Think from KERA

George Saunders’ latest novel takes readers into a journey of the soul—this time quite literally. The Booker Prize-winning author talks with host Krys Boyd about his latest work, which takes on greed, capitalism, and questions of good and evil from the perspective of a being that must transport a soul to the afterlife—but this time encounters questions that define our modern age; Saunders also talks about how his own personal spirituality shapes his writing process. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Charles Duhigg, Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter and author who studies habits and organizing, discusses why building local leaders matters. He contrasts mobilizing vs organizing. He traces MAGA’s precinct tactics, faith-based recruitment, year-round engagement, and how social groups shape beliefs. He also examines big-tent strategies, purity tests, and why funding local infrastructure changes outcomes.

Cults are something other people join, right? Think again; you might be in one. Daniella Mestyanek Young is a cult survivor, U.S. Army veteran and Harvard-trained organizational psychologist and she joins host Krys Boyd to discuss recognizing the language of cults, the us-versus-them rhetoric and lauding of charismatic leaders, to be better able to reduce their power, and why she feels every organization falls within a “spectrum of cultiness.” Her book is “The Culting of America: What Makes a Cult and Why We Love Them.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Ben Rein, neuroscientist and author of Why Brains Need Friends, explains why social connection is essential for brain and body health. He covers how brief interactions and acts of kindness boost mood. He talks about isolation’s health risks, the brain chemistry of bonding, how screens fall short, and practical cues for being more likable and authentic.

The Smithsonian holds thousands of objects in their collection. The conversation about what to display can get contentious. Lily Meyer is a staff writer at The Atlantic and she joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the battles behind the scenes to tell the story of the United States, when Congress has a say in what the public sees and reads, and what the Trump administration’s latest rhetoric means for the future of the museum. Her article is “The Real Fight for the Smithsonian.”   Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Ever feel embarrassed about oversharing at a cocktail party? Turns out, you might’ve been on the right track. Leslie John, James E. Burke Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why sharing our feelings garners trust, why we’re so often reluctant to let people into our lives, and why there is a cost to undersharing. Her book is “Revealing: The Underrated Power of Oversharing.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

It’s been four years since the beginning of the Ukraine war, and the consequences continue to reverberate across Europe and the world. David Kramer, Executive Director of the Bush Institute and former Assistant Secretary of State, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why he thinks the U.S. should increase military assistance to Ukraine, why more pressure needs to be put on Putin, and why conceding land to Russia is not the answer to unprovoked aggression. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

After a pandemic-era spike in crime, public safety numbers are improving. The reasons are surprising. Henry Grabar is a staff writer at The Atlantic and he joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why the national murder rate has gone down 20 percent even with understaffed police forces around the country, the strategies being employed to patrol cities, and why a Biden-era policy might’ve opened a path to less crime. His article is “The Great Crime Decline Is Happening All Across the Country.”   Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Personal health information is usually considered private, but what kind of privacy should the president of the United States be afforded? Ben Terris, Washington Correspondent for New York Magazine, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss President Donald Trump, whom the White House says is incredibly healthy, even though observers point out discrepancies in their reports, and consider what is, in fact, normal aging for a 79-year-old. His article is “The Superhuman President.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Behind the very public discourse about citizenship and how to achieve it are very personal family stories. Daisy Hernandez, associate professor of creative writing at Northwestern University, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss her father – a refugee from Castro’s Cuba – and why we welcome some immigrants and shun others. Her book is “Citizenship: Notes on an American Myth.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices