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 KERA
Best of Think: Paris through the eye of a food writer
Ruth Reichl made a name for herself writing about food for The New York Times and Gourmet magazine. And now she turns her talents to the world of fiction –…
- Think from KERA
Best of Think: The history of Gospel music
For generations of Black Americans, when times were tough – or when it was time to celebrate – gospel music provided the soundtrack. Shayla Harris is director…
- Think from KERA
Best of Think: Is your culture cool with therapy?
Being a “third culture” kid—someone pulled between their immigrant parents and U.S. culture—can take a mental toll. Sahaj Kaur Kohli is the founder of Brown…
- Think from KERA
Comedian Hari Kondabolu on how fatherhood changes everything
For comedian Hari Kondabolu, becoming a father changed how he accesses pure joy. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how becoming a parent has shifted his…
- Think from KERA
How Trump’s deportations will work
President-elect Trump has promised mass deportations starting day one of his second term; how far will he really be able to take it? Edward Alden is a…
- Think from KERA
The surprising shift in identity politics
One surprise from the presidential election is that a voter’s class, not race, was a greater factor in which box was ticked in the voting booth. Wall Street…
- Think from KERA
Elon Musk vs. The Federal Budget
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have promised to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget with their Department of Government Efficiency. Simon Rabinovitch is…
- Think from KERA
Why we haven’t narrowed the racial health gap
Despite some progress, Black Americans continue to have worse health outcomes than other racial groups. KFF Health News senior correspondent Renuka Rayasam…
- Think from KERA
Author Colson Whitehead talks about ‘Nickel Boys’
With the movie adaptation of “Nickel Boys” in theaters, Colson Whitehead’s celebrated novel is reaching new audiences. Whitehead joins host Krys Boyd to talk…
- Think from KERA
The best books of 2024
Of the thousands of books published each year in English, The New York Times has the task of winnowing that list down to the very best. Times Book Review…
- Think from KERA
America’s gamble on online sport betting
You can’t watch American sports without a barrage of commercials about sports betting — and it’s changing how fans interact with the action. Rolling Stone…
- Think from KERA
How to get your brain in gear
We’ve innovated our workplaces since the factory-floor work of the Industrial Revolution, but our brains haven’t caught up. Mithu Storoni is a physician…
- Think from KERA
Could DNA testing cost you your life insurance?
Genetic tests can help predict future health risks or just be a fun way to learn about your ancestry – but is that information just for you? Kristen V. Brown…
- Think from KERA
Malcolm Gladwell revisits ‘The Tipping Point’
Twenty-five years after the success of “The Tipping Point,” Malcolm Gladwell is back with new insights. The author and co-founder of Pushkin Industries joins…
- Think from KERA
Why don’t fish sink?
For scientists to solve the mysteries of the ocean, they need to start with questions like “how do fish float?” Duke University biology professor Sönke Johnsen…
Think from KERAHow does RFK Jr. define health?
President-Elect Trump has tapped Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Health and Human Services department with promises that dismay many public health officials…
- Think from KERA
The states that voted for Trump…and abortion rights
Of the states that just passed measures protecting abortion, a majority of them also delivered their Electoral College votes to Donald Trump. New York Times…
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The politics of school vouchers
Despite hard evidence that they work, school voucher programs are still gaining steam. Josh Cowen, professor of education policy at Michigan State University…
Think from KERAFor better cities, think small
The truly walkable city seems like something only small European cities can obtain, but urban planners have grand plans. Natalie Whittle is a contributor to…
Think from KERAARCHIVE: The foods that keep your brain young
A look at brain-friendly eating patterns, understanding how “good” and “bad” fats affect us and simple recipe ideas for incorporating these foods into every…
Think from KERAAre we losing our appetite for big portions?
As Thanksgiving’s heaping helpings loom, it might be good to remember both obesity and food waste are linked to your plate’s portions. Hank Cardello is Chair…
Think from KERAWhy are groceries so expensive? It’s complicated
The election might have been won or lost on the price of eggs, but beyond inflation, there are other reasons your grocery bill is so high. Jesse Newman is a…
Think from KERAThe complexities of Native identity in America
The process to be officially considered Native American, can be complicated – and heartbreaking for those who identify but don’t qualify. Carrie Lowry…
Think from KERATracy Chevalier crafts a novel out of glass
A novel about the glass trade in Murano, Italy, finds magic in characters that age hundreds of years and never die. New York Times bestselling author Tracy…
Think from KERAThere’s nothing magical about 10,000 steps
You’ve got to get your 10,000 steps in today, right? Except that’s not based on any real science. Courtney Rubin writes about medicine, health, fitness, and…
Think from KERADoes the NFL even care about concussions?
The NFL knows that concussions are a risk for its players – and it’s largely the players who carry the burden of protecting themselves. New York magazine…
- Think from KERA
Why white kids are skipping college
One surprising trend that’s come out of the higher education demographics: white college-age Americans are ditching school. Katherine Mangan, senior writer for…
Think from KERAThe toxic tradeoffs of a fully electric future
As the world goes electric, drilling for fossil fuels will increasingly be replaced by digging for metals. Journalist and author Vince Beiser joins host Krys…
Think from KERAWhat now for Democrats?
After polls teased a close presidential race, swing-state votes offered a sharp rebuke to the Democratic party. Wall Street Journal reporter Ken Thomas joins…
- Think from KERA
Cynicism won’t protect you from getting hurt
If you’re someone who always thinks the sky is falling, chances are you’re not very happy. Jamil Zaki, professor of psychology at Stanford University and the…
Think from KERAThe never ending cycle of racism
Waves of Black progress have historically been accompanied by waves of significant backlash. Anthony Walton is a poet, professor and the writer-in-residence at…
- Think from KERA
Virtual reality will never match the real thing
What exactly are we missing out on when we only experience something online rather than IRL? Christine Rosen is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise…
Think from KERAThe population boom goes bust
For years, we worried about overpopulation, but the reality is now there aren’t enough babies being born to replace a greying population across the globe…
- Think from KERA
How to put your money where your values are
Jasmine Rashid is a financial activist and Director of Impact for Candide Group. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why taboo discussions about wealth and…
Think from KERAHearing is science, listening is art
There’s a difference between hearing and listening, and there’s an art to cultivating the latter. Elizabeth Rosner, novelist, poet, and essayist, joins host…
- Think from KERA
Some top college students can’t get through a novel
Think of students who made it into the Ivy League — can you believe some of them made it there without ever actually finishing reading a book. Rose Horowitch…
Think from KERAWhy we shouldn’t take election security for granted
It’s Election Day, and the votes are being tabulated. So how can we know the counts are accurate and the data is safe? Derek Tisler, counsel in the elections…
Think from KERAA novel about near future maternal anxieties
Helen Phillips a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and a Rona Jaffe Foundation Writers’ Award. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss her novel about a…
- Think from KERA
How to keep hard conversations safe
Holidays and elections mean tough conversations – it’d be great to have some tools to navigate them. Harville Hendrix and Helen LaKelly Hunt are counselors who…
Think from KERAAmerica’s history with horror stories
From the famous “Psycho” shower scene to “Poltergeist” and Chucky, America has a fascination with horror. Jeremy Dauber, professor of Jewish literature and…
Think from KERAThe most important government role you never heard of
To root out inefficiency and corruption in government, we turn to inspectors general. Glenn A. Fine served as the Inspector General of the Department of…
Think from KERAStripping down America’s sexual history
The history of sexuality in America is not as straightforward as it might seem. Rebecca L. Davis, professor of history at the University of Delaware, joins…
Think from KERAThe Russian dissident who terrifies Putin
Vladimir Kara-Murza is so dedicated to bringing democracy to Russia that it’s nearly cost him his life on multiple occasions. Kara-Murza was sentenced to 25…
Think from KERARethinking Reagan
Ronald Reagan is an icon for conservative thought in America — but he didn’t always deliver on his lofty ideals. Max Boot is a historian and foreign-policy…
Think from KERAJohn Grisham takes on wrongful convictions
Author John Grisham is known for his legal thrillers – but he’s recently turned his attention to real-life stories of justice that are often just as gripping…
Think from KERALocal solutions won’t solve a housing shortage
The zoning debate between NIMBYs and YIMBYs is fueling a housing crisis felt nationwide. Jerusalem Demsas, staff writer at The Atlantic, joins host Krys Boyd…
Think from KERAFlight attendants are barely scraping by
Along with dealing with airport security and disruptive passengers, flight attendants must also battle low wages. Natalie B. Compton, travel reporter for the…
Think from KERANot all childless women have a choice
Lost in the current conversations about reproductive rights and the value of motherhood are the voices of those who didn’t choose to be childless. Eugenia…
Think from KERACould animals possibly understand death?
The concept of death can trigger an existential crisis in humans. Do animals face the same fears? Susana Monsó is associate professor of philosophy in the…
Think from KERARichard Dawkins on reading history through genes
The bodies and genes of organisms can be thought of as a history book detailing how other creatures lived long ago. Richard Dawkins, inaugural Charles Simonyi…
Think from KERAThe promise of carbon-capture technology
One method for combating harmful CO2 emissions in the environment is to suck it right out of the air. Climate journalist Alec Luhn joins host Krys Boyd to…
Think from KERAFree will does not exist
If everything happens for a reason, and those reasons are beyond our control, maybe we don’t have free will after all. Robert Sapolsky, professor of biology…
Think from KERAThey provided abortions for five decades
In the national conversation about abortion rights, the voices of actual abortion providers are often unheard. Dr. Curtis Boyd was involved in establishing the…
Think from KERAThe benefits of being in your feels
Nobody actually enjoys feeling down in the dumps – but there’s a lot we can learn about ourselves when we’re not at our best. This hour, host Krys Boyd talks…
- Think from KERA
Decoding your dreams
After a long day when we lay down to rest, that’s when our brains really fire up to help us dream. Dr. Rahul Jandial is a neurosurgeon and neuroscientist who…
Think from KERAThe best communicators don’t talk much
The best communicators aren’t always the ones who talk the most in meetings. Pulitzer Prize–winning investigative journalist Charles Duhigg joins host Krys…
Think from KERAHow medical groupthink harms our health
We trust the guidance of medical professionals so much – and it can be hard for both doctor and patient when new research recommends changing course on…
- Think from KERA
Why don’t NFL cheerleaders make more money?
NFL cheerleaders put in hours of practice, have thousands of fans and serve as ambassadors for the teams — and get paid next to nothing. Chabeli Carrazana is…
Think from KERAWhat the ‘no limits’ partnership between Russia and China means for the U.S.
Russia and China have formed a “no limits” partnership, bonding them on everything from manufacturing to technology to military might. And a major factor in…
Think from KERAActress Uzo Aduba tells her own story
For Uzo Aduba, shaping an identity as a daughter of Nigerian immigrants was fuel for a creative fire. The Emmy-award winning star of “Orange is the New Black”…