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 the universe made you possible
To answer the age-old question “why do we exist?” it might be helpful to add a little science into out existential pondering. we need to employ quantum physics…
Think from KERACritical Race Theory explained by its founder
There’s power in speaking truth to power — you just need the courage of your convictions. Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw is Distinguished Professor of Law at the…
Think from KERAAll y'all have accents
Whether you notice it or not, you speak with an accent. Valerie Fridland, professor of linguistics in the English Department at the University of Nevada, Reno…
Think from KERAPlanet Money unpacks the economy
Our lives are ruled by markets, but you don’t have to be an economist to understand these forces. Alex Mayyasi, host of the new podcast “Gastronomics” and a…
Think from KERAPete Hegseth's violent prayers
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth believes America’s wars around the world are part of a holy Christian mission. Peter Wehner, contributing writer at The…
Think from KERAAmerican cars used to be affordable. What happened?
The average new car in America costs $50,000, but how many people can actually afford one? Clifford Winston is an economist who specializes in transportation…
Think from KERAIs Venezuela doing better now?
The U.S. military attack on Venezuela was fast and surgical — so how is the country doing now? Missy Ryan, staff writer for The Atlantic, joins host Krys Boyd…
Think from KERAPEN15’s Anna Konkle on how life inspires art
For children who felt responsible for their parents’ happiness: There’s a way to turn that into joy. Anna Konkle is co-creator and co-star of the Hulu series…
Think from KERAIs Mexico next on Trump’s hit list?
President Trump’s threats to attack drug cartels inside Mexico have put the bilateral relationship on edge. Arturo Sarukhan served as Mexican Ambassador to the…
Think from KERAWould you be different if you got super rich?
The super rich are wildly different than the rest of us, in part by the way they’ve designed their lives. New York Magazine features writer Lane Brown joins…
Think from KERAStop offloading the hard stuff to A.I.
Many of us offload heavy thinking to A.I., and our brains are going soft in the process. Cal Newport, professor of computer science at Georgetown University…
Think from KERAHey, graduates: Here's how to find the right job
Recent graduates take heart: There is meaningful work out there for you. Jodi Kantor, Pulitzer-prize winning New York Times investigative reporter, joins host…
Think from KERAThe hazards of being in love with love
If you know someone who falls in love at first sight over and over again, there’s a word for that: emophilia. Daniel N. Jones is professor of management in the…
Think from KERAShould childhood be monetized?
Putting your cute family on social media is clickbait gold — but what does it do to the kids? Journalist Fortesa Latifi joins guest host Courtney Collins to…
Think from KERAThe state of Black studies, post-D.E.I.
Schools around the country are shuttering their Black studies departments—often without regulatory prompting. Jafari S. Allen is a professor of African…
Think from KERAWhy did we stop hanging out?
We’ve heard a lot about the loneliness epidemic in this country, but it might be worth asking: Do we even like spending time with people anymore? Derek…
Think from KERAWho wants to be an alpha male?
The manosphere is an undeniable force right now, and there are people who will teach you how to join it. Charles Bethea, staff writer at The New Yorker, joins…
Think from KERAYour perfect person doesn’t have to be perfect
In dating, finding “the one” might be easier if you stop assuming “the one” will be a perfect match. Paul Eastwick is professor of psychology at UC Davis…
Think from KERAHow do you define color?
If the definition of “green” is yellow plus blue, how do you define “yellow” and “blue”? Kory Stamper is a lexicographer who has written dictionaries for…
Think from KERAHow to think like an optimist
Even in our darkest moments, we can build the skills to keep our spirits up. Deepika Chopra is a psychologist, visual imagery expert and founder of Things Are…
Think from KERAIn defense of paying your taxes
Nobody enjoys paying taxes, but how would our nation function without them? Vanessa S. Williamson is a senior fellow in Governance Studies at Brookings and a…
Think from KERAFreedom is good for kids and scary for parents
There’s got to be a happy medium between free-range parenting and helicoptering. Simon Lewsen writes for Maclean’s, Toronto Life and Report on Business, and he…
Think from KERAAre there any checks remaining on the executive branch?
Constitutional law is a different animal than civil or criminal law — and a president can subvert it. Duncan Hosie is a fellow at Stanford Law School, and he…
Think from KERAScreen time and junk food: Why kids get hooked
Screen time and junk food offer dopamine hits — and our kids are not immune. Michaeleen Doucleff reports on children’s health for NPR’s science desk, and she…
Think from KERAHow staff cuts at Social Security hurt grieving families
Social security benefits help children and spouses survive after a death — but accessing them is a Sisyphean task. Chabeli Carrazana, The 19th’s economy and…
Think from KERAShould mentally ill people have the right to die?
Dutch teens with mental illness can choose to end their lives though euthanasia. Charles Lane, nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute…
Think from KERAWhat are we going to do about Cuba?
The U.S. has conducted military operations in Venezuela and Iran – will Cuba be next on the list? Jon Lee Anderson, staff writer at The New Yorker, joins host…
Think from KERAThere’s no perfect substitute for human blood
Life-saving advancements have come a long way, but engineering artificial blood has been a challenge. Nicola Twilley is a New Yorker contributor and co-host of…
Think from KERACorporate ownership isn't why you can't buy a house
The narrative is that private companies are buying up single-family homes and driving up prices — but the data doesn’t really back that idea up. Eric Levitz is…
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The right's plan to make higher education great again
Leaders of the Right say they want to re-balance higher education — but even within the ranks the movement is divided as to what that really means. Len Gutkin…
Think from KERAHow to do equality post D.E.I.
