Podcasts by How Do We Fix It?

Gerrymandering: Why It's So Bad For Democracy. Sam Wang from 2022-02-18T11:15:30

Partisan gerrymandering— where one party gains an unfair advantage by redrawing politica...

Regrets Are Good For Us! Daniel Pink from 2022-02-11T11:00:39

Best-selling author Daniel Pink admits he's...

The Other Pandemic: Loneliness. Noreena Hertz from 2022-02-04T11:15:11

Two years of coronavirus have made the growing loneliness crisis even worse— with greater social isolation causing personal pain and mental and physical illnesses.

"Even before the glo...

Reducing Polarization All By Yourself: Kamy Akhavan from 2022-01-28T11:15:14

Across the board— from voter access to questions of  Listen

Liberal Education is Under Assault. Roosevelt Montás from 2022-01-21T11:15

What is the point of an education? Is it to learn skills that will help you get ahead in the workplace, or is it to acquire knowledge and to think more deeply about your place in the world?

I Changed My Mind About Nuclear Power: Zion Lights from 2022-01-14T11:15:16

Earth's global average temperature in 2021 was the sixth warmest on record, according to Listen

National Day of Dialogue. Christy Vines from 2022-01-03T11:15:44

Our first episode of 2022 is all about a constructive response to the calamitous events of one year ago: The January 6th riot at the U.S. Capitol.

On January 5th, a coalition of organi...

Big News. The Stories You Missed in 2021: Jim & Richard from 2021-12-23T11:15:22

The Forever Pandemic, Omicron, Build Back Better, Biden, Putin, China, What's Trump got up his sleeve? The media gave these stories ad nauseum coverage in 2021, often marching in ...

Changing the Way We Vote: Rob Richie from 2021-12-17T11:15:36

Gerrymandering, low turnout elections, negative campaign ads, and increased polarization are all part of the flawed, fractured U.S. political system. Here we examine the case for constructive ch...

Better Policing — Not Posturing: Nekima Levy Armstrong from 2021-12-10T11:15:47

The huge difference between slogans and solutions is a key theme of this episode. While demands to “de-fund the police” or replace entire police departments with something new might sound good i...

Stopping the Next Pandemic. Alina Chan (Part Two) from 2021-12-03T11:15:28

A crucial step in preventing the next global pandemic will be knowing where this one came from. Did SARS-CoV-2— the virus that causes Covid-19— jump from animals to humans, or was the outbreak t...

Did COVID-19 Come From a Lab? Alina Chan (Part One) from 2021-11-24T13:52:06

Two years after the known human case of COVID-19, the mystery of the origin of SARS-CoV-2 remains unresolved.  Did the virus emerge from an animal in nature, or could it have...

Understanding Autism: "We're Not Broken." Eric Garcia from 2021-11-19T11:15:37

"This book is a message from autistic people to their parents, friends, teachers, coworkers and doctors showing what life is like on the spectrum," writes our guest, author Listen

Social Media: Menace or Blessing? Robby Soave from 2021-11-12T11:15:43

Not long ago, most of us embraced social media as a life-changing opportunity to connect with friends and family all across the world. Today, public opinion, including members of ...

Climate: Changing the Conversation. Katharine Hayhoe from 2021-11-05T10:15:41

As world leaders discuss the planet's future at Listen

Together Again. Cultivating Collaboration: Deb Mashek from 2021-10-29T10:15:31

Many millions of Americans are heading back to work — in person — for the first time since the pandemic hit. During this time of remote meetings and working from home, many of us learned ne...

The Furore Over Critical Race Theory: "Banished" Podcast from 2021-10-15T10:15:16

From local school board elections to state legislatures, an impassioned nationwide debate has erupted over allegations that Critical Race Theory (CRT) is being taught in public schools.

The Way Out. Overcoming Polarization. Peter Coleman from 2021-10-08T10:15:04

Never before in living memory has America been as politically polarized as it is today. We are divided by our politics, Listen

Scary Smart. The Future of Artificial Intelligence. Mo Gawdat from 2021-10-01T10:15:12

Imagine a future where smart machines are more intelligent than humans. That future may be coming much faster than we think. The stark implications are considered in this podcast. 

Taming Big Tech. How We Can Reboot. Jeremy Weinstein and Mehran Sahami from 2021-09-24T10:15:59

This episode addresses a great problem of our age: How do we curb the enormous power of giant technology companies and limit the disruption caused by them and their products?

20 y...

Wildlife! When Nature Hits Back: Mary Roach from 2021-09-17T10:30

The line between our “civilized” lives and wild, unpredictable nature seems to have gotten a little thinner lately. Nature is great, but it can also be dangerous if we don’t show proper respect....

9/11 Attacks: Myths, Memories, Conspiracy Theories from 2021-09-10T10:00

"I now believe the 9/11 Truthers I encountered were canaries in the coal mines of American society," writes our co-host, Jim Meigs, in the current issue of Listen

Hey, Journalists. Does the Public Trust You? Joy Mayer from 2021-09-03T10:00:16

Only four in 1...

American Isolationism and the Fall of Afghanistan. Charles Kupchan from 2021-08-27T10:00:33

For much of its history, the United States kept the rest of the world at arm's length. What happened in the decades after the 1941 military strike on Pearl Harbor, and several years after the 9/...

#315 Living Better With COVID: 6 Fixes. Hosts Jim and Richard from 2021-08-06T10:00:37

In this special episode, Richard and Jim have an extended conversation around six solutions to help us manage the pandemic more successfully, and improve responses to future public health e...

Reading is Vital for Democracy: Joseph Luzzi from 2021-07-29T20:39

America is facing a reading crisis, and this has profound impacts on how we engage with the world. The number of adults who read books for pleasure Listen

Fix More, Waste Less. Right to Repair. Sandra Goldmark from 2021-07-23T10:00

Our relationship with our stuff is broken. What was once fixed is often tossed into landfills. Repairs today are more expensive than the prices of many new clothes, gadgets, and h...

Defending The Constitution of Knowledge: Jonathan Rauch from 2021-07-16T10:00

Democracies around the world are under threat from populist movements, demagogues, and dogmatic extremists who use disinformation, conspiracy theories, shaming, cancel culture, and other tactics...

Delta Variant & Vaccine Hesitancy: Dr. Wrenetha Julion from 2021-07-09T10:15

The spread of the Delta Variant is a Listen

Heat, Drought, Fires : Alastair Gee and Dani Anguiano from 2021-06-25T12:26:21

Much of the West has just lived through one of the Listen

Free The Children. Lenore Skenazy from 2021-06-18T10:00

"Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone" was a 2008 ...

America Talks #ListenFirst. Kristin Hansen and Zoë Jenkins from 2021-06-09T10:00

America's remarkable experiment in a pluralist democracy is under threat from Listen

Frontlines of Peace. Séverine Autesserre from 2021-06-04T10:15:27

The word “peacebuilding” evokes a story we’ve all heard over and over: Violence breaks out, foreign nations react, peacekeepers and million-dollar donors come rushing in, warring parties si...

Tough Lessons From Economics. Veronique de Rugy from 2021-05-28T10:15

"We should be humble all the time," says Veronique de Rugy of her study of e...

Ancient Wisdom for Modern Times. Eric Weiner from 2021-05-21T10:00

It's tempting to believe that our current moment is the most urgent of all. Yet despite the catastrophic pandemic, and threats from other urgent problems, humankind has faced worse cal...

Bridging the Rural-Urban Divide. Ashley Ahearn from 2021-05-14T10:00:34

She lived in Seattle and covered science, climate change, and the environment for NPR for more than a decade. Most of her friends and colleagues were liberals or progressives. Then in 2018, jour...

Framing is Fundamental. Francis de Véricourt and Kenneth Cukier from 2021-05-07T10:00

Too often in our fierce and narrow political debates, we suffer from a poverty of imagination. Seeing a crisis through a narrow lens of "us versus them" is a barrier to creative solutions and vi...

Promoting Diversity, Defending Free Speech. Amna Khalid from 2021-04-30T10:00

In the months after George Floyd’s murder, colleges, universities, non-profits, and large corporations across the country Listen

Good Conflict vs. High Conflict. Amanda Ripley from 2021-04-23T10:00

What’s the greatest crisis facing America today? — Racism and hate crimes, exploding government debt, climate change, or the mess at the border?

It may be none of these. 

Am...

Six years. Six guests. 300 episodes from 2021-04-16T10:00

We’ve made it to our 300th weekly episode! While it’s easy to congratulate ourselves for being among the few podcasts to produce this many shows, Jim and Richard are&nbs...

Fighting Hate and Self-Loathing With Love: Chloé Valdary from 2021-04-09T10:15

Recent mass shootings and the Listen

Infrastructure. How To Pay For It: Maya MacGuineas from 2021-04-02T10:15

Stifle that yawn. Infrastructure just got exciting again.

President Biden Listen

Fixing The Grid: Our Relationship With Electricity. Gretchen Bakke from 2021-03-26T10:15

Our lives depend on it and most of us don't give it a moment's thought. But when the electricity goes off we feel frustrated— powerless.

America's grid was an engineering triumph&...

Nobody's Normal. Rethinking Mental Illness: Richard Grinker from 2021-03-19T15:53:45

Our obsession with what is normal and acceptable is at the heart of how we view mental health. It is also the source of stigma around many forms of mental illness. 

In this p...

Social Media. Revolution and Reform. Sinan Aral from 2021-03-12T11:00

When social media burst on the scene, many of us were in awe of its great potential. For the first ten years of Facebook, public reaction to this new form of communication was overwhelmingly pos...

Liftoff: How SpaceX Could Save NASA. Eric Berger from 2021-03-05T11:00

Elon Musk is an entrepreneur and out-of-this-world thinker, who has shaken up two vital indus...

