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 KERAOzempic doesn’t work for everybody
For people seeking to lose weight, Ozempic can seem like a dream drug — but it doesn’t work for everyone. Andrea Javor is a freelance writer, and she joins…
Think from KERALike — literally the most misunderstood word
Grammar hounds might despise it, but “like” is both ubiquitous and necessary in our everyday speech. Megan C. Reynolds, editor at Dwell magazine, joins host…
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Why it’s hard to make stuff in the U.S.
President Trump is determined to shift manufacturing jobs back to American soil — but that’s a monumentally difficult task. Rachel Slade joins host Krys Boyd…
Think from KERAStuff you can do to be happier
Happiness may feel elusive, but there are some proven strategies to get you there. Arthur C. Brooks is Parker Gilbert Montgomery Professor at the Harvard…
Think from KERAThe scientific brain drain out of the U.S
For the first time in decades, the U.S. is facing a brain drain of the nation’s top researchers and scientists. Ross Anderson, staff writer at The Atlantic…
Think from KERA5% of Canadians now choose euthanasia
One in 20 deaths in Canada are the result of Medical Assistance in Dying, the country’s legalized euthanasia. Elaina Plott Calabro, staff writer at The…
Think from KERAWhy immigration lawyers have it so hard
Attorneys who practice immigration law have been busy with the Trump administration’s policies. Tekendra Parmar joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how immigration…
Think from KERAHow to have a career that matters
If the 9-to-5 grind gets you down, maybe it’s time to do more with your life. Rutger Bregman, historian and co-founder of The School for Moral Ambition, joins…
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 KERADo narcissists deserve compassion?
There’s a cottage industry of self-help books for dealing with a narcissist. But what if you are the narcissist? Nick Keppler joins host Krys Boyd to discuss…
Think from KERAWhy businesses love it when you tip their workers
The “Big, Beautiful Bill” promised no tax on tips, but that might actually keep service-industry wages lower. Eyal Press is a contributing writer for The New…
Think from KERAA.I. is writing obits now
When a loved one passes away, it can be difficult to find the right words. Enter A.I. Drew Harwell is a technology reporter for The Washington Post, and he…
Think from KERAWhy would-be air traffic controllers quit
More than 44,000 flights take off and land daily in the U.S., which means we need air traffic controllers more than ever. Washington Post transportation…
Think from KERAThe winners and losers of gerrymandering
At the request of President Trump, Texas Republicans are considering redistricting the state to pick up five congressional seats, which could trigger a chain…
Think from KERAIs your greatest strength stalling your career?
Very few job candidates will be candid about their greatest weakness, but it’s actually their greatest strengths that could leave them hamstrung. Martin Dubin…
Think from KERAWhat elitists and populists have in common
How often do political parties actually trust voters to know what’s best for them? Curtis Bram, a political scientist at The University of Texas at Dallas…
Think from KERADon’t worry if you can’t sleep
Sleep tracking technology can tell you how long you slumbered, but it can’t get you there. Jennifer Senior, staff writer at The Atlantic, joins host Krys Boyd…
Think from KERALife after mental illness
A diagnosis of schizophrenia is devastating — but what if the doctor got it wrong? New Yorker staff writer Rachel Aviv joins host Krys Boyd to discuss a woman…
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How to fix hybrid work
Workers are reluctant to go back into the office five days a week, but hybrid arrangements still need mastering. Peter Cappelli is the George W. Taylor…
Think from KERAIs the U.S. in charge of the Americas?
The violence in El Salvador has come to American attention with the deportation of accused gang members to a notorious prison there. Viet Thanh Nguyen…
Think from KERAWhy are Gazans starving?
The U.N. says people in Gaza are under “famine-like conditions.” Ciarán Donnelly, SVP for International Programs with the International Rescue Committee (IRC)…
Think from KERAThe joy of being a word nerd
The English language is full of words that both communicate and confound. Martha Barnette, co-host of the popular radio show and podcast “A Way with Words,”…
Think from KERAWhen organ donations go wrong… for the donor
Organ transplants save lives, but rushing into them could harm donors nearing the end of their own lives. Brian M. Rosenthal, investigative reporter at The New…
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How dogs are helping cure cancer
Dogs suffer from cancer similarly to how humans do – and they may hold the keys to curing us. Bob Holmes, contributor for Knowable Magazine, joins host Krys…
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Are your podcasts changing your personality?
There’s a podcast for everything these days — and maybe that’s the problem. Liel Leibovitz is editor-at-large for Tablet. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss…
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Treating the earliest signs of psychopathy
Labeling a child a psychopath can be incredibly harmful, but there might be ways to treat these unsettling personality traits early. Maia Szalavitz, author and…
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The mystery and misery of headaches
Forty percent of the global population suffers from headache disorders, and scientists don’t really know why. Tom Zeller Jr. is co-founder and editor-in-chief…
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Why we still need shade in an A.C. world
Ancient cities designed shade into their built environments — a lesson present-day builders could learn from. Environmental journalist Sam Bloch joins host…
Think from KERASpilling the tea on low-T
Ads for testosterone-replacement therapy are everywhere, but what percentage of men should be paying attention? Stephanie Pappas is a freelance science…
Think from KERADo we need to be nice to A.I.?
