ORGanon: Recent Episodes
Ology Research Group
Four voices, four perspectives, endless conversation. This weekly podcast sits you at our table and takes on a number of research-backed topics of social importance. Public health, education, social justice, relationships, the modern workplace setting, you name it; if it’s been researched, we’ll be talking about it! Each week, we look into a research question of particular interest and navigate through the complexities as we try to answer these questions and provide our bottom-line perspectives. Through our discussions, inquiry and ideas, we aim to influence our listeners to initiate conversations on pressing social issues.
According to an article found on the Chronicle of Higher Education in 2016, approximately 75 of every 100 full-time faculty members are Caucasian, about 5 are Black, and fewer are Hispanic. On this episode, we are joined by Vanessa Gutierrez, a newly minted adjunct faculty member involved in sociological and research themes, in an engaging conversation about teaching, mentoring and contributing to students’ academic experience
Most of us are guilty of it. Following the acts of well known celebrities, we installed an app on our phones called “FaceApp”, which uses a headshot to create an image of what you may appear to look like when you’re much, much older. Following the rapid popularity of the app, privacy concerns started to arise, particularly some hazy areas in its privacy settings that raised some red flags. On this episode, we discuss the app and other concerns that may reside amongst the apps in our phones. Given that it’s known that nothing’s free… when we click “I agree”... what exactly are we giving up?
According to a post by the Center for American Progress, “23.4% of children under the age of five are in some form of organized child care arrangement, which includes day care centers, nurseries, and preschools. This includes one-third of those with an employed mother and more than one-quarter of those whose mothers are not employed but are in school”. In our personal research, we found countless blogs and vlogs on how challenging it for mothers to leave their children at daycare for the first time… feelings of guilt and sadness are common. On this episode, Carl and Jazmin reflect on leaving their baby at daycare for the first time and share tips for new parents and parents to be on how to plan ahead for this day.
According to a study depicted on NPR on June 20th, researchers conducted an experiment where they dropped 17,000 wallets in 40 different countries, containing varying amounts of cash, contact information and other personal effects. As it turns out, while most of us would think that the wallets would be long gone, the researchers discovered that most wallets, especially those containing cash, were handed over to the authorities. On this episode, we discuss our ideas on why people were leaning more towards honesty, have a conversation about ethical behavior, honesty and theft.
Tarot cards have been used for centuries, for people seeking answers and seeking spiritual guidance. Some believe in it, while others don’t. On this episode, we explore why people seek Tarot readings, and who knows -- maybe we’ll get some answers to some of the tough questions we have, for life in general and in our careers!
There are multiple management styles in today's environment which try to explore how we can best teach and grow our teams. On this episode, we discuss the concept of treating your team like "family", in the sense that you'll do whatever you need to make them feel supported. What are the pros/cons of this model? How is this feasible in a competitive hiring marketplace where you usually have about 30 minutes to vet a candidate?
Oftentimes, the most difficult times in our lives is the decision to quit and walk away from something that is not working or stick with it and persevere. According to the author of The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick) Seth Godin, “Winners quit fast, quit often, and quit without guilt…People settle. They settle for less than they are capable of.” Today, we explore the topic of when to quit a job, a relationship, or a major commitment, and when to stick with it.
According to a blog found on RE Factor Tactical, a company founded by veterans which sells tactical products and provides special operations with solutions for unconventional battlefield issues, violence can, and has historically been, the answer to major conflicts. In their blog, they state: “Those who say “violence is never the answer”, most likely never stared death in the face or encountered some of the greatest evil that plagues our society. In reality, violence often solves some of life’s greatest issues”. Thinking back to our World Wars, revolutions and the current conflict in Venezuela… they may actually be right. On today’s episode, we have a conversation about pacifism and violence, and their respective effectiveness in resolving escalated social conflict.
According to a recent article found on LinkedIn, many millennials believe that they will have been able to save $1 million by the time they hit 40, but the reality is that millennials’ 2016 salaries are actually 25% lower than those who were the same age in 2007. On this episode, Carl reflects on a recent trip to Key West, an interesting approach to saving and spending in a two-income household, a simple to remember savings strategy, and a very quick overview of a few retirement options many employers offer. The most important lesson in this episode -- find out what it means to be “fully vested” in your organization’s retirement options!
According to a 2015 article found on the FlexJobs website, 75% of employees reported not having enough time for their children, 40% of mothers were the sole source of income for the household and most parents (almost three quarters) reported that after having a baby, they prefer to work fulltime again once the child is school-aged. These stats aren’t just limited to heterosexual couples, as of the approximately 700,000 same-sex couples, over 16% are raising children, according to the Williams Institute at UCLA’s law school. On this episode, we discuss some statistics on the challenges of working professionals attempting to maintain their careers while raising a baby and toss around some ideas that could help couples who are currently or will soon be adding a new member to their families!