Understanding Us: We The People. Frank Luntz and Ethan Porter from 2021-02-26T11:00

The January assault on the U.S. Capitol and the depth of toxic partisanship lead us to question our past assumptions about the American electorate and its relationship with the government.

Why We Need Nuance: Meghan Daum from 2021-02-19T11:00

Even before the alarming and violent January 6 assault on the Capito...

COVID Vaccine Hesitancy: Dr. Wrenetha Julion from 2021-02-12T11:00

More than 10% of the U.S. population Listen

Will Gen Z Save the GOP? Danielle Butcher and John Olds from 2021-02-05T11:00

After the recent storming of the US Capitol and the loss of both the White House and U.S. Senate, it's tempting to believe that civil war will break out among Republicans— a party deeply split b...

The Loneliness Pandemic. Noreena Hertz from 2021-01-29T11:00

Even before coronavirus led to social distancing, widespread working from home, and lockdown restrictions, loneliness was becoming a defining condition of the twenty-first century. Today, this p...

Free Speech in an Era of Conflict: Nadine Strossen from 2021-01-22T11:15

We are in a stunning moment for our country. A hoard of rioters invaded our nation’s seat of government to try to overturn an election. Many of them appear to have been motivated by false and in...

Why Many Latinos Vote Republican: Geraldo Cadava from 2021-01-15T11:00

Just before the 2020 election, pundits predicted that Latino Americans would overwhelmingly vote for Joe Biden. And it’s true—Latino voters do tilt Democratic. But Donald Trump won a greater sha...

Chaos at the Capitol: What Next? Lee Drutman from 2021-01-08T19:36:45

The storming of the U.S. Capitol building by an angry mob of Trump supporters was a dark day in American history and a shock to people around the world. Images of looting and anarchy in the prou...

2020 Year-End Show: What We Learned About COVID from 2020-12-24T11:00

At the start of 2020, the world first became aware of COVID-19. This show looks at what we have learned about the global pandemic since then. 

In early February, Richard spoke fac...

Net-Zero America by 2050: Jesse Jenkins and Eric Larson from 2020-12-18T11:15

In his ambitious climate plan, President-elect Biden Listen

Mothers, Families and COVID - Erica Komisar from 2020-12-11T11:15

Despite the tragedy, suffering and economic losses of COVID, there are silver linings for many families in the current crisis. Recent lockdowns have Listen

Breakthroughs in Science & Space: Neil deGrasse Tyson from 2020-12-04T11:15

We live in a remarkable time for science. Vaccines to fight COVID-19 have been developed with surprising speed and are reported to be more than 90% effective against the virus. 

...

The Case for AllSides: John Gable, Samantha Shireman from 2020-11-20T11:15:40

More than ever, we need to fight fake news and misinformation by getting out of our filter bubbles. A bitterly contested election at a time of political paralysis and partisan bickering makes th...

Problem Solvers in Congress: Abigail Spanberger (D) Brian Fitzpatrick (R) from 2020-11-13T11:15

In the days since the 2020 election, political distrust and anxiety have only deepened. But divided government and very narrow majorities for both parties in Congress might present&nbs...

Our Election 2020 Lessons. Jim and Richard from 2020-11-06T11:15

Days after the historic 2020 election, final results are still coming in. But some lessons of the vote are becoming clear. On this episode, our hosts, Richard and Jim, discuss the five less...

Record High Voter Turnout? Seth Flaxman from 2020-10-30T10:15

One of the biggest surprises of the 2020 election may turn out to be turnout. Traditionally, a smaller percentage of American voters participate in elections than in many other democracies aroun...

Covid Pandemic: America's Wake Up Call. Adrian Wooldridge from 2020-10-23T10:15

If the Covid pandemic has taught us anything, it is that the government's response to a global health emergency can mean the difference between living and dying.

America's woeful perfo...

Four Threats: American Democracy in Crisis: Suzanne Mettler from 2020-10-16T10:15

More than half of American voters expect to see a rise in violence after election day, Listen

Why Voting Isn't Enough. CivicLex: Richard Young, Megan Gulla from 2020-10-09T10:15

How do you get supporters of Donald Trump and Joe Biden in the same room at the same time working together on something political? It sounds almost impossible, but even at a time of hyper-partis...

Advice to my Younger Self: Bruce Van Dusen from 2020-10-02T10:15

How does your career stay on track at a time of very high unemployment, great technological change and enormous uncertainty? We explore these questions and much more with one of the advertising ...

Loving Yourself and Humanity: Chloé Valdary from 2020-09-25T10:15

Anger, fear and loathing cut across our deeply divided, hyper-partisan political divide. From The White House and the streets of cities, to furious posts on social media, many of us objecti...

Fires In The West: Alastair Gee and Dani Anguiano from 2020-09-18T09:00

Massive wildfires in the west have burned through more than five million acres, forced tens of thousands of people from their homes, and spread smoke and air pollution across many states.&n...

Radical Health for Pregnant Women: Ivelyse Andino from 2020-09-11T09:00

“Tech For The Public Good” is supported by a grant from Solutions Journalism Network.

  Listen

COVID Pandemic. How Philosophy Can Help: Eric Weiner from 2020-09-04T10:15

Fears about COVID-19 can take an emotional toll, leading to a growing sense of worry and panic. We ask: How can philosophy help us cope with adversity in a pandemic?

We go in purs...

Renewing Work in America: Oren Cass from 2020-08-28T10:15

The American worker is in crisis and faces a very uncertain future. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a deep recession and millions of layoffs. 

Even before coronavirus— despite a...

It's So Hard To Change Our Minds: Eleanor Gordon-Smith from 2020-08-21T10:15:09

Most people reject facts that cause them discomfort or don't line up with their view of the world. All too often emotion, not reason, informs our beliefs. Despite social media claims that #facts...

America’s Voting Crisis. Charles Stewart, David Litt from 2020-08-14T09:00

Joe Biden's selection of Kamala Harris to be his vice-presidential running mate is a reminder that the fall election season is about to start in earnest.

In this episode, we discuss so...

Lessons From a Thousand Towns: Singer-Songwriter Dar Williams from 2020-08-07T09:00

At a time of social distancing, limited travel and other restrictions to protect public health, we get a nostalgic reminder of the joy of journeys, and infinite variety of America's small cities...

Climate Alarm: Bad for the Environment? Michael Shellenberger from 2020-07-31T09:00

Climate change is real, but it's not the end of the world, says our guest, science writer, Listen

Refugees and Migrants: Tolu Olubunmi, Leonard Doyle, Ahmed Badr from 2020-07-24T09:00

One of the many impacts of COVID-19 is a sharp decline in travel. In many parts of the world, the virus led to a temporary hold on one of the greatest trends of the modern age: the mass movement...

The Problem With Cancel Culture: Megan McArdle from 2020-07-17T14:30:57

We’ve all canceled something. Whether it’s a subscription, a vacation, or a date, cancelling or erasing a person? It seems so brutal. So unforgiving and final.

It’s no surprise that ca...

Democracy Reform: Voters Not Politicians. Katie Fahey from 2020-07-10T09:00:43

Gerrymandering, the partisan process of redrawing political maps to favor one political party over the opposition, is often used unfairly to take power away from many voters. 

Generation Z. The Future of U.S. Democracy: Civics Unplugged from 2020-07-03T15:27:58

America's four most powerful political leaders--President Trump, former Vice President Joe Biden, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell-- are all in their mid-to-l...

The World's Best Healthcare Systems: Ezekiel Emanuel from 2020-06-26T13:15:16

The U.S. spends far more money on healthcare than any other nation, but has the most Listen

How Innovation Works and Why It Matters. Matt Ridley from 2020-06-19T09:00:21

"The Covid-19 pandemic reveals that far from living in an age of incessant technological change, we have been neglecting innovation in exactly the areas where we most need it." So writes our pod...

Racism, Protests, Police Reform: Coleman Hughes from 2020-06-12T09:00

The massive wave of protests in hundreds of towns and cities across America and in many other countries were sparked by outrage, pain and grief over the killing of George Floyd, and countle...

Special episode: Racial Injustice: KKKrossing The Divide. Daryl Davis from 2020-06-05T09:00

The nation is again facing the deep pai...

The Long Fix. Solutions for Healthcare: Dr. Vivian Lee from 2020-05-29T09:00

The coronavirus crisis has reminded everyone that major reforms are needed to fix the flaws of the U.S. healthcare system. Beyond the huge expense and vast amount of waste, the quality of c...

How Science Shapes Us. Ainissa Ramirez from 2020-05-21T22:11:11

We look at scientists who learned to manipulate common materials such as steel, glass and silicon, and how their inventions shaped the human experience. 

Our guest is scienti...

COVID Surprise: 7 Unexpected Changes. Jim and Richard from 2020-05-15T01:38:53

The Coronavirus pandemic is the 21st century's biggest crisis to date: Worse than either 9/11 or the great recession. Jim and Richard discuss seven surprising things that we didn't know whe...

Democracy Group Special Episode. Democracy Reform from 2020-05-08T22:58:59

How will the COVID-19 pandemic change our democracy? Will we become more less divided? We discuss the challenges and opportunities of the current crisis with four podcasters who are all our...

Covid Crisis: Your Money Matters. Beverly Harzog from 2020-04-30T23:37:15

Tens of millions of Americans have filed for unemployment...

How To Be a Moral Rebel: Catherine Sanderson from 2020-04-24T00:14:16

Much of what we took for granted, including daily routines, have been upended during the coronavirus pandemic. At a time when many have new questions about our personal values, traditions and li...

Coronavirus: Learning From Taiwan. Samson Ellis from 2020-04-16T21:01:39

Everybody is asking, how did the U.S. and most other nations get the coronavirus pandemic so wrong? Listen

Lessons From a Natural Disaster: Jon Mooallem from 2020-04-10T18:02:05

The great Alaskan earthquake<...

Moving Beyond Fear. Turning Outward. Rich Harwood from 2020-04-02T21:01:34

The coronavirus pandemic has lead many to fear, panic, anger, profound loneliness and isolation. Realizing that we are all in this crisis together, how can we cope in a more hopeful and creative...

The Future Always Surprises Us: Mark Earls from 2020-03-27T18:10:18

Why did the U.S. and most other nations around the world do such a poor job of preparing for and reacting to the global COVID-19 pandemic? After all, we had earlier outbreaks, from HIV-AIDS to S...

Coronavirus: Loving Relationships - Susan Page from 2020-03-20T01:29:53

Coronavirus has changed all of our lives. We are in the middle of a massive social experiment. This show is first in a series of episodes that will attempt to make sense of the massive psycholog...

Plastic Bag Bans: Bad for the Environment? John Tierney from 2020-03-12T21:13:32

Bans on plastic bags and straws and expensive campaigns to recycle plastic waste are Listen

We Need Trust More Than Ever: Jerry Michalski from 2020-03-05T23:13:22

The rapid spread of the coronavirus COVID-19 is a reminder of the vital need for truthful information, co-operation and kindness. Rumors, hype and fear can make a growing crisis much w...

Sanders and Socialism: Emily Chamlee-Wright from 2020-02-27T23:19:42

Bernie Sanders is the early frontrunner for the Democratic Presidential nomination. In this episode with economist Emily Chamlee-Wright, we look at why support for socialism is on the rise, and ...

How to Open Your Mind: Jerry Taylor from 2020-02-20T23:25:51

It's rare to meet someone who has re-thought some of his deepest convictions. In this episode, we go on a journey with one of America's leading public intellectuals, Listen

Boosting Voter Turnout: Seth Flaxman from 2020-02-14T01:21:35

Voter turnout is much lower in the U.S. than in many other democracies around the world. In this episode, we look at an innovative initiative to use the internet to boost the number of voters in...

Coronavirus: What We Need to Know. Kylie Carville from 2020-02-06T22:46:13

With tens of thousands of cases, hundreds of deaths, and no known cure, the Listen

The Two-Party Doom Loop - Lee Drutman from 2020-01-30T21:13:49

The Iowa caucuses and forthcoming Presidential primary season are another reminder that the two big parties have a stranglehold on American politics.

But it doesn’t have to be this way...

Detroit. Bankruptcy and Broken Promises: Jodie Adams Kirshner from 2020-01-23T23:24:58

When Detroit went bust in 2013 it was the largest municipal bankruptcy filing in American history. During the Motor City's fifty years of decline, population fell from nearly 2 million people to...

Want Consensus? Try Convergence: Rob Fersh from 2020-01-16T23:23:08

All too often news headlines and social media are dominated by disasters, wrongdoing and fear mongering: All the stuff that’s going wrong. 

How can we nurture the positive side of...

Iran After Suleimani: 7 Ways to View The Crisis from 2020-01-09T19:44:43

The U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian general Qassem Suleimani sparked immediate fears of war. The risks of a disastrous miscalculation are obvious, from goading Iran into speeding up its nu...

2020: Celebrating Collaborations and Sharing from 2019-12-26T21:16:05

If independent podcasts are to prosper and survive in this era of growing commercialization, big media, and multi-million dollar podcast investments, we need to grow our community: Share, collab...

Two Threats to Democracy: Conspiracies & China from 2019-12-19T23:05:09

Liberal democracy, free speech and freedom of the press are under attack in many parts of the world. Two of the most insidious threats are from conspiracy theories and the growing global reach o...

How to Fight Anti-Semitism" Bari Weiss from 2019-12-11T21:34:49

Anti-semitism is on the rise in the U.S. and other parts of the world. Jews are the targets. Democracy and free speech are also among the casualties. 

6 people died this week...

How Technology Could Save the Environment: Ted Nordhaus from 2019-12-06T00:48:31

Many environmentalists believe that the world needs to use less energy, end the focus on economic growth, and return to a simpler lifestyle. The Breakthrough Institute argues the oppos...

The Power of Play: Lucy Crehan, Tamara Mose from 2019-11-28T03:13:28

Many of us are spending much of the Thanksgiving holiday with the children we love. In this episode we consider vital role of play, and what it does to expand a child's creativity and resilience...

Radical Health. Ivelyse Andino from 2019-11-22T00:38:14

Published: November 21st, 2019

“Tech For The Public Good” is supported by a grant from Solutions Jo...

Civility Won't Save America: Reed Galen from 2019-11-15T03:40:22

30 years ago this month the Berlin Wall came down, and Richard was there, reporting the story for ABC News. In those heady days of November, 1989, there was tremendous hope for the future of lib...

How We Really Change Our Minds - Eleanor Gordon-Smith from 2019-11-07T23:36:14

With today's furious political and cultural divisions, it's easy to shake our heads in exasperation at those who disagree with us. 

In this episode with Australian writer and phil...

Understanding Brexit: Jill Rutter from 2019-10-31T21:28:03

Confused by Brexit? This episode looks back over the last 40 months since the shocking result of the Listen

Fixing Government and Democracy: David Meyers from 2019-10-25T04:25:51

American democracy is in a moment of crisis. A new Gallup poll, ...

Celebrating Nuance: Meghan Daum from 2019-10-18T01:12:20

Modern thought has been damaged by dogma and tribalistic click-bait. Social media and the fractured state of politics reward slick slogans and partisan anger while penalizing those who speak wit...

"Listen First & Democracy" Pearce Godwin from 2019-10-10T20:59:41

American democracy is in crisis, with a coarsening of our national conversation and an erosion of public trust that threatens the guardrails of self-government. Many citizens feel dislocated, di...

We Need Better Leaders! Davia Temin & Stephen Miles from 2019-10-03T21:20:52

The furore over the decision by House Democrats to launch a formal impeachment investigation into President Trump will be the subject of heated debate for many months. In this episode ...

Dementia: Memory and Forgetting: Nicci Gerrard from 2019-09-27T14:31:57

Dementia provokes profound moral questions about our society and the meaning of life itself. How much are we connected to one another? In what ways are we distant and separated? What does it mea...

Immigration Facts -- Not Emotion. Andrew Selee from 2019-09-20T01:02:44

With harsh rhetoric from President Trump, who wants strict new limits on refugees, asylum seekers and some other forms of immigration, to calls by several Democratic Presidential candidates to d...

Kids Aren't Fragile! Lenore Skenazy from 2019-09-12T22:43:02

Kids are smart, strong, and at least as capable as their parents were at their age. So, when the crime rate is at a  Listen

The Threat From China: Elizabeth Economy from 2019-08-29T22:45:09

A trade war with China is a growing threat to U.S. influence and the global economy. What began more than a year ago with President Trump’s decision to impose tariffs has become an unpleasant&nb...

Rising Risks of Recession: Diana Henriques from 2019-08-22T22:51:10

Is the U.S. economy about to fall off a cliff? Declining growth, financial market jitters, and a growing rift between the U.S. and China are all fueling Listen

The Case for Trust - Jerry Michalski from 2019-08-15T21:54:38

We live in a time of suspicion and mistrust. What is this costing all of us in lost productivity, creativity and shared humanity? Isn't there a better way to design our organizations and systems...

Mass Shootings: After El Paso & Dayton from 2019-08-09T04:22:38

Most of America's deadliest mass killings have happened within the last ten years. The deaths of more than 30 people in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, have led to renewed demands for federal ...

Rebuilding The Social Contract: Debilyn Molineaux from 2019-08-01T21:50:28

Our democracy has become a punching bag. From Russian hacking and hate-filled tweets, to demands for impeachment and increasingly nasty political infighting, our public conversation is increasin...

Disaster for Democrats? Daniel Akst from 2019-07-26T10:53:08

President Trump's tweets that four minority Democratic congresswomen should “Listen

Technology for Public Good: Micah Sifry from 2019-07-12T02:29:07

Social media is under fire for how it threatens our society, our politics, even our mental health.

Facebook, Google, Twitter and other tech giants are criticized for spying on us and u...

Character, Soul & the University: David Brooks from 2019-07-01T22:03:57

Colleges and universities can play a virtual role in the moral, intellectual and spiritual development of a student’s life. But there is a growing mismatch between the culture of many campuses, ...

Catholic Church Sex Abuse Crisis: Maggi Van Dorn from 2019-06-20T22:34:37

Will the Catholic Church's sexual abuse crisis ever end? Nearly 18 years since the Listen

Dignity & Respect in Back Row America: Chris Arnade from 2019-06-13T22:46:53

A lot of politicians like to say that there are “two Americas,” but do any of them know what life is really like for the marginalized poor?

We speak with journalist and photographer,&n...

What's Wrong With Social Media: Glenn Reynolds from 2019-06-06T20:25:18

"Twitter is like the crystal meth of social media," says our guest, University of Tennessee Law Professor, Glenn Reyno...

Climate Change Politics: Bob Inglis from 2019-05-31T14:54:46

Climate change has never been a leading issue in a Presidential election campaign-- until now. ...

Taking Socialism Seriously: Emily Chamlee-Wright from 2019-05-24T00:31:07

Support for socialism is surprisingly strong, especially among young Americans, ages 18-29. According to Listen

Human Rights Emergency: Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein from 2019-05-17T04:46:34

Human rights have rarely been at greater risk. President Trump and other world leaders are conspicuously silent about torture, the suppression of press freedom and threats to democracy. For the ...

Artificial Intelligence Threatens Democracy: Steve Feldstein from 2019-05-09T22:26:24

Is modern technology a force for good or evil? In many countries, digital repression, often powered by artificial intelligence, is a direct threat to freedom and the relationship between citizen...

Country Over Party: Nick Troiano from 2019-05-02T23:35:53

Angry rhetoric, narrow partisanship, and leaders who appeal only to their base are all reasons why American politics is in urgent need of reform.

By Listen

Risk: An Economist Walks Into a Brothel. Allison Schrager from 2019-04-25T20:43:47

From dating to switching jobs and managing retirement. We all manage risk. Want to get better at it?

The best way to learn is to ask some of the real experts: Magicians, gamblers, big-...

You Are What You Read - Jodie Jackson from 2019-04-18T23:09:59

Are you depressed when you read the news? The media's rampant negativity, with a daily emphasis on outrage and crisis, is a form of mental pollution that misinforms the public, harms democracy, ...

Having Better Conversations from 2019-04-11T18:58:31

At a time of information overload, social media silos and political paralysis, how can all of us be better communicators? In this 200th episode, Richard and Jim share lessons they've learned abo...

"The Wall" Climate Change & Migration: John Lanchester from 2019-04-04T22:31:46

Novelist and journalist John Lanchester's new book "The Wall", imagines a world dealing with catastrophic climate change. Fear of rising sea levels and desperate migrants fleeing from uninh...

Changing a Culture of Contempt: Arthur Brooks-2 from 2019-03-29T21:32:56

Isolation and loneliness have reached epidemic levels, resulting...

Love Your Enemies - Arthur Brooks - 1 from 2019-03-21T20:03:05

This podcast is an urgent, radical, yet practical response to the crisis of political polarization that is tearing America apart. Instead of mere tolerance and civility, we discuss how and why w...

Roundup: Pesticides and Health. Carey Gillam from 2019-03-15T01:18:44

Monsanto's controversial Roundup herbicide is the world's top-selling weed killer....

The Green New Deal Unpacked: Megan McArdle from 2019-03-07T23:13:54

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez didn't waste any time getting started in Congress. The first-term Democrat boldly proposed The Green New Deal, one of the most ambitious policy propo...

New Thinking on Migration: Tolu Olubumni from 2019-02-28T22:47:30

Migration is an emotional, super-charged issue, sparking fierce debates, angry protests and influencing election results around the world. From President Trump's demand for a border wall to...

Green New Nuclear Deal: Jim Meigs from 2019-02-21T21:57

The climate change debate is heating up. Record numbers of peopl...

Work Versus College: Oren Cass from 2019-02-15T18:56:12

The American worker is in crisis. Wages have stagnated for several decades. Despite nearly a decade of continuous economic growth and falling unemployment (as defined by official statistics), th...

Getting off Facebook: Wade Roush from 2019-02-07T23:31:30

Life as a teenager is proving traumatic for Facebook. The social media juggernaut turned 15 Listen

Our Journalism Crisis: A Conversation from 2019-01-31T23:34:53

The public's faith in journalism is at the lowest point in living memory. A recent Gallup poll for the Listen

Our Government Crisis: Philip K. HowardUntitled Episode from 2019-01-25T00:07:34

The longest-ever federal government shutdown and the flawed Presidency of Donald Trump are symptoms of something far deeper: Dysfunction in Washington.

In this episode, Listen

A Cure for Massive Violence: Rachel Kleinfeld from 2019-01-17T22:46:03

The terrible bloodshed in Syria, Yemen, and other countries at war capture global headlines. But the vast majority of killings in countries around the world are neither the result of warfare nor...

The Fight to End Gerrymandering: Katie Fahey from 2019-01-10T22:40:22

With a simple Facebook post saying that she wanted to end partisan gerrymandering, Katie Fahey sparked the begin...

8 For ‘18. The Year’s Big Lessons from 2018-12-28T21:17:47

In a year of crazy politics, disdain for the views of experts, and deep partisan divisions, we look beyond anger and fear stoked by cable TV, talk radio and social media to learn eight deeper le...

The Power of Reading: Professor Joesph Luzzi from 2018-12-21T16:46:25

America is facing a reading crisis. According to a government survey the number of adults who read for pleasure has fallen by mor...

China: The Challenge & Threat: Elizabeth Economy from 2018-12-13T20:15:48

The high stakes show-down between the U.S. and China on tariffs, trade and cyber security threatens to disrupt the global economy. 

Listen

Our Many Perception Gaps: Sam Laine Perfas from 2018-12-07T20:35:14

What you think is true doesn't necessarily line up with reality. From the heated debate over gun violence deaths to our views about violent crime and global poverty, many of us have serious perc...

Has The Opioid Crisis Peaked? Sam Quinones from 2018-11-28T17:02:46

The opioid and heroin epidemic has caused massive destruction suffering and pain. 

After rising for many decades, America’s life expectancy rate has dropped for the past two years...

AI Will Change All of US: Kai-Fu Lee from 2018-11-23T22:51:03

Artificial intelligence will lead to sweeping changes in our society, economy and relationship with work. China has suddenly caught up with The United States and will exercise much greater techn...

Thanks a Thousand. Gratitude: A.J. Jacobs from 2018-11-15T23:14:18

Just in time for Thanksgiving, we speak with best-selling author and "immersive journalist" A.J. Jacobs about his extraordinar...

Election Special: Our Take from 2018-11-08T20:58:15

What are the most inspiring, exasperating, unique, important, and first-in-our-lifetime results from the Midterm Elections? In this special edition, Jim and Richard give their Quick Fixes take o...

Title: Bridging Divide. ReCity. Durham, North Carolina from 2018-11-01T23:36:27

How can America recover from hatred, distrust and resentment that have lead to Listen

Bridging Divide Renewing Democracy: Minnesota from 2018-10-26T01:03:22

Polarization is tearing us apart. Bullying and bluster are two of the most common ingredients in American democracy.

How can we renew democracy and restore the sort of trust that is es...

Bridging Divide: Iowa Civility Workshop from 2018-10-18T22:15:52

American democracy is in crisis and politics have become weaponized with name calling and personal attacks. Trust in national institutions and the media is at an Listen

Bridging Divide. Renewing Democracy: Carolyn Lukensmeyer from 2018-10-11T22:59:03

Never before in living memory has America been so deeply divided, and this paralysis threatens to weaken and corrode democracy. Ideological silos have become much more common among both conserva...

Lessons from Reagan: Bob Spitz from 2018-10-04T21:55:07

At a time of fractured politics and failed leadership, what lessons can be learned from Ronald Reagan-- one of the most significant presidents in our history?

Considered a dangerous ou...

Fighting Back Against Fake News: Steven Brill from 2018-09-27T22:12:29

A recent poll finds that two-thirds of Americans often or occasionally g...

Identity Politics: Dignity and Resentment. Francis Fukuyama from 2018-09-20T21:02

Are identity politics ruining democracy? National and global institutions are in a state of decay, and identity fuels much of today's debates in America and across the world. 

On ...

Collaboration Beats Competition: Paul Skinner from 2018-09-14T05:09:37

In recent decades, business strategy has been built on the idea that we must compete to win.

But what if the competitive model of business is now broken? In today’s interconnected...

The Codding of the American Mind: Jonathan Haidt from 2018-09-04T20:45:48

At the recent funeral for Republican Senator John McCain, former Presidents and leaders of both parties paid tribute to his belief that America "is a nation of ideals, not blood and soil." ...

Astrophysics For People In a Hurry: Neil deGrasse from 2018-09-02T21:10:17

Tyson talks about the possibility of intelligent life on other planets, tackles science deniers on the right and left, and explains why we should invest more in pure science. Tyson also discusse...

The Case for Space Travel: Neil deGrasse Tyson from 2018-08-30T19:01:25

Neil deGrasse Tyson, America’s most prominent spokesman for science and Director of New York City’s Listen

Soaring Suicide Rates: Dr. Richard Friedman from 2018-08-23T21:16:11

The national suicide rate rose 28% from 1999 to 2016, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2016, alone, 45,000 people took their own lives.

This year's suici...

Populism: Bigger Than Trump? Salena Zito from 2018-08-13T00:11:21

Was Donald Trump's election a one-off event, or did it represent a fundamental realignment of American politics?

Washington-based political experts wrongly called the 2016 election, an...

Can Podcasting Save The Planet? from 2018-08-02T21:32:29

From ancient times to the present day, women and men have brought meaning to their lives through storytelling.

Before the invention of the printing press, ancient societies passed on t...

The Fight For Free Expression: Deb Mashek from 2018-07-26T19:42:54

Free speech on campus is under assault at many colleges and universities. From Listen

The High Cost of America First: James Bacchus from 2018-07-19T22:31:52

President Trump has withdrawn from international agreements, criticized NATO, The European Union, and attacked the policies of Canada, Mexico, Britain, France and Germany-- all traditional allie...

The Fall and Rise of Small Towns: Dar Williams from 2018-07-13T00:16

America's landscape of towns and cities is ever-changing. Countless Main Streets and small downtowns were eviscerated by big box stores, globalization, online commerce and poor planning.

The Good News About Drones: Mehdi Salehi from 2018-06-28T22:57:49

Do a Google search of drones, and scary headlines pop up instantly. "Listen

Blockchain: The Next Big Thing? Dan Patterson from 2018-06-21T21:49:57

A trade war with China has dangerous implications for the global economy. What began more than a year ago with President Trump’s decision to impose tariffs has become an unpleasant  Listen

Our Towns. Solutions & Reinvention. James Fallows - Part 2 from 2018-06-14T18:07:16

Despite bitter partisanship and political paralysis in Washington, local democracy is alive in well in many towns and cities across the country.

That's the surprising finding in "Our T...

Our Towns. Solutions & Reinvention: James Fallows from 2018-06-07T22:43:29

Congress sank to a dismal 10% approval rating in a new poll. Most A...

The Next Debt Crisis: Maya MacGuineas from 2018-05-31T22:00:14

"The debt will be as large as our entire economy by the end of the decade", says Maya MacGuineas, President of th...

The Great Environmental Debate: Charles C. Mann from 2018-05-24T21:43:31

Far too often, politics and policy are portrayed as a battle between liberals and conservatives, or socialists vs. capitalists. 

But one of the most profound divides of modern tim...

Fighting Gang Violence: Jonathan Green from 2018-05-17T21:47:35

From the streets of Chicago and Los Angeles, to indictments this month targeting criminal networks in Listen

A Solution for Israelis & Palestinians? Dahlia Scheindlin from 2018-05-10T21:58:19

President Trump's rejection of the Iran nuclear agreement and Israeli military ...

Stopping Sexual Harassment from 2018-05-03T19:53:25

The growing #MeToo movement has exposed many cases of sexual harassment and retaliation in the workplace.

Among the latest examples is an upheaval at Nike. Female employees, fed up wit...

Microtrends = Big Changes: Mark Penn from 2018-04-26T22:33:08

When we focus on the future, we usually look at the big things: Will the current crisis with North Korea be resolved peacefully? Is President Trump likely to face a big setback in the midterm el...

The New Movement to Restore Civility from 2018-04-19T22:27:22

The National Week of Conversation is a bold attempt to reduce the yawning gap between Republicans and Democrats.&n...

Fixing Capitalism: Luigi Zingales from 2018-04-12T19:34:33

From internet giants Facebook, Amazon and Google to telecom titans AT&T, Verizon and Comcast, American capitalism is increasingly dominated by huge and politically well-connected business be...

The World Is Getting Better: Gregg Easterbrook from 2018-04-05T15:29:44

The facts are hard to deny. We live longer, infant mortality continues to fall, we are richer, less subject to violence-- and despite uneven progress, the world is more democratic than it was 50...

America's Leadership Crisis: Davia Temin from 2018-03-29T22:27:05

With turmoil and never-ending drama in the White House, and Listen

Google is Forever. No Second Chances: Brian Hamilton from 2018-03-22T23:31:24

Whether it's Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, or Google; internet platforms are a huge force in our daily lives. The recent scandal over the Steven Bannon-affiliated Cambridge Analytica is the most re...

Making Luck Happen: Janice Kaplan from 2018-03-15T21:27:40

What do Mark Zuckerberg, hockey great Wayne Gretzky, and best-selling novelist Lee Child all have in common? They all worked to make luck happen for them.

In this episode with award-wi...

Reducing gun violence: What Works. James Burnett from 2018-03-09T20:04:42

The debate over gun violence is deeply polarized, but almost everyone agrees it's an urgent problem and that far too many people are being killed and injured by firearms in the United States. Listen

Will #NeverAgain Bring Lasting Change? Elizabeth Matto from 2018-03-01T22:59:23

Within four days of the mass shooting at Margaret Stoneman High School in Parkland, Florida that left 17 people dead, Never Again was born.

In this episode, we ask whether young millen...

The Next Space Race: Joe Pappalardo from 2018-02-21T23:13:15

The impressive launch of the Falcon Heavy rocket by SpaceX from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and the touchdown of two boosters back at Cape Canaveral minutes later, are the latest milest...

Healthcare Data Revolution: Dr. Joe Habboushe from 2018-02-14T23:46:38

Wouldn't it be great if consumers could access all their personal medical records quickly and share them with doctors, family members and others they trust?

This could lead to revoluti...

The Truth About Self-Driving Cars from 2018-02-07T18:11:16

It's time to put the brakes on the hype about self-driving cars. Despite industry and media forecasts, it may be more than a decade before many fully autonomous vehicles are on the road.  Listen

When Will Wall Street Crash? Diana Henriques from 2018-02-01T00:45:46

The U.S. stock market has soared about 40% since the Trump election. But is it over-valued and ready for a meltdown?

Shortly before the worst one-day crash in history in November 1987,...

50/50 Nation? No! Morris Fiorina from 2018-01-25T00:02:01

From the recent government shutdown to strict partisan votes on taxes and healthcare, official Washington lurches from one fight to the next, with no end in sight.

But the American pub...

The Dangers Of Utopia: Michael Shermer from 2018-01-18T00:25:01

By overwhelming majorities, human beings have faith in the afterlife. While fewer Americans believe in God, as many as 80% still believe in life after death. Surprisingly, this includes one-in-t...

Ending Sexual Harassment: Claire Cain Miller from 2018-01-10T23:49:05

The fight against sexual harassment was the hot topic in Hollywood at the Golden Globes Awards, with outspoken and inspiring remarks by Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon and others. But allegatio...

What's Ahead in 2018: Richard and Jim's Forecast from 2017-12-27T05:00

2018 is certain to bring surprises. In this episode, Jim and Richard bravely venture out onto the high diving board of ideas and plunge into the pool of predictions. We also asked listeners and ...

Food & Health: Science vs. Myth:The Science Moms from 2017-12-20T05:00

It's time to shift the narrative about food and health from fear to facts. Popular culture promotes all sorts of anti-scientific myths, from astrology and conspiracy theories to vaccine denial a...

Facebook and YouTube Threats: Zeynep Tufekci from 2017-12-13T05:00

Billions of people use Facebook and YouTube. But do social media platforms threaten our privacy and our freedom? The problem goes well beyond hate messages and other forms of inappropriate ...

The Truth About Robots: Peter Cappelli from 2017-12-06T05:00

Once again the alarm bells are ringing. A new study by the McKinsey Global Institutes estimates that within 12 years, up to 800 million of today's workers may be replaced by robots or some other...

Why Migration is Good: Leonard Doyle from 2017-11-30T05:00

What do you think of when you hear the word “refugee” or “migrant”? If over-crowded rafts or vast tent encampments come to mind, you are not alone.

But there’s a very different— and mu...

A Fresh Look at Freedom: Russell Shorto from 2017-11-21T05:00

We discuss the American Revolution through six different pairs of eyes with acclaimed historian and journalist, Russell Shorto, author of the new book, "Revolution Song."

This episode ...

Fixes for Manufacturing: Krisztina "Z" Holly from 2017-11-16T05:00

This week we dismantle the myth that American manufacturing is in a death spiral. It’s not. Our guest is MIT-trained engineer and tech entrepreneur Krisztina “Z” Holly, host of the podcast, “The...

#128 Solutions for America's Opioid Epidemic: Sam Quinones from 2017-11-08T21:26:44

America’s opioid epidemic is an addiction crisis like no other the country has ever faced. Deaths outnumber car crash fatalities. 

Since 1999, 200,000 people have died from overdo...

#127 The Threat to Democracy: Reed Galen from 2017-11-02T04:00

One year after the election of Donald Trump, American democracy is under threat. Our civic life is in a shambles.

Our guest, Reed Galen, says America is a “dual-civilization society,” ...

#126 Using Data To Predict the Future: Rebecca Costa from 2017-10-26T01:12:56

Can data be used to prevent mass shootings, dramatically reduce opioid addiction and tell elderly people that they about to fall? Our guest, Rebecca Costa, says it can.?In this episode we look at w...

#125 The Harvey Weinstein Sex Scandal: What Next? Anne Thompson from 2017-10-18T04:00

The public downfall of film boss, Harvey Weinstein raises deep questions about the culture of Hollywood and its longstanding tolerance of sexual misbehavior by powerful men.

Rumor...

#124 Russia's Threat to U.S. Democracy: Amy Knight from 2017-10-11T18:51:54

How should the U.S. and other Western nations deal with Vladimir Putin and well-documented threats to democracy from the Russian government? What are the most effective ways to push back against...

#123 Affirmative Action for Conservatives? Michael Roth from 2017-10-04T04:00

Are free speech rights threatened at universities? Is Attorney General Jeff Sessions correct when he says political correctness has run amok on college campuses?

Conservatives point to...

#122 Title IX and Sexual Assault: Jeannie Suk Gersen from 2017-09-27T04:00

Days ago, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos scrapped Obama-era Title IX rules on campus sexual assault, plunging herself into a furious controversy. This episode goes beyond name-calling and looks...

#121 Why We Need Stories and Myths: Stephen Greenblatt from 2017-09-20T04:00

Love him or loathe him, Donald Trump told a more compelling story about himself than his opponents. The 2016 election was, for his critics, a jarring reminder of the limits of limiting political...

#120 From Political Disgust to Action: Eric Liu from 2017-09-13T22:57:24

So many of us are furious at President Trump, Congress, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, The Democrats or the news media-- name your poison.Two thirds of Americans say they are dissatisfied with how...

#119 A Conservative Cure for Climate Change: Bob Inglis from 2017-09-07T01:32:57

Climate scientists warn that Hurricanes Irma and Harvey are examples of extreme weather that will become much more common in the years to come. But Trump Administration officials ridicule any link ...

#118 After Harvey: Climate Change Insurance. Gernot Wagner from 2017-08-30T04:00

Is climate change to blame for Hurricane Harvey and the devastating floods around Houston? Even though we can't be certain about the cause of a single storm, Harvey's epic rainfall and surprisin...

#117 Is Hiking a Cure for PTSD? Sean Gobin from 2017-08-23T04:00

Can vets walk off the devastating impacts of PTSD? Do long-distance hiking, biking and river paddling journeys offer far better treatment for the emotional and psychological damage of war than p...

#116 The Case for Passion in Our Lives from 2017-08-17T01:05

Neil deGrasse Tyson became passionate about astrophysics when he was a teenager. Best-selling science journalist Mary Roach is well-known for her humor and curiosity as she explores the science ...

#115 Refugees Are Just Like You: Ahmed Badr from 2017-08-09T19:25:18

Far too often refugees are thought of as "the other"-- a mass of people who are victims of war, persecution or natural disasters. President Trump has added to the problem, making negative, harsh co...

#114 Grunt: The Science of Humans at War - Mary Roach from 2017-08-03T00:24

When do fashion designers make the difference between comfort and misery for active soldiers? Why does the military need a radically different kind of crash test dummy? What role could maggots p...

#113 America's Male Unemployment Crisis: Ed Glaeser from 2017-07-26T23:29:02

Here's a paradox. While the U.S. unemployment rate is near a 16-year low, the percentage of all American adults in the workforce remains stuck at well below pre-recession levels.Men are much more l...

#13 Fix It Shorts: Why Fixing Health Care Is So Hard from 2017-07-19T23:42:40

"It's back to square one" says the Wall Street Journal after the collapse of Republican proposals to repeal and replace The Affordable Care Act. President Trump says his plan is to "let Obamacare f...

#12 Fix It Shorts: The Case for Going Outdoors from 2017-07-12T04:26:16

Going outdoors and taking on new challenges makes you healthier, happier and smarter. Spending time in nature away from cities and suburbs can also bring spiritual and emotional benefits. Co-host J...

#11 Fix It Shorts: Is Summer Fun Under Assault? Lenore Skenazy from 2017-07-05T18:56:54

Lenore Skenazy of Free Range Kids makes the case for carefree summer activities and unstructured play time-- arguing against those who put safety fears ahead of a child's need to explore, be curiou...

#109 Secrets of Your Stuff: Mover, Finn Murphy from 2017-06-28T21:25:21

Are you too attached to your stuff? Do you have a big move coming up?Long-haul trucker, Finn Murphy has covered more than a million miles of packing, loading and hauling people's material possessio...

#108 Big Data & STEM, Overrated? Scott Hartley from 2017-06-21T20:43:02

In our age of big data Liberal Arts smarts are undervalued. Our guest, Scott Hartley, argues that the most valuable jobs skills in the future will belong to people who can think creatively, using e...

#107 How Trust Can Save Journalism: Aron Pilhofer from 2017-06-14T21:22:34

Journalism is in crisis. Our trust in the news media has fallen to an all-time low. One recent poll found that two thirds of Americans believe mainstream news organizations often publish fake news....

#106 Defusing The Prison Population Bomb: John Pfaff from 2017-06-07T20:48:17

Today, about 2.2 million Americans are behind bars. "The incarceration rate is about five times the rate of 1970 and our crime rate is the same as in 1970,"John Pfaff, our guest, tells us.Our guest...

#105 Road To Disaster: VW Emissions Scandal Jack Ewing from 2017-06-01T03:11:42

It isn't just the crime. It's also the cover-up. Volkswagen's multi-year conspiracy to evade pollution rules may be the biggest scandal in auto industry history.The world's second largest car manuf...

#104 Are Credit Cards Evil? Beverly Harzog from 2017-05-24T20:35:24

Are credit cards evil?  Do you need to restructure debt or were refused a loan?  If so, this episode is for you.If you're a parent looking for smart money advice to pass onto young adults as they e...

#103 Neil deGrasse Tyson: Science Deniers & Wonders of the Universe Pt. 2 from 2017-05-17T22:12:58

Tyson talks about the possibility of intelligent life on other planets, tackles science deniers on the right and left, and explains why we should invest more in pure science. Tyson also discusses h...

#102 Neil deGrasse Tyson: Space, The Universe and The Case for Science, Pt.1 from 2017-05-10T19:20:26

Neil deGrasse Tyson, America’s most prominent spokesman for science and Director of New York City’s Hayden Planetarium, talks about the benefits of a cosmic perspective, the case for manned space f...

#10 Fix It Shorts: What We Learned in Our First 100 episodes from 2017-05-04T01:23:48

For Jim and Richard "How Do We Fix It? has been a great big learning experience. From how to switch careers to the search for meaning and the importance of speaking to strangers, our guests have pr...

#100 The Myth of Main Street, Louis Hyman from 2017-04-26T22:16:49

Our guest is Louis Hyman, author of the provocative New York Times editorial, "The Myth of Main Street." Louis is a Cornell University History Professor and the Director of the Institute for Workpl...

#99 How Our Minds Heal Our Bodies: Jo Marchant from 2017-04-19T21:54:57

Have you ever felt a surge of adrenaline after a bike ride, working in the back yard or going to the gym? Salivated at the sight of a sour lemon? Felt turned on by your partner’s voice? If so, ...

#98 You're More Powerful Than You Think: Eric Liu from 2017-04-12T19:24:40

If you're disillusioned, depressed or downright furious at the state of politics today, this episode is for you.Eric Liu, founder and CEO of Citizen University, says that you're more powerful than ...

#9 Fix It Shorts Productivity: Charles Duhigg's Top 4 Tips from 2017-04-05T20:21:28

This episode highlights four key productivity fixes from New York Times Pulitzer Prize winner Charles Duhigg. His most recent book is "Smarter, Faster, Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Li...

#96 Robots Are Not Coming For Your Job, Pt 2: Peter Cappelli from 2017-03-29T18:49:39

How can we save good jobs?In part one (Episode #95); we talked to Peter Cappelli, of the Wharton School, about the threat of robots and automation to our workforce. In part 2 Peter explained why th...

#95 Robots Are Not Coming For Your Job: Peter Cappelli from 2017-03-22T19:49:43

Here's one less thing to worry about: robots are not going to take your job.Despite the dire predictions of analysts, workplace experts and the government, the impact of robotics and automation on ...

#94 A Vital Fix for the Media: David Bornstein from 2017-03-15T21:34:56

The news media is under fierce attack from President Trump; White House Strategist, Steve Bannon; and many other critics.While many claims against the press are overblown, now is a good time to loo...

#93 Emily Esfahani Smith: The Power of Meaning from 2017-03-08T20:23:04

Are you happy?  If not, perhaps you’re asking yourself the wrong question.Our culture is obsessed with happiness - a right that’s enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.  But living a life of meaning, ...

Fix It Shorts #8. Immigrants: Great for the Economy! from 2017-03-01T23:39:14

When did the arguments for free trade and the benefits of immigration go out of fashion?Why is the case for scaling back the power of the financial industry under attack by the Trump administration...

#91 Geoffrey Colon: Pay-to-Play: A Menace to Society? from 2017-02-23T15:47:48

Do you know where your information is coming from? Shadowy forces are at work to influence what we think, how we behave, and where we spend our money.They're part of the explosion in pay-to-play. F...

#90 David Greenberg: President Trump and The History of Spin from 2017-02-16T04:55:31

Does Donald Trump lie more than previous presidents? In the history of political spin, how does the Trump administration stack up? Presidents have always used spin and propaganda to skirt the truth...

#89 Shearly Markowicz: Online Dating: Why It Works from 2017-02-08T23:52:15

Valentine’s Day is almost here, so we invited Dating Ring CEO Shearly Markowicz to talk about the company and give advice how to find love online. Dating Ring first came to fame when it was profile...

#88 The New Brooklyn: Bringing Cities Back: Kay Hymowitz from 2017-02-02T02:33:31

In his inaugural address, Donald Trump gave a grim description of American cities, speaking of "carnage" and "rusted out factories.” But the reality is far different in many urban centers.Our guest...

#87 Taxes: How to Avoid an Audit, Get a Refund, and Don't Panic from 2017-01-25T20:46:15

Do you dread filing your taxes? We simplify the process and break it down into simple steps so you can avoid costly mistakes and even an audit. You might even get back hundreds of dollars in refund...

#86 Farai Chideya: Re-think Your Career. Find a New Job from 2017-01-18T22:17:33

Have you spent your life switching careers? So has former NPR host, professor, and journalist Farai Chideya. It’s the new normal —- the episodic career.Can you build a career with a non-traditional...

#85 Why We're Fooled by Con Artists: Maria Konnikova from 2017-01-11T21:35:40

Have you ever been the victim of a con artist? Very often we fall for cons ourselves without being aware of it. We speak with journalist and psychologist Maria Konnikova, best-selling author of “Th...

#84 Smart Solutions for The New Year from 2017-01-05T17:33:55

Fresh thinking for the New Year: In 2016 we were exposed to a dazzling range of smart, practical ideas from our podcast guests - from climate change and money matters, healthcare reform, to making ...

#83 Best Moments of 2016 from 2016-12-29T16:18:20

Alan Dershowitz on Trump; what an Islamic fundamentalist learned in an Egyptian jail; plus a tenured professor explained why she quit her job—trigger warning ahead. No doubt about it - the nominati...

#82 Lessons from the World's Best Schools: Lucy Crehan from 2016-12-22T01:31:25

What we can learn from the best education systems in the world? A lot.We learn about PISA - The Program for International Student Assessment - and why this international test on math, science and r...

#81 Rana Foroohar: Wall Street's Giant Threat to the Economy from 2016-12-14T20:57:37

More than eight years after the financial meltdown, we still have a lot to learn, says our guest, CNN global economic analyst Rana Foroohar. "The rise of finance has actually kind of eaten the res...

#80 The Urgent Case for Science & Reason: Michael Shermer from 2016-12-07T21:01:40

Dr. Michael Shermer is our guest; he's the Founding Publisher of Skeptic magazine, a monthly columnist for Scientific American and a regular contributor to Time.com.In his latest book, “The Moral A...

#79 Smarter, Simpler Ways to Fix Healthcare: Dr. Joe Habboushe from 2016-11-30T20:36:11

The U.S. spends more than $3 trillion a year on healthcare, or nearly $10,000 a year for every man, woman and child. But are we getting a bang for our buck? In many cases, the answer has to be no. ...

#78 How Games Can Make the World Work Better: Dan Grech from 2016-11-23T23:16

This show is about the benefits adults, especially business owners, can get from playing games. This year's huge success of Pokemon Go helped bring gamification and augmented reality into the mains...

#77 Fixes for Feminists in a Time of Trump: Sallie Krawcheck from 2016-11-16T22:12:06

Anyone who cares about diversity, feminism and closing the gender gap should be fired up about this show.Author, entrepreneur and - yes provocateur - Sallie Krawcheck is our guest.  Her forthcoming...