DEI is being dismantled, what comes next for those interested in working toward equality? Kenji Yoshino is Chief Justice Earl Warren Professor of…
Think from KERAIt’s easy to bet on sports. It’s hard not to get hooked
If you were given thousands of dollars in free money to gamble, would you find yourself a little — or a lot — addicted to the games? McKay Coppins, staff…
Think from KERAWhy taxing billionaires won’t save America
Taxing billionaires to make up budget shortfalls is a popular idea — but maybe non-billionaires should think again? Megan McArdle is a Washington Post…
Think from KERAWhat if psychopaths aren’t real?
Plenty of crime dramas and horror films feature a psychopath on a rampage. That diagnosis, however, might be the real fiction. Rasmus Rosenberg Larsenis is…
Think from KERAThe cost of privatizing public land
The arguments for selling off public lands range from generating money from drilling to building housing – but it actually might be more cost effective to…
Think from KERAHow America made its kids such picky eaters
If your kid has a meltdown over the shape of chicken nuggets, just know kids at the turn of the last century devoured organ meat. Helen Zoe Veit is a historian…
Think from KERAWhy we unfriended Canada
Friendliness is a Canadian hallmark, so perhaps it’s surprising that our neighbors to the north are drawing the Trump administration’s ire. Drew Fagan…
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 KERAIn search of the Ghost Elephants of Angola
There is a species of elephant that looks and behaves differently than the ones we’re most familiar with — and explorers are trying to find them. Steve Boyes…
Think from KERAGentle parenting is rough for moms and dads
Gentle parenting indulges a child’s biggest emotions – and it’s wearing parents out. Monica Corcoran Harel is a journalist and screenwriter who covers culture…
Think from KERAWill war with Iran lead to terrorism here?
As the U.S. and Israel continue to bombard Iran, concerns are rising that Iran could respond with a terrorist attack. Bruce Hoffman is Shelby Cullom 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 KERAWhy young women want to leave the U.S.
We hear a lot about the tribulations for young men in America today, but that doesn’t mean young women have it easy. Faith Hill, staff writer at The Atlantic…
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What Trump wants with Iran
Nuclear negotiations with Iran seemed to be heading in the right direction – and then the U.S. and Israel decided it was time to strike. David Frum, staff…
Think from KERAAre we breaking up with booze?
Raucous, alcohol-fueled parties have been around since the beginning of recorded history – and their end may be nigh. Natasha Loder, health editor for The…
Think from KERAMichael Pollan: Your guide to consciousness
We often say that something has “a mind of its own,” but exactly is the consciousness we’re referring to? Michael Pollan, author and both a Guggenheim and…
Think from KERAIs the world setting you up for failure?
We recycle and exercise and generally try to do the right thing — but what if it’s not our failings that hold us back, but systems? Nick Chater, professor of…
Think from KERACan science explain racism?
In order to better understand why racism still exists, it helps to study it like a science. Keon West, social psychologist at Goldsmiths at the University 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 KERAWhat democrats could learn from MAGA
Organizing protests on a national scale? Democrats can do that in spades. Cultivating local candidates—not so much. Charles Duhigg, Pulitzer Prize-winning…
Think from KERAIf you were in a cult would you know it?
Cults are something other people join, right? Think again; you might be in one. Daniella Mestyanek Young is a cult survivor, U.S. Army veteran and…
Think from KERAWe should hang out more. It’s healthy.
There’s a push toward frictionless interactions with other people, but our need for socialization is key to good health. Ben Rein is a neuroscientist, chief…
Think from KERAHow the Smithsonian frames American history
The Smithsonian holds thousands of objects in their collection. The conversation about what to display can get contentious. Lily Meyer is a staff writer at The…
Think from KERAHow vulnerability strengthens relationships
Ever feel embarrassed about oversharing at a cocktail party? Turns out, you might’ve been on the right track. Leslie John, James E. Burke Professor of Business…
Think from KERAHow can the war in Ukraine end?
It’s been four years since the beginning of the Ukraine war, and the consequences continue to reverberate across Europe and the world. David Kramer, Executive…
Think from KERACrime rates are actually falling. Really.
After a pandemic-era spike in crime, public safety numbers are improving. The reasons are surprising. Henry Grabar is a staff writer at The Atlantic and he…
Think from KERAHow healthy is President Trump?
Personal health information is usually considered private, but what kind of privacy should the president of the United States be afforded? Ben Terris…
Think from KERAWho gets to be an American?
Behind the very public discourse about citizenship and how to achieve it are very personal family stories. Daisy Hernandez, associate professor of creative…
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Assessing 250 years of U.S. foreign policy
As the nation nears its 250th anniversary, it’s a fitting time to consider the very best – and very worst – of our foreign policy decisions. James M. Lindsay…
Think from KERAThe Black experience of Vietnam
Coretta Scott King fought to end the Vietnam War because of its outsized impact on the Black community. Matthew L. Demont, Sherman Fairchild Distinguished…