When it comes to decisions about how to spend federal funds, there is almost always vast differences in opinions on what the country should prioritize. According to a recent survey of U.S. adults by the PEW Research Center, about 72% favored increasing spending on education while 28% suggested decreasing assistance to the needy across the world and 23% suggested decreasing spending to help those who are unemployed. On this episode, we explore the use of tax revenue across a number of public issues and programs, and share our opinions on how the government should prioritize spending.
For the first time in three decades, nearly 1 in 4 Americans have not had sex in the past year! As it turns out, according to an article found in the Salt Lake Tribune, age is a major predictor - those who were more likely to abstain from sex were older than 60 or under 30! On this episode we discuss some of the potential reasons for this trend.
According to a recent Gallup poll, Millennials are the least engaged generation in the workforce, are more likely to job hop, and it is predicted that the US economy loses on average $30.5B from Millennial-related turnover. According to a recent Deloitte Study, a majority of Millennials from around the world felt that companies don’t behave ethically and that most companies have no ambitions beyond wanting to make more money. On this episode, we explore the underlying social contexts responsible for this shift and debate whether this is a good or bad thing.
According to survey results we found on the PEW Research Center’s website, “nearly half (46%) of the public would rather live in a different type of community from the one they’re living in now — a sentiment that is most prevalent among city dwellers.” This prompts us to explore the question - why are we prone to the desire to live elsewhere? Does periodic travel satisfy our deep, nomadic roots? Or are we simply constantly in pursuit of new experiences?
According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, the number of working men without a college degree has been on the decline (from 95% in 1960s to 85% in 2015), leading some economists to worry. Ariel Binder and John Bound of The University of Michigan has a new theory as to why: the shifting family dynamics, women taking on leadership roles, among the few reasons. Today we discuss on their research.
Michael Cohen, President Trump’s former personal lawyer, recently testified before the House Oversight and Reform Committee about his involvement in the 2016 election and hush money paid to Stormy Daniels, among other proof which incriminates President Trump. Cohen’s testimony also has us all wondering: is our democratic republic is failing (so much that it has enabled a bad actor like Cohen to exploit our democratic system and defraud the American public)? Or is it a clear indication that while our democratic system is not perfect, it is nevertheless functioning?
Two years have passed since Britain voted on Brexit, but the split has proved more difficult than originally promised. Pro-Brexit arguments ranged from more rational immigration policies to the EU strangling the UK with burdensome regulations. However, big businessmen and current residents are now worried for their immediate implications with possible tariff and border changes. Ology Research Group weighs in on the parallels between Britain and the United States and how "emotionally charged policies” create rash decisions.
Parents nowadays have to battle technology and are trying “flip-phone parenting” to emphasize self-care. As we're kicking off the year and the Letamendi's are welcoming a beautiful baby girl into the world, we're going to discuss a few parenting trends, as depicted in an article we found on Everydayfamily.com.
This month, President Trump declared a national emergency, which will allow him to move forward with building a wall along the southern border. Other recent (and still active) declarations of national emergencies include blocking property of people threatening peace, security or the stability of Yemen, declaration of national emergency by reason of certain terrorist attacks, and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. On this episode, we’ll discuss the precedent setting of this national emergency, in comparison to others declared by presidents over the last couple decades.
According to author Malcolm Harris, author of Kids These Days: Human Capital and the Making of Millennials, Millennials (those born between 1980-2000), are bearing the brunt of the economic damage brought by the late-twentieth-century capitalism. He states, “If Millennials are different, it’s not because we’re more or less evolved than our parents or grandparents, it’s because they’ve changed the world in ways that have produced people like us.” He argues that this is also a reason why millennials are so burned out. On today’s episode, we want to explore the question: are millennials a product of a Capitalistic environment or are they its biggest benefactor?
According to a 2015 article titled Happiness and Productivity: Understanding the Happy-Productive Worker, happier employees exerted higher levels of effort and more productivity than those who were not. This represents just one of many studies regarding employee morale, which shows that employee happiness, while not considered in many office environments, has a positive impact on output, job satisfaction retention, and cohesion amongst employees. On this episode, we discuss approaches to increase employee morale and how to maintain it, regardless of where you are on the organizational chart!
Bullying in grade school is a well-researched topic. There are tons of campaigns aimed at reducing bullying at schools, creating a safe and welcoming environment, and ensuring that the adverse consequences of bullying are avoided. On this episode, Kacey and Carl talk about an interesting project the team at Ology is currently working on, which will be presented through the New York State Public Health Association’s Best Practices & Innovations Webinar Series on November 20th of this year. In this conversation, they discuss their motivations behind choosing the topic, statistical methods and what’s desired as they contribute the study to the fields of public health and education, research and practice.
According to the website YouthMentor.org, 1 in 4 public school children drop out before finishing high school, and African-American and Hispanic students have a 65% likelihood of finishing high school on time. The website also states that 76% of at-risk youth who had a mentor aspire to enroll in college, have lower rates of depression symptoms, are 52% less likely to skip school, 46% less likely to use illegal drugs and 27% less likely to start drinking. On this episode, we want to take a moment to acknowledge mentors during National Mentoring Month (January) and discuss the importance of mentorship in improving individuals and our neighborhoods.
Long gone are the days where children can only flip through channels to watch cartoons! On this episode, we discuss the growing trend of children watching their cartoons on YouTube, and some helpful considerations for parents, and for Carl and Jazmin, whose baby will probably also get pulled into YouTube too!
Often times, we are taught a certain narrative about what life is like in other countries. On this episode, we discuss Kacey’s observations from his recent trip to China, and Jazmin and Carl’s trip to Russia just a few years back, where something interesting happened -- development of a new perception!
According to AAA, about one third of Americans (112.5 million) are expected to travel during the 2018 holiday season! On this episode, we discuss the trend and hypothesize why this trend exists, despite all the hassle, expenses and discomforts associated with travel.
As we enter into the holiday season (aka peak retail season), it’s common for us to give gifts to one another, as a gesture of appreciation, or for workplace secret santas. On this episode, we explore the concept of gift giving during the holidays, and reasons for purchasing gifts for others. Is gift giving meaningful, or useless?
According to Blink, a company which provides motion-detection home security systems, the likelihood of having a package stolen may depend on where you live! California had a per-capita package theft rate of .62%, .19% in New York, .66% in Florida, and a whopping 26% in North Dakota! On this episode, we’ll talk about these rates and the risks associated with leaving packages on our doorsteps!
In looking at 10 years’ worth of retail sales, it appears to have been consistent, with the exception of 2008-2009, where storefront retail seems to have taken a dip. This year, we have noticed the closure of several stores, and increased in sales for Amazon. On this episode, we discuss our observations and projections of retails sales for the 2018 holiday season.
Reflecting on historical drug policies aimed at reducing or even eliminating drug use has led us to wonder -- have those policies been effective? Did they actually result in reduction of drug abuse, or did consumption increase? Should we legislate a life-choice decision, and a crime a crime without victim?
Project Digital Africa is an organization with a mission to create awareness and provide people living in Africa with the opportunity to have access to unlimited resources, training, certifications, software, devices, and gadgets in the digital and tech industry. On this episode, we are joined by Lisa Nwoye, the Founder and President of the organization, to have a conversation about the importance of her work, grassroots efforts and access to tech!
On the 6th of November, over 1,200 candidates ran for seats in the House and Senate. On this episode, we come together to answer the question - does it matter?
According to the website The Science of People, 73% of Americans and 79% of people younger than 45 believe in soulmates. On this episode, we explore the topics of soulmates, love, bonding and relationships, all to answer the question: are soulmates real, or surreal?
On this episode, the team at Ology Research Group and the ORGanon Podcast celebrates its 100th episode, which means we’ve committed to having 100 conversations about contemporary social issues. We reflect on our experience thus far, and plan ahead for episode 101 and beyond!
According to the Federal Reserve Bank, American students amassed $1.5 trillion in student loans through the second quarter of 2018, marking the second-largest consumer debt segment in the country after mortgages...and the number just keeps growing! On this episode, we discuss this social, economic, and psychological phenomenon.
Racism is defined as a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race. We all have, to some degree, experienced some level of racism. On this episode, we wanted to have a heart to heart conversation about our personal experiences with racism.
According to the PEW Research Center, approximately 61% of Americans favor legalization of marijuana, a huge increase from attitudes in the late 60s when about 12% of Americans favored legalization and most preferred keeping it illegal. These days, we’re noticing many states moving forward with progressive laws to decriminalize marijuana and even allow selling products containing cannabis and recreational marijuana for private consumption. On today’s episode, we’re joined by Will and Francis, the hosts of the ACE LAB podcast, to talk about growing acceptance and experiences of those who have embraced this recent freedom.
At various points in the history of medical science, there were diseases that were deemed incurable. Some of these perceived “incurable” diseases, which cures were found for in the 20th century include diphtheria, malaria, measles, pertussis, pneumococcal disease, polio, tetanus, typhoid fever, yellow fever, and smallpox. Breakthroughs in biomedical research led to vaccinations and medications that are common today, and can cure these illnesses. On this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Kambiz Shekdar, biotech inventor, founder and president of the Research Foundation to Cure Aids, and former Chief Scientific Officer of Chromocell Corporation, to talk about promising stem cell research and pursuit of the cure for AIDS, as well as some hindrances in the realm of medical science and society which delay our ability to achieve what scientists of the early 20th century were able to in their laboratories. We’ll also talk about RFTCA’s upcoming Halloween Masquerade Ball in NYC!
According to Merriam-Webster, intersectionality is defined as the complex, cumulative manner in which the effects of different forms of discrimination combine, overlap, or intersect. On today’s episode, we’re joined by Mark Travis Rivera, Artistic Director and Founder of the Marked Dance Project and author of the book Drafts, to have a about intersectionality and discrimination. Mark Travis Rivera certainly understands discrimination. A Latino with cerebral palsy raised in an inner-city environment by a single mother, Rivera endured oppression and bullying from an early age. In the face of such experiences, coming out as gay with a nonconforming gender identity required immense strength and courage.
According to a recent article in the Toastmaster magazine written by Lauren Parsons, there is scientific research “suggests that success does not lead to happiness but that the opposite is true. Happiness has a profound effect on brain function and significantly increases individual performance, leading to greater success”. On this episode, we discuss recommendations on how to be happy, and therefore, achieve success, and how to overcome barriers to having more optimistic days in the workplace, and in your personal life.
Regular exercise is considered to be a good old-fashioned, preventive practice that helps people “be healthy” and prevent many conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and many other conditions. On this episode, we want to take a moment and answer the question - why do people really work out? It can’t always be just to be healthy, especially given many social pressures to appear a certain way, and evidence that sheds light on the fact that overweight people and short people get paid less, in comparison to their tall and thin co-workers (according to Forbes), and that women are attracted more to muscular men (according to MensHealth). It may very well be the case that people work out - to look good and fit in, more so than “to be healthy”, which can in turn, result in unhealthy behaviors.
On this episode, we wanted to take a moment and test our debate skills and answer the question - should college be mandatory? Is there sufficient sociological, economic and personal evidence to suggest that we should all be required to attend college?
Have you ever heard anyone say that a glass of wine is good for the heart? Well, according to an article published on the Lancet on August 23rd, 2018, which looked at global patterns of alcohol consumption states, “...the safest level of drinking is none. This level is in conflict with most health guidelines, which espouse health benefits associated with consuming up to two drinks per day”. On this episode, we wanted to have a conversation about social drinking, binge drinking, not drinking at all and casual drinking. Does contemporary research on alcohol change our drinking behaviors?
Have you ever wondered why workweeks are usually 40-hours? In 1890, the government tracked worker’s hours and found that manufacturing laborers worked about 100 hours a week! In 1916, congress passed the Adamson Act, which established an 8 hour workday for railroad workers. Ten years later, Ford Motor Companies implemented a 5-day, 40 hour workweek. An amendment to the Fair Labor Standards Act went into effect in October of 1940, which limited the workweek to 40 hours, down from 44 hours when it was first passed in 1938. Fast-forwarding to our current day, almost 80 years later... how’s our 40-hour workweek going? Does the Fair Labor Standards Act need a little more...amending?
A hospital-based study had over 1,000 adult patients interact with several physicians who had fake piercings and tattoos. The patients were asked about the physician’s competence, professionalism, caring attitude, approachability, trustworthiness and reliability. All five qualities were rated highly over 75 percent of the time, regardless of whether patients were treated by a doctor with tattoos or piercings. This study led us to propose the question - are visible tattoos simply becoming a norm in the workplace setting?
According to an article published in Science Advances, sociologist Elizabeth Bruch, Ph.D., and Mark Newman, Ph.D., a physics professor, collected DMs received by online daters across four cities to determine level of desirability. On this episode, we discuss trends in online dating, usage of data to identify social patterns and of course - social implications and new knowledge that can come from this!
According to an article published by the Pew Research Center, most people who attend religious services state that they attend church, synagogue or mosque to feel closer to God. Those who don’t attend religious services tend to be younger, more educated and democratic. Moreover, about 37% of survey respondents indicated that they don’t attend religious services, but they practice faith in other ways. On this episode, we explore some of the perceptions and traits of those who are churchgoers, some motivations for attending and why some opt not to go often or at all… as well as social implications, of course.
According to a study by sociologist Andrew Zekeri (Zekeri, 2004), oral communication skills were the number one skill college graduates found useful in the business world. Nonetheless, there are many other surveys out there that confirm that public speaking, and not many other things - including death - is one of people’s biggest fears. An article published by the Washington Post illustrated that fear of public speaking is America's biggest phobia (approximately 25%). Other fears included clowns (7.6%), ghosts (7.3%), and zombies (8.9%). If it is the case that public speaking skills are so invaluable -- why are people so afraid? How can we overcome these fears, to improve this crucial, and scarce, skill?
Contemporarily, many people have perceived polygamy to be something repulsive, sinful, immoral and inappropriate. According to an article published in Psychology Today, there seems to be trends alluding to the opposite - more and more people are being open about having multiple partners. Are we going “backwards” when it comes to the concept of what constitutes romantic relationships? Or, are we becoming more liberal?
According to an article published on the Huffington Post, children who have good relationships with their fathers and feel loved by them, tend to have fewer behavioral problems, and appear to engage in alcohol and drug abuse far less. Conversely, when fathers are less engaged, children are more likely to dropout of school earlier and exhibit behavioral and substance abuse issues. We have noticed that presently, there is a gap in the literature regarding the importance of the relationship between fathers and their sons. On today’s episode, we are joined by Dr. Antonio M. Harrison, founder of Renaissance Behavior LLC, which is an organization that builds, fosters, and nourishes a healthy relationship between fathers and sons.
As of July 1st, Maryland instituted the Online Electioneering and Transparency Act, which requires companies such as Google, Facebook, Twitter and others with at least 100,000 unique monthly users to keep record of online political ads. On this episode, we dive beyond the ethics of online political ads, and discuss the ethics of regulating political ads altogether.
According to a Gallup poll, 8 in 10 Americans report they “frequently” or “sometimes” experience stress in their daily lives, compared to about 21 percent who say they “rarely” or “never” do. It’s no question that stress, has always been prevalent here in America, and that many Americans don’t seek therapy or counseling, be it for personal reasons, because they’re just too busy, or because of social stigma associated with therapy. On today’s episode, we’re joined by virtual counselor, Aida Vazin, licensed therapist who provides therapy online and helps people overcome the stressors of everyday life!
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention reports that nearly 45,000 Americans commit suicide each year. The average rate of suicide in 2015 was 13.26 per 100,000 in the population. In the same year, the states of Montana, Wyoming and Alaska were the top 3 states for suicide attempts, way above the national average, and the state of New Jersey was the state with the least amount of suicides per 100,000 residents. On today's episode, in light of the recent suicides of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain, we wanted to have a conversation about trends, motivations and facts around this public health and social issue, as well as share some ideas on how to prevent or reduce suicide in the population.
According to the U.S. Travel Association, $1.03 trillion in traveler spending generated $2.4 trillion in economic output and supported 15.6 million American jobs. Not only is travel a leisure thing we do after having accumulated sufficient vacation time at work to take a break from reality, but it’s also great in supporting the economy, and we always come back home learning a few life lessons as we transition back to the grind. On this episode, we’ll have a casual conversation about recent and planned vacations, and what we have experienced on our travels!
According to Pew Research Center, about 25% of parents are unmarried, which is vastly different from 1968, where only about 4% of parents were unmarried. Research finds that after one year, about three-in-ten young adults get married, 9% break up the relationship and 62% continue cohabiting. Moreover, among adults aged 25 and older, 23% of males and 17% of females have reported being never married. On this episode, we discuss the overall topic of marriage in society and we try to answer the question - why are more couples cohabiting in lieu of getting married? And, is this a good thing? Or not...
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), about 1 of every 5 adults in the U.S. experience mental illness during any given year. In 1949, Mental Health America started a yearly observation which elevates the importance of addressing mental health, along with media campaigns, events and screenings. On this episode, the team at Ology Research Group wanted to acknowledge the national observance and talk about this relevant topic and its applicability in today’s time.
Historically, the United States has been a beacon of hope, and the symbol of opportunity and the chance for a new life to immigrants. From Pilgrims seeking religious freedom in the 1600s, to those seeking opportunity during the early 19th century, and most recently, those seeking asylum from war and violence-stricken countries. Over the last several months, we have seen acts at our executive level of government, which have been interpreted as anti-immigrant. On this episode, we discuss some of the social implications of the current administration’s actions, including cancellation of Temporary Protective Status, construction of the wall on the southern border and banning visitors from certain countries and religions.
In 2016, a researcher from Columbia University’s Teachers College published a study which discovered that high-school students’ science grades improved after they learned about the struggles of renowned scientists, such as Einstein and Marie Curie, while students who only knew about scientists’ successes, experienced declines in their grades. On this episode, we explore the concepts of goal setting and failures, setbacks and achievements, and how struggling has helped us in our professional and personal endeavors.
With over 1.86 billion monthly active users, Facebook is increasingly expected take on the social responsibilities of managing cyber bullying, censoring hate speech while at the same time ensuring that free speech is protected. As an example, 87% of cyber bullying among teenagers occurs on Facebook, while over 87 million people may have had their data harvested by Cambridge Analytica, which some experts say may have impacted the 2016 Presidential Election. There is also growing distrust among conservatives that Facebook censors their conservative voice on the social platform. Today, we discuss the nature of free speech, corporate responsibility, and the ethical concerns for placing our trust in a corporation to safeguard our constitutional rights.
According to an article found on Cheatsheet.com, there are many reasons why these days, job hunting can be an extremely difficult task. These reasons include extremely long applications, getting a job that doesn’t fit what you’re looking for, personality tests, jobs that don’t really exist, and not hearing back from hiring managers. On this episode, we share some tips on how to make your job search and interviews successful, maximize your chance of being called, and how to save something more precious than money… your time!
According to an article found on NBC News, total student loan debt is close to reaching $1.5 trillion, and is still on the rise as colleges and universities continue increasing tuition over time. These days, earning a college degree may seem like something that is totally out of reach, unless you pull out a ton of loans or get a full ride scholarship as an athlete. On this episode, we are joined by Matthew Einsohn, Co-founder of Free Education University, an organization that teaches current and prospective students and parents how they can get their education paid for, without pulling student loans!
According to the statistics website, Statista, the National UFO Reporting Center recorded 307 UFO sightings in 1990, and a whopping 8,619 in 2014. Moreover, in a 2017 article published on the Huffington Post, a survey conducted reported that nearly half of Americans believe in Aliens! On this episode, we talk about the belief in life outside of planet Earth, UFOs, and aliens. Could there be life on other planets? Or is this all just Sci-Fi and theory?
According to a study conducted by Career Builder in 2008, 41% of employers reported saying that they were more likely to promote employees who wear professional attire. The then vice president of human resources, Rosemary Haefner stated that “how you dress plays an important role in how others perceive you at work and dressing professionally can help you project a motivated and dedicated image”. Given that today, plain t-shirts, beanies and jeans are common workplace attire, is it “fair” to develop perceptions of folks based on attire? Or do employees just need to adapt to these traditional norms?
According to a USA Today article, many large protests in D.C. history included the 500-600k protesters who demonstrated against the Vietnam War in 1969. In 1963, the Jobs and Freedom protest drew about 250,000 people to D.C., where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I have a dream" speech. Most recently, the March for our Lives, which took place on March 24th, 2018, drew a crowd of about 800,000 protesters. On this episode, we reflect on some of the social differences of previous protesters in comparison to today’s, in order to answer the question - what is unique about today’s social movements and its participants?
According to PEW, over the last 50 years, women have improved their position in the labor force, in society and in their economic position. On today’s episode, we discuss some of the progress made by women, where they stand today, according to the latest research, contemporary hindrances to progress, and what the next few decades may look like. All this to answer the question - will there ever be parity between men and women in society?
Religious fundamentalism refers to the belief of an individual or a group of individuals in the absolute authority of a sacred religious text or teachings of a particular religious leader, prophet, and/or God. Over the past several years, we have witnessed stories about extremist groups, whose actions are generally blamed on their religious beliefs. On this episode, we seek to answer the question: what are the elements that cultivates extreme groups? Is religion really to blame? Or are these groups an extension of a failed state system?
Social constructs are defined as a social mechanism, phenomenon, or category created and developed by society; a perception of an individual, group, or idea that is 'constructed' through cultural or social practice. We know that things like race, gender, government and “beauty” are all social constructs. We then got curious… is marriage also a social construct? Or would it happen naturally, without social influences?
StrengthsQuest™ (SQ) is a program that helps people learn what they do best, and then how to build our studies, careers, and lives--capitalizing on those talents. The program focuses on strengths rather than weaknesses and can help individuals benefit personally and professionally. On this episode, we had the pleasure of being joined by Gallup Strengths and Life Coach, Rosann Santos. We talked about the program, motivation, empowerment and how the program can also help you in your professional and academic endeavors.
According to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), our ocean provides our planet with countless benefits, including climate regulation, recreation, food, medicine and of course - the awesome marine life it contains! On today’s episode, we are joined by marine biologist, Allison Santos, to talk about her experiences, the field and to discuss the importance of conservation efforts.
This weekend, the team at Ology Research Group got together for its third annual retreat! On this episode, we reflect on our experiences starting up our non-profit, highlight memorable moments, and share some of our goals for 2018.
A year ago, the team at Ology Research Group recorded an episode about the gun debate, following an shooting at the Fort Lauderdale Airport in south Florida. Today, we come back to the table, following another shooting in south Florida, this time, at a high school. On this episode, we revisit the topic of gun ownership, self-defense and the second amendment. What will it take for us to reduce these instances of innocent lives being lost?
According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Age discrimination involves treating an applicant or employee less favorably because of his or her age. This law was encompassed in the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), which forbids age discrimination against people who are age 40 or older. There are states, however, like the state of New York, added law (N.Y. Exec. Law § 296 (3-a)) to protect workers over the age of 18 from age discrimination. On this episode, we’ll discuss assumptions, biases and strategies employees can take to mitigate the effects of being the youngin’ in the office!
Over the last few years, we have seen several social movements arise, which all deal with relevant, contemporary social issues. On today’s episode, we reflect on some of these modern acts of solidarity, social movements of decades ago, and compare them - all to answer the question: are modern protests effective?
According to a Gallup poll from 2013, 70% of those surveyed either hated their jobs or were completely disengaged! From experiencing issues with superiors or teammates, to lack of purpose-focused work, there are many reasons why people these days may be unhappy with their place of employment. On today’s episode, we present a simple and insightful way of determining, not which job will consider you to be a good fit, but rather, which workplace will be a good fit for you!
According to an article published by CBS news, prenatal screenings have increased significantly in the U.S. and in Europe. Most notably, in Iceland, nearly 100% of mothers whose fetuses tested positive for down syndrome terminated their pregnancies. Utilizing a test they call a Combination Test, mothers can now determine whether or not their babies will have down syndrome. Considering that science will only continue to advance over time, where do we draw the line when it comes to life and ethics? Are we, playing God?
In previous episodes of our show, we have touched on the themes such as happiness, stress, trauma and its broader social implications. On today’s episode, we are accompanied by Greg Prasker, a modern-day shaman, who is dedicated to working with clients who opt to pursue more, alternative, approaches to overcoming traumatic life events and toxic stress by employing a combination of hypnosis, sound healing, energy work, Buddhist mantras and other modalities to help his clients empower themselves to live life on their own terms.
According to the German market research company Statista, some of the most common New Year’s Resolutions for 2018 included eating healthier, exercising more, saving more money, and focusing on self care and wellness. However, as we have learned from New Year’s resolution articles of previous years, most people don’t adhere to their commitments. On today’s episode, we share our resolutions for 2018, why in general, resolutions are so difficult to maintain and what you can do to stay committed!
As many of you who have been following Ology know, Ology Research Group provides organizations with research & evaluation support, survey instrument design, survey implementation, analytics for reports, assessment and grant writing, to allow organizations to continue to serve as effective agents of change, for the betterment of our communities. We also have this pretty cool Podcast, which we have committed to for the past year. On this special episode, we recap some of the highlights, triumphs and challenges of 2017, along with what Ology has in store for 2018!
According to the website Save the Internet, net neutrality is defined as “the internet’s guiding principle: It preserves our right to communicate freely online. Net Neutrality means an internet that enables and protects free speech”. On December 17th, 2017, the FCC approved an order which dismantles the agency’s 2015 Net Neutrality rules, relinquishing authority over internet service providers and clearing the way for potential blocking and discrimination by the US’s largest phone and cable companies. On today’s episode, we come together to answer the question, what does this all mean, and why is net neutrality so important to free speech in the modern world.
Moral values are defined as basic standards of good and evil, which govern people’s behaviors and choices. Individual’s morals may derive from many sources, including society, our families, government, religion, or self. On today’s episode, we came to answer the question - how do our moral values influence decision making?
On this episode, we were joined by Dr. Sara Gorman, author of the book Denying to the Grave: Why We Ignore the Facts That Will Save Us and Co-Founder of Critica, a community committed to making rational decisions about health and security. The team at Ology sought to understand why, despite evidence and the progress the field of medicine has made over the last few centuries, many people still have distrust in medicine and science.
In May of 1796, an English doctor named Edward Jenner administered the world’s first vaccination, which was given as a way of preventing smallpox, a disease which according to the World Health Organization of the United Nations, took over 300 million lives in the 20th century. Following the introduction of vaccinations to the world, a movement arose against the practice - a movement which we still have today, nearly 220 years later. On today’s episode, we discuss the different perspectives towards vaccinations, and justifications for, and against the practice.
Since the 1930s, the 12-step treatment approach to overcoming alcohol addiction has been a standard for recovery, and has also been incorporated by many other groups that help people overcome certain additions. Some of the other addictions where the 12-step treatment approach have been applied to includes: narcotics anonymous, gamblers anonymous, sex addicts anonymous and self-mutilators anonymous. On today’s episode, we discuss our opinions on the efficacy of these and similar programs, along with challenges that have made it a little difficult to study the program’s effectiveness in treating these and other addictions.
According to an article found on Inc.com, being consistent brings many benefits, including facilitating measurement, creating accountability, establishing your reputation, making you relevant, and maintaining your message. On today’s episode, we discuss why consistency (in both your personal and professional life) matters!
Source: https://www.inc.com/eric-v-holtzclaw/consistency-power-success-rules.html
According to Equifax, in 2011, a few researchers from Carnegie Mellon University demonstrated that facial recognition technology could increase our risk for identity theft. Some of the risks cited by Equifax include lack of consent (having photo & data collected without your knowledge), predatory marketing, being at a disadvantage when applying for jobs, stalking, and identity theft. Six years later, we now have mobile devices that can collect and store our credit card information, passport information, and some that can even unlock your cell phone via facial recognition. On today’s episode, we discuss why, despite the risks, people are willing to trust their mobile devices, our experiences using some of these, and what you can do to protect your identity...well, as much as you can these days!
According to a 2014 blog entry published on Psychology Today, Dr. Jefferson Fish defines tolerance as a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, etc., differ from one's own; while acceptance is defined as a person's assent to the reality of a situation, recognizing a process or condition without attempting to change it, protest, or exit. In light of November 16th being UNESCO’s International Day of Tolerance, on today’s episode, we discuss our experiences with tolerance and acceptance, as we seek to answer: which do we have in our society today and which should we strive for?
Source: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/looking-in-the-cultural-mirror/201402/tolerance-acceptance-understanding
According to an article posted on WebMD, hiking, while beautiful and picturesque, also has many benefits when it comes to health. These benefits include: lowering risk of heart disease, improving your blood pressure, and even boosting your mood. On today’s episode, we discuss our experiences enjoying the sights, hiking, why we do it, and how it’s helped!
Over the past few months, we’ve had a chance to read a few books here and there! On today’s episode, we come together to talk about some life lessons learned, from the pages we’ve read to your ears!
On today’s episode as part of our community voices segment, we are joined by Pat Butler. Pat is currently in pursuit of his doctorate in Policy, Planning and Development from USC. He is an Assistant Chief with the Los Angeles Fire Department, where he has worked for 27-years. He has been assigned to both administrative and operational commands within the LAFD. He is also involved with child literacy and mental health services in our communities and serves on the boards of Vision to Learn as well as the San Fernando Valley Mental Health Center.
Hurricane Maria slammed Puerto Rico and devastated the island. Over the last few weeks, we have seen relief efforts unfolding, although, not as expeditiously and politics-free as we would hope for. On today’s episode, we discuss disaster response, Puerto Rico, and concerns regarding the future of the U.S. territory.
We’ve dedicated many episodes to the theme of health care and health care access. On today’s episode, we are joined by John Samuels, CEO and Co-Founder of Better Health Advisors, to discuss health care access, the healthcare industry and how clients are improving health via health advisement.
Times certainly have changed haven't they! On today’s episode, we wanted to take a moment and recall memorable moments growing up in the 90s, and what’s changed between now and then!
Technological advances have made our lives easier, more efficient and connected in unimaginable ways. Nonetheless, there have been many critics of the evolution of modern technology, and some, such as Franklin Foer, author of “World Without Mind” argues that Silicon Valley will lead us to our doom. On today’s episode, we wanted to take a moment and explore the relationship between humans, technology, choice, privacy, and of course, a tech induced doom.
source: http://www.latimes.com/books/la-ca-jc-world-without-mind-20170912-story.html
Walls have been built around the world for the last millennia for many reasons. Some of those reasons include to keep people from coming in, keep people from leaving, to mark boundaries and for military purposes. In Hungary, the country has experienced thousands of migrants from Syria. Then in the U.S., of course, the hot political debate is around the border between it and Mexico. It appears that for every argument against the border wall, there’s also an argument for having them. On today’s episode, we take a step back and look at what folks at both sides of the argument are saying about building, or dismantling, walls that divide us from our neighbors.
According to an article published in the Wall Street Journal, young employees seek purpose, flexibility, collaboration and innovation. Four ways the article suggests we can motivate young employees include: technology flexibility, skill alignment, providing opportunities for innovation and empowered well-being & work-life balance. Given that as generations enter into the workforce with unique challenges, wants and needs, we wanted to take a moment to share experiences and advice, on how to motivate and empower the youngins in the office!
source: http://deloitte.wsj.com/cio/2017/01/10/4-ways-to-empower-millennial-employees/
According to a New York Times article published this month, following the violent protest that erupted in Charlottesville Virginia, statues around the country, which represent eras of the Confederacy have been coming down. From Los Angeles, to Brooklyn, monuments and statues have come down, with many other cities proposing removal of theirs. On today’s episode, we discuss the implications and social significance of the removal of monuments.
According to an article published by the Associated Press in January of 2017, an advocacy group titled Young Invincibles analyzed Federal Reserve data and concluded that millennials have about half the net worth of baby boomers, low rates of home ownership and high levels of student debt. Given that wealth is usually passed down from generation to generation, did Baby Boomers Boom Selfishly? Shouldn’t subsequent generations have been better off?
It’s a phenomenon that boggles the savviest of health and social science researchers - America, with all it’s wealth and global dominance, has some of the worst health care in the developed world. According to TIME magazine, while the US has the most expensive health care system, it ranks lowest in terms of efficiency, equity and outcomes. Despite our position against our global colleagues, across states we’ve got problems too. On today’s episode, we aim to answer the question: Why are some states sicker than others?
According to an article published by Pew Research Institute, in 1999, about 4% of the world’s population was connected to the internet. Today, about 49% are connected, and about 8.4 billion connected “things” are in use worldwide. By “things”, we’re referring to the Internet of Things (IoT), a term used to describe things that are connected to the internet. Is the internet of things slowly consuming us? Or is this a necessary convenience as our society evolves?
According to an article found in The Atlantic titled “When Sex Trafficking Goes Unnoticed in America”, the Department of Homeland Security defines human trafficking as a modern day form of slavery. The International Labor Organization indicated that there’s over 20.9 million human trafficking victims around the world. On this episode, we wanted to discuss this $150 billion industry.