What's that one thing about how people speak English that gets on your nerves? When people say “like” a lot? Or say “literally” when they mean “figuratively”? We all have language pet peeves, and we may even be willing to admit that we judge people who break the rules. After all, how we talk matters. Why do we insist on proper English — and what does that say about us?
Our “Stick With It” series on the Top of Mind podcast continues with several stories from Utah Governor Spencer Cox about staying open and curious during intense political disagreements. As the new chair of the National Governors Association, Cox has made “Disagree Better” his signature initiative for the year. In this podcast episode, the Republican Governor of Utah explains how engaging with political opponents (including President Joe Biden) in a civil manner has led to better outcomes for his state. He also shares the story of a time when he fell short and went viral for calling members of Congress “imbeciles.” It got him a lot of praise supporters, but Cox quickly apologized and committed to do better. The “Disagree Better” initiative aims to use the unique influence of state governors to encourage healthier approaches to conflict in American politics and public life.
Our “Stick With It” series on the Top of Mind podcast continues with a story about finding empathy in a doctrinal disagreement. McArthur Krishna is passionate about the doctrine of Heavenly Mother in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, because it fills her with joy and helps her to understand her own divine purpose. But her public speaking and writing on the topic have been met with intense criticism by some members of her faith. Her Stick With It story explores the moment when she realized “Oh, I’m part of the problem because I’m being dismissive.” When she got curious about the reasons others in her faith view Heavenly Mother differently, she found new empathy and clarity.
Ninety percent of America's kids go to public schools. But public education in America is in crisis, with test scores in every subject at their lowest point in decades. State and federal regulations have a say in what happens in schools, but most critical decisions are left to local school boards. Are elected school boards the root of the problem - or the key to a solution? Funding, facilities, busing, discipline policies, how teachers are placed in the district, and which curricula they use - all overseen by some 15,000 school boards chosen through local elections. But board members generally aren't required to have specific educational expertise - or even kids in the public school system. We are committed to democracy in this country and generally assume that electing people to make important decisions is best. How well is that working out for us when it comes to education? In this podcast episode we speak with a parent who helped recall school board members in San Francisco. We hear what it’s like to be a school board member right now and how the pandemic changed the job. And we’ll consider how the US system of selecting school boards during off-cycle elections often fails to hold boards accountable for student outcomes.
Owning a home is the American Dream. It's the ultimate symbol of a successful adulthood and the best way to build wealth in this country. Why should you pay rent to someone else when you can build equity for yourself, right? Not all countries prioritize buying a house, though; take Germany, where renting is much more common. How has the decision to prioritize homeownership in the US shaped our communities, for better or worse? And is that wealth-building mechanism really accessible to everyone who works hard and plays their cards right?
People often assume that medical treatments prescribed by doctors and covered by insurance are safe and effective. After all, there’s a whole government agency – the Food and Drug Administration – to ensure that very thing. But most medical drugs and devices available in the U.S. were approved by the FDA through an expedited pathway that sped up the review or required less clinical trial evidence. In this episode of the podcast, we speak with a former FDA attorney about the debate over whether the FDA should prioritize safety and effectiveness or swift access to medical innovation. We hear from a mother whose daughter urgently needed an individualized treatment only available in Italy, as well as the Right to Try advocate who assisted her. And an ER doctor explains why it’s a problem that many drugs commonly prescribed to women were only been tested on men before being approved.
Our “Stick With It” series on the Top of Mind podcast continues with playwright and producer Scott Carter. He was the long-time executive producer of “Real Time with Bill Maher” on HBO and is currently producing “Love & Respect with Killer Mike” on PBS. Carter is also the host of a new podcast called “Ye Gods!” where he talks with artists, actors, journalists and other public figures about the beliefs that shape their lives. In this “Stick With It” conversation, Scott Carter shares the strategies that helped him overcome fear and discomfort while becoming a standup comic. Similar strategies can help anyone learning to stay open and curious when confronted with challenging situations or perspectives.
Our “Stick With It” series on the Top of Mind podcast continues with Milan Kordestani – tech entrepreneur and author of “I’m Just Saying: A Guide to Maintaining Civil Discourse in an Increasingly Divided World.” Kordestani was already preaching the importance of civil discourse when he tweeted something during the pandemic that went viral and caused him to realize he’d fallen short. He tweeted an apology and recommitted himself to approaching difficult topics with humility and curiosity. “Civil discourse doesn’t always mean agreeing or feeling comfortable,” says Kordestani. His new book, “I’m Just Saying” is a guidebook for learning to lean into the discomfort of challenging topics.
Getting pulled over is the most common encounter Americans have with police, but how much do traffic stops really contribute to public safety? On a typical day, more than 50,000 of us see those flashing lights in our rearview, so we generally assume that enforcing traffic laws is an essential part of policing and public safety. Do traffic stops contribute to public safety as much as we expect? It’s clear the effects are not equal: across the nation, drivers of color are much more likely to get pulled over, and a troubling number of incidents where Black men are killed by police, start with a traffic stop. In this podcast episode, we’ll hear perspectives from both sides of the car window and explore how traffic enforcement could better ensure safety for all.
We tend to view adoption in America as a win-win situation: a child in crisis is placed with new, stable parents who want to build a family. Everyone is finally in a position to thrive. That narrative tends to be fairytale-like. And it doesn’t resonate with many adoptees. In this episode, we hear adoptee perspectives on adoption and how we – as a society – can do better. We talk to a domestic infant adoptee from the baby scoop era, a person adopted out of the foster care system, and an international, transracial adoptee. And what we've come to find is that no matter when or how adoptions happen, assumptions about what's best can miss the mark. How can we do better by those impacted by the adoption process and create a system that enables children and families to thrive?