Episodes – WHYY: Recent Episodes
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WHYY serves the community by contributing to the quality of life through education, information, entertainment and inspiration.
On this episode of On Stage at Curtis, Kylie Kreucher a vibrant soprano takes us on am adventure. As she continues to write her musical story, her passion shines through. She believes you must perform with vulnerability, passion, and joy to captivate the audience. She made her professional debut in the Summer of 2021. Under the tutelage of Julia Faulkner, Kylie is pursuing her master’s degree in Opera.
Harvey Finkle gives us a snapshot of his career transition from social worker to social justice photographer. See how a lesson in civic engagement led to New Jersey’s newest skatepark. WHYY’s Caitlin Corkery, the creator of Albie’s Elevator provides us with a look at season two. Learn how Guardian Nurses advocates for patients. At FRIEDA Cafe, break bread and build cultural and generational bonds.
The Phillies and Mets are playing for first place in the NL East on a hot weekend in Philadelphia. The Good Phight’s Joe Edinger talks about the match-up with Justin Klugh, as well as the ten-year anniversary of the White Towel game. Then, authors Derek Bain and John Racanelli drop by to discuss their book, “Hardball Retro’s Compendium of Baseball Video Games and Electronic Handhelds.”
Friends make us laugh, they have our back, we share memories and stories. Beyond that, scientists are learning that friendships are key in keeping us healthy and thriving. On this episode, we explore why researchers say our brains are wired for connection, and why making our friendships a priority is one of the key pillars of longevity.
Guy Pearce & Felicity Jones talk with Patrick Stoner about how an Oscar nominated film over 3 hours long was made for under 10 million dollars.
Next on “You Oughta Know,” visit the Fencing Academy of Phila., where beginners to Olympians train. Hit the road with ColorWheels mobile art studio. Meet the Curtis student behind a free event featuring Asian and AAPI artists. Discover the storied history of the SS United States. Learn about accessible gardening at Overbrook School for the Blind. Catch Patrick Stoner’s Flicks with Tom Hanks.
What’s it like to run an actual ground game in a battleground state like Pennsylvania? Thousands of door-knocking volunteers turned out for Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign, but voter turnout in Philly was lower than Democrats would have liked. A top Democrat says it’s too soon to diagnose what’s next for the Democratic Party, but more grassroots organizing will be part of the solution.
Avi talks with Brendan McPhillips, a veteran of five Democratic presidential campaigns, most recently serving as a senior adviser to the Harris for President Pennsylvania team.
Kae Lani and three guests sit down at the table to talk about an old-school diner in Fishtown serving breakfast with Philly attitude, a trendy and easy-going date night spot with a Mediterranean-inflected menu and a cheeky wine list, and a classic British pie and pasty shop with a wall of treats from across the pond. Come dish with us!
We look at the threats facing trees around the world, along with new efforts to save them — and help them survive and thrive.
We are joined by former Republican Pennsylvania Gov. Mark Schweiker and Democratic Montco Commissioner Neil Makeeja for this live event at the Indian Valley Public Library.
Author Oliver Burkeman on why it's time to settle for your imperfections and accept the messiness of life.
Jesse Eisenberg talks with Patrick Stoner about how he handled the triple responsibilities of director, writer & star of his fast paced comedy.
Painter Athena Scott’s winding path as an artist has brought her through many of Philly’s famous arts schools and institutions – Temple’s Tyler School of Art, the University of the Arts, PAFA, and more.
A trend has emerged over the past elections: Young voters are getting more conservative. We’ll ask Gen Z voters from Delaware County, Pennsylvania and Burlington County, N.J.
Next on You Oughta Know, learn how some Kensington students are preparing for bright futures in the skilled trades. Find out what parents should know about tween skin care. Get a sneak peek at the Art at Kings Oaks. Discover a South Philly bocce league that’s bringing people together. Meet the man behind KP’s Fine Meats. Catch Patrick Stoner’s Flicks with the children of the late Christoper Reeve.
Police generally aren’t trained to deal with mental health crises — and yet they constantly find themselves called on to intervene in these challenging situations, sometimes leading to disastrous results. On this episode, we explore efforts to change how law enforcement and health care work together.
Kae Lani and the guests are back at the table to talk pints, grits, and margs. Our guests try an easy-going neighborhood bar that’s pouring the perfect pint, a Merchantville soul food spot dishing out bottomless brunch and live jazz, and a family-run Mexican restaurant in Lindenwald, serving a mole recipe that’s been passed down over four generations. Can’t wait to dish with you!
Francis Ford Coppola, the Godfather of cinema, talks with Patrick Stoner about his vision of hope in modern life with his complicated fable Megalopolis & his legacy.
In this Studio 2 extra, Low Cut Connie front man Adam Weiner talks about his new film, Art Dealers, which follows the Philly-based cult favorite band beyond their music.
Once the site of America’s worst nuclear accident, Three Mile Island may get new life as a power source for Microsoft data centers. Is it key to our green energy future?
Next on You Oughta Know, find out how a nonprofit is growing marginalized children and families into greatness. Get a pediatrician’s take on hot topics for the new school year. Get messy and make art at Paint Ground. Meet an artist who finally turned her passion into a career. Visit a distillery that’s cultivating a new era in spirits. Catch Patrick Stoner’s Flicks segment on His Three Daughters.
With cardiac emergencies, every second counts. We look at the latest innovations saving patients and their hearts.
The future of the filibuster is in the news … again. Vice President Kamala Harris said in an interview this week that, if elected, she would support abolishing the Senate filibuster to fast-track abortion rights legislation. In response, West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin said he would not endorse Harris and called the filibuster the “holy grail of democracy.” This clash highlights a critical question: should the filibuster be preserved, or should it be eliminated? Our guests are Caroline Fredrickson, Senior Fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice, and Terry Tracy, CEO of Broad and Liberty.
Dr. Francis Collins has had quite a career. He’s a physician and geneticist who was director of the International Human Genome Project. It successfully sequenced all three billion letters of our DNA, leading to many medical breakthroughs. He also served as director of the National Institutes of Health under three presidents, from Obama to Biden, until his retirement in 2021.
Now he’s worried about how the divisiveness in the country, driven largely by our politics, is warping our thinking, driven by false information that fuels hatred and mistrust. He believes, though, that all is not lost. His new book, The Road to Wisdom, is his blueprint for finding common ground. He joins us to describe how valuing truth, science, faith and trust are not incompatible and why wisdom involves experience, common sense, insight and morality.
Do you still watch The Cosby Show, or listen to R. Kelly, or do you change the channel and edit your playlist in disgust? What responsibility do we have as consumers?
The adult children of Hollywood’s Superman talk with Patrick Stoner about his heroic challenge of his devastating injury & the help it gives others.
Cooling inflation hasn’t translated to lower prices on store shelves. We’ll look at how sticker-shock over grocery costs is having an impact on consumers and voters.
On Episode 868 of Hittin’ Season, host John Stolnis of The Good Phight and BillyPenn.com recaps the Phillies’ 6-2 win over the Cubs for their first NL East title since 2011. How did they get here and what’s ahead for this year’s #RedOctober?
Social media has turned Bali’s shrines and temples into a playground for disrespectful tourists, but residents are fighting to preserve the island’s integrity.
Angela Graves is best known for two things: her delicious cooking and her cheerful demeanor. She utilizes those talents to help people in need.
Next on You Oughta Know, climb the Rocky steps repeatedly for a Legacy of Hope fundraiser. Find out how Attic Youth Center is helping LGBTQ youth. Discover an after-school STEM career program for underserved girls. Learn about a new WHYY podcast inspired by Abbott Elementary. Experience life in another part of the country through a student exchange program. Hit the road in the Weinermobile.
Baby Evie has always been Michaela Prell’s favorite doll. Soft, minimalist, gender neutral, Baby Evie slept in Michaela’s bed until it was time to go to college and the doll ended up in the bottom of a closet. A Victorian doll in the Atwater Kent collection called Flora McFlimsey — who comes with an extensive wardrobe — reminded Michaela of Baby Evie, and the difficulities of preservation.
Stress, exhaustion and negativity can lead to workplace burnout. If changing jobs isn't in the cards, can we inoculate ourselves from burning out at work?
Zoologist Bill Schutt says teeth are power tools for survival. He joins us to talk about his new book “Bite.”
A partnership between the Mexican government and Airbnb forces generations of families out of the most desirable neighborhoods in Mexico City.
Human beings are built for sleep. It’s a normal, natural process and yet many of us have a troubled relationship with it. How can we make peace with sleep? And what are the best ways to get a good night’s rest?
We’ll dive into the fascinating physiology of sleep and explore what our brains and bodies are doing during these “off” hours. We’ll also discuss how sleep affects our memories and mood, how our daily activities affect our sleep cycles and what we can do to get restorative shut eye. Our guests are Duke University sleep medicine specialist Jade Wu, author of Hello Sleep, and Penn Medicine sleep specialist Indira Gurubhagavatula.
On this episode, we take a look at some of the hidden forces that shape our behaviors and decisions.
Dr. Ala Stanford, founder of the Black Doctors Covid-19 Consortium which vaccinated tens of thousands of Philadelphians during the pandemic, joined Cherri Gregg before a live audience at the Parkway Central Free Library last week. We listen to their conversation about Stanford’s North Philly childhood, the barriers she broke to become a pediatric surgeon, and her new memoir, Take Care of Them Like My Own. Plus, actor Ed Helms talks about his podcast SNAFU, about the 1971 burglary of the FBI office in Media, which exposed the government’s mass surveillance program.
Ty won’t accept help on his latest masterpiece – a painting of a duck that’s turning out to be kind of a bummer. Frustrated with each other, Freddie leaves on an extended hot dog break, while Ty plays host to Grandma Tilly’s friends Brian and Bren of PHL Collective. They show Ty how they work together to design video games, a collaborative process that requires everyone to cooperate to achieve success. Ty recognizes that masterpieces aren’t always created by one person and agrees to let his younger cousin lend a hand.
Students at over 60 Philly public schools were dismissed early today because of the heat. In the city’s aging schools, modern cooling systems aren’t a given. But maybe someday soon they will be. A historic lawsuit prompted more than a billion dollars in state funding. that is coming their way. The question now: Will this money make a difference for kids? Will this new influx of school funding in Pennsylvania mean better outcomes for students?
Gary Oldman talks with Patrick Stoner about playing his popular eccentric character & the older actor who is his role model.
As a kid, Martha Cooney was jealous that her brother delivered newspapers. Martha loved the newspaper, especially the sports section. She never became a delivery person, but a wagon for the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin reminded her of a job she had in her 20s. Martha had jumped at the chance to deliver phonebooks, thinking it would be similar to newspapers. Great, she thought, a valuable community job. How hard could it be?
More than a year in the works, the city of Philadelphia just released a series of reports it commissioned on the impact of the 76ers proposal to build a new stadium in Center City.
The four independent studies analyze the economics and design of the plan, as well as effects on traffic and neighboring communities, specifically Chinatown.
The reports find that the proposed arena would provide hundreds of millions in tax revenue to the city, state and school district. It also says the project may put stress on Chinatown and displace residents. Is that tradeoff worth it? Avi and Cherri lead a panel of guests to hash through what the consultants see as the pros and cons of the potential new arena.
War can have a huge impact on how and what we eat. From chicory coffee, to Spam, to M&M’s, many beloved ingredients, snacks, and dishes have come about due to war. And some wartime cooking tips might still be useful today!
Delishtory brings you a tasty exploration into our favorite food obsessions. It’s delicious, it’s history – it’s Delishtory!
Kae Lani Palmisano is an Emmy Award-Winning television host, food and travel writer, recipe developer and home cook who loves to explore the journey that food takes to get to the plate.
Because of inequities in passport and visa systems, Europeans and westerners can visit Africa with ease — but Africans themselves face hurdle after hurdle when trying to explore their own continent.
Remember summer nights in the 1980s? The rock bands? the bars? and the music scene in the Delaware Valley? The WHYY Rock of the Eighties special features John DeBella and three Philadelphia based musicians taking a look back. The guests are Jade Starling the lead singer of Pretty Poison, David Uosikkinen, drummer for the Hooters, and Studio 4’s Phil Nicolo, music producer.
What’s it like to buy a house these days? Interest rates are slowly decreasing, but inventory is pretty low, and with sky-high prices, first-time buyers have it rough. Now, new regulations for real estate agents are stirring up the market even more, leading to confusion for those hoping to own a home. Our guests are Mike Coleman, realtor and adjunct instructor at Temple University’s Real Estate Institute, and Kevin Gillen, a senior research fellow with Drexel University’s Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation.
Minha Kim, the breakout star of the award winning multi generation series, talks with Patrick Stoner about playing a World War II Korean under occupation.
A photo album found in a trash heap inspired memories of Cecily Alexandria’s grandfather, a WWII veteran, and the home her grandparents shared. The album offers a glimpse into the lives of multiple black soldiers, during duty and after their return to civilian life. Yet, none of the men in the album are identified. No names, no recent addresses, no next of kin. What work does it take to be remembered? And how do we avoid being forgottten when faced with the shroud of bigotry?
The last four weeks in American politics have unfolded dramatically for Kamala Harris and her party — recent polling shows the Democratic nominee ahead of, or in a virtual tie with, former President Trump in battleground states. From the bounce in polling numbers to an inescapable social media blitz and an influx of donations, Harris’ momentum is a fact. Can she maintain the excitement, or is it an anomaly that comes with her historic candidacy? With the Democratic National Convention underway and a debate on the horizon, we’ll look at what it might take for Harris to sustain voters’ enthusiasm. Our guests are Craig Snyder, director of Haley Voters for Harris, democratic campaign strategist Neil Oxman, and University of Pennsylvania historian and author Anthea Butler.
While other developed countries have invested in their rail systems, the U.S. has leaned into more individualistic ways of getting around. In this episode, we ride cross-country trains in America and China to feel the difference.
Next on You Oughta Know, a booming popcorn business provides new opportunities for neurodiverse adults. Uncover the truth about recycling plastic. Check out a nonprofit that recycles electronics and restores lives. Explore Fairmount Park after dark at a moonwalk and stargazing party. Follow in the footsteps of champions at Boxers’ Trail. Meet a New Jersey farmer and learn the secrets to his success.
What is the future of psychedelic research after the recent FDA decision to reject MDMA as a treatment for PTSD?
Summer travel is at its peak — people are flying, cruising and driving to far-flung locales. But some vacation hot spots are telling tourists they aren’t welcome. In Barcelona, for instance, locals are using water guns to ward off the constant throng of visitors. And in other cities, vacation rentals have displaced residents.
Studio 2 looks at the cultural, economic and environmental impact of travel with Tom Grahsler, executive producer of WHYY’s “Peak Travel” podcast and Elaine Glusac, Frugal Traveler columnist at the New York Times, as well as travelers from the Philadelphia region who speak to the great joys and benefits of exploring new lands and cultures.
Did you have a favorite stuffed animal or blanket when you were a kid? Do you still have it today? Childhood possessions are filled with memories and meaning so we hold on to them for many years.
In this hour we explore the uniquely human behavior of owning things and why we become attached to our belongings. We’ll look at how they connect us with a person or experience and become part of our identity. And we’ll talk about the downsides of having too many possessions – there are more than 50,000 self-storage facilities in the country filled with our overflow. Our guest is psychologist Bruce Hood author of Possessed: Why We Want More Than We Need.
Jean Reno, the celebrated French actor, talks with Patrick Stoner about bringing the emotional true story of a friendship that knew no bounds & touched everyone.
A turnstile from Philly’s storied Veteran’s Stadium in the Atwater Kent collection reminded Nick Kupsey of how his father’s first job out of college was working at The Vet. Nick has a deep understanding of what it means to be a sports fan in the City of Brother Love: the pain and glory, the joy and suffering, and the way all of our teams weave themselves into the fabric of the city. And for Nick, all of these feelings are an intimate part of his family story and what it means to be a Philadelphian.
Social media has changed the game when it comes to how we learn about the world. Traditional newsrooms with trained journalists now compete for attention with influencers who hustle to develop their own independent clout. Has this been a net positive or negative for those seeking truth? And what does it mean for political coverage as we get closer to the 2024 election?
WHYY’s Studio 2 spoke with two Philly-based influencers on different sides of the political aisle: Kory Aversa, a publicist and content creator who was invited to cover the Democratic National Convention next week; and Michael Coyle, whose social media accounts of street life in Kensington earned him a speaking slot last month at the Republican National Convention. Joining them with analysis is Heather LaMarre, chair of the department of Communication and Social Influence within the Klein College of Media and Communication at Temple University.
Venice has long been considered the poster child for overtourism in Europe. As ever-growing waves of tourists aboard boats and cruise ships jeopardize the delicate city, residents hope a new entry fee will offer relief.
Cookies have a long history that goes back way further than you may think! From gingerbread to your favorite Girl Scout cookie, Kae Lani shares the backstory of some beloved treats.
Delishtory brings you a tasty exploration into our favorite food obsessions. It’s delicious, it’s history – it’s Delishtory!
Next on You Oughta Know, check out Camden County’s free Summer Park Concert series. Meet the Spin Doctors and hear what they’ve been up to in the studio. Find out how to live more with less with the “Downsizing Designer.” Discover clues to the past from a famous shipwreck. Visit a local mushroom farm that harvests diverse varieties year-round. See Patrick Stoner’s Flicks featuring Kevin Costner.
Stories about the stuff we collect and what happens to it after we’re gone. Neil Benson was a photographer and salvage artist who believed that “trash is simply a failure of imagination.” When he died in 2023, Benson left behind a house filled floor-to-ceiling with his collections of typewriters, Hawaiian shirts and a jacket covered with hundreds of buttons. That jacket reminded storyteller Neil Bardhan of his father’s collection of political campaign buttons and childhood trips to antique stores and a motel-room flea market.
Dr. Arik Kershenbaum decodes howls, whistles, squeals, grunts and other sounds of the wild.
Southeastern Pennsylvania’s transit authority, also known as SEPTA, is facing budget cuts. But what does that mean for riders? Less frequent train and bus rides? Less reliability due to staff shortages? We talk the SEPTA’s CEO and General Manager Leslie Richards. We also talk about safety as crime in the city decreases, fare evasion, new trains, and the cleanliness and accessibility of SEPTA stations.
Kamala Harris is set to announce her pick for vice president, just hours before her campaign stop in Philadelphia Tuesday evening. Will it be Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, a seasoned politician with strong ties to the military? Or perhaps Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a popular figure known for his progressive policies? Could it even be our very own Governor Josh Shapiro, a rising star in the Democratic party? We’ll discuss the potential VP picks and their implications for the campaign with our guests: Solomon Jones, Philadelphia Inquirer columnist and WURD host, Andy Reilly who serves as the Republican National Committeeman for Pennsylvania and Torey Van Oot, reporter for Axios Minnesota.
Generally speaking, when we use the word intelligent we are referring to IQ or cognitive strengths. That’s the ability to process and understand information and use it to generate new knowledge.
But what about EQ or emotional intelligence? That’s the ability to manage and express one’s feelings and recognize feelings in others. It turns out there are different kinds of intelligence.
On The Connection this week we talk about what it takes to recognize, understand, express and regulate your emotional life. We’ll look at how it connects you with yourself and others and how we can use it to make a better world.
Our guest Marc Brackett says that being an “emotional scientist” is a good place to start. Brackett is a psychologist and the founding director of the Center for Emotional Intelligence at Yale University. He’s the author of Permission to Feel: Unlocking the Power of Emotions to Help our Kids, Our Selves and Our Society.
Next on You Oughta Know, find out how (re)FOCUS is celebrating the 50th anniversary of a groundbreaking citywide festival recognizing women artists. Learn how Brandywine Workshop shares global perspectives through art. See how The Artfront Partnership brings beauty to vacant spaces. Explore art and feminism, including evolving works by Mary Cassat, at the Phila. Museum of Art.
We can all use an assist every now and then — but asking for it can be tough. We hear stories about the struggles of asking for help.
Amy Tan discovers the joys backyard birding, Philadelphia Inquirer food critic Craig LaBan, and the surprising history behind the Oxford English Dictionary.
When you think of Italian food, you probably think about pizza, bruschetta, or spaghetti. But tomatoes aren’t native to Italy. So where do these associations come from? And how these staple Italian dishes come to be?
Delishtory brings you a tasty exploration into our favorite food obsessions. It’s delicious, it’s history – it’s Delishtory!
Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the U.S.A.: Released in 1984 but dominating 1985 as the best-selling album, it sparked misinterpretations as a patriotic anthem during the Reagan reelection campaign. The lyrics actually portray a disillusioned Vietnam veteran’s experience of feeling abandoned by his country. Springsteen’s nuanced approach challenges perceptions, revealing his discomfort with the commercial success that led to a loss of control. We talk with Steven Hyden, author of the book There Was Nothing You Could Do: Bruce Springsteen’s “Born In The U.S.A.” and the End of the Heartland.
Vinyl sales have defied the notion of being a relic of the past, with 2023 sales surpassing those of the 1990s and outpacing CD sales. Surprisingly, half of vinyl buyers view their purchases as merchandise rather than for listening purposes. The music industry is undergoing rapid changes, from the rise of streaming services to the impact of pandemic-related concert cancellations and the emergence of hologram concerts. And, advancements like AI enable the release of new music from long-lost stars. We talk about the economics of music with Jeff Apruzzese, program director of the music industry program at Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design at Drexel University. Also with us will be Brielle Kimmins, also known as April Fool Child, who started her career as a singer by rejecting a major label and deciding to produce her music independently. The Philly artist now studies music business law at Berklee College of Music.
It’s jazz appreciation month and we’ve asked acclaimed trumpeter Terell Stafford to stop by with his horn to play and talk about music and jazz improvisation. Stafford is a Grammy-winning artist who has played with many jazz greats over the years. He now directs jazz studies at Temple University. Stafford joins us to talk about how he fell in love with the music and the jazz resurgence he’s seen since the pandemic.
The Olympics bring a burst of excitement to host cities, but in places like Rio de Janeiro, Sochi, and Atlanta, they often leave behind a legacy of displacement, worker exploitation, and blighted infrastructure. In Paris, will the 2024 games be any different?
Just a whiff can take you back to a moment in time. Smells have a powerful hold on our memories and emotions. Of course, this hasn’t escaped marketers using signature scents to connect us to brands — everything from electronics to clothing. This hour, the psychological science of smell and where our noses lead us with Brown University neuroscientist Rachel Herz.
Would you give your kidney to a stranger? What if you could get a $50,000 tax credit for it? That’s just one proposal for upping organ donation in the US, where hundreds of people die every month while waiting on an ever-growing transplant list. We debate over paying organ donors and the ethical questions that could arise with Arthur L. Caplan, professor of medical ethics at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine, Dr. Gregory Hess, physician and kidney transplant recipient, and Lauren Sheppard who donated her kidney to a stranger a decade ago.
Next on You Oughta Know, meet a furniture-making duo whose creations combine function and art. Visit the whimsical and witchy Lunar Faire. Learn how a cosmetic chemist helps clients have healthier skin and hear her tips for protecting summer skin naturally. Find out how the historic Nile Swim Club continues to promote inclusion and education. Get the scoop on Milk Jawn’s popular and unusual flavors.
We take a deep dive into the secret lives of sharks — from their history, to the threats they face, to what makes them special.
An exclusive interview with Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker. She joins us to talk about her first six months in office, her biggest accomplishments and what remains at the top of her to-do list. We’ll talk about gun violence in the city, her “cleaner, greener, safer” initiative, and the pushback on her return-to-work mandate for city workers. Plus, we hear how she plans to make Philly streets safer for pedestrians and bikes, and her thoughts on the likely presidential nominee Kamala Harris. Don’t miss your opportunity to pose your questions on air; call us at 215-351-0525 or email studio2@whyy.org.
The 2024 Republican presidential ticket is officially set: Donald Trump and J.D. Vance. But, who is Trump’s running mate, and what does he stand for? The 39-year-old Ohio senator, elected in 2023, leans heavily on his Appalachian roots. We talk about his political background, ideologies, and vision for the country. And we want to hear from you: What are your thoughts on J.D. Vance? Email studio2@whyy.org.
In 1900, the average person could expect to live until their 47th birthday. By 2000, life expectancy was 77 years, an extraordinary gain of 30 years over the course of a century! Using those same metrics, many children today will live to be 100.
So now that more people are living longer, is it time to rethink the aging process? What do we do with those extra years, how do we rebalance work, education and family life and create quality out of quantity?
There are challenges that come with getting older, most notably loss and there are opportunities for growth. There are also baked-in prejudices about old people and there’s a premium, especially in America, on looking young. We’ll talk about all that with our guests psychologist Laura Carstensen, founding director of the Stanford Center on Longevity and physician Lisa Wilke, Chief of Geriatric Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.
There’s nothing more retro than a jello salad, right? Well the history of gelatin, aspics, and those brightly colored “salads” goes back way further than you might think!
Delishtory brings you a tasty exploration into our favorite food obsessions. It’s delicious, it’s history – it’s Delishtory!
Eric Roberts, the 4th most prolific actor in film history, talks with Patrick Stoner about loving working with other actors in as many projects as possible.
Anjoli Santiago has always had a conflicted relationship with religion. Church made her feel like she belonged… until it didn’t. Now, she’s seeking a new spirituality that’s inspired by water. So she’s blown away by an image that seems to bring her two spiritualities together: a church, floating on the Delaware River.
Since the attempted assassination of former President Trump, conspiracy theories have been running rampant, fueled by the constant stream of speculation on social media. In a time where information is readily available at our fingertips, it can be easy to get caught up in outlandish thinking. But why do we fall victim to these theories? Perhaps it is due to a desire for answers and explanations in uncertain times, or a need to feel like we have inside knowledge that others do not. Have you ever found yourself believing in conspiracy theories before? We talk with University of Delaware professor Dannagal G. Young and Brendan Nyhan, professor of government at Dartmouth College.
Travel can do amazing things: broaden horizons, build relationships, and rejuvenate the soul. But often, those experiences come at a cost.
This is Peak Travel, a new podcast from WHYY about how travel shapes communities in hot-spots around the world. We’ll share the wonder that comes with exploring new places, as well as the harm that our worst travel habits can cause. And we’ll try to figure out how we can do it better.
Each episode transports you to a new destination. You’ll meet the people who call that place home, hear their stories, and come to understand how tourism has changed their everyday lives. Supported by rich, on-location sound from around the world, Peak Travel unpacks the $1.9 trillion travel industry and its impact on people and the planet.
The attempted assassination of former President Trump has shaken the country. How has this affected your outlook on the current state of our democratic process?
Next on You Oughta Know, hit the road with us to explore Delaware beaches and surrounding towns. Dive Into history at the Rehoboth Beach Museum. Discover prehistoric creatures in the bay. Choose your adventure at Trap Pond. Find out why Ft. Miles is a must-see historic site. Catch pickleball fever in Millville. Let Dewey Beach Picnic Co. plan the perfect seaside gathering. Rock the Docks in Lewes.
On this episode, we dive into Earth’s history with an exploration of all things geologic, from active volcanoes to the rock record.
The Lakers drafted Bronny James, the same team his superstar dad plays on. And plenty of celebrity kids make it to the silver screen. We see nepo babies in entertainment, sports, business, and politics. And it’s a bad thing, right? It keeps power in the hands of the powerful. It limits opportunity. It makes a mockery of meritocracy. But maybe there’s a case for giving your kids a leg up. Might there be an economic and societal upside to keeping business in the family? We’ll discuss it with Alice Leppert, professor of communication and media studies at Ursinus College, Allison Schrager, senior columnist at the Manhattan Institute and a Bloomberg Opinion columnist, and Matthew Staiger, research scientist at Harvard University’s Opportunity Insights.
Journalist and filmmaker Sebastian Junger almost died. His new book explores coming his own mortality and what might come after death.
Guy Pearce talks with Patrick Stoner about the power of playing a character who speaks little but has powerful long speeches at dramatic moments.
Growing up, Jamie J’s house had a radio in every room. Music brought the family together. Now she’s the culture keeper for her family, taking care of the collection of antique radios. They remind her a lot of the radios from the Atwater Kent collection.
Offshore wind farms are back on the table for New Jersey and now look likely for Delaware, too. Shell plans to build turbines just off the shore in Atlantic City. In Delaware, a bill is on the Governor’s desk awaiting signage. But while many residents welcome the benefits of wind-generated clean energy, others living along the coast have raised concerns about the environmental impact and how turbines will spoil ocean views. We ask: Are offshore wind farms good for our region?
Middle schoolers in Chester County made national headlines for creating TikTok accounts impersonating their teachers. They posted racist, homophobic, and sexually explicit content — things that could ruin a teacher’s reputation and career. This incident has raised concerns about the influence of social media on middle schoolers’ behavior. Many believe that the anonymity and immediacy of platforms like TikTok can embolden teenagers to act callously. Some argue that parents and schools bear some responsibility for failing to monitor and educate teens on appropriate online behavior.
This episode: is social media making kids meaner? And who should be held responsible? We talk with New York Times technology reporter Natasha Singer, who broke the story, and Great Valley School District Superintendent Dr. Daniel Goffredo. We’ll also talk with University of Pennsylvania neurologist Frances Jensen about what social media does to the teenage brain.
When Pixar’s Inside Out opened in movie theaters almost a decade ago, viewers were introduced to 11-year-old Riley and the emotions that defined her young life…joy, sadness, anger, fear and disgust, each drawn as a different character.
In Inside Out 2, Riley is 13 and she’s dealing with the raging emotions that come with PUBERTY!….embarrassment, envy, ennui and most notably anxiety…a big-mouthed, bug-eyed, character with wild, carrot top hair.
This week on The Connection…understanding the important role that all emotions, including anxiety, play throughout our lives. Our guests were consultants on the film. Psychologist Dacher Keltner is co-director of the Greater Good Science Center at University of California, Berkeley. His most recent book is titled Awe. Psychologist Lisa Damour specializes in treating adolescents. Her most recent book is The Emotional Lives of Teenagers
Does the Democratic party need a new nominee? A growing chorus of pundits are calling on President Joe Biden to step aside. But many democrats have rallied behind him.
Jude Law & Alicia Vikander talk with Patrick Stoner about playing the Henry VIII & Katherine Parr relationship in Tudor England with a fresh approach.
Introducing Philadelphia Revealed, a new podcast from WHYY. In every episode you’ll learn about an object in the Atwater Kent Collection and hear a story inspired by it from a First Person Arts storyteller.
Lost bags, flight delays and cancellations, rowdy flyers – going on an airplane can be a hassle. We’ll tackle the frustrations of modern air travel and more.
Americans love pretzels, consuming around 181 million every year. But where do pretzels come from? Can we really credit one country with this tasty invention? Also, why do Philly pretzels look like that? Kae Lani has answers!
Delishtory brings you a tasty exploration into our favorite food obsessions. It’s delicious, it’s history – it’s Delishtory!
Next on You Oughta Know, visit Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge and find out how they’re educating next gen environmentalists. Discover the beauty of Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve. Check out the DIY woodworking workshops at Board & Brush. Meet a street photographer who joyfully captures life on South Street. Learn how Philadelphia Young Pianists’ Academy is helping students achieve their dreams.
Launched in a garage 30 years ago, Amazon has expanded from its humble beginnings to a global powerhouse. On this episode, we’ll explore the innovations fueling its growth.
Ahead of Thursday’s highly anticipated CNN presidential debate, we’ll talk about what’s at stake for Joe Biden and Donald Trump and how the candidates might perform on stage.
The SS United States in South Philly issues an SOS for a new home by September. After a dispute, stewards have 90 days to find a berth or face possible scrapping. We talk with Susan Gibbs, president and co-founder of the SS United States Conservancy and granddaughter of William Francis Gibbs, the ships’ designer.
The Supreme Court is nearing the end of its session but many rulings are still outstanding. There are cases involving presidential immunity, the January 6th rioters, emergency room abortions, homeless encampments, social media moderation and Steve Bannon’s prison time. We talk about new rulings, the remaining cases and the ethical controversies that have dogged this court. We’re joined by Drexel University Kline School of Law professor David Cohen.
Jesse Krimes navigated the carceral system from a young age, ultimately landing in federal prison due to drug-related charges shortly after earning an art degree from college. While incarcerated, he discovered that despite the system’s harsh and identity-stripping nature, it couldn’t suppress his innate creativity. Krimes recounts forging connections with fellow inmates, finding solace and restoration through his artwork, and reflecting on the system’s shortcomings in his journey.
Artist Jesse Krimes in front of his artwork “Rikers Quilt” at The Philadelphia Museum of Art.Closeup of the artwork “Rikers Quilt” by Jesse Krimes.
Kevin Costner talks with Patrick Stoner about making an unprecedented 4 part western divided into 4 chapters, much like a novel.
We talk to NPR host Peter Sagal before a live taping of Wait Wait in Philly. And, a new study found monkeys in PR became kinder and more cooperative after Hurricane Maria.
Next on You Oughta Know, Journey in Oz with Arts without Boundaries. Find out how Philly’s Performance Garage helps dancers grow their dreams. Learn how to breathe better with Empowered Wellness. Try a new sport at Diamond State Curling Club. Get new ideas for fun nights out nearby. Meet the stars of Bodkin with Patrick Stoner on Flicks. Feast on the freshest catch with Crab & Claw.
When we see a familiar face, a flood of information comes rushing in. It’s an extremely important skill that we often take for granted. We explore the spectrum of face recognition.
A heat wave is coming to our region with temperatures expected to reach triple digits by the end of the week. Why heat is deadly? And how can we cool down our cities?
Daniel Francis & Victor Alli talk with Patrick Stoner about Part 2 secrecy & multi ethnic casting.
Most of us try to be honest but sometimes we don’t tell the truth.
Psychologists Christian Hart and Drew Curtis have made researching lying their life’s work. They found that the average person tells about one lie a day, while chronic liars fib ten times a day. Their latest book is titled Big Liars.
On this episode, we delve into the psychology of deceit, what we are learning about people who lie as a way of life and how to be on the look out for signs of lying.
Hart and Curtis found that the most successful politicians are the ones who bend the truth. The more honest ones generally don’t get re-elected. And since we are headed into what promises to be a political season filled with mis and disinformation, it’s going to be vital knowing how to tell the difference between what’s false and what’s true.
CNN analyst Bakari Sellers joined us to talk about his new book, “The Moment: Thoughts on the Race Reckoning That Wasn’t and How We All Can Move Forward Now.”
Music superstar Jay-Z has given a celebrity jolt to Pennsylvania’s school-voucher debate. Should the government cover private school costs for kids in low-performing schools?
Invasive species can have major impacts on habitats and ecosystems, but how do they redefine the food we eat? Whether it’s whiskey made with green crabs, or sausage made from feral hogs, invasive species are making their way into kitchens across the country.
Want to learn more about the invasive species impacting your local community? Check out:
https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/subject/lists#statelist
More info on aquatic invasive species:
https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/aquatic
More info on terrestrial invasive species:
https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/terrestrial
Next on You Oughta Know, get a sneak peek at the Clifford Brown Jazz Fest. Find out how a delivery service is dashing to help seniors facing food insecurity. Learn how the WOW Center is helping women thrive. Discover a Camden nonprofit that’s rebuilding homes and revitalizing communities. Met an artist who handcrafts dolls to honor Black women and girls. Sample the flavor fusion of Korea Taqueria.
Ecologist Douglas Tallamy talks about an approach to conservation that starts with letting your yard grow wild with native plants to save wildlife in ‘Nature’s Best Hope.’
Potatoes are grown in 125 countries and are eaten by over a billion people worldwide, but where do they come from? Kae Lani shares the story of the potato’s migration and discusses how new theories shape our understanding of Polynesian contact with the starchy root vegetable.
Delishtory brings you a tasty exploration into our favorite food obsessions. It’s delicious, it’s history – it’s Delishtory!
Delishtory is a production of WHYY.
The banana is the most popular fruit in the world, but how did that come to be? From its early days as a seeded fruit in New Guinea to the Banana Republics of the 1900’s, the banana has had a long and often tumultuous journey to global domination.
Delishtory brings you a tasty exploration into our favorite food obsessions. It’s delicious, it’s history – it’s Delishtory!
Delishtory is a production of WHYY.
We look at the DIY medicine movement, and what’s prompting a growing number of patients to experiment with treatments on their own.
Are you good at giving advice? We’re talking to R. Eric Thomas who will have to answer people’s questions in his new national advice column.
The century-old organization faces big problems and big changes – from financial struggles caused by a child-abuse scandal to more inclusive membership policies.
Tony Hale talks with Patrick Stoner about playing Fear in the sequel to the popular first film & his appreciation for its understanding of suppressed emotions in all of us.
Gov. Shapiro just signed a new law cracking down on distracted driving. And Mayor Parker wants more speed cameras to slow Philly drivers. But would it really help save lives?
Competent. Capable. Strong. Stoic. Provider. Protector. Leader. Patriarch. These are the kinds of words that we’ve long associated with masculinity and manhood — but in recent decades, ideas of what it means to be a man have undergone drastic changes.
As women have gained ground in education and careers, politics and culture, the role of men has shifted. They’re no longer automatically assumed to be the main breadwinners, the decision-makers or leaders. And a lot of the “masculine” attributes that were once considered virtues — decisiveness, stoicism, paternalism — are now sometimes seen as problematic. In other words, the old script for what it means to be a man has been torn up. But some experts say that script has not really been replaced, leading many men and boys to feel destabilized and lost.
On this episode, we explore how our ideas of masculinity are changing — why there seems to be a void of positive messages, the lure of the manosphere, and how men are reinventing and re-envisioning their roles. Also — a look at how being more deeply involved in caring for babies and children is affecting men’s brains.
ALSO HEARD:
- We talk with Richard Reeves, president of the American Institute for Boys and Men, about the range of challenges facing “the modern male,” how “toxic masculinity” went from an obscure academic term to a pop culture insult, why so many boys are struggling in the classroom, and more. His book is “Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male is Struggling, Why it Matters, and What to do About It.”
- Masculinity can feel like a firm set of rules that boys have to learn. But for the past few years, a group of men in Philadelphia have been meeting to rethink those rules, come up with ones they think are healthier, and become better role models. Alan Yu reports on the Masculinity Action Project.
- Evolutionary anthropologist and primatologist Sarah Blaffer Hrdy made her name with landmark research on how evolution has shaped female behavior. But recently, her interests have shifted in an unexpected direction — fatherhood. We talk with Hrdy about how she’s seen fathers’ roles change since her childhood in 1950s Texas, and what scientists have observed about the biological changes in men who are taking an active role as parents. Her book is “Father Time: A Natural History of Men and Babies.”
A real estate firm is proposing a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in University City. CSC, self-described as one of Mexico’s largest landlords, is taking on the project.
There are hundreds of unsolved murders in Philadelphia, in part because homicide witnesses are often prevented from sharing information with police through intimidation and threats of violence. This ‘code of silence’ is difficult to break, especially for youth pulled into gang violence. Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Ellie Rushing shares a story of one young man who broke the code and all the hurdles that stand in the way of justice for deadly shootings.
From greasy mushroom cheesesteaks to hotdogs made from carrots, there’s something vegan on the menu to attract even the most skeptical meat eaters. With the rise in substitutes, it’s easier to go vegan, but are you missing out on taste and nutrition? We talk with Marissa Cloutier, professor at the College of Public Health at Temple University, about the personal and environmental impact of a plant-based diet. And, vegan chef Rachel Klein, founder of Ms. Rachel’s Pantry, who beat food-network chef Bobby Flay in a cooking competition when she prepared a vegan Philly Cheesesteak.
Whether or not you are a poet or poetry reader, this hour will open your eyes to the power of poetry.
We’ll explore why we need poetry and how it can connect us, heal us and help us pay attention to people and experiences outside of ourselves.
We’re joined by three poets. Patrick Rosal teaches creative writing at Rutgers-Camden and his latest book is The Last Thing. M. Nzadi Keita teaches creative writing at Ursinus College and her new book is Migration Letters. Trapeta Mayson is former Philadelphia Poet Laureate, founder of Healing Verse Philly and a licensed clinical social worker.
The federal gun trial against Hunter Biden is underway in Delaware. He is accused of lying on the background check to get a gun which is a felony. As we enter the second day of witness testimony, we’ll discuss the case, the prosecutor’s and defense’s arguments, and look at the politics swirling around the trial. Our guest is Temple University law professor Craig Green, who previously worked for the DOJ.
We talk about the results of New Jersey’s primary election. We’ll dissect the Senate and Congressional winners and losers and what they tell us about Garden State voters. Also, how does embattled Senator Bob Menendez’s run as an Independent shake up the Senate race? And what does it all forecast for November? Our guest is Benjamin Dworkin, Director of the Rowan Institute for Public Policy & Citizenship.
The sun is shining and sunscreens are flying off the shelves at the local drugstore. Which ones are protecting you the best? What does SPF really tell you? And why are Europeans better protected than Americans? We talk with Dr. Christina Cheung, dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group.
Philadelphia’s University of the Arts students and faculty were shocked to learn their school was closed. The news came from a Philadelphia Inquirer story on Friday. The University later posted online that it has been in a “fragile financial state, with many years of declining enrollments, declining revenues and increasing expenses.” Doors are scheduled to close on June 7, giving the community just one-week notice. Joining us to learn more about what is behind the closure and the impact it’s having on the roughly 2000 students and faculty members is education reporter Kristen Graham. Plus, we hear from Natalie, a rising senior from the University of Arts, about how she learned about the university’s closure just hours after the institution sent her an email to apply for graduation.
Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the U.S.A.: Released in 1984 but dominating 1985 as the best-selling album, it sparked misinterpretations as a patriotic anthem during the Reagan reelection campaign. The lyrics actually portray a disillusioned Vietnam veteran’s experience of feeling abandoned by his country. Springsteen’s nuanced approach challenges perceptions, revealing his discomfort with the commercial success that led to a loss of control. We talk with Steven Hyden, author of the book There Was Nothing You Could Do: Bruce Springsteen’s “Born In The U.S.A.” and the End of the Heartland.
This weekend, the Schuylkill will be lined with long wooden boats that fit 20 paddlers at once as teams compete in the Independence Dragon Boat Regatta. Ahead of the race, Tommy Leonardi, president of the Philadelphia Dragon Boat Association, joins us to talk about the traditional Chinese sport that has exploded in popularity in our region.
Would you give your kidney to a stranger? What if you could get a $50,000 tax credit for it? That’s just one proposal for upping organ donation in the US – where hundreds of people die every month while waiting on an ever-growing transplant list. The debate over paying organ donors – and the ethical questions that could arise. We discuss the issue with Arthur L. Caplan, professor of medical ethics at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine, Dr. Gregory Hess, physician and kidney transplant recipient, and Lauren Sheppard who donated her kidney to a stranger a decade ago.
Benedict Cumberbatch & Gaby Hoffman talk with Patrick Stoner about the importance of a comprehensive back story for playing complicated characters in a mysterious plot line.
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman has been causing consternation among some Democrats for his outspoken support of Israel and harder line on immigration. The freshman senator known for his down-to-earth style, has progressives wondering if his politics have shifted right. We’ll talk with New York Times congressional correspondent Annie Karnie about how Fetterman is rankling progressives and winning over conservatives.
Everyone is looking for the fountain of youth. Friendship might just be the answer. Having a tight and strong social network can boost longevity. But why are social connections so important as we age? We’ll look at how friendships improve health and well-being when we get older. Joining us are Dr. Michael Danielewicz, doctor of geriatric medicine at Jefferson Health, and Mary Groce, resident of the John C. Anderson Apartments in Philadelphia.
Teens share their thoughts about bridging generational divides and what we can learn from one another. We hear from WHYY’s Spoken Youth Podcast.
The F-word is everywhere in pop culture, at work, at home and out on the street. Swear words that used to shock seem no longer to be taboo. So is profanity becoming normalized? Why does swearing sometimes feel so good? And why are certain words still beyond the pale?
NPR Weekend Edition Sunday host Ayesha Rascoe celebrates historically Black colleges and universities in the new book, HBCU Made. It’s a collection of essays from famous HBCU grads, reflecting on their transformational experience at school — people like Oprah Winfrey, Branford Marsalis and Stacey Abrams. Rascoe is a Howard University graduate and she joins us to share how her HBCU shaped her and her career as a political journalist.
A ban on cabanas on North Wildwood’s eroded beaches, no backpacks in Sea Isle City, strict curfews for teens up and down the Jersey Shore. As the unofficial start of summer arrives, we’ll talk about the rules you need to know before kicking off your long weekend with Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Henry Savage.
Plus, what to know about the shore: The best places to get pizza, and which places you should avoid, the hottest attractions, busiest beaches and the quiet ones. We’ll talk with Peter Genovese, author of the book The Ultimate Guide to the Jersey Shore: Where to Eat, What to Do, and so Much More and NJ.com’s food and culture reporter.
Andre Holland talks with Patrick Stoner about what aspect of Black Panthers cofounder Huey Newton he emphasized.
Mayor Parker is calling all city workers back to the office starting mid-July. She’s also asking the city’s largest employers to bring their workers back in person. We’ll debate the merits of remote vs. office work. Gennifer Reed is the president of AFSCME DC47, Local 2186, the union representing some of the office workers and she joins us to talk about what workers are saying. And Wharton School professor of management and director of the Center for Human Resources Peter Cappelli and Penn State Abington professor of economics and labor-human resources Lonnie Golden joins us as well.
NPR Weekend Edition Sunday host Ayesha Rascoe celebrates historically Black colleges and universities in the new book, HBCU Made. It’s a collection of essays from famous HBCU grads, reflecting on their transformational experience at school — people like Oprah Winfrey, Branford Marsalis and Stacey Abrams. Rascoe is a Howard University graduate and she joins us to share how her HBCU shaped her and her career as a political journalist.
Every summer in Philadelphia, ATVs and dirt bikes hit the city streets – and they kick up a lot of controversy. Off-road vehicles are illegal in the city and Mayor Parker says she’s cracking down on the noisy 2-and-4-wheelers. Beyond the nuisance, police say the all-terrain vehicles are a hazard to pedestrians and motorists. But ATV and dirt bike enthusiasts say riding is an important outlet and community. Plus, they say they just need more places to ride. So how do we solve the ATV and dirt bike problem in the city? We talk with Philadelphia Police Deputy Commissioner Mike Cram, Joey Zaza, president of the ATV Coalition, riding enthusiast JP Norris and Pennsylvania Representative Darisha Parker.
NPR Weekend Edition Sunday host Ayesha Rascoe celebrates historically Black colleges and universities in the new book, HBCU Made. It’s a collection of essays from famous HBCU grads, reflecting on their transformational experience at school — people like Oprah Winfrey, Branford Marsalis and Stacey Abrams. Rascoe is a Howard University graduate and she joins us to share how her HBCU shaped her and her career as a political journalist.
There’s been a lot of fighting over how to teach the history of America – and it’s turned classroom curriculums into political battlefields. Perhaps it’s not surprising that we get emotional confronting our past, with so many painful chapters.
How do we get people to face the ugly truths of the American story? Can we feel sorrow, shame and anger while still taking pride in the things that make this country great? We’ll talk with a social psychologist and a history professor about why we need to teach “hard history” and how to develop the mental toolkit to reckon honestly with our past.
