The Week in Philly from KYW Newsradio

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when it came to information, one of the more interesting things was learning how wastewater could be tested and help gauge just how much of the virus was in a given community. While case counts and such don't make the headlines any more, the technology continues to grow and it is used to track much more than just COVID. Dr. Marlene Wolfe is an assistant professor in the school of public health at Emory University down in Georgia and also Program Director of WastewaterSCAN - a nationwide program working with wastewater treatment plants to scan for various viruses and diseases. We spoke with her about how this all works, what it used for now and what we could see down the road. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

School safety is at the top of every parent and educator’s mind these days, between mass shootings, gun violence in the streets, and threats against students in marginalized groups. How can we protect and prepare students for a possible attack without adding anxiety and trauma in the process? Dr. Roderick Sams is the Chief Development officer for CENTEGIX, a safety platform that helps school staff send alerts quickly when a threat occurs, and he’s a former principal. Stacey Locke is the Deputy Superintendent for the Yakima School District in Yakima, WA, where she’s had to respond to multiple school shootings. We talk with both of them about how to address safety in schools, how new technology can help, and how this conversation has changed over the past few decades. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There seems to be a conspiracy theory for everything these days, especially with the way social media has grown. Why can it be so easy for people to believe them, even when there are facts that disprove the theories? Derek Arnold is an assistant instructor at Villanova University who teaches a course on conspiracy theories, taking an academic and critical approach to how they catch on. We talk with him to learn more about the appeal behind these ideas, how people get so deep that these theories become part of their identities, and how to try to counter them if you know someone who supports a conspiracy theory. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kevin McCarthy dared a tired and fed up faction of Republicans to try and oust him. In the end, they succeeded, setting in motion a historic tailspin of events that left the third-most powerful role in the United States government vacant, and the House of Representatives in a state of chaos. Now what? Where do House Republicans go from here? How long will it take to find a replacement? Who will it be? Dr. John J. Kennedy is a professor of political science at West Chester University, and has studied American government and politics for decades. He explains the significance of the Speakership, and why resolving this situation sooner rather than later is in the best interest of Republicans and Democrats alike. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’re starting to see some sentences in the January 6th investigation, and former President Trump is facing multiple trials - but will the consequences be enough to discourage similar things in the future? We’ve talked in the past with Dr. Ben Berger, Associate Professor of Political Science at Swarthmore College and Executive Director of the Lang Center for Civic & Social Responsibility, about the gaps in our system when it comes to holding people in power accountable. Today, we bring Dr. Berger back to check in - have we been doing better, or are we still lacking accountability where it really counts? We discuss whether the January 6th cases are making progress towards change and how it affects public trust when politicians on both sides of the aisle get away with bad behaviors. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There’s not much people in the United States seem to agree on these days. That every American child deserves a quality education is probably one of the few exceptions. Where things get dicey, though, is how to pursue this goal. The role that school vouchers should or shouldn’t play in the solution falls right at the center of the debate. What are vouchers? Why have they become such a politicized, hot-button issue? Dr. Zora M. Wolfe is the Associate Dean for the College of Health and Human Services at Widener University. She’s also the Director, K-12 Educational Leadership & Instructional Technology, and goes beyond vouchers to look at other big picture issues affecting education in the United States. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In Pennsylvania, we all know what to do when we see a spotted lantern fly. Kill it, immediately, with no hesitation. But, according to a recent Penn State study, hardwood trees such as maple, willow and birch may be less vulnerable to the flies than first thought. What changed? Are we totally in the clear? And, is this just the beginning? We dissect the study with Dr. Christopher Tipping, the chair and professor in the department of biology at Delaware Valley University. He tells us what this new information means and what to look for moving forward. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Emergency childcare funding passed early into the pandemic as part of the American Rescue Plan included funds to help improve worker’s compensation and cover expenses like rent and costs of personal protective equipment. But the funding is set to expire on September 30 and is set to close down 70,000 childcare programs and cause 3.2 million children to lose care. Why is this funding essential? How will ending it affect parents? We talked to Krista Scott, the senior program officer at the Rober Wood Johnson Foundation, a nonprofit community advocacy organization. She tells us about the need for childcare funding and what ending this funding could mean for the future of childcare. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In August, a federal jury handed out its first death sentence since 2019. But will the killer who carried out the mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue ultimately face execution? Views on the death penalty have evolved over time, and Robert Dunham has some data that shows why. The Director of the Death Penalty Policy Project, Special Counsel at Phillips Black, and Adjunct Professor of Death Penalty Law at Temple University shares his thoughts on the complex issues surrounding capital punishment, and how, in his mind, the United States could adopt more practical alternatives. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s easy to get caught up in always reaching for more. No matter how much money you make or how many accomplishments you achieve, it can feel like it’s never enough. Financial wellness expert Manisha Thakor felt that way, until she hit a crisis point, where she had to re-evaluate her relationship with work and money and how that was hurting other aspects of her life. She joins us to discuss what she learned and how you can escape what she calls “the cult of never enough”. Take Manisha’s quiz to find out if you’re part of the cult, and check out her book, “MoneyZen: The Secret to Finding Your ‘Enough’". To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Increasing costs. The pandemic. Crazy parents. American youth sports is facing some serious hurdles, and the numbers bear it out. Millions of kids still play, but participation has dipped. Dr. Amy Giddings, chair of Sport & Recreation Management at Temple University and a former collegiate scholarship athlete, even finds herself questioning how much youth sports, in their current environment, are worth it. The outlook for youth sports in the United States, however, isn’t all doom and gloom. Giddings says that despite recent struggles, the country’s youth sports culture could very well be positioned for long-term improvement. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’ve all felt lonely, it’s a human emotion. But after the pandemