How Do We Fix It?

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 lost productivity. The cost to workers is incalculable - in human misery, unnecessary stress and lost opportunity. Workplace psychologist Ron Friedman is the author of "The Best Place to Work: The Art and Science of Creating an Extraordinary Workplace." Ron says there's an astonishing gap between the latest science and most the modern workplace. He has some great tips for both employers and employees. Ron's solutions for employers: An engaged workforce is more creative, focused and stay with their company for a long period time. This saves money. Employees need to be competent and connected to one another, yet they need to have autonomy - feeling they have choice in how they go about doing their work. Invite employees to share their ideas. Encourage learning: give your employees a quarterly reading budget. Establish an office library. Invite employees to take their vacation time and switch off from work at night, so they can live a balanced, healthy life. Workplace design and hiring a diverse workforce play a very important role in creating a better workplace. Ron's solutions for employees: Reframe the way you look at your job. Present a case that could add value to your employer. Get out of your comfort zone. Greater variety often leads to more work satisfaction. Look for ways to re-create your job to allow yourself to do more of the things you enjoy doing more often. Regular exercise. It makes you smarter, more focused and creative at work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"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. Most of us need to have a better plan to prepare. "We talked in a way when people would either tune out or freak out," says Juliette of her time as a top official at The Department of Homeland of Homeland Security. "We are all in this together," she tells on this episode of "How Do We Fix It?" Her new book is "Security Mom: An Unclassified Guide to Protecting Our Homeland And Your Home." The book is packed with common-sense ways to think about positively about a difficult subject. Juliette's solutions: The government shouldn't scare, but prepare. Pretending that America is invulnerable is both unrealistic and unhelpful to citizens. Homeland security is not just about tragedy or terror, it's what all of us can do every day to keep ourselves strong, safe and prepared. Families should have a "72 on you" plan. If you call 9-1-1 in an emergency, don't assume help will come quickly. Have 72 hours of vital supplies, including non-perishable food, water, first-aid kit, flashlights and batteries. Talk to your kids about how the family should stay in touch in an emergency. Copy important personal documents and put them on the cloud. "You can get yourself prepared for almost any eventuality in a very small amount of time," says Juliette. "You're going to feel better being prepared for something rather than nothing." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"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 human existence before then."AllSides is unique in how it covers the news - displayingstories on its front page - from different points of view. It urgesreaders to "engage in civil dialog and discover a deeperunderstanding of the issues."The left-hand column at AllSides has stories fromliberal-leaning sites (New York Times, Huffington Post, Salon), theright column features conservative-leaning media coverage of thesame event (Fox News, The Blaze). The centrist column plays thingsdown the middle (USA Today, Christian Science Monitor)."Part of what we do is help people understand that they arebiased as well," says John.With deep experience in technology and his former involvement inpolitical campaigns, he understands how so many of live in a bubble- only listening to those we agree with. And why that's a threat toour democracy.Solutions:Take the "doyou live in a bubble?" quiz. Learn why left or right are not our only political options. John Gable urges us to read Neil Postman's ground-breaking 1985book, "AmusingOurselves to Death." The book looks at the impact of televisionand mass entertainment on our perceptions of politics andculture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 and Richard - both journaliststhemselves - are joined by DavidBornstein, who writes for theFixes blog of The New York Times and is co-founder of SolutionsJournalismNetwork.org. "The news tends to focus far more on what's wrong than onthe credible efforts around the world of people who are trying tofix things, whether they are successful or not." David tellsus. "I think the main thing is that the problems scream andthe solutions whisper. The problems are always clamoring forattention. Solutions, you really do have to be proactive and golook for them." David says that solutions journalism focuses not just onwhat may be working, but how and why it appears to be working, oralternatively, why it may be stumbling. Using the best availableevidence, it delves deep into the how-to’s of problem solving,often structuring stories as puzzles or mysteries that investigatequestions like: What models are having success reducing the dropoutrate in public schools? How do they actually work? What are theydoing differently than others that are resulting in a betteroutcome? Solutions Journalism network goes into newsrooms aroundthe country, and trains editors and reporters on the imperatives ofthe "now what" aspect of reporting. Solutions journalismhelps news organizations play a stronger role in the communitiesthey serve. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 planetis for all of us to get by with less.Guest Michael Shellenberger is is coauthor of AnEcomodernist Manifesto, a which argues that human prosperityand an ecologically vibrant planet go hand-in-hand. In 2007,Michael received the Green Book Award and Time magazine's"Heroof the Environment."His recent TEDx talk is "How Humans SaveNature." Nuclear power is an anathema to many of his fellowenvironmentalists, but Michael tells us its a crucial form ofenergy that "produces zero air and water pollution... There's nopollution that comes out of nuclear plants." He says that we canboost growth all over the world and still set aside more land fornature and wildlife. Michael makes argument that humans, who havecaused so much destruction to the planet, have the ingenuity tosave it.Michael recently started a new group, EnvironmentalProgress.organd is the author of the book "BreakThrough: From the Death of Environmentalism to the Politics ofPossibility." He calls on those who care about the future ofthe planet to reject the language of limits and embrace possibilityand the aspirations of people around the world who strive toimprove their standard of living. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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, to make a welcome return to "How Do We Fix It?" She was a guest on an earlier show.Lenore is the passionate and playful campaigner, who says most American kids don't have nearly enough unstructured free time, when they can be curious and engage the world on their own terms."Free time is unsupervised time," Lenore tells us. "It's not a parent sitting there saying 'oh, that was really good, or try it this way.' Sometimes you've got to do things that are really bad and try it the wrong way, because that's the creative process." Lenore says parenting styles have changed in the past 30 years, especially for many urban and upper-middle classes Moms and Dads. Risk avoidance seems more important than stimulating a child's imagination."Think back on your own childhood. Your parents loved you and they let you go. And it's a new thing not to give children any freedom."From the Free Range Kids statement of where it stands: "Fighting the belief that are children are in constant danger from creeps, kidnapping, germs, grades, flashers, frustration, failure, baby snatchers, bugs, bullies, men, sleepovers and/or the perils of the non-organic grape." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 closes off a broad range of career opportunities. It's also a problem in our civil society. A broader understanding of how science works would help parents know why they need to vaccinate their kids or what's going on with climate change. Science evangelist Ainissa Ramirez has some great fixes. She's the author of "Save Our Science" and "Newton's Football," a lively book about the science of America's favorite sport. Ainissa is dedicated to making science fun for people of all ages. Her excellent two-minute podcast, "Science Underground," helps spread the word." We all start off as scientists," Ainissa tells us in this episode. "If you look at a 4-year-old's hands, they're completely dirty, because they're engaging with the world. But then something happens. School happens" The science knowledge deficit holds back many girls and minorities. But Ainissa says "girls used to rock STEM at one point." Find out what happened in this episode of "How Do We Fix It?" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 was deeply involved in starting MoveOn.org in the late 90's. More recently she has also worked on ways to encourage respect and dialog among liberals, independents and conservatives. She is the cofounder of LivingRoomConversations.org. In part one last week (episode 43), we looked at why Americans need to find new ways to speak about our differences, such as visiting websites with opposing political opinions, and having conversations that are not vindictive. "It's actually really fun having a living room conversation," says Joan. "They're more fun than if you have a bunch of people around that you know what they're going to say. We get to laugh about our differences once we understand what's going on." Among the first conversations the group had was a discussion on climate and energy. "One of the problems progressives have right now is that if they run into someone who doesn't believe in climate science, they roll their eyes." As soon as you do that, "you've lost your conversation," Joan says. "Nobody listens to anybody." Here are some of the topics we raised in this episode: LivingRoomConversations.org has simple for ground rules each meeting - encouraging participants to be curious, show respect and take turns. Listening to people is the best way to get people to listen to you. These conversations are not debates. Instead of winning, the aim is come up with solutions. LivingRoomConverstions.org guidelines are open-source. People can use what works for them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 divide in America - part one of a fascinating conversation with Joan Blades. Much of our political campaign has been dominated by personal insults, name-calling and dogma. Voters have rewarded politicians who use anger and blame others for the country's problems. Individual citizens are part of the problem and the solution. "We live with the dysfunction of partisan behaviors and believe we must and can do better," says Joan, co-founder of LivingRoomConversations.org. She makes the case for personal dialog across party lines, arguing that it's a key part of changing the way all of us think about politics. A strong progressive, who co-founded the liberal activist group, MoveOn.org in the late 90's, Joan makes the case for listening to those you don't agree with. "It's actually really fun having a living room conversation," she tells us."They're more fun than if you have a bunch of people around and you what they're going to say." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 bigger role in our decision making than most of us realize. Our "Fix It" guest Mark Earls - the HERDMeister - is an award-winning British writer and consultant on marketing, communications and human behavior. In his latest book, "Copy, Copy, Copy," Mark shows how we vote and buy stuff by copying others - our friends, family and our neighbors." "Donald Trump is "much smarter than we give him credit for," says Mark.. "He gets that people need to feel stuff rather than think about it." In his advertising work, Mark has used the lessons of behavioral science and marketing success to advise clients. He shares his fascinating, if somewhat frustrating insights with us. As voters and consumers we can learn from what his research tells us - even when he go to the supermarket or spend time with friends. "I would not recommend buying grocery shopping when you're hungry," Mark tells us. And... "If I find myself in a British bar I tend to have a glass of beer and that's how it goes, unless somebody else around me goes 'ooh, a gin and tonic. I haven't had a gin and tonic for a long time'. So we both have the same thing." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 our guest Mark Gerzon, author of the newbook, "TheReunited States of America."As President of Mediators Foundation, the group he founded 25years ago, Mark has brought people together in conflict zonesaround the world Concerned about increasing polarization in theU.S., Mark is working on the ideological frontier between left andright."We can work together to solve the problems we all face in acountry we all love," Gerzon tells us on this episode of "How Do WeFix It?" But what we have now is a permanent campaign by bothparties. "And after election day they start the next campaign.""We can't solve any of the problems we face if we're tearingeach other down the whole time."Mark's fixes include urging individual citizens to engage indiscussions with people we don't agree with, asking questions aboutwhat they think, rather than stating fixed opinions."Do you want to get drunk on being right and enjoy that feelingof being with the people you agree with and bad mouth the peopleyou don't?," asks Mark.News media coverage, he says, is biased in favor of controversy,contests and clashes."There's a whole America out there that's not getting any newscoverage. And that's the America where Americans work together."Resources for compromise and open-minded dialog include:livingroomconversations.orgbridgealliance.useveryday-democracy.orgdemocracyfund.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 ofmen. Women - because they were largely excluded from public andprofessional life for most of our history - play a relatively smallrole in the established narrative of our past. "Role models have a hugeimpact on the way young girls and women in general think aboutthemselves," says Joan Wages, President and CEO of The NationalWomen's History Museum."We need more women role models out in the public sphere so weknow about them."In this episode, Joan tells about the campaign for building aNational Women's History Museum in Washington D.C. TheMuseum's website states: "It will be centrally located near theworld's most prestigious museums and monuments in our Nation'sCapital." Fewer than 20% of the Members of Congress are women. Incorporate boardrooms the numbers are even lower. Fewer than5% of CEO's at Fortune 500 companies are women."Each time a young girl hears this, it sends a message to themthat they're not equal. That's what needs to change." This episode has examples of women forgotten by history andlooks at other fixes as well as obstacles as the campaign attemptsto correct an imbalance in how women are portrayed.. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Affordable Care Act is a triumph, benefitingcountless millions of Americans, while reducing the threat ofpersonal bankruptcies in medical emergencies crippling healthcarecosts."We have decreased the rate ofthe uninsured by about a third," says our guest Megan McArdle, acolumnist at Bloomberg View. But Obamacare poses apotentially fatal threat."What people are doing is they're gaming the system." Some withhealth emergencies, who have inadequate medical insurance are"signing up for a fewmonths, using a ton of services and then dropping itagain."Several large insurance companies say they are losing money onthe government-run exchanges. UnitedHealth, the nation's largesthealth insurance firm, warned it would have to pull out if marketconditions didn't improve. Exchange enrollments are lower than thegovernment had forecast. Is Obamacare the victim of "anadverse death spiral"? Are costs rising faster thanexpected? Do Americans have unrealistic expectations thatwould doom any attempt to provide better coverage?We debate the arguments from different points of view andsuggest a fix that could involve consumers more directly in costdecisions, while putting a ceiling on heath care costs for eachhousehold.Megan McArdle is the author of "The Upside of Down: Why FailingWell Is The Key To Success." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 herfirst diagnosis to sometimes wrenching, sometimes funnyconversations with her doctors and family, Debbie gives us valuablelessons about how to survive and recover, physically andemotionally."You are pitched intothis world of fear... this incredible world of fear," she tells us."You're making a lot of decisions in that period, but you're reallyin a primal place."Her journey includes howto "de-code" her oncologist, and learn from a nurse-navigator todealing with her own emotional roller-coaster ride. She alsotalks about a vital ingredient: humor."Going into a doctor'sappointment with a sense of humor, as opposed to a sense of dread,really helped."Debbie, her husbandWarren Levinson, and son Noah tell their story in the podcast,"Chemo Files" - is a deeply personal account of her months ofdealing with cancer. She is Associate Director of New MediaInitiatives and runs NJ News Commons at Montclair State University,New Jersey.If you would like moreinformation about understanding breast cancer and learning moreabout communities that can help, these websites may behelpful: www.breastcancer.org, www.cancer.gov/types/breast, www.webmd.com/breastcancer/. A.B.C.D(after breast cancer diagnosis) ( 800-977-4121): Free one-to-one mentoring for every step of your journey.Speak with a breast cancer survivor. Get accurate, reliableinformation & supportArticles on breast cancer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 creatingconditions that led to the 2008 mortgage meltdown.The illusion of safety can lead to reckless behavior.These fascinating insights are part of "Foolproof - Why SafetyCan Be Dangerous and How Danger Makes Us Safe", the recentlypublished book by Greg Ip, chief economics commentator at The WallStreet Journal."Life is about risk," Greg tells us in this episode of "How DoWe Fix It?" When we believe the world is safe, it affects ourbehavior. "Many positive things happen from taking risks and weshould not let the pendulum swing all the way to the other side -trying to eliminate all risks from our lives."Our collective aim to make life safer comes into conflict withthe equally strong desire to make things bigger and morecomplicated. It is in our nature to safeguard our world - and yetsometimes, more often than we realize, protections end up being thethings that threaten our safety and well-being.Accidents will always happen, says Greg. Among the solutions hecalls for are safe spaces: allowing banks to fail without takingdown the entire financial system and creating flood plains that allrivers and coastal waters to rise without creating havoc in nearbycommunities.Greg argues for a balance between independence, risk and safety.Regulate too much and we reduce the opportunities for innovationand create a sense of potential complacency. "Black swan" eventsare inevitable. Our systems of governance and rule-making shouldrecognize that we cannot plan for every eventuality. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 fromour guest on this week's episode, Maajid Nawaz."It happens to be that today we are dealing with an insurgencythat's rising and growing within my own Muslim community," he says.It doesn't help to deny it."A Sunni Muslim and a former Islamist fundamentalist, who isfounding chairman of the London-based counter-terrorism foundation,Quilliam, Maajid makes a powerful argument for freedom, toleranceand respect.He says that President Obama and many other liberal-mindedpoliticians and journalists have been reluctant to call Islamistideology by its proper name. "Here's where people become paralyzedby political correctness," he argues. "We are unable to say'Islamist extremism' as distinct from Islam the religion.""I call this the Voldemort affect," citing the villain in theHarry Potter books and movies. Maajid compares the refusal to speakout against Islamists to those in the novels who were so petrifiedby Lord Voldemort's evil that they simply called him "he who mustnot be named.""We're not talking about Islam the faith we're talking aboutpoliticalization of the faith."Maajid Nawaz is author of the book “Radical: My Journey Out ofIslamist Extremism.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 many colleges and universities, says our guest, Alice Dreger. An historian who studies human sexuality and the ethics of medical research, Alice is the author of the provocative new book, "Galileo's Middle Finger." "I'm really looking at how activists go after scientists who have ideas that the activists don't like - usually about human identity," she tells us. Unsurprisingly perhaps, this show includes explicit content, including a description of a sex act. But the main focus is about the threat to academic freedom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 over land in The West. Our guest is environmental historian Nancy Langston, author of “Where Land and Water Meet. A Western Landscape Transformed.” In some western states the Federal Government owns more than half the land. This set the stage for impassioned arguments between ranchers, conservationists, corporate interests, local communities and native American tribes. All have a role to play. As for the seizure of government property, "there is very, very little local support for the militia's