Our guests are Dolly Chugh, psychologist and professor at the Stern School of Business at New York University and author of A More Just Future and Hasan Kwame Jeffries, associate professor of history at The Ohio State University and the editor of Understanding and Teaching the Civil Rights Movement.
When psychologist Lewis Terman launched his decades-long study of high-IQ children in 1921, he had a specific goal in mind: to prove that “gifted” people were born leaders, and superior in just about every way. Although his theory didn’t pan out, Terman did kick off national interest in identifying and cultivating intellectually gifted children.
Just over a century later, experts in science, education, and psychology are grappling with questions about how we define giftedness, who qualifies as gifted, how we should teach and treat gifted children, and where the limits of their talents lie.
On this episode, we hear stories about the challenges of growing up gifted, how musical prodigies are made — and identified, and what a chess wunderkind has to teach us about the value of raw talent vs. experience.
ALSO HEARD:
- The chess world witnessed a major upset 20 years ago, when 13-year-old prodigy Magnus Carlsen pulled off a draw against Garry Kasparov — the best chess player in the world. Reporter Grant Hill looks into the question of how this was possible, and what chess can teach us about how innate gifts stack up against years of experience.
- Not all gifts earn prestige and accolades — but they’re pretty nifty nonetheless. Reporter Alan Jinich brings us this story about a family member whose ability to speak backwards sometimes raises eyebrows, but definitely makes for an entertaining party trick.
Thursday is Native Species Day in Pennsylvania! We’ll talk with Tom Knezick, President of Pinelands Direct Native Plants and co-host of the Native Plants Healthy Planet podcast, about the importance of native flowers and trees, invasive species that are taking over our region, and why you should let your lawn grow wild.
Vinyl sales have defied the notion of being a relic of the past, with 2023 sales surpassing those of the 1990s and outpacing CD sales. Surprisingly, half of vinyl buyers view their purchases as merchandise rather than for listening purposes. The music industry is undergoing rapid changes, from the rise of streaming services to the impact of pandemic-related concert cancellations and the emergence of hologram concerts. And, advancements like AI enable the release of new music from long-lost stars. We talk about the economics of music with Jeff Apruzzese, program director of the music industry program at Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design at Drexel University. Also with us will be Brielle Kimmins, also known as April Fool Child, who started her career as a singer by rejecting a major label and deciding to produce her music independently. The Philly artist now studies music business law at Berklee College of Music. Plus, Joey Sweeney, creative director of 48 Record Bar talks about a unique vinyl listening experience in the city.
Prospect Medical Holdings is still soliciting bids to sell Crozer Health, Delaware County’s struggling hospital system, to a nonprofit. But, what happens if the plagued healthcare provider fails to close a deal? Is the state ready to step up for Delaware County? We talk with WHYY suburban reporter Kenny Cooper.
Americans are worried about the economy and their financial futures. Topping their concerns are inflation and high interest rates that translate to high food and housing prices. But in other measures the economy is doing alright — record unemployment and strong consumer and business spending. Moody’s Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi joins us to sort through the conflicting economic signs, the public perception, and forecast where it’s all headed.
Just a whiff can take you back to a moment in time. Smells have a powerful hold on our memories and emotions. Of course, this hasn’t escaped marketers using signature scents to connect us to brands — everything from electronics to clothing. This hour, the psychological science of smell and where our noses lead us with Brown University neuroscientist Rachel Herz.
Nicola Coughlan & Luke Newton talk with Patrick Stoner about how they play more of the humor in the popular series than they did earlier.
A recent Philadelphia Inquirer/New York Times/Sienna poll reveals a neck-and-neck race between Biden and Trump in Pennsylvania. The Inquirer’s national politics reporter Julia Terruso joins us to discuss the findings.
Beach enthusiasts are making their way to the shore as the temperatures are climbing. Alarming sea level rise projections, though, threaten to submerge significant portions of New Jersey’s coastline in the years ahead. The pressing question arises: How will the region address the challenges posed by the rising seas? We talk with Rutgers University climate and sea level scientist Robert Kopp.
Stay tuned for the latest developments on the ongoing restoration efforts of the Battleship New Jersey. We hear from WHYY’s reporter and host Matt Guilhem about a potential return to the Delaware River.
A boom in AI chatbots, the outsourcing and decimation of call centers, dead end phone menus and hours of hold music are just a few sources of infuriating customer service experiences. Consumer satisfaction is way down – if you trust online reviews and watercooler chatter – but is the experience actually worse than ever? We’ll talk with Wall Street Journal reporter Katie Deighton, who covers customer experience and marketing.
The Joy Luck Club author Amy Tan joins us to talk about her latest book, The Backyard Bird Chronicles. She writes about her foray into birding, a hobby she took up in 2016 after feeling like she needed to find a source of calm in her life. This curious step into nature eventually grew into a love for birds and their unique behaviors.
Jennifer Connelly, Oscar winner, talks with Patrick Stoner about how she juggles her character’s shifting knowledge & emotions in the sci fi series.
Bird flu has spread to wild and farm birds, foxes, sea lions, and now dairy cows in the United States, something that has never happened before. A farmworker has also been infected but his illness was relatively mild. All this is raising concerns among researchers as they watch the H5N1 influenza virus evolve. Is human-to-human transmission possible? Are we at risk for another pandemic? We turn to two researchers for some answers. Troy Sutton is an assistant professor in veterinary and biomedical sciences at Penn State and Angela Rasmussen is a virologist at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization.
Malmö, Sweden is set to host the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest, a global event with a rich history dating back to 1956 in Lugano, Switzerland. The event gained recent pop culture fame through Will Ferrell’s Netflix movie Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. Our producer Andreas Copes speaks with wiwibloggs founder William Lee Adams about the event’s political significance and America’s limited engagement. Also, Australia’s 2016 representative Dami Im shares her memories from performing on the big stage and the event’s long-lasting effect on her career.
MSNBC host and correspondent Ali Velshi joins us to talk about his new memoir, A Small Act of Courage, which is about his family history and how it was shaped by ideas of social justice and democracy. Velshi’s grandfather was sent from India to South Africa when he was just seven years old to live on Tolstoy Farm, Gandhi’s ashram in South Africa. Fleeing apartheid, the family eventually moved to Kenya and ultimately Canada. Velshi now lives part time in Bryn Mawr. We’ll talk to him about his family story and the lessons of equality and public service passed down to him. And we’ll discuss some current events, from students protesting the war in Gaza to Trump’s hush money trial.
Tim Blake Nelson, best known for his Coen Brothers’ films, talks with Patrick Stoner about starring in a film written & directed by his son.
There’s 240,000 particles of plastic swimming in the average disposable water bottle. Scientists now understand the people don’t just use a lot of plastic, we are consuming it, too. But what do these particles do in our bodies? That’s the question researchers like Rutgers University professor Phoebe Stapleton is trying to figure out, especially since plastic is unavoidable in our modern world. Stapleton joins us to discuss what we know about the link between plastic and human health.
The fascinating history of the long-forgotten posture panic of the early 20th century. Scientists, inspired by Darwin’s theories of evolution, worried that America was in the midst of a dangerous epidemic of slouching that would cause people to de-evolve. So the county mounted campaigns to get people to stand up straight, an effort infiltrated all aspects of culture and has left remnants still today. We find out more from Beth Linker, professor of social science at the University of Pennsylvania and author of the new book Slouch: Posture Panic in Modern America.
Protests over the war in Gaza have erupted at colleges and universities in our region. We talk with a student newspaper reporter about what activists on both sides are saying.
Did you have a favorite stuffed animal or blanket when you were a kid? Do you still have it today? Childhood possessions are filled with memories and meaning so we hold on to them for many years.
In this hour we explore the uniquely human behavior of owning things and why we become attached to our belongings. We’ll look at how they connect us with a person or experience and become part of our identity. And we’ll talk about the downsides of having too many possessions – there are more than 50,000 self-storage facilities in the country filled with our overflow. Our guest is psychologist Bruce Hood author of Possessed: Why We Want More Than We Need.
Next on You Oughta Know, celebrate art and feminism at the Phila. Museum of Art. Memorialize motherhood with breastmilk jewelry. Create a maximalist Mother’s Day brunch display. Learn how Booker’s Restaurant rewards students and inspires entrepreneurs. Discover why youth rugby is so popular. Find out how a local radio program is helping to protect our planet. Visit Styler’s Peony Festival.
When medical mistakes happen, patients and their families often find themselves at a loss trying to figure out exactly what went wrong. Something bad happened. And then, communication drops; there’s no real explanation, and no apology. Suddenly, everybody seems on guard. Health care providers can often feel bound by an imposed cone of silence that’s designed to protect them and their institution, but makes it impossible to fully face up to their mistake, or have open conversations about preventing future ones.
On this episode, we explore the breaking of that silence, along with new solutions to avoid medical errors. We hear stories about what prompted one surgeon to go public after performing the wrong procedure, how the death of a young woman prompted her parents to try and change the system, and an investigation into an OB-GYN and the trail of injured women left in his wake.
ALSO HEARD:
- Talia Goldenberg was 23 years old when she died in the hospital after neck surgery to address worsening symptoms of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. After the surgery, Talia had repeatedly complained that she couldn’t breathe — complaints that her parents say were not addressed properly. They wanted answers — but beyond that, they’ve vowed to change the medical system and hospital culture around mistakes through an organization called Talia’s Voice.
- Back in the ‘90s, an OB-GYN named Thomas J. Byrne lost his medical license after New York state found him to be dangerous, negligent, and fraudulent. But decades later, Byrne got his license back. We hear an excerpt from the podcast “Imminent Danger: One Doctor and a Trail of Injured Women,” from WNYC and Gothamist, and talk to reporter Karen Shakerdge.
New Jersey Politico reporter Matt Friedman joins us to talk about Daniel’s Law, the data privacy measure passed after the murder of Judge Esther Salas’ son Daniel Anderl. The law was designed to keep judges’ and state worker’s personal information — like a home address — off the internet, but it has sparked a cottage industry in data privacy lawsuits.
It’s getting wild. We talk about urban wildlife – from encounters with coyotes to bats who need our help. Kathleen Kerwin, Wildlife Conservation and Management Program Associate at Rutgers University joins us to answer all of your questions about how to protect the animals and how to avoid conflict.
CNN Political Analyst Bakari Sellers talks to us about the “race reckoning that wasn’t.” He wrote the book The Momentum in which he discusses the modern political landscape in America.
A day after the Pennsylvania primary, we dig into the results and what they tell us about the November election. We start the hour off with WHYY’s politics reporter Carmen Russell-Sluchansky, who will talk about the results, turnout, and the uncommitted vote.
Then we turn to our political roundtable to discuss the issues driving voters, the enthusiasm gap this election, and how the Biden and Trump campaigns are playing out in the Keystone state. Will President Biden’s handling of the Gaza war hurt his prospects? How are Trump’s legal troubles playing out in our battleground state. We’re joined by Christopher Borick, director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion, Anthea Butler, professor of American social thought and religion at the University of Pennsylvania, and Vince Galko, Republican political strategist and senior vice president at Mercury Public Affairs.
Tye Sheridan talks with Patrick Stoner about shooting in NYC with Sean Penn under chaotic conditions.
Tuesday is Primary Election Day. While the Presidential Election is set for a rematch between former President Donald Trump and current President Joe Biden, there are still some undecided races. Pennsylvanians will be casting their votes for positions such as attorney general, state treasurer, auditor general, and various U.S. House seats. We talk with WHYY’s Plan Philly reporter Aaron Moselle live from the polls to give us a midday update.
Are you friends with your colleagues or just friendly? Some people have a best friend at work, others want to keep work and their personal life separate. We’ll look at the upsides and downsides of paling around on the job with Wharton School professor Nancy Rothbard. She wrote a paper about managing the dark sides of workplace friendship.
It’s jazz appreciation month and we’ve asked acclaimed trumpeter Terell Stafford to stop by with his horn to play and talk about music and jazz improvisation. Stafford is a Grammy-winning artist who has played with many jazz greats over the years. He now directs jazz studies at Temple University. Stafford joins us to talk about how he fell in love with the music and the jazz resurgence he’s seen since the pandemic.
Americans are losing faith with their religious institutions and traditions. That’s a major finding in the latest report from the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI). A quarter of Americans now call themselves religiously unaffiliated citing the clergy sex abuse scandals and teachings against the LGBTQ community as the reasons they no longer believe.
On the other hand, most Americans identify as Christian even as the country becomes more religious diverse and fewer Americans attend religious services.
In this hour of The Connection, we look at “religious churning” in the country and the role religion, especially Christian Nationalism, is playing in our politics this election season. Our guest is Robert P. Jones, founder and president of PRRI and author of several books including, The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy.
Every day, we hear about countless environmental threats — from air pollution and microplastics, to deforestation and global warming. And a lot of us feel overwhelmed by the scale of these problems, and helpless to enact global big-picture solutions.
But small, everyday decisions matter too — and they add up. How you do your laundry, how warm or cool you keep your home, what you eat for lunch, what kinds of products you buy and how you sort your trash — all of them have the potential to make a big difference.
On this special Earth Day episode, we look at everyday choices that can lead to greener living. We hear stories about laundry detergents, and how we can clean our clothes without hurting the planet, what it’ll take for plant-based meat to make it to the big leagues, and an innovation that could revolutionize recycling as we know it.
ALSO HEARD:
- Sorting has long been the Achilles heel of recycling plastic. There are so many different kinds of plastic, and when you lump them all together, you end up with an inferior material. But a process called digital watermarking could change how we sort our trash. We’ll hear about a company called Digimarc, and their quest to imprint tracking technology onto packages and products to sort recycling in a much more granular fashion.
- Homes are responsible for almost a fifth of the United States’ total energy-related greenhouse gas emissions.Reducing your energy use at home isn’t just good for the planet, it can help you save lots of money. But it’s often a big investment up front. Reporter Sophia Schmidt visited one homeowner who’s spent years making his place more energy-efficient, and shares what he’s learned along the way.
- We’ve known for a while that human activities, from pesticides to habitat destruction, have spelled trouble for honeybees. But now, scientists have discovered a solution — a vaccine for one of the diseases threatening hives. Reporter Buffy Gorrilla talks to researchers and beekeepers about the potential.
The Supreme Court hears oral arguments on one of the most significant cases about homelessness next week. At issue in Grants Pass v. Johnson is whether local authorities can enforce laws prohibiting people from sleeping and camping in public spaces. As the number of unhoused people continues to grow, cities and towns have been struggling with tent encampments. A previous decision ruled that you can’t prosecute people for sleeping on public property when there’s no shelter available, saying it violates the 8th Amendment which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. But the city of Grants Pass, Oregon is now testing that ruling.
Today we’ll look at whether people can be punished for sleeping outside, the legal arguments on both sides, and what a decision could mean for the unhoused. We start out discussing how Philadelphia is addressing homelessness with Dave Holloman, interim director of the Office of Homeless Services. Then we turn to the Supreme Court case. We’re joined by Eric Tars, legal director of the National Homelessness Law Center, which is supporting plaintiffs’ attorneys in the Grants Pass case, Michael Mannheimer, a law professor at the University of Northern Kentucky who wrote a brief supporting the petitioners, and Candice Player, Vice President of advocacy, public policy and street outreach for Project Home.
Festival season is in full swing and with warmer weather ahead, the Greater Philadelphia Area is preparing for musicians great and small. We talk to Tonya Pendleton about the festivals that made it, the ones who are no longer there, and the newcomers.
The 76ers host the Miami Heat Wednesday night for their first Play-In Tournament game. Joel Embiid’s meniscus injury stalled the Sixers momentum but since his return two week ago, they’ve made up some of the lost ground. If they win tomorrow night, the team head to the playoffs. If not, they have one more shot. We talk the Sixers chances for a postseason with Philadelphia Inquirer sports columnist Mike Sielski.
Spring is supposed to be the hot season for home buying but not this year. House hunters are facing mortgage rates at a 20-year high. We’ll take a look at how the economic climate is playing out on real estate in our region. We’ll talk about prices, inventory and the forecast for interest rates with WHYY reporters Kenny Cooper and Aaron Moselle.
Gun violence is down in Philadelphia, but you wouldn’t know it from the news headlines. Sensational treatment of shootings may get clicks and views but they also warp public perception of crime. Perhaps worse, they re-traumatize survivors of firearm violence. A new a documentary “The Second Trauma” explores how the episodic coverage harms victims and offers a better way to report on shootings. We talk with two people involved in the film. Jim MacMillan directs the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting, and Oronde McClain is the Center’s newsroom liaison and a gun violence survivor who is featured in the documentary.
As the Pennsylvania primary approaches, the presidential candidates are confirmed, while races for treasurer, attorney general, auditor general, and several house seats remain undecided. Spotlight PA’s government editor/reporter, Katie Meyer, joins us to discuss these races.
Restaurant critics, they could be sitting right next to you at a restaurant, and you wouldn’t even know it. We talk with Craig LaBan, restaurant critic and columnist at the Philadelphia Inquirer, about his job, the restaurant industry, and some Philly culinary highlights.
Get relaxation tips and learn about sound baths from Maiken Scott, the host of WHYY’s health and science show The Pulse, as she offers advice on managing stress and hectic days.
That gut feeling is telling you something…directing you toward a decision but you can’t pinpoint precisely why. That’s our intuition talking and there’s more truth to it then we previously understand. Psychologist and neuroscientist Joel Pearson has been studying intuition and putting it to the test in his lab. He joins us to explain where gut instincts come from, when we should trust them and how we can use them to make better choices. Pearson is the author of the brand new book, The Intuition Toolkit.
Over the past few decades, Latinos have become the largest racial or ethnic minority in the United States, making up nearly 20 percent of the country’s population. Despite that, many Latinos feel alienated by our medical system, due to cultural and language barriers, and a lack of Latino physicians — and those barriers can have a real impact on their overall health.
On this episode, we look for solutions to provide better care to Latino communities and patients. We hear stories about one physician’s bold initiative to bridge the language gap between doctors and farmworkers, new approaches to help victims of gun violence, and a national effort to increase the number of Latino physicians.
ALSO HEARD:
- Latinos make up 19 percent of the American population, but only 6 percent of physicians. But there are efforts underway to change that. We hear from Cesar Padilla, an obstetric anesthesiologist at Stanford. In 2022, he helped start National Latino Physician Day to increase visibility and push institutions to recruit more Latinos. We talk with Padilla about his own difficult journey to becoming a doctor, how medical schools and health systems can help other Latino physicians overcome these challenges.
After the thrilling women’s NCAA tournament wrapped, we wonder why Philly, one of the biggest sports towns in the country, does not have a WNBA team. A lot of others are asking that same question. We’ll talk about why the time is right for a Philly pro women’s basketball franchise, hear from fans, and discuss the financial hurdles to getting there. Among our guests are ESPN’s Renee Washington, Esther Rosen, who launched the popular @WNBAPhilly, and David Berri, who studies sports economics at Southern Utah University.
As the election year heats up, there’s growing concern about deepfakes, the AI altered videos and photos that look so realistic they’re almost impossible to detect. Experts worry that they could be used to sway elections. For example, a fake image of a candidate released just days before a vote could affect the results. But that’s where Matthew Stamm comes in. Like a detective working a crime scene, Stamm analyses images and video to determine if they’re real or not. Stamm runs Drexel University’s Multimedia and Information Security Lab and joins us to talk about the growing threat and the challenges of detection and defense.
“Rosie the Riveters” are finally getting the recognition they deserve. On Wednesday, the women who worked in shipyards and factories building boats, planes, weapons, and supplies for WWII will be honored with a Congressional Gold Medal. Sadly, many of the six million women who supported America’s effort have died, but Cherri Gregg talks with two honorees from our region, Mae Krier and Ruth Wilson, who reflect on their barrier-breaking works.
With Pennsylvania’s primary two weeks away, we look at the effort to open the primary to unaffiliated voters. Forty percent of voters now identify as independent but PA’s closed primaries don’t allow them to weigh in. We’ll talk about the pros and cons of open primaries with David Thornburgh, chair of BallotPA, which is trying to open Pennsylvania’s primary. We also hear from Seth Masket, professor at the University of Denver, who believes only people affiliated with a party should have a say.
Have you heard about William Penn’s vineyard in Fairmount Park starting in the 1600s? Yes, it was located at Lemon Hill. The Alexander grape, cultivated there, marked the beginning of wine production in North America. While this grape has faced criticism for its flavor over the years, local sommeliers are advocating to embrace the wine’s historical significance and are working towards revitalizing the Alexander grape. We talk with Chantel White, Archaeobotanical Teaching Specialist at the Penn Museum, about the history of North American wine and the ongoing endeavor to restore the Alexander grape to its patriotic prominence.
Henry Cavill, Alex Pettyfer, & Hero Fiennes Tiffin talk with Patrick Stoner about how Guy Ritchie & similar films work best in the theater.
Even if you aren’t an opera aficionado, you likely know the name Renée Fleming. The celebrated soprano has performed all over the world and been honored with five Grammys, and the U.S. National Medal of Arts. But when she’s not singing, Fleming has also been a leading health advocate, making the case for music’s powerful healing benefits. She leads a collaboration between the National Institutes of Health and the National Endowment for the Arts investigating the effect of the creative arts on our brains and bodies. And she has a new anthology out, Music and Mind, all about those discoveries and the surprising things we are learning. Renée Fleming joins us to talk about singing, music and the arts as medicine.
Food podcaster and pasta enthusiast Dan Pashman joins us to talk about his new book Anything’s Pastable. In 2021, he received trademark protection for his pasta shape Cascatelli – ital.: waterfalls. We talk about marinara sauce, olive oil, and everything you ever wanted to know about spaghetti, tortellini, and more.
Next on You Oughta Know, see how The Artfront Partnership brings beauty to vacant spaces. Catch the Craft Tea vibe, blending unique teas and vinyl records. Learn about the My Health Means More in 2024 wellness event for women. Find out how Philly BOLT inspires grassroots leaders to ignite change. Learn how local eclipse enthusiasts are preparing for the highly anticipated event.
Adeena Sussman's latest cookbook, Shabbat, is a multicultural treasure trove of recipes for the weekly day of rest. Also, things to do this weekend and trouble at Temple.
Cate Blanchett & director talk with Patrick Stoner about the streaming multiple award-winning film & why what was shot that’s not in the movie helped Cate create the title character.
New COVID-19 vaccine recommendations come out Tuesday. We hear from Dr. Paul Offit, a member of the FDA advisory panel, about the latest guidelines released by the CDC.
NJ Gov. Phil Murphy rejected a proposal to house asylum seekers at Atlantic City Airport. We'll talk abut the national immigration crisis. Plus, why we're so into subtitles.
Next on You Oughta Know, meet Philly’s master luthiers. Find out how to build a guitar with Loudo Musical Instruments. Learn how Play On Philly is changing students’ lives with free music education and more. Discover what every parent should know about navigating social media. Visit West Philly’s shipping-container shopping mall. Get revved up for The Race of Gentlemen.
We spend a lot of time thinking about happiness. Wondering if we are truly happy, and how we could get there. We try to predict what will make us happy in the future, or what might lead to misery down the road. We chase success, money, and love. We work hard or maybe move from place to place to find fulfillment. But what actually brings us contentment is often very different from what we thought, and researchers are trying to quantify what leads to that lasting sense of well-being.
On this episode, we’ll explore happiness — and how we can find more of it. We’ll hear about the longest-running study on the subject, find out if money is really a game-changer, and talk to a therapist who says we need to stop obsessing over happiness.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- Reporter Liz Tung wrestles with one of life’s big questions: whether she and her husband should try to have children or continue their current path as a happy childless couple. She enlists the help of friends, family members, and happiness researchers to find out if having children would make her happier than she is right now? Or will not having children lead to emptiness and regret down the road?
- Harvard psychiatrist Robert Waldinger talks about what he’s learned about happiness from directing the longest-running study on the subject. Together with Marc Schulz, he’s written “The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness.”
- When does the quest for happiness, the desire to always radiate positivity become a bad thing? Psychotherapist Whitney Goodman joins us to talk about her book “Toxic Positivity: Keeping It Real in a World Obsessed with Being Happy.”
- Several American cities are now experimenting with guaranteed income programs to help families thrive and stay healthy. But could this additional income also have an impact on happiness levels? Alan Yu reports.
Pets add so much joy to our lives, but there can also be difficult and painful decisions to make at the end of theirs. More Americans than ever have at least one animal companion at home, and some spend thousands of dollars a year on their health and happiness. We’ll talk about our relationships with our four-legged friends with James Serpell, Professor of Ethics and Animal Welfare Emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania, and veterinarian Emily Tincher.
A 12 foot puppet of a 10 year old Syrian refugee child, Little Amal, has travelled over 6,000 miles to 15 countries. She starts her ‘walk’ in the United States on Thursday and will soon come to Philly. We’ll talk with Khadijat Oseni, artistic associate of the touring team, about the puppet’s journey and mission.
Amal in Lewisham 0331 (c) The Walk Productions (c) David Levene
WHYY’s Tonya Pendleton has rounded up a list of things to do this weekend in our region, and more Studio 2 trivia.
Local bestselling author Jennifer Weiner joins us to talk about her new novel, The Breakaway. The book’s main character is on a two-week bike tour from New York City to Niagara Falls and must wrestle with big life questions, doubts about a lackluster boyfriend, and a complicated relationship with her mother.
We’re in the middle of hurricane season, with one possible storm brewing in the Atlantic. We’ll get a forecast and a look at how warmer weather is churning up more extreme tropical storms with New Jersey State Climatologist David Robinson.
The Philadelphia Fringe Festival kicks off this week with almost 300 independently produced shows. WHYY’s Peter Crimmins joins us to talk about some of the most anticipated performances.
Samara Weaving & Lucy Boynton talk with Patrick Stoner about playing aristocratic women in 18th century France.
Princeton University biologist and host of the PBS show, "Human Footprint," Shane Campbell-Staton on our connection to the natural world and the ways we are transforming it.
"The Breakaway" author Jennifer Weiner joins us. Also, the latest on tropical storms and depressions midway through hurricane season, and the Philadelphia Fringe Festival.
Students are back in class and so is ChatGPT. What does AI mean for the future of teaching and learning? And, a N.J. man battles Taco Bell for "Taco Tuesday."
Next on You Oughta Know, find seasonal, local produce with Phully Rooted. Learn how free classes help students Eat Right. Get the scoop on backyard chickens. Visit the country’s only construction theme park. Take a ride on the wild side at a Drive-Thru Safari. Discover a DIY toolkit to help communities create their own parks. Catch Patrick Stoner’s Flicks interview with the star of Confess, Fletch.
The teenage years can be an emotional rollercoaster. One moment everything is great, it’s amazing, then suddenly life is terrible, and all is ruined. But – it seems like something else is going on right now, beyond these expected ups and downs. Statistics are rising across the board for issues like anxiety and depression, the number of kids receiving mental health treatment, or reporting that they feel hopeless.
So what’s happening – and what’s to blame? On this episode: teens, their mental health, and how families can navigate these challenging times. We’ll hear from psychologists, parents and teens about their approaches and solutions. We’ll also visit a gymnasium full of teenagers to hear what they really want to know about mental health, and meet an adolescent who found an unexpected ray of hope in a very dark place.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- Psychologist Lisa Damour talks about staying calm while raising teens, and her new book “The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents.”
- We talk about kids, their phones, and social media with Yalda Uhls. She is a developmental psychologist at UCLA and author of “Media Moms & Digital Dads: A Fact-Not-Fear Approach to Parenting in the Digital Age.”
- For this episode, we collaborated with WHYY’s Media Labs student reporters A’liyah Kent, Alejandra Rojas, and Jolie Schreiber who contributed ideas and recordings.
Philadelphia’s I-95 cap park project is about to officially break ground. The $329 million Park at Penn’s Landing will span almost 12 acres, so what will it mean for neighborhood residents, traffic in the area, beautification and public safety? We’ll talk about the project with Joseph Forkin, president of the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation.
Back to school for many kids and parents in the School District of Philadelphia is a time of great excitement and anticipation, but it also comes with challenges, like concerns about safety, classroom conditions, learning loss and student attendance. Superintendent Tony Watlington, who enters his second year leading region’s largest school district, joins us.
Don’t miss our weekly roundup of the best events happening in the Delaware Valley this weekend and another installment of Studio 2 trivia.
Kids in Philadelphia go back to school next week. We talk with Superintendent Tony Watlington. Plus, the I-95 cap park project and the best events happening all weekend long.
Guy Nattiv, the director, talks with Patrick Stoner about casting Helen Mirren as the late Israeli leader & how he approached the Yom Kippur War.
Good conversation can bridge divides, comfort us, and spark lively debate, but Drexel University's Paula Marantz Cohen believes how we talk to one another is in decline.
In the deepest parts of the ocean, strange creatures lurk and industrial fishing and deep sea mining pose a threat. Plus, mercury is in retrograde right now. So, what?
We'll talk with James Patterson about his new release, Lion and Lamb. Plus, missing summertime already? How to preserve the bounty of your garden for months to come.
After the devastating and deadly fire that raged across Maui, Hawaii, mental health professionals warn that survivors could face many challenges related to both the trauma and smoke inhalation. In their weekly conversation, WHYY’s Maiken Scott and psychologist Dan Gottlieb discuss the specifics.
We explore the future of remote work, and hear about the latest research on which settings and models are best.
It can be difficult and awkward to find a groove with new friends as an adult. We'll talk about how to make, and keep, new friends at any age. Plus, NPR host Ari Shapiro.
Jon Hamm & the director talk with Patrick Stoner about going back to the original novels to recreate the iconic Fletch character made famous by Chevy Chase.
This episode holds the best of the summer. Rick Steves joins us to talk about how to travel, a biologist tells us why we need to love sharks and Amos Lee plays live music.
Researcher Dacher Keltner investigates the elusive emotion of awe, revealing how it transforms our brains and bodies, and how to find more wonder in our everyday lives.
We'll talk about the invention and evolution of ice, the frozen stuff we take for granted. Then, cube that ice and add it to a glass for a cocktail on the rocks!
Science is all about observing the world. But how do you study something you can’t see, smell, or hear — like the tiniest particles all around us? How do you test a new energy source when it doesn’t really exist yet?
These are the challenges that the world of physics often faces. You can come up with theories, using modeling and calculations, and devise some kind of experiment on paper to investigate things. But then you have to translate those ideas into tangible, real-world experiments, which is often incredibly challenging.
On today’s show, we peek behind the curtain of multimillion-dollar physics experiments that are changing the way we understand our world — and hear about some of the big challenges they face. We dig into the origins of the James Webb Space Telescope, talk with xkcd cartoonist Randall Munroe about some of his more outlandish — and complicated — physics calculations, and hear from accelerator physicist Suzie Sheehy about the physics experiments that changed the world.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- When the first images from the James Webb Space Telescope were revealed just last year, they seemed to inspire a collective moment of awe. They offered stunning glimpses of deep space never before seen. We talk with astronomer and astrophysicist Garth Illingworth about the origin of the telescope, and what pushed him and his colleagues to design something they’d never even dared to imagine.
- Cartoonist Randall Munroe joins us to talk about his latest book “What If? 2,” in which he uses science to answer absurd questions from fans and readers.
- Suzie Sheehy is an experimental physicist, so she knows all about the challenges of creating places and spaces where she can test out her ideas. Her new book about famous experiments in physics is called “The Matter of Everything.”
- Dakotah Tyler wants to inspire the next generation of astrophysicists — and he’s taking to TikTok and Instagram to talk about space, stars, and dark matter in an approachable way.
Federal standards for food quality labels are lacking, causing tons of confusion for consumers and leading to billions of dollars in food waste across the country every year.
Director & editor of the documentary about the struggles & attitude of the 80’s superstar talk with Patrick Stoner about his surprisingly positive attitude.
Since the pandemic, board game sales are through the roof. We'll talk about what makes a great game -- for dinner parties, first dates or family game night.
Why is poverty so entrenched in some communities? A conversation on the geography of place and rural poverty with Princeton University Kathryn Edin and Timothy Nelson.
The original Phillie Phanatic joins us to talk about the recipe for the perfect mascot, which has the power to unite millions of people. Also, Covid case counts in the region.
Jeopardy! host and former champion Ken Jennings' new book is an offbeat and hilarious guide to the afterlife. He joins us to talk about '100 Places to See After You Die.'
In his new book, award-winning author James McBride pairs a page-turning murder mystery set in Pottstown, P.a. with a powerful story of compassion, community and love.
Nathan Pyle talks with Patrick Stoner about taking his hugely successful & satirical webcomic to the new animated streaming series.
Since the Supreme Court's ruling on affirmative action, the way college admissions officers handle diversity, equity and inclusion is in limbo.
The economy is on the upswing. We'll break down the latest on inflation, interest rates and more. Then, the hilarious new essay collection from writer R. Eric Thomas.
We get into the science of skin care, looking at what works, what doesn’t, and what dermatologists have to say about the latest frontiers in our quest for eternal youth.
Kwame Alexander on his new memoir, Why Fathers Cry at Night. Then, being Philly foodies with local James Beard winners Ellen Yin (Fork) and Nok Suntaranon (Kalaya).
Freddie is determined to make Ty to stay in Philly forever and takes him to learn about bomba.
We explore the psychology of conspiracies and what draws people to them. Author Michael Shermer joins us to talk about why people believe irrational things.
Laura McGann, the director of the number one streaming documentary talks with Patrick Stoner about the record breaking quest to do the deepest ocean free dive.
Homicides in Philadelphia, and across the country, have decreased since 2022. We'll talk with PPD Commissioner Danielle Outlaw about what's working, and what's falling short.
What's driving the rise in plastic surgery? Also, the Biden Administration's new student loan repayment plan and Philadelphia's 18th C. quarantine hospital, Lazaretto.
We look at this, and other, shortages plaguing the world of medicine, from medications to donated blood.
Philadelphia has declared a heat health emergency due to oppressive temperatures that could feel like a hundred degrees. We’ll talk about extreme heat and efforts to fight it.
Freddie and Ty learn to express the version of themselves they see through self portraits.
Kasia Smutniak & Matthew McNulty talk with Patrick Stoner about their MGM+ series that is like a prequel to “I, Claudius.”
Writer Jeanette Winterson explores artificial intelligence and how it may change our lives, relationships, sex, religion -- even death.
Philadelphia is enforcing regulations on short-term rentals like Airbnb. Other cities are also cracking down. What impact do Airbnbs have on neighborhoods and on housing?
The case for like…um…keeping bad English, slang and filler words in our conversations. We'll also talk about the life of Josephine Baker and school funding in Pa.
Freddie visits an artist who deals with climate change and learns how to get her message out!
Freddie makes a going away gift for her friend Sable and sorts out her own messy feelings.
In his book American Whitelash, Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Wesley Lowery writes about the rise in white supremacist violence in years following the Obama presidency.
Matt Damon & Emily Blunt explain to Patrick Stoner why being in Christopher Nolan’s prestige film is a career high.
Temple psychologist Laurence Steinberg on the changing relationship between parents and adult children.
The nation’s biggest offshore wind energy project at the N.J. shore was approved. Will citizen opposition and a lawsuit derail it?
Philly native musician Amos Lee plays live. Plus, the story of Eleanor Roosevelt's secret journey during WWII. Also get the latest on the Montgomery County train derailment.
On this episode, we take you behind the waiting room doors, to learn about some of the behind-the-scenes challenges of working in health care.
Sportswriter Sally Jenkins shares life lessons that elite athletes and coaches have gleaned from playing competitive sports.
We'll talk about 'Ice: From Mixed Drinks to Skating Rinks--A Cool History of a Hot Commodity', and a year since the James Webb telescope's first images were released.
Freddie's nerves about hanging a gallery wall is put at ease as she learns that everyone gets to bring their own perspective to art.
Christopher Nolan & Cillian Murphy talk with Patrick Stoner about the enigmatic, conflicted character of the atom bomb maker.
Threads, the new social media app that is aiming to take on Twitter, launched last week. What can we expect from Mark Zuckerberg's latest social media venture?
Skydiving, BASE jumping, climbing the highest peaks, adventuring to remote parts of the world — pushing the boundaries of safety. For thrill-seekers, chasing the rush is what it’s all about. Where lots of us would break into a cold sweat, they experience something different: calm, focus, even moments of sublime awe.
So what is it that makes thrill-seekers different? On this episode, we investigate what fuels their desire for adventure, and ask when the pursuit of kicks becomes dangerous and disruptive.
We hear stories about storm chasers, rocket builders, and hikers. We also talk to a psychologist who avoids thrills in his personal life, but is deeply invested in understanding why other people love it.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- Meteorologist John Homenuk unpacks the appeal of his greatest passion — chasing storms.
- We talk with clinical psychologist Ken Carter about what sets thrill-seekers apart from the rest of us. His book is “Buzz: Inside the Minds of Thrill-Seekers, Daredevils, and Adrenaline Junkies.”
- At first, Doran Lamb thought hiking and climbing mountains was a healthy habit, something to replace her addiction to alcohol. But then she realized that it wasn’t.
Learning more about toxic forever chemicals in water and household products. Plus, Pa.'s state budget - explaining the private school vouchers that led to an impasse.
Social scientist and physician Nicholas Christakis on our social evolution, our need for connection and why he is optimistic about human nature and the future.
Martinus Evans, the 300-pound runner, on making the sport more inclusive. Also, we talk about Monday's mass shooting in Philadelphia and Jurassic Park turns 30.
4 Stars of ASTEROID CITY talk with Patrick Stoner about the details of Wes Anderson’s leadership that makes him an auteur.
Albie learns to focus on things she can control; Body language gives clues about feelings.
The Supreme Court must weigh in on several high-profile cases before the term comes to an end for the summer. The latest opinions and what we're still anticipating.
Historian Martha Hodes explores what happened to her own memories, and how she tried to get them back, after being held hostage on an airplane in 1970 in her new memoir.
Jacqueline Bisset talks with Patrick Stoner about her decades long career from world renowned beauty in the sixties to acclaimed actress today.
The history of broadcast game shows...do they have a future? Plus, a local church congregation and pastor in court, and music recommendations for your summer playlist.
In this episode, a look at how New Jersey responded to its own school funding lawsuit decades ago — and what Pennsylvania could learn. Then, a visit to the state capitol to see how legislators are responding to the recent court ruling that says Pennsylvania’s school funding system is unconstitutional. And, how underfunded schools are taking matters into their own hands while they wait for help.
Rules for who we tip and when can get confusing and expensive, and tipping etiquette has changed post-pandemic. Plus, LGBTQ+ migration to Philly and the Blockson Collection.
We unfold the never-before-told story of Earle and the classified operation that he was a part of, and explore the remnants of the atomic age and the waste it has left behind.
We dive into the mysterious part of the brain that holds our memories to explore what we remember and what we forget. We'll talk with a memory investigator.
We debunk the cliches and stereotypes of getting older with gerontologist Tracey Gendron, author of "Ageism Unmasked."
Explore a special exhibition on one of Philadelphia’s most important early African American families.
Rebecca Ferguson & Tim Robbins talk with Patrick Stoner about the AppleTV+ most watched drama series.
Net zero by 2050 is the national goal. Can we achieve this? And what needs to change to stay on track? Also, we talk to the engineer who helped to refill I-95.
Rosie is homesick, so Albie recreates a family treat; Albie and Huggy figure out a puzzle.
A James Beard winning mixologist shares drinks. And, families are getting priced out of the Jersey Shore...why is it so expensive? We also celebrate World Refugee Day.
Pennsylvania’s constitution says the legislature has to provide for a “thorough and efficient” system of schools. But what does that really mean?
Health disparities between Black and white Americans run deep in the U.S. Black people are more likely to suffer from chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, or asthma, and their life expectancy is shorter than that of their white peers. The causes for these inequities are far-reaching and include bias and systemic racism in health care and medical treatments, lack of access to care, and economic differences. Advocates, researchers, and health systems have been looking for ways to address these issues — chipping away at different aspects of the problem. On this episode, we’ll look at several different solutions — and meet the people who are pushing for more equitable health care for all.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- Journalist and author Linda Villarosa recounts how her approaches to Black health have changed over the course of her career. She started off writing lots of self help pieces, thinking that information would change outcomes, but has come to understand that the issues go far beyond that.
- Med student Joel Bervell talks about his mission to educate both health care providers and patients about biases that are affecting care. His viral TikTok videos reach thousands of viewers, and some of his fans have called them “life-saving.”
We'll talk about medications like Ozempic and Wegovy being used off-label for rapid weight loss. And, an update on the Roosevelt Blvd subway, and Studio 2 Trivia.
Researcher Dacher Keltner investigates the elusive emotion of awe, revealing how it transforms our brains and bodies, and how to find more wonder an awe in our everyday lives.
Scarlett Johansson & Jason Schwartzman talk with Patrick Stoner about the difference between a Wes Anderson film & others.
Albie learns how to upcycle give her old mitten a new purpose; Taking a break to recharge.
We'll talk about public education funding in Pa on the Schooled podcast. Then, harm reduction in response to the opioid epidemic. And, The Forten Family of Philadelphia.
Ballet dancers teach Albie about personal space; No job is too small at a maker’s studio.
Two neighboring public high schools show the inequity of Pennsylvania’s school funding system. We learn about the forces at play and how a lack of resources affects everyday life for students and teachers. Then, we meet the people who have dedicated their lives to solving the state’s school funding problem.
The latest on the I-95 bridge in Northeast Philadelphia that collapsed after a truck beneath it burst into flames. And, WHYY’s new kids’ program Albie’s Elevator now on TV-12!
Albie learns to control her volume with the help of an opera singer. Albie and Tibitz have very different feelings about a new painting.
We talk to social psychologist Brian Lowery about his new book “Selfless: The Social Creation of ‘You.’”
Crowds of teens are causing damage and sometimes violent incidents in Philadelphia, the Jersey Shore and across the country. We'll also talk about the code red air advisory.
The Surgeon General warns that there's a loneliness epidemic. Why do so many of us feel lonely and how can we reconnect with one another again?
Join elevator operator Albie as she explores the ups and downs of life along with her friends and neighbors!
Eva Longoria, director, & DeVon Franklin, producer, talk with Patrick Stoner about their crusade to tell the story of the man who created the world’s most popular chip against all odds.
A very foodie episode, featuring two of Philadelphia's James Beard winners, Ellen Yin and Nok Suntaranon. Penn Museum's Ancient Food and Flavor exhibit on very old leftovers.
Kwame Alexander on "Why Fathers Cry at Night: A Memoir in Love Poems, Recipes, Letters, and Remembrances." Plus, spotted lanternflies and Crozer Health financial woes.
Public education in America is still divided between the haves and have-nots, and the problem doesn’t get much worse than in Pennsylvania. But change could be coming.
Crozer Health ambulances are in short supply — and if more vehicles break down, some Delaware County residents could have trouble accessing emergency care. WHYY suburban reporter KENNY COOPER joins us.
In his new memoir titled “Why Fathers Cry at Night” our guest KWAME ALEXANDER recalls memories of his childhood and his struggle to be a good husband and dad through poetry, personal letters and even family recipes.
Some researchers want to introduce non-native parasitic wasps to attack the spotted lanternfly population that’s flourishing once again this year. We’ll talk with USDA researcher KIM HOELMER.
You’d think that by the time we reach adulthood, saying you are sorry would be second nature. But many people struggle with apologies and end up sounding insincere. Marjorie Ingall and Susan McCarthy have been tracking apologies from celebrities, politicians, and others in the public eye since 2012 for their website SorryWatch. They have analyzed what makes a good apology and have boiled it down to six essential steps, which they share in their book, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry. They join us today to talk about saying sorry, the mistakes people make, why some of us apologize too much, and the benefits of a good apology.
The messages we receive around quitting are usually straightforward — don’t do it. It’s something we hear everywhere — from greats like Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky, in movies and TV shows, on motivational posters and in children’s books: Go the distance. Never give up. Quitters never win, and winners never quit.
But what if giving up really is the best option? What if we’re miserable, or burned out, or realize our goals have changed? When should we stick it out — and when should we walk away?
On this episode, we explore those questions with writer Julia Keller, who examines the science — and potential benefits — of throwing in the towel in her new book, “Quitting: A Life Strategy: The Myth of Perseverance and How the New Science of Giving Up Can Set You Free.” We also hear stories about one woman’s reckoning with the effects of long COVID on her life, and what prompted a young 20-something to give up everything for a life on the road.
Next week, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is likely to announce he’s entering the Republican primary in 2024. Political journalist Matt Katz joins us to discuss the potential bid for presidency.
Have you watched the last episode of Succession? Don’t worry, no spoilers here. Melanie McFarland joins us to discuss new summer TV, the writers’ strike and Netflix’s crackdown on password sharing.
It’s Trivia Thursday at Studio 2 and we hope you’re ready for another nerdy question from our hosts Cherri and Avi. If you want to be quizzed by our champions, call (215) 351-0525 and tell us why you are the best candidate for next week.
What should you watch on your streaming service this summer? And what's the latest with the WGA strike? Plus, former NJ Gov. Christie's likely 2024 bid and Studio 2 trivia.
Why is it so hard to say sorry? Marjorie Ingall and Susan McCarthy, authors of the book "Sorry, Sorry, Sorry," share the six essential steps to a good apology.
Oscar winning directors Jimmy Chin & Elisabeth Chai Vasarhelyi talk with Patrick Stoner about their moving & gorgeous Nat Geo documentary about a couple’s struggle to protect millions of unspoiled wilderness in South America.
A black bear that recently attacked two children in Pa. was euthanized. Emily Carrollo, bear biologist at the Pennsylvania Game Commission, joins us to discuss bear behavior and safety, and what to do if you have an encounter
The biggest companies in the world roll out rainbow-themed merchandise and advertisements when Pride Month arrives every year. Recently, Target made headlines for pulling some of its pride merch off the shelves due to physical altercations between their staff and anti-LGBTQ+ groups. We’ll talk about LGBTQ branding, cashing in on the fight for equality, and boycotts over recent marketing strategies with Katherine Sender, communications, gender and sexuality studies professor at Cornell University.
After years in South Korea, NPR host Elise Hu reflects on Korean beauty culture and what it says about how we’ll look at ourselves and each other.
Do you feel safe riding your bike or walking around near busy Philly roadways? Pedestrian and cycling deaths rose in the last year, yet the city’s goal is to eliminate all traffic fatalities by 2030. We’ll talk about urban planning and how to make our streets more protective for cyclists, pedestrians, and car commuters. Among our guests is Nicole Brunet, policy director at the Bicycle Coalition of Philadelphia.
The World Health Organization recently issued a stern warning against using artificial sweeteners like Splenda and aspartame for weight loss, citing potential increased risks for diabetes and other chronic diseases. We’ll talk about fake sugars, why they’re hidden in so much of our food, and what consumers should do with Washington Post health columnist Anahad O’Connor.
Clint Smith began writing the poems in his new collection, Above Ground, when his wife was pregnant with their first child. The poems reflect the joy and fear that accompanies fatherhood. Some are fun and full of wonder, like “Ode to a double stroller” or “What sound a giraffe makes.” Others wrestle with the world children inherit, our racist past and the violence in everyday life.
This is Smith’s second poetry collection and follows his widely acclaimed book, How the Word Is Passed, which looked at how the legacy of slavery is enmeshed in our history and landscape. Clint Smith joins us to read his poems and talk about Black fatherhood and America’s history. [originally broadcast 3/31]
Humans have long been fascinated by the idea of communicating with other species — not just teaching animals to mimic human words, but truly understanding their calls or cries, and interpreting their meaning. In recent years, new technologies and research are getting us closer to that point. So what are scientists learning about the way animals’ minds work — what they think about, care about, and want us to understand?
