The Measure of Everyday Life: Recent Episodes
WNCU public radio
Interested in human behavior and how people think? The Measure of Everyday Life is a weekly interview program featuring innovations in social science and ideas from leading researchers and commentators. Independent Weekly has called the show "unexpected" and "diverse" and says the show "brings big questions to radio." Join host Dr. Brian Southwell (@BrianSouthwell) as he explores the human condition.
Episodes air each Sunday night at 6:30 PM in the Raleigh-Durham broadcast market and a podcast of each show is available online the Wednesday following. The show is made possible by RTI International.
Have thoughts on the show? Let your voice be heard by rating us. You can also join the conversation on Twitter by following @MeasureRadio.
What we know about the environment reflects in part what we learn through news coverage. How do journalists cover stories about the environment? Has that changed? What will the future look like? On this episode, we talk with Suzannah Evans Comfort of Indiana University, author of The Environmental Beat: Inside the Struggle to Legitimize the Environment as News (published by the University of Missouri Press).
You might know how difficult it can be to wake a sleeping teenager. It turns out that teenagers in the U.S. may not be getting enough sleep, though. On this episode, we talk with public health researcher Rachel Widome of the University of Minnesota about her work.
Depression affects many people around the world with implications for daily interactions between people. What do we know about long-term consequences of depression for our health? On this episode, we talk with Jody Greaney of the University of Delaware about her work to assess how depression might be connected to our future heart health.
We have been building dams for hundreds of years, many of which you can find today across the U.S., and yet we often haven't investigated how to use these technologies to balance societal concerns and benefits. On this episode, we talk with Smit Vasquez Caballero, an economist at RTI International who recently evaluated an innovative collaboration between The Nature Conservancy and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to improve our use of dams.
Many people need help as they age and many families count on a combination of their own caregiving and professional assistance. What about people who don't have access to help? On this episode, we talk with Dr. Kristen Giombi of RTI International about work she and her colleagues have done to find out who uses caregiving services and who does not.
It is easy to take the air we breathe for granted, as it is with us every moment of our lives, and yet that air is vital not just for our daily activities but also for the long-term health of our brains. On this episode, we talk with Dr. Haneen Khreis of the University of Cambridge and Texas A&M University about her investigation into potential links between air quality and dementia.
Changes in our climate are forcing many communities to grapple with the possibility of uprooting and relocating. How exactly are communities able to manage governance issues such moves entail? On this episode, we talk with Christopher Galik of North Carolina State University about his work with co-author Brad Johnson to answer that question.
Sexual assault affects people of all ages, including adolescents. On this episode, we talk with Shael Norris, Founding Director of SafeBAE, a survivor-founded and youth-led organization dedicated to preventing sexual violence among teens.
Some of us stay up late, but how much time do we spend awake without artificial light? What can we learn from being awake in the dark? On this episode, we talk with author Leigh Ann Henion about her book, Night Magic: Adventures among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Dark.
If you are a parent or a coach, you sometimes might wonder whether a child is really trying their best. What if we could tell by looking at their face? On this episode, we talk with Michael Willoughby and Timothy Slade of RTI International about their work to consider thermal imaging to measure effort.
Rising healthcare costs are a concern in many parts of the world. Engagement with nature, as in taking a walk in the woods, spending time with a pet, or even mindfully thinking about past experiences outdoors, might offer a surprising tool to cope with some of those concerns. On this episode, we talk with two researchers who are assessing how exposure to nature can improve our health and wellbeing: Olivia McAnirlin and Matthew Browning of Clemson University.
How should we think about death and how it happens? Americans now die more often than our peers in other wealthy countries. What does that shortened mortality say about our lives? On this episode, we talk with Elizabeth Wrigley-Field of the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Population Center.
Emotion, including fear, is an important part of us. What we fear and how we react can be shaped and influenced, though. On this episode, we talk with Ruth DeFoster of the University of Minnesota, co-author, with Natashia Swalve, of The Fear Knot: How Science, History, and Culture Shape Our Fears and How to Get Unstuck.
Billions of people do not have access to medicines that could save their lives. The Med Aditis Foundation is a non-profit organization that builds partnerships to improve access to high-quality medicines. On this episode, we talk with Bob Blouin, President and CEO of the Med Aditis Foundation.
In schools across the United States, active shooter drills have been common for years and yet we don't know all that we could about the effect of such drills on students and educators. On this episode, we talk with two members of a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Consensus Study focused on this phenomenon: Melissa Brymer of the UCLA–Duke National Center for Child Traumatic Stress and Sonali Rajan of Columbia University.
Have you ever felt any sort of shame in admitting you have used an artificial intelligence tool? On this episode, we talk with Jessica Reif of Duke University, lead author of a new paper in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that explores how people feel about co-workers using AI and what they do about it.
Healthcare professionals do heroic work and so finding ways to support them can help all of us. Evidence now suggests that mindfulness techniques might help. On this episode, we talk with Misty Rae, an emergency physician with the North Mississippi Health System, about mindfulness and the future of medicine.
When many people think about the science of life, they think of concepts such as DNA or genes. Proteins also play a vital role in our everyday existence that might surprise you. On this episode, we talk with Shahir Rizk and Maggie Fink, authors of The Color of North: The Molecular Language of Proteins and the Future of Life.
Our healthcare system comprises people -- including patients who need help and healthcare professionals who help them -- and yet our discussions about healthcare in the U.S. often focus on abstract concepts such as financial cost or new technologies. On this episode, we talk with the leader of an organization aiming to change that conversation: Dr. Kathleen Reeves, President and CEO of the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, a nonprofit organization that champions humanism in healthcare.
We have been making progress in incorporating emotional responses into measures of public perceptions to predict behavior. On this episode, we talk with Tomas Gonsorcik, Global Chief Strategy Officer at DDB Worldwide, about innovations in considering how what we feel says something about what we tend to think and do.
Whenever we use the Internet, we potentially share personal data in exchange for information that can, in turn, shape future information presented to us. What are the implications of that arrangement for society? On this episode, we talk with Jose Marichal, professor at California Lutheran University and author of the new book, You Must Become an Algorithmic Problem: Renegotiating the Socio-Technical Contract.
How we talk about suicide matters. How we talk about prevention and support also matters. On this episode, we talk with Aurora Occa of the University of Kentucky about her work to help college students by considering how we frame opportunities for support.
We hear often hear about stress and burnout in healthcare. We don’t hear as often about kindness. What roles could kindness play in the future of our healthcare system? On this episode, we talk with Nora Jones of the Arnold P. Gold Foundation and the Pincus Foundation about evidence that kindness matters in serving patients and promoting wellbeing.
How to be a good parent has been a topic of conversation for decades but raising children now includes online influences as well. How is the Internet shaping how we think about parenting? On this episode, we talk with Ranjana Das of the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom. She is author of Parents Talking Algorithms: Navigating Datafication and Family Life in Digital Societies.