Fix It Shorts #7: Why Trump Won. What Should Happen Next? from 2016-11-10T02:32:49

We recorded this the day after the stunning U.S. Presidential election.  This show is our attempt to explain the reasons for Donald Trump's win.Despite his deeply divisive rhetoric and attacks on M...

#75 Be Ready for the Future—Any Future: Mark Earls from 2016-11-02T22:29:24

Almost all of us do a poor job of predicting the future.  This show looks at how we can adapt to the disruption and change the future inevitably brings.  Using examples from business and our person...

#74 Talking to Strangers Made Me a Better Person: Kio Stark from 2016-10-28T04:00

"There are genuine emotional benefits when we connect with strangers," says our guest, Kio Stark. These fleeting interactions are important interruptions in the steady routine of our lives. "They b...

#73 Why Nonprofits Need to Stop Begging: Jennifer McCrea from 2016-10-19T21:07:19

Do you believe you can make a difference?  What improvements to the world have been made by nonprofit organizations?  What lessons have been learnt by philanthropists about delivering services a...

Fix It Shorts #6: Election 2016: The Problem is Us. We The Voters from 2016-10-12T21:42:04

The news media have bombarded us with stories about the candidates, the contest and - to a lesser extent - the crucial issues America faces as people vote for the next President.

This pod...

#71 Saving Walkers & Bikers from Killer Cars: Nicole Gelinas from 2016-10-05T18:46:41

“Vision Zero” is the highly ambitious plan put in place two years ago by New York's Mayor Bi...

#70 Fighting the Extremists—on Both Sides: Alan Dershowitz from 2016-09-28T22:43:41

Electile Dysfunction (is), “a terrible pun plus insightful commentary" is how TV host and wit Seth Myers describes" the new book by Professor Alan Dershowitz.

Dershowitz became a professo...

#69 A Better Way to Think About Migrants: Leonard Doyle from 2016-09-21T19:48:43

Too often, migrants and refugees are viewed as "other" - not like us. In recent days Donald Trump Jr. compared the Syrian refugee problem to Listen

#68 Why Everyone Is Wrong About the Economy: Ruchir Sharma from 2016-09-14T17:54:05

Get ready for slower economic growth and de-globalization, says investor and writer Ruchir Sharma.

Ruchir invit...

#67 How Being Grateful Will Make You Happier: Janice Kaplan from 2016-09-07T23:40:55

On New Year's Eve, journalist and former Parade Editor-in-Chief Janice Kaplan made a promise to herself to be grateful during the coming year and look on the bright side of whatever happens.

#66 Fixing Everyday Money Mistakes: Rebecca Jarvis from 2016-09-01T00:26:43

How much do you know about money?  Many of us make simple mistakes that cost us hundreds, if not thousands of dollars a year.

#65 Moms Clean Air Force: Gretchen Dahlkemper from 2016-08-24T19:36:20

From "nap-time activists" and mommy bloggers to a "stroller march" on Washington, Moms Clean Air Force is using cre...

Fix It Shorts #5: Technology: How Children Learn and Play from 2016-08-17T05:24:06

Following on from our recent episodes about high schools and  playdates, this week we explore children's learning, technology and play with three "How DO We Fix It?" guests. 

Science evan...

#63 How Brownsville TX Took on Obesity: Dr. Rose Gowen from 2016-08-10T21:59:19

The obesity rate is 52% in Brownsville, Texas - far higher than the national average.  Nearly one in three residents has diabetes - three times the rate elsewhere.  Brownsville also has a very h...

#62 Untangling the Tricky Politics of Playdates: Tamara Mose from 2016-08-03T17:25:09

Remember when kids were allowed to play, usually without supervision, when did that change? When did play turn into a playdate?

Today many parents organize playdates. Play is arranged, su...

Fix It Shorts #4: Why Hacking Threaten All of Us: Adam Levin from 2016-07-27T15:45:50

The release of nearly 19,000 e-mails from the Democratic National Committee rocked party leaders and forced the resignation of DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

We look at how this happ...

#60 Ideas to Save our Failing High Schools: Liz Willen from 2016-07-20T17:24:34

Improving America's high schools is an exceptionally complex and difficult task. But all across the country the most enlightened educators are working to narrow the gap between student achieveme...

#59 Why the Human Touch Still Matters: Steve Hilton from 2016-07-13T16:46:48

When is the last time that you called a big company or government agency and a human being answered the phone?   From big data, complex algorithms and giant corporations to massive government burea...

#58 A Better Way to Understand Polls: Gary Langer from 2016-07-06T19:38:54

Are opinion polls accurate?  Did they miss the rise of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders?  Do they properly measure America's increasingly sharp political and cultural divisions?  What's the differen...

#57 How To Be Smarter About Risk: Karen Firestone from 2016-06-29T14:08:07

This show may very well save you money, boost your career and help you make smarter decisions.  

Fix It Shorts #3: Should Britain Vote to Leave the European Union?: Steve Hilton from 2016-06-17T16:57:23

Would Britain face lasting economic and political harm if it votes to quit the European Union in June 23rd's referendum?  Our show looks at the case for Listen

Fix It Shorts #2: 2016 Presidential Campaign: Lessons From History. Sean Wilentz from 2016-06-15T16:33

How many times have heard somebody say that the political campaign has reached a new low?  How much worse is the 2016 race compared to previous elections?We asked Princeton University Professor, Se...

#54 Harnessing the Hidden Power of Habit: Charles Duhigg from 2016-06-08T19:36:17

This podcast is all about how to have better habits and use them to be more productive in our projects, careers and everyday lives.  

We talk about to-do lists, email, mental models and m...

#53 Medical Mistakes: The 3rd Largest Cause of Death from 2016-06-01T22:18:39

Medical errors are America's third largest cause of death. Only heart disease and cancer have a higher body count. 

Fix It Shorts #1: Crazy Red Tape and Rigid Rules: How Do We Fix It? from 2016-05-25T17:10:36

It's the biggest issue of the Presidential campaign that the candidates are not talking about: bloated government and the poor delivery of services.   From very long TSA airport security lines to t...

#51 Why Self-Driving Cars Are a Sneaky Plot: Eddie Alterman from 2016-05-18T04:27:48

With technology in overdrive, self-driving cars are no longer a fantasy. The first autonomous cars and trucks made by major auto manufacturers could be on the road within several years.&nbs...

#50 Building a Much Better Workplace: How Do We Fix It? from 2016-05-11T16:54:37

The numbers are alarming.  A 2015 Gallup poll found nearly 70% of U.S. employers say they're either bored or disengaged at work.   The cost to employers has been put at more than $500 billion in lo...

#49 Don't Freak Out About Terrorism: Fixes from The Security Mom from 2016-05-04T18:22:32

"Stuff happens," says homeland security expert and mom of three, Juliette Kayyem.  

The government has got to find a better way to talk about the threat of terrorism and natural disasters...

#48 John Gable Do You Know How Biased You Are? John Gable of AllSides.com from 2016-04-26T22:52:03

"At the end of the day everybody is biased," says our guest,John Gable, founder CEO of AllSides. "You're biased by what youknow. You're biased by what you know and you're biased by yourentire hu...

#47 A Better Way to Report The News: David Bornstein from 2016-04-20T18:53

Too often, news coverage is all about clashes, controversies andcontests.  The way the media cover major events can have aprofound impact on our view of the world.

 In this episode, Jim an...

#46 An Environmentalist's Passionate Case for Nuclear Power: Michael Shellenberger from 2016-04-13T20:32:11

With the approach of Earth Day, this show looks at the cleanair, carbon-free case for nuclear power. And it challenges the viewheld by many environmentalists that the only way to save the planet...

#45 The Case for Children's Free Play: Lenore Skenazy from 2016-04-06T04:40:44

You can't have too much of a really good thing. That's why we decided to invite Lenore Skenazy,founder of Free Range Kids,<...

#44 Our Problem with Science. Ainissa Ramirez: How Do We Fix It? from 2016-03-30T06:09:48

We have a problem in our society. Too many people don't understand science or the importance of the scientific method.

Many children aren't learning the basics of math and science, which ...

#43 Joan Blades Part 2 - How to Speak With People You Disagree With from 2016-03-22T05:42:21

This episode looks at the simple, highly personal way that living room conversations allow people of different viewpoints to really hear each other.

A progressive activist, Joan Blades wa...

#42 Neighbors Divided Over Politics: Joan Blades: How Do We Fix It? from 2016-03-16T06:44:14

How can you talk to people you disagree with? We Talk to Joan Blades, the founder of MoveOn.org about how to bridge the partisan divide.

This show is another response to the deep partisan d...

#41 Explaining Donald Trump; The Role Emotions Play In Big Decisions from 2016-03-09T06:06:20

Let's face it. Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders have won far more votes than almost any "expert" forecast.

The reason may well be that emotions and learned behavior from others play a far ...

#40 America's Angry Political Divide. Mark Gerzon from 2016-03-02T00:27:26

More than any time in recent decades, American politics aredeeply divided. Compromise is a dirty word.

"The way that we're running the country is that we're notrunning the country," says o...

#39 The Gender Gap in Our Public Square: Joan Wages: How Do We Fix It? from 2016-02-24T01:00:28

From the AmericanRevolution and the Founding Fathers - through wars, economic changeand the struggle for civil rights, American history isoverwhelmingly dominated by the achievements and errors ...

#38 Why Obamacare Might Collapse: Megan McArdle: How Do We Fix It? from 2016-02-17T14:42:07

For its opponents, Obamacare is a disaster - a classic exampleof over-reach by an Administration that wants to expand the sizeand scope of the Federal government.

Supporters say The Afford...