On this episode, we explore animal communication — from their ability to speak our language, to our ability to understand theirs. We hear stories about what viral videos of “talking” dogs and cats are teaching scientists, the hidden meanings behind whale songs and dolphin whistles, and how machine learning is decoding the oinks and squeals of pigs.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- Nicole Cordova says her husky Manson loves to talk — whine, argue, and yell like Chewbacca. We hear about what it’s like living with a chatty canine.
- In 1970, biologist Roger Payne released a haunting album called “Songs of the Humpback Whale” that left listeners spellbound. Fifty years later, what have we learned about what those songs mean? We talk with nature documentary filmmaker Tom Mustill — author of the recent book “How to Speak Whale” — about what scientists have discovered.
- We talk with Justin Gregg, a researcher at the Dolphin Communication Project, about what dolphin clicks and whistles mean, how their communication differs from human language, and what we’re learning about what matters to dolphins.
- When pigs oink, grunt, or snort, does it mean they feel good or bad? That’s the question Élodie Briefer, an animal cognition expert who teaches biology at the University of Copenhagen, is trying to answer. She tells us what machine learning is uncovering about the feelings behind these vocalizations, and how it can help livestock farmers and inspectors improve pigs’ lives.
Sloth bear cubs born in January have made an adorable outdoor debut at the Philadelphia Zoo. They’re still nameless. We’re talking about the vulnerable species and the contest to name them with Maggie Morse, Curator of Carnivores and Ungulates.
Have you made your summer vacation plans? It’s not too late. PBS travel expert and guidebook author Rick Steves joins us with destination suggestions, instructions for traveling on a budget and some advice on how to be a good traveler. He’ll also take your questions, the number is (888) 477-9499 or email us at studio2@whyy.org.
Also, we hope to crown another Trivia contestant. Plus, Tonya Pendleton has the hottest weekend events for this Memorial weekend.
Online romance scams are on the rise, and advances in artificial intelligence are making it harder to detect fakers. Last year, victims of catfishing and other romantic schemes on the web lost over $1 billion. How are these traps so successful, and what does it tell us about loneliness, technology and being safe online? Temple University criminology professor Aunshul Rege joins us. Email studio2@whyy.org or call 888-477-9499 with your questions and stories.
Peanut allergies are a problem for tons of kids, and for some, a reaction could lead to a trip to the emergency room. New research shows that a “peanut patch” may be effective for helping toddlers increase their peanut tolerance. Our guest is Dr. Terri Brown-Whitehorn, attending physician at the Division of Allergy and Immunology at CHOP and a Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania.
The popular Phillies baseball podcast Hittin’ Season has joined the WHYY family. We’ll talk about it with John Stolnis.
Priya Kansara & Ritu Arya talk with Patrick Stoner about combining British humor with Bollywood action in their film.
We’re digging into the latest research on a good night’s rest. From melatonin supplements to the best sleep position for your health, and how deep sleep may protect you from Alzheimer’s. Joining us is University of Pennsylvania sleep medicine expert Philip Gehrman.
Award-winning jazz-soul trombonist and Philly native Jeff Bradshaw will be in the studio to perform live. His forthcoming album, Jeff Bradshaw 20, is a reflection of his two decades in the industry, touring with international stars and staying true to his unique Philly sound.
Four-term incumbent U.S. Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware announced that he won’t seek re-election in 2024. We talk with WHYY News’ Senior Managing Mark Eichmann, who’s covered the state of Delaware for two decades.
Next on You Oughta Know, find out how MossRehab is helping patients Groom, Glow and Grow. Learn about a new mentorship program for Black men in pursuit of medical careers. Meet America’s first Black female ringmaster. Visit the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts for some big top training. Discover a new documentary series that celebrates The Art of Aviation. Climb aboard the SS United States.
We all know how stress — or anger, or pangs of anxiety — can affect the body. Your heart rate increases; your blood pressure rises; maybe your palms feel sweaty, or your stomach feels tight. Likewise, our bodies have a profound impact on our minds. When we experience pleasure, happy chemicals flood our brains, keeping us calm and relaxed. Chronic pain, on the other hand, can cause anxiety, depression — even problems with memory and focus.
The mind and body form a powerful feedback loop — with each triggering processes in the other. But in medicine, there is still a firm line separating physical symptoms from thoughts and emotions, a barrier between physical and mental health.
Increasingly, though, researchers are challenging that disconnect, and new treatments are exploring surprising ways in which the body helps heal the mind, and vice versa. On this episode, we explore the mind-body connection. We’ll hear stories about how meditation is being used to treat long COVID, the burgeoning field of cardiac psychology, and harnessing our fight-or-flight response to treat PTSD.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- Maiken visits Ignite Sadhana, a yoga studio in New Jersey, to participate in a workshop that teaches the Wim Hof method. Wim Hof is known for his abilities to perform athletic challenges under extremely difficult circumstances and in very cold temperatures. The workshop includes breathing techniques and an ice bath, aimed at tapping into the body’s autonomic nervous system.
- We talk with William Breitbart, chairman of the psychiatry department at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, about the groundbreaking work of his late colleague, Jimmie Holland, in bringing mental health into the treatment of cancer.
- Journalist Stephanie Foo was at the top of her field, and seemingly on top of the world — and yet, in secret, she was plagued by panic attacks and daily breakdowns. At the age of 30, Foo received a diagnosis: complex PTSD from years of childhood abuse and neglect. We talk with Foo about her journey to learn about complex PTSD, its effects on the body, and her search for a cure. Her memoir is “What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma.”
- PTSD has long been considered a disorder of the mind — but in recent years, there’s been a growing focus on the idea that trauma can be stored in the body. Enter Somatic Experiencing — an alternative therapy that aims to treat trauma using a body-first approach. Reporter Liz Tung explores what this therapy is, and how it works.
With the next round of city grant funding on the way, community violence prevention groups are calling on the city to revamp the process after a complicated first round. WHYY gun violence prevention reporter Sammy Caiola joins us.
As legal recreational cannabis gains traction across the country, parents have growing concerns about how their teens will perceive — and probably use — weed. Modern strains are more potent, with higher levels of THC, raising concerns about what it could do to developing brains. We’ll talk with Rutgers Addiction Research Center’s Danielle Dick.
We also have another live trivia contestant, and WHYY’s Tonya Pendleton shares her list of things to do this weekend.
Red knots are returning to the Delaware Bay, fueling up on horseshoe crab eggs along their 9,000-mile journey from South America to the Canadian Artic. Their population has plummeted in recent years and they are now listed as a threatened species. We’ll talk with a conservationist about the red knots health, the role our beaches play in their migration.
Then, one day after the election, we’ll dig into the results, discuss the victories and defeats, the campaigns, the money that flowed into this historical race and issues that resonated with voters. Richardson Dilworth, professor of politics at Drexel University, is among our guests.
And, a true story, the remarkable escape of an enslaved husband and wife. Ellen Craft disguised herself as a white man and her husband William pretended to be her slave. WHYY’s Mary Cummings-Jordan talks to author Ilyon Woo about her new book Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom and takes us on this incredibly dangerous journey.
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD, is a neurological condition that affects at least 4 percent of Americans – but there’s so much confusion about what it means and how it impacts everyday life. On social media, millions of people are trying to spread awareness and find connection by posting videos about their own experiences.
We increasingly have a better appreciation of neurodiversity and are learning that while ADHD can make it difficult to pay attention and manage tasks, it can also be a source of creativity and original thinking. Difference, it turns out, does not mean disability.
We talk with neuropsychologist David Nowell (@davidnowell) about diagnosing ADHD and helping people live with it. And, cartoonist Anika Orrock (@anikadrawls) on what she discovered in the 20 years since her diagnosis.
Rachel Weisz talks with Patrick Stoner about playing opposite herself as both sides of twins.
Tuesday is Election Day, so we’re checking in with some of our WHYY reporters at the polls.
Ringing phones halted not one, but two performances at the Philadelphia Orchestra. Our attachment to our phones interrupts weddings, concerts and everyday conversations. We’ll talk about cell phone etiquette and how our phones impact our connections with each other. Science writer Catherine Price, author of How to Break Up with Your Phone, also shares tips for reducing our dependency on these devices.
Tonya Mosley joins us to talk about her new role as Fresh Air co-host and to talk about her career in journalism, covering Silicon Valley, creating the award-winning podcast Truth Be Told and hosting NPR’s Here & Now.
What’s it like to perform on stage in front of hundreds or thousands of people? We talk with three artists who have mastered their craft about the creative process, stage fright, perfectionism, improvisation and connecting with an audience.
We’re joined by David Kim, violinist and concertmaster of The Philadelphia Orchestra, Ángel Corella, artistic director of Philadelphia Ballet and Jennifer Childs, actor and co-founder of 1812 Productions.
Next on You Oughta Know, learn how to change careers and become a teacher. Find out how RAWtools Philly is turning guns into garden tools. Head to the polls with PA Youth Vote. Discover the art of cane and rush furniture repair. Meet the hatmakers at Eggcup Designs. Help solve a Golden Girls murder mystery. Catch Patrick Stoner’s Flix interviews with the stars of The Diplomat.
More than a third of Americans use complementary and alternative medicine, ranging from acupuncture to herbalism, Ayurveda to homeopathy. But despite its growing popularity, complementary and alternative medicine remains, for the most part, outside the Western medical mainstream — regarded by some as fringe, and by others as straight-up quackery.
Despite that, many researchers and supporters have been trying to gain a deeper understanding of medical practices from around the world, and to incorporate them into our health care system. And that’s led to more questions: Which practices work, and for what conditions? How do they work? And how do we measure and standardize treatments when they’re removed from their cultural contexts?
On this episode, we step outside the boundaries of Western medicine to explore those questions. We hear stories about a mysterious Vodou treatment, the struggle to bring acupuncture into the medical mainstream, and answers to Western skeptics.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- We talk with public health researcher Gerard Bodeker about what he’s learned over his decades-long career studying traditional medicine from around the world — including surprising cures, lessons learned, and challenges to integration.
- Richard Harris is a professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine. But had a keen interest in Eastern medicine, and specifically acupuncture. Harris explains what he’s learned through his years of research and brain-imaging studies about how acupuncture actually works.
Attorney Deborah Gross, who heads Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts will talk about the upcoming judicial elections in Pennsylvania — their importance, the candidates and what’s at stake.
Also, “tell me sweet little lies.” Rep. George Santos pleaded not guilty to 13 counts this week, including lying to Congress. We’ll hear from Wharton professor of management Maurice Schweitzer about why people lie.
And, the legendary Studio 2 Trivia contest is hoping to find its next winner.
More than 600,000 Philadelphians choose bottled water over tap, even though the city says its water meets health and safety standards, according to WHYY’s Sophia Schmidt. She’ll join us to talk about what causes mistrust in the city’s drinking water, especially with the recent water scare.
The COVID-19 public health emergency will end Thursday after more than three years. What does that mean practically and is it too soon? We’ll talk about vaccines, variants, long COVID and more with Dr. Paul Offit, Director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and an FDA COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee.
Sustainable fashion — can you tell the difference between greenwashing and legitimate eco-friendly practices? Grant Blvd CEO and founder Kimberly McGlonn will talk about what sustainability should look like — and where it matters most.
Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen & Mary Steenburgen talk with Patrick Stoner about the pleasures of aging & the joy of filming in Italy.
Republican Mayoral Candidate David Oh (@davidohphilly) joins us one week before the primary election in Philadelphia.
The push for a four-day workweek is gaining momentum. What do you think? We’ll talk with Penn State Abington Professor Lonnie Golden (@lonniegolden5) about the pros, cons, workplace boundaries and productivity, and hear from Rep. Chris Rabb (@reprabb) about his proposal to study it.
Producer Paige Murray-Bessler talks with University of Pennsylvania students Gemma Hong and Sophie Young about their relatable, funny and practical guide, Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Puberty—and Shouldn’t Learn on TikTok.
Next on You Oughta Know, learn how Johnny Scrabble is teaching Philly students by playing games. Check out a library where crafters can share supplies, and one where patrons can borrow tools and instruments. Meet an opera singer whose comedic impressions landed her on AGT. Discover the art of book restoration, and a Delaware company that uses old world printing presses to create modern projects.
If you look around for Mother’s Day gifts, you’ll probably see stuff like bubble baths, spa days, yoga classes — a whole slew of things aimed at promoting “self-care” for tireless (but actually exhausted) moms.
But for a lot of overwhelmed mothers, self-care becomes just another box to tick — another item on an endless to-do list that never gets finished. The demands of modern motherhood can be overwhelming: Moms are expected to do it all and do it perfectly — even if that means compromising their own well-being.
On this episode, we talk about the challenges of motherhood, and how moms can find the space and time to take care of themselves. We talk with a perinatal psychiatrist about the contradictory demands of motherhood, and why bubble baths aren’t the answer; hear about an initiative to help mothers dealing with postpartum depression; and learn about the unexpected ways that motherhood changes the brain.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- We talk with perinatal psychiatrist Pooja Lakshmin about the growing toll she’s seen motherhood take on new moms, the pressure of changing social expectations, and how boundaries — not bubble baths — can create a path to true well-being. Her new book is called “Real Self-Care: A Transformative Program for Redefining Wellness (Crystals, Cleanses, and Bubble Baths Not Included).”
- When health-and-science journalist Chelsea Conaboy first became a mother, she was surprised to find that the maternal instinct she’d heard about for years wasn’t kicking in. That led Conaboy to investigate some of our long-held beliefs about motherhood — and how they influence our ways of thinking and behaving. Her new book is called “Mother Brain: How Neuroscience Is Rewriting the Story of Parenthood.”
SOCIAL BLURBS:* Forget bubble baths and scented candles — for this year’s Mother’s Day, find out what science says moms really need to achieve true well-being. * Ahead of this year’s Mother’s Day, we bust the myth of the perfect mom, and figure out what real self-care can look like.
Hip hop turns 50 this year and we’re talking about the history, the hits and so much more with Philly legends DJ Jazzy Jeff and Charlie Mack.
Art returns to the old Barnes Foundation building in Lower Merion. WHYY’s Peter Crimmins joins us to talk about visiting Saint Joseph’s University’s brand-new Maguire Art Museum.
It’s Trivia Thursday, and Tonya Pendletonwill share her list of things to do this weekend.
Across the country in Republican-controlled states, anti-trans bills are being introduced and sometimes passed into law, criminalizing gender-affirming care, restricting participation in school sports programs, policing bathroom use, banning drag shows for children and instituting so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bills. And yet polls show a majority of Americans strongly oppose these efforts to restrict LGBTQ+ rights.
Today, two trans women activists join us to share their personal story, talk about living with transphobia and how to fight it. Jennifer Finney Boylan is a transgender activist, English professor and author of many books including her groundbreaking memoir, She’s Not There: A Life in Two Genders, and Raquel Willis is the co-founder of Transgender Week of Visibility and Action and the board president of Solutions Not Punishments Collaborative.
Morgan Freeman talks to Patrick Stoner about friendship & the craft he took from earlier actors.
With the Democratic mayoral primary less than two weeks away, former city controller and candidate Rebecca Rhynhart explains what tops her agenda if elected.
Deptford Little League is cracking down on unruly sports parents who scream at umpires. We’ll look at how money, competition and increasingly high stakes are ruining youth sports and how to make them fun again with soccer coach, parent, and Sideline Project founder Skye Eddy and Villanova sociologist Rick Eckstein.
Feeling a little stressed out? Producer Paige Murray-Bessler takes us into a Kadampa Meditation Center in Philadelphia to learn more about mindfulness and the benefits of this ancient practice.
The right to bear arms is outlined in the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Why is that? And how have gun laws in the United States changed over time?
Democratic mayoral candidate Cherelle Parker is the next to stop by Studio 2, with just two weeks to go before Philadelphia’s primary election.
Journalist Ernest Owens talks about the origins and politics of cancel culture — and how it can be used as a tool for social justice and change. His book is The Case for Cancel Culture: How This Democratic Tool Works to Liberate Us All.
James Ijames, who won the 2022 Pulitzer Prize in Drama for Fat Ham, joins us to talk about the world premiere of his new production at Theatre Exile, Abandon.
How does the U.S. Constitution establish freedom of the press? Can journalists be legally required to share the sources of their information? We answer these questions and explain how The New York Times v. Sullivan Supreme Court case shaped protections for the press.
You Oughta Know visits Independent Record Pressing to see how albums are made. Learn how Drexel Audio Archives is saving classic recordings. Sample musical memorabilia at Johnson Victrola Museum. Meet the ‘90s hip hop moguls and founders of Ruffhouse Records. Sample the sound of Philly students learning pro DJ skills. Find rare vinyl at R & B Records and visit Centro Musical, a unique music store.
What is the historical context for establishing freedom of religion in the U.S. Constitution? And how exactly is freedom of religion protected under the First Amendment? Join Constitutional Law expert Gloria J. Browne-Marshall as we explore all this and more!
Have you ever wanted to figure out when you’re the most focused? Or how your moods change throughout the day? How “fit” your brain is, or whether your insomnia is really as bad as you think?
Neurotech devices promise to deliver insights. These are cutting-edge gadgets that pick up on the electrochemical signals inside of our brains, and are connected to algorithms that analyze and interpret that data.
Brain technology offers all kinds of exciting possibilities — from treating conditions like epilepsy or depression, to simply maximizing our brain health. But medical ethicists are already raising the alarm about potential dangers — for example, how are employers using this tech to monitor their employees? What happens when their brain metrics don’t meet standards?
On this episode, we dive into some of these thorny questions with Nita Farahany, a leading scholar on the social, legal, and ethical implications of emerging technologies, and some of the conclusions she’s come to in her new book, “The Battle for Your Brain: Defending the Right to Think Freely in the Age of Neurotechnology.”
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- We chat with Roy Hamilton, a neurologist and researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, about how brain stimulation is being used. He directs the Penn Brain Science, Translation, Innovation, and Modulation (brainSTIM) Center. We’ll also hear from an at-home user about how it improved his life.
What does the U.S. Constitution say about Freedom of Speech, and how have these rights changed and expanded over time? Join Constitutional Law expert Gloria J. Browne-Marshall as we explore what types of speech and expression are protected under the First Amendment.
Movers & Makers special exploring how connecting with soil benefits Philadelphians of all backgrounds. Three local organizations, led by exemplary land advocates, are creating learning environments that help preserve cultural traditions and protect our natural environment.
Pa. State Representative Amen Brown talks about his mayoral campaign and his plans for Philadelphia if elected.
A discussion about ranked choice voting. Would it make for fairer elections? Joining us is Jack Santucci, assistant professor of politics at Drexel University.
Hear the best things to check out this weekend from Tonya Pendleton.
Another tricky round of Studio 2 trivia is on deck with a brand-new live contestant this week. Leave a message telling us why you’d be a great guest by calling 215-351-0525.
Why do some couples stay happily together for years and others split apart? Drs. John and Julie Gottman have been studying what makes and breaks relationships for fifty years.
In the Gottman Institute, they’ve observed over 3000 couples interactions, published numerous studies, trained therapists and distilled what they’ve learned in many popular books, their latest is The Love Prescription. And they have found some of the secret ingredients – be kind, be curious about one another, have regular date nights, and as they explain it, “turn toward each other instead of turning away.”
The Gottman’s join us today on The Connection to talk about their research into happy relationships, how to mend bad ones and when to know it’s time to end it.
How does a case make it to the United States Supreme Court? How has the Court’s composition changed over time? And what is the role of precedent when making a ruling? Let’s dive into how the judicial branch shapes the law of the land.
Keri Russell & Rufus Sewell talk with Patrick Stoner about the highly rated new Netflix political suspense series.
This school year, asbestos has already forced the closure of five classrooms in the School District of Philadelphia, returning students to virtual learning, with many of them remaining online until September. We’ll talk about the state of asbestos in our schools with Philadelphia Inquirer education reporter Kristen Graham.
In his memoir, The Best Strangers in the World: Stories from a Life Spent Listening, NPR host Ari Shapiro shares some of his most memorable, delightful and unexpected encounters from his many years of reporting. He joins us to talk about the book and his life behind the scenes of All Things Considered.
Opera Philadelphia’s new production of Giacomo Puccini’s four part opera, La bohème, presents memorable scenes and music in reverse order. Acclaimed director Yuval Sharon talks about this revolutionary new take on a classic production.
With just a few weeks to go until the democratic primary – Philadelphia mayoral candidate Allan Domb explains what he’ll do in his first 100 days – and beyond – if elected.
A plan to unroll state of the art public toilets in the city this year: we’re talking about the history and politics of public restrooms with journalist Jen Miller.
One of Billy Holiday’s final performances is revisited in the new show “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill.” Acclaimed vocalist Laurin Talese joins us.
Next on You Oughta Know, how sweet it is! Delight guests with delectable almond macaroons from the HOTEL DU PONT. Learn how Cathryn’s Cake Salon bakes up family favorites. Find out why the Cinnamon Bun Exchange is on a roll. Get the inside scoop on vegan ice cream and cake at Vannah Banana and Batter and Crumbs. Experience a pudding lover’s paradise at the Puddin Palace. And don’t forget your pets with confections for canines from Salty Paws and Amelie’s Bark Shop.
We live in a world of endless opportunity — hundreds of dating options, dozens of jobs to apply to, the ability to market your creations, or even yourself directly online — but with opportunity inevitably comes rejection. Sometimes, a lot of rejection.
Rejection, or even the thought of it, can strike fear into our hearts, and leave a bad taste in our mouths. It often leads to a mix of sadness, shame, anxiety, and anger — along with nagging questions. What’s wrong with me? Why did this person not like me? Why didn’t I win this award? Why didn’t I get the job?
But it doesn’t have to be that way, and there’s a lot we can learn from not making the cut. On this episode, we explore the experience of rejection — what it feels like, how it functions, and the lessons we can draw from it.
We’ll hear from a fear and anxiety researcher about the evolutionary roots of anxiety — and why asking someone out on a date can feel like a life-or-death situation. Then we’ll explore a common experience among people with ADHD, known as rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD), and hear how one future physician dealt with the worst rejection of her life.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- We talk with Arash Javanbakht, a trauma psychiatrist who studies fear and anxiety at Wayne State University, about the evolutionary purpose of the dread we feel around rejection, how it affects our brains, and evidence-based ways to manage those feelings.
- Every year, thousands of graduating medical students apply for the next stage of their medical education — residency. But not everyone gets selected. Reporter Liz Tung tells the story of one such student, Katie Bellas, and how she dealt with the biggest rejection of her life.
Wildfires have torn through the New Jersey Pinelands in recent weeks, and red flag fire risk warnings have been issued in nine counties. We’ll talk with New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Assistant Commissioner John Cecil.
We have the latest on electric vehicles. Are you in the market for one? What do you think about the national push for EV policies and incentives like rebates? We’re joined by John Paul MacDuffie, director of the Program on Vehicle and Mobility Innovation at Wharton’s Mack Institute for Innovation Management.
WHYY’s Tonya Pendleton shares the most exciting things to check out this weekend, and we have more Studio 2 trivia with this week’s contestant.
The teenage years are always difficult to navigate, but lately they’ve become even harder for young people facing pressure at school, on social media and living with the threat of gun violence. Adolescents are reporting record rates of anxiety, depression and thoughts of suicide. So how can adults help young people through this painful and awkward time?
Psychologist Lisa Damour has written a book to help parents understand the emotional journey of adolescents, that negative emotions are normal, and how to best support the young people in their lives. It’s called The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connect, Capable, Compassionate Adolescents.
Teyana Taylor, star, & A.V. Rockwell, writer/director, talk with Patrick Stoner about this award winning tale of survival in Harlem.
Philadelphia mayoral candidate Jeff Brown is next to join our interviews with the people who want to succeed Mayor Jim Kenney, less than a month out from the democratic primary.
Acclaimed best-selling authors Laurie Halse Anderson and Jean Kwok, whose books are on a list of over 65 titles being challenged in Central Bucks School District, join us to talk about the rise in book bans and what it’s like for authors to have their stories threatened. They’ve both defended their own books in front of the school board, and the rights of other authors to have their stories remain on library shelves.
Black women are four times more likely to die of pregnancy related causes than their white counterparts in Philadelphia. We’re talking about the cause — and ways to fix the problem — with maternal health researcher Dr. Jill Baker.
Continuing our interviews with Philadelphia mayoral candidates, former City Council Member-At-Large Helen Gym joins us to talk about her top priorities if elected.
This week marks one year since the first legal recreational cannabis sale in New Jersey. We’ll talk about what’s happening in the industry, if it’s meeting expectations and what it means for neighboring states with Asbury Park Press cannabis reporter Mike Davis.
Many of us take our hearing for granted but we’re learning more about just how important it is to our health. New research shows it may contribute to dementia, depression and loneliness. Audiologist Karen McQuaide explains that protecting your ears is essential to living well.
Next on You Oughta Know, explore how art connects us. Celebrate Asian representation in Hollywood. Visit Ambler’s Art in the Storefront community space. Discover how Philly is becoming a global canvas. Meet abstract pop artist Jed Williams. Find out how Black Hound Clay Studio is breaking down barriers. Get to know Philly’s “Village Potter” and his Grounds for Sculpture creations. Check out a new Barnes exhibit with cross-generational perspectives on apartheid.
We all know that exercise is good for us — for both our bodies and our minds — but motivating yourself to hit the gym, take a run, or even go for a walk sometimes feels like the hardest thing in the world. There are constant rebuttals that arise in our minds: We’re too busy. We’re too tired. We need a break — we’ll start next week. At the same time, we’re bombarded by messages from people who are all about fitness — influencers with seemingly perfect bodies and a healthy glow, who convince us that we too can get into shape. It’s a habit that many of us try to cultivate — yet often seem to hit a wall.
On this episode, we look at the science of fitness, the evolution of cultural messages surrounding exercise, and how we can overcome inertia to start fitting it into our lives. We’ll hear about how exercise affects our mood and overall health, different approaches to getting in shape, the real-life struggle of becoming an Instagram fitness influencer, and one couch potato’s reluctant journey to getting active.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- We talk with historian Natalia Mehlman Petrzela about the evolution of exercise culture from sideshow attraction to multi-billion dollar industry. Her book is “Fit Nation: The Gains and Pains of America’s Exercise Obsession.”
- Neuroscience and kinesiology researcher Jennifer Heisz gives us the lowdown on how exercise affects our minds and bodies — from the runner’s high to cognitive function. Heisz is the director of the NeuroFit Lab at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada.
- Reporter Grant Hill pulls the curtain back on the life of an Instagram fitness influencer, Grant Tamutus, who was his high school classmate.
- We’ve all heard about how bad sitting too much is for us. Research has found it can affect everything from blood pressure to cancer rates. And yet, 60% of Americans don’t get enough physical activity — and 25% don’t get any at all. Confirmed all-day sitter and reporter Liz Tung explores how much exercise you actually need to do in order to offset a sedentary lifestyle and ideas for how to fit that exercise in.
Dog flu has spread throughout animal shelters, leaving them in crisis and dire need of fosters and adoptions. ACCT executive director Sarah Barnett joins us to talk about what shelters are like after the height of the pandemic, the spread of illness and the difficult decisions shelter volunteers now face.
We hear from Philadelphia writer Joseph Earl Thomas about his acclaimed memoir, Sink. Thomas writes about growing up in the Frankford section of the city, his childhood shaped by poverty, abuse, and the strict expectations of masculinity he faced. He found an escape through higher education, his favorite video games and the local pet store – even brining home an alligator.
Studio 2 trivia is also back, and WHYY’s Tonya Pendleton has your list of things to do this weekend.
Earth Day is supposed to prompt us to pay attention to our planet and think about how to protect it, and it’s just a week away. But many people can’t stop worrying about the future of the Earth.
Climate anxiety is growing, particularly younger generations, as they watch forests disappear, species vanish, and glaciers melt. The American Psychological Association defines eco-anxiety as a “chronic fear of environmental doom,” and is harmful to mental health.
Today, a conversation about climate anxiety, strategies for coping with it, and how to turn those feelings of hopelessness into action.
GuestsThomas Doherty, a clinical psychologist practicing in Portland, Oregon who specializes in climate psychology.
Sarah Ray, Environmental Studies Professor at Cal Poly Humboldt Professor of Environment.
Florence Pugh & Zach Braff talk with Patrick Stoner about what makes an actor’s director.
With just one month until the democratic primary for the next mayor of Philadelphia, it’s still a crowded field. Candidate Derek Green will be the first to join Studio 2 to talk about his top priorities for the city.
Wharton School graduate Charlie Javis is facing federal charges for allegedly defrauding JPMorgan Chase — getting them to invest $175m in her college financial aid startup. New York Times columnist Ron Lieber, author of “The Price You Pay for College,” joins us to talk about an alleged elaborate scheme involving a long list of fake customers.
We’ll take an audio tour of the sonambient sculptures made by Pennsylvania artist and musician Harry Bertoia. Journalist Grayson Currin explains his musical revival and the family feud that is challenging his legacy.
The latest research on moderate drinking shows there are no health benefits to alcohol, and that even a few glasses of wine at dinner may contribute to certain cancers and other diseases. We’ll talk with Christina Mair, Professor of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences at University of Pittsburgh.
Faculty at Rutgers University went on strike Monday as part of a battle with the school’s administration over salary demands, health insurance and more. WHYY South Jersey reporter Kenny Burns joins us to explain what’s happening at the largest public university in New Jersey.
If you haven’t started your spring gardening yet…it’s time to dig in! We’re talking with horticulturist Jenny Rose Carey.
Next on You Oughta Know, go on location at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, where beauty meets history and learning. Discover the legacy of Ann Lowe, the unrecognized Black fashion designer who created Jackie Kennedy’s wedding dress. Celebrate Philadelphia royalty at the Grace Kelly Gallery. Catch the excitement of Winterthur’s annual steeplechase. Get inspired at the Pearl S. Buck Museum. Escape the city to Andalusia Historic House, Gardens & Arboretum.
We hear about the big picture of climate change almost every day — the threats it poses, the effects on our world and lives, the fight to stop it. Across the world, armies of researchers are contributing pieces to that big picture narrative every day. They often travel long distances and brave the elements to collect information, one small data point at a time.
How do Antarctic penguins fare when warming temperatures bring potential competitors onto their turf? How do we really know what Earth’s climate was like in the past, and how it compares to today? What’s it like to spend months living on an old oil drilling ship, in search of tiny ancient fossils?On this special episode of The Pulse, we go behind the headlines to spend time with scientists on the front lines of climate research. We’ll hear how they’re collecting data, what they’re learning, and what keeps them motivated.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- The Antarctic Peninsula is experiencing some of the fastest warming on Earth — and scientists are already seeing the effects among two of the region’s penguin populations: the Adélie and the Gentoo. Reporter Sophia Schmidt talks with penguin researchers about what changes they’re witnessing, and why.
- We talk with leading climate scientist Kim Cobb about her work in the field of paleoclimatology, and what studying coral — old and new — can tell us about the earth’s ancient climate history. She also explains what’s next on the horizon in our fight against global warming. Cobb is director of the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, and a recent addition to President Biden’s Intelligence Advisory Board.
- There’s a certain way we expect scientists to communicate — in calm, measured tones that prioritize facts over feelings. But science communicator Joe Duggan thought that feelings were an important part of the narrative — a powerful tool to communicate how urgent climate research is. He decided to ask scientists to express their emotions about their work and the fate of the planet in letters. Nichole Currie reports on his project.
- On a beach in the Siberian Arctic, a marine biologist lives in a small hut and waits for more than 100,000 walruses to pile their massive bodies on shore. The walruses overcrowd the beach and sometimes die due to stampedes. This coming out-of-the-water phenomenon is called a “haulout,” and it’s a result of climate change. Filmmaker Evgenia Arbugaeva talks about documenting this phenomenon and the scientist who studies the walruses. “Haulout” was nominated for an Academy Award for best Documentary Short Film this year.
The Phillies’ home opener is here, and the new season brings new food to Citizens Bank Park. Billy Penn food and drink reporter Ali Mohsen tried almost everything – from Mexican street popcorn to the first ever plant-based food stand – and tells us what’s on the menu.
SEPTA just released its $1.7 billion proposed operating budget, and with pandemic relief drying up, the organization could find itself low on funds. What would that mean for service and fare increases? CEO and General Manager Leslie Richards joins us live to take your questions about the state of transit in Philadelphia, public safety and more.
Who doesn’t love a tote bag? The Studio 2 trivia competition launches tomorrow. Plus, WHYY’s Tonya Pendleton has a list of things to do this weekend.
You’d think that by the time we reach adulthood, saying you are sorry would be second nature. But many people struggle with apologies and end up sounding insincere. Marjorie Ingall and Susan McCarthy have been tracking apologies from celebrities, politicians, and others in the public eye since 2012 for their website SorryWatch. They have analyzed what makes a good apology and have boiled it down to six essential steps, which they share in their book, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry. They join us today to talk about saying sorry, the mistakes people make, why some of us apologize too much, and the benefits of a good apology.
Brendan Hunt, who plays the enigmatic Coach Beard, talks with Patrick Stoner about the camaraderie of the cast.
ChatGPT’s real-world implications are concerning to say the least. Will it kill the college essay, lead to mass layoffs and worsen the spread of misinformation? We’ll talk about the controversial tool with Washington Post tech reporter Will Oremus.
The Washington Post, The AI backlash is here. It’s focused on the wrong things. “Some people look at the dizzying trajectory of change and see a line that leads to robot overlords and the downfall of humanity.”
The pandemic requirement for states to allow people continued Medicaid coverage is expiring- meaning millions of people could lose access to healthcare. WHYY health & science reporter Nicole Leonard explains what’s happening in the region and why so many recipients could be removed.
WHYY News, Continuous Medicaid enrollment has ended. Here’s how you can prepare for renewals in Pa., N.J., and Del. “Having to worry about the complex renewal process during the pandemic and during this time just would have been overwhelming for people.”
And our music contributor, Amir Richardson, aka rapper-songwriter The Bul Bey, stops by with three new releases by Philly artists that we’ll listen to: Adam Blackstone’s “Lost,” Brayla’s “Pg” and Luke O’Brien’s “Keep Going.”
New Jersey is often billed as the diner capital of the world — there are some 525 scattered across the state. And diner culture is engrained in the Garden State — delicious, affordable food — including breakfast all day and night — served up in instantly recognizable establishments. But some favorite diners have closed in recent years, replaced by cannabis stores and fast food restaurants. Are diners under threat or is the business simply changing? New Jersey diner historian and author Michael Gabriele joins us to talk about the culture, history and future of diners.
And, food isn’t just fuel. Mary Beth Albright, author of Eat and Flourish, explains the food-mood connection and how what we eat influences our emotional wellbeing.
First, Representative Morgan Cephas, tells us about two bills she has introduced in the House to crack down on ghost guns, the firearms sold in parts and shipped anywhere to be assembled at home.
Next on You Oughta Know, get a healthy dose of live music with The Providers. Find out how Ladies Who Rock are helping women in need through music festivals. Discover the untold history of Philadelphia with Beyond the Bell tours. Visit women-owned businesses in East Passyunk. Meet twin sisters who realized their restaurant dreams with FoodChasers’ Kitchen. Learn about the history of women in brewing and meet one of today’s best female head brewers.
On April 3, 1973, an engineer named Martin Cooper stood nervously along a busy midtown Manhattan street, about to make a phone call. It was a call that would change life as we know it: The first cell phone call ever.
The phone Cooper used that day — a prototype — was a bulky, 2-pound monster that looked a bit like a shoe with an antenna sticking out of the top. In the half-a-century since, this technology has changed more about the way we communicate and connect than Cooper could’ve ever imagined.
On this special episode, we mark the 50th anniversary of the first cell call with an exploration of the past, present, and future of mobile communications. We hear about Cooper’s work on this world-altering invention, one community’s fight against the 5G revolution, and why satellite phones are making a comeback in a big way.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- Cell towers may keep us all connected, but there’s a downside: They’re an eyesore. That’s led some providers to try disguising their towers as giant trees or cactuses. But is there a better solution? We hear from architect and writer Jesse LeCavalier, who directs the Cornell University Urban Design Program in New York City, about the history of telecommunication aesthetics, and how attitudes have changed.
Top Bucks County officials are suing social media companies for contributing to the teen mental health crisis. They are following other municipalities trying to hold the tech giants accountable for teen depression, anxiety and rising suicide rates. We’ll talk with Bucks County Commissioner Chair Bob Harvie about the lawsuit and Harvard researcher Carrie James about teen digital life.
And, it’s baseball season—time to talk about the Phillies with broadcaster Tom McCarthy,who fills us in on how somebig rule changes will affect the game.
Plus, NPR’s Sylvia Poggioli is starting a new chapter in her life. We’ll ask her about her four decades as a European correspondent before she steps away from the role.
Clint Smith began writing the poems in his new collection, Above Ground, when his wife was pregnant with their first child. The poems reflect the joy and fear that accompanies fatherhood. Some are fun and full of wonder, like “Ode to a double stroller” or “What sound a giraffe makes.” Others wrestle with the world children inherit, our racist past and the violence in everyday life.
This is Smith’s second poetry collection and follows his widely acclaimed book, How the Word Is Passed, which looked at how the legacy of slavery is enmeshed in our history and landscape. Clint Smith joins us to read his poems and talk about Black fatherhood and America’s history.
Willem Dafoe talks with Patrick Stoner about the challenges of carrying a film about a trapped thief inside a locked apartment entirely on his own.
Speaker JOANNA MCCLINTON is a new leader in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and she has lofty goals for the legislature. McClinton, the first woman to hold the house speaker position, joins us to talk about what’s at the top of her agenda.
We usually associate quitting with failure, but professional poker player ANNIE DUKE says choosing when to give up is an ultimate key to success. She joins us to talk about her book, Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away.
A few warm months in the region has brought an early tick season. We’ll talk about the latest research in tick-borne diseases and how to stay safe with Penn State Extension specialist EMILY STRUCKHOFF.
A chemical spill in the Delaware River has caused confusion and panic among Philadelphia residents. Despite city officials’ assurances that tap water is currently safe, many people are still concerned and bottled water in the city remains scarce.
We’ll explain the state’s cleanup and monitoring efforts, the risk of chemicals in our waterways and to our water treatment systems and what safeguards should be put in place.
Susan Phillips covers energy, environment, and climate change for WHYY News (@susanphill)
Pat Patterson is the Pennsylvania DEP Southeast Regional Director (@pennsylvaniadep)
Maya Van Rossum is the Delaware Riverkeeper (@DelRiverkeeper)
Chuck Haas is a Professor of Environmental Engineering at Drexel University (@ProfCharlesHaas)
From Billy Penn, Bottled water frenzy: Scenes from Philly stores after the city’s warning about drinking from the tap “The long lines and cleared-out shelves drew plenty of comparisons to early-pandemic times, when everyday necessities like toilet paper sold out at stores.”
From WHYY News, Philly leaders say water contamination threat a ‘teachable moment’ for emergency preparedness “…the city issued a warning on Sunday, not a mandatory call for people to buy bottled water, in an abundance of caution to warn people of the situation at hand.”
Next on You Oughta Know, find out how Wilmington Concert Opera makes world-class opera accessible to all. Learn how Play On Philly is changing students’ lives with free music education and more. Remember the legendary Jerry Blavat with WHYY’s Ed Cunningham. Meet the Menopause Whisperer and hear how she’s helping women cope—with hope. Join WHYY’s Maiken Scott for a stem cell microneedling session. Put the pedal to the metal at South Jersey’s Speed Raceway.
A comprehensive new study makes a strong case that exercise is very effective in combatting depression and anxiety. In their weekly conversation, WHYY’s Maiken Scott and psychologist Dan Gottlieb discuss the results:
Who can argue with the sentiment that “life is hard?” Most of us have some experience with loss, disappointment and failure. Philosopher Kieran Setiya has thought about the adversity that life throws our way — he’s had to come to terms with chronic pain that’s hounded him for much of his adult life.
In his new book, Life Is Hard: How Philosophy Can Help Us Find Our Way, Setiya, shares wisdom for coping with sorrow, loneliness, injustice and pain, gathered from great thinkers like Plato, Shakespeare, Kant, Woolf, Didion and more, and advises us not to embrace excessive positivity.
Guy Pearce talks with Patrick Stoner about the still fascinating story of Kim Philby, Britain’s most famous intelligence agent turned spy.
If you’re training to become a physician, your first patient is usually dead. In fact, “first patient” is what med students call the human cadavers that they work on in anatomy class — when they first learn to make careful incisions, and lay eyes on the beautiful intricacies of bone, muscle, blood vessels, and organs that make our bodies work.
Human cadavers have long played a crucial role in medicine and science. They not only teach generations of doctors about the human body — they allow researchers to learn valuable lessons about everything from the causes of rare diseases to the effects of how we live our lives. But how do bodies end up on dissection tables in the first place? What can they still teach us? And why do people choose to donate their remains?
On this episode, we explore bodies donated to science — how they’re used, why they’re so important, and why people make this choice for their remains. We hear stories about one woman’s mission to recruit future medical cadavers, and how 19th century medical schools got involved in body snatching. We’ll take a closer look at a program that connects med students to the families of their “first patients,” and find out why one firefighter has opted for a future in the Body Worlds exhibition.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- Across the country — and the world — medical schools are facing a shortage of cadavers, a situation that has been worsened by the pandemic. Reporter Grant Hill explores the rules that govern donations, and one woman’s mission to recruit future donors.
- Reporter Elana Gordon dug into the history of medical schools and body snatching, through the tale of “One-Eyed Joe” a legendary 19th-century horse thief whose brain went missing after his body was autopsied in prison.
- We chat with Ernest Talarico, a researcher and anatomy professor at Purdue University Northwest in Hammond, Indiana, about what cadavers can teach us about rare conditions.
Do you ever feel like fraud at work or in your daily life? That people overestimate your talent or intelligence? Imposter phenomenon can be a heavy burden for people constantly battling self-doubt, questioning their achievements, and fearing that their perceived inadequacy could be revealed at any time.
Close to 70% of people report feeling like an imposter at some point in their lives, but some are pushing back on what’s popularly known as “imposter syndrome.” In this episode of The Connection, we dig into the imposter phenomenon — is it real, who experiences it and why, and how can we restore our confidence?
Brett Goldstein talks with Patrick Stoner talks about writing the popular character Roy Kent but then fighting to get the chance to play him in the series.
Science is all about observing the world. But how do you study something you can’t see, smell, or hear — like the tiniest particles all around us? How do you test a new energy source when it doesn’t really exist yet?
These are the challenges that the world of physics often faces. You can come up with theories, using modeling and calculations, and devise some kind of experiment on paper to investigate things. But then you have to translate those ideas into tangible, real-world experiments, which is often incredibly challenging.
On today’s show, we peek behind the curtain of multimillion-dollar physics experiments that are changing the way we understand our world — and hear about some of the big challenges they face. We dig into the origins of the James Webb Space Telescope, talk with xkcd cartoonist Randall Munroe about some of his more outlandish — and complicated — physics calculations, and hear from accelerator physicist Suzie Sheehy about the physics experiments that changed the world.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- When the first images from the James Webb Space Telescope were revealed just last year, they seemed to inspire a collective moment of awe. They offered stunning glimpses of deep space never before seen. We talk with astronomer and astrophysicist Garth Illingworth about the origin of the telescope, and what pushed him and his colleagues to design something they’d never even dared to imagine.
- Cartoonist Randall Munroe joins us to talk about his latest book “What If? 2,” in which he uses science to answer absurd questions from fans and readers.
- Suzie Sheehy is an experimental physicist, so she knows all about the challenges of creating places and spaces where she can test out her ideas. Her new book about famous experiments in physics is called “The Matter of Everything.”
- Dakotah Tyler wants to inspire the next generation of astrophysicists — and he’s taking to TikTok and Instagram to talk about space, stars, and dark matter in an approachable way.
Social scientist and physician Nicholas Christakis joins us for a wide-ranging conversation about the evolution of human nature, our inherent need to connect with one another, and his optimism for the future. Christakis directs the Human Nature Lab at Yale University and is the author of
Woody Harrelson & Kaitlin Olson talk with Patrick Stoner about grounding a feel good family film with down to earth characters.
In 2018, brother and sister filmmaking duo Evgenia Arbugaeva and Maxim Arbugaev traveled to a beach in the Siberian Arctic — an area in Northeast Russia. When they arrived on this beach, the sand was almost black in color, and a horrifying smell of decay filled the air. The beach looked deserted, except for a man living in a small hut nearby.
His name is Maxim Chakilev. He’s a marine biologist who waits for more than 100,000 walruses to pile their massive bodies on this beach in autumn. The walruses overcrowd the beach and sometimes die due to stampedes. This coming out-of-the-water phenomenon is called a haulout, and it’s a result of climate change in the area.
After witnessing a haulout with Chakilev, Arbugaeva and her brother returned to the beach in 2020 to live with the biologist for three months and film his every move. For weeks at time, the hut was completely surrounded by the animals, making it impossible to leave.
They produced a documentary with The New Yorker on their findings last year called “Haulout” – and it’s nominated for an Academy Award for best Documentary Short Film this year.
Filmmaker Evgenia Arbugaeva spoke to host Maiken Scott about the film.
Interview highlights
Why do walruses haulout on this beach?
“So, in an ideal world, walruses would not come out on land at all, or they would come out in very small numbers. They’re migratory animals. And they would rest on floating ice during their migration and feeding. But because there is no ice in summer anymore, they’re just forced to come out, haulout, on land to rest. And the reason why they come out on this particular beach is because their feeding ground, which is mollusks on the bottom of the ocean, is about 200 kilometers from this beach. So, what they do, they go feed, then they come back, and they rest on the beach, and then they go back and feed, and they do it about three times.”
Inside the visual experience of a haulout
“I felt that I was in the film “Lord of the Rings,” and there was the army of orcs. It was scary, and it was scary because they’re not aggressive animals because especially when they’re on the beach, they’re in their unnatural environment. So, they’re really vulnerable, and actually, they’re so easily scared. So, any foreign smell or sound can scare them and kind of send this wave of panic in the whole haulout. So, we had to be really careful actually, not to scare them, not to use the stove, not to produce any smell, not to use a generator, which was quite challenging because we couldn’t use batteries, or charge our batteries. But the sound was scary because you could hear the animals struggling, you could hear some voices, like very high-pitched voices of cubs that are looking for their mothers and being separated or being squashed by these bigger animals.”
Maxim Chakilev’s concerns about the walrus population and climate change
Maxim Chakilev is a marine biologist who has been researching pacific walruses in the Siberian Arctic for a decade. (The New Yorker Studios)“The biggest concern, of course, is how this animal adapts to the new reality that this has been happening for a long time now. Maxim started his research 10 years ago … And unfortunately, as we know, this process is irreversible. So, there will be a possibility of a shrinking of the population of the animal. I think all biologists that are now working are concerned about the same thing really, of the disappearance of species and what can be done to protect them.”
Filming during the hottest year on record in the Arctic
“We were anticipating, of course, that we’ll be surrounded by walruses, but we didn’t know for how long. And that was the record. The longest time walruses were on the beach. And so, we planned only for a maximum of a week being surrounded. And we had just enough water for that time. And when we realized it will be two weeks, and it went to almost three weeks, we started to be really worried about the amount of water that we had. And we had to be very careful not to wash our hands and just keep it for drinking.”
The takeaway message from the film, “Haulout”
“We made this film because we wanted to show people what really is happening in the Arctic, and we wanted to make it in the way that is not heavily message-driven or narrated. We wanted people to see for themselves that this is the reality that animals in the Arctic are facing and that we just need to do something about it. We need to be realistic. I mean, there are so many ways to talk about climate change. Oftentimes, it’s stories of hope, which I also support. There has to be hope, but there also has to be some realistic understanding of what is really going on. And I hope our film will contribute to that understanding.”
Pests: We know them when we see them. The mice that lurk in our kitchens, the squirrels that steal our tomatoes, the mosquitoes that bite us in the summer, and the pigeons that flutter around busy city streets. And yet, in other places and times, a lot of these animals are anything but pests. They could be seen as beloved pets and important working animals, or even be revered.
So what is it exactly that defines a pest? On this episode, we investigate that question, looking at animals ranging from your everyday pigeons and rats — to more exotic creatures like Burmese pythons and Bobbit worms. We talk with a science writer who’s done a deep dive into the science of pests, find out why one mosquito researcher loves the world’s most hated insect, and hear the story of one man’s epic battle against the sea’s most disturbing creature.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- We talk with Cornell entomologist Laura Harrington about her mission to find out why mosquitoes prefer human blood — and the superpower she gained after letting thousands of mosquitoes feed on her arm.
- Reporter Alan Yu tells the story of how entomologist Autumn Angelus — who works in mosquito control — came to love the bugs everyone else hates.
- We hear the epic tale of the Bobbit Worm Chronicles — one man’s harrowing journey to defend his aquarium against the ocean’s creepiest pest. Reported by Liz Tung.
There’s been a lot of fighting lately over how to teach the history of America – and it’s turned classroom curriculums into political battlefields. Perhaps it’s not surprising that we get emotional confronting our past, with so many painful chapters.
How do we get people to face the ugly truths of the American story? Can we feel sorrow, shame and anger while still taking pride in the things that make this country great? We’ll talk with a social psychologist and a history professor about why we need to teach “hard history” and how to develop the mental toolkit to reckon honestly with our past.
Dolly Chugh, Psychologist and Professor at the Stern School of Business at New York University and author of A More Just Future.
Hasan Kwame Jeffries, Associate Professor of History at The Ohio State University
Kelsey Grammer talks with Patrick Stoner about his prodigious work ethic & his desire to work in different genres.
Anxiety disorders are on the rise in this country, especially since the pandemic.
What are the reasons for this steep increase? In their weekly conversation, WHYY’s Maiken Scott and psychologist Dan Gottlieb discuss anxiety, and Dan suggests a different way to look at the issue.
Next on You Oughta Know, discover the rich African American history of Lawnside, N.J. Visit an urban Philadelphia creamery that produces award-winning cheeses. Find out how a beloved barista with autism is promoting inclusion and philanthropy. Meet retired National Lacrosse League Hall of Famer Kevin Finnerman. Learn how Wilmington Wings Lacrosse is inspiring young athletes. Check out Mays Landing’s Funny Farm, home to more than 600 rescue animals.
It seems like every day, new skin care products hit the market: lotions, serums, collagen boosters, light therapy, at-home lasers — potions and procedures designed to coax our skin into peeling and healing, plumping and renewing. Their promise: wrinkle-free faces, poreless, dewy skin, and an eternally youthful glow.
But there’s no one magic bullet to flawless skin. And what is this chase really about?
On this episode, we get into the science of skin care, looking at what works, what doesn’t, and what dermatologists have to say about the latest frontiers in our quest for eternal youth. We hear stories about a new treatment that uses stem cells to rejuvenate skin, some shady aspects of the Botox business, and why K-beauty has taken global skin care by storm.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- We talk with Janiene Luke, a dermatologist at Loma Linda University Medical Center in Southern California, about common skin concerns — from wrinkles to dryness to discoloration — along with what actually works (and doesn’t) to treat them. Luke gives skin care advice on her Instagram and TikTok.
- When NPR’s Elise Hu first moved to Seoul, she noticed something striking — the faces. Flawless and dewy, they beamed from skyscrapers and subway stations — monuments to one of South Korea’s most popular exports: skin care. Hu explains what exactly “K beauty” is, the cultural factors that have led to its dominance, and what it says about social pressures on women. Hu’s upcoming book is called “Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K Beauty Capital.” We’ll post a longer version of our interview when the book is out — follow our podcast so you won’t miss it!
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman checked himself into a hospital last week treatment for depression. Many people praised his openness and his courage for voluntarily seeking inpatient treatment. More than 8% of Americans suffer from depression and many more experience depressive symptoms or have watched a loved one struggle with the disease.
Today, we’ll discuss the root causes of depression and changes in treatment. We’ll also look at why stigma persists and discuss the best ways to support a loved one who is battling the mental illness.
Dave Franco, director/writer & Alison Brie, star/writer talk with Patrick Stoner about playing with the romantic comedy formula.
Next on You Oughta Know, find out how SW Philly’s Tuft the World turned a rug-making tool into big business. Visit a local wallpaper museum that features rare global designs and the stories behind them. Explore the fate of Philly’s former police headquarters with WHYY’s Aaron Moselle. Discover a Port Richmond dental practice that brings smiles to patients with special needs. Learn how South Jersey’s Ritz Theatre Company enriches the community and launches careers.
Dealing with a serious or chronic health condition is hard enough — but what happens when that condition comes with moral judgment? That’s the case for millions of people around the world. From obesity to lung cancer, sexually transmitted diseases to mental illness, stigmatized conditions are shrouded in shame and blame that can not only hinder treatment — but ruin lives.
On this episode, we explore stigmatized health conditions — how they earn their reputations, affect the lives of patients, and complicate efforts to treat them. We hear about the flawed effort to track down the origin of the HIV epidemic in the U.S. that inadvertently introduced a new term into our language. We explore what researchers say is behind the “blame and shame” game in public health, and we find out why a man diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder says his condition isn’t always as scary as people think.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- Harvard obesity researcher and physician Fatima Cody Stanford talks about her campaign to change the way doctors interact — and sometimes judge — patients based on their weight.
- Biocultural/medical anthropologist Alex Brewis discusses her research on stigmatized health conditions — why we judge certain illnesses, what that stigma does to patients, and how it hinders global public health efforts. Brewis has co-authored a book called “Lazy, Crazy, and Disgusting: Stigma and the Undoing of Global Health.”
- If there’s one condition that seems to deserve its bad reputation, it’s psychopathy — the turbocharged version of a personality disorder that’s associated with violent crime, manipulation, and a chilling lack of remorse. But are psychopaths really as different as we think? Reporter Liz Tung talks with “Paul,” who has been diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder, about his rocky life journey.
Movers & Makers Special on the history of Philadelphia hospitals founded by the Black community. From Frederick Douglass Hospital in 1895 and Mercy Hospital in 1907, to their merging in 1948, Black medical professionals have had to overcome widespread discrimination in the field of medicine. Historians, doctors, and nurses discuss the role of race in healthcare of the past, present and future.
The number of victims killed in the Turkey-Syria earthquake continues to climb…tens of thousands of people and counting. From afar, we see city blocks flattened and desperate families and rescue workers digging, listening and searching for survivors with fading hope.
What kind of mark does a natural disaster of this scale leave on survivors who have lost everything so suddenly? Is recovery for them even possible? And is there something unique about the trauma endured from an earthquake, hurricane or wildfire that is different from that of mass shootings, a terrorist attack or the daily threat of gun violence that is sadly commonplace in many U.S. cities?
GuestsAPRIL NATURALE, a traumatic stress specialist who directed the New York State response to the 9/11, helped launch the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and the National Disaster Distress Helpline.
ROBIN GURWITCH, a professor of psychology at Duke University School of Medicine and a senior advisor at the National Center for Child Traumatic Stress in the Terrorism and Disaster Program. She is currently in Moldova working with Ukrainian refugees.
Goran Stolevski, the young director/writer talks with Patrick Stoner about filming a growing relationship almost entirely with their visual reactions.
We receive a mysterious micro-cassette containing a 20-year-old voicemail message from Sylvestor Stallone. It allows us to tap into the mind of the man himself — uncovering why he created Rocky and what elements of Philadelphia he used to build the world around him. We meet possibly the biggest Rocky fan ever. Then, from the top of the Art Museum steps, we explore what the Rocky statue can teach us about the future of our monuments.
Show Notes
- NPR interviews Michael Vitez and Tom Gralish, authors of Rocky Stories.
- Rocky Stories, by Michael Vitez and Tom Gralish.
- The documentary about Mike Kunda, The Pretender.
- Kunda’s podcast, The Rocky Files.
- Kunda’s Rocky Tours in Philly.
- Kirk Savage, Tangled Histories blog.
- Salamishah Tillet and Paul Farber, National Mall monuments exhibition.
- Rocky’s 40th anniversary documentary.
Next on You Oughta Know, visit a pastry chef-turned-chocolatier at Valentine Chocolate Co. to see how beautiful bon bons are made. Find out why McGillin’s Olde Ale House is a matchmaking mecca. Discover a Delaware district’s short-term solution to the national teacher shortage. Learn how a local educator is working to provide books for all children. Meet a meditation expert who’s helping teens manage stress. Pave the road to victory with a stellar Superbowl spread.
Health disparities between Black and white Americans run deep in the U.S. Black people are more likely to suffer from chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, or asthma, and their life expectancy is shorter than that of their white peers. The causes for these inequities are far-reaching and include bias and systemic racism in health care and medical treatments, lack of access to care, and economic differences. Advocates, researchers, and health systems have been looking for ways to address these issues — chipping away at different aspects of the problem. On this episode, we’ll look at several different solutions — and meet the people who are pushing for more equitable health care for all.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- Journalist and author Linda Villarosa recounts how her approaches to Black health have changed over the course of her career. She started off writing lots of self help pieces, thinking that information would change outcomes, but has come to understand that the issues go far beyond that.
- Med student Joel Bervell talks about his mission to educate both health care providers and patients about biases that are affecting care. His viral TikTok videos reach thousands of viewers, and some of his fans have called them “life-saving.”
Super Bowl LVII is the event Eagles and Chiefs fans have been dreaming of, and it’s finally here. All the years spent cheering and crying and the hours watching the games on the couch or in the stands are about to pay off…or turn to heartbreak. Only one team will pull out a victory, and in the days that follow, the streets of Philadelphia will either turn into a sea of green or look cold and dreary without a celebration in sight.
Why do so many people get emotionally tied to a team and players we’ll likely never meet? And it’s not just professional sports – there are hardcore fans for rock bands, movie franchises, board games, celebrities and more. In this hour of The Connection – we’ll look at the psychology of fandom, talk about the ups and downs of being a fan and the ways it becomes deeply intertwined with our identity.
We journey to the bright lights of Hollywood to meet Rocky’s original sculptor, A. Thomas Schomberg. Also, we glimpse at rare, behind-the-scenes photos of Stallone and the artist during the statue’s creation. Back in Philly, we visit a foundry and a life-size replica of the Statue of David near City Hall to understand how statues are created. Finally, we go behind the scenes on opening night as Rocky the Musical makes its hometown debut.
Show Notes
- Amerika Idol featuring Boris Staparac.
- The works of A. Thomas Schomberg.
- Rocky the Musical at the Walnut Street Theatre.
- Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
- A brief history of sculpture.
Next on You Oughta Know, visit the African American Museum of Philadelphia. Find out how the Lest We Forget Museum brings the harsh realities of slavery to light. Learn how finance expert Lynnette Khalfani-Cox’s health investment is improving her bottom line. Get women’s heart health advice from a Temple cardiologist. Discover a home birth practice that delivers care to the African American community. Meet a local poet who’s using gumball machines to offer hope and help.
Finding the right therapist — or, sometimes, any therapist — can be a grueling process. Someone with the right expertise, who is still taking new clients, lives in your area, who accepts your insurance, or whose services you can afford. Over the past few years, online therapy platforms like BetterHelp and Talkspace have seen an explosion in popularity. They promise easy access — anytime you need it — and affordability.
Major changes are happening in the field of mental health, as more people turn to online services — not just for counseling, but for diagnosis and prescriptions. How good are these platforms really — for clients and for therapists? And what are the larger issues they raise about the field as a whole? On this episode, we look at the rise of online mental health services. We hear stories about working for one of these apps, what clients like or dislike about them, and the unregulated world of online ADHD diagnosis.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- We talk with Charles Jacob, psychologist and professor at Sacred Heart University, about some of the thorny issues facing online and in-person therapy — from state licensing requirements to complaints about unprofessionalism, and how to know if a therapist is right for you.
- Reporter Grant Hill talks with Gabby Rogut, a Mexican high school teacher who was struggling with suicidal thoughts, about the convenience — and later the pitfalls — of online therapy.
Daniel Craig talks with Patrick Stoner about how his theatre training helps in ensemble acting.
The longest relationship most of us will have is with a sibling – someone who, unlike a friend or partner, we didn’t choose to bring into our lives. Ninety percent of people grow up with a sister or brother watching them struggle through awkward adolescence into adulthood, sharing a home, parents and family resources. It’s no wonder these relationships can be so close and supportive but often frustrating, competitive and contentious.
Today we explore all sides of our sibling relationships and how they shape who are from children to adults. We’ll talk about why people from the same family can be so different, ways to heal old resentments and jealousies, and how to stay close to our siblings – if we want to – when life pulls us apart.
KARL PILLEMAR, Professor in the Department of Psychology, Professor of Gerontology in Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, and Senior Associate Dean for Research and Outreach in the College of Human Ecology.
LAURIE KRAMER, Professor of applied psychology at Northeastern University and a clinical psychologist.
In a city that has seen dramatic change since Rocky’s time, why do so many still identify with this movie character? We tour the neighborhoods where Rocky lived to understand their modern-day challenges, like development, violence and addiction. Along the way, we meet courageous advocates and public artists who fight every day to bring hope and opportunity to their communities.
Show Notes
- Rocky, original screenplay
- Michelle Angela Ortiz, Our Market Project
- Operation Save Our City, Roz Pichardo FB Page
- Learn more about “Mama Sunshine”
- Kensington Corridor Trust website Learn to administer Narcan
Your neighborhood affects your quality of life in many ways – whether you feel safe, comfortable, or have access to healthy food or green spaces. But – it goes beyond that. Rutgers researchers have found that the connections we have with our neighbors really matter.In their weekly conversation, WHYY’s Maiken Scott and psychologist Dan Gottlieb discuss the findings:
When you hear the word fungi, chances are mushrooms come to mind: button mushrooms, maybe portobellos, or chanterelles. But so much of the fungi kingdom is invisible — underground — and many say underappreciated. Fungi are vital to life on the planet, but scientists are just beginning to understand their many functions and possibilities. On this episode, we explore the role of fungi in nature, in medicine, and in our lives. We’ll talk about sustainable design that utilizes mycelium, discuss how fungi form networks that communicate information, and look at an experimental and unapproved fungi-based treatment people are using to regain their sense of smell.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- Mycologist and mushroom entrepreneur Paul Stamets talks about growing mushrooms in your own backyard.
- Biologist Merlin Sheldrake discusses the important role of fungi as the planet’s “brilliant decomposers,” and explains why he loves the idea of having fungi all around us — and inside of us.
- We visit Vedge Restaurant in Philadelphia to get a crash course on preparing mushrooms from Chef Rich Landau (Pro tip: hold the salt until the very end!) He explains how to cook with different mushrooms, and recalls a time when portobello mushrooms were an expensive rarity.
- Designer Danielle Trofe talks about the lampshades she grows from mycelium. They’re light, velvety to the touch, sturdy, and yet completely biodegradable.
- Foraging for mushrooms was a “national sport” in the Czech Republic where Barbora Batokova grew up. Now, she brings her love of mushrooms to fans online, where she goes by “Fungiwoman.” Her sites feature beautiful photos of mushrooms that she finds in the wild, as well as explanations and tips for identification.
What makes a happy and healthy life? That’s the question at the heart of the longest study on happiness, the Harvard Study of Adult Development, which began in 1938. Researchers have been following participants for 84 years, trying to untangle what it takes to thrive in this world. And the answer they found? Fulfilling relationships.
In our debut episode of The Connection, we’ll talk with study’s researchers about the key findings and discuss why good relationships — with our romantic partners, our friends, our co-workers and neighbors — are the essential ingredient to happy lives. They are the co-authors of the new book, The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Happiness Study.
Our guestsROBERT WALDINGER, professor of psychiatry at Harvard and director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development.
MARC SCHULZ, professor of psychology at Bryn Mawr College and associate director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development.
It’s easy to feel as if the world is falling apart. My new show, The Connection with Marty Moss-Coane, features wide-ranging conversations about the bonds that hold us together, the forces that drive us apart, the conflicts that keep us from exploring life’s possibilities and the qualities that make us unique and human. Listen to the trailer now and subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts.
Who doesn’t feel burnt out by the stresses of life, with the pressures of work and family and the onslaught of bad news? It’s easy to feel helpless, overwhelmed and confused. One key experience that can guide us through the challenges we all face is human connection. It makes us feel understood, valued and gives us a sense of purpose and belonging. In fact, connections have allowed us to survive as a species and are critical to our wellbeing as individuals. Every Friday at noon on WHYY, The Connection with Marty Moss-Coane will feature unique and wide-ranging conversations about developing a richer understanding of the bonds that unite us, the forces that can drive us apart, the possibilities that life offers all of us and the qualities that make us unique…and human.
Christian Bale talks with Patrick Stoner about the mixture of influences on his character in America in the 1830’s.
Ask the average person who’s the most famous boxer from Philadelphia and they’re likely to reply with “Rocky Balboa.” In fact, it was the real-life heavyweight champion Joe Frazier who ran up the Art Museum steps and boxed raw meat sides at a slaughterhouse. We examine who is remembered when we build monuments to our heroes, and who gets left out — and visit the places around Philadelphia where Smokin’ Joe’s legacy lives on.
Show Notes
- The Fight of the Century
- Mark Kram Jr., Smokin’ Joe: The Life of Joe Frazier
- Official Joe Frazier website
- Brent Leggs and the National Trust for Historic Preservation
- James Shuler Memorial Boxing Gym
- Joe Frazier and the Knockouts on the Ed Sullivan Show
Operas from two of Curtis’s most distinguished alumni, Gian Carlo Menotti’s “The Medium,” and Marc Blitzstein’s “Triple-Sec,” are made into a film. This week’s On Stage at Curtis provides a look behind the scenes of the making of the film.
On February 16, Movers & Makers premieres a special episode on the history of Philadelphia hospitals founded by the Black community.
Humans have long been fascinated by the idea of communicating with other species — not just teaching animals to mimic human words, but truly understanding their calls or cries, and interpreting their meaning. In recent years, new technologies and research are getting us closer to that point. So what are scientists learning about the way animals’ minds work — what they think about, care about, and want us to understand?
On this episode, we explore animal communication — from their ability to speak our language, to our ability to understand theirs. We hear stories about what viral videos of “talking” dogs and cats are teaching scientists, the hidden meanings behind whale songs and dolphin whistles, and how machine learning is decoding the oinks and squeals of pigs.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- Nicole Cordova says her husky Manson loves to talk — whine, argue, and yell like Chewbacca. We hear about what it’s like living with a chatty canine.
- In 1970, biologist Roger Payne released a haunting album called “Songs of the Humpback Whale” that left listeners spellbound. Fifty years later, what have we learned about what those songs mean? We talk with nature documentary filmmaker Tom Mustill — author of the recent book “How To Speak Whale” — about what scientists have discovered.
- We talk with Justin Gregg, a researcher at the Dolphin Communication Project, about what dolphin clicks and whistles mean, how their communication differs from human language, and what we’re learning about what matters to dolphins.
- When pigs oink, grunt, or snort, does it mean they feel good or bad? That’s the question Élodie Briefer, an animal cognition expert who teaches biology at the University of Copenhagen, is trying to answer. She tells us what machine learning is uncovering about the feelings behind these vocalizations, and how it can help livestock farmers and inspectors improve pigs’ lives.
M. Night Shyamalan talks with Patrick Stoner the differences of the challenges & advantages of films versus a series.
We go down the Rocky rabbit hole to understand how the fictional fighter grew from one man’s rough sketch into a global icon. Exploring Stallone’s Instagram art history lessons, interviews about his paintings with Oprah, and a limited-edition art book worth thousands of dollars, we learn that hiding behind the macho action star is a man who longs to be understood as a thoughtful artist.
Show Notes
- Sly Stallone meets Rocky Balboa
- Official website for filmmaker André Robert Lee
- Sylvester Stallone, Rocky. The Complete Films
- Sylvester Stallone, The Official Rocky Scrapbook
- Stallone on the Oprah Winfrey Show
- Stallone giving a tour of his painting exhibition, 2011
It’s the goosebumps you get at the crescendo of your favorite song; the stupefying wonder that comes with witnessing a birth or a death; the astonishing mystery we feel when gazing at the vast night sky. This is awe — a complex, often overwhelming emotion that can elicit everything from pleasure and connectedness to a crawling sense of uncertainty.
Moments of awe can create unforgettable memories — and they can have a lasting impact on our minds and the way we interact with others.
One of the leading scientists studying awe is Dacher Keltner, a University of California, Berkeley psychologist, who’s dedicated the past 15 years to investigating the origins and effects of this emotion. On this episode, we talk with Keltner about his new book “Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How it Can Transform Your Life.” He discusses his own, very personal experience of awe amid profound grief, the ability of awe to transform our experience of the world, and how we can cultivate awe on a daily basis.
We also hear from listeners about their experiences of awe, and listen back to a story about how voyages to space change the way astronauts perceive life, their relationships, and Earth as a whole.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- We listen back to a story by reporter Irina Zhorov about how venturing into space transforms astronauts’ experience of Earth.
Moroccan born percussionist Hamza Able, who is completing his Post-Baccalaureate Diploma at Curtis Institute of Music, performs an original piece, “Made from Broken Mockingbirds,” written by fellow Curtis student Elise Arancio. As a member of a percussion quintet, Able also premieres George Crumb’s revised version of “Kronos-Kryptos.”
Tom Hanks talks with Patrick Stoner about the “contract” between him & the public in playing a range of parts.
An estimated 4 million people visit the Rocky Statue every year. That’s more than double the amount that go to the Liberty Bell. Surprising for a monument that the city once rejected as merely a movie prop. We speak to people who wait in line to snap a picture or run up the Art Museum steps to find out what motivates this pilgrimage. Their surprising answers take us across the globe and range from quirky to deep.
Show Notes
- Laura Holzman’s book Contested Image: Defining Philadelphia for the Twenty-First Century.
- 6ABC News clips from the Temple University Libraries Digital Collections.
- Website for Steadicam inventor Garrett Brown.
- Learn more about Haseeb Payab’s journey from Afghanistan to Philly in this article from the Philadelphia Inquirer.
- Visiting the Rocky Statue and Art Museum Steps.
- The official Rocky Statue website.
A lot of people carry shame – about who they are, things they’ve done – or failed to do. And when that shame becomes overwhelming, therapists refer to it as “toxic shame.” What are the roots of that kind of deep shame – and how can people get over it?
In their weekly conversation, WHYY’s Maiken Scott and psychologist Dan Gottlieb explore this issue.
Levels of anxiety are way up among adults and children – and many people cope by avoiding activities and things they are afraid of. An approach called “exposure therapy” has long shown promise in helping people with anxiety – and it’s coming into play more these days.
In their weekly conversation, WHYY’s Maiken Scott and psychologist Dan Gottlieb discuss how it works.
It’s the start of a new year — a time when lots of people are thinking about how they can improve their lives … and themselves. We make plans to get to the gym, eat healthier, sleep more, and have a better work-life balance. But despite our best intentions, these resolutions are usually short-lived, and often fizzle out by February.
It’s a recipe for disappointment. Not only that — chasing the elusive, future version of ourselves can mean that we’re failing to deal with our current reality. So instead of change, we’re focusing on acceptance on this first episode of 2023 — specifically, how do we find acceptance under challenging circumstances? How do we adapt when life throws us a curveball in the form of a life-changing diagnosis?
We’ll dig into those questions — ditching the New Year’s resolutions in favor of tales about making peace with where we are now. We’ll hear stories about an actor struggling with cystic fibrosis, making your life and schedule work with ADHD, living with a rare and inescapable allergy, and how one family navigated their son’s diagnosis with autism.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- Kirsten Michelle Cills always wanted to be an actor. She had the talent and the ambition — just one thing stood in her way: cystic fibrosis. Reporter Justin Kramon tells the story of how this life-threatening illness affected Kirsten’s dream … and eventually opened new doors.
- We talk with psychologist Jacqueline Mattis, who studies human well-being and positive development at Rutgers University, about ways we can find joy and meaning in what we have now — even if it’s not what we wanted.
- For years, Jonita Davis heard the same things over and over: that she was flaky, unreliable, forgetful — different. It wasn’t until she was an adult that Jonita finally discovered the reason — and learned to make her life work for her. Nichole Currie reports.
- Allergies can range from annoying to life-threatening — but usually people can find ways to avoid the things they’re allergic to. But what if you discovered you were allergic to something inescapable? Writer Alison Espach tells the story of how she discovered she was allergic to the cold. Read her essay about the experience, “I Woke Up with Cold Urticaria.”
- Raising a child with autism comes with unique challenges, from making friends to doing well in school — but one of the most daunting is raising them to be independent. Reporter Jad Sleiman talks with Max, along with his parents, Amy, and Tim, about his Asperger’s diagnosis, and how it transformed their expectations of who and how he would be in the world.
In 2016, at the age of 14, guitarist Alan Liu was among 30 classical musicians named Hot Canadian Classical Musicians under 30. A recent graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, on this week’s On Stage at Curtis, Alan performs pieces from Rodrigo, Johanson, Barrios Mangoré and Coste.
Olivia Colman director Sam Mendes talk with Patrick Stoner about the power of film to transform lives.
On a technical level, noise and sound are the same thing: vibrating molecules that travel in waves straight to our ears. But when sound is annoying, we tend to call it noise. From garbage trucks to car alarms, shrieking babies to nails on a chalkboard, noise can be really grating and irritating. In fact, some noises are so annoying, so loud, so obnoxious that they can take a toll on our well-being and health.
On this episode — part two of our exploration of sound — we take a look at noise, how it affects us, and what we can do to reduce it. We listen to stories about a phantom beep in Brooklyn that had everybody on edge, the quest to quiet hospital alarms, and a day in the life of a noise detective.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- Last fall, a mysterious beeping noise started plaguing Brooklyn Heights — a noise that no one could identify, and no one could find. Reporter Liz Tung tells the story of how a neighborhood came together to track down the phantom beep, and why experts say noise pollution is so bad for our health. This story is based on an article originally reported by Mary Frost for the Brooklyn Eagle, “Search for the mysterious noise in Brooklyn turns into massive crowdsourced investigation.”
- We hear from listeners about their noise pet peeves, from screeching children to ice cream trucks.
- Alarms in hospitals are supposed to alert staff that a patient is in crisis. But too often, they blare for no reason — in fact, in the majority of cases, they are false alarms. They make patients anxious, disrupt nurses and physicians while they’re caring for other patients, and lead to burnout and alarm fatigue. A few years ago, The Pulse met researcher and pediatrician Christopher Bonafide from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He was determined to find ways to change alarms in hospitals. We check back in with him to find out what he’s learned. We also speak to nurse Meghan McNamara, who is a safety and quality specialist at the same hospital and participated in this research. We hear, too, from Joe Schlesinger, a physician at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and a musician who has created a series of new alarms that contain layers of important information.
- Alan Fierstein has an unusual job: He’s an “acoustic consultant,” aka a noise detective, who spends his days tracking down unwanted sounds in the noise capital of the U.S., New York City. Reporter Jad Sleiman follows Fierstein around for a day as he hunts noise in the Big Apple.
Helen Mirren talks with Patrick Stoner about how an English woman like herself got to understand life in the gritty, wild life in Montana a century ago.
Science journalist Ed Yong is a must-read — with his in-depth reporting, his beautifully told stories, and spot-on analysis. He is one of the go-to-journalists for the most up-to-date and accurate information on the pandemic.
On top of his reporting, he also published a book in 2022, called “An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us,” about how animals experience the world, outside the confines of human senses.
“Each creature really is only able to sense a small amount of the fullness of reality,” he said. “I find this idea to be one of the most beautiful in biology. At the same time, it is humbling and also very expansive … because it tells us how much we’re missing, how much there is to understand and know about.”
The Pulse invited Yong to come to Philadelphia for a conversation at the Academy of Natural Sciences. He talked about what he learned while writing the book, and he also reflected on what it was like to work on the book during the pandemic, and why he thinks we will be stuck in an era of epidemics and pandemics yet to come.
Interview highlightsOn a “scallop TV” experiment:
There’s a guy called Daniel Speiser. He’s done some great work on scallop vision, and … he did an experiment that he calls scallop TV where you put little scallops on, on small chairs and showed them movies, of flecks of food drifting past in the water. And sure enough, the scallops would open the shells and extend little sensory tentacles out to explore … hell of a thing watching a scallop be curious about the world.
On empathy:
I really, really tried to understand how animals use their senses, and a really cool part of the book was this idea that … “An Immense World” is not a book about superiority, but about diversity. So often one common way of engaging with animals’ sense is to prize them only when they exceed our own. So … an eagle’s vision or a shark’s sense of smell — the super sensers. But my argument here is that … the really interesting thing here … is the variation: it’s how disparate the experiences of other animals can be, so that even when you have something like a scallop, which has much poorer vision than ours, there is something truly fascinating about how it uses its eyes and what it gets from the world.
On reading a bat’s mind through echolocation:
It’s almost like one of the easiest to study because unlike, say, vision or smell, echolocation doesn’t work unless the bat is doing something. It needs to put out energy in the world. The bat says Marco, and it makes its surroundings say Polo back. Because of that, by recording the bats calls, you can kind of gauge its intent. So an echolocating bat will change the types of sounds it produces to get different kinds of information back from the environment. … You can record that with a microphone and it basically gives you an insight into exactly what the bat, what it’s trying to do at that moment. It’s sort of like reading the creature’s mind, and yet you can’t really read the creature’s mind. Despite … the technological sophistication that makes echolocation such an understandable sense, I still don’t know what it’s like to be a bat.
On the mystery of magnetoreception
Magnetoreception is the least understood of all the senses because it is by far the hardest to study. It is the only one, for example, we still don’t know where or what the sense organ is. … And partly that’s because magnetic fields are a very weird stimulus. They penetrate living tissue and are unimpeded by it. So while a lot of sense organs need to be on the surface, usually connected to some kind of hole in a shell or a skeleton, a magnetic receptor, an organ that senses magnetic fields could be anywhere, could be in my knee, it could be in my elbow, could be buried deep in my body. It could be spread out all across my body … we don’t know. Someone who studies this has described this to me as like maybe trying to find a needle in a needle stack.
On science as a social endeavor:
One of the biggest lies that is told about science and how it works is that it is a purely objective, like very clinical, very cold procession of facts. … Instead, it is just a very gradual and erratic stumble towards slightly less uncertainty. And it is profoundly a social endeavor, like, a scientist’s interpretation of the world depends on the results from her work, and the results from her work depend on the kinds of experiments that she decides to run. The kind of experiments she decides to run depend on the kinds of questions she thinks about asking in the first place. And the questions she asked in the first place are dependent on her values, her culture, the dogma within her field at a time, all of these like deeply social forces.
Why we are in an “era of pandemics”:
As the climate warms, animals are being forced to relocate to track their preferred environmental conditions. And that means that species are changing their ranges all the time. And that means that animal species that never previously co-existed will suddenly find themselves living in the same place because they will have moved and that will give opportunities for their viruses, which were unique and special to them to jump into new hosts and then eventually into us. There was a very good paper that came out this year showing exactly this process that is well underway and that we are living through probably like the golden age of that process of what I have termed the ‘pandemicene’ in my reporting where, and the horrible thing about that is that a lot of the spillovers will be concentrated in areas with high human habitation and that process is now effectively runaway, like, even if we halted all greenhouse gas emissions today, the momentum of climate change will mean that those that increased spillover dynamic will continue happening.
On hope as a discipline:
A lot of the problems that we’ve experienced in the pandemic boil down to a catastrophic failure of empathy. And while I’m not naive enough to think that learning about scallop eyes is suddenly going to make people take actions that protect their fellow humans, I do think that empathy is a muscle that you can flex and build and strengthen. And I hope that this is part of it. I also know that despair is lethal. Right now, we have a huge number of global, massive problems that need constant attention and persistence …The abolitionist Mariame Kaba talks about how hope is a discipline. And it’s not a nebulous, fluffy thing. It is something that requires effortful work, constant effortful work. And I think to sustain in the face of all the challenges and the tragedies that we see around us, we need to embrace things that bring joy, and that bring hope, and that bring wonder.
The soundscape of our lives changes depending on where we are — the murmuring of voices, birdsong in trees, the beeps and dings of technology, and the cacophony of traffic.
Our worlds are dense with sound. Often, it all blends together to the point that we barely notice it. But every sound has its own distinct profile — providing information, bringing joy or irritation, causing us to snap to attention or zone out.
In this episode, we explore the world of sound, how we interact with it, and the people who compose the sounds that define our lives.
We hear stories about the teams designing the hum of electric cars, how the sounds of a rainforest inspired the pings and dings coming from your computer, and a disorder that makes ordinary noises almost unbearable.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- We talk with physicist and oceanographer Helen Czerski about what sound is, how it travels, how our sense of hearing evolved, and her favorite topic — the sound of bubbles. Czerski is an associate professor of mechanical engineering at University College London. Her book is called “Storm in a Teacup: The Physics of Everyday Life.”
- Great cars make great sounds — the growl of a Porsche, the roar of a Mustang, the purr of a BMW. But what about electric cars? They’re known for being quiet, but in recent years, electric car makers have been working to create their own signature sound. Reporter Alan Yu finds out what automobiles of the future will sound like.
- Who decides the sounds our electronics make: email notifications, event reminders, and error alerts? Pulse producer Nichole Currie talks with sound designer Matthew Bennet about the unlikely origin of the beeps and boops that define our daily lives.
- We listen back to a conversation with Fresh Air’s Terry Gross about how different she sounds on the radio than in her head — and talk with William Hartmann, who’s part of the psychoacoustics group at Michigan State University, about why that is.
Guillermo del Toro, award winning director, has created a darker & more technically advanced version of the tale & talks with Patrick Stoner about it.
Next on You Oughta Know, meet three-time Emmy Award-winning man of many talents, Bill Jolly. Celebrate A Philly Special Christmas with the Eagles new holiday album. Discover an easy way to destress with gua sha. Find out how the French Toast Lady found sweet success. Mix up some festive holiday drinks with the owner of McGillin’s. Look back at some of the most fascinating people, places and events on YOK in 2022.
Whether we’re in a forest, a park, or in the middle of a city, wildlife is always close by. Birds flying overhead, deer peeking through the branches, rabbits hopping through our yards, or rats and raccoons rummaging through our garbage. Sharing space with wild animals means our paths often cross — which can have less than desirable outcomes for either. On this episode, we’ll explore human-wildlife interactions — and the challenges that arise from living in the same space. We’ll hear about efforts to reduce bird strikes, which are frequent and dangerous for low-flying planes, and find out how scientists are keeping a rabies outbreak among raccoons at bay. We’ll also hear about a disease that’s being spread by kissing bugs, and meet volunteers dedicated to rescuing injured wildlife.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- In 2009, US Airways Flight 1549 was taking off from LaGuardia airport when it collided with a flock of Canada geese — causing them to lose all engine power. The plane landed safely, but it brought attention to a problem that goes back more than 100 years: bird strikes. Reporter Marcus Biddle investigates a new strategy to prevent birds from flying into the path of planes.
- For decades, America has been dealing with a growing public health threat that has cute little hands and a ringed tail: rabid raccoons. Scientists long ago identified the problem; the question was: How do you vaccinate thousands of raccoons? Reporter Alan Yu tells this story of an innovative campaign to do exactly that.
- Wild animals are often injured or killed by human activities — especially driving. Just last year, Pennsylvania had the highest number of animal and vehicle road collisions in the country. But while there aren’t many large-scale solutions to lessen the effect, there is a small community of volunteers who are doing their best to save injured wildlife. Producer Nichole Currie reports.
This week’s On Stage at Curtis highlights violist Beatrice Chen. Beatrice is currently one of the newest members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s viola section as well as continuing with the Chen String Quartet. In this episode, she performs two pieces from acclaimed composer Jessie Montgomery and the Debussy Sonata for Flute, Viola, and Harp.
Host Cherri Gregg introduces viewers to Good Souls, individuals whose important work within their communities have been highlighted on WHYY. Viewers witness how these Good Souls are giving back and learn how to nominate a Good Souls for future recognition.
Claire Foy & Rooney Mara talk with Patrick Stoner about playing sexually harassed women inside a secluded religious community.
In Episode 5 of “Stop and Frisk: Revisit or Resist,” a podcast produced by WHYY and Temple University’s Logan Center for Urban Investigative Reporting, WHYY gun violence prevention reporter Sam Searles and Temple University student Kole Long host a panel of concerned community members.
The death of a loved one can be shattering — especially when it’s unexpected. It destroys our feeling of safety, warps our sense of reality, and often leaves us feeling lost … unsure if we’ll ever come out on the other side.
It’s an experience just about everyone goes through at some point in their lives, and yet it can feel profoundly lonely. There’s no linear logic or prescribed progression; grief advances stubbornly at its own pace. The wounds can feel both fresh and ancient, stifling and endless, like it’s a connection to our loved ones — and a wall that we can never break through.
And yet, every day, people do survive their grief — they live with it and through it, and emerge on the other side.
On this episode, we hear stories of grief and healing. A mother whose son was murdered at the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012 describes how her grief has changed over the past decade. We will also explore what researchers have learned about grief in the wake of the pandemic — what some have called a “shadow pandemic” of loss. And we’ll meet a researcher who is trying to compile the best information to help people who are dealing with grief.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- For many young people, the pandemic brought their first brush with death. We listen back to a story by student reporter Jacob Smollen, who explored how young people deal with grief, starting with his own experience after losing his grandmother at the end of 2020.
- Prolonged grief disorder is now an official diagnosis — but what do we actually know how long grief lasts, and how to treat it? We talk with scientist and writer Hilda Bastian about her research after losing her son to sudden illness.
- When you’re grieving the loss of a loved one, time seems to warp — it speeds up and slows down, or holds us frozen in place. We listen back to conversations with grief therapist Claire Drexler, writer Jared Michael Lowe, and others about whether time really heals all wounds.
Rian Johnson, director & writer, talks with Patrick Stoner about using the model of Agatha Christie to make each story unique in both plot & character.
Stop and frisk is a divisive topic in Philadelphia, with political implications. Gun violence and public safety are bound to be central campaign topics in the upcoming 2023 mayoral election, and candidates are already talking about policing practices. Former Mayor Michael Nutter explains why he supports stop and frisk, and current mayoral candidates share their perspectives on public safety. Meanwhile, residents, including children, continue to take to the streets to decry the lack of coordination between the Philadelphia Police Department, City Hall, the District Attorney’s Office, and community organizations tackling the crisis.
Pain is powerful — and when it becomes chronic, it can be all-consuming. It takes over our minds, saps our energy, and becomes the focus of our existence. And yet, pain is also invisible. We can try to describe it — stabbing, nagging, dull, achy; we can rate it on a number scale from one to 10, or point to a smiley or frowny face to define it, but it’s not something we can ever fully communicate. Our pain is ours — to feel, to bear, to live with.
Millions of Americans live with chronic pain, and yet it can be a profoundly lonely experience. The individual nature of pain, the mysterious way it often sneaks into our lives, without a definitive source, can make it hard to deal with — and even harder to treat.
On this episode, we explore the nature of chronic pain — what causes it, how it affects us, and the ongoing fight to stop it. We talk with physician Haider Warraich, who wants to change the way medicine thinks about pain, people who’ve spent years trying to treat their pain, and a reporter who’s tracking the newest developments in pain medicine.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- As a med student in Pakistan, all Haider Warraich knew about pain was what he’d learned in textbooks. That changed when, while lifting weights at the gym, his back gave out, and he found himself thrust into a world of agony. Today, Warraich is a doctor who’s calling on the medical world to change the way it approaches pain — we talk with him about his own experience, what he’s learned about the nature of pain, and what doctors can and should do differently. His book is “The Song of Our Scars: The Untold Story of Pain.”
- Millions of Americans live with chronic pain — and despite seeing doctor after doctor, never find an answer about what’s causing their misery, or how to fix it. Reporter Alan Yu tells the story of one man whose journey to alleviate his pain took him through the gamut of medical options — and ended in an unexpected place.
- Drugs like oxycodone used to be a go-to solution for treating acute and longer-lasting pain — but that’s changed in the wake of the ongoing opioid epidemic. We talk with Damian Garde, a biotech industry reporter for STAT News, about the challenges to developing non-addictive painkillers, and one candidate — a new drug from the biotech company Vertex — that could offer hope.
Jim Parsons & Ben Aldridge talk with Patrick Stoner about their acting approaches to the true story of a gay couple whose love continued after the sad ending revealed at the beginning of the film.
Sgt. Michael Spicer patrols Kensington’s distressed streets. Central to the question of solving Philadelphia’s gun violence crisis is the role that law enforcement should play in the most affected neighborhoods. The city allocates more funding toward policing every year, but the homicide numbers don’t budge. Spicer explains why Black men are targeted for stops and why stop and frisk is complicated.
This week On Stage at Curtis features double bassist Marguerite Cox as she takes us on the journey of new works by composers from the Illuminate Women’s Project as well as composer, multi-instrumentalist and interdisciplinary artist Darian Donovan Thomas.
The bottom of the ocean seems like an unlikely place to be teeming with life — it’s dark, freezing cold, and subject to enormous pressure. And yet, in recent years, scientists have discovered that these depths are a rich ecosystem, boasting more species than you’d find just about anywhere else in the world. Most of the deep ocean remains unexplored, but we’re learning more about this mysterious place — including how its inhabitants have adapted to not only survive but thrive in such extreme conditions.
On this episode, we hear about some of the secrets that scientists are unlocking about the depths of the sea. We hear stories about some of the weirdest and most interesting creatures living deep in the ocean, one man’s epic battle against a very persistent predator, and the chase to uncover centuries-old shipwrecks.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- We listen back to a conversation with marine biologist Erik Cordes— which we conducted when he was 1600 feet deep in a submersible named Alvin. Erik was studying deep-water coral reefs and explained what they can teach us about saving shallow-water reefs.
- We talk with science writer Sabrina Imbler about their book of essays, “How Far the Light Reaches: A Life in Ten Sea Creatures,” which takes a deep dive into bizarre and amazing sea life, from the octopus that spends four years brooding her eggs, to crabs that grow their own food.
- Daniel Stone, a senior editor for National Geographic, takes us into the murky world of shipwrecks — and the people who search for them. He explains why some shipwrecks last the test of time (and others don’t), what it takes to find a shipwreck, and the lost ships that treasure-hunters continue to seek. His book is “Sinkable: Obsession, the Deep Sea, and the Shipwreck of the Titanic.”
Carey Mulligan & Zoe Kazan talk with Patrick Stoner about portraying the real life NYTimes reporters who broke the Weinstein scandal.
Some Philadelphians are feeling desperate for a solution to gun violence, even if it is potentially harmful. A more visible stop and frisk policing method is being debated as gun violence soars in the City of Brotherly Love. The people most likely to be stopped and frisked are young Black men. Learn why these targets don’t support it.
A note from Marty In 1987, when Radio Times made its on-air debut, I had no idea that the program would last for more than 35 years. Early on, I was thinking mostly about my own day-to-day survival and how to become a confident and competent interviewer. After some serious soul-searching, I decided it was time to end the program that I still love. Friday was the final show.
Hosting and producing Radio Times has been the most fulfilling job, talking with such a wide variety of guests about every topic under the sun and being able to mix it up with our listeners. Your calls, comments, criticisms, complaints, texts, posts and tweets made it a better show.
No program, especially one that is long-form and live like Radio Times, can last that long if there isn’t a talented, resourceful, creative, hardworking and caring staff of producers. There have been 23 of them and each left their unique mark. They made Radio Times a much better program. The same goes for the WHYY engineers who kept us on the air despite glitches, inclement weather, technically-challenged guests and a technically-challenged host.
Speaking of hosts, I want to recognize the work of Mary Cummings-Jordan, who hosted Monday’s Radio Times Regional Roundup. Mary is a radio veteran who can handle any topic, which she did every week, shedding light on the news and newsmakers in our region and underscoring the importance of local journalism.
I met Tracey Matisak years ago when she was working for the local FOX affiliate and we did election night coverage together for WHYY. She was unflappable, which isn’t easy when so much is in flux and so much is at stake. That’s why I asked her to be my fill-in host when I was off. I never worried about Radio Times when she was sitting in the host chair.
I will miss hosting Radio Times but I also know that I need to get off the daily grind while I still have some energy and brain cells left. I want to pursue interests outside of the station and something new at WHYY.
Starting in January I’ll be hosting a new show, The Connection, which will feature long-form weekly interviews with a variety of different guests to encourage us to take a deeper look at ourselves and help us find a more grounded, meaningful, connected way to live our lives.
Until then, thank you for being such an important part of Radio Times.
All the best,
Marty
We recommend The Radio Times Finale: Marty reflects on 35 years In Radio Times final episode, Davie Davies interviewed Marty about her childhood, her start in public radio, the challenges of hosting a live daily show, her hate mail and her new show, The Connection.
Next on You Oughta Know, Marty Moss-Coane discusses her memorable 35-year run on Radio Times and what she plans to do next. Find out how Neighborhood Bike Works uses cycling to inspire youth and strengthen communities. Visit Brown’s Shoprite, where some of Philly’s favorite pies are made. Enjoy a charming holiday experience at the New Leaf Tea Room. Learn how to mix up some flavorful beer cocktails. Deck the halls with Jawnaments Philly-inspired ornaments.
Below is a direct link to a “classic apple pie” recipe that shoppers can download at ShopRite.com: https://www.shoprite.com/recipeshop?dishId=b654d785-8d0e-4908-aee1-52bb14fdee1b&utm_source=recipeshop&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=holiday
Enjoy an evening with music from Glinka, Salzedo, Esmail and Debussy from harpist Daniel Benedict. Daniel is a student Elizabeth Hainen solo harpist with the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Kae Lani and guests chat about freshly made tortillas at Blue Corn, po boys and vegan sandwiches at Khyber Pass Pub, and the classic pickle bar at Hymie’s Deli.
On "Radio Times" final hour, WHYY's Dave Davies talks with Marty about her start in radio, her 35 years hosting, and her new show, "The Connection."
What we eat — and how our food is produced — is always changing. Over the past few decades, we’ve seen attempts to go from industrial farming to eating local, from factory farms to pasture-raised, anti-fat to anti-carb, wheat to quinoa, dairy milk to soy milk, bacon and eggs to avocado toast, and the list goes on. There’s a lot that goes into these changes — market forces, innovation, supply chain issues and increasingly, climate change.
In fact, food may be the single most direct way that most of us will experience the impact of global warming. It will change how food is produced, what we eat, and how much we pay for it. Farmers and food producers are adapting to a warming planet and expanding population. On this episode, we’ll look at the forces that are shaping and changing the way we eat, along with some of the foods that may become far more common in the decades to come. We’ll hear about how vertical farming is making the most of our space, why kelp could be the new soy, and the innovative solutions making their way on to our plates.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- We talk with science journalist Amanda Little, who’s traveled the world investigating threats to agriculture, about the innovations that could save our global food supply — and the Earth. Her book is The Fate of Food: What We’ll Eat in a Bigger, Hotter and Smarter world.”
- As the world warms, agriculture is being forced to grow up — literally. Reporter Catherine Nouhan takes us into a vertical farm to find out how this innovative new way of cultivating crops is replacing fields, pesticides, and even soil.
- It’s hard to believe now, but in the early 19th century, soy was virtually unknown to many Americans — today, it’s our second largest crop, right behind corn. Now, environmentally-focused farmers are trying to replicate that success with a different crop: seaweed. But are Americans ready to accept it? Alan Yu reports.
- For years, overfishing has been a problem that’s brought many fish stocks to a dangerous tipping point — but today, new tech is transforming our appetite for fish from an existential deep-sea threat to a sustainable industry. We talk with Nicholas Sullivan about the future of fish farming, why it’s gotten a bad rap, and how new innovations are changing the way we fish. His book is The Blue Revolution: Hunting, Harvesting, and Farming Seafood in the Information Age.
- Youtuber and internet cook Adam Ragusea schools us about eating sustainably, some of his favorite staple meals, and why too much good food has become a problem.
Gas-powered leaf blowers are noisy, polluting and harmful to habitat. We'll discuss efforts to ban them in our region and why leaf litter is so important for the ecosystem.
The director of the award winning documentary Good Night Oppy, Ryan White) talks with Patrick Stoner about the heart warming 15 year exploration of Mars robot Opportunity.
A look at the negotiations and possible global action coming out of the UN climate summit and a leading climatologist on tackling climate change with optimism and agency.
Russian troops withdrew from Kherson last week, a major victory for Ukraine. We'll talk about what it signals about Russia's military and strategy and where the war is headed.
“Stop and frisk” reemerged in public conversations in July 2022, when city council president Darrell Clarke surfaced the idea days after a Fourth of July shooting on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Some council members voiced support, while others called it a desperate attempt to resurrect a failed policy. We examine how Philadelphians feel about gun violence in their neighborhoods and what they think about revisiting stop and frisk as a solution.
“I just see it all as activism— youth activism,” says Isabella Hanson, founder of the “I Matter” Poetry and Art Competition.
The Kennett Square High School Senior started the program in 2020 after the death of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. A writer and poet, Hanson says she was shocked by what she saw her peers posting on social media about the tragic killings by police.
“People tend to make jokes, make memes and everything of things that aren’t really, like, funny,” she recalls.
Hanson believed the inappropriate response came because young people lacked a safe space to truly process and express their feelings about the many things going on around them. At the time, 14-year-old Hanson was studying Langston Hughes. She realized that poets used their words to express their outrage. Inspired by young poets like Elizabeth Acevedo, Hanson decided to follow in their footsteps.
“Then I thought maybe there are other kids like me who are also having a hard time expressing themselves,” she says.
Hanson organized a Juneteenth Celebration at the Dr. Bartholomew Fussell House, the first in Kennett Township where young people performed poetry. But she wanted to do more. Soon thereafter, Hanson launched the “I Matter” Poetry and Art Competition. With the help of her mother, Sophia Hanson, who runs the National Youth Foundation, she got a grant. Then volunteers aided in a grassroots effort to reach out to teachers and youth organizations across the country to get the word out about the contest.
“We were blocked on social media because we used the term Black Lives Matter,” says Hanson, “so when we hit that roadblock and couldn’t pay to promote [the contest] on social media, we had to just find another way.”
Their work attracted about 150 poetry entries for the first year of the contest, according to Hanson. They got NBA superstar Rob Covington and comedian Torrei Hart involved as judges, growing the contest to now bringing in over 1000 entries from 48 states and 67 countries.
“That’s insane to me that just so many kids are like interested in something that I like doing and are motivated to work towards change,” says Hanson.
The top ten entries are included in a book of poems and art— all created by kids- that is published and donated to local schools and libraries. The unique program has brought recognition for Hanson who won the Diana Award in 2022, which recognizes young people from the UK and around the world. She was also named to the final list of 50 for the Nickelodeon television channel and Time magazine Kid of the Year Award last year and became part of Lady Gaga’s social justice foundation.
The reward Hanson through, is creating space for other kids to speak out.
“Seeing a lot of like different kids perspectives from around the world really just gave me a new lens on the whole Black Lives Matter movement itself,” she says, “and I think that’s something I’ve really learned— just how I can be open to different perspectives.”
“I would say she more than exemplifies a good soul,” says Vera Portier, who nominated Hanson for the Good Souls Project. “I was very impressed by this young lady.”
Portier got involved with the I Matter Poetry Competition when she says Hanson reached out after hearing a song she helped produce called, “We Matter.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLOsfbPTLmc The song was written by Portier and Mara X Mini, a teenage singer-rapper duo. The group performed at an “I Matter” poetry event, says Portier. That’s when she says she witnessed Hanson at work.
“She’s genuine,” says Portier, “You believe what she’s saying, you believe that she cares about human beings in spirit and in the importance of giving youth a voice.”
The Mara X Mini song was featured during Hanson’s segment on Nickelodeon introduced by singer Billie Eilish.
“That was all Bella,” notes Portier, “she gave them a platform.”
“With poetry there’s really no boundaries,” says Hanson, noting that she plans to go to college to pursue a career in either journalism or writing.
She says her goal is to make sure that the I Matter Poetry and Art Competition continues to matter. The program is accepting entries right now for the 2023 competition. http://www.nationalyouthfoundation.org/i-matter/
Action News' Jim Gardner joins us to talk about his decades on the air. Also, the CDC has updated guidelines for opioid prescription. And, innovation at the Philadelphia Zoo.
Ask Polly advice columnist Heather Havrilesky's book 'Foreverland,' an honest and savagely funny examination of modern marriage.
Next on You Oughta Know, discover how the Veterans Multi-Service Center is helping vulnerable vets fight addiction through New Day. Learn about PACT for Animals, a pet foster organization that provides peace of mind for vets. Go on the job at ChristianaCare with robotic helpers that give nurses more time with patients. Find out what’s playing at the 42nd annual Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival. Wet your whistle with the Philadelphia Whiskey Society.
Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank discusses the election results and his new book, "The Destructionists," about how the Republican Party set the stage for Trump's rise.
Hurricanes. Tornadoes. Blizzards. Flooding. Over the past 20 years, we’ve seen a staggering increase in extreme weather events, resulting in millions of deaths and trillions of dollars of damage around the globe.
This increase has made the stakes for precise and accurate forecasts higher than ever — but the best forecast is useless if people don’t act on the information.
On this episode, we explore what scientists are learning, not only about predicting extreme weather, but also about how to deliver their message in a way that will compel people to heed their warnings. Then we’ll look into the aftermath of storms, how communities attempt to recover — and be better prepared for the next storm.
We hear stories about a storm-chaser’s mission to understand tornadoes, how the blizzard of 1993 settled a long debate over meteorological predictions, what happens when storms keep patients from life-saving treatments, and how communities rebuild — or don’t — after being ravaged by severe weather events.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- We talk with storm-chaser and scientist Adam Houston about his mission to solve a longtime mystery: the exact conditions in which supercell thunderstorms generate tornadoes. Adam leads a team of researchers who are trying to gather better data to make more exact predictions.
- Most of us take weather forecasts for granted — but as it turns out, decades of research and debate went into creating a prediction model that works. In 1993, that model was still in question — until the east coast of the U.S. was slammed by the “blizzard of the century.” Jad Sleiman reports.
- Extreme weather forecasts can save lives — but that doesn’t mean the public always listens. Reporter Kerry Sheridan experienced that first-hand when she rode out Hurricane Ian, a massive and deadly Category 4 storm that recently hit southwest Florida. She tells the story of how extreme weather events are prompting meteorologists to change the way they deliver their warnings.
- When a freak snowstorm knocked out power and water in Texas back in 2021, thousands of dialysis patients were left in the lurch. Many found themselves trapped in their homes, unable to access life-saving treatment as deadly toxins built up in their blood. Reporter Sara Willa Ernst has this story on what happened — and Texas’ efforts to prepare better for future storms.
- Escaping extreme weather is one thing — but how do communities rebuild after devastating damage? That’s the topic of the new podcast “In Deep,” which follows residents of Lake Charles — a small city in Southwest Louisiana — that over the past few years was pummeled by consecutive hurricanes and a severe blizzard. We hear an excerpt from the podcast, and talk with reporter and host Lauren Rosenthal about the toll all of this has taken on Lake Charles residents.
Evan Gray performs the song cycle for voice and piano Winterreise D 911 by Franz Schubert. This song cycle tells a story of a lonely traveler who ventures out on a journey to rid himself of his lost love. There are 24 songs in the cycle. Evan highlights five songs from the cycle.
Kae Lani and guests talk about the loaded tater tots at Tattooed Mom, the vegan tacos at Bar Bombon, and the kebabs and Mediterranean-inspired spread at Spice Finch
Rebecca Soffer wished she had a handbook on how to grieve after losing her parents, so she wrote one. She joins us to share insights, exercises and tools for surviving loss.
Stop and Frisk: Revisit or Resist explores this controversial policing method and solutions to Philadelphia’s gun violence crisis. Launch date is Nov. 15, 2022.
Imelda Staunton, Jonathan Pryce, & Lesley Manville talk with Patrick Stoner about taking over the top royals in the most dramatic season yet
We'll talk about the election results and the races still being tallied and what they tell us about the voters, the issues and where the country is headed.
Historian Andrew Diemer on William Still, a Philadelphia abolitionist who led hundreds of enslaved people to freedom. His new biography is "Vigilance."
“I think it helps people to see that just ordinary folks are good souls,” says Ruth Sheets.
Ruth Sheets, 68, is a recently retired teacher who spent nearly 25 years working in the Chester Upland School District. She’s also a visiting “supply minister,” traveling Pennsylvania filling in as a preacher at churches on Sundays when a pastor must be away from the pulpit. The two jobs have kept Ruth Sheets busy and on the road for years. But she wouldn’t be able to do any of the work she does without her sisters Linda Sheets Gagliardi and Dianne Sheets.
“They don’t stop and they just keep right on going,” says Ruth, “and they help out wherever and whenever.”
Ruth was born with cataracts and developed glaucoma over the years after undergoing multiple surgeries. While she had some sight in her early years, these days she’s totally blind. But that hasn’t stopped her because Linda and Dianne always step up.
“I nominated my sisters, Linda and Dianne because they’re just so amazing,” says Ruth, “and they’ve been able to help me to do the things that I wanted to do in my life.”
And Ruth has done a lot. She sang in high school, was a Girl Scout, went to college and then divinity school. She’s been gainfully employed at a very high level most of her life. Her family says Ruth’s work in Chester has also been inspiring. After retiring as a teacher, they say she has returned to help tutor students.
“Every time we go someplace or we go out to eat, somebody stops her and says, ‘Miss Sheets, do you remember me?,” recalls Linda Sheets Gagliardi. “Not only does she remember them by their voice, she remembers their family. She asks about, you know, their siblings, their parents.”
Linda is Ruth’s go-to person. The family of seven, including five sisters, grew up in Norristown. Linda says visual impairment runs in the family so she was raised to assist where needed. She says their father was also blind, so was their uncle and both of their paternal grandparents. Linda says their eldest sister is visually impaired as well.
“It was a normal thing in that it wasn’t something that we really thought was odd,” says Linda.
Linda has become the matriarch of the family. Her home is where the party is and all of the family celebrations. So for her, it makes sense to lean in and help care for her big sister Ruth. Linda takes her to church and grocery shopping. Linda’s husband, Jim, makes sure Ruth’s computer and braille printer are always working because they are critical for Ruth’s work. And when Linda can’t help, Dianna Sheets, the youngest sister, steps up.
“We’re family and we all stick together,” says Dianne, “that’s just what we do.”
Together, the sisters quietly, do whatever is necessary to make sure Ruth is able to continue to help others.
Dianne, Linda and Ruth would all thumb wrestle over who has the “biggest heart.” Linda and Dianne think it’s Ruth. But part of their community work is done together. The three sisters are part of a singing group called “The Song Sheets.”
“We go and we sing in like nursing homes and retirement communities and pretty much any place that’ll ask us to sing,” says Linda.
They bring joy wherever they go.
“We sing in church all the time and we just sing, just have fun,” says Dianne.
Dianne Sheets says she feels blessed to be alive. Seven years ago doctors discovered a rare brain tumor. While it was benign, Dianne says it had to be removed. Her family supported her through it all.
“Since I’ve had all this happen, there’s a reason that I’m still here,” says Dianne, “and I feel that it’s to help my family, help my sister and anyone else that needs help.”
Ruth believes that effort that families do— to help each other, to hold each other up– is Good Souls work too.
“I think there’s just tons and tons of good souls and we just don’t usually recognize them because they’re doing all the things behind the scenes that we just don’t notice,” says Ruth.
Former Gov. Christine Todd Whitman talks about the moderate Forward Party. We say goodbye to the Phillies and Union this year. And, we rounded up the best of arts and culture.
Researcher Michael Slepian collected the secrets of 50,000 people for 'The Secret Life of Secrets: How Our Inner Worlds Shape Well-Being, Relationships, and Who We Are.'
Some teens admit to being addicted to their screens...but for this generation, phones and tablets are critical to daily life. The authors of a new book, Behind Their Screens.
The Statue, the story of a momument to the greatest Philadelphian who never lived, from WHYY Digital Studios. Coming in 2023.
“I don’t feel like I’ve ever had a job,” says Kelly Green, “everything that I’ve ever done is steeped in passion and is always about justice.”
Green is executive director of Help Hope Live, a Radnor-based non-profit that provides fundraising for families during medical crises. The organization provides financial assistance for expenses that fall in the gap between what is covered by health insurance and what is needed for a patient to “survive and thrive.”
“It’s about pulling together a community of support for people who feel so completely isolated and alone,” says Green.
She says Help Hope Live helps families identify their community of supports and then rallies those individuals to crowdfund necessary medical expenses.
“It is so hard to be forced to fundraise when you’re facing a catastrophic condition, it’s near impossible,” says Green.
The organization, founded nearly 40 years ago, protects the families they serve by collecting the money under the cover of the non-profit, which Green says preserves their eligibility for income-based benefits. Help Hope Live also protects donors by verifying the patient’s medical needs and paying vendors directly and by providing them a tax-deductible method of providing support.
“We make sure that every dollar expended goes directly to what they’re asking to use the dollars for,” says Green.
Help Hope Live has paid for wheelchairs, accessibility devices in cars and in homes, extra physical therapy, medical co-pays, medications, and treatment not covered by insurance and much more. They have aided nearly 20,000 over the years.
Green has run Help Hope Live for five years but was introduced to the organization 16 years ago. At the time, her own family was dealing with a medical crisis.
“My mom needed a kidney transplant, and she was pretty far along when we first received the diagnosis and she was very sick,” recalls Green.”
Green says they couldn’t find an organ match for her mother, Ileen. Luckily, they got her into an incompatible kidney transplant program in Baltimore. The only problem– the family needed $15,000-$18,000 in the bank to pay for relocation to Maryland, as well as medical co-pays and deductibles and related expenses.
“We didn’t have the money,” says Green, “and it was at that moment that I realized that there was truly a price tag on my mom’s life.”
Green says a social worker told her about Help Hope Live. The group helped the family set up a fundraiser and within a few weeks they had the money they needed, and Ileen got the transplant. The non-profit also stepped in to help when Ileen was later diagnosed with cancer and, again, after she had a tragic fall.
“I was lucky enough to have had this charity so that we had six more years with her and I didn’t accumulate medical debt,” says Green, noting that Help Hope Live helped her pay the mortgage so that she could take care of her mother in her final days.
“She passed ten years ago next month and we miss her every day,” says Green.
Since Green began working for Help Hope Live, it has expanded outreach to communities. During an October fundraiser, the organization revealed it raised nearly $8 million last year and increased the number of families served by 30 percent. Part of the expansion includes providing adaptive bicycles to kids following a medical crisis. The Fenton family is one of the recent beneficiaries of the bike program.
“At first I would push him in the back just to kind of help build up strength and mobility in his in his right leg and now he just goes like he and he loves it,” says Emily Fenton, a mother of four.
Her youngest, Vinnie, who was 3-years-old at the time, suffered a life-changing seizure in January of 2020.
“We were trying different therapies, and nothing was really working,” recalls Fenton, “he regressed very, very quickly and it was really scary— I quit my job and my whole world stopped when this had happened.”
Fenton says Vinnie had to have brain surgery. Luckily, recovery came quickly, and Vinnie soon gained his independence, but he still needed to get outside and to strengthen his right side. Help Hope Live stepped in and this summer provide Vinnie— whose nickname is “Vinnie the Vampire” after his first Halloween costume- got a custom adapted bike. That’s when Fenton got to know Kelly Green.
“She’s just amazing, she really is,” says Fenton.
The bike, says Fenton, gave Vinnie the chance to be a kid again and to play with his siblings.
“It just it makes me really, really happy to see him doing what he loves to do,” says Fenton.
The change she sees in Vinnie is why Fenton says Kelly Green and the work being done at Help Hope Live is good soul work. Green loves every minute of it because for her the work is not a job.
“For me, it’s always been about making sure people have access to what they need to survive and thrive,” says Green, “and to ensure there’s a level playing field.”
More about Help Hope Live.
Sports superstitions...do you have one? We also talk about restaurant reviews with Inquirer food critic Craig LaBan. And, has the pandemic changed our hand washing habits?
In this bonus episode, we talk about the social lives of old trees in the forest and research that has changed our understanding of trees and forest ecology.
Check out an eco-friendly toy library that promotes learning and fun. Find out how Nancy’s House provides much-needed care for caregivers. Learn how pop-up murals in Love Park are directing voters “To The Polls.” Step into the world of Edgar Allen Poe at his former Philly home. Get a taste of Dia De Los Muertos at Casa Mexico. Meet the designer behind some best-dressed furry fashionistas. See how McGillian’s Old Ale House makes signature Halloween sips.
Soprano Sarah Fleiss takes us on a journey of two sets of songs by Bottesini and Fauré from different time periods as well as musical opposites but complements each other. We also get a peep of her cinematic role as Monica in The Medium, an opera by Gian Carlo Menotti, an alum of Curtis Institute of Music.
Bram Stoker's tale of Count Dracula turns 125 this year. A look at the famous literature, its author, and the vampire panic in the 19th century spurred by deadly Tuberculosis.
It’s that time of year when we celebrate something we usually hate: fear. We visit haunted houses and corn mazes or binge-watch the scariest horror movies. But our relationship with fear is complicated. In its most primitive form, fear is about survival — it raises our heart rates, redirects our blood flow, makes us faster and fiercer, all so we can face — or escape — serious threats. In other settings — where there’s no real danger — fear can feel exhilarating, fun, and exciting. It can serve as a form of entertainment, or even help us focus and perform better.
On this episode, we look at fear and how it overlaps with other emotions. We hear stories about why we love scary movies, overcoming paralyzing stage fright, and what happened to one man who completely lost his sense of fear.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- We talk with science writer Nina Nesseth about why we love scary movies, how playing Tetris can disrupt our experience of fear, and why she’s afraid of actress Toni Collette. Nesseth’s new book is “Nightmare Fuel: The Science of Horror Films.”
- We hear from listeners about the fears that haunt them, from church steeples to suffocating in space.
- Fear researcher and trauma psychiatrist Arash Javanbakht explains the purpose of our primitive fear circuitry, how it fits into modern life, and why we crave scary experiences. Javanbakht is the director of the Stress Trauma and Anxiety Research Clinic at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, where he studies how people react to threats.
- British TV presenter Jordy Cernik was always an anxious guy — until around 10 years ago, when he had his adrenal glands removed to treat a rare illness called Cushing’s Syndrome. Liz Tung reports on what happened next, when Cernik came to a startling realization: He’d lost his sense of fear.
Kae Lani and guests chat about the Italian classics hidden behind the walls of Murph’s Bar, the range of fresh seafood at Oyster House, and the Venezuelan arepas and cachapas at Autana.
We talk about the Phillies -- their National League championship, their path to the World Series, and their upcoming fight against the Astros.
Anne Hathaway & Jeremy Strong talk with Patrick Stoner about playing characters with few life skills during a transitional time for the country.
We dissect Tuesday night's debate between John Fetterman and Mehmet Oz for the hotly contested Pennsylvania U.S. Senate seat.
Investigative journalist Rina Raphael on her new book, "The Gospel of Wellness: Gyms, Gurus, Goop and the False Promise of Self-Care."
“I thought the harder I worked that I could somehow save her,” says Robin Cohen.
Cohen is an oncology nurse working in the field for more than two decades. She’s an advocate for women in the battle against ovarian cancer. Her journey began more than two decades ago when she took care of a patient named Sandy Rollman.
“I took care of Sandy every single day, we got very close and she confided in me,” recalls Cohen, “every single day was a fight to keep her alive.”
Rollman died in 2001. Cohen and and Rollman’s sister, Adriana Way, founded the Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation in Sandy’s memory.
“[Sandy] never left the hospital,” says Cohen, “she never had a chance and I wanted to give other women a chance.”
When Rollman was diagnosed, treatment options for ovarian cancer were limited. But Cohen and her team worked hard advocating for more medications and treatment options.
“There’s no screening test for ovarian cancer,” she says, “so most women are diagnosed at an advanced stage, and it’s also a never-ending recurring disease.”
Only one in 78 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer in their lifetime; compare that to one in eight women who get a breast cancer diagnosis. Symptoms of ovarian cancer include abdominal bloating, abdominal pain, a feeling of fullness, urinary frequency or urgency and/or bowel changes, says Cohen. Because the symptoms are similar to PMS women and doctors may ignore them. The rarity of the disease, as well as the subtly of the symptoms for ovarian cancer result in many misdiagnoses.
“A survivor shared online that she all she had was heartburn— just heartburn,” says Terri Price, who was diagnosed with stage 4B ovarian cancer in 2017. “All I had were minor bowel changes and I told my gynecologist about my issues at my annual exam and she wrote it off like it was nothing.”
It took months and multiple doctors’ visits for Price, who was 54 at the time, to get an accurate diagnosis. When she did get it, the cancer had already progressed to stage four and Price knew little about the disease. She says breast cancer and colon cancer runs in the family, but few people understood the link to ovarian cancer. When searching for information online, Price says that’s when she discovered Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation.
“And we were led to meeting Robin,” says Price, “I had a phone call with her that summer after I was diagnosed and we just bonded.”
Price says Cohen linked her to resources, including a support group of other women also battling with ovarian cancer.
“When you bring the women together that all share that same link of that cancer diagnosis, that is when you have the camaraderie and support,” she says.
“One woman connecting to another, that’s what it is all about,” says Cohen.
Fast forward and after 20 years of work, the Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation raises hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. The non-profit provides grants for ovarian cancer research, they provide resources and information, they raise awareness about the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer and provide a community of support.
“I know these women, I know their pets— it’s a family,” says Cohen.
That family of support provides hope. Price has seen her cancer progress over the past five years and she’s remained in constant treatment. But she has seen positives. Price says her diagnosis helped inform a cousin who took medical precautions that may have saved her life. Also, Price says the battle puts life into perspective—a big focus in spending as much time as possible with her 13 month old granddaughter, Olivia.
“I have hope that maybe I will get that report and they say— no evidence of disease,” says Price, “we just have to pray harder and hope for a miracle because I’m not finished.”
Price has her husband of 37 years, George, by her side, as well as the rest of her family. And that family includes Cohen and the Sandy Rollman community. Price says Cohen answers her calls any time and makes her feel like she matters.
“Robin has been a wonderful friend and advocate to me for all these years,” says Price.
For Cohen, Price is an inspiration that keeps her going.
“Sandy was the reason I got involved, but it’s the women that walk through my door every day that keep me involved,” says Cohen, “it’s not work— it’s a mission, yeah it’s a mission.”
More on the Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation.
Proud Boys founder will visit Penn State. It's the last day to register to vote in PA's upcoming crucial midterms. And, artist Tanda Francis will sculpt Marian Anderson.
From the archives, our interview with Lindsey Fitzharris, author of 'The Facemaker: A Visionary Surgeon's Battle to Mend the Disfigured Soldiers of World War I.'
Violinist Emma Carina Meinrenken performs pieces by Ernst and Pärt and the third movement of Bartók’s Contrasts (Fast Dance) for violin, clarinet, and piano. She also talks about her interesting journey playing a ‘1689 Baumgartner Stradivarius’ violin.
Find out how a local couple’s genealogy search uncovered ties to one of the nation’s founding fathers. Get answers to FAQs regarding COVID and seniors from Dr. Larry Doroshow. Meet Jadzia Axelrod, the creator of the first trans superhero for DC Comics. Visit Harry’s World, a reincarnated South Street shop that attracts mystics and healers.
Kae Lani and guests chat about the Turkish pride and octopus at Stina Pizzeria, the perfection of onions in the Senegalese dishes at Youma, and the inventive French plates at Forsythia.
Almost half of Americans struggle with sleep. We'll talk about the importance of sleep, why so many struggle with insomnia, and how to ensure you get a restful night.
There’s a lot to love about grasslands — the sound of the wind blowing through them, the way the colors change with the seasons, how the sun lights up the valley, and the flowers that bloom in the spring and summer.
But in many ways, we’ve taken these open spaces for granted, using them for our own purposes, from building houses to grazing livestock and planting crops. And in terms of conservation efforts, grasslands have been a bit neglected, compared to ecosystems like tropical rainforests.
But increasingly, scientists are paying more attention to grasslands as spaces that have to be protected. On this episode, we look at the role of grasslands as habitats, their importance to preserving biodiversity, and how they can help fight climate change.
We hear stories about how scientists came to appreciate the value of grasslands — and their attempts to protect what’s left, a spicy effort by researchers in Montana to fight a small but mighty opponent, a recent effort to reintroduce cheetahs into India’s grasslands, and how exactly you go about growing a lush green soccer field in a place where grass is definitely not native.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- For years, grasslands have been neglected by conservationists in favor of sexier ecosystems, like tropical rainforests. But increasingly, scientists are recognizing the importance of grasslands — and why we need to save them. Alan Yu reports.
- We talk with Dean Pearson, a research ecologist at the Rocky Mountain Research Station in Missoula, Montana, who’s spent years working to restore native grasslands. He tells us about a small but mighty foe thwarting his efforts: native deer mice. Pearson explains the creative solution they came up with to prevent their tiny saboteurs from gobbling up all their seeds.
- Anthropologist Krystal D’Costa talks about the history of how and why Americans became obsessed with our lawns.
- How do you plant a soccer pitch in the middle of the desert? That’s the challenge facing FIFA ahead of the 2022 World Cup. Reporter Danielle Elliot investigates.
An audit of the Philadelphia Police Department by the city controller details staffing shortages, slow 911 response times, outdated practices and benefit abuse.
Eddie Redmayne & Jessica Chastain talk with Patrick Stoner about the value of shooting in unusually dark lighting to create their characters & create a tone.
Jake Tapper and his dad, pediatrician Dr. Theodore Tapper, question the conviction of C.J. Rice, a Philadelphia teen who went to prison in 2013 for attempted murder.
Greg Melville talks about his new book, "Over My Dead Body" on America's cemeteries, our changing burial practices and what they reveal about our history and who we are.
“We all have a purpose in life and my purpose is to serve,” says Will Latif Little, 52.
The South Philadelphia native is a life coach, professional speaker, author and the subject of multiple documentaries and news stories. He’s even a TEDx speaker. In the past year, he’s grown a modest following on Instagram Live offering “personal development” coaching sessions every morning from 7 to 9.
“To get people up and ready to tackle their day in a positive manner,” says Little, ”Because I know a lot of people wake up angry, frustrated, sad, depressed, or just not even wanting to wake up.”
Personal development or “PD” is a lifelong process of improving oneself over time. It’s a concept that has been taught by self-improvement gurus, therapists and experts seeking to help individuals reach their full potential. The concept is one Little adapted to help Philadelphians and others dealing with long held trauma.
“A lot of people are on drugs trying to cope with life the best way they can,” he says, “They learned to cope using alcohol, drugs, pills- even violence all to deal with trauma.”
Violence and suicidal behavior were how Little says he coped with his childhood trauma. Abandoned by his father, he was raised in a single mother led household with four sisters. He says his mother dated violent men and he felt compelled to protect the women in his family. At 13, Little says one of the men put a gun to his head.
“I wasn’t scared,” he recalls, “I was too fed up— I had no fear.”
By age 14, Little was dealing drugs and acting recklessly. He says he had a gun and was involved in shootouts and car chases.
“I would do things that were kind of suicidal, he says, “I didn’t really value life because of the things I’d been through.”
Little’s life came to a screeching halt in 1989 when a street beef ended with Terrance Brice shot dead. Little claimed self-defense, but ended up convicted of third degree murder. As he awaited trial, he says he sat in prison, with a baby on the way wondering how he ended up behind the wall.
“When I was eight, nine years old, I was a good kid,” he says, “I wanted to be a cop, I wanted to be a ballplayer, a firefighter, but somehow I became a liability.
Behind bars, 19 year old Little realized it was the trauma he suffered that led to his disconnection from self. So he says decided to take control of his life and his emotions. That self reflection he says became his “freedom.” Little says he began working on himself, wanting to become a better person. By the time Little was released a decade later, he was mature enough to create a positive life. He worked in a barbershop and began speaking to and mentoring young people in schools and in prison. After years of tension, Little and Lamont Hatton, the brother of man he killed, even reconciled
As Little mentored youth, he soon realized— young people would have a harder time growing emotionally if they were with parents that inflicted trauma on them.
“We’ve got to deal with the trauma that the adults are dealing with,” says Little, “because that they’re passing that trauma on and bleeding onto their children.”
“I was angry with my children and I was angry with the people around me,” says Sherri Waters of Philadelphia.
Two years ago, Waters met Little as part of a fitness club. She says she is a survivor of complex trauma— rape, incest, neglect, abandonment and abuse. Waters says she ran away from home at age 12 and soon became a teen mom. She dropped out of school in 7th grade. Years later, the mother of five says she hated her life and what she saw in the mirror and the anger was so overwhelming that it spilled onto everyone, including her children.
“I was just waiting for somebody to say something to me, you know,” she recalls, “but when I saw my kids mirroring me— I was like- you know, that’s not me, I’m not an angry person. I’m a lover. I’m not a fighter. But, you know the trauma made me so angry andI had to fix it.”
It was on the journey of self improvement that Waters learned about “PD.”
“[Will] explained how everything I needed was always inside of me and ‘it’s not hard, but how,’” she says, “he put into perspective my traumas and the reactions that not only myself, but other people who went through the same traumas have.”
Fast forward, and Waters is a believer. She’s one of scores of people who come onto Instagram LIVE with Little in the mornings. Little has consistently offered the free coaching sessions for nearly a year. People from all over “come onto the live” and share their truths, their trauma and work their “PD” to grow and become better people.
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“You get what you give,” says Waters, “to see me now versus where who I used to be…my God, it’s such just such a change.”
Waters calls “PD” empowering. She says she’s taking accountability for her own life.
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A post shared by Will Latif Little (@latif_muhsin__life_coach_)
“I am the creator of my own life,” says Waters, “it doesn’t matter what they took from me. Those empty pieces that I thought was empty, they were only empty because I forgot to water the seeds that were left.”
The new found purpose she attributes, at least in part, to Little’s “work your PD” mantra and the community of support he has created. She calls that good soul work.
“I know he’s a good soul,” says Waters, “just the way he lights the flames of those who, you know, are in the dark place
And Little has a vision. He wants to help Philadelphians grow the type of the emotional intelligence to overcome the trauma that so many have experienced and may be experiencing because of the violence and poverty in the city.
“I want to provide the how needed to navigate the confusion, depression, anxiety— all these things you’re dealing with,” he says, “we can take control and manage these things and create a better life.”
PMA organizers ratify a contract after three years of bargaining. Plus, Philly sports fanatics are amped up. And, Philadelphia Bee Company's Don Shump on lanternfly honey.
From the archives, Marty's interview with Frances Moore Lappe, author of Diet for a Small Planet, for the 50th anniversary of her groundbreaking book.
Pianist Zhu Wang’s engaging performance of Franc Liszt: Réminiscences de Norma de Bellini will leave you begging for more. Zhu starts this episode of On Stage at Curtis with Florence Price’s Adoration which was initially written for the organ. The audience will hear an excerpt of Helen Eugenia Hagan’s Movement 1 from Concerto in C Minor.
Next on You Oughta Know, visit an NJ Holocaust Museum working to reduce prejudice and inspire action. Find out how Black Hound Clay Studio is reshaping attitudes and breaking down barriers. Learn about the flavors and fun planned for Philly’s first Kimchi Festival. Discover how Germantown United is bringing people together to rejuvenate its public spaces. Check out the sweet scene at Salty Paws Rittenhouse, Philly’s first doggie ice cream bar and bakery.
The Jan. 6 committee voted to subpoena former President Trump. We'll discuss what we've learned from yesterday's hearing and the case against Donald Trump.
In the early days of the pandemic, life on the streets changed. Traffic was clear, and the roads felt nearly deserted. Bumper-to-bumper commutes gave way to free and easy drives. So it came as a shock when it turned out that motor vehicle deaths had surged to nearly 40,000 people in 2020 — a jump of more than 20% per mile driven. How could this happen with far fewer drivers on the road?
On this episode, we take a look at road safety, and what researchers are learning about it. What are the factors — besides human error — that contribute to greater safety or danger on the roadways? Can we design our way to safer streets? And if so, what does that look like? We’ll hear stories about subtle cues that can get drivers to slow down, finding a safer way to merge, and what’s really at the bottom of potholes.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- We talk with Bevan Kirley and Wes Kumfer, researchers at the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center, who focus on crash analysis and safety education, and how human behavior impacts our driving.
- There is an empirically safer and more efficient way for drivers to merge where one lane ends, and all the cars have to move to the remaining lane — it’s called the zipper merge. But despite years of promotion, it remains controversial and drivers are reluctant to try it. Reporter Alan Yu looks into why.
With just a month away from the midterms, we discuss Pennsylvania's consequential U.S. Senate and Governor races -- the campaigns, polls, money, ads, and issues.
Cate Blanchett talks with Patrick Stoner about the importance of a back story in developing a character & how a favorite pair of pants saved a crucial scene
We discuss the women-led protests in Iran following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while detained by the "morality police" and the violent crackdown.
Author Daniel Pink says having regrets is natural and that confronting them can lead to personal growth, better decisions and relationships, and happier lives.
A treatment for Alzheimer’s may be on the horizon. And, the monarch butterfly's migration through South Jersey. Chief Kevin Bethel discusses the Roxborough HS shooting.
Mark Blount, Jr., 30, grew up at 11th and Diamond in the Norris Street Housing Project of North Philadelphia. It’s where he says he first picked up a basketball at age 10.
“There was this girl in my neighborhood and she was good,” recalls Blount, “she was on the court practicing and I went over there and she put a ball in my hand and helped me become a basketball player.”
Fast forward and Mark Blount aka “Splash” is a member of the world-renowned Harlem Globetrotters. He travels the world, plays the game he loves and performs basketball tricks before stadiums filled with adoring fans.
I love the fact that I can step into a gym, put on my superhero outfit, and go step on the court,” he says, “and to just see the smiles on all the family faces- the fans make it all worthwhile.”
As a kid, Blount went to the RW Brown Community Center and every summer from age 8 to 12, to take part in summer camp. In 2018, three years after he began traveling with the Globetrotters, Blount decided to go back to where it all began. That was the first summer that while home for the season, he took on the role of “summer camp counselor.”
“The kids are just so happy to be there, and as the counselor I love to be there and have fun with the kids,” he says.
Blount works at RW Brown and does real work. He takes the kids on trips, runs math and reading lessons and plays lots of basketball. He not only teaches the kids the fundamentals, but also the tricks he’s learned on the road.
“For someone who is as successful as he is to come back and not just give an hour time but to spend the whole summer camp program with them—I call it getting your hands down in the mud and that’s what Mark does,” says Branon Gilmore, senior director of programs at Caring People Alliance, the group that runs the Boys & Girls Club at the RW Brown Community Center.
“He’s just been a blessing to have,” says Gilmore, “he knows what the [youth are] going through because he’s been there.”
There is on the skirt of Temple University in North Philly. While the Norris Street Projects wasn’t in and of itself a dangerous place, Blount recalls robberies and other crimes nearby. In fact, a memory he can’t seem to shake is seeing police move a limp human body as he walked down the street.
“I will never get that out of my head,” says Blount, “that was very traumatizing at a young age.”
But basketball, the RW Brown Community Center and family kept him focused.
“I knew if I did the right thing and stayed out the way, playing basketball, practicing, going to the camp,” says Blount, “I knew I was going to be on the right path.”
That focus, as well as a local cop who watched the neighborhood, kept Blount out of trouble and helped give him vision. “Officer Jerry” worked for Temple University Police, recalls Blount, and would sit in his squad car at the end of the block. Jerry would talk to a then young Blount and encourage him. It left an impression.
“I wanted to go into law enforcement because of [Officer Jerry],” he says.
Blount studied criminal justice at Neumann University while playing for the school’s basketball team. He says his plan was to play professional basketball overseas or to try to get into the FBI. But in fall of 2015, he got the chance to audition for the Harlem Globetrotters and off he went.
“I love it,” says Blount.
Now a veteran of the team, Mark Blount has traveled to China, Australia and throughout Europe. He also owns property in North Philadelphia, as well as a hookah business. But none of his work in basketball and beyond prevents his weeks-long commitment to young people from his old neighborhood each summer.
“I see myself as a role model, a mentor that the kids can look up to,” he says, “I wanted better for myself- and I want better for the kids too.”
“Mark is 100 percent a good soul,” says Gilmore, “he gives the kids a different vision of what their futures can be.”
More on Mark Blount and the Harlem Globetrotters
More about the Caring People Alliance
From the archive, Marty’s conversation with Sally Field where she discussed her life, career, memoirs and why acting was such a successful tool for overcoming trauma.
The tide appears to be turning against Putin in the war as Russian forces retreat. What will he do next?
A smile, clean socks, a sandwich, a wound care kit, a heartfelt “how are you feeling today?” All of these things can be part of a public health approach called harm reduction, and many believe it’s the best way to help those who’re living with opioid addiction. The approach is to meet people where they’re at, gaining their trust, and paving a path toward treatment and recovery.
Journalist Beth Macy has covered the devastating impact of the opioid epidemic for years — including in her best-selling book “Dopesick,” which was turned into a Hulu limited series. In her latest book, she pivots to solutions. In “Raising Lazarus” she introduces audiences to the people on the frontlines of the opioid crisis, who are trying to save lives — one person at a time. We talk to Macy about her book and hear from people who are trying new ways to keep people alive and get them into treatment.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- We talk with Ed Bisch about the personal tragedy that led him to connect with other grieving families, and his activism with the group Relatives Against Purdue.
- We listen back to Nina Feldman’s story of a volunteer outreach worker in Philadelphia, who believes everybody should have Narcan available.
We'll talk about President Biden's plan to end hunger by 2030 and discuss the high rates food insecurity in Philadelphia,
Letitia Wright & Tamara Lawrance talk with Patrick Stoner about the true story of sisters who silently related only to each other.
Slate's Dahlia Lithwick on "Lady Justice," about the heroic women lawyers who fought for the rule of law during the Trump era and on the new Supreme Court term.
What does the US Constitution say about citizenship? What is the difference between a naturalized and a natural born citizen? And how has our conception of citizenship changed over time?
Harvard researchers Emily Weinstein and Carrie James on their new book, "Behind Their Screens: What Teens Are Facing (And Adults Are Missing)."
The latest on your gut microbiome and how to keep it healthy. Plus, climate change efforts underway in New Jersey with the DEP commissioner, and ROCKY: The Musical is here!
From the Radio Times archive, our interview with polo star Kareem Rosser. He's hosting the first polo tournament in Fairmount Park today, the Philadelphia Polo Classic.
Record numbers of migrants are arriving at the southern border. Republican lawmakers are relocating some to Democratic states. Today - the politics of immigration.
During World War I, thousands of soldiers suffered catastrophic facial injuries. If these soldiers survived their injuries, they were often shunned once they got back home.
Some were forced to sit on brightly painted blue benches so that the public knew not to look at them. Many became isolated — sometimes their fiancées broke off their engagements, or their families rejected them — and came to feel that their lives were no longer worth living.
But then an enterprising surgeon entered the picture, who was determined to repair and even rebuild these men’s injured faces: Harold Gillies.
On this episode, we talk with medical historian Lindsey Fitzharris about her new book “The Facemaker: A Visionary Surgeon’s Battle to Mend the Disfigured Soldiers of World War I,” which traces Gillies’ pioneering mission to reconstruct faces. We hear about how he gathered artists, radiographers, dental surgeons, and more for novel collaborations, their miraculous results, and how Gillies’ efforts led to the birth of modern reconstructive surgery.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- From the 1960s to the late ’80s, countless people who were incarcerated were given plastic surgery in the hopes that improved looks could reduce recidivism. Reporter Jad Sleiman tells the strange story of this experiment and talks with a famous plastic surgeon to the stars about this flawed program.
- Flight nurse Dave Repsher lived an active life — until a medical helicopter he was riding in crashed, resulting in Repsher suffering burns on over 90 percent of his body. Colorado Public Radio’s Ryan Warner tells the story of Repsher’s difficult recovery using cutting-edge techniques.
Parenting changes once kids reach adulthood, but it's hard to figure out what a parent's role should be. Today, raising resilient adults and the risks of overparenting.
Tyler Perry talks with Patrick Stoner about creating a film that dealt with the fear of bigoted danger over a 50 year period that involved a murder mystery.
There's a lot of excitement around using psychedelic drugs for mental health treatment. This hour, the potential, risks and hype around psychedelics and mental health care.
States have to abide by both state and federal laws, but what does that mean? Let’s explore the balances of power, state’s rights, and the supremacy clause – which makes the US Constitution the supreme law of the land.
Neil deGrasse Tyson writes, "Objective truths of science are not founded in belief systems. They are not established by the authority of leaders or the power of persuasion."
The story of Precious Thomas, the brave little girl fighting HIV, captured people’s attention in the 1990s, and changed hearts and minds about the AIDS epidemic. And when Gary Davis’ serum seemingly brought about a dramatic improvement in the girl’s health, it gave a major boost to his profile and work. For the doctor’s supporters, Precious Thomas was — and still is — the best proof that Gary Davis’ serum could be effective. But for years, she refused to talk about what exactly happened — if her viral load had stayed undetectable, if she was “cured.”
Then one afternoon, she sends a message to Grant. “Hello, I’m ready to speak my part and my truth if you still wanna listen.” She now uses a different name, has reclaimed her life outside of the spotlight, and is ready to tell her side of the story.
We'll talk about efforts to possibly impeach D.A. Krasner, a new play titled "Mushroom" premiering at People's Light, and Banned Books Week turns 40.
Laurie Halse Anderson's memoir, Shout, is a vulnerable and powerful reflection on our society failing victims, and a love letter to survivors of sexual assault.
This Labor Day, we revisit some of the summer's most fascinating interviews, like the huge Revolutionary War discovery at the Red Bank Battlefield in New Jersey.
This week, we revisit our 2014 interview with international tennis legend and champion for gender equality, Billie Jean King.
The pandemic hasn’t just changed how we live — it’s changed how we work, and how we feel about our jobs. One of the major ripple effects: burnout. Over the past couple years, people in all different jobs — from doctors to teachers, students to hospital workers — have found themselves exhausted and struggling, questioning if it’s them or their workplaces, and if they belong in their jobs at all.
Burnout can lead to serious problems — depression and insomnia, the feeling that your work, or even your life, has no meaning. It can affect job performance too, leading to mistakes that, in some cases, could cost lives. But burnout can also mark a fresh start — a breaking point that leads you onto a new path.
On this episode, we look at what’s fueling widespread burnout, why so many people report feeling pushed to their absolute limits, and what can be done to stop it. We talk with a psychologist about the signs of burnout and how to avoid it, a teacher who was forced to choose between his health and his profession, and a former ER doctor who coaches physicians on how to avoid that sinking feeling.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- We talk with psychologist and burnout expert Brad Johnson about the signs of burnout, how it begins, why it’s more common among women and people of color, and how to deal with it. Johnson is a clinical psychologist and a professor of psychology at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
- Teachers have always had a high burnout rate — but according to a survey from the National Education Association, that rate has reached crisis proportions. Reporter Jad Sleiman tells the story of how one Philadelphia teacher reached his limit, and was forced to choose between his career and his health. A version of this story was featured on the WHYY podcast series “Schooled.”
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We hear from teenagers about what’s stressing them out and how adults sometimes don’t take them seriously. This piece was produced by student reporters at WHYY’s Pathways to Media Careers Youth Employment project.
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Rob Orman spent years working as an ER doctor before burnout sent him looking for new opportunities. Now he coaches other physicians on how to avoid the same fate. He tells us about the systemic problems fueling doctors’ high burnout rates, and the compromises that are needed to save America’s stressed-out health care workers.
- We talk with Amelia Nogoski about how her PhD program drove her to the edge, and how she walked herself back. Nogoski is an associate professor and music coordinator at Western New England University. Her book is called “Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle.”
President Biden speaks from the birthplace of independence Thursday about the soul and future of American democracy - but who's he talking to, and did the message land?
Tennis icon Serena Williams faced an uphill battle with her sister, Venus, when she entered the game more than two decades ago. We look at her obstacles and many victories.
Esther Smith & Rafe Spall talk with Patrick Stoner about bringing a British style to their comedy about an adopting couple’s misadventures.
President Biden's plan to provide relief to borrowers of federal student loans has been met with celebration and condemnation. Too far, too little, overreaching and unfair?
Where are the people Gary Davis treated with the serum? Why is nobody who took it willing to talk? A very cagey former patient finally agrees to meet with Grant, under several specific conditions: Only if it rains, only if Grant comes to visit him in his very small town, and only if they can talk where no one else can hear them. The stranger finally pulls up in his pickup truck, at a tumbleweed intersection in rural Oklahoma, windows tinted too dark to see him. And his story is even weirder than all the conditions may have suggested.
A new book is written from the witty, sharp, sometimes self-indulgent perspective of our Milky Way galaxy, detailing what it's like to look down on tiny planet Earth.
A new garden opens in memory of victims of opioid overdose. Plus, Michael Nutter on what Philadelphians should expect from the city's next mayor. And, Eagles season kicks off.
In his 2017 book, Dan Rather asks, “when did we accept a can’t-do spirit from so many of our national leaders?” We revisit our interview from the Radio Times archive.
It was a summer day in 2012 when Bob Richey’s life was changed forever. He was a new college grad, having fun with friends at the beach. Like he’d done so many times before, Richey dove into the surf — but this time, something was off. He broke two vertebrae in his neck and ended up paralyzed from the chest down.