Even as people use online technologies in their everyday lives, they sometimes worry about potential pitfalls, including concerns about trusting other people. On this episode, we talk with two innovators who are seeking to improve public health by improving transparency in sexual relationships through a new platform called PlumCheck: Celine Gounder of the Kaiser Family Foundation and CBS News, and Josh Karetny, CEO of the new platform.
As we seek to know ourselves, who should help us with that exploration? Many different perspectives on empirical research, philosophy, and contemplation can be helpful as we try to understand our minds and ourselves. On this episode, we talk with Vladimir Miskovic, co-author of DREAMING REALITY: How Neuroscience and Mysticism Can Unlock the Secrets of Consciousness with Steven Jay Lynn.
Local public health workers help communities all over the country. Who helps them do their work? On this episode, we talk with two people who have spent time supporting public health in Western North Carolina with compelling new innovations to improve communication about local health: Adrienne Ammerman, founder of Arclet, and Brandon Romstadt of the WNC Health Network.
How should we support people facing mental health challenges? The Ad Council -- the same organization which introduced us to Smokey Bear over 80 years ago -- has some answers with their latest evidence-based campaign: Love, Your Mind. On this episode, we talk with Catherine Chao, Vice President of Strategy and Evaluation at the Ad Council.
Artificial intelligence tools have been in the headlines and yet we are still learning who opts to use such tools and why. On this episode, we talk with David Playfoot of Swansea University in the United Kingdom about his work on student use of AI tools.
As online content evolves, you might assume teenagers are flourishing on the Internet while older Americans shake their head in confusion, but the reality might surprise you. On this episode, we talk with Amanda Lenhart of the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop about adolescents and how they think about our lives online.
The growth of online courses has been an important part of the story of education in the United States in the past decade, but we need more evidence of the ways our shift online may affect our sense of connection with others. On this episode, we talk with Daniela Castellanos-Reyes of North Carolina State University about her work to understand student connections online.
On this episode, Marieta Pehlivanova of the University of Virginia returns to the show to discuss her neurological perception research, including the adult experiences of people who as children reported memories of what some people refer to as a past life.
Helping children make friends with a wide range of people can benefit us all. On this episode, we talk with Melanie Killen of the University of Maryland, a psychology professor who has studied ways to reduce social exclusion and improve connections between people.
What do Americans eat? What do we know about their overall health? Answering questions like those requires measurement on a national scale. For decades, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has continuously fielded its National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. On this episode, we talk with Tony Nguyen, Chief Medical Officer for the project.
Article 2 of the U.S. Constitution sets an age limit for people running for various offices but we do not have an upper age limit. What do Americans think about aging and civic life? On this episode, we talk with Yewande Addie of RTI International about her work on storytelling and public understanding.
Crime rates in the United States are generally lower now than they were a few decades ago and yet researchers and criminal justice professionals continue to search for innovations to reduce rates of criminal offense. One approach which some advocates have proposed addresses mental health concerns. On this episode, we talk with Robert VerBruggen, Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, about the use of cognitive behavioral therapy with incarcerated people.
On this episode, we lift up the work of three researchers who are making a difference through their efforts to promote suicide prevention among Native American people: Ivette Rodriguez Borja, Rebecca Perry, and Monica Desjardins of RTI International.
When we read about the devastating effects of weather-related disasters, we often focus on housing and infrastructure. Such situations also might affect our eating patterns. On this episode, we talk with Lindsey Taillie of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health about her work on food marketing, the ways in which climate change might exacerbate unhealthy eating, and what steps we might take next.
When we hear stories about injuries from violence at the hands of other people or in the face of disasters, we often hear about acute physical injuries but there is more to the story in terms of mental health. How can we best support patients who have suffered trauma? On this episode, we talk with Douglas Zatzick of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington.
Although it is easy to scroll through social media applications to see posts from all over the world, it can be challenging to know what is real and what is artificial and to know about the mindset and wellbeing of people posting content. New tools can help us assess what gets posted online and to turn that into useful signals for interventions to help society. On this episode, we talk with Ana-Maria Staicu of the Department of Statistics at North Carolina State University about her work.
How exactly does language evolve and how do people shape it? On this episode, we talk with Molly Flaherty of Davidson College. She has studied the birth and evolution of a new language: Nicaraguan Sign Language.
Why do our news headlines often focus on war and crime and mortgage rates? Do we spend too much time focused on transactional markets and not enough on our unconditional existence as part of humanity? On this episode, we talk with Rob Faure Walker of University College London, author of Love and the Market: How to Recover from the Enlightenment and Survive the Current Crisis.
We have seen recent innovations in our efforts to detect medical conditions in infants through genetic screening, including a program called Early Check based in North Carolina. The service now provides parents in North Carolina a free scan and review of a baby’s entire genetic blueprint to look for hundreds of conditions. On this episode, we talk about the initiative with researcher Heidi Cope of RTI International and pediatrician Elizabeth Jalazo of the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.
Each of us has a sense of our own identity. Sometimes, though, people make judgements about what another person’s racial or ethnic identity is. How do people make those appraisals? On this episode, we talk with Raj Ghoshal of Elon University about his nationwide survey research.
What happens to children who have been adopted from foster care as they become adults? On this episode, we talk with Rose Domanico and Heather Ringeisen of RTI International and Nancy Rolock of Case Western Reserve University about the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being Adoption Follow-Up Study and additional analysis funded by RTI International.
Although the threat of gun violence is common for some Americans, how exactly court officials, law enforcement professionals, and survivors each tend to talk about weapons is not something we often read about in news headlines. On this episode, we talk with two researchers who study how domestic violence survivors and law professionals talk about weapons and conflict: Allyson Corbo of RTI International and Beth Moracco of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
What happens to a person’s online data after they die is something we may not spend much time thinking about, and yet there is much potential for that data to echo into the future. On this episode, we talk with Dr. Carl Ohman of Uppsala University in Sweden, author of The Afterlife of Data: What Happens to Your Information When You Die and Why You Should Care.
Generating electrical power is vital for our current way of life and yet the process can have direct effects on human health. On this episode, we talk with Sarah Komisarow of Duke University and Emily Pakhtigian of Penn State University about their innovative research to assess the effects of power plants on human health.
How can we improve our mental wellbeing by supporting our caregivers and healers? Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine has many ideas which have come to her in part from her own remarkable life. Time magazine has called her a "Hero of Medicine." She's also an award-winning author. On this episode, we talk with her about her New Yorker Book of the Year, Fires in the Dark: Healing the Unquiet Mind.
Most people generally understand what friendship is and yet the roles it plays in our wellbeing have yet to be fully explored. On this episode, we talk with psychology researcher William Chopik of Michigan State University about new work on the value of friendship for health and what we can to do encourage better friendship in our lives.
The COVID-19 pandemic has posed challenges for many different people, but one of those groups whose story hasn’t been sufficiently told yet is teachers. On this episode, we talk with Erin Thomsen and Erin Dunlop Velez of RTI International about their work to tell that story.
Communities sometimes emerge into the public spotlight at moments of crisis, such as when there is a dangerous train derailment or catastrophic damage to a water system. When we try to help those communities, though, how can we do that in a respectful and useful way that reflects history. On this episode, we talk about doing community-engaged research with Vicki Johnson-Lawrence of RTI International, co-author of a new RTI Press report on trauma-informed approaches to improve public health.