#37 Breast Cancer: Lessons from a life-threatening journey. Debbie Galant from 2016-02-10T18:14:01

Debbie Galant talks about what it's like to livewith breast cancer.  What she learned along the way amount tosolutions for what can be a desperate, lonelyexperience.

From the shock of...

#36 The Risks of Safety: Greg Ip: How Do We Fix It? from 2016-02-03T05:50:21

Anti-lock brakes make many motorists drive faster. Introducing helmets and face masks in football raised the risk of concussions. Financial regulators and central bankers played a role in creatingc...

#35 Our Flawed Fight Against ISIS: Maajid Nawaz: How Do We Fix It? from 2016-01-26T20:28:50

Before The U.S. and other nations can be successful againstIslamic State (ISIS) and other global jihadists, we must understandthe difference between Islam and Islamism. That's the argument fromo...

#34 The backlash against science. Alice Dreger: How Do We Fix It? from 2016-01-20T20:54:56

We'd like to think that science should exist outside of politics and researchers follow the truth wherever it goes.

But the ideal of rational non-ideological science is under attack at ma...

#33 Fighting Over Land in The West: Nancy Langston - How Do We Fix It from 2016-01-13T20:11:26

The armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in the dry prairies of Southeast Oregon by members a small militia group is the most recent chapter in the very long-running dispute ...

#32 New Year's Resolutions for 2015 from 2015-12-31T06:40:57

It's easy to make resolutions to improve our lives, but how do we boost our chances of following through? The first two guests on this New Year's Resolutions special are Dave McRaney of the podcast...

#31: 2015 In Review: Some of Our Best Moments from 2015-12-29T19:02:38

If you want to get of sense of what we're about, this highlights show may be a good place to start. We've put together a "best of" podcast that reflects our values and makes the argument for why we...

#30 How The Internet Is Messing With Our Brains. Abigail Baird: How Do We Fix It? from 2015-12-23T09:21:02

We love our smartphones, tablets, and laptops. But what is the explosion in mobile technology doing to our brains?Our guest, Professor Abigail Baird,is a developmental psychologist,expert on the te...

#29 Are College Students Too Emotionally Fragile? Hara Marano: How Do We Fix It? from 2015-12-15T18:18:59

From angry scenes over Halloween costumes at Yale to protests against racism at the University of Missouri, student activism is back.  More than at any time since the late 1960's, America ...

#28 Walls, Barriers and Bans: The Cost of Panic Over Immigration & Terror: How Do We Fix It? from 2015-12-07T21:51:58

From Paris to San Bernardino, terrorist attacks have sparked an outcry from many politicians in Europe and the U.S. - including calls for new controls on immigration, refugees and the free movement...

#27 America's Sleep Crisis: Jeff Koyen. How Do We Fix It? from 2015-12-01T05:23:09

How can we get more sleep? If you have at least seven hours of interrupted sleep each night, consider yourself very lucky indeed. Problems with sleep are remarkably widespread. Many millions of ad...

#26 The Trouble With Today's Toys: Richard Gottlieb: How Do We Fix It? from 2015-11-24T19:12:31

The holiday shopping season is underway and finding the right toy or game for his or her kids is the goal of every parent. A vast range of new toys has been introduced in recent months.

J...

#25 Climate Change: Turning CO2 Into Rock: Peter Kelemen: How Do We Fix It from 2015-11-16T23:09:57

The demand for energy around the world continues to grow each year. And so does the amount of carbon dioxide that's pumped into the earth's atmosphere. What happens if the world fails to bring dow...

#24 Why The Federal Reserve Is So Unpopular Roger Lowenstein: How Do We Fix It? from 2015-11-09T20:45:44

The Federal Reserve plays a fundamental role in our economy. But many Americans loathe The Federal Reserve - furious that The Fed bailed out banks and other huge financial firms during the 2008 fi...

#23 The Dangers of Confirmation Bias with David McRaney: How Do We Fix It? from 2015-11-04T04:21:29

More than ever America is divided into political tribes. One person's truth is somebody else's lie. This show is about confirmation bias and filter bubbles: How our brains play tricks on us as we...

#22 Gender Inequality at Work with Laura Vanderkam. How Do We Fix It? from 2015-10-28T07:22:15

Women in the workplace face huge challenges, including discrimination and low pay. The Pew Research Center says women's hourly wages are 84% those of men. The White House says the true number is lo...

#21 Climate Shock: The Global Warming Threat, How Do We Fix It? from 2015-10-21T16:24:03

If you had a 10% of facing a flood or getting into a fatal car accident, you'd make sure you bought first-rate insurance coverage. That's what our guest Gernot Wagner says we should do about clima...

#20 Insurance Errors: Are You Covered For A Disaster? How Do We Fix It from 2015-10-14T17:31:13

Many of us make potentially disastrous mistakes with insurance. Either we don't have nearly enough coverage or pay through the nose for duplicate options that we don't need. Insurance expert Laura ...

#19 Lenore Skenazy(Rerun): Free Range Kids from 2015-10-06T23:01:07

Do helicopter parents need to come in for a landing? Lenore Skenazy, host of the cable TV show, "World's Worst Mom", says yes. The founder of the parenting movement Free Range Kids is Jim and Richa...

#18 Stock Market Panic and Investor Mistakes: How Do We Fix It? from 2015-09-30T18:26:11

With recent worries about the global economy and stock market panic, investment expert Susan Schmidt, Senior Portfolio Manager at Westwood Holdings Group, has a simple message: keep calm. 55% of A...

#17 We're Sending The Wrong Message To Kids About Jobs: How Do We Fix It? from 2015-09-23T04:01:06

TV host, writer, author and producer Mike Rowe says America needs to change its understanding about work and face up to the widening skills gap. Many manufacturers can't fill find workers to d...

#16 Campus Free Speech Is Under Threat: How Do We Fix It? from 2015-09-16T18:44:24

We look at threats to free speech on college campuses with Greg Lukianoff, a constitutional lawyer and CEO of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE). Greg says there's been an ala...

#15 The Hysteria Over Sex Offenders: How Do We Fix It? from 2015-09-09T10:21:50

"Protecting Our Kids?: How Sex Offender Laws Are Failing Us" is the provocative title of the new book by sociology professor Emily Horowitz. She argues that America is in the grip of panic, saying ...

#14 The Housing Market Is Still Broken: How Do We Fix It? from 2015-08-26T05:48:11

Fear and panic gripped the stock market this week with worries that China's problems could cause a global recession. But is Wall Street out of step with Main Street? Time for a reality check with ...

#13 My Child Has a Terrible Teacher: How Do We Fix It? from 2015-08-18T22:02:12

How often have heard parents complain about their kids' teachers? Everyone, it seems, has opinions about education, test scores and schools. Who is to blame for poor teaching, and how do we fix it?...

#12 The Sour Fight Over Sugary Sodas: How Do We Fix It? from 2015-08-12T01:41:05

Coca-Cola, the world’s largest maker of sugary sodas, is under fire for giving millions of dollars to a group of scientists who say that lack of exercise is much more important cause of obesity th...

#11 Google: Too Powerful For Our Democracy? How Do We Fix It? from 2015-08-04T23:05:03

How does Google play to our prejudices, and could its mighty search engine be used to change election results? 75% of all internet searches are done through Google. Our guest is well-known psycho...

#10 Washington's Revolving Door Corruption: How Do We Fix It? from 2015-07-27T21:54:51

The "revolving door" is a corrupting influence on both government and industry. So says University of Tennessee law professor Glenn Reynolds. He's an outspoken critic of Washington insiders and t...

#9 Our Bad Habits Hold Us Back: How Do We Fix It? from 2015-07-21T01:17:15

Are you overwhelmed by the flood of information, technology and choices that we all face as consumers? This episode with Jim and Richard features neuroscientist and behavior expert Dr. Peter Whybro...

#8 Hacking: The Online Threat To All Of Us. How Do We Fix It? from 2015-07-13T20:39:12

Data and identity theft are a threat to all of us. The recent breach of government computers at The Office of Personnel Management was only the latest example of a growing crisis. Adam Levin, foun...

#7 Your Personal Finance Is A Disaster: How Do We Fix It? from 2015-07-07T03:11:43

"Anything is possible in your financial life as long as you work hard at it, and want it bad enough," says personal financial expert Farnoosh Torabi. The host of the daily podcast, "So Money," Far...

#6 The Sharing Economy: A Threat To The Middle Class? How Do We Fix It? from 2015-06-29T06:50:58

The on-demand economy is a hit with consumers. Uber, Lyft, Homejoy, and other companies provide a growing number of convenient services. But there's a heated debate about how they treat their work...

#5 We Need More Free Range Kids: How Do We Fix It? from 2015-06-18T03:37:27

Do helicopter parents need to come in for a landing? Lenore Skenazy, host of the cable TV show, "World's Worst Mom", says yes. The founder of the parenting movement Free Range Kids is Jim and Rich...

#1 The Tech Threat To Your Kids: How Do We Fix It? from 2015-04-21T02:59:22

Computers, video games and mobile devices are a huge temptation for kids. But are they really a threat, or instead a great opportunity for children to learn about the world? In this show Jim and Ri...

#2 Why We're Bored and Frustrated At Work: How Do We Fix It? from 2015-03-30T17:58:12

The numbers are alarming. A recent Gallup says that less than one-third of American workers are engaged in their jobs. Millions of employees are either bored or completely fed up. In addition to th...

#4 Government Red Tape Is A Nightmare: How Do We Fix It? from 2015-03-17T00:32:26

All of us pay taxes, but how well is that money being spent? Many government services are poorly delivered. From the local DMV or zoning department to the Pentagon and Department of Veterans Affair...

#3 Drowning In Credit Card Debt: How Do We Fix It? from 2015-03-14T20:14:42

Credit card debt is once again on the rise. The average U.S. household that borrows money with high interest credit cards owes $15,000. Many people are overwhelmed by monthly bills. Expert Beverly...