The Measure of Everyday Life
WNCU public radio
Interested in human behavior and how people think? The Measure of Everyday Life explores ideas about how we live and why people act as they do. Independent Weekly has called the show "unexpected" and "diverse" and says the show "brings big questions to radio." Join host Dr. Brian Southwell (@BrianSouthwell) as he explores the human condition.
Episodes air each Sunday night at 6:30 PM in the Raleigh-Durham broadcast market and a podcast of each show is available online the Wednesday following. The show is made possible by RTI International.
Episodes air each Sunday night at 6:30 PM in the Raleigh-Durham broadcast market and a podcast of each show is available online the Wednesday following. The show is made possible by RTI International.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 1, 2026 • 30min
When Communities Need to Relocate
Changes in our climate are forcing many communities to grapple with the possibility of uprooting and relocating. How exactly are communities able to manage governance issues such moves entail? On this episode, we talk with Christopher Galik of North Carolina State University about his work with co-author Brad Johnson to answer that question.
Mar 11, 2026 • 30min
Reducing Tolerance for Sexual Assault
Sexual assault affects people of all ages, including adolescents. On this episode, we talk with Shael Norris, Founding Director of SafeBAE, a survivor-founded and youth-led organization dedicated to preventing sexual violence among teens.
Mar 4, 2026 • 30min
Being Awake at Night
Some of us stay up late, but how much time do we spend awake without artificial light? What can we learn from being awake in the dark? On this episode, we talk with author Leigh Ann Henion about her book, Night Magic: Adventures among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Dark.
Feb 25, 2026 • 30min
Measuring Mental Effort with Facial Images
If you are a parent or a coach, you sometimes might wonder whether a child is really trying their best. What if we could tell by looking at their face? On this episode, we talk with Michael Willoughby and Timothy Slade of RTI International about their work to consider thermal imaging to measure effort.
Feb 11, 2026 • 30min
Nature as Remedy for Healthcare Costs
Rising healthcare costs are a concern in many parts of the world. Engagement with nature, as in taking a walk in the woods, spending time with a pet, or even mindfully thinking about past experiences outdoors, might offer a surprising tool to cope with some of those concerns. On this episode, we talk with two researchers who are assessing how exposure to nature can improve our health and wellbeing: Olivia McAnirlin and Matthew Browning of Clemson University.
Dec 10, 2025 • 30min
Declining Life Expectancy in the United States
How should we think about death and how it happens? Americans now die more often than our peers in other wealthy countries. What does that shortened mortality say about our lives? On this episode, we talk with Elizabeth Wrigley-Field of the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Population Center.
Dec 3, 2025 • 30min
How to Think about Fear
Emotion, including fear, is an important part of us. What we fear and how we react can be shaped and influenced, though. On this episode, we talk with Ruth DeFoster of the University of Minnesota, co-author, with Natashia Swalve, of The Fear Knot: How Science, History, and Culture Shape Our Fears and How to Get Unstuck.
Oct 29, 2025 • 30min
Improving Access to Medicines in Sub-Saharan Africa
Billions of people do not have access to medicines that could save their lives. The Med Aditis Foundation is a non-profit organization that builds partnerships to improve access to high-quality medicines. On this episode, we talk with Bob Blouin, President and CEO of the Med Aditis Foundation.
Oct 22, 2025 • 30min
Protecting Our Schools with Emergency Drills
In schools across the United States, active shooter drills have been common for years and yet we don't know all that we could about the effect of such drills on students and educators. On this episode, we talk with two members of a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Consensus Study focused on this phenomenon: Melissa Brymer of the UCLA–Duke National Center for Child Traumatic Stress and Sonali Rajan of Columbia University.
Oct 15, 2025 • 30min
Using Artificial Intelligence and Social Stigma
Have you ever felt any sort of shame in admitting you have used an artificial intelligence tool? On this episode, we talk with Jessica Reif of Duke University, lead author of a new paper in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that explores how people feel about co-workers using AI and what they do about it.