If you are hoping for a vacation this summer, it might reflect your frustrations with co-workers. Conflict in the workplace can be an important source of stress and can undermine team functioning. On this episode, we talk about how to cope with conflict with Jessica Jameson of North Carolina State University, author of Communication for Constructive Workplace Conflict.
Many of us sometimes scroll through the comments posted in reaction to a news article or social media post. How important is that and why might it matter? On this episode, we talk with Gina Sipley of the State University of New York Nassau Community College and author of a new book called Just Here for the Comments: Lurking as Digital Literacy Practice.
When some people die, no one comes to claim them. The death of people without easily identified social network ties can signal a different sort of loss, a loss for a society which comprises alienation and disconnection. On this episode, we talk with researchers Pamela Prickett of the University of Amsterdam and Stefan Timmermans of UCLA about their new book, The Unclaimed: Abandonment and Hope in the City of Angels.
What people now see presented on online platforms often reflects personal information about them, a situation which has raised alarms for some commentators. Might your personality affect whether you worry about data privacy protection and consequences for society? On this episode, we talk with Lisa Farman of Ithaca College about her work on this topic.
Traumatic loss, such as the death of a person close to you, can affect your everyday wellbeing in many ways. On this episode, we talk with researchers who have explored ways people can cope with such loss: Alexandra Early of RTI International and Caitlin Reynolds and Shevaun Neupert of North Carolina State University.
Parents often talk with family and friends about the roles of media in their children's lives, for better or worse. What can academic research tell us about what is ok for our kids? On this episode, we talk with Dr. Katie Davis of the University of Washington, author of a new book for MIT Press called Technology’s Child: Digital Media’s Role in the Ages and Stages of Growing Up.
The idea that we have more and more people on this planet has been prominent in recent decades but some researchers now project a future of declining population in some parts of the world, including the United States, which has implications for our physical infrastructure. On this episode, we talk with engineering researchers Sybil Derrible and Lauryn Spearing of the University of Illinois Chicago about a depopulated future.
We sometimes hear about fatal use of force by police officers and yet we tend to not talk about the potential long-term effects of those tragedies on community members who were not directly involved. On this episode, we talk with Kevin Strom and Sean Wire of the Center of Justice at RTI International about new research which investigates community and police department response to fatal use of force incidents.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged and complicated school administration across the U.S. and around the world, we also are starting to hear stories of resilience. On this episode, we talk with Beth Glennie and Zach Smith of RTI International about their study of school enrollment and online achievement patterns in Hawai'i in the face of the pandemic.
As recently as 2021, more than 30,000 U.S. citizens earned a PhD and yet the demographics of that group do not reflect the U.S. population overall, particularly in the case of science, engineering, technology, and mathematics. On this episode, we talk with Erin Velez and Ruth Heuer of RTI International and Lorelle Espinosa of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation about a new report documenting the experiences of Black and Hispanic science PhD candidates in the U.S.
At the end of each calendar year in the United States, many people talk about charity and voluntary contributions, much of which involves non-profit organizations. In recent years, U.S. government agencies and funders have asked non-profits for more formal evaluation of their work than ever before. On this episode, Aaron Horvath of Stanford University discusses surprising non-profit behavior to not only meet evaluation obligations but to voluntarily do more to share their stories.
During the week of Thanksgiving in the US, many of us are busy with holiday meal planning and getting together with family. It is also a time when we can thank public health officials for Public Health Thank You Day. On this episode, we talk with Brian Castrucci of the de Beaumont Foundation and Jenny Luray of Research!America about public health in America.
Women made crucial contributions to scientific inquiry for a long time and yet scientific professions has lacked equity in many ways. On this episode, we talk with Lisa M. P. Munoz, author of Women in Science Now: Stories and Strategies for Achieving Equity, about her journey in the sciences and about her efforts to spotlight stories of progress.
You can find all sorts of content on social media platforms. Some organizations attempt to use social media to keep families safe but how successful has that work been? On this episode, we talk with Jennifer Manganello of the University at Albany and Lara McKenzie of Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Ohio about their work to encourage child safety.
Algorithms are essentially sets of instructions for what steps to take in response to input. They are embedded into many aspects of our everyday life and doctors even use algorithms to generate advice for patients. What should we do if we discover certain algorithms are based on flawed data or misleading analysis? On this episode, we talk with Adriana Joseph of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene about a new coalition to improve how we use clinical algorithms.
Emotional abuse and manipulation can cause harm in interpersonal relationships and for society. On this episode, we focus on the science of healing from interpersonal trauma with professional counselor Dr. Amelia Kelley, author of a new book on trauma recovery.
People who face challenges from intellectual and developmental disabilities comprise important audiences for many public health communication efforts. What are the best ways to support and work with people in those audiences? On this episode, we talk with communication researchers Molly Lynch, Linda Squiers, and Sidney Holt of RTI International about their work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and CommunicateHealth to improve the ways we engage with people in a range of situations.
As another school year starts in the United States, we have opportunities to support students who are considering dropping out of school. On this episode, we talk with Marie-Hélène Véronneau of the University of Quebec at Montreal about interpersonal factors which seem to help reduce high school dropout.
Chances are that you or someone you know has a dog in the house. What do we know about the relationships between people and dogs? On this episode, we talk with authors of The Purest Bond: Understanding the Human-Canine Connection, Jen Goldbeck of the University of Maryland and science writer Stacey Colino.
Social media may play a role in our collective loneliness but researchers now also are attempting to use social media tools to reduce loneliness. On this episode, we talk with two University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill professors, Barbara Frederickson and Allison Lazard, about their new work to improve mental health using new communication tools.
A new generation of artificial intelligence applications have flooded many workplaces and smartphones. What types of relationships will people have with artificial intelligence technologies? On this episode, we talk about the human dimension of human-computer interaction with Dr. Roshni Raveendhran of the University of Virginia.
Daycare and early childhood education sites are more than vibrant places with children laughing and eating snacks. Such places also offer important opportunities to promote equity and justice. On this episode, we talk with Dr. Iheoma Iruka of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Along with three co-authors, she’s written a new book called We Are the Change We Seek: Advancing Racial Justice in Early Care and Education.
In recent years, protests and dialog have emerged regarding the roles police units should play in responding to public safety needs. On this episode, we talk with two people involved with producing a new documentary on public safety reform in Durham, NC: Dilsey Davis of RTI International’s Transformative Research Unit for Equity and Ryan Smith, Director of the Community Safety Department for the City of Durham.
Phrases such as “racial equity” and "social equity" have been prominent in recent years. How to evaluate social interventions with equity in mind has received less attention, though. On this episode, we talk with RTI International researchers Daniela Pineda and Brittany Wood about new guidance from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation.
We know that social norms can influence many types of behavior. Can social norms predict corruption? On this episode, we talk with Lisa McGregor of RTI International, Richard Nash of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, and Cheyanne Scharbatke-Church of Besa Global about their work to understand patterns of corruption around the world.