If you’re someone who reflexively thanks Siri or Alexa for the answer to a question, you may be anticipating our future relationship with artificial…
Think from KERAIs it too late to save social security?
If Congress doesn’t act, social security will be drained in 8 years. Teresa Ghilarducci is professor of economics and policy analysis at the New School for…
Think from KERAWhere does language come from?
A language that was spoken thousands of years ago eventually morphed into nearly all of the languages spoken today in the West. Science writer Laura Spinney…
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Why adolescence looks different today
Adolescence looks a lot different from today’s parents or grandparents’ generations — and it’s beginning even earlier. Matt Richtel, health and science…
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Is wellness just for the well-off?
When we treat ourselves to “self-care,” maybe what we’re really trying to achieve is Nirvana? Amy Larocca is a journalist who spent 20 years at New York…
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Does the world need more people?
Falling global birth rates could be setting us up for disastrous consequences down the line. Dean Spears is founding executive director of r.i.c.e., a…
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What its 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…
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A 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…
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The new alternative to opioids
If opioids treat pain like a hammer, what medical researchers are looking for is something more like a delicate scalpel. Rivka Galchen holds a medical degree…
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The Corps of Engineers vs. the environment
To conquer the deserts of Africa or ice of Greenland, the U.S. military needed to get pretty crafty. Northeastern University history professor Gretchen Heefner…
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Elon’s gone, so what’s left of DOGE?
What is DOGE now without Elon Musk? New Yorker Benjamin Wallace-Wells joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the agencies gutted by Musk’s attempts at cost cutting…
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The U.N. is kind of a mess
The United Nations is a storied institution, but it lacks teeth to actually make a difference. Journalist Amanda Chicago Lewis joins host Krys Boyd to discuss…
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How Trump’s tariffs could work
While the Trump administration enacts hefty tariffs on other nations, U.S. businesses are worried about how these taxes might affect them, too. Emily Kilcrease…
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Should pseudoscience be taken seriously?
There is a growing number of people who think studying ghosts or alien abductions should be serious science. Journalist Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling joins host…
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Philanthropist chef José Andrés gives hope through food
Working as a chef, José Andrés fed restaurants full of diners, but his dream was to take that mission to a wider world. The chef, Emmy Award-winning television…
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Actor Ed Helms on history’s biggest screw ups
Ed Helms is known as a comedian, actor and writer—and also as an investigator of history’s biggest gaffes. The host of the podcast SNAFU joins host Krys Boyd…
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Roxane Gay on 500 years of feminism
Feminist author Roxane Gay has put together a compendium of notable feminist works, but even she says it’s not the last word. The contributing opinion writer…
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Why coincidences are more math than magic
Coincidences may seem like random occurrences to many of us – but not to a mathematician. Sarah Hart is professor of geometry at Gresham College and professor…
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The best life may not be the most comfortable
Psychologists and philosophers have debated what makes a good life, traditionally focusing on the search for happiness and meaning. Recently, though, the quest…
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The substance inside you inspiring new medicine
It’s slimy, sticky and gross, but scientists are working hard to better understand the many important roles mucus plays in our bodies. Grace Wade is a health…
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Are we thinking about the wealth gap wrong?
Rising inequality is a concern for governments and everyday people – but it might be useful to put the current situation into historical perspective. Daniel…
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Why it’s hard to make stuff in the U.S.
President Trump is determined to shift manufacturing jobs back to American soil — but that’s a monumentally difficult task. Rachel Slade joins host Krys Boyd…
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Why we’re not trying to beat Russia and China
In the second Trump administration, competition among the U.S., China and Russia is starting to look more like collaboration. Stacie E. Goddard is Betty…
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Our obsession with health trackers
With rings to track our sleep, bracelets to track our heart rate and other health gadgets, are we reaching the point of information overload? Adam Clark Estes…
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Pregnancy and the digital rabbit hole
We’ve all been warned not to consult Dr. Google, but when you're pregnant online advice is all too available. Amanda Hess, critic at large for The New York…
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What makes a genius
Acing that Mensa test might not be the definite sign of genius you think it is. Helen Lewis is a staff writer at The Atlantic and host of the BBC podcast…
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The value of wacky sounding science
More than a million dollars in taxpayer money was spent observing shrimp on treadmills — and it might’ve been a great investment. Carly Anne York, associate…
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The most taboo abortions
Late-term abortions are taboo to talk about, but they may be a battleground for all abortion rights. Amy Littlefield, The Nation's abortion access…
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What RFK gets wrong about autism
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is focused on addressing why nearly three percent of children are diagnosed with autism. Vox senior…
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Sunlight can be medicine. Literally
Sunshine might be more than a balm for the winter blues — it may also combat autoimmune diseases. Science journalist Rowan Jacobsen joins host Krys Boyd to…
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The secrets of superstar siblings
From the Wright brothers to the Williams sisters – how do some families produce extraordinary siblings? New York Times Magazine staff writer Susan Dominus…