tactics for this kind of violent anarchy," Nancy Langton told us on this episode. "They have nothing to do with this region and I don"t think there are many local ranchers or anybody else in the community who approve of their methods." But there is considerable support for changing the way federal lands are managed and giving local interests a greater role. Some believe that land should be turned over to state and local control. Langston says collaboration and respect for different interests are the only ways to solve the disputes. We examine the arguments in this "Fix It" episode and suggest solutions. The Malheur example is more important than the case of the Hammonds, the two Harney County ranchers who were sent back to prison. The argument is part of a national debate over increasing federal government power, especially during the past 40 years, since new environmental regulations were established by the Nixon Administration. The occupiers claimed that government discriminated against local ranchers, who use federal land for cattle grazing. Is there merit to their argument, or do ranchers get over-generous subsidies from taxpayers to raise livestock on the public's land? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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, "You Are Not So Smart" and Dr. Peter Whybrow,Director of the Semel Institute at U.C.L.A., author of The Well-Tuned Brain: Neuroscience And The Life Well Lived."Dave dives in to confirmation bias, when we seek out information that confirms our world view, rather than challenging ourselves with the truth. Peter says we often make short-term choices that conflict with our best long-term interests.Instant gratification is often the enemy of a balanced budget. Beverly Harzog lived through her own personal crisis of bad debt and now helps people repair their credit. She explains how she got into credit card debt and how you can get out of it. She has more helpful information at her website, BeverlyHarzog.comFarnoosh Torabi, host of the popular podcast, "So Money,"gave us creative ideas on how to make more money and preserve your wealth by being your own best financial advocate.Many people make major mistakes when purchasing home, life, auto or health insurance. While some don't have enough coverage, others buy duplicate insurance. Laura Adams, host of the "Money Girl" podcast and a spokesperson for insurancequotes.com says the cost of term life insurance may be much cheaper than you think.If you plan to buy or rent a home in 2016, Nela Richardson, Senior Economist with the real estate website, Redfin, has some useful tips. Jeff Koyen, Editor-in-Chief of talks about the importance of getting enough sleep. He gives us some creative ideas on improving our sleeping lives.All of the sound bites in this episode are from earlier shows. Check out our menu of guests a howdowefixit.me Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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're worth listening to. From Episode 4, released in June, reformer Philip K. Howard made the case for better government and simpler, shorter laws, instead of all the red tape and tangled mess that we have today. In his Ted Talk lecture and his latest book, “The Rule of Nobody,” Philip argues passionately for legal and government reform. Not many parents can say their lives were changed by an uneventful subway ride. Lenore Skenazy, our guest in Episode 20, tells us about the uproar that followed her decision to let her 9-year-old son ride the subway on his own. Her column about it led to the movement, "Free Range Kids."Other guests on this highlights show include Hara Marano of Psychology Today, who says there's a mental health crisis on American college campuses and Greg Lukianoff spoke to us in September. His groundbreaking article in The Atlantic alerted us to why trigger warnings are part of a threat to free speech at colleges.Mike Rowe of "Dirty Jobs' and "Somebody's Gotta Do It" fame on CNN made the case for a change in emphasis in education, giving greater pride of place to training and knowledge about skilled trades occupations. Our best of 2015 also includes an excerpt from Episode 13, a show every parent should listen to. Elizabeth Green, author of "Building a Better Teacher," argues for teacher training reform and understanding the importance of the craft of teaching. University of Tennessee Law Professor Glenn Reynolds who runs the popular blog, Instapundit.com, was on Episode 10, talking about his proposal for a revolving door surtax. The aim is reduce influence peddling by current and former government officials in Washington D.C. All of our guests came armed with thoughtful, constructive and independent ideas with the aim of making the world a better place. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 teenage brain and mother of two young children. She says technology has great benefits, but also could have a negative impact on our conversations, memory and social life. The brain's craving for novelty - for constant stimulation and instant gratification - makes our tech toys seem irresistible. So how do we put balance in our lives?Abigail's fixes include time-out zones and no-screen places and events. Parents, she says, "should consider what is best for their families. For instance, I love the idea of 'no phone in the car.'"Another tip for parents is to beware of tethering - when college students sometimes call home at least several times a day."Hard as it is for parents, once kids head off to college, they really need to rely on their interpersonal networks at school, not calling home." Another fix: "As adults we have to set good examples to our children and not get too attached to our own screens." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 is in the middle of a wave of college unrest. To what extent do students today have genuine grievances? Are at least some of them rebels without a cause - angry because their feelings have been hurt? “Step by step colleges are being transformed into something more akin to mental health wards rather than citadels of learning,” says our guest, Hara Marano, Editor at Large of Psychology Today and author of the book, "A Nation of Wimps". While calls for greater diversity among college professors are an important cause, Marano tells us of fundamental changes in the student population. "Rising numbers of students are breaking down with anxiety and depression, self-mutilation, burning, cutting, binge drinking to obliterate all of their anxiety," says Marano. "Even the slightest disappointment pitches them into crisis mode." "The American College Mental Health Association has been documented rises in all of these conditions." Many students "get so distressed so readily." Are many young people over-protected and even narcissistic, demanding protection from ideas and concepts they find too uncomfortable to listen to? This episode digs into these questions, suggesting fixes for colleges and parents. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 of labor across national borders.The leading Republican Presidential candidate, Donald Trump, called for a total and complete ban on Muslims entering the United States.Our guest in episode 29, Peter Coy, Economics Editor for Bloomberg Businessweek, makes a strong case for more - not less - immigration, as well as a greater exchange of ideas across the boundaries that divide us."One of the treasures of democracy is freedom of thought, freedom of action, freedom of movement," says Peter. "In putting up walls we actually lose what we treasure the most." The 28-state European Union has been a triumph for economic growth and a peaceful transition from the wreckage of World War 2."You can drive from France into Switzerland without even pumping the brakes at the border," Peter told us. "This has been hugely beneficial to Europe, creating a single Europe with more trade, wealth and commerce than we would have." Europe is the top destination for U.S. exports, but many economists see a big cost to the economy and to our culture from erecting new barriers in the name of safety. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 adults and children either don't spend enough time in bed or suffer from sleep disorders, resulting in illness, obesity, depression, mood swings and loss of creativity.Our guest is Jeff Koyen, Editor-in-Chief of Van Winkle's, a new website "obsessed with sleeping, waking and everything in between. He shares the stories of scientists, artists, travel writers, child-care experts and many others who have a great deal to tell us about how we do - and don't - sleep."Sleep is a very complicated issue that touches probably everyone you know. It's not just adults," says Jeff. "We're talking about teenagers have sleep issues, even children."Smartphones, tablets and other devices have made the problem even worse. "Ten years ago, five years ago you were not taking your phone with you to bed."We look at fixes and what science tells us about how to get a better night's sleep. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Joining us in this episode to look at the recent changes is consultant and branding expert, Richard Gottlieb, of Global Toy Experts. "The toy industry is a nineteenth century industry that's trying hard to break into the twenty first," says Richard. "It's had a lot of difficulty dealing with the digital aspect of play that's become so popular." On this show we ask whether today's technologically sophisticated toys are scripting the way kids play. Do they force children into a pre-written narrative when they should be allowing for open-ended play? Toy stores have many traditional toys, such as blocks, construction sets and craft kits, but kids also have fun with "video games, apps and even social networking," says Richard. These new trends have "confronted the industry with a sort of existential crisis: Who are we, what is a toy and how do we play?" Richard has many positive, playful and out-of-the-box ideas on how to view toys and the nature of play in a digital society. "I think it's wonderful that children has all these choices," he tells us. "I wish we had all these choices." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 down CO2 emissions in the coming decades? What if all the treaties and negotiations over climate change don't succeed in reducing the threat of global warming?Our guest is Peter Kelemen, Chair of Columbia University's Earth and Environmental Sciences Department and Arthur B. Storke Professor of Geochemistry. Last year, Peter was inducted into the National Academy of Sciences. His research on carbon capture and storage may offer one exciting solution to a global crisis. Our show looks at a tool that could fight climate change by taking carbon dioxide and literally locking it up in the earth's crust, right under our feet. Geology research could be used to find new ways to suck up carbon and keep it out of the atmosphere, harnessing a natural process and using some of the fracking techniques now common in oil and gas drilling. We look at the costs as well as the potential offered by this form of breakthrough scientific research. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 financial crisis.Our guest, Roger Lowenstein, is the author of "America's Bank - The Epic Struggle to Create The Federal Reserve." His book is a dramatic account of the chaotic years before The United States became the last major industrialized nation to form a central bank.Our podcast features a lively discussion about American history as well as the present day, with Roger giving us insights that demystify the work of The Fed.Its job is to ensure the smooth operation of the money supply, while keeping inflation and unemployment low. But there are many who are suspicious of the Fed's independence and want to bring it under the tight control of Congress. According to opinion polls, only The IRS is a more unpopular government agency than the Federal Reserve. "You've got two candidates running for President - Rand Paul and Ted Cruz - who want to basically abolish The Fed," says Roger."Had the Fed failed to come in and be the lender of last resort and save the system (in 2008) I think the anger would be very understandable," Roger tells us. But in this case there was the equivalent of a big fire that nearly burned down the financial system, taking the economy with it. "The fireman comes. He puts out the fire and people want to do away with the fire department." Roger Lowenstein explains the need for The Federal Reserve and suggests how it could be less controversial in the future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 try to make sense of the world.David McRaney, host of the entertaining and popular podcast, "You Are Not So Smart", is our guest. His show is "a celebration of self-delusion." David, who calls himself a psychology nerd, is passionate about the need for all of us to have some understanding of how our brains work. He is the author of two recent books: "You Are Not So Smart" and "You Are Now Less Dumb.Confirmation bias helps us separate into rival political and cultural camps. "This is the thing almost from which everything else springs, because it is the natural default way that human beings tend to make sense of the world," says David.With the growth of Google and social media site, such as Facebook and Twitter, it's easier for us to deny the truth of anything that challenges our preconceived view of the world. We can retreat into our own personal corner of the internet.Behaviorial economics, neuroscience and modern psychology challenge our sense that we make logical, sensible decisions. Our show looks at what confirmation bias means to our democracy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 lower. Many firms insist on rigid working hours, making it hard for many employees to balance work and family life. How Do We Fix It? Enter time management and productivity expert Laura Vanderkam, author of "I Know How She Does It: How Successful Women Make the Most of Their Time" and "What The Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast. "Laura shares practical ideas for women and men to make the most of their free time and boost work productivity. She has innovative fixes for working mothers, companies and government policy. Flextime, paid parental leave and family-friendly reforms to Social Security should all be considered," she says. Gender discrimination is "definitely a problem in the workplace," says Laura. "But there is also a personal side to it as well." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 climate change. Science tells us that if we do nothing, there is the risk of a global catastrophe. We hear the argument for climate insurance. Gernot is the co-author of "Climate Shock - The Economic Consequences of a Hotter Planet," and lead senior scientist at the Environmental Defense Fund.Even if climate skeptics are right and the risk of global warming is small, that does not eliminate the need to plan for an extreme emergency. Gernot Wagner makes the case for pricing carbon as a way of boosting the incentives for energy efficiency. "Unless we act, we will experience major disruptions. We already are experiencing them," says Gernot. Our interview also looks the revolution in solar energy and ocean damage caused by rising levels of carbon dioxide.Ready to take action? https://www.edf.org/action Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Adams has easy-to-follow solutions and smart buying tips to save you money. The author of several personal finance books, Laura hosts the popular "Money Girl" podcast. She is Senior Insurance Analyst for InsuranceQuotes.com. To find out more: http://lauradadams.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Richard's expert guest. Skenazy argues society fills parents with fear about what might happen to their children. www.freerangekids.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Americans have money in the market. Most are long term savers. She says the basic rules of investing are surprisingly simple. Building wealth means savers should resist emotion and act as investors, not traders, ignoring the day-to-day changes in the market. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 do well-paid skilled technical and labor one jobs. Mike argues that stereotypes about blue-collar work must change. He's launched the mikeroweWORKS foundation to raise awareness and help young workers. The third season of his popular CNN show, "Somebody's Gotta Do It," starts September 27th. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 alarming rise in trigger warnings and hypersensitivity, with a growing number of students demanding protection from words, ideas and emotions that they don't like. Is this a disaster in the making for education and for students themselves? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"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 that sex offender laws enacted over the past twenty years have failed to protect children and promote vigilante justice against alleged offenders. Professor Horowitz is chair of sociology and criminal justice at St. Francis College in Brooklyn, New York. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 economist and housing market expert Nela Richardson, Chief Economist at Redfin, the real estate brokerage firm. Nela gives us the low down on the future of the housing market and the U.S. economy, plus suggestions on how we can build a better future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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? What makes a teacher great? Elizabeth Green, editor-in-chief of Chalkbeat, is the author of "Building a Better Teacher." She studied teaching methods in America and Japan, and has some innovative solutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 than poor diets. Are they right? Is Coke using scientists to reverse the recent decline in soda sales? And what are the best ways to solve America's obesity crisis? Kelly Brownell, Dean of the Sanford School of Public Health at Duke University, is our guest. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 psychologist and author Dr. Robert Epstein, Founder of the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies and former Editor-in-Chief Of Psychology Today. His recent research suggests search rankings can have a dramatic impact on voting intentions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 the blogger behind Instapundit.com, one of America's most widely read political weblogs. On our podcast, Reynolds talks about his intriguing solution to slow down the revolving door: a Surtax that would be imposed on the earnings of high-paid former government officials. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Whybrow, Director of The Semel Institute at UCLA. His research on the human brain tells us why we make short-term decisions that are often in conflict with our best interests. Dr. Whybrow suggests fixes to help us build better lives and a more caring society. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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, founder of credit.com and IDT 911 is a leading expert on data crime. He gives common sense tips and advice on how all consumers can cut their risk of being an identity theft victim. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"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," Farnoosh is an nationally known author and journalist, who has dedicated her career to explaining the mysteries of money in savvy, sensible and clear ways. Her work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Entrepreneur and many other publications. Learn more about Farnoosh at www.Farnoosh.tv. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 workers. Should they be classified as independent contractors or full-time employees who qualify health care, disability and other benefits? Richard and Jim's guest is Marcela Sapone, CEO of Hello Alfred, a startup company that dispatches workers to co-ordinate laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping and other chores. She has useful tips for freelancers and outspoken views about how employees should be treated by companies, communities and the government. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Richard's expert guest. Skenazy argues society fills parents with fear about what might happen to their children. http://www.freerangekids.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Richard are joined by developmental psychologist Abigail Baird of Vassar College. The mother of two 6-year old twins and an expert on the teenage brain, Abigail has some fascinating fixes for parents who want to strike the right balance on tech for their kids. http://psychology.vassar.edu/bios/abbaird.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 the human misery this causes dysfunctional workplaces damage businesses and harm the economy. Ron Friedman is the author of "The Best Place to Work: The Art and Science of Creating an Extraordinary Workplace." He has some great tips for both employers and employees.http://thebestplacetoworkbook.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Affairs, government can be a big tangled mess. For decades, Philip K. Howard has been a leading expert on how streamline government and make it work for all of us. His latest book is "The Rule of Nobody." In this episode, Richard, Jim and Philip a lively conversation about the problem and how to would fix it. http://philipkhoward.com/book/the-rule-of-nobody/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Harzog has seen the problems from both sides. Author of two helpful books, "Confessions of a Credit Card Junkie," and "The Debt Escape Plan", Beverly knows all about the crisis of bad credit and how to dig yourself out from debt. www.beverlyharzog.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.