We are fortunate to be able to breathe air and drink water. Everyone doesn’t enjoy the same air and water quality, though. How can we know whether what we consume is safe? What do people think about the air and water in their area? On this episode, we talk with Dr. Courtney Woods of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill about her work to elevate resident voices.
The last few years have been challenging for many families. How should we be raising children amidst a changing world? What can we learn from various contexts around the world? On this episode, we talk with Katherine King, director of early childhood development programs at RTI International.
Any single social media post does not necessarily reflect public opinion, and yet researchers also have found creative ways to use social media tools to assist their work. On this episode, we talk with Stephanie McInnis and Jessica Sobolewski of RTI International about how they are using social media to answer key questions about public health.
Recently, news headlines have highlighted challenges that homeowners are facing as the Atlantic Ocean rises and changes the shape of our coastline. On this episode, we talk with Kiera O’Donnell of Duke University about the preferences that residents of coastal communities have expressed about future development.
Over the course of a century, baseball has entertained fans throughout the United States and in various parts of the world. The experience today is not quite the same as it used to be, though. In this episode, we talk with Christopher Callahan of Dartmouth College, lead author of a new paper which looks at how climate change may already have affected the game of baseball.
In recent years, our news headlines have spotlighted challenges in the relationships between local police departments and the communities they serve. On this episode, we talk with Neil Gross and Leon Nixon about their new audiobook, Walk the Walk: How Three Police Chiefs Defied the Odds and Changed Cop Culture.
Authors sometimes can illuminate aspects of our everyday lives which we sometimes take for granted. Angela Saini does that with her new book, The Patriarchs: How Men Came to Rule. On this episode, she joins to discuss her historical analysis and assessment of our present condition.
We often hear about snakes as a symbol of ill intention in popular culture and yet that characterization is at odds with what conservation scientists understand to be the nature of the animals. On this episode, we talk with Nicolette Cagle of the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University. She is author of a new book called “Saving Snakes.”
Public health workers have faced serious challenges recently, including not only emergent infectious diseases but also human behavior and harassment and complaints. On this episode, we talk with Timothy McCall and Aaron Alford of the National Association of County and City Health Officials about their recent national survey of public health professionals.
Animals live on this same Earth as human beings and often can tell us about environmental changes or dangers if we only know how to listen and observe. On this episode, we talk with filmmaker and researcher Chris Johns of RTI International about why we should care about land snails in Hawaii.
War has been in our headlines again recently. What do we know about the effects of war on subsequent violence between family members and neighbors? On this episode, we talk with Jocelyn Kelly, Director of the Program on Gender, Rights, and Resilience at the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative.
On this episode, we hear from students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who worked with Professor Carmen Gutierrez to produce stories exploring current health policy issues. Content has been edited for time. Opinions expressed do not represent the views of WNCU or underwriters.
The arrival of a new year can be a stressful time both in terms of opportunities and challenges. What is stress and how do social scientists measure it? On this episode, we talk with anthropologist Achsah Dorsey of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, about stress and everyday life.
JAMA Psychiatry recently reported that in the United States we have seen an increase in deaths of despair, instances in which people die from suicide or alcoholism or substance use. Boys and men are particularly likely to suffer in that way. On this episode, we talk with Richard Reeves of the Brookings Institution about his new book, Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male is Struggling, Why it Matters, and What to Do about It.
Every day government officials and researchers and journalists attempt to explain new developments in science or to share insights based on science. Even though that work often involves empirical facts, we sometimes overlook the roles of human emotion. On this episode, we talk with Faith Kearns, environmental science expert and author of Getting to the Heart of Science Communication: A Guide to Engagement. [Technical note: episode includes minor audio inconsistencies.]
A force that animates all of our lives in some way is the concept of death. What if we had more certainty about what happens when we die? What if a preview of death could inform our life? On this episode, we talk with Marieta Pehlivanova of the University of Virginia about her research on near-death experiences.
Headlines about traffic accidents are common, but those stories might not tell the whole story. On this episode, we talk with Seth LaJeunesse of the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center about how we do -- and should -- talk about traffic injuries and transportation safety.
Headlines about traffic accidents are common, but those stories might not tell the whole story. On this episode, we talk with Seth LaJeunesse of the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center about how we do -- and should -- talk about traffic injuries and transportation safety.
Can you tell how well children in a neighborhood are doing just by looking at the neighborhood? On this episode, we talk with Terri Sabol of Northwestern University about the health of school neighborhoods and how geography, education, and student success are related.
Can you tell how well children in a neighborhood are doing just by looking at the neighborhood? On this episode, we talk with Terri Sabol of Northwestern University about the health of school neighborhoods and how geography, education, and student success are related.
We take a break from our usual interviews on this episode to share speeches from a celebration of The Measure of Everyday Life and a new book based on the show, Measuring Everyday Life, held at North Carolina Central University in September 2022.
We take a break from our usual interviews on this episode to share speeches from a celebration of The Measure of Everyday Life and a new book based on the show, Measuring Everyday Life, held at North Carolina Central University in September 2022.
More than ever, we need to connect scientists and various audiences to promote understanding of science and to get input from people about what science should be done. On this episode, we talk with John Besley of Michigan State University and Anthony Dudo of the University of Texas at Austin, authors of a book called Strategic Science Communication: A Guide to Setting the Right Objectives for More Effective Public Engagement.
More than ever, we need to connect scientists and various audiences to promote understanding of science and to get input from people about what science should be done. On this episode, we talk with John Besley of Michigan State University and Anthony Dudo of the University of Texas at Austin, authors of a book called Strategic Science Communication: A Guide to Setting the Right Objectives for More Effective Public Engagement.
We sometimes look to the arts as an outlet for enjoyment but the arts also can affect our social interactions, our future imagination, and perhaps even how we learn. On this episode, we talk with Susan Magsamen, Executive Director of the International Arts + Minds Lab at Johns Hopkins University.
We sometimes look to the arts as an outlet for enjoyment but the arts also can affect our social interactions, our future imagination, and perhaps even how we learn. On this episode, we talk with Susan Magsamen, Executive Director of the International Arts + Minds Lab at Johns Hopkins University.
In 1965, the United States Congress officially recognized Historically Black Colleges or Universities as schools of higher learning, but the history of HBCUs extends all the way back to the 1830s. On this episode, we talk with Dr. Jelani Favors of North Carolina A&T State University, author of the award-winning Shelter in a Time of Storm: How Black Colleges Fostered Generations of Leadership and Activism.
Every fall in the U.S., students across the country head off to college. What you might not know is that some of them aren’t sure if they are going to have enough to eat when they are there. On this episode, we talk with two people trying to address that: Katharine Broton of the University of Iowa and Kathleen O’Neill of Bunker Hill Community College in Boston.
Can you remember a teacher who affected your life? As many students return to school in the U.S., we know teachers can have important effects. How exactly does good teaching make a difference? On this episode, we talk with Julie Schmidt Hasson of Appalachian State University, author of Safe, Seen, and Stretched in the Classroom: The Remarkable Ways Teachers Shape Students’ Lives.
With the increase in food prices in recent years, farming has been in the news and farming continues to be challenging work. In the U.S., various organizations have sought to support young farmers in their work. On this episode, we talk about that history with Dr. Antoine Alston of North Carolina A&T State University, co-author of the new book, The Legacy of The New Farmers of America.
When we talk with people who aren't in the same room as us, we often are not limited to phone calls or written correspondence anymore. What difference does it make to see someone’s facial expressions when interacting with them? On this episode, we talk with Lisa Feldman Barrett, Professor of Psychology at Northeastern University, about what facial expressions can and can't tell us.
We often refer to teams and teamwork, both as an explanation for success and as a worrying force as we consider polarization in society. On this episode, we talk with Don Forsyth, a psychology professor at the University of Richmond who has sought to understand group dynamics.
Every day, many of us have conversations with small groups of people. Sometimes that now happens via videoconference or group chat. A lot happens when groups try to talk, though, that you might not realize. On this episode, we talk with conversation researcher Tanya Stivers of the University of California, Los Angeles, about group interaction successes and challenges.
Philanthropy is sometimes cited as a force for good in the 21st century. People have donated money for societal gain for hundreds of years, though, and we can learn lessons from the successes and failures of past investments. On this episode, we talk with Michael Meyer of the University of Pittsburgh about his book, Benjamin Franklin’s Last Bet: The Favorite Founder’s Divisive Death, Enduring Afterlife, and Blueprint for American Prosperity.
The real estate market in the U.S. has been in the headlines recently. What might that have to do with the challenge of homelessness? On this episode, we talk with Gregg Colburn, faculty member at the University of Washington and co-author of a new book called Homelessness is a Housing Problem.
Chances are that if you have earned a paycheck you have had at least one day negatively affected by the behavior of a co-worker, supervisor, or employee. What do organizational psychologists say about the challenges of problematic employees? On this episode, we talk with book author Dr. Mitchell Kusy, corporate psychologist at Antioch University and consultant for The Healthy Workforce Institute.
When historians consider this moment through which we are all living, what might they say about social media? On this episode, we talk about the roles social media are playing in the lives of teenagers and young adults today with content creator Lydia Keating of Boston University and Jacqueline Nesi, psychiatry and human behavior professor at Brown University.
One experience that many of us have had during the pandemic is working from home. What has been the effect of that on our interactions with colleagues? On this episode, we talk with Rory McGloin of the University of Connecticut about his research on this topic.
Why do we laugh? What is the point? On this episode, we discuss laughter as a source of joy and as a tool for connecting people with Adrienne Wood, a psychology professor and laughter researcher at the University of Virginia.
What good might exercise do for our brain? You may have experienced a sense of relief in the short-term after working out. Exercise also can have important long-term effects on our brains. On this episode, we talk with Jennifer Heisz of McMaster University, author of Move the Body, Heal the Mind: Overcome Anxiety, Depression, and Dementia and Improve Focus, Creativity, and Sleep.
Whether you are an Olympic athlete or a teenager learning to drive, confidence can play a key role in your performance. What exactly is confidence and what role can it play in our lives? On this episode, we talk with Dr. Nate Zinsser of the United States Military Academy, advisor to professional sports teams and other organizations and author of The Confident Mind: A Battle-Tested Guide to Unshakable Performance.
News headlines often refer to financial concepts such as inflation. Even though many of us spend money almost every week, exactly what money is and how it gets distributed around the world isn’t always clear, though. On this episode, we talk with authors of a new book called Crowdfunding and the Democratization of Finance: sociologist Mark Davis of the University of Leeds and Bruce Davis of Abundance Investment.
With new technologies, it is now possible to alter a human being into something different than they were. As a result, we are facing new ethical and philosophical challenges. Stefan Sorgner, professor at John Cabot University in Italy, does not think the questions we are facing are all that new. We talk with him on this episode about his new book, We Have Always Been Cyborgs.
Human beings find inspiration in making music together. The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged our ability to gather but people have still found ways to sing together. What can we learn from our history of communal singing as we face a difficult present and future? On this episode, we talk with Esther Morgan-Ellis, Associate Professor of Music History and orchestra director at the University of North Georgia.
As we begin a new year, many of us have faced stress and are searching for ways to cope. One source of relief is an old one: namely, music. Researchers now are learning to use music to manage stress. On this episode, we talk with Jennifer Fiore, a music therapy professor at Western Michigan University.
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many addiction treatment providers to change from delivering most treatment in person to delivering treatment via telehealth. What can we learn from that experience? On this episode, we talk with Tami Mark, a health economist at RTI International, about using telehealth tools to treat addiction.
One constant during our last two years has been change as we have seen incidence numbers for COVID-19 rise and fall and rise. How do we know that we have the data we need to make sense of the world around us? How should we organize that data? On this episode, we talk with Kody Kinsley, Chief Deputy Secretary for Health for North Carolina (at the time of the episode), about measuring COVID-19.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a lot of sleepless nights and the experience has put a spotlight on this routine part of our everyday life. On this episode, we talk with Rebecca Robbins of Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital about her work on optimizing sleep.
The COVID-19 has exacerbated all sorts of public health challenges in the US and around the world. Aside from the direct effects of infectious disease, something that has worried public health officials has been the possibility for increased alcohol use during this difficult time. On this episode, we talk with Carolina Barbosa and Bill Dowd of RTI International about recent American drinking patterns.
We are just now starting to understand how geography has mattered in understanding COVID-19 mortality. On this episode, we talk about local patterns of COVID-19 deaths with two researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Alexis Dennis and Jaclyn Karasik.
School Resource Officers work in schools across the U.S. now, but their placement has led to some controversy. To what extent does having SROs in place reduce violence and crime in schools? To what extent might such placement lead to undesirable consequences? On this episode, we talk with Lucy Sorensen of the University at Albany of the State University of New York.
We depend on our healthcare workforce, including both clinicians and many public health workers. On this episode, we talk about the state of our public health workforce with Jennifer Horney of the University of Delaware and Lisa Macon Harrison of the Granville-Vance District Health Department in North Carolina.
Protecting our watersheds in the future will involve shaping human behavior among other efforts. On this episode, we continue our exploration of water as a consideration for social science through a conversation with Chelsea McGimpsey, water resources planner for the County of San Diego.
Water is a life-giving force and yet managing its uncertainty also is a major challenge for us in the 21st century. On this episode, we talk with water resources engineer Jonathan Quebbeman about public understanding of water management and society.
Who was the first person to cross the Pacific Ocean and return? Why don't we know the history of Pacific navigation to the same extent we know Atlantic history? On this episode, we talk with Andrés Reséndez, the author of Conquering the Pacific: An Unknown Mariner and the Final Great Voyage of the Age of Discovery.
How can photography offer testaments of social movements? On this episode, we talk with Veronica Chambers, editor for narrative projects for The New York Times and author (with Jennifer Harlan) of Call and Response: The Story of Black Lives Matter, a visual accounting of the movement and responses to the movement.