Since then, he’s been using a power wheelchair, which allows him to get around, work as a software engineer, even drive a custom van.
When medical equipment is an absolute necessity — the only way someone can keep going, literally and figuratively — it takes on an outsized role. It must fit right and work right, be accessible and affordable — or the consequences can be grave.
On this episode, we look at the medical gear that’s changing — and even saving — lives. We hear stories about how the ice bucket challenge changed life for people with ALS, the growing role prosthetists are playing in patients’ lives, and the medical device that alerted the bomb squad at the airport.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- Remember the robotic hand that Luke Skywalker gets at the end of “The Empire Strikes Back”? Today, we’re closer than ever to making that kind of prosthesis a reality. We get a glimpse at one such model — The Michelangelo — and what it’s taken for Brian Simms to make it work for him.
The war in Ukraine rages on, but the country's people are showing resiliency and fighting back in a way unpredicted by some. We discuss the past 6 months of Russia's invasion.
Philadelphia has a new school leader for the first time in a decade. Superintendent Dr. Tony Watlington on the challenges facing kids and teachers in the district this year.
Owen Wilson & Walker Scobell talk with Patrick Stoner about working with digital effects that they see only later.
More companies are using surveillance software to track employees' work in the office and at home, monitoring keystrokes, mouse clicks and utilizing the webcam.
Deep conversations with the doctor’s family members paint a complicated picture of Gary Davis, the man — and Gary Davis, the legend. The doctor was often broke and filed for bankruptcy twice, but then suddenly seemed to have lots of money. Several people tell Grant this wealth may have come from the doctor’s high-profile clients —- including one NBA superstar.
Davis’ daughter wants to talk about how her father died, and the fact that she feels like something bad happened to him. His niece has no interest in getting into that debate, and feels it’s not even a question.
So, what really happened the night Gary Davis died?
Major Thomas Schuman on his book, "Always Faithful: A Story of the War in Afghanistan, the Fall of Kabul, and the Unshakable Bond Between a Marine and an Interpreter."
Reimagining the infamously dangerous Roosevelt Boulevard. Plus, what's going on with hurricane season? And, we start with an update on the shake ups in city council.
Albert Woodfox died this month at the age of 75. In 2019, we talked about solitary confinement in US prisons and the mental and physical effects on incarcerated people.
Learning how to be a parent can feel overwhelming, and advice is everywhere. There are the things you’re learning from other parents, the things you’re reading in books, the things you hear from your pediatrician, from influencers, from your great aunt Margaret … and in the meantime, you’re trying to develop your own instincts as a parent.
So who do you listen to? Who’s the real expert? And how much do these decisions ultimately matter to the health and well-being of your kid?
On this episode — navigating parenting advice, and what science can tell us about raising kids. We dig into advice about sleep, food allergies, how much influence parents actually have on their children, and how to raise kids who aren’t a**holes.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- We talk with neurologist and sleep researcher Chris Winter about helpful methods to improve a child’s quality of sleep. Winter also discusses today’s culprits of poor sleep and how they affect the brain. Winter’s books include “The Sleep Solution” and “The Rested Child: Why Your Tired, Wired, or Irritable Child May Have a Sleep Disorder — And How To Help.”
- Danya Glabau knows the world of food allergies firsthand — she was diagnosed in college. Her new book, “Food Allergy Advocacy: Parenting and the Politics of Care,” explores this issue from the perspective of parents, who are often forced to become experts fast.
- In 1998, the late psychologist Judith Harris published “The Nurture Assumption” — a book that made the controversial argument that peers, not parents, are the most important factor in children’s development. Reporter Jad Sleiman explores how Harris — an outsider in the field — formulated her argument, and how it eventually went from fringe to more mainstream. Steven Pinker discusses his friendship with Harris, and how her arguments influenced his work.
- A few years ago, science journalist and mom Melinda Wenner Moyer grew concerned about the bad behavior she was seeing all around her: from bullying and racism to MeToo allegations. How would all of this impact her kids? And how can you raise kids who are kind and empathetic? She started digging into research on how to instill empathy, honesty, and generosity in kids. She explains what she found in her book, “How to Raise Kids Who Aren’t Assholes.”
As public school educators in the region get ready for another school year, we talk about learning loss, funding disparities, keeping students safe, and hopes for this year.
Former President Trump's legal problems are growing with the investigation into his mishandling of classified documents. We'll get latest on the Trump probes.
Diane Keaton talks with Patrick Stoner about playing a 30 year old in her own older body.
Serum follows the life and work of Dr. Gary Davis, a Black physician from Tulsa, Oklahoma, who was working on a treatment for AIDS in the 1990s. This is episode 3: Red Flags and Green Lights.
Reporter Grant Hill gets in touch with one of the last people to have seen Dr. Davis’ serum in action, a Tulsa photographer named Doug Henderson. The conversation reveals that in 2004, Dr. Davis conducted human trials in Africa — enlisting the help of the photographer and celebrity Bishop Carton Pearson to document and publicize his work. What they witness is both astonishing and shocking: Trials with the doctor’s serum seem to leave participants completely recovered. But soon, things fall apart. Dr. Davis appears panicked and afraid for his life. He disappears. Rumors abound. Back in Oklahoma, the photographer is asked to erase all evidence that any of this ever happened. Then he gets word: The doctor is dead.
Serum, a limited-run podcast, is available wherever you listen to podcasts.
After the horrific attack on Salman Rushdie, we discuss the continued threats to free expression and why it's worth defending.
What really happened to Gary Davis and his serum? Grant starts reaching out to the doctor’s family members. They are eager to tell their stories – but all have different perspectives. The daughter who spent much of her childhood in Davis’ lab, the son who was skeptical at first but then came around, the niece who tried to help Davis bring the serum to fruition in the shadow of historic racial violence. A road trip to Tulsa brings a deeper understanding of Gary Davis — and an anonymous tip leads to new insights: After the FDA shut down a clinical trial for Davis’ serum, at least one biopharmaceutical company created its own. Its trials? Approved, funded by the NIH.
In her book, author Monica Guzman writes that we need to ask more questions of each other, to get fearlessly curious and reach the enlightening moment of understanding.
The latest on electric vehicles in the Inflation Reduction Act; dispelling myths about organ donation; and keeping your garden healthy and beautiful in extreme temperatures.
Listen back to our interview with Philadelphia's poet laureate, Airea D. Matthews, who was recently awarded $50,000 by the Academy of American Poets.
Acting in selfless ways – helping others – can make people feel like they have more control over their lives and can reduce feelings of despair. That’s according to new research. In their weekly conversation, WHYY’s Maiken Scott and psychologist Dan Gottlieb discuss the implications.
Next on You Oughta Know, see how Play Everywhere brings history to life with interactive art. Learn how the Philly Polo Classic will benefit under-resourced kids. Discover why goats are good therapy with the Philly Goat Project. Find out why Asian-inspired beauty company, Sabbatical, promotes self-care as a radical act. Visit Frankford Hall to learn about what’s on the menu at Oktoberfest. Celebrate Philadelphia Welsh Week with food, history, and entertainment!
The modern ICU, or Intensive Care Unit, was born out of a time of crisis. It was 1952, and polio was raging in many places — especially the city of Copenhagen. Patients poured into the hospitals, many of them gasping for air, turning blue, and eventually dying. Then a brilliant doctor tried a radically different approach — pumping air directly into patients’ lungs. It was an idea that would require intensive manpower, but save many lives. And it led to the birth of a new kind of medicine: intensive care.
Seventy years later, ICUs sit at the cutting edge of modern medicine. They’re the destination for the sickest patients — including those who’re hovering at death’s door — and home to some of medicine’s most profound interventions. ICUs can be a place of pain and healing, of comfort and dying, a laboratory for innovation, or a sanctuary for grieving families.
On this episode, we take a look at intensive care — its roots, what it’s like to work there, and how the coronavirus pandemic has changed it.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- Journalist Daniel Semo tells the story of anesthesiologist Bjorn Ibsen — the brilliant doctor who ushered in a new era in medicine.
- We talk with Haney Mallemat, a critical care physician at Cooper Medical Center at Rowan University, about what drew him to intensive care, making life-and-death decisions, and dealing with the lingering trauma of COVID-19.
- Reporter Jad Sleiman talks with Nirav Shah, an ICU doctor at the University of Maryland Medical Center, about the strange, sometimes one-sided relationships doctors develop with their unconscious patients … and one patient he will never forget.
Catherine Price, author of "The Power of Fun," on the importance of having fun and how we can incorporate it into our lives so we're happier, healthier and more connected.
With Democrats poised to pass the Inflation Reduction Act, we look at what's in it, what got dumped and why, and how it may impact the economy, healthcare and climate change.
Katie Holmes & Jim Sturgess talk with Patrick Stoner about Katie’s triple threat film involvement as producer, director & star.
Journalist and author Mark Leibovich talks about his new book, "Thank You For Your Servitude," about the sycophants who enabled Donald Trump.
From examining Philadelphia dirt bike culture to spotlighting community efforts to combat food insecurity, these local student filmmakers share their short documentaries.
Grant gets in touch with one of the last people to have seen Dr. Davis’ serum in action, a Tulsa photographer named Doug Henderson. The conversation reveals that in 2004, Dr. Davis conducted human trials in Africa – enlisting the help of the photographer and celebrity Bishop Carton Pearson to document and publicize his work. What they witness is both astonishing and shocking: trials with the doctor’s serum seem to leave participants completely recovered. But soon, things fall apart. Dr. Davis appears panicked and afraid for his life. He disappears. Rumors abound. Back in Oklahoma, the photographer is asked to erase all evidence that any of this ever happened. Then he gets word: The doctor is dead.
Some Philadelphia neighborhoods with few trees can be 15 to 20 degrees hotter than more leafy zip codes. As climate change heats up cities, how can we cool them down?
A historic shortage of judges holds up thousands of cases in New Jersey. A rare Revolutionary War discovery. Lesley Van Arsdall and NFL's Brian Westbrook's children's book.
NBA great Bill Russell died Sunday at the age of 88. He is remembered for being a leader on and off the court, fighting for social change. We revisit our 2001 interview.
Next on You Oughta Know, find out how a collaboration between Jackie Kennedy and Winterthur’s founder restored history and beauty to White House. Discover an urban oasis in Philly’s pocket parks. Hear the sweet sounds of success by a N.J. cigar box guitar maker. Explore the wonders of local ecosystems at The Wetlands Institute. Let the good times roll at Brooklyn Bowl Philly. Join the global celebration of Black, Brown and Indigenous artists at the BlackStar Film Festival.
Science is all about discovery — tackling the big questions that define our world, and hopefully our future. But some of these questions are as obscure as they are important. The challenges seem endless — with any kind of answer decades or even generations away — but, if answered, these quests could transform life as we know it.
On this episode, we explore some of science’s holy grails — we look into why these questions matter, and how close they are to being answered, and meet the people who are leading the charge.
We hear stories about the search for extraterrestrial life, what fusion power could mean for the fate of our planet, humans’ quest for immortality, and more.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- Technology journalist Peter Ward introduces us to a community of people dedicated to using cutting-edge science to extend their lives — by decades, or maybe even centuries. Ward explains the current state of their quest for immortality, including using cryonics to freeze and preserve the body. His book is “The Price of Immortality: The Race to Live Forever.”
- Forget carbon emissions or radioactive waste — hello clean, abundant energy! That is the promise of fusion power, a scientific holy grail that’s hovered outside our grasp for nearly a century. We talk with physicists Martin Greenwald and Clifford Johnson, as well as science journalist Steven Krivit, about how close — or far — fusion power actually is.
John Fetterman is trolling Mehmet Oz on Twitter; PA Supreme Court upholds mail-in voting law; Doug Mastriano hasn't yet tried to appeal to the general electorate
From QAnon to Covid misinformation, people believe all kinds of bizarre conspiracy theories. But far from harmless, these beliefs can have serious real-world consequences.
B. J. Novak talks with Patrick Stoner about getting Terry Gross of Fresh Air to do a voice part & his approach to comedy based on the book Truth in Comedy
Local student filmmakers use their voices – and their cameras – to promote positive change and equality.
Monkeypox cases in the U.S. tripled in July. We'll discuss the public health response, if it's enough and talk about the surge in Covid infections.
During the height of the AIDS crisis, one man sues in court to try Dr. Davis’ goat serum — which has not been approved by the FDA. A desperate mother decides it’s better to ask forgiveness than permission. She takes her little girl, and ventures halfway across the country to meet the doctor. She later tells reporters that she had to take a drastic step to get her hands on the treatment but has no regrets. Then: a ray of hope. The 7-year-old girl begins to recover after taking the doctor’s unapproved serum, and her doctors at the National Institutes of Health take notice. So, why didn’t the NIH investigate further? And why won’t the girl, now all grown up, answer Grant’s messages?
Kathy Kleiman on her new book about the ENIAC programmers, "Proving Ground: The Untold Story of the Six Women Who Programmed the World’s First Modern Computer"
From the archives: Norman Lear, who turned 100 this week, joined us in 2014 to discuss his early life, influences and his memoir, Even This I Get to Experience.
We'll talk about the controversial book review policy passed by Central Bucks' school board Tuesday. And, a proposal for a 76ers arena is met with mixed reaction by neighbors.
It’s when a dark alleyway makes the hairs stand up on the back of our neck; when a mother just knows that something’s wrong with her kid; when you meet someone, and can tell they’ll either be your best friend — or your worst nightmare.
On the surface, intuition can seem a bit like magic — this unexplainable knowledge that pops in our heads, based on nothing but a feeling. But scientists say there’s more to intuition than just gut instinct. It’s about how our brains use years of accrued information to make predictions about what’s going to happen next — all on a subconscious level. But if we don’t know exactly how intuition works, how can we trust it — and should we trust it?
On this episode, we explore intuition — what it is, how we can harness it, and when to avoid it. We hear stories about the edge that human doctors have over AI, one woman’s incredible feat of motherly intuition, and why some people call intuitive eating the antidote to diet culture.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- We talk with David Jaison, who offers us a peek behind the curtain of “mentalism” — a kind of performance art that uses a mix of psychology, showmanship, and intuition to surprise audiences.
- Neuroscientist Joel Pearson breaks down the emerging science behind intuition — where it comes from, how it works, and when we should (and shouldn’t) trust our gut feelings. Pearson is the founder and director of Future Minds Lab at the University of New South Wales in Sydney.
- Artificial intelligence may not have the best bedside manner, but it’s getting better and better at diagnosing and treating patients. So what does that mean for traditional MDs? Reporter Jad Sleiman explores the edge that human doctors have over AI — at least for now.
- When Katie Pratt was 3 years old, she was diagnosed with a Chiari malformation, a rare condition in which the cerebellum bulges through an opening in the skull into the spinal canal. Katie’s mom, Wendy, had a hunch about what the solution would be — but it wasn’t until doctors opened up Katie’s skull that they discovered she was right. Katie interviews her mom about the experience, and her incredible flash of mother’s intuition.
- You might’ve heard of intuitive eating, a practice that proponents are calling an antidote to both diet culture and disordered eating. Reporter Liz Tung talks with Elyse Resch, one of the founders of intuitive eating, and one young woman about how intuitive eating changed her relationship with food.
Nell McShane Wulfhart tells the history of how stewardesses became flight attendants and their influence on the labor movement in her book "The Great Stewardess Rebellion."
Jody Rosen, author of "Two Wheels Good," on the history of the bicycle and how it shaped the world - Victorian suffragettes, Bangladeshi rickshaw drivers, and urban yuppies.
Jane Fonda talks with Patrick Stoner about the differences between this voice work & her award winning usual acting.
We'll talk about the ever-changing, impossible body image standards for men and women of all ages, and how we can feel more confident about ourselves and the way we look.
Local student filmmakers experiment with science fiction stories that are out of this world.
Reporter Grant Hill stumbles into a cab after a long night out. A conversation with the driver leads to a startling revelation: He claims to be a Hollywood insider, who helped a doctor develop a potential cure for AIDS in the 1990s. His Hollywood claims turn out to be true — but what about this cure for AIDS? A search turns up a Black physician named Gary Davis from Tulsa, Oklahoma who had a big dream: to use goat antibodies to develop a serum that would free the world from HIV and AIDS. What happened to the dream? And why did so many fear for the doctor’s life?
Journalists Douglas Frantz and Catherine Collins expose the danger open-net salmon farming poses to fish, the environment and human health in "Salmon Wars.'
We talk with Dr. Paul Offit about the increase in Covid-19 cases and the debate over more boosters. Plus, beating the extreme heat: tips from a Temple Health physician.
From the Radio Times archive, we revisit Marty Moss-Coane's interview with Japanese Breakfast's Michelle Zauner on her musical talent and memoir, Crying in H Mart.
Next on You Oughta Know, learn how a Philly nonprofit is empowering youth to help end violence. Check out a book that teaches kids how to turn climate change anxiety into action. Find out how learning a trade is helping at-risk youth build solid futures. Get new ideas for family fun at Top Golf, Sugar Factory, and Songbird Karaoke. Ride the PHLASH to Philly hotspots. Meet the creative force behind the Dirty Popcorn Black Film Festival. Spill the tea with Julian Fellowes.
We discuss Thursday night's Jan. 6 hearing and the evidence of Trump's 'dereliction of duty' during the 187 minutes the rioters stormed the Capitol.
In the fall of 2019, reporter Grant Hill jumped into a cab — where his driver, Clyde Ashley Sherman, told him the story of a lifetime. Decades before, the driver had worked for a Black physician from Oklahoma named Gary Davis. In the 1990s, Davis developed a treatment for AIDS based on goat antibodies. The physician submitted his research to the FDA, but his clinical trial was shut down right before it was set to start. Frustrated, Davis went abroad to get his treatment off the ground. He got involved with some questionable characters to find financial support — and when he died unexpectedly, lots of questions remained.
Grant Hill spent more than two years on Davis’ trail — discovering a tangled story that spans decades and stretches into the innermost circles of power and fame. On this episode, we’ll hear an excerpt from our new podcast series “Serum,” which tells Davis’ story. We also talk to an infectious disease specialist who has worked on HIV research since the early days of this epidemic, and we’ll meet a couple that found love amid the AIDS crisis.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- Reporter Jad Sleiman tells the story of a couple whose meandering path to love started at the height of the AIDS crisis. At first, the specter of HIV pushed them to take very different roads in life — until they met again.
- We talk with Carlos del Rio, co-director of the Center for AIDS Research at Emory University, about the earliest days of HIV research, and how the search for treatments has unfolded in the years since.
As heat waves and wildfires threaten the U.S and Europe and climate action in stalls in Congress, President Biden takes executive actions on climate. But is it enough?
Olivia DeJonge talks with Patrick Stoner about playing Baz Luhrmann’s interpretation of Priscilla Presley.
Pa's Republican-controlled legislature is already clearing hurdles in the abortion battle. We'll discuss the political avenues being tested and the emerging legal conflicts.
Local student filmmakers hone their storytelling craft in the fiction genre, experimenting with murder mysteries, love stories, and action-dramas.
A Black doctor, a potential cure for AIDS, and the quest to find out what happened to it.
A production of WHYY’s The Pulse and Local Trance Media
Gary Davis, an Ivy League trained Black physician from Tulsa, Oklahoma, had one passion: to find a cure for Aids. For years, he had witnessed the virus kill his patients and members of his community. He started his research in the early 90s, working with goats to tap into their strong immune response to the HIV virus. He rented a lab and collaborated with scientists at Tuskegee University. Within a few years, Davis brought his research to the FDA to start a clinical trial — but just hours before it was supposed to start — his trial was shut down. Davis had powerful critics, among them NIAID director Dr. Anthony Fauci. He also had many ardent supporters, who had heard about the serum and its potential. Some sued in court to be allowed to try it, while others chose to ask for forgiveness rather than permission to get their hands on it.
Davis eventually took his work abroad, chasing a way to develop this cure, conducting human trials in Africa, forging dubious alliances with international investors, celebrities, sports stars, cult leaders and dangerous con men.. When Davis died unexpectedly, without ever being able to bring his cure to all who needed it, many of his followers suspected foul play.
What was the true potential of Davis’ serum — and who are the people who say it saved their lives? And why were US health agencies so quick to dismiss it?
Reporter Grant Hill spent two-and-a-half years on Davis’ trail, speaking to his family, patients, friends, and foes. He uncovered a tangled web of global connections, suspicion, and the persistent hope that the serum will yet see the light of day.
New episodes released on Tuesdays, starting July 26th. Available wherever you listen to podcasts.
Susan Cain discusses her new book, "Bittersweet," about the power of the overlocked emotion that allows us to feel sad and happy simultaneously.
Actor Richard Thomas stars as Atticus Finch To Kill A Mockingbird. Plus, we talk about sunscreen safety and the fight for abortion rights in PA politics.
Next on You Oughta Know, learn about a prison compost program that produces rich soil and so much more. Find out how Tree Tenders are transforming Philly neighborhoods. Visit a pop-up bar at the Rodin Museum garden. Discover a creative space with repurposed factory machines, artisans, and parties. See Philly’s first mobile refill station for eco-friendly shopping. Check out N.J.’s only one-stop shop for beans and brews. Learn how to pick the perfect watermelon.
Malcolm Nance warns of the rise in violent extremism and the threat it poses to American democracy. And we talk about his experience fighting for Ukraine against Russia.
Our lives depend on water — not just any water: clean, safe water. We need it for drinking, for cooking, for washing. And very often, we take it for granted. But in many parts of the world — including the U.S. — water is becoming a precious commodity.
The American West is currently experiencing a “megadrought,” which is rapidly draining important water supplies. That’s led one ranching community in Wyoming to seek out ways to protect their water sources. Emerging science is on their side — but the law isn’t.
On this episode, we talk about these and other people who are desperate to shore up and protect their water supply, and the conflicts that mission can bring. We hear stories about an environmental scientist who’s teaching other people how to source their own water, an eco-artist dedicated to empowering communities to know, restore, and preserve their waters, and more.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- Climate change is causing the American West to experience what’s now being called a “megadrought” — the worst water shortage in centuries. The Ogallala Aquifer is a huge underground water source supplying eight states with this precious resource. But as one ranching community in Wyoming is finding out, that water is disappearing. Melodie Edwards, host and producer of The Modern West podcast from PRX and Wyoming Public Media, reports on how part of the problem is that water law hasn’t kept up with emerging science.
- If you live in a city, your water probably comes from a large public utility that purifies it in a treatment plant. Not so for environmental scientist David Tarsi, who has wells on his own property, and uses sand filters to clean up rain water. Reporter Jad Sleiman talks with Tarsi about his quest to teach more people how to collect and filter their own water supply.
- Associate producer Nichole Currie talks with eco-artist Betsy Damon about her decades-long quest to put water challenges — and solutions — in front of the public.
The Webb Telescope is allowing us to look back further into our past than ever before and revealing distant galaxies. exoplanets, cosmic cliffs, dying stars and much more.
Lesley Manville, best known for playing Princess Margaret in THE CROWN, talks with Patrick Stoner about the importance of beauty to people after the drab times of war & pandemic.
The seventh Jan. 6 hearing alleged that in a last ditch effort to hold on to power, former President Trump summoned a mob of right-wing extremists.
Local student filmmakers school us with their educational videos about vaccines, pathways to media careers, and more.
In "Why We Did It", Tim Miller gives an honest reflection his own past work for the Republican Party and the actions of his former peers in the GOP establishment.
In the immediate aftermath of overturning Roe v. Wade, a look at the abortion debate, access to reproductive healthcare and the challenges for pregnant people turned away.
Austin Butler & Baz Luhrmann talk with Patrick Stoner about the collaboration between star & director that created their version of Elvis Presley.
We discuss former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson's explosive testimony before the select committee about the former president's knowledge and actions on Jan. 6.
The ramifications of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade on reproductive health and the legal and political battles it has ignited around abortion.
Tatiana Poladko and Atnre Alleyne are the founders of TeenSHARP, a Delaware based non-profit that prepares students from the tri-state region to apply for, get admitted to and thrive at the nation’s top colleges and universities. Their ultimate goal, however, is to change the face of leadership in America.
“We believe that diversifying the places where decisions are being made and where creative solutions are being proposed, that’s where the future lies,” says Poladko.
The work of TeenSHARP focuses on African-American and Latino students, populations that are in the single digits in many of the nation’s top schools.
“There are no valedictorians in TeenSHARP,” says Alleyne, “and we reject the idea of this scarcity of Black and Latino talent or that Black or Latino students who make it in are somehow exceptional.”
Alleyne knows from experience. The South Jersey native blazed trails for his family when he went to Rutgers University on scholarship. While attending undergraduate and graduate school he saw firsthand the barriers that keep many low income families and people of color out of top schools. He says two main problems: most public schools do not prepare young people for the academic rigor of elite schools and there’s lack of access to vital information needed for admission.
“You don’t just accidentally fall into the top of the most competitive and most selective schools in the United States,” he says.
TeenSHARP works with students beginning their freshman year of high school. The organization provides college and career counseling, college tours, tutoring and other support needed to prepare students aka “TeenSHARPies” to thrive, many times, in majority White environments. On top of it all, TeenSharp educates parents on how to best support their children through the process. They also counsel families on financial aid and advise them to choose institutions they can afford.
“We tell them- do not take on anything you cannot afford today,” says Podalko.
Podalko and Alleyne’s partnership began well before they founded TeenSharp in 2009. Podalko had come to Rutgers to attend graduate school on fellowship from her native Ukraine. She and Alleyne worked at a think tank, processing crime data.
“She was new here- typing in data about assaults in Camden,” says Alleyne, “so I had to explain where places were— that’s how we started working together, then taking classes together and going to church together.”
They married in 2007. Then in 2009, they gave birth to their first so called “baby,” TeenSharp. Over the past 13 years, they’ve grown it from nine students to 500 students. Today, they have a budget of $1 million and a staff of seven. Alleyne says the team meets with the students every Saturday during the school year for a full day of development and with parents every other Saturday. TeenSHARP also provides college prep during the week. The group advocates for its scholars, calling high schools about advanced classes, nudging colleges and helping to clear obstacles that hold so many back.
“We do the nitty gritty,” says Alleyne, “we have a saying at TeenSharp- ‘Whatever it takes’ and that’s what we do.”
Podalko says the fruits of all that labor is sweet— signing day.
“It never gets old,” she says, “with all the tears we shed— I still remember our first students getting the fat envelope.”
Podalko says this past school year, TeenSHARPies who did early admission were awarded an average of $70,000 in grants per year, taking on less than $2000 of student loans annually.
“There is a real opportunity for them to change the trajectory for their entire family and their whole community over the next four years,” says Podalko.
“If you don’t have that dream, if you don’t have that vision of seeing yourself walking on that campus there’s no reason for you to apply and there’s no reason for you to push yourself,” says Hanifah Ouro-Sama, a recent TeenSharp graduate.
Orso-Soma went to Dover High School. She says her original intent was to go to a state school, but then she linked up with TeenSharp before her senior year. But, she says Podalko and Alleyne encouraged her to apply to 20 schools, including some top Ivy League institutions. The result- Ouro-Sama is going to Yale in the fall student loan free.
“I am super excited about that,” she says, “I’m I didn’t not think that this would be a reality at all.”
Ouro-Sama says she didn’t tell her parents when she applied because she did not want to be disappointed. But seeing other TeenSHARPies getting into top schools like University of Pennsylvania and Yale made her believe that it was possible. “It happened and it just seems so surreal every day, she says.
Ouro-Sama says she wants to work in healthcare and become a doctor who serves under-resourced areas. She believes going to Yale will strengthen her network and set her up for success.
“The opportunity is unmatched,” she says, “it’s something I can’t even dream of right now.’
Alleyne says besides being excellent, he is proud of his TeenSHARPies because many are leaders. They are part of the Black Student Union and are not afraid to speak out against injustice. He says after the murder of George Floyd they lobbied the Delaware legislature to get Black Studies in the schools.
“I think this is legacy,” he says.
Ouro-Sama says the efforts by Poladko and Alleyne is good soul work.
“I think that they are like the perfect definition, the perfect example of what it means to be a good soul,” she says.
Poadalko says Alleyne is a good souls. And he says the same about his wife.
“It’s about love— we love our Teen Sharp kids like we love our kids and we’re willing to make the sacrifices,” says Podalko. “It’s hard work— but it’s amazingly rewarding work.”
The couple now has three children and are running TeenSHARP virtually from Poland. They moved to Poldalko‘s home country, Ukraine, after her mother died of cancer. The shift came just before her father got sick with COVID-19. He survived. Then earlier this year when Russia invaded Ukraine, the couple fled to Poland. The uncertainty never stopped TeenSHARP.
“We collectively still get to our goals that we’re trying to achieve,” says Alleyne, “And it just I don’t ever get old for me.”
For more on TeenSharp go to teensharp.org.
SCOTUS overturns Roe v. Wade; Valerie Biden Owens on her new memoir about her political career and sibling relationship with President Biden; busy week for Philadelphia sports
Next on You Oughta Know, visit South Street’s eclectic Art Mart, home to 150+ area artists. Find out how the Philadelphia Phoenix ultimate frisbee team is expanding the sport. Get a taste of some of the best smoked Texas brisket—right here. Discover a downtown resurgence in Wilmington. Visit a museum that tells the story of slavery in America. See a new mural that memorializes transgender individuals. Meet a Good Soul nominee whose Making A Change Group is doing just that.
Imagine yourself out in nature — away from all the noise and the distractions of our lives. You can smell the rich scents of the forest, you can hear birds singing, the wind rustling the leaves, insects buzzing. It can feel calming, and invigorating. Now, imagine yourself alone in the forest for days, and weeks, looking for shelter from the elements and food to eat. That probably sounds more unsettling or scary than calming, right?
On this episode, we explore how our experiences in nature affect us — and change us. We hear from wilderness guide and “Alone” winner Jordan Jonas, about his stint in the Canadian wilderness and his legendary battle with a wolverine. We discuss the practice of forest bathing as a medical treatment, and science journalist Ed Yong explores how other animals experience the world around them.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- When he was in his 20s, survivalist and wilderness guide Jordan Jonas spent a lot of time in the tundra in Siberia. Living there uniquely equipped him to survive all by himself near the Arctic, which is where he was dropped off as a competitor on the History Channel reality TV show “Alone, Season Six.” Jordan outlasted his competitors to win the challenge.
- Ed Yong’s new book, “An Immense World” immerses readers into the experiences of other animals, and how they sense what’s around them. Yong explores how our different “windows” to the world offer very different vantage points.
- Tara Brown discovered “forest bathing” during a long stay in Japan. She felt lonely, isolated, and depressed. Then, she lived like a Japanese mountain monk for a week — and discovered the healing powers of being in nature.
We discuss Thursday's Jan. 6 hearing about former President Trump's efforts to use the DOJ to help him overturn the election results.
Looking at the cultural and legislative shifts surrounding the visibility and representation of queer and trans folks and all LGBTQIA+ people in America today.
There’s rising concern about the number of teachers who may leave the field. We asked them why. What they told us might surprise you.
On the final episode, we’re going to Philly Pride. After the dramatic downfall of the organization that ran the event for decades, we’ll see what the new group managed to accomplish. Did Pride feel revolutionary, or did it still feel corporate? Did police stay out of the festival? And did the community truly feel safe celebrating in the Gayborhood? We’ll hear whether this new group reached their goal to create a Pride that works for everyone — with little resources and just a year to do it. And we’ll explore what this all means for the future of the Pride movement
Tom Hanks talks with Patrick Stoner about getting deep under the surface characteristics of Col. Tom Parker, Elvis’s mysterious promoter.
Tuesday's Jan. 6 hearing showed the extreme pressure that Trump and his cronies launched against state election officials and workers to try to overturn the results.
In The Secret Life of Secrets, Michael Slepian reveals how secrets impact our minds, relationships and more, and gives strategies to make them easier to carry around with us.
A new mental health hotline expected to roll out; carriage horse protesters back on the street; we remember Dr. Fred Simeone who passed away at the age of 86.
“I love to see the kids when they walk through the door,” says Cecile Taylor-Kase, “when they come in they feel warm and like they belong.”
“Ms. Kase,” as she’s called in South Philly, has worked for the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department for nearly three decades. Most of that time has been spent at Vare Rec Center at 2600 Morris in the Grays Ferry neighborhood. While her title was maintenance/caretaker, her real job is so much more— it’s more of a vocation.
“I wear a lot of hats,” says Ms. Kase, “counselor, mentor, mother, aunt.”
“She was like her own non-profit,” says Judy Nelson, a former co-worker turned friend of Ms. Kase. “She fed people, she raised children and grandchildren and in that cared for their children— she’s just this incredible human being.”
Nelson nominated Ms. Kase for the Good Souls Project. She also nominated her for other awards like, Philadelphia Citizen of the Year and other accolades because she believes the world needs to know about Ms. Kase. Nelson admits that while she has degrees in social work, Ms. Kase’s community efforts use best practices and so the two of them had become partners in many ways when it comes to helping young people.
“She has all the gifts and the skills and the caring,” says Nelson, “And I would go to her and talk about things with her. And we would decide things and we were always on the same page.”
Nelson says Ms. Kase would come in on her days off to check on her “babies.” That title— “my baby” was given to all the children who crossed the Vare threshold.
“If I walked into the computer lab when I was at Vare, she would be helping a mother write her first resume so she could get a job,” recalls Nelson, “if I walked into her office when she wasn’t busy making the center a better place for children to play and learn in, she was coaching somebody on what it was like to raise a child —she was just always giving.”
“When I was working at Vare she was really like the community mom,” says Tyrique Glasgow, executive director of Young Chances Foundation. “She adopted me to not only do right, but to instill in the kids the structure and culture needed in our community.”
Several years ago, Glasgow says he worked with Ms. Kase at Vare. She mentored him on how to work with the youth. Before that, he says he met and got to know Ms. Kase for the first time 20 years ago- when he was a kid. He notes that Vare rec center sat in disrepair for years and he believes parents only sent their kids to the center because Ms. Kase was there.
“She’s one of the reasons that Vare could be open when it was in disarray,” he says, “when people didn’t want to show up, they came because of her.”
During the pandemic, Ms. Kase kept showing up. She’d clean the center, waiting for COVID19 restrictions to be lifted.
“I couldn’t wait for my doors to open,” says Ms. Kase, “I couldn’t wait for [my babies] to come back and I just wanted them to be in a clean, safe space.”
Ms. Kase says Vare was more than just basketball, gymnastics and kids’ games. She worked hard to clean the space because to her- it was a safe place for kids to be kids and to be seen and heard without judgment.
“Our children, are so confused,” she says, “it’s so much peer pressure out here that they don’t know whether to follow the peer pressure or to follow their own mind and their own goals and sometimes I guess they just need a person who takes time out with them and talk to them, instead of at them.”
Many times that person with the open ear is Ms. Kase. She says she could sense the times when her babies had something on their mind. Ms. Kase says she’d invite them to her office and they’d talk it out.
This desire to guard the wellbeing of young people comes naturally for the mother of two and grandmother of six. She learned how to do it from watching the matriarchs in her family who raised her nearby in South Philly.
“My grandma, my aunts, my mother,” she says, noting that her grandmother, Elizabeth James, would let those dealing with housing insecurity or other issues sleep on their floor.
“If there was space on the floor and you were evicted or something she’d let you stay,” says Ms. Kase.
And that’s what Ms. Kase does now— whatever it takes to create a safe space for her babies- of all ages.
“She’s someone that you can talk to, that you can lean on when you’re going through some stuff,” says Glasgow, “and it’s not always about being right, but, like alright you did wrong– how do we make it better?”
Although Vare Recreation Center is closed for renovations, Ms Kase is still working with youth. She now works atWharton Square Recreation Center in Point Breeze. She says her babies from Vare will be attending summer camp at Wharton in the days to come.
“It’ll be a joy for them to walk through the door,” says Ms. Kase, with a smile.
Another joy comes when her babies grow up— and come back with gratitude in their hearts.
“They see me in the community and say -‘This lady right here. Oh, I owe her a big thank you,” she says. “And that feels so good.”
As the anniversary of the Watergate scandal falls between two Jan 6 committee hearings, we look back at history, American perception of the presidency and what's changed.
Next on You Oughta Know, Kae Lani Palmisano shares favorite foods for Juneteenth festivities. Fresh Air with Terry Gross celebrates its 35th anniversary and Peabody Award. Abington Public Library offers a safe space for LGBTQ+ kids and families. A podcast addresses past controversy and future plans for a new Philly Pride festival. CANgineering contest fights food insecurity. DANCE4LIFE company returns to the stage. Aunt Mary Pat delivers wit and wisdom Delco-style.
In 2018, journalist Linda Villarosa wrote an article in The New York Times Magazine that kicked off a national conversation about health disparities. It showed that Black mothers and their babies in the U.S. were dying at more than double the rate of their white peers, and it pulled back the curtain on how those statistics related to racism.
For Villarosa, it had been a long road linking health disparities to racism. In the beginning of her career, she was a big believer in self-help, thinking that better information and more education could close the health gap. But the more she reported on these issues, the more she came to understand how racism, discrimination, and bias affect health experiences and outcomes for Black Americans.
On this episode, we talk with Villarosa about her new book, “Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and on the Health of Our Nation.”
We also meet a Black midwife in West Virginia and find out how she’s making a difference for her patients, and a med student who’s using TikTok to spread life-saving information.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- Fathers’ Day is almost here, and a new book from author Michael Hannon provides resources and guidance for Black fathers. Hannon is an associate professor of counseling at Montclair State University in New Jersey. We hear an excerpt of his conversation with health equity fellow Marcus Biddle.
The Federal Reserve raised interest rates a surprising .75% to try to tame record high inflation. Is it too little, too late? And will slowing inflation trigger a recession?
New tapes shed light on an old story: the suspension of 32 Philly teachers during the 1950s. We explore what happened, and what it tells us about ourselves.
What does it take to rebuild a community in real time? On this episode, we’re going to zoom into the process. You’ll meet the diverse group of organizers that’s trying to reclaim Pride and create a new event. You’ll hear about their struggles and their triumphs — and ultimately, their plans for Pride. An LGBTQ organizer from another city weighs in. And then, we hear about yet another violent incident in Philadelphia’s Gayborhood, which made the group rethink everything.
Erin Doherty talks with Patrick Stoner about playing a woman so fascinated by the glamorous social media of a mysterious celebrity that she fakes her identity to enter her world.
Some employers are demanding remote workers return to the office but a majority want to stay at home. Lessons from remote and in-person work this hour.
The second Jan. 6 hearing showed former President Trump was told repeatedly there was no election fraud but still pushed 'the big lie' in an attempt to overturn the election
“Some people want to stick their head in the sand and say, it’s too scary,” says Kevin Jameson, “but there’s a good percentage of people that when you give them the knowledge.. they actually have a newfound confidence in being able to deal with it.”
Kevin Jameson is founder, president and chief volunteer of Dementia Society of America, a Doylestown based non-profit working to educate and promote awareness of all types of dementia.
“What drives me,” he says, “is that I want more and more people to know about dementia, what it is, what it isn’t.”
Jameson says there are many misconceptions about dementia. A big one is that it’s a disease. The truth is- it’s a syndrome caused by a disease.
“The cause of dementia might be Alzheimer’s disease, cerebrovascular disease, Lewy body dementia or CTE,” he says.
Another misconception, he notes, is that dementia is just memory loss. The truth is loss of memory is just one part of it. Those with dementia can experience personality changes and shifts in emotional response. They can become apathetic or cry or laugh inappropriately. The behavior can vary, depending on the underlying disorder and the impact on the brain.
“It impacts so many aspects of day to day life- bathing, eating, dressing, toileting,” says Jameson.
But Jameson’s knowledge of dementia comes from first hand experience that began about 20 years ago. At the time, he was married to a vivacious woman named Ginny. The two met at a disco in 1982 and their odds-defying love began.
“We danced that night and really were inseparable after that,” he recalls with a smile.
The day they met- Jameson turned 24. Ginny was 40.
“She was a little bit younger spirit than her 40 would suggest, and I was probably older- I was an entrepreneur and already had my own business — I thought this woman is fantastic, I love her.”
Fast forward and in 2001, Ginny was involved in a major car accident. She underwent multiple surgeries and lost a friend on 911. After all the trauma Kevin says something changed. Kevin thought they were having marital issues and then a night out to a restaurant things became clear.
“Ginny says, I’ve never been here before,” he recalls, “And I said, ‘no, we were here last month, actually.” and she goes, ‘I’ve never been here before.
The disagreement soon became an “aha” moment.” Things progressed. The diagnosis: dementia.
I went to the doctors and I read a lot,” says Jameson, who notes knowledge was his superpower.
Eventually- Ginny’s condition worsened and Jameson made the difficult choice to put her in a skilled care facility on May 11, 2009.
“Even even now, it still touches me strongly and deeply,” he says, “but when I left her there to live, I knew that it was the right thing for her.”
Jameson retired from his longtime job at Honeywell in 2013, devoting his time to Ginny’s care. That’s when he decided to use all he learned to help others and founded the Dementia Society of America that same year.
“I know Kevin Jameson because he started Dementia Society of America, I think a month before I started ARTZ Philadelphia,” says Susan Shifrin, who has worked with Jameson for years.
She says DSA has funded her non-profit with “Ginny Gives” grants and they’ve even lauded her work with an advocate award.
“Kevin’s generosity of heart has translated to DSA’s s generosity in supporting the work of organizations like ours,” she says.
Because of Jameson’s business savvy, DSA has raised millions. They use the money to educate and promote awareness via their website, public service announcements and other campaigns like their efforts using the hashtag “Know Dementia.”
“Our number one mission is education,” says Jameson.
“Life gave him lemons and he made more than lemonade out of it,” says Renee Bacher, who nominated Jameson for the Good Souls Project. “He made a lemon drop martini out of it.”
Susan Shifrin says she’s not surprised Jameson got the Good Souls nod.
“A good soul is someone who believes that we all have the responsibility for being good to each other. And Kevin is the epitome of that,” says Shifrin. “When I think of Kevin, I just start smiling.”
And even though Ginny passed away in 2014 and Kevin has since remarried, he remains President and CEO of Dementia Society of America and is the chief volunteer. One of his favorite things is to answer the 1-800-Dementia hotline and those on the other end and say:
“You’ve taken a weight off of my shoulders— You’ve opened my eyes to something I hadn’t thought about— You provided me a pathway,” he says, smiling.”
More on DSA here: https://www.dementiasociety.org/
NPR will air live coverage of hearings conducted by the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol.
IVF clinics have long tested embryos for genetic disorders and abnormalities — but in recent years, new startups have been pushing the envelope of genetic testing, helping parents screen their future children for all kinds of health risks, ranging from diabetes to breast cancer.
Many people see this technology as promising — it can give parents, many of whom have already faced devastating losses, their best shot at having happy, healthy children. But others see a dark side to the advancing field of embryo screening. What happens when testing goes beyond health and parents get the chance to select for other traits, like eye color, height, or intelligence? What does it mean to want “the best” for your child?
On this episode, we look at new and emerging DNA technologies aimed at selecting embryos. We discuss critics’ fears, concerns, and the ethics of embryo screening. We also hear about one experiment from the past that went very wrong.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- We talk with Nita Farahany — a professor of law and philosophy at Duke University who studies ethical, legal, and social implications of emerging technologies — about the thorny legal and ethical issues surrounding embryo screening.
- Back in the 1980s, a wealthy inventor named Robert K. Graham came up with an idea to make the world a better place — a sperm bank for geniuses. His goal was to create a new generation of intellectual elites, spawned from the sperm of noted scientists. More than 200 children were born from this bank. The new podcast series BioHacked: Family Secrets, hosted by T.J. Raphael, sheds light on this experiment, and introduces us to one of the people who was conceived from one of the donors. We’ll hear an excerpt of his story.
What did we learn from last night's Jan. 6 select committee hearing about the efforts to overturn the 2020 election, the attack on the Capitol and who is culpable?
Lindsey Fitzharris on the work of Harold Gillies, whose innovative plastic surgery techniques mended the maimed and broken faces of WWI soldiers.
It’s time to answer one of the most important questions in this story: Who is Franny Price? The LGBTQ community is polarized on this one. Some people say the former head of Philly Pride Presents hoarded control, and left the city hanging without a Pride festival instead of responding to their calls for change. But others say that for decades, she worked hard to make a humble celebration into an empire. On this episode, we’ll try to get to the truth of Franny. We’ll unpack her history in Philadelphia’s Gayborhood, and her vision for Pride. You’ll hear from some of her closest friends and allies — and figure out what to make of the woman who ran Philly Pride for decades.
Manuel Garcia-Rulfo talks with Patrick Stoner about starring in his first U.S. series that has now become a Netflix hit.
After Saturday's mass shooting in Philadelphia, Police Commissioner Outlaw and three anti-gun violence advocates talk about how to make Philly streets safe.
Sociologist and author Elijah Anderson joins us to discuss his new book, 'Black in White Space: The Enduring Impact of Color in Everyday Life.'
“My mission in life is to empower kids to be the best that they can be,” says Dr. June Elcock-Messam, the only pediatrician in Delaware County, board certified in child abuse.
Messam’s practice focuses on serving child victims of physical and sexual abuse, as well as medical neglect. She takes referrals from law enforcement and acts as an advocate, guiding children through the system, while serving as their advocate.
“ I go to court and defend these kids,” she says, “And I fight for them from beginning to end.”
But her care does not end when a case is over. Instead, that’s just the beginning. Dr. Messam is also a founder of Every Child Counts, a non-profit that provides a form of “after care” for child abuse victims and youth in high risk situations. The effort, which started informally in 2003, provides a myriad of support services for youth, including food, gifts during the holidays, school supplies and support for young people heading off to college.
But Dr. Messam’s motivation to provide support for the whole child in order to break the cycle of abuse comes from her own trauma.
“I was one of those kids who got hurt,” says Messam.
She says she was abused for several years while living in Guyana as a child. She says it didn’t stop until her parents- Doreen and Leon took Messam and her seven children and migrated to the United States to create a better life. Dr. Messam says the abuse she experienced changed her.
“I knew I wanted to be the type of doctor that helped kids who were hurt,” she says. At the time Messam was getting her education, however, she says the “child abuse’ board specialty did not exist. But it did not stop her.
“During my residency it seemed like every time I was on call— if you were going to hurt a child, if you were going to abandon them, if you’re going to sexually abuse them— they came in when I was on call,” she says, “I got so much experience.”
Eventually the specialty caught up. And over the past 20 years, Messam’s influence and reach expanded. She estimates her work has impacted thousands of kids.
“The first time I met Dr. Messam was when I was getting tests done,” says Kayla Cocci, 19. “She shut down the entire office for me for the entire day.…no one has every done anything like that for me.”
Cocci says she survived abuse from age 9 to 14. When she met Dr. Messam nearly six years ago, everything changed.
“She was so compassionate,” says Cocci, “when something that bad happens to you- most people only see you as a survivor but I think that first day was the first and last time we ever talked about me being a survivor.”
Instead of focusing on the past, Cocci says, Dr. Messam made her think about the future. She’d ask her about high school, encouraged her when she ran for class office and even provided college advice.
“She wasn’t just my doctor, she was my friend,” says Cocci.
