
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George Washington never wanted to be president
The most reluctant politician we’ve ever had just happens to have been our first president. H.W. Brands is Jack S. Blanton Sr. Chair in History at the…
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Team Jefferson or Team Hamilton? Their debate rages on
Founding Fathers Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton fought for independence and they also fought each other. Jeffrey Rosen, former president and CEO of…
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Can American history be a source of pride or shame?
America’s history is a mix of pride and shame so how should we square those conflicting feelings? Yoni Appelbaum, deputy executive editor at The Atlantic…
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The revolutionary women who made America
The Declaration of Independence might’ve been written by men, but history was being made by women outside Independence Hall. Denise Kiernan, author…
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It's not easy being No. 2: The presidency of John Adams
George Washington may have set the standard for American presidents, but those precedents wouldn’t have mattered if John Adams hadn’t followed through on them…
Think from KERAAfter the Flood: A Special Episode from Texas Newsroom and FRONTLINE
On July 4th, 2025, devastating floodwaters ripped through the Texas Hill Country, killing more than 130 people. After the Flood, a new podcast from the Texas…
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The surprising reason people name their cars
From our little fur babies to “Herbie” the car, we imbue the world around us with wonderous human-like qualities. Justin Gregg is senior research associate…
Think from KERAThe fight over how we celebrate 250
Originally, America’s 250th birthday celebration was a bipartisan effort. Then President Trump took it over. Michael Scherer is a staff writer at The Atlantic…
Think from KERAShould your pet be in hospice?
Hospice care is a good option for dying loved ones so why not pets? Dr. Sunita Puri is the author of “That Good Night: Life and Medicine in the Eleventh Hour.”…
Think from KERAIndia’s population boom goes bust
India has claimed the world’s largest population since 2023 but that is going to change fast. Tom Sasse, South Asia Bureau Chief for The Economist, joins host…
Think from KERAIs modern politics beyond satire?
How do you write satire about an administration that is already over the top? Award-winning author Ben Fountain joins host Krys Boyd to discuss his wild new…
Think from KERAThe U.S. state that could have been a Black utopia
After the promises of Reconstruction began to wither, Black Americans searched for freedom in radically different locales. Caleb Gayle is a journalist, author…
Think from KERAThe DOD’s war on diversity
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has again blocked promotions for Black servicemen a pattern within the administration. Clint Smith, staff writer at The…
Think from KERAIs heterosexuality over?
Dating should be fun, but single, straight people are finding it a drudgery or even worse cringe. Magdalene J. Taylor, senior editor at Playboy, joins host…
Think from KERADid we evolve to be selfish ?
The common evolutionary question centers around nature vs. nurture, but maybe we should be asking if we are designed to cooperate or compete? Jonathan R…
Think from KERAThe city through the eyes of a garbage collector
Imagine what you can learn about a city by picking up the garbage of the people who live there. Simon Paré-Poupart, a sociologist and garbageman in Montreal…
Think from KERAThe secular saints of Civil Rights
In many Black households of yesteryear, portraits of Martin Luther King, Jr. hung alongside pictures of John F. Kennedy and Jesus. Sharron Wilkins Conrad…
Think from KERASoccer is expensive, but it doesn’t make money
Soccer has a massive following around the world. So why do teams lose money? Stefan Szymanski is professor of sport management at the University of Michigan…
Think from KERAPope Leo finds his voice
The new American pope has been a very vocal critic of American foreign and domestic policy. Victor Gaetan, senior international correspondent for National…
Think from KERAThe pathogens thriving because of climate change
Microbes have lived on this planet since long before humans, and they’ll be here long after we’re gone. Shayla Love is a journalist who writes about science…
Think from KERAThe drug that's deadlier than opioids
The damage caused by alcohol costs Americans billions of dollars, and it largely goes unnoticed. Isabella Cueto, chronic disease reporter for Stat, joins host…
Think from KERAThe heart and heartbreak of the American South
For two-time National Book Award winner Jesymn Ward, the deep South is the only place she can call home. The author talks with host Krys Boyd about the pain…
Think from KERAHow limitations open up your world
Creativity knows no bounds but it’s best captured within set limits. Author and journalist David Epstein joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why too many choices…
Think from KERAThe broken promises of the Iranian revolution
Iran was filled with hope during the 1979 revolution; that was soon dashed. Yeganeh Torbati is a correspondent for The New York Times covering Iran, and she…
Think from KERAWhat black markets can teach us about the economy
To really understand the nuts and bolts of economics, look to the black market. Alvin E. Roth is Craig and Susan McCaw Professor of Economics at Stanford…
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Are they serious about repealing the 19th amendment?
There’s a movement to rebuff the gains of feminism called masculinism, and it’s gaining ground. Helen Lewis, staff writer at The Atlantic, joins host Krys Boyd…
Think from KERAThe olds are in charge, and it’s not good
The country is run by senior citizens, and their control is transforming the nation. Samuel Moyn is Kent Professor of Law and History at Yale University and…
Think from KERABeware the influence of big diaper
There are lots of experts who claim to know when it’s time to potty train a child, but their advice is rarely based in science. Saabira Chaudhuri joins host…
Think from KERAThe big SCOTUS decisions on their way
The Supreme Court has already ruled on monumental issues this term, and more are to come. Ian Millhiser is a senior correspondent at Vox, and he joins host…
Think from KERAGen Z brand = Burnt out
Gen Zer’s have lived their lives online, and they’re burned out. Freya India is the author of the Substack GIRLS, where she writes about the challenges girls…
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Can the Fed stay independent?
Kevin Warsh has been confirmed as the next Federal Reserve Chair will the central bank remain independent? Frontline correspondent and filmmaker James Jacoby…
Think from KERAGeorge Washington never wanted to be president
The most reluctant politician we’ve ever had just happens to have been our first president. H.W. Brands is Jack S. Blanton Sr. Chair in History at the…
Think from KERAWe're living in the world the yuppies made
The 1980s brought us the young upstarts known as the Yuppies and you may be living their lifestyle today. Dylan Gottlieb is historian at Bentley University and…
Think from KERABirds do it. Bees do it.: Parenting
In the debate of nature vs. nurture, the animal world does a lot more nurturing than you might think. Science journalist Elizabeth Preston joins host Krys Boyd…
Think from KERAThe $50,000 test to pick your favorite child
If you could choose your future baby’s hair color, height, even I.Q. should you? Christopher Cox is an editor at New York Magazine, and he joins host Krys Boyd…
Think from KERAWhat's the point of college if A.I. does all the work?
The first college students to have access to A.I. are graduating, and employers are wary. Amanda Hoover is a senior correspondent at Business Insider covering…
Think from KERAHow safe are injectable peptides?
People are injecting themselves with unregulated compounds bought from the internet — so how safe is this health trend? Dhruv Khullar is a physician and…