Population growth in the U.S. has slowed to its lowest rate since the 1930s according to recent Census data. How should we think about changes in our population size? On this episode, we talk with John Seager, who has written a book on population dynamics and is president and CEO of the nonprofit organization Population Connection.
Autism likely has been part of society for a long time, although we have only named it and a spectrum of related experiences relatively recently. On this episode, we talk with Eric Garcia, author of We're Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation, about his quest to change the way we think about the autism spectrum.
As we reconnect with neighbors and family members, many people have had a chance to think differently about a question that they have uttered thousands of times before: “how are you?” What does it mean to say you are doing well? How can we measure well-being? On this episode, we talk with Mohsen Joshanloo, associate professor at Keimyung University in South Korea and also an honorary fellow at the University of Melbourne in Australia.
When the United States faced the 9-11 crisis in 2001, we heard a lot about first responders and the role they play in saving lives in the face of emergencies. What happens, though, when those first responders are asked to save lives in the middle of a pandemic? On this episode, we talk with Ross Owens, a social scientist with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science & Technology Directorate.
This fall in the United States, many children will set foot in a classroom after having been away for months or even longer. On this episode, we explore students’ return to in-person school from a social and emotional perspective with Dr. Jenny Radesky, a pediatrician with the University of Michigan.
In the United States, employers are planning for people to return to workplaces, yet not everyone is ready to go and some of those who worked onsite throughout the pandemic are exhausted and not fully recovered from the trauma of the past year. On this episode, we talk with psychiatry professor Dr. Nadia Charguia of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill about her team's work to improve work life.
Addressing our plastic waste problem is important for the health of our planet. On this episode, we talk with two researchers who are trying to help, Mathieu Aguesse and Alexandre Truan of Schoolab and the University of California, Berkeley. They have worked with students and industry partners to generate innovative solutions to our plastic problems.
How can we assess the potential impact of policy innovations like requiring police to wear body cameras? David Yokum of Brown University has argued that experiments can help and he has spent his career -- working for the Obama administration, the mayor's office in Washington, D.C., and various universities -- demonstrating the utility of social science for policymaking. On this episode, we talk with Yokum about his work.
The recent gas outage in the Southeastern United States highlighted possibilities for alternatives to gas-powered vehicles. Electric cars have emerged as a prominent option. On this episode, we talk with Dr. John Graham of Indiana University, who served in the Office of Management and Budget under President George W. Bush and is author of a new book, The Global Rise of the Modern Plug-In Electric Vehicle: Innovation, Strategy and Public Policy.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been quite challenging for many people. On this episode, we talk with Megha Ramaswamy of the University of Kansas School of Medicine about the experiences of people who have had to face an additional burden during the pandemic: being involved with the criminal justice system.
Examples of imposters have been in the headlines recently but cultural references to the phenomenon might be more prevalent than you realize. On this episode, we talk with two editors of a new book entitled The Imposter as Social Theory: Thinking with Gatecrashers, Cheats and Charlatans. Steve Woolgar is professor emeritus at Linkoping University in Sweden. Else Vogel is a faculty member at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
We all have stories about living during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some people, though, also have stories to tell about doing research during this challenging time. On this episode, we talk with researchers Seronda Robinson and Brittany Baker about the Advanced Center for COVID-19 Related Disparities (ACCORD) at North Carolina Central University.
In many U.S. families, chores tend to fall on the shoulders of parents – and sometimes one parent – while children don’t contribute as much as a parent might like. Family life is not exactly the same around the world, however. In this episode, we talk with Lucia Alcala, a faculty member at California State University, Fullerton, who has studied cultural differences in family life.
For people who have the resources to participate, an important portion of life now is spent online on the Internet. Some of those online activities now include political expression and political behavior. On this episode, we talk with Deen Freelon of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill about what we know about online activism in its various forms.
Many of us have had opportunities to cry in recent months. Why do we shed tears at all, though? Why do people cry? On this episode, we talk with clinical psychologist Lauren Bylsma of the University of Pittsburgh about a common experience that we don't yet fully understand.
What if helping people with their rent could affect the COVID-19 pandemic? On this episode, we talk with Christopher Timmins, Kay Jowers, and Annabel Hu of Duke University about a new paper for the National Bureau of Economic Research.
Many of us have faced challenges during this past year as the world has coped with a pandemic. What do we know about how families cope and adapt in such situations? On this episode, we talk with Alyssa Witting of Brigham Young University about families in the midst of mass trauma.
We have been talking a lot about hope during these challenging days. What do we know about how hope actually operates? On this episode, we talk with psychologist Christian Waugh of Wake Forest University about the effects of anticipation on our lives.
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Despite pandemic complications, many people still have opportunities to look for roommates. The idea of living with a stranger offers metaphors for the larger processes of building communities and societies. What can we learn about the choices people in making in selecting roommates and the biases that people harbor? On this episode, we talk with Raj Ghosal of Elon University about his work on this topic.
The conveniences afforded by digital technology companies as we buy products and connect with others online in recent years are quite remarkable relative to the past. What might the costs for society be, though?
On this episode, we talk with Scott Timcke, author of Algorithms and the End of Politics: How Technology Shapes 21st-Century American Life for Bristol University Press.
Popular music both inspires and signals change. What can music lyrics tell us about shifts in popular culture? On this episode, we talk with Alex Kresovich, who has worked both as a RIAA-Platinum certified and Billboard #1 music producer and songwriter and as a researcher. He has assessed references to mental health in 20 years of rap lyrics.
The end of 2020 has brought glimmers of hope with news about COVID-19 vaccination clinical trials. Although many of us have heard about clinical trials, you might not know exactly how they work or what they produce. On this episode, we unpack the practice of clinical trials with Michele Andrasik of the University of Washington.
Public discourse sometimes refers to abstract ideas without concrete examples. Health care organizations like hospitals sometimes have to describe the community benefits that they offer, for example. What exactly is a community benefit, though? How might we track and explain those benefits? On this episode, we talk with Jamie Pina, an informatics researcher at RTI International, about how we can visualize data to facilitate public discussion of abstract concepts.
In the midst of epidemics and pandemics, we often can find examples of ways in which various aspects of everyday life can complicate prevention behavior. Researchers working on human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, prevention have long struggled with this realization. On this episode, we talk with Sarah Roberts of RTI International about ways in which intimate partner violence affects HIV prevention and incidence.
During recent months, you may have felt your own mental health could benefit from talking with a health care professional, and yet seeking health care at this time also has been challenging. On this episode, we talk with two researchers, Lissette Saavedra and Anna Yaros, about innovation and hope in the delivery of mental health care.
Some of our news headlines in recent months have focused on those we have lost as people have died during the pandemic. At the same time, during this same period many new parents have welcomed babies into the world. That raises important questions about the type of health care we are able to offer families. On this episode, we talk with two people who are helping to shape the future of maternal and birth care in North Carolina and around the United States: Dana Iglesias of the Chatham Hospital Maternity Care Center and the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and Ellen Chetwynd, a breastfeeding researcher, lactation consultant, and advocate.
Can we ask sociological questions about topic like craft beer production and consumption? Authors of a new book think so. On this episode, we talk with Nathaniel Chapman and David Brunsma about their book, Beer and Racism.
If you do an online search for the phrase “economic growth” you can find millions of website references. We sometimes take the notion of growth as a metric for society for granted. On this episode, we talk with Stevienna de Saille about her new co-authored book, Responsibility Beyond Growth: A Case for Responsible Stagnation.
Social scientists attempt to make sense of the lives that human beings live in the world. That often means trying to put individual lives into the larger context of the world beyond daily routines. On this episode of The Measure of Everyday Life, we talk with Jessica Eise of Purdue University, a researcher who confronts macro-level changes as they are affecting agricultural workers and others around the world. [Note: audio quality is compromised at times on this episode due to remote recording.]
Up until recently, women have faced important technology limitations in terms of options to increase safety for intercourse. That has changed recently, though. On this episode, we talk with Ariane van der Straten of the Women’s Global Health Imperative at RTI International and faculty member at the University of California, San Francisco, about women's perceptions of prevention technologies.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, visiting a doctor has been complicated. Some have turned to telehealth technology, which has existed for a while but has not been widespread historically. That might be about to change. On this episode, we talk with Saira Haque of RTI International about how telehealth might change the future of your interactions with healthcare.
During the pandemic, much of our collective attention has been focused on COVID-19. But people continue to face a wide range of health challenges. One of those has been the experience of sickle cell disease, a disease that affects many people and their families and yet which hasn’t always received widespread attention. On this episode, we bring together not only a researcher who can tell us about the experience of sickle cell disease but also two people whose lives have been directly touched by the condition. [Note: audio quality is compromised at times on this episode due to remote recording.]
Discussions about leadership in organizations have been going on for a long time and we also are starting to see some of those discussions come to the fruition. On this episode, we talk with Kurt Merriweather of The Diversity Movement and Walk West and Tamara Terry, a researcher at RTI International and chair of the new Inclusion and Equity Committee at the American Association for Public Opinion Research. [Note: audio quality is compromised at times on this episode due to remote recording.]
Our world is influenced constantly by forces operating on small scales beyond what we can see with our naked eyes. New advances in nanotechnology offer potential promise for the future as well as raising concerns for some. On this episode, we talk with Khara Grieger of North Carolina State University about her work on public understanding of nanotechnology innovations for food production. [Note: audio quality is compromised at times on this episode due to remote recording.]
The language we choose to use for survey questions can shape what we learn about what people think about social concerns. On this episode, we talk with Mandy Sha and Tim Gabel, editors of a new book for RTI Press called The Essential Role of Language in Survey Research.
The pandemic has highlighted how much many people depend on technology to talk with other people. What do we know about the effects of our situation? On this episode, we talk with University of Kansas communication scholar Jeff Hall about his new book, Relating Through Technology.
As the COVID-19 pandemic has unfolded, it has not been difficult to find news headlines noting striking disparities between demographic groups. Such headlines alone do not tell us the whole story, though. On this episode, researcher LaShawn Glasgow of RTI International discusses her new essay on health disparities for Health Affairs.
As the world experiences the COVID-19 pandemic, public health officials have worried about the potential for problematic substance use including alcohol. On this episode, we talk with researchers Carolina Barbosa, Alexander Cowell, and Bill Dowd of RTI International about a survey effort to understand patterns of alcohol consumption in recent months in the U.S. [Note: audio quality is compromised at times on this episode due to remote recording.]
How we talk about emerging infectious diseases holds important implications for our response and future prevention. On this episode, we talk with Priscilla Wald of Duke University about her book, Contagious: Cultures, Carriers, and the Outbreak Narrative, about her perspective on COVID-19 and our past efforts to talk about infectious disease at different moments in history.
What might an economic historian's work on Medieval England tell us about our current world? On this episode, we talk with Catherine Casson of the University of Manchester, co-author of Compassionate Capitalism. Her book that turns out to be quite relevant to considerations of corporate social responsibility today as we face challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and social inequities.
As we re-open some of our public spaces following closures due to COVID-19, now is a time to re-evaluate how we organize such spaces. In recent decades, some public schools have enacted dress codes with the goal of offering a uniform learning environment. In practice, however, some of these efforts might have unintended consequences. What do we know about the effects of what children wear? How can we balance societal interests against individual needs? On this episode, we talk with psychology researchers Bridget Pittman-Blackwell of North Carolina Central University and Erin Dobbins of RTI International on their collaboration with nonprofit organization WomenNC to explore dress codes and student experiences.
On this episode, we sit down with psychologist Marisa Franco to explore two aspects of our everyday lives that can bring some joy and solace, namely friendships and reminiscing about the past. Research suggests there are reasons why the loneliness many are experiencing has real consequences and suggests strategies to address unwanted loneliness.
As we look for answers as to how we might organize and reorganize society and our daily interactions, many people have pointed to the possibilities for us to get help from automation, sometimes in the form of robots. What do we know about how people think about and trust robots in general? On this episode, we talk with Tracy Sanders, a researcher with The MITRE Corporation and the author of numerous compelling papers on human-robot relationships.
In this moment of change, new technologies offer both promise and peril for many people. What if the car in which you were riding could park itself? For some people, that scenario is no longer hypothetical and is a real possibility. On this episode, we talk with Nathan Tenhundfeld of the University of Alabama in Huntsville about his work on human trust in automated tools.
If you own a mobile phone or a laptop computer, chances are good that you logged onto a social media platform very recently to check on the latest. What roles should social media be playing in our lives? On this episode, we talk with Philip Napoli of Duke University about his new book, “Social Media and the Public Interest.”
When you use computers in your everyday life, how often do you think about computer security? What does the concept of security even mean to researchers and computer professionals at this moment? What should everyone know about security and privacy? On this episode, we talk with engineer and book author Carey Parker about his work to educate people about computer security.
New prevention technologies can help prevent HIV transmission and are being tested in various parts of the world. In this episode, we talk with Ariana Katz and Elizabeth Montgomery of RTI International about their work in East and Southern Africa to support women’s acceptance and continued use of HIV prevention tools.
Each of us lives in a physical place with homes and gathering places and natural landmarks yet we also can be distracted by communication technology. How can noticing where you live affect your understanding of weather and science? On this episode, we talk with an innovative team of researchers and partners from the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance, RTI International, and schools in Maine, Mississippi, and Alabama who encourage students to notice local geography as they learn about science.
We can now save lives through organ implants but that possibility doesn’t benefit everyone equally. On this episode, we talk with Dr. Ebony Boulware of Duke University's School of Medicine about the ways that social and geographic dimensions of patients’ lives can constraint their medical options and interactions.
Most of us have individual preferences for the fonts we use for documents and signs, but do those preferences reflect anything other than an aesthetic sense? Could it be that other people are making judgments about us and our ideas based on the font choices we make?
On this episode, we talk with Katherine Haenschen of Virginia Tech, whose work sits at the intersection of digital information environments and political participation.