During the pandemic, Cocci got into college. She says Dr. Messam made sure she got an Operation Graduate scholarship, which paid for many of the items needed for her dorm room. Cocci says- the best gift, was a Disney themed comforter set.
“She knew I loved Disney,” she says, “I was like- wow.”
Cocci will start her sophomore year in the fall.
“Dr. Messam is like, my hero,” she says. “She never treated me like a case- she treated me like a human…like I was one of her kids.”
One in five girls and one in 10 boys will likely experience sexual abuse as a child. https://victimsofcrime.org/child-sexual-abuse-statistics/. For many of these young people, going to the doctor is another form of trauma.
“But I never had that problem because of how gentle Dr. Messam was with me,” says Cocci, “in fact- going to see Dr. Messam was one of my favorite things.”
Beyond the medical services, Every Child Counts helps young people break the cycle of abuse. They learn how to set boundaries and speak up when they are uncomfortable. They also learn that there are caring adults out there that will not hurt them.
Dr. Messam is one of them.
“When I first see them they’re angry,” she says, “they’re vicious because anyone could be the enemy. Then I sit with them. And then all of a sudden they are these beautiful kids inside once they realize you’re not the enemy.”
**
“I can put her in a room and anyone who hears her speak about the work that she does is automatically invested,” says Smita Sanwardeker, who works with Dr. Messam. She nominated the doctor for the Good Souls Project.
“She works tirelessly and she doesn’t lose sight of her her goals, which is to provide children with safety and advocacy,” says Sanwardeker.
One goal is also to empower youth.
“I want kids to know that you can be hurt one time as a kid and then you can still be anything that you want to be,” says Messam.
And that’s what she says she learned to do— turn darkness into light.
“Anytime something negative happens, I always try to figure out a wonderful way to make something beautiful from it,” says Messam.
Every Child Counts is that beautiful think. And for Messam, a breast cancer survivor, she wants the non-profit to grow and to expand the support to young people.
“We want to give out college scholarships,” she says.
One day, she hopes to be able to retire her medical practice and work at Every Child Counts full time— but for now there’s too much work to do.
“There’s not enough of us,” she says, “so I have to keep working to fight for the children.”
Click here to Support Every Child Counts: https://eccinc.org/
Gambling helpline calls on the rise in the region; where the GOP stands in the Oz/McCormick recount; and WHYY's latest podcast, "March On: The Fight for Pride"
Emotions are fleeting — they can bubble up seemingly out of nowhere and change quickly. Studying them is challenging, but it’s also important. Emotions not only shape our day-to-day lives, they also influence our behavior, the decisions we make, and the relationships that sustain us. Sometimes, they can be overwhelming — so knowing what fuels them offers us a better chance of getting a handle on them.
Increasingly, understanding emotions is also a big business — it can make the difference in how an election swings, or the direction of the stock market, which means lots of people want to understand how to tap into them.
On this episode: what researchers are learning about emotions — why it’s so challenging and what we can gain from it. We hear stories about what makes studying emotions so difficult, new theories of where they come from, and the future of emotion-sensing AI.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- Researchers who study emotions face a whole host of challenges, from ethical restrictions, to a lack of shared understanding of how emotions are expressed. Reporter Jad Sleiman finds out what makes studying emotions so slippery, and how scientists are forging ahead.
- Where do emotions come from? We have long thought of them as reactions that are universal, and hardwired into our brains. We hear from neuroscientist, psychologist, and leading emotions researcher Lisa Feldman Barrett who is challenging those ideas with her “theory of constructed emotion.”
- Emotions are big business, shaping everything from elections to the economy — which is why a growing number of companies are developing artificial intelligence capable of “reading” the public’s emotions. We talk with Cognovi Labs CEO Beni Gradwohl and their Chief Psychology Officer Nirit Pisano about how they’re using machine learning to mine people’s written communications and social media posts for emotions.
- We talk with AI expert Kate Crawford about the limitations of emotion-sensing AI that seeks to interpret facial expressions — and why it could be something to worry about. Her book is called “Atlas of AI.”
- We get a sneak peek at the upcoming Netflix movie “Spiderhead” which offers a terrifying take on manipulating emotions. Therapist Brittney Brownfield from the podcast “Popcorn Psychology” says the film brings up a lot of interesting themes.
Rebecca Soffer, co-founder of the Modern Loss website and community, shares tools, exercises, thoughts and practical advice for grieving in "The Modern Loss Handbook."
The organization that ran Philly Pride for decades fell apart over a few offensive Facebook posts, of all things. But this was really just the final straw. On this episode, we’ll explain the dramatic fall of Philly Pride Presents. And we’ll unpack how their collapse was informed by decades of racism in Philadelphia’s Gayborhood. You’ll meet people who’ve been experiencing discrimination in the city’s LGBTQ community for decades, from the ‘80s to the 2016 protests over racist dress codes at bars. And learn why some people have never felt welcome at Pride. Content warning: This episode contains descriptions of sexual assault and police violence, as well as a racial slur.
America is awash with guns but unable to pass policies that make citizens safer. How are beliefs about guns and the Second Amendment derailing the gun safety conversation?
Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth Ashley & several cast members talk with Patrick Stoner about their eagerness to do the second—& maybe third—film
Airline and rental cancellations, hotel prices spiking-- as the world still grapples with the Covid-19 pandemic. What to know about summer travel and preparing for the worst.
College enrollment is declining and tuitions are rising. More young people are questioning the value of college and the broken admissions process.
On this Memorial Day episode of Radio Times: Legendary sports broadcaster Ray Didinger and Sheryl Lee Ralph's iconic performance in Abbott Elementary.
“It’s bigger than me,” says Patrick Dooley, 53, “I’m just one piece of the puzzle.
Patrick “Pat” Dooley is a Certified Recovery Specialist that supports research at the Penn Center for Mental Health. At least that’s the job he’s paid to do. His real work, however, is on the front lines of the opioid crisis. He’s co-founder of a non-profit called Kensington Cares.
“We were the dudes that went there and just started cooking,” says Dooley, “That’s how it got started.”
The effort morphed from a grassroots effort to something more formal. Dooley says he and his comrades would collect clothing during the week, he’d cook breakfast on Sundays and then they’d head to Kensington and distribute the wares at various locations, like “The Last Stop.” That was the routine before the pandemic – once the lockdowns happened everything changed.
“We had to be, like, outlaws and hit a corner and show up, like, real quick,” he says chuckling, “before the cops would come.”
The initiative has since changed name and scope to deal with the shifting rules of the pandemic. But none of the changes have dimmed Pat’s motivation to serve by any means necessary. Instead- the pull to do outreach comes from his own experiences.
Born in Camden and raised in South Jersey, Dooley says his mom died when he was 12. His dad moved he and his brother to South Philly when he was about 17.
“We always drank a party too much, but it was fun then I guess,” says Dooley, recalling his introduction to alcohol and drugs. “And then the consequences just kept getting worse and worse.”
In the late 80s, early 90s, Dooley- says he ran “Pat Dooley’s” a small Luncheonette near Christian and Delaware. A cook at heart, he looked down on his skills and beat himself up. The low self esteem made losing himself in substances more appealing.
“You’re trying to quiet the voices or whatever your little struggle is— I had voices in my head [that said] like, ‘you’re a loser’,” he says, “and I just kind of went nuts.”
Dooley says his addiction went from beer, to alcohol to harder substances with ease. Eventually, he says he lost the luncheonette business. Then his girlfriend. And eventually, he says he fell into the black hole of addiction.
That was in 1996.
“I really didn’t get sober long term until 2012,” notes Dooley, “So you could see that it was a it was a tough journey.”
The breakthrough came while Dooley was homeless in Florida.
“I remember calling my dad and being like, ‘yo, I think I’m having a nervous breakdown.’”
Dooley says his father, Chuck, always told him the door would be open “this much,” but it was up to him to open that door. Dooley flew home.
“My dad met me at the airport with, like, a cheesesteak and like, a Wawa coffee,” he recalls.
Dooley says he enrolled in the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center and while he fell off the wagon a couple of times, he says this time was different.
“I was learning,” he says, “and like I just walked in that day and said- ‘I’m done.’”
He says when someone is ready to quit— really quit, no one can stop them. And no one stopped Dooley. Ten years after that day- he’s still clean. And his focus now is helping others survive until they are ready to quit as well.
“I have friends and people I love that are homeless on the street in Kensington right now that are, like, in bad shape,” he says “But they cannot stop.”
Dooley offers an empathetic hand of assistance. Something, he believes his father, Chuck, who passed away, would be proud to see.
“He’d say- you’ve become that man I always thought you could be,” says Dooley, “because he always used to say—if you would only use your powers for good- not I’m doing it.”
Dooley recently lost 71 pounds—and is taking care of himself so that he can stay strong and be a beacon of hope for others still struggling.
“He was willing to be in the trenches… every single week without fail in the worst weather in every kind of weather,” says Christina Babb, “I thought, I can’t stand by and do nothing when I know that so many people are in need.”
Babb nominated Dooley for the Good Souls Project. She says she met Pat through a mutual friend in recovery and witnessed him working in the community. She says his consistency and passion inspired her to donate clothing and other goods to help their efforts. And Babb is not alone. Scores of donors have provided food, clothing, toiletries, first aid supplies, even harm reduction materials because like Pat- they too have loved ones stuck in the black hole.
It’s out of the hearts of everybody, you know, but it’s got to be out of the pockets of some people too,” he says, grateful for the help he’s received. “It’s all about empathy– being able to feel something that doesn’t directly affect you.”
“I think that just shows what love really is, says Babb of Dooley, “he’s love in action.
She believes Pat Dooley is a good soul.
“Because he is someone that is just a wonderful example of of what a good human is,” she says. “I’m like, This guy needs to be lifted up- so I wanted to toot his horn.
For Dooley- it’s about connecting.
“Addiction is a disease of isolation- it’s separation,” he says, Recovery in this kind of stuff that we’re doing, this connection. And that’s what people want. They want a connection.”
If you know someone who has performed an act of kindness whether it be big or small and you think they serve as an example of compassion, generosity and service- tell us your story, by nominating your person at whyy.org/goodsouls.
Next on You Oughta Know, get to know Philly’s “Village Potter” and his Grounds for Sculpture exhibit. Learn about the booming Airbnb business, and visit a tiny house that’s become the most popular rental in Delaware. Discover the Dirty Popcorn Black Film Festival that’s coming soon. Find out how HomeFront is working to end homelessness. Visit a mission-driven pizzeria that supports local charities. Meet the man behind Camden Comics.
Ecologist Douglas Tallamy says should turn our lawns into wild oases for native plants and animals. Also, protecting urban gardens and turning vacant lots into greens spaces.
Next on You Oughta Know, visit Tonewood Brewing, a N.J. brewery that taps into sustainable methods. Learn more about our complicated immigration process with attorney Kristofer Kaufmann. Get the facts on investing in cryptocurrency from CoinDesk Editor Zack Seward. Meet Dr. Monique Gary, a surgeon who offers healing farmhouse retreats. Join host Regina Mitchell at circus school.
Sleep — we all need it, but most people aren’t getting enough of it. Ideally, we spend about a third of our lives asleep. When we’re well rested, we feel like we can take on the world. But when we’re not, we find ourselves exhausted, cranky, moody, forgetful … and our overall health takes a hit.
Clearly, sleep is important. The question is — why? What happens when we sleep? What makes it such an important part of our survival? And what’s stopping us from getting our best rest?
On this episode, we look at the anatomy of sleep — why it matters, how we get our best sleep, and what happens when we don’t.
We hear stories about what happened to one physician when long COVID brought her sleeplessness to a crisis level, why one physical therapist says we’re all sleeping wrong, and a look inside our sleeping brains.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- We talk with Mark Wu, a professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins and sleep physician, who explains the latest science on what happens in our brains when we sleep, and what happens when we don’t.
- We also put together a mixtape with some of our favorite songs about sleep and dreams. You can find it below or listen on Spotify.
A Texas elementary school, a Buffalo supermarket. many Americans feel resigned to mass shootings. But "Trigger Points" author Mark Follman says we need to focus on prevention
Philly Pride collapsed last year amid accusations of racism, transphobia, and power hoarding. To really grasp the fallout, you’ll hear about the lesbian elder at the helm, and how she had a tight grip on these annual LGBTQ events for 30 years. But Pride wasn’t always a one-woman show. On this episode, we’ll go back to the origins of Philly Pride. We’ll hear how it struggled to gain its footing through the HIV/AIDS epidemic. How an unlikely group of grassroots organizers revived it in the ‘80s. And what happened when they passed the torch to the woman who many say is responsible for Pride’s downfall today.
Asian American Studies Scholar and host Rob Buscher discusses cultural appropriation and the role that the arts have played in helping shape perceptions of AAPI communities in our region with panelists Dr. Fariha Khan, Gayla Isa, Kiki Aranita, and Catzi Vilayphonh.
Michele Dockery, Hugh Dancy & Kevin Doyle talk with Patrick Stoner about filming techniques in the second film
How do we come to terms with the threat of Covid? Can we return to normal life? Also, what you need to know about the monkeypox outbreak?
Washington Post reporters Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa on their book, "His Name Is George Floyd: One Man's Life and the Struggle for Racial Justice."
Chef Peter Serpico on his new cookbook, Learning Korean. WHYY's Sophia Schmidt on benzene levels at the PES refinery site. And, a Jefferson expert on the future of telehealth.
“I get to address the whole person and I get to cut out the cancer, “ says Dr. Monique Gary, “and that makes me feel pretty privileged.“
Dr. Monique Gary is a breast cancer surgeon and director of the cancer program at Grand View Health in Sellersville, Pennsylvania. While much of her work takes place with the delicate use of a scalpel and state of the art medical technology, she believes her most important efforts happens outside of a hospital setting.
“The third question that patients ask me after, am I going to die and do I need chemotherapy is: “how can I live a more holistic, healthy life?”, she says.
Part of the answer lives at Still Rise Farm— 39 acres of farmland Dr. Gary purchased in Perkasie, Pennsylvania about a year ago. But it’s not just any old farm. The land has fruit trees, a lodge, horse stables, a fresh water pond stocked with fish, a pool and a gorgeous view. The farm’s main crop is cancer wellness and last October, Dr. Gary hosted her first retreat for 12 breast cancer survivors/patients.
Still Rise Farm in Perkasie, PA “I felt so much love and I felt so much gratitude to be able to offer this to women,” she says.
“As breast cancer survivors, we know about treatment,” says Robin Evans, who survived a stage four metastatic breast cancer diagnosis in 2008. “What [we] don’t know about is after the treatment comes, it’s time to heal and healing is a full time job.”
Evans, is a breast cancer and clinical studies advocate. She picked up the mantel after learning that Black women like her are 41 percent more likely to die from breast cancer than women of other races. It was on the advocacy trail that she met Dr. Gary and they became friends.
“Dr. Gary is amazing,” says Evans, who notes that Dr. Gary is not her doctor. “She has a heart of gold.”
Evans says she learned about Dr. Gary’s vision for Still Rise Farm and when she got the invite to come and share with the women at the retreat she jumped at the opportunity.
“It was a weekend of fellowship and healing,” says Evans, “It was everything from yoga to meditation walks through the park. [Dr. Gary even] hired people to do massages in the barn for the entire three days.”
Group meditation on yoga mats Evans says there were cooking demonstrations and space for the women to just breathe.
“Not often, especially if you live in the city, do you have the opportunity to come out and reconnect with nature and peacefulness,” says Evans, “we did things like walk through the forest and reconnect with the trees.”
Fishing at the lake on the Still Rise property While the effort is still in its infancy, it is a first step toward a larger vision of creating an incubator for cancer wellness.
“I have a lot of big dreams, and I always tell my students, if your dreams aren’t scaring you, they’re not big enough,” says Gary.
And this one- is frightening. But “Dr. Mo” as she’s called by her patients, is confident it will happened. After all, she was destined to become a cancer doctor.
“I say cancer chose me…this job chose me,” she says. “But it picked the wrong one because, you know, they started it, but I’m going to finish it.”
A Philadelphia native, Dr. Gary’s journey started at age 7, when her mother was diagnosed with cancer.
“She was 29 with two girls, and all we knew at the time was that she was really sick,” says Gary, “she died within the year.”
Just a few years later, Gary’s grandmother, Margaret, who was helping to raise her alongside her grandfather, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Miss Margaret survived, only be be diagnosed with Breast cancer again a few years later.
“Watching her go through that experience, watching her try to figure out what doctors were the best doctors and where to go and how to make an appointment,” she says, “it impacts everything I do in the way I run my program.”
Driving a tractor through the farmland Dr. Gary does outreach, with check ins on popular radio program, she takes questions on BlackDoctor.org, hosts a podcast “The Doctor is in” and sits on panels sharing information on breast cancer prevention and wellness. Still Rise Farm is a continuation of that outreach.
“When a person gets diagnosed with cancer, I am then the person that helps them to get to a better state of wellness,” says Dr. Gary, “I see what I’m doing as a calling and as a moral imperative. Like, this is what I’m here for.”
She believes her work was predestined and all of her experiences led her to where she is today. For example, Dr. Gary’s hand bear scars from a car accident in college. She says she was ejected from a vehicle, lost nails and skin on several fingers, with three fingers on her dominate hand filleted.
“I woke up in the ambulance and though- am I going to be able to use his hand? Am I going to be able to be a surgeon after this,” says Dr. Gary.
She learned to write with her non-dominant hand and healing began. Today, she’s not just a breast cancer surgeon, the Girls High grad’s work has expanded beyond breast cancer. She teaches at multiple medical schools— and is now taking what she has learned about healing to others battling the very thing she fights against- cancer.
Dr. Gary outside with her horse “Service is the rent we pay to humanity to be here,” says Dr. Gary, “and so I view it as my contribution and my rent to the universe and to the world and for, you know, for gratitude, for God letting me be here and to become these things.”
“And that’s why I nominated her,” says Evans, “Dr. Gary is a good soul because she thinks outside of herself.”
Check out Dr. Gary’s story on You Oughta Know on WHYY-TV 12 this Friday at 7pm.
If you know someone who has performed an act of kindness whether it be big or small and you think they serve as an example of compassion, generosity and service, tell us your story by nominating your person at whyy.org/goodsouls.
To support Still Rise Farm click here
Author Haroon Moghul explores the history and future of Islam, his relationship to it and his vision for a more modern Muslim faith.
We talk with health equity hero Ala Stanford; a new exhibit at Winterthur showcases Jackie O.'s White House TV tour; heated PA primary elections are on Tuesday
Next on You Oughta Know, learn about Delaware’s female-driven Ladybug Music Festival, including a sneak peek from two performers. Saddle up for a thrilling new season at South Jersey’s Cowtown Rodeo. Get the scoop on great job opportunities for teens at camp. Discover how to how to transform into A Happier You with a local psychologist and professor. Find out how Cooks Who Care are working to support mental health with a community cookbook.
Author Jude Stewart on smell, the least understood of our five senses. And, what we know so far about Covid-19 and loss of scent...some people aren't bouncing back.
We all know the vow: “In sickness and in health.” But in reality, when serious illness enters a relationship, everything changes. A powerful mix of conflicting emotions can tug on people — love, devotion, grief, guilt, and even resentment. Illness can be a test — a trial by fire — but also an opportunity for growth.
On this episode, we hear from couples and families whose lives have been touched by illness and find out how they made it through. How were their relationships transformed? How did they not only survive — but thrive? And what helps people cope, and even appreciate the good moments? We hear stories about how cancer changed the trajectory of writer Delia Ephron’s life, the hidden struggles of family caregivers, and how one mother’s illness transformed her family’s life.
ALSO HEARD:
- When writer Delia Ephron lost her husband of more than 30 years to prostate cancer, she thought she’d never love again. But then an acquaintance from her past, psychiatrist Peter Rutter, came along, and everything changed. Ephron’s new memoir is called “Left on Tenth: A Second Chance at Life.”
- In the U.S., more than 50 million people serve as caregivers for a family member or loved one — and that number is on the rise. We talk with psychologist Julia Mayer and her husband, therapist Barry Jacobs, about the challenges caregivers face. They are the authors of “AARP Meditations for Caregivers: Practical, Emotional, and Spiritual Support for You and Your Family.”
- Mothers are often the glue that holds the family together — and when they get sick, it upsets the entire system. Reporter Diana Opong tells the story of what happened to one family in the aftermath of a new baby, a cancer diagnosis, and multiple surgeries.
- Writer Justin Kramon brings us this story of a romantic vacation gone wrong. Elaine Allard was enjoying a trip to Paris to visit her partner, Josh Evans — but a suspicious package, mysterious illness, and Josh’s increasingly erratic behavior started to make her wonder if Josh was really the right partner for her.
Talking about scores of anti-LGBTQ legislation. Think: Florida's so-called "don't say gay" law and Alabama's ban on gender-affirming health care.
Glenn Close & Niv Sultan talk with Patrick Stoner about immersing themselves in the culture of Iran for this spy thriller.
Want to be more creative? NYT journalist Matt Richtel, author of the new book, "Inspired," explains creativity is in our DNA --- and the best ways to nurture it.
In this episode of Spoken Youth, the high school students Mya and Yaelis reflect on two years of “the new normal” of the Covid19 Pandemic. They look back at where they were when it all started and where they are now.
The leaked draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade has shaken confidence in the Supreme Court. We'll look at falling public trust, secrecy, and politicization in the court.
PA senate and gubernatorial candidate reactions to the SCOTUS abortion draft leak; Philadelphia police officer faces murder charges; the rise in gardening during the pandemic
Next on You Oughta Know, celebrate 35 Years of Radio Times with Marty Moss-Coane. Learn about an app that allows users to sample fitness classes across the region, and get personal training tips from Regina Mitchell. Enjoy a toe-tapping performance by the Lady Hoofers. Find out how the Vet on Wheels program delivers needed services to pets in NJ. Visit Delaware’s Mt. Cuba Center to get your garden growing. Discover a popular public art installation in a Philadelphia alley.
Journalist Nicholas Confessore discusses his three part series about conservative media 'icon' Tucker Carlson's rise to cable television supremacy.
Elon Musk wants to put his free speech absolutism to the test on Twitter. What will that look like in practice when all the rules and content moderation are removed?
A new initiative headed by the American Board of Internal Medicine aims to re-build trust in healthcare organizations across different dimensions
Asian American Studies Scholar and host Rob Buscher discusses AAPI involvement in local politics and civic engagement with panelists Nina Ahmad, Nikil Saval, and Helen Gym. Historically, Asian Americans have faced barriers in becoming politically active. What are the contemporary challenges the community still experiences?
- Nina Ahmad, Former Deputy Mayor for Public Engagement
- Nikil Saval, Pennsylvania State Senator
- Helen Gym, Councilmember At-Large, Philadelphia City Council
Elizabeth Moss & Jamie Bell talk with Patrick Stoner about working with a very enigmatic story line.
In a leaked draft opinion, the Supreme Court conservative majority vote to overturn Roe v. Wade. If The finalized, what will this mean for reproductive rights?
Stewardesses 60s and 70s could only be single, childless, and attractive women. Nell McShane Wulfhart talks about how stewardesses organized to change these sexist policies.
The City’s Special Committee on Child Separations just released a scathing report about the Department of Human Service’s practices for keeping kids safe. In particular, the report claims an extremely high rate of placing children into foster care. Councilmember At-Large David Oh (@DavidOhPhilly), co-chair of the committee that released the study, joins us to discuss reforming the practice of separating families in Philadelphia in cases of abuse and neglect.
Today is the last day to register to vote – or switch your party affiliation – for the upcoming Pennsylvania primary election. The Commonwealth’s closed primary system means over a million independent and unaffiliated voters will not be able to vote for the candidates of their choice. We’ll talk with Ballot PA Chair David Thornburgh about repealing closed primaries and PA House Representative Chris Quinn (@RepChrisQuinn), one of the Republican congressmembers working on bipartisan legislation to open our primary elections.
And, Atlantic white cedars thrive in the boggy wetlands of New Jersey’s Pine Barrens, but the state has lost 80% of the species, and rising sea levels caused by climate change are posing a big threat. NJ Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette joins us alongside Matthew Olson, assistant professor of environmental science at Stockton University, to talk about the tree’s history and ecology and new funding that aims to bring new life to this crucial part of the Pinelands ecosystem.
Next on You Oughta Know, we’re checking out unique museums around the region. Visit the Museum of Illusions, where seeing isn’t believing. Get your glow on at the Neon Museum. Marvel at music-making memorabilia at Delaware’s Johnson Victrola Museum and all-things aviation at the Air Mobility Command Museum. Enjoy art for all ages at Brandywine River Museum of Art and moments of reflection at the National Liberty Museum. Get a taste of the world’s first pizza museum.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine MARIE YOVANOVITCH joins us to talk about the war in Ukraine and her memoir, Lessons from the Edge. The daughter of Eastern European and German immigrants, Yovanovitch spent her career in the Foreign Service and as a diplomat, serving as ambassador to Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, and in 2016, Ambassador to Ukraine. In 2019, she was famously fired by then-President Trump for obstructing efforts to dig up dirt on the Biden family. The cause of her abrupt removal led to her testifying in Trump’s impeachment trial.
This hour, we’ll talk with Yovanovitch about her diplomatic career, the Trump-Ukraine scandal that embroiled her and what it was like to be the target of a sitting president. And we’ll get her analysis of the war in Ukraine and what the U.S. should be doing, and her insights on President Putin and President Zelensky
Around the world, at dawn, something magical happens. As the sun rises, nature seems to wake up, and different species break into a chorus of song and call. These “dawn choruses” are one way we experience the rich tapestry of life all around us. But that tapestry is wearing thin, as species disappear from our planet at an increasingly fast rate.
On this episode, we take a look at biodiversity — the variety of life on earth. We talk about why it matters, how it’s being threatened, and what people are doing to better understand and protect it. We explore the legacy of the late biologist E.O. Wilson, who popularized the term “biodiversity,” and speak to conservation scientists about their efforts to protect “biodiversity hotspots.” Also, the challenges affecting natural history museum collections, and the fight against the growing threat of species extinction.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- We talk with conservation ecologist and Duke University professor Stuart Pimm about the legacy of his longtime friend and colleague E.O. Wilson, and what it will take to protect and preserve biodiversity on the planet.
- What does studying biodiversity look like in the field? It starts with data — collecting lots of data. We hear from four students who participated in the “Paint Rock Forest Dynamics Project” and their efforts to tag every tree over a centimeter in diameter in a forest.
Look around your home……plastic is everywhere. It’s in our furniture, clothing, cosmetics, cleaners, medicine and all kinds of household items. It’s on our food, lining cans, packaging our fruits, vegetables, chips, cereal, meat and more.
We now know that tiny plastic particles can be found in our water, soil and air. We breathe in nano and micro particles, ingesting about 5 grams — or about credit card’s worth — of particles each week.
These particles have been found in human lungs, blood and stool, but what risk does exposure to plastic and the chemicals in it pose to human health? And how can we reduce our use and dependence on plastic for ourselves and the environment?
Guests Phoebe Stapleton, assistant professor of pharmacology and toxicology at the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy and Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute at Rutgers University where she studies the effect of nanoplastics on maternal-fetal health.
Judith Enck, president of Beyond Plastics and visiting professor at Bennington University. She’s a former EPA Regional Administrator.@enckj
Read more Consumer Reports, How to Eat Less Plastic – “And—more than anywhere else—plastic is in our packaging, encasing everything from laundry detergent to prescription pills, from the food we eat to the beverages we drink.”
Washington Post, There’s good reason to worry about the health risks of plastics – “Some findings suggest tiny plastic particles could disrupt immune and endocrine systems, damage organs, and cause other health problems.”
New York Times, The Types of Plastics Families Should Avoid – “There’s significant evidence that exposures to two types of chemicals found in plastics — phthalates and bisphenols — can affect health, especially if the exposure occurs in the womb or during early childhood”
Asian American Studies Scholar and host Rob Buscher discusses organizing and activism with panelists John Chin, Dr. Mary Yee, and Nancy Nguyen, focusing on how Philadelphia Chinatown and the Vietnamese American community of South Philly have advocated for critical issues in their respective communities.
Nicola Coughlan talks with Patrick Stoner about playing Penelope in Season 2 after the audience knew she was Lady Whistledown.
This episode was originally broadcast on December 28, 2021.
University of Pennsylvania professor and religion scholar ANTHEA BUTLER examines the racist roots and beliefs of the American evangelical movement in her new book, White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America. Butler traces evangelical attitudes and activism from slavery and Reconstruction thru the civil rights era to the Trump presidency to make the case that racism is embedded in modern evangelicalism and the “Moral Majority” is really about preserving white Christian male supremacy.
Guest Anthea Butler, professor in American social thought and chair of the department of religious studies at the University of Pennsylvania. Author of “White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America.” (@AntheaButler)
Recommended reading Los Angeles Review of Books, All the White Churches – “She lays bare the ways that white evangelicals have actively driven the worst of the United States’s most racist history, including slavery, dehumanization, the KKK, lynchings, segregation, whitewashed history, and the criminal justice system”
MSNBC, Trump, Republicans and white evangelicals are forming a powerful trifecta – “Evangelicalism is not only about a cultural whiteness; it’s also about a political whiteness.”
The New York Times, White evangelicals shun morality of power – “But what the movement has really been since the 1970s, said Butler, is “a political arm of the Republican Party.” As Butler put it, evangelicals now “use moral issues as a wedge to get political power.”
Featuring a whole new Spoken Youth Team, in this episode we ask the question: How did Covid-19 impact this school year? You will hear a variety of youth voices and perspective.
Spoken Youth is now lead by Yaelies Terron, a senior at Glassboro High, Mya Blackwood, a junior from CAPA in Philadelphia and Eva Murphy, a sophomore at Parkway Northwest High in Philadelphia.
This series is organized in collaboration with WHYY’s Pathways to Media Careers Youth Employment Program with support from our mentors in the radio department.
Clothing, mattresses, leaf blowers, waffle irons and dog food – people buy everything online these days. And they return a lot of it, too. Retailers took back $100 billion in items last year.
The enticement of “free returns” has made the prospect of online shopping too good to resist, especially during a pandemic. Promises of free shipping and full refunds have taken the risk out of buying things sight unseen.
But it’s estimated that around 25% of the merchandise we return never makes it back onto the shelf, instead a lot of it ends up in landfills often in faraway countries. And since sellers know we’ll send stuff back, they’ve built that cost into the price of the products. Today – the reverse supply chain and why the system is so inefficient. We’ll talk about what it reveals about our consumer culture and the real costs of free returns on the environment.
Guests
Amanda Mull, , staff writer at the Atlantic where she writes about material culture. @amandamull
Hitendra Chaturvedi , professor of supply chain management at the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University and the author of the book, Sense and Sustainability. He previously owned a reverse logistic company.
We recommend The* Atlantic***, The Nasty Logistics of Returning Your Too-Small Pants – “In a race to acquire new customers and retain them at any cost, retailers have taught shoppers to behave in ways that are bad for virtually all involved.”
CNBC, What really happens to Amazon returns – “From all those returns, there’s now nearly 6 billion pounds of landfill waste generated a year and 16 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions as well.”
Guardian, The hidden environmental cost of your free holiday returns – “88% of consumers think that returns go right back on the shelf and are resold to the next consumer. But in reality, the majority of returned items cannot be resold as new.”
Recreational cannabis is finally for sale in New Jersey after a long fight, but with a high demand for medical and leisurely adult use, is there enough to go around? We’ll talk with SUZETTE PARMLEY, lead cannabis reporter for NJ Advance Media, who’s keeping an eye on the dispensaries with the coveted license to sell.
The third weekend in April was a particularly violent one for the city of Philadelphia, and community organizers say shootings will only get worse as the weather warms and the school year comes to a close. WHYY gun violence prevention reporter SAMMY CAIOLA has been following the violence, the activism and the city’s response. She joins us alongside ANTON MOORE, executive director of Unity in the Community.
“Hold These Truths,” a solo play about sociologist Gordon Hirabayashi’s resistance to mistreatment of Japanese people during WWII, shows at People’s Light through the end of the month. Actor STEVEN ENG plays 38 characters and joins us to discuss the project, the life and work of Hirabayashi and the struggle against anti-Asian hate that was once again highlighted by the pandemic.
Are you a fan of reality TV shows? Shows like The Bachelor, The Kardashians, RuPaul Drag Race, The Real Housewives? Maybe you watch them but don’t want to admit it?
Lehigh University sociology professor DANIELLE LINDEMANN has found that many people are too embarrassed to confess to binging what some label as lowbrow, trashy TV. But Lindemann argues in a new book that if you look more closely, reality television tells us a lot about ourselves and our culture, touching on issues of sex, gender, race, class, inequality and more. Lindemann joins us to talk about the appeal, the stigma, the insights and joy of reality TV. Her new book is True Story: What Reality TV Says About Us.
Read more The Atlantic, What Reality TV Reveals About Motherhood – Unscripted shows may be filled with a wide array of moms, but each is still judged by surprisingly conservative, rigid standards.
CNN, Reality TV can make us cringe — and teach us about ourselves, a new book says – Series like “Survivor” and “The Bachelor” aren’t just forms of escapist entertainment or windows through which to gawk at strangers in extreme scenarios, she writes — reality series hold up a funhouse mirror to their viewers through which they can learn more about themselves and their culture.
The Washington Post, In ‘True Story,’ reality TV tells us a lot about society. Maybe more than we want. – But Lindemann argues quite convincingly that despite people’s knee-jerk mockery of reality TV or reflexive embarrassment at being “caught” as a viewer, studying the genre gives us a better understanding of our world and ourselves.
When you hear the word fungi, chances are mushrooms come to mind: button mushrooms, maybe portobellos, or chanterelles. But so much of the fungi kingdom is invisible — underground — and many say underappreciated. Fungi are vital to life on the planet, but scientists are just beginning to understand their many functions and possibilities. On this episode, we explore the role of fungi in nature, in medicine, and in our lives. We’ll talk about sustainable design that utilizes mycelium, discuss how fungi form networks that communicate information, and look at an experimental and unapproved fungi-based treatment people are using to regain their sense of smell.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- Mycologist and mushroom entrepreneur Paul Stamets talks about growing mushrooms in your own backyard.
- Biologist Merlin Sheldrake discusses the important role of fungi as the planet’s “brilliant decomposers,” and explains why he loves the idea of having fungi all around us — and inside of us.
- We visit Vedge Restaurant in Philadelphia to get a crash course on preparing mushrooms from Chef Rich Landau (Pro tip: hold the salt until the very end!) He explains how to cook with different mushrooms, and recalls a time when portobello mushrooms were an expensive rarity.
- Designer Danielle Trofe talks about the lampshades she grows from mycelium. They’re light, velvety to the touch, sturdy, and yet completely biodegradable.
- Foraging for mushrooms was a “national sport” in the Czech Republic where Barbora Batokova grew up. Now, she brings her love of mushrooms to fans online, where she goes by “Fungiwoman.” Her sites feature beautiful photos of mushrooms that she finds in the wild, as well as explanations and tips for identification.
Get the story on The NW Local, a monthly hyperlocal newspaper in Northwest Philadelphia with a “hypervocal” spin. Find out how Matthew Cramer, an autistic non-speaking student, excels academically as a communicator and scholar. Discover Drone Legends, a curriculum that integrates drone technology, aerial cinematography, and computer science. Meet Eli Kulp, the decorated chef behind Fork, who’s expanding his connection to food after a life changing accident.
Russia says it is embarking on a new, more strategic phase of its war against Ukraine after almost eight weeks of attacks. Putin’s aim now is to capture Donbas, a region in the eastern part of the country. An intensive assault has begun in the east with more advanced, long-range weapons that have battered Mariupol to the ground, and the Azovstal steel plant appears to be the lone standing stronghold. As the assault continues, the US and others partner countries are sending new weapons packages to Ukraine, but to what aim?
Today, we discuss the Russian and Ukrainian military forces and the battle for Donbas. We’ll look at the battlefronts, tactics, and weapons each side is using and where the war is headed. Our guests are MALCOLM NANCE, former military intelligence analyst and former senior chief petty officer in the U.S. Navy who recently joined a foreign fighters legion in Ukraine, DMITRY GORENBURG, a Russian military senior researcher with CNA, and MATT GALLAGHER, a former U.S. Army Captain and Iraq war veteran, who was recently in Ukraine training volunteer Ukrainian civilians.
Read more Reuters, Russia sets new Mariupol ultimatum in ‘Battle of Donbas’ as West pledges more help – Thousands of Russian troops backed by artillery and rocket barrages were advancing in what Ukrainian officials called the Battle of the Donbas.
Esquire, Notes from Lviv – For two weeks in March, at an abandoned chemical warehouse in Lviv, we taught civilian volunteers how to defend themselves against the Russian invaders.
Washington Post, Ex-MSNBC analyst joins Ukrainian forces against Russia: ‘I’m done talking’ – Speaking from a secure location in Lviv, Nance said he was fighting for Ukraine after friends in the Ukrainian army told him they were overwhelmed by Russia’s assault, with some saying, “We’re not going to survive tonight.”
Asian American Studies Scholar and host Rob Buscher discusses the Asian American business community including the history of Asian American business corridors in Philadelphia, and inter-minority relations with panelists Nick Shenoy, Sharon Hartz, and Naroen Chhin.
- Nick Shenoy, Founding President and Chairman of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia
- Sharon Hartz, President of the Korean American Association of Greater Philadelphia
- Naroen Chhin, Advocate and Cambodian American community organizer
Alexander Skarsgård talks with Patrick Stoner about shooting the Viking revenge film in the gritty world of Scandinavia around 1000 AD.
Are you confused about wearing a mask? On Monday, Philadelphia reinstituted an indoor mask mandate while on the same day a federal judge struck down the mask mandate on planes, trains, buses and public transportation. COVID-19 case counts have started to creep up again as the Omicron subvariant BA.2 makes its way through the country and people return from spring break travel and holidays with family.
Experts expect to see infection rates continue to rise in coming weeks, but so far we haven’t seen waves of severe illness and hospitalization with the latest variant. Still there are concerns about where we could be headed, and if we could end up with another virus wave. This hour, we’ll talk about the BA.2 subvariant, the vaccines and therapies, risk, unmasking on public transit and learning to live with COVID.
Guests KATHERINE WU, science writer for The Atlantic. She also has PhD. in microbiology and immunobiology. @katherinejwu
JULIA RAIFMAN, assistant professor of health law, policy and management at Boston University. @juliaraifman
Read more The Atlantic, Have We Already Ruined Our Next COVID Summer? – A lot has changed since last year’s pre-Delta lull, but America can still reclaim some coronavirus-free chill—if it decides to commit.
WHYY, Philadelphia reinstates indoor mask mandate – “I suspect that this wave will be smaller than the one we saw in January,” she said, referring to the original omicron wave. “But if we wait to find out and to put our masks back on, we’ll have lost our chance to stop the wave.”
New York Times, Nervous about flying? Here’s why a mask will still help protect you even if others aren’t wearing one. – In a modeling study, published in December 2021, researchers found that passengers sitting in the same row or one row away from someone with the virus still had a high risk of getting infected through direct respiratory droplets. Wearing a mask reduced the risk of infection by 54 percent.
In a new book, one data scientist sets out to follow the paper trail from the overwhelming, powerful, sometimes useful feeling of shame. Is there money to be made from our misery? And, if so, who’s making it? Author Cathy O’Neil looks at all the ways we witness and experience shame today: the gimmicks of the diet and weight loss industry, the ads that tell us we should hide our wrinkles.
Even more, the public shaming that occurs on social media, where one tweet or post can make you the subject of humiliation by millions of people and end your career in an instant. O’Neil explores the loneliness and proliferation of that gnawing, head-in-the-sand shameful experience, particularly in the digital age. She’ll join us to discuss The Shame Machine: Who Profits In The New Age Of Humiliation.
Today’s Guest Cathy O’Neil is the author of the bestselling Weapons of Math Destruction, which won the Euler Book Prize and was longlisted for the National Book Award. She received her PhD in mathematics from Harvard and has worked in finance, tech, and academia. She launched the Lede Program for data journalism at Columbia University and recently founded ORCAA, an algorithmic auditing company. O’Neil is a regular contributor to Bloomberg Opinion.
We Recommend The Guardian ‘Big tech makes use of shame to profit from our interactions’ “Shame is a social thing that happens in the context of feeling like you’re unworthy and you’ll be unlovable by your community.”
Salon How Shame Became Cultural Currency “…shame also takes on the dimension of currency, particularly in the online world — where profit-minded social media giants quietly push us to obsessively shame strangers to the extent that it increases time spent on their sites, and therefore their profits.”
This week begins Philadelphia’s highly controversial reinstatement of the mandate requiring masks in spaces like restaurants and gyms. The decision by the health department gained national attention last week, and the reaction was mixed at best. We’ll talk with WHYY reporter NINA FELDMAN.
We’ll also discuss xylazine, known as “tranq dope”, a powerful substance that has contaminated drugs on Philadelphia’s streets making them even more dangerous. We’re joined by SARAH LAUREL, founder of Savage Sisters, a local nonprofit that provides harm reduction initiatives and dynamic sober homes for people in recovery. Also joining us to discuss the data that proves the alarming spike in tranq is JEN SHINEFELD, field epidemiologist in the Division of Substance Use and Harm Reduction for the City of Philadelphia.
And, conservationists are stepping up their efforts to preserve the prehistoric creature inhabiting the Delaware River before it becomes extinct. Delaware Riverkeeper MAYA VAN ROSSUM will join us to explain why we must save the 300 remaining adult Atlantic Sturgeon.
Reckless driving, like super-speeding, zooming through red lights, and riding highway shoulders is on the rise – and incidents of road rage appear to be increasing, too. Vehicle accidents, especially fatal ones, have actually declined over the past several decades, but in the last two years, the Covid-19 pandemic has made things worse again. As so many employees in the U.S. resume their usual commutes to work, and the warmer months bring more pedestrians and cyclists to the streets, what can we do about uncontrollable drivers? We’ll discuss exactly why the pandemic was so bad for traffic safety and talk about how to make roads safer for everyone.
Guests Nichole Morris, Director of the HumanFIRST Laboratory at the University of Minnesota
Jake Nelson, Director of Traffic Safety Advocacy & Research for AAA
This week on You Oughta Know, find out how two local nonprofits are supporting those living with HIV and AIDS and how you can help fulfill their missions. Learn how mealworms might hold the answer to reducing and upcycling plastic waste. Visit a sensory-friendly gym for all kids. Discover how celebratory cookies, to mark the end of Ramadan, are made at a local bakery. Spruce up your spring wardrobe with fashion expert George Bresia.
Jessie Flynn decided she’d had enough. For years, multiple sclerosis had taken more and more away from her life — her ability to move, her freedom, the job she loved, even her marriage. Now it seemed like medical treatments and physical therapy were no longer halting the illness’ progression — it seemed like she was on a rapid slide toward immobility. She wanted hope, and she wanted options. So she decided to try an experimental treatment called HSCT, which is not yet approved in the U.S. It came with great risks and a staggering price tag — which Jessie was willing to take on against her medical team’s advice.
Many patients find themselves in a similar place; a new treatment promises results, some experts call it a breakthrough — others caution that it’s not as good as it seems, or worse yet, a scam that takes advantage of vulnerable people.
On this episode, we examine the crossroads where desperate patients and experimental treatments meet.
In his latest book, Different: Gender Through the Eyes of a Primatologist, Frans de Waal dives head-first into the topic of gender and challenges traditional assumptions about why and how men and women are different. Drawing on decades of observation and study of human and animal behavior, he uses chimpanzees, a male dominant species, and bonobos, a female-led pacific society, to explore the traits many of us recognize as uniquely ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’. In doing so, he asserts that biology doesn’t necessarily support the roles we assign to each and raises fundamental questions about humanity. He joins us to talk about his book and research, and what we can learn about sexuality, friendship, cultural gender roles and nurturance.
Frans de Waal is Professor Emeritus of Primate Behavior at Emory University, former director of Living Links Center at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center, and the author of many books
Experience the drama and passion of tango with pianist/composer Emiliano Messiez and dancer Meredith Klein. Immerse yourself in the world of high-end art at Somerville Manning Gallery. Get a glimpse of the wonderfully wacky American Treasure Tour Museum, an eclectic collection of unusual items. Join host Anne Ishii on a visit with sculptor, multimedia artist, and Assistant Penn Professor Michelle Lopez.
Pennsylvanians will head to the polls May 17th for what is being called one of the most consequential primary elections in the country. Senator Pat Toomey’s retirement after more than a decade is leaving an open seat that could ultimately determine which party wins majority in the Senate next year. In the race for governor, Democrats across the Keystone State are hoping to keep their party in office with the election of lone candidate Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro. On the GOP side, it’s a crowded field of candidates and no clear frontrunner, with recent polls showing almost half of registered Republican voters as undecided. On this episode of Radio Times, we’ll talk Pennsylvania politics and the primary election: the candidates, the endorsements, the fundraising and where they land when it comes to the issues most important to their Democratic and Republican voters.
Guests: John Baer, Columnist for Patriot News/Pennlive
Chris Borick, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion
Katie Meyer, political reporter for WHYY News
Mark Wahlberg talks with Patrick Stoner about self financing and starring in a film about a man who went from criminal to priest with many parallels to his own life.
Asian American Studies Scholar and host Rob Buscher discusses the Japanese American resettlement to Philadelphia following World War II, and the Southeast Asian refugee crisis that developed after the U.S. withdrew from Vietnam with panelists Jim Kawano, Thoai Nguyen, and Rorng Sorn.
- Jim Kawano, Board Member, Japanese American Citizens League Philadelphia Chapter
- Thoai Nguyen, Executive Director, Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Association Coalition
- Rorng Sorn, Former Executive Director, Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia
Recent CDC studies found the pandemic has significantly harmed adolescent mental health. In one survey, 4 in 10 teens reported feeling “persistently sad and hopeless” and in another, 55% reported suffering emotional abuse and 11% physical abuse at home. Even before COVID, mental health problems were rising among young people, with increasing rates of depression, suicidality, alienation, and anxiety.
This hour, we discuss the factors behind the teen mental health crisis and how to help youth cope and heal.
Guests Dr. Kathleen Ethier, Director of the CDC’s Division of Adolescent and School Health (@ethierka) (@CDCgov)
Dr. Emily Becker-Haimes, Assistant Professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine and Clinical Director of the Pediatric Anxiety Treatment Center at Hall Mercer (PATCH) program (@PennCMH)
Dr. Rhonda Boyd, psychologist in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (@RhondaBoydPhD) (@ChildrensPhila)
We Recommend The New York Times: Many Teens Report Emotional and Physical Abuse by Parents During Lockdown “These data really confirm that we are in a severe crisis in terms of mental health among young people, particularly among female students and students who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual.”
NBC News: Teens faced emotional abuse at home during the pandemic, CDC finds “These data echo a cry for help…The COVID-19 pandemic has created traumatic stressors that have the potential to further erode students’ mental wellbeing.”
NPR: Two years ago schools shut down around the world. These are the biggest impacts “Schools provide food, safety, relationships, stability and hope for most children around the world…school closures tend to take place in the context of massive social upheaval. The pandemic was no exception.”