Human beings are social; we often cooperate with other people to survive. At the same time, you’ve also likely experienced a desire to be alone sometimes, perhaps to recharge from a busy day around other people. What do we really know about the relationship between social interaction and our well-being? On this episode, we talk with Jeffrey Hall of the University of Kansas about his research on relationships, social interaction, and perceptions of well being.
Young adults are the future of civic life in any society. At the same time, in the United States and elsewhere, formal political participation by youth has been far from universal in recent years. How could youth be invited and encouraged to participate? On this episode, we talk with Sunshine Hillygus, faculty member at Duke University and co-author of a new book called Making Young Voters: Converting Civic Attitudes into Civic Action.
Even in our quietest moments, we are not alone. Most spaces are inhabited by myriad microscopic creatures, many of whom are typically unseen to us. We talk about the implications of this microscopic world for the everyday life of humans with biologist and author Rob Dunn of North Carolina State University.
Are habits bad for your health? Author BJ Fogg argues habits are not necessarily a vice but also can be a tool for shaping our own positive behavior. We talk with him on this episode.
Popular culture in the U.S. and elsewhere in recent years suggests college as a rite of passage that often comes right after high school. Is higher education currently useful and achievable for all, though? On this episode, we talk with Paul Tough about his book, The Years that Matter Most: How College Makes Us or Breaks Us.
Our public silence about women's health can have implications for our collective health and well being. On this episode, we talk with Duke University's Libby Dotson about work at Duke to bring together medicine, engineering, and the arts for an innovative campaign to encourage more public consideration of women’s health.
Where you live and who you know and what services are available to you matters in shaping your health, which poses challenges to equity and well being. A new project team funded by Duke University's Bass Connections initiative and based at the Lincoln Community Health Center in Durham, NC, thinks student volunteers can help by facilitating resident ability to find available resources. In this episode, we talk with Janet Prvu Bettger and Sahil Sandhu of Duke University and Howard Eisenson of Lincoln Community Health Center.
Public health and medical researchers have spent considerable money and time assessing the negative consequences of high weight in people, yet relatively less time focused on the language we use to describe the condition. On this episode, we talk with Rebecca Puhl of the University of Connecticut about research on obesity framing, stigma, and interventions.
Underneath the surface of any ocean, there are changes happening, changes that reflect our own behaviors. Our lives are bound up with the health of oceans and yet people sometimes overlook the scope of the problem and possibilities for future solutions. On this episode, we talk with David Gill, a faculty member with Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment and an expert in ocean conservation.
For many people, loneliness is a private struggle and yet some researchers have argued that loneliness is widespread. On this episode, we talk with author Jillian Richardson, who has set out to do something concrete to address the plight of loneliness in contemporary America.
In the wake of weather-related disasters, organizations often set up relief tools and shelters for people. What do we know about what works? How can we improve our practice? In this episode, we talk with Laura DiGrande of RTI International about her research in this area.
When people endure trauma, how can we help them heal? Some researchers have argued that alternatives to the conventional medical practices used in places like the United States might help. On this episode we talk with James Gordon of The Center for Mind-Body Medicine and Georgetown Medical School about his book, The Transformation: Discovering Wholeness and Healing After Trauma.
Innovation can improve our work in many different areas of life. Sometimes it springs from old ideas. On this episode, we talk with social science researcher Lanae Hood of Meredith College. When trying to improve nutrition among food assistance program participants, she looked outside and brought together community partners in one North Carolina town by taking an old idea that offered a new way to affect people's diets.
Anyone who has spent time around a teenager knows rebellion and self-discovery are part of the experience. In our current world, though, many teenagers struggle with anxiety, depression, or confusion as well. Researchers are starting to learn about approaches that can help people of all ages, including teens. In this episode, we talk with Karen Bluth of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to talk about her innovative, evidence-based work to develop mental health tools for teenagers and their families.
Pamela Spain is a healthcare delivery expert who helps to translate research for a variety of audiences. She has done considerable work on cancer care. Recently, she was diagnosed with cancer. On this episode, we talk about her journey and its implications for future healthcare delivery research.
In many jurisdictions around the United States, a bureaucratic trail of sexual assault evidence kits has sat largely unprocessed and unresolved. A team of researchers is using social science to understand the scope and underlying causes for that delay. On this episode, we talk with Patricia Melton of RTI International about her team's interdisciplinary work to improve how we address sexual assault reports.
Many of us can remember someone calling us at home on a landline phone or stopping us in a parking lot with a pencil and paper to ask survey questions. Machine learning, artificial intelligence, and other new technologies are transforming the work of measuring public opinion, though, and we seem to be at the dawn of a new chapter of survey research. Trent Buskirk of Bowling Green State University has been part of that story and he shares his forecasts for the future on this episode.
Many news stories in recent years have referred to climate change and yet it isn’t yet clear how families are talking about the phenomenon or how that sort of discussion might matter for society. At least one team thinks that engagement with middle school students offers an important path forward. In this episode, we talk with Danielle Lawson of the College of Natural Resources at North Carolina State University.
Popular culture has tended to depict bureaucracy in a negative light but social science research has suggested some opportunities to model well-functioning organizations. In this episode, Leisha DeHart-Davis of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill talks about innovations in improving how bureaucracies function.
Social media platforms like Twitter offer snapshots of comments that people post publicly and so they offer an impression of popular sentiment but not the whole story in terms of public opinion. How are journalists using such tools in their own reporting? On this episode, we talk with Shannon McGregor of the University of Utah about her research on journalists and social media.
Tools available for employers to monitor employee performance have evolved in recent decades. On this episode, we talk about employer surveillance from the perspective of employees with Dr. Julianne Payne of RTI International, a sociologist who studies workplaces.
We often think of popular music as the product of a single person or group. What if we understood music to be a much more collaborative effort than that? On this episode we talk with Thomas Brothers, professor of music at Duke University, about his latest book, Help!: The Beatles, Duke Ellington, and the Magic of Collaboration.
What should we teach our children in school about values? In this episode, we talk with Ian MacMullen. He teaches at Duke University and is author of multiple books including Civics Beyond Critics: Character Education in a Liberal Democracy.
This episode features student-produced stories from the Duke University Social Science Radio Workshop. All of the stories highlight aspects of student life.
Does being a parent affect your political outlook? On this episode, we discuss work by Laurel Elder of Hartwick College and Steven Greene of North Carolina State University that sheds light on this question.
People with low household income can face challenges in achieving energy efficiency that could ease some cost concerns. On this episode, we bring together university, commercial, and government perspectives to discuss what we can do about that challenge as we talk with Anne Tazewell of North Carolina State University, Daniel Kauffman of Enpira Inc., and Ron Townley of the Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments.
What happens when people see alcohol or tobacco or sex on TV or a movie screen? Does it matter if multiple behaviors are shown together for dramatic purposes? Amy Bleakley of the University of Pennsylvania answers such questions with her research and joins us on this episode.
This episode features student-produced stories from the Duke University Social Science Radio Workshop. All of the stories highlight language as a force in everyday life. We explore how we learn language, why our pronunciation matters, how we handle challenging language online, and ways in which the stories we tell about patient illness affect the care they receive.