For the seventh time in two years, the Biden administration is allowing student loan borrowers to freeze their payments until August 31, 2022. Student debt activists say the extension doesn’t go far enough. Instead, they’re calling on the administration to institute an overall student loan forgiveness program that would cancel over $1.6 trillion in loans and restore those who have defaulted to good standing. We get reaction to the announcement from Villanova University assistant professor JALIL BISHOP who studies college affordability for Black students.
Then, a team of scientists at the University of Pennsylvania investigated ways to treat inflammation with hormone testing on obese mice but got a big surprise when the rodents lost tons of body fat – rapidly – by ‘sweating’ it out. We’ll talk about the research that led to these shiny-coated mice and what it could mean for the future of treatment for obesity-related illnesses and more with RUTH CHOA and TAKU KAMBAYASHI. And, we revisit our interview with MIN JIN LEE, author of the New York Times bestseller Pachinko, which tells the story of a Korean immigrant family as they experience the troubled history of legal and social discrimination in Japan. The book inspired a popular new drama series by the same name, now streaming.
FRAN LEBOWITZ has been called many things: satirist, misanthrope, pop-culture icon, iconoclast, humorist. She was profiled recently in Martin Scorsese’s HBO documentary, Pretend It’s a City,where she opines about absolutely everything. In March, Marty sat down for an interview with Fran Lebowitz before a sold-out crowd at Merriam Theater in Philadelphia. On Friday’s show, tune in for that conversation when Fran shares her thoughts about bookstores, Vladimir Putin, rats, NATO, being old and her friendship with Toni Morrison.
And Thursday afternoon in a 53-47 vote, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was confirmed to the Supreme Court, becoming the first Black woman to serve as a justice on the high court. University of Pennsylvania law students, CHAYLA SHERROD and SIMONE HUNTER-HOBSON join us to share their thoughts about what Judge Jackson’s historic confirmation means to them.
The war in Ukraine is in its 23rd day and, by all accounts, has not been going as smoothly as Putin planned. Russian forces have suffered significant loses and been surprised by the strength of Ukrainian nationalism and their armed forces. As an easy Russian victory becomes more remote, what will a frustrated, angry President Putin do?
He’s already hinted at the prospect of deploying nuclear weapons, saying countries that interfere in this war will face consequences “greater than any you have faced in history,” and analysts warn of the danger of a cornered Putin.
We start our hour discussing whether the threat of nuclear war is real and what this means for Ukraine and global security. Then, we’ll talk about who’s winning the information war and the tactics President Zelensky and President Putin use to spread their starkly different messages.
Guests Joe Cirincione, Distinguished Non-Resident Fellow at the Quincy Institute and a national security analyst. He’s the author a number of books including Nuclear Nightmares: Securing the World before It Is Too Late and Bomb Scare: The History and Future of Nuclear Weapons. He served previously as president of Ploughshares Fund. @cirincione
Jane Lytvynenko, senior fellow in the Technology and Social Change Project at Harvard’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy. @janelytv
Read more Washington Post, Why Putin’s nuclear threat could be more than bluster – The risk is higher than the West might think, some experts say.
The Atlantic, I Can’t Stop Watching a Livestream of Kyiv – “My home is in danger, and I’m thousands of miles away. This small, strange window is helping me cope.’
Have high prices at the pump made you wish you were driving an electric car? Good luck finding one to buy. Interest in EV’s has grown exponentially in recent years and despite dozens of new models and companies making them, there are still long waitlists. But for some people, price, range anxiety, and the still limited electric infrastructure remain major roadblocks.
We start off our hour on electric cars, investigating the true cost of manufacturing these vehicles with New York Times’ ERIC LIPTON, who has looked at the damage done by mining the rare minerals, like lithium and cobalt, needed to power EVs.
Then, we’ll talk about some of the newest electric models and companies, the latest battery technology, and where our electric infrastructure stands with two automotive journalists, JOHN VOELCKER, contributing editor for Car and Driver and NIKKI GORDON-BLOOMFIELD, with Transport Evolve.
Read More New York Times, Carmakers Race to Control Next-Generation Battery Technology – “The prize: batteries that would be cheaper, faster to charge and less vulnerable to raw material shortages. Whoever gets there first will have a major advantage.”
Car and Driver, Month by Month in 2021, the Electric-Car Future Came into Focus – The days of Tesla having the EV market largely to itself are over.
NBC News, U.S. to provide $5 billion to help states build network of EV charging stations – “These are taxpayer dollars, so it can’t just be a blank check,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said.
Samuel L. Jackson talks with Patrick Stoner about his unique way of marking scripts & when he uses his Executive Producer role to get things done.
How will Ukraine’s children survive the trauma of this war? Many of them are witnessing horrific violence, have or will lose loved ones, are watching their homes and cities destroyed. So far a million have been forced to flee and resettle in unfamiliar places with different language and culture. Forty percent of the world’s refugees are children and many children also still live in conflict zones, unable to escape.
This hour, how children are scarred by war. We’ll discuss the impact on young people’s minds and bodies and if there are ways to increase children’s resiliency. And we’ll ask why the suffering from other armed conflicts, such as Yemen or Eritrea, draws far less attention from the world. We’re joined by two researchers who have worked with people traumatized by war and refugees from many parts of the world.
Guests Theresa Betancourt, Salem Professor in Global Practice at the Boston College School of Social Work and Director of the Research Program on Children and Adversity at Boston College @tsbetancourt
Adeyinka Akinsulure-Smith, Senior supervising psychologist for the Bellevue Program for Survivors of Torture and a professor of psychology at the CUNY.
Read more ABC News, Mental health effects of Ukraine war zone on children
Washington Post, Ukrainian children are fleeing. World War II’s child evacuations inflicted terrible trauma.
Christian Science Monitor, Why do some child soldiers heal and not others? What one scholar found
In her new book, “Ask Polly” advice columnist Heather Havrilesky shares the details of her relationship with her husband while illuminating what ‘modern marriage’ really looks like. She’s not afraid to talk about the aggravations, conflicts and harsh compromises that often result from marriage, and she’s recently gotten some heat for calling her husband a “smelly heap of laundry”, among other nicknames. But, throughout all the stumbles and tough times, Havrilesky still insists marriage can be glorious. And, if we can learn to overlook the small stuff, we’re not so crazy to dedicate our entire lives to one person. She joins us to discuss her new book, Foreverland: On the Divine Tedium of Marriage.
We Recommend NY Times: Marriage Requires Amnesia “A spouse is a blessing and a curse wrapped into one. How could it be otherwise? How is hatred not the natural outcome of sleeping so close to another human for years?”
The New Yorker: Heather Havrilesky’s Guide to Enduring Married Life “Unlike the many memoirs that double as thinly veiled advertisements for their authors, “Foreverland” ventures occasionally unflattering honesty, not just about Bill but also about its author.”
InStyle: Hating Your Spouse Isn’t the Red Flag You Think It Is “Marriage is designed to break you. You will forget everything you knew before. You will tremble under the weight of your own shortcomings.”
On today’s Regional Roundup, U.S. Senator from Delaware Chris Coons will join us to talk about Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, just one week before her Supreme Court confirmation hearing begins. We’ll also discuss how the Biden administration has responded to the war in Ukraine so far and crucial bipartisan legislation being passed to address inflation.
Plus, an inspiring and moving memoir of a South Jersey animal sanctuary founder tells the story of a turbulent childhood that resulted in a collection of hundreds of rescue animals. We’ll talk with author Laurie Zaleski, whose new book is Funny Farm: My Unexpected Life with 600 Rescue Animals.
But first, we’re watching a devastating war unfold in Ukraine through images of civilian casualties, wrecked hospitals and innocent people hiding in bomb shelters. How do we talk about it with young people witnessing it in real time – and quite graphically – on social media? Our guests are Jessica Kendorski, School Psychology chair at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and Vikki Katz, associate professor of communications at Rutgers University and editor of the Journal of Children and Media.
“He is a character,” says Shannon Watson. “Are you an Eagles fan babe?”
“Yeah,” says Steven.
Shannon Watson provides life skills training and support for people with physical differences and disabilities. One of her clients is Steven Abi Richa, 45. A dark haired, wide smiled guy with a sense of humor.
“He is amazing,” says Shannon, “He has an amazing compassion for people.”
Steven Abi Richa in the hospital creating a “Steven’s Bag”. Shannon says Steven was diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder that makes it hard for him to control his body so he uses a wheel chair to get around. The condition also makes it hard for him to communicate using language. But Steven’s mind is sharp.
“He understands everything that everyone says and he understands not just English, but also Arabic,” says Shannon, “yeah — he’s a smart guy.”
Steven loved going to his day program and having activities. But when the pandemic hit all of that stopped. Shannon says the difference in Steven was clear right away.
“He was becoming depressed and was developing some challenging behaviors because he was bored,” she says.
“All of this started because she went to look for something for Steven to do,” says Mary Kirk, a longtime friend.
Kirk nominated Shannon and Steven for the Good Souls Project.
“So it was a very simple, small project, and I think their initial goal was maybe, you know, like 10 bags,” she says, “It’s just been incredible how much stuff we’ve done.”
The “project” simply involved Steven packing bags for Shannon’s annual charitable effort for Christmas. But he did so well that Shannon created a project just for Steven. She called it Steven’s Bags. Steven will decorate paper bags with paint, stickers or drawings and fill them with items for the house less.
“We [fill them with] applesauce fruit and seeds and usually there’s a bagel, peanut butter and pouches of tuna fish with packets of mayo and mustard to go with them,” explains Shannon.
Shannon Watson (left), Steven Abi Richa (center), and Ann Kirk (right) decorating and filling “Steven’s Bags”. She says they gave the bags to Chris Battin who ministers on Streets of Kensington to distribute there. They also provided bags to centers in Coatesville. At first, Shannon, Mary, and Shannon’s friend Ann Kirk footed the bill, along with Steven’s family. But the effort grew so large, they took it to Facebook. Now there’s a Steven’s Bags Facebook group with nearly 300 members who pitch in by decorating bags and donating items from an Amazon wishlist.
“They pick what they want to help out with, and it’s sent directly to me,” says Shannon.
The best part is Steven has hit the road with Shannon and the Steven’s Bag crew to hand out the bags in Kensington himself.
Steven in Kensington helping hand out “Steven’s Bags”. Reporter: Did you like going to to Kensington?
Steven: Yeah.
Reporter: Did you like meeting all the people there?
Steven: Yeah.
“I’m just happy to see him happy,” says Shannon, “He’s a completely different person than he was a year ago.”
Completed and packed up “Steven’s Bags”. Together, they’ve produced more than 300 bags for Kensington and scores more for Coatesville. And the effort is growing.
“This bag project, he’s really made his own,” says Shannon, “he’s met a lot of the people…and he knows that he’s making a difference in other people’s lives. So it’s huge. It’s absolutely huge.”
Shannon Watson (right) with daughter Daniel and friend Ed Porter. “Every time you turn around, she’s helping someone else who really needs it,” says Mary Kirk, about Shannon, who is helping Steven help others. “And she recruits other people to help too.”
Steven Abi Richa working with other volunteers to fill and decorate “Steven’s Bags”. That’s why Mary says, Shannon is a Good Soul. And Shannon says Steven is too.
“He just sees people in need and wants to help” says Shannon, “and it just kind of goes to show you that anyone, no matter what their differences may be people can do something for someone else.”
The war in Ukraine is entering its third week and civilian deaths are mounting. This week, we saw the photograph of a Ukrainian family killed by mortar fire as they attempted to flee and watched Russian soldiers continue to bludgeon the city of Mariupol. We’re seeing the aftermath of a strike on a maternity hospital, Ukrainians burying their dead in mass graves and the faces of terrified refugees. But what are the Russian people seeing?
The Kremlin has always tightly controlled information with censorship and its own propaganda. Since the invasion, Putin has cracked down even more on war coverage, passing a new law that prohibits the spreading of “false information” about the war. Instead, Russia is spreading misinformation about neo-Nazis controlling Ukrainian, blaming Ukraine nationalists for civilian casualties and crisis actors for some of the horrific images.
This hour, Ukraine-born journalist and disinformation scholar PETER POMERANTSEV joins us to discuss Putin’s obsession with Ukraine and the propaganda he has used to hoodwink the Russian people and justify his war.
Read more Time, What Putin’s Nazi Talk Reveals About His Plans for Ukraine – Vladimir Putin is an old man scared of death trying to turn back time. Ukraine and Ukrainians are as his blood sacrifice. His invasion of their country is his attempt to forestall his personal, inevitable demise.
Vanity Fair, “We’re Underestimating What Mr. Putin Is Up To”: Sizing Up Media Coverage of Russia’s Attack on Ukraine – “We’re sort of framing this as a plucky country slaying a dictatorship,” says author Peter Pomerantsev. “But Putin is this mad stalker trying to get revenge.”
Atlantic, I Watched Russian TV So You Don’t Have To – According to Russian state TV, Putin is the good guy. Many Russians believe it.
Do you ever feel like you’re just not good enough at your job – that any moment, you could make a huge mistake, and everyone would realize that you’re a fraud? That sentiment is often called imposter syndrome.
In their weekly conversation, psychologist Dan Gottlieb and WHYY’s Maiken Scott discuss what to do when you’re feeling like that.
The soundscape of our lives changes depending on where we are — the murmuring of voices, birdsong in trees, the beeps and dings of technology, and the cacophony of traffic.
Our worlds are dense with sound. Often, it all blends together to the point that we barely notice it. But every sound has its own distinct profile — providing information, bringing joy or irritation, causing us to snap to attention or zone out.
In this episode, we explore the world of sound, how we interact with it, and the people who compose the sounds that define our lives.
We hear stories about the teams designing the hum of electric cars, how the sounds of a rainforest inspired the pings and dings coming from your computer, and a disorder that makes ordinary noises almost unbearable.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- We talk with physicist and oceanographer Helen Czerski about what sound is, how it travels, how our sense of hearing evolved, and her favorite topic — the sound of bubbles. Czerski is an associate professor of mechanical engineering at University College London. Her book is called “Storm in a Teacup: The Physics of Everyday Life.”
- Great cars make great sounds — the growl of a Porsche, the roar of a Mustang, the purr of a BMW. But what about electric cars? They’re known for being quiet, but in recent years, electric car makers have been working to create their own signature sound. Reporter Alan Yu finds out what automobiles of the future will sound like.
- Who decides the sounds our electronics make: email notifications, event reminders, and error alerts? Pulse producer Nichole Currie talks with sound designer Matthew Bennet about the unlikely origin of the beeps and boops that define our daily lives.
- We listen back to a conversation with Fresh Air’s Terry Gross about how different she sounds on the radio than in her head — and talk with William Hartmann, who’s part of the psychoacoustics group at Michigan State University, about why that is.
Everyone has experienced that gnawing feeling of regret – an awkward interaction, a bad decision, a personal failing. And yet, we are often told to move on, that looking back at our past mistakes or missed opportunities is unhealthy. Author DANIEL PINK disagrees. He argues in his new book, The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward, that regret is an essential and unique aspect of being human and paying attention to it can lead to personal growth, better choices and relationships, and happier lives. Pink joins us to talk about the science and psychology of regret, what his World Regret Survey of 17,000 people has revealed, and how to make the best use of life’s disappointments.
Read more BBC, How to live with your regrets – ” It also highlights which kind of regret bites deepest – and suggests many ways for us to make peace with our own disappointments and mistakes.”
Business Insider, Create a failure résumé to feel more satisfied about your career, says an author who researches regret – “Overall, more people regret being risk-averse and playing it safe compared to those who took a risk, Pink said.”
GQ, How to Use Your Regrets for Good – “I like regret circles. You get five or six people together and you go around, everybody talks about their regret”
Amy Poehler talks with Patrick Stoner about our ongoing fascination with the iconic couple & what she wanted people to know about them in her documentary.
President Biden banned Russian oil and natural gas imports Tuesday, calling the step a “powerful blow to Putin’s war machine.” Global oil prices have been surging in recent weeks, and the cost at the pump in the U.S. now exceeds $4 a gallon. While Russia provides around 3% of the crude oil used in the U.S., Europe is far more dependent for their energy needs, and Putin has threatened to cut them off. This hour, can the West survive without Russian energy, and what impact will this ban have on Putin’s war, the U.S. and the global economy?
Guests Nikos Tsafos, James R. Schlesinger Chair in Energy and Geopolitics with the Energy Security and Climate Change Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies @ntsafos
Meghan O’Sullivan, Director of the Geopolitics of Energy Project at Harvard University’s Kennedy School @osullivanmeghan
Recommended reading Associated Press, EXPLAINER: What does a US ban on Russian oil accomplish?
Washington Post, Opinion: $4 gas is here. Facing down Putin is worth the price.
Book bans have reached record levels in the United States. The effort to censor and suppress ideas and literature is something that writer and scholar AZAR NAFISI knows all too well. Nafisi watched books get banned and authors jailed, even killed, during the Islamic Revolution when she taught English literature in Iran. She wrote about her experience reading banned western books in the bestselling memoir, Reading Lolita in Tehran.
In her timely new book, Read Dangerously: The Subversive Power of Literature in Troubled Times, Nafisi reminds readers of the power of fiction to challenge tyranny, fight injustice and open minds. Through letters to her late father, she writes about the transformative effect of reading great books by Plato, Zora Neale Hurston, Salman Rushdie, Margaret Atwood, James Baldwin and many others.
Recommended reading Washington Post, Opinion: Book bans signal the dangerous direction society is moving – “But totalitarian tendencies are unquestionably on the rise within segments of this country. We see this in the attempts to curtail women’s rights, in the rise in racism and antisemitism, and in the assault on ideas and imagination best exemplified in the banning of books.”
Eight people were killed – and more than 200 injured, when an Amtrak train crashed in Philadelphia in 2015. Brandon Bostian, the engineer at the time of the derailment, underwent a trial this week and was just acquitted on all counts. We’ll talk with a WHYY reporter who followed the case from the courthouse.
Guest: Laura Benshoff, reporter for WHYY (@LEBenshoff)
The U.S. House of Representatives just passed a bill that would help veterans exposed to toxic burn pits. Our guests are Chad Baer, Army National Guard veteran who was exposed to burn pits and local advocate for fellow vets & their families, and Kelly Kennedy, managing editor at The War Horse, author and combat veteran who first broke the story about the toxicity of military burn pits in 2008.
The recovery of the once endangered bald eagle is a huge success story, but a recent New Jersey state report found they’re facing another challenge: lead poisoning. We’ll talk about what’s causing lead-related illnesses for the birds.
Kathleen Clark, supervising biologist for the Endangered and Non-Game Species Program at the NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife
We Recommend WHYY: Amtrak engineer Brandon Bostian found not guilty in 2015 deadly train derailment “We’ve said from the beginning that this was a terrible accident,” said defense counsel Brian McMonagle. “A couple hundred people were forever changed by it, and a good man has been living the ordeal of being asked to pay for a crime he didn’t commit.”
The Washington Post: House passes bill to expand health care for veterans exposed to toxins; 174 Republicans vote against “The bill would expand health-care eligibility for veterans who were exposed to burn pits and other toxins; it must now be reconciled with the Senate’s version of the legislation”
A week ago, Russian forces invaded Ukraine, and the toll of the war has already been devastating. One million people have fled to neighboring countries, and the UN estimates that close to 10 million will soon be displaced, leading to an even greater humanitarian crisis.
Putin’s assault on the country has also increased in recent days with attacks on the country’s second-biggest city, Kharkiv, and the siege of two seaports. And there appears to be more indiscriminate bombing and targeting of civilians, with hundreds killed, including children.
Putin has turned down multiple opportunities to negotiate a peace and appears single-minded in capturing Kyiv. How does this war end, and is there anything the rest of the world can do besides watch it unfold from the sidelines?
Agnieszka Pikulicka-Wilczekwska, freelance journalist who is in Poland covering the refugee crisis for Al Jazeera. @aga_pik
Tom Nichols, professor at the U.S. Naval War College and an adjunct at the U.S. Air Force School of Strategic Force Studies. He’s also a contributing writer at The Atlantic. @radiofreetom
Malcolm Nance, Counterterrorism expert and former military intelligence analyst. He’s the author of the forthcoming, They Want to Kill Americans: The Militias, Terrorists, and Deranged Ideology of the Trump Insurgency. @malcolmnance
Recommended reading Al Jazeera, ‘It was hell’: Long lines of Ukrainian refugees at Poland border –
The Atlantic, Stay Calm, America – Putin’s violence may still get worse. But Americans shouldn’t root for a dangerous escalation of hostilities.
The New York Times – How Russia’s war in Ukraine came back to bite Putin at home – “Everyone is scared. We don’t know what’s going to happen,” one Moscow resident said.
It’s when a dark alleyway makes the hairs stand up on the back of our neck; when a mother just knows that something’s wrong with her kid; when you meet someone, and can tell they’ll either be your best friend — or your worst nightmare.
On the surface, intuition can seem a bit like magic — this unexplainable knowledge that pops in our heads, based on nothing but a feeling. But scientists say there’s more to intuition than just gut instinct. It’s about how our brains use years of accrued information to make predictions about what’s going to happen next — all on a subconscious level. But if we don’t know exactly how intuition works, how can we trust it — and should we trust it?
On this episode, we explore intuition — what it is, how we can harness it, and when to avoid it. We hear stories about the edge that human doctors have over AI, one woman’s incredible feat of motherly intuition, and why some people call intuitive eating the antidote to diet culture.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- We talk with David Jaison, who offers us a peek behind the curtain of “mentalism” — a kind of performance art that uses a mix of psychology, showmanship, and intuition to surprise audiences.
- Neuroscientist Joel Pearson breaks down the emerging science behind intuition — where it comes from, how it works, and when we should (and shouldn’t) trust our gut feelings. Pearson is the founder and director of Future Minds Lab at the University of New South Wales in Sydney.
- Artificial intelligence may not have the best bedside manner, but it’s getting better and better at diagnosing and treating patients. So what does that mean for traditional MDs? Reporter Jad Sleiman explores the edge that human doctors have over AI — at least for now.
- When Katie Pratt was 3 years old, she was diagnosed with a Chiari malformation, a rare condition in which the cerebellum bulges through an opening in the skull into the spinal canal. Katie’s mom, Wendy, had a hunch about what the solution would be — but it wasn’t until doctors opened up Katie’s skull that they discovered she was right. Katie interviews her mom about the experience, and her incredible flash of mother’s intuition.
- You might’ve heard of intuitive eating, a practice that proponents are calling an antidote to both diet culture and disordered eating. Reporter Liz Tung talks with Elyse Resch, one of the founders of intuitive eating, and one young woman about how intuitive eating changed her relationship with food.
The spread of Covid-19 in Philadelphia has slowed enough for the city’s health department to issue an All Clear response level, which immediately puts an end to public mask mandates, with some exceptions, and ceases the requirement for restaurants to obtain proof of vaccination and enforce masking.
Guest: Dr. Cheryl Bettigole, Philadelphia Health Commissioner
And, for millions of Americans who’ve been infected with coronavirus over the last two years, a different kind of “all clear” is out of reach, as they deal with Long Covid: a variety of symptoms experienced after the acute virus, that range in severity and have perplexed doctors since the start of the pandemic. ‘Long haulers’ have spent months suffering with brain fog, vertigo, depression and anxiety as a result of contracting Covid-19, and some studies now show that long-term effects can impact the cardiovascular system and even lead to suicide. We’ll talk about what we know so far, the research we need and the importance of making it happen quickly.
Guests:
Dr. Harlan Krumholz, Long Covid researcher and Harold H. Hines, Jr. Professor of Medicine at Yale School of Medicine
Morgan Stephens, Freelance journalist and production assistant for CNN’s Erin Burnett OutFront, working on a forthcoming book about Long Covid
We Recommend CNN Opinion: Eight months of long Covid brought me to the brink “The tremors and vertigo had intensified. It’d been a week without sleep. And, with no medical treatment, I was essentially charged thousands for an emergency room visit and given a prescription for Anderson Cooper.”
The Washington Post: What is long covid? Current understanding about risks, symptoms and recovery. “The majority of people who got acutely infected felt totally normal before they had their infection, and now they don’t feel normal. That’s jarring.”
President Biden delivers his first State of the Union address tonight at a time of crisis, with Russia waging an increasingly bloody war against Ukraine. State of the Union speeches are usually an opportunity for presidents to tout their accomplishments, but this is a challenging time for Americans, who are anxious about rising inflation and exhausted after two years of the pandemic. President Biden is also facing historically low approval ratings at around 37%, and the country is politically and culturally divided.
But there are some bright spots to point out, including his historic Supreme Court nominee pick, Ketanji Brown Jackson, an infrastructure bill and a strong economy, if the Russia-Ukraine war doesn’t derail it. This hour, we get reactions to Biden’s address, the tenor he struck, and if it will help him reset this presidency from a trio of guests.
Guests LaFleur Stephens-Dougan, political science professor at Princeton University and the author of Race To The Bottom: How Racial Appeals Work in American Politics. @LaFleurPhD
Will Bunch, Philadelphia Inquirer columnist @will_bunch
Christopher Nicholas, GOP political consultant with Eagle Consulting Group @Eagle63
David Morse talks with Patrick Stoner about the value of ensemble acting in films like this iconic example just released in 4k.
As the national push to remove Confederate monuments escalated in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, Philadelphia grappled with a more recent set of public memorials. This half hour documentary reflects on the controversial Frank Rizzo monument and mural in the aftermath of their removal in June 2020.
Interviews include artists and public art stakeholders who were directly involved with – and affected by – the polarizing statue and mural.
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware are among several states that plan to lift statewide school mask mandates in the coming weeks, leaving the decision to require masking in the hands of local school districts, county officials and perhaps individual families. Is this the right time to end universal masking in classrooms, or is it too soon?
Also, a low-dose vaccine appears to be on the horizon for children under 5 as the FDA reviews Pfizer’s emergency authorization application. We’ll talk about the vaccine for young kids and the issue of vaccine hesitancy among parents, since only one quarter of kids ages 5-11 are vaccinated. And we’ll look at where we stand with Omicron and the threat of potential future variants.
Guests David Rubin, a pediatrician and director of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s PolicyLab. @policylabchop
Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. @jennifernuzzo
We Recommend WHYY, N.J. parents have mixed feelings as state plans to lift school mask mandate – “Balancing public health with the need to get back to some semblance of normalcy are not easy. If we are to err, I would much rather be it on the side of protecting public health,” Murphy said.
The New York Times**, Pfizer is expected to ask the F.D.A. to authorize its Covid vaccine for children under 5 – “Federal regulators are eager to review the data in hopes of authorizing shots for young children on an emergency basis as early as the end of February”
Sam Richardson and Ben Schwartz talk with Patrick Stoner about bringing their improvisational skills to this comedy murder series.
The House select committee investigating the January 6th insurrection received over 700 Trump White House documents – some of them torn up and taped back together. The batch includes a draft memo suggesting seizing voting machines. So far, the committee has conducted 475 interviews and issued scores of subpoenas.
This hour, we look at the investigation into former President Trump and his advisors’ potential involvement in the Capitol riots and efforts to delay certification or overturn the election. We’ll also discuss former Vice President Mike Pence’s recent comments that Trump was wrong in claiming Pence had the power to reject the electoral college votes, as well as the Republican National Committee recently deeming the insurrection “legitimate political discourse.” Finally, we’ll examine the legal challenges facing the former President, his family and his organization in New York and Georgia.
Guests Ankush Khardori, contributing writer for New York Magazine, a contributing editor for Politico and a former federal prosecutor.
Elie Honig, CNN Senior Legal Analyst and former federal and state prosecutor. He’s a Rutgers University scholar and the author of Hatchet Man: How Bill Barr Broke the Prosecutor’s Code and Corrupted the Justice Department.
We recommend Politico, What Does the DOJ’s New Jan. 6 Sedition Indictment Mean for Trump? – “One could reasonably see the conspiracy charge as part of a potential trail that could lead to Trump’s eventual prosecution. But there are good reasons to be dubious that the department is actually getting closer to charging Trump for his role in the events of Jan. 6 or his conduct leading up to that day.”
The New York Times, In Scrutinizing Trump and His Allies, Jan. 6 Panel Adopts Prosecution Tactics – “In what its members see as the best opportunity to hold Mr. Trump and his team accountable, the committee — which has no authority to pursue criminal charges — is using what powers it has in expansive ways in hopes of pressuring Attorney General Merrick B. Garland to use the Justice Department to investigate and prosecute them.”
The Washington Post, National Archives had to retrieve Trump White House records from Mar-a-Lago – “The recovery of 15 boxes from Trump’s Florida resort, including letters from Barack Obama and Kim Jong Un, underscores the previous administration’s cavalier handling of presidential records.”
If you’re from the South, live there, have visited or even just skim headlines about the region, you probably have an opinion on this distinct area of the United States. In her new book, Princeton University African American studies professor IMANI PERRY argues understanding the complicated history and character of the South as the nation’s heartland is key to understanding America. In South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation, she explores the varied land and much of its painful history as she searches for her enslaved ancestors. From Maryland to Texas, to her birthplace of Birmingham, Perry narrates her travels, the memories visited, and answers questions about how life in the South has shaped the culture of a nation.
We Recommend Time Magazine, I Searched for Answers About My Enslaved Ancestor. What I Found Was More Questions – Read an excerpt from Imani Perry’s new book, South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation
New York Times, New Orleans Is a Place Where There Is Violence in the Sweetness, Horror in the Beauty – “This is, as Perry puts it, “not a preservation. This is intervention.” For too long, the South has been scapegoated and reduced to a backward land on the other side of some translucent, but impenetrable, barrier.”
“You just can’t walk by it every day and not acknowledge a person who’s sleeping on the street,” she says, “I can’t not say, ‘you know, what can I do to make a difference?'”
Rosalind Pichardo and other volunteers putting together boxes of snacks and supplies to giveaway to homeless people. Pichardo makes a difference by giving out snacks, water, socks, even coats. She writes the names of those she helps on the street in her Bible.
“To just pray for folks, you know, in my own way,” she says, “every person in that book deserves life and I am just praying for them constantly that they’re okay.”
Roz is also known as “Momma Sunshine.” Why? Well, she calls the folks she helps her “Sunshines.”
“When people see someone in the street they use stigmatizing words like junkie, addict, zombie,” she says, “all these negative things that [folks] call my people really [ignores] who they were before the addiction…. And to address someone as “Sunshine” brings a smile to so many faces.”
Pichardo has helped her Sunshines in that moment, when they were on the brink of death. According to her tally, she has used Narcan to reverse overdoses for more than 900 of her Sunshines.
“How many people do you know personally– but one individual can say that they saved 900 people’s lives— it’s hard to even wrap your brain around,” says Eric Marsh, Community Outreach Organizer for WHYY.
Before his tenure at the station, Marsh worked in City Council and in the streets as an activist. He says while he and Pichardo are not personally connected, he decided to nominate her for the project because he’s seen her work up close, year after year, after year.
“I can’t imagine what this city would look like without her,” he says.
During the pandemic, Pichardo contracted COVID multiple times and was even hospitalized while working to help those in need. The COVID restrictions didn’t stop the addiction and the need on the streets so she says she kept working. Pichardo notes that she answered a call where saved the life of 7-year-old girl who overdosed on heroin she found on the street:
“We didn’t and we didn’t judge that family,” she says, “but what we did do was save that child.”
She calls that day- one of the best of her life: “I knew I was doing what I was supposed to be doing.”
Pichardo helps everyone- even drug dealers. She hands out gun locks and teaches individuals how to save themselves or others if they are shot or otherwise impacted by gun violence. But the ability to snap into action and focus when traumatic things happen, comes from her own trauma. In 1994, when Pichardo was 16, an ex-boyfriend nearly beat her to death and threw her off an overpass. He then shot and killed her current boyfriend. Years later, in 2001 Pichardo’s identical twin sister Kathleen died by suicide. And in 2012 her brother Alexander fell victim to gun violence.
“To be put in a position of that immense trauma— that really changed me,” she says.
In 2012, Pichardo began camping outside in January in honor of her brother and the many other victims of homicide. Soon thereafter, she founded Operation Save Our City. And for the past ten years, she’s been on a quest to do just that.
Do shorter days and colder weather leave you feeling lethargic, unmotivated and less interested in the activities you usually enjoy? This time of year, many Americans experience “winter blues”, but others have more severe symptoms and might be struggling with Seasonal Affective Disorder. We discuss the symptoms and treatment of SAD and some easy remedies to ward off those blue winter feelings.
Guest: Dr. Stephanie Marcello, Chief Psychologist at Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care (@Rutgers_UBHC)
After a decade of treatment, researchers say two patients have been “cured” of leukemia, a massive medical breakthrough based on the work of a renowned University of Pennsylvania professor and cancer researcher, who joins us to talk about how his CAR T therapy research went from an experimental treatment to a possible cure.
Guest: Dr. Carl June, Principal investigator at June Lab and Richard W. Vague Professor in Immunotherapy at Perelman School of Medicine (@carlhjune)
The Free Library of Philadelphia has a new president and director. He’s a book enthusiast, changemaker and former police officer from Flint, MI. We’ll talk about how he went from criminal justice to card catalogs, why libraries are life-changing for so many communities, and his outlook as he steps into the new role in our city.
Guest: Kelly Richards, Director and President of the Free Library of Philadelphia (@FreeLibrary)
We Recommend Psychology Today: Feeling SAD? How to Identify and Treat Seasonal Affective Disorder “Because SAD is a form of depression, it causes the typical symptoms of the disorder. No matter when your SAD starts, you may feel tired, low on energy, restless, unable to focus, or as if you are moving in slow motion.”
The Guardian: First patients of pioneering CAR T-cell therapy ‘cured of cancer’ “Two of the first human patients to be treated with a revolutionary therapy that engineers immune cells to target specific types of cancer still possess cancer-killing cells a decade later with no sign of their illness returning.”
Billy Penn: Free Library picks a new director: Kelly Richards, a Black career librarian from Michigan “[Richards] was featured in “African American Librarians in the Far West: Pioneers and Trailblazers,” a book published in 2006 that highlighted Black librarians.”
There has been an increase in efforts to ban books from school libraries, classrooms and reading lists. Some conservative groups and individuals are pressing to remove books from shelves if they address certain issues of race, gender, sexuality, LGTBQ topics, social justice and history. The latest target is Maus, Art Spiegelman’s Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel about the Holocaust. Some of the most challenged books in recent years include The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, George by Alex Gino, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas, I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings, and The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood.
This hour, we’ll discuss the rise in book challenges around the country, what’s motivating them and the books and themes that are being targeted. We’ll also talk about the power of books to change the way people see the world.
Emily Knox, associate professor in the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and author of Book Banning in 21st Century America. @ejmknox
Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom. @OIF
Carmen Maria Machado, author of the memoir In the Dream House, a book that is banned in some school district.
On this episode of You Oughta Know, we’ll explain how a new app called Too Good To Go is fighting food waste. Learn about Paul Robeson, famed African American performer and civil rights activist with Philly ties. Jefferson Health’s Dr. David Rosen discusses ways to recover our sense of smell after COVID-19 anosmia. Discover how Moss Rehab is using video gaming technology to help stroke patients regain mobility. Plus, satisfy your sweet tooth at the Puddin Palace.
From Amazon to Angie’s List, Google, Facebook, and Yelp, we live in a world driven by feedback. In the best of circumstances, honest critiques can make us better — they can give us new perspectives, improve our work, or just offer some encouragement to keep us going. But feedback is a double-edged sword — it can be both kind and cruel, honest and petty, insightful and downright useless. So how do we navigate this world of reviews and commentary?
How do we know who to listen to? When is feedback helpful, and when does it hurt? And how do we give it in a way that’s both honest and kind?
On this episode, we explore those questions and more. We hear from physicians about the online reviews they receive, the problems with the peer review process, and why it’s time to retire the compliment sandwich. We also step inside a program that’s been built around student feedback — MFA writing programs — and find out what it looks like to try and objectively judge creative work.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- You can find online reviews for just about everything these days — even physicians. But how accurate are those reviews? And do doctors take them to heart? Physician Neda Frayha talks with her fellow docs about how they feel about patient reviews. Frayha is a primary care physician in Maryland, and host of the Primary Care Reviews and Perspectives podcast for Hippo Education.
- We talk with researcher and author Marcus Buckingham about reviews of all kinds — when they help, when they hurt, and why employee performance reviews are “worse than useless.” Buckingham is the co-author of “Nine Lies About Work: A Freethinking Leader’s Guide to the Real World.”
- Before scientific studies get published in respectable journals, they’re supposed to go through a process called peer review — a kind of editing process performed by other scientists. But in the age of COVID-19, that important step has increasingly been pushed back in order to get new data out quicker. We talk with Mark Humphries, a neuroscientist at the University of Nottingham, about the limitations of the peer review process, and what he thinks needs to change.
- To be helpful, feedback must be honest — but sometimes honesty can be painful. So how do you offer the unvarnished truth without alienating the other person? We put that question to researcher Taya Cohen, who studies radical honesty. She tells us how three days of honesty affected people’s relationships, what’s wrong with the “compliment sandwich,” and how to give feedback that’s actually helpful. Cohen is a professor of organizational behavior and business ethics at the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University.
- Friends can be one of our best resources for honest feedback — if we’re willing to hear it. Psychologist Tasha Eurich makes a case for the “dinner of truth,” and what it taught her about not being annoying. Eurich is the author of “Insight: The Surprising Truth About How Others See Us, How We See Ourselves, and Why the Answers Matter More Than We Think.”
University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas has become part of the debate over inclusion for trans athletes and fair competition. Thomas, who formerly swam for Penn’s men’s team, began transitioning in 2019 and has taken testosterone suppression treatment. She started swimming for the women’s team this season, breaking multiple school and league records.
But her circumstances, and those of other transgender athletes, raise a host of difficult questions about fairness in sports, inclusivity, rights for trans athletes to compete and what a “level playing field” looks like. While the science guiding these debates and policies is still evolving, some of the conversation has been weaponized as fuel for anti-trans rhetoric, discrimination, and legislation. This hour, we explore the complex issues and science around the question of transgender athletes and fair play.
Guests JOANNA HARPER, a visiting fellow for transgender athletic performance and Ph.D. student at Loughborough University. She’s also a transgender athlete and the co-author of the book, Sporting Gender:: The History, Science, and Stories of Transgender and Intersex Athletes. @fondofbeagles
SCHUYLER BAILAR, an author and activist and the first transgender athlete to compete on an NCAA Division 1 men’s team. His first novel is Obie is Man Enough. @sb_pinkmantaray
NANCY HOGSHEAD-MAKAR, CEO Champion Women, a civil rights lawyer, and a two-time Olympian, who won three-time gold medals and one silver in swimming. @hogshead4au
The Village of Arden in Delaware was founded in 1900 by sculptor Frank Stephens and architect Will Price as a single-tax community. They wanted to create an arts & crafts colony that included people from all walks of life.
Experience the early architecture, meet the talented artists and performers, and discover why so many people flock there every year to attend The Arden Fair.
Hours before President Biden visited Pittsburgh to tout his bipartisan infrastructure law Friday, one of the city’s bridges collapsed over a ravine and injured ten people. The fall of Fern Hollow Bridge again made clear just how desperately Pennsylvania’s infrastructure needs repair. The Commonwealth has some of the oldest bridges in the country: over 3,200 are rated in poor condition. This hour, we’ll look at crumbling infrastructure in the Keystone State and around the nation, discuss where infrastructure spending should go and how long it will take to mend and upgrade our bridges and roads.
Guests: Margaret Krauss, Development & Transportation reporter for WESA (@MargaretKrauss)
Larry Shifflet, Deputy Secretary for Planning at PennDOT (@PennDOTNews)
Adie Tomer, Director of the Metropolitan Infrastructure Initiative at the Brookings Institution (@AdieTomer)
Recommended Reads: 90.5WESA: What Pittsburgh’s Fern Hollow Bridge collapse can tell us about Pennsylvania bridges “While the state has reduced the number of bridges that are structurally deficient, much of the funding that could have been used to address aging roads and bridges instead has been used to fund the State Police for much of the past decade.”
Politico: Infrastructure bonanza might not head off future bridge collapses “Biden…used Friday’s collapse to highlight the need to fund repairs. The fact that nobody was killed or seriously injured gave Democrats the freedom to talk policy while the scene was still being cleared.”
Jeremy Irons talks with Patrick Stoner about playing Neville Chamberlain, the British Prime Minister accused of appeasing Hitler.
Last week, a Pennsylvania court struck down the two-year-old law that allows no-excuse, mail-in voting in the state. Governor Wolf said his administration will appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court, but this Republican challenge to voting demonstrates the strategies and ferocity of the battles that will be fought out ahead of midterms. In addition, Wolf has rejected the redistricting map from Republican lawmakers and fighting continues around a fair redrawing of the legislative lines.
Turning to the crowded Senate race, the Democratic State Committee failed to endorse a candidate, but leaned toward U.S. Representative Connor Lamb in a straw poll. From the Republican side, former hedge fund executive David McCormick appears to be rising to the top. This hour, we talk Pennsylvania politics with three political junkies.
Guests Jonathan Tamari, national political reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer @jonathantamari
Katie Meyer WHYY’s political reporter @katieemeyer4
Stephen Medvic, Director of the Center for Politics and Public Affairs at Franklin & Marshall College and the author of Gerrymandering: The Politics of Redistricting in the United States @stephenmedvic
Recommended reading WHYY, Split among 4 candidates, Pa. Democrats fail to endorse one for U.S. Senate – “Though Lamb gathered the most votes, followed by Fetterman, Kenyatta, and then Arkoosh, his lead wasn’t decisive enough to clinch the official endorsement.”
The Philadelphia Inquirer, HOW DIFFERENT CONGRESSIONAL MAPS WOULD REDISTRICT PENNSYLVANIA – “Pennsylvania needs a new congressional map, but partisan gridlock has gotten in the way.”
Pennsylvania Capital-Star, Jan. 6 committee subpoenas bogus pro-Trump electors from Pa., 6 more states – “We believe the individuals we have subpoenaed today have information about how these so-called alternate electors met and who was behind that scheme.”
The New York Times, Pennsylvania Court Says State’s Mail Voting Law Is Unconstitutional – “The majority opinion, written by Judge Mary Hannah Leavitt, a Republican, said that voting “requires the physical presence of the elector” and ruled that the legislature could not make changes to voting laws without amending the state Constitution.”
“People were stealing all the donations,” he says of other locations ROH used for storage. “They’d take all the best stuff and leave little for the people who really needed it.’
The first floor is also home to some of his favorite possessions: cards, pictures, posters and small gifts posted on the wall and on a nearby shelf.
“It’s my wall of love,” he says.
The wall includes tokens from the folks he’s helped or others who helped him. And that mission driven effort is impacting a new generation of volunteers.
“It’s fun to get out- and help,” says Jordan Colbert, Debra’s 17 year old daughter.
She says Mr. Ray is a “good soul.”
“I mean, he goes above and beyond for the community and the people,” she says.
In recent months, Gant announced he’d be retiring in 2022.
“To do some things I’ve wanted to do,” he says.
Like work on his health and travel. But he’ll still be around, doing good soul work.
“Yeah, I don’t know if I’ll ever hang up my hat,” he says, “we’ve have become a voice for this community and people listen to us.”
Ray Gant was nominated for the Good Souls Project by Joanna Branch, a longtime ROH volunteer. She called Gant a “good soul” who’s welcoming smile greets volunteers and harnesses their efforts to “clean and re-clean the same blighted areas. His dedication and persistence has meant safer cleaner neighborhood, and is ceaseless.
Plaintiffs in the landmark school funding lawsuit in Harrisburg officially wrapped up their case last week, making room for Republican legislative leaders to defend their position that per-pupil spending in the Keystone State is adequate. We discuss testimony from key players, like Philadelphia School District Superintendent William Hite, and talk about the defense strategy most likely to play out.
Guest: Mallory Falk, WHYY education reporter for Keystone Crossroads
Are attitudes changing over the right to medical aid in dying for the terminally ill? After almost 7 years of reintroduction, a Delaware House Bill has legislative support and may be picking up momentum. We’ll discuss the political and emotional debate, and how the pandemic may have impacted public perception.
Guest: Rep. Paul Baumbach, Representative for the 23rd District in the Delaware House of Representatives
With winter weather underway this weekend, we’ll talk about the mesmerizing science behind each flake and what make’s our region so unique when it comes to meteorology with the author of what’s been called the “first book to fully examine snow as a historical, cultural, and scientific phenomenon.”
Guest: Anthony Wood, atmosphere journalist and author of Snow: A History of the World’s Most Fascinating Flake
We Recommend Chalkbeat Philadelphia: Constant cutting is ‘heartbreaking,’ testifies Wilkes-Barre leader in Pennsylvania school funding case “…plaintiffs showed pictures of poor building conditions, including a room in which two students were wearing coats because of the cold.”
WHYY: Should Delaware allow terminally ill patients to be prescribed medication to end their life? “Baumbach points out that 10 other states, including New Jersey, now allow medical aid in dying, and that his bill is modeled on the law in Oregon, which has been in place for 25 years.”
The Philadelphia Inquirer: ‘We haven’t seen anything like this in years.’ A ‘bomb’ and a blizzard rock Philly and the Shore “As it got colder, the snow turned more powdery, but it was no pushover…”
Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer announced his retirement this week, with plans to likely end his time on the bench by the end of the summer. The 83-year-old justice, appointed by former President Bill Clinton in 1994, is the oldest court member and one of its only three liberal justices. President Biden has promised to nominate a Black woman to the high court, a historic first, and is expected to have his choice confirmed, as SCOTUS nominees are exempt from filibuster and only require a simple majority vote.
Today, we’ll look at Breyer’s legacy, talk with a former Breyer law clerk, discuss President Biden’s possible nominees and the effect a new justice could have on the future of the court.
Guest: Theodore Ruger, Dean of the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School and Bernard G. Segal Professor of Law. He was a law clerk to Justice Breyer.
Lisa Tucker, associate professor at Drexel University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law.
Jeffrey Rosen, CEO and President of the National Constitution Center and a professor of Law at The George Washington University Law School. He’s the author of Conversations With RBG: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Life, Love, Liberty, and Law. @rosenjeffrey
This week on You Oughta Know, WHYY health expert Nina Feldman weighs in on COVID-19 rapid tests and clears up some common misconceptions. Get expert tips on how to make friends as an adult. Visit a diverse comic book store and coffeehouse with something for everyone. Step into the mind and art of a master at Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience. And explore a Doylestown castle and museum that’s home to archeologist Henry Chapman Mercer’s prize collection.
Sleep — we all need it, but most people aren’t getting enough of it. Ideally, we spend about a third of our lives asleep. When we’re well rested, we feel like we can take on the world. But when we’re not, we find ourselves exhausted, cranky, moody, forgetful … and our overall health takes a hit.
Clearly, sleep is important. The question is — why? What happens when we sleep? What makes it such an important part of our survival? And what’s stopping us from getting our best rest?
On this episode, we look at the anatomy of sleep — why it matters, how we get our best sleep, and what happens when we don’t.
We hear stories about what happened to one physician when long COVID brought her sleeplessness to a crisis level, why one physical therapist says we’re all sleeping wrong, and a look inside our sleeping brains.
Also heard on this week’s episode:
- We talk with Mark Wu, a professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins and sleep physician, who explains the latest science on what happens in our brains when we sleep, and what happens when we don’t.
- We also put together a mixtape with some of our favorite songs about sleep and dreams. You can find it below or listen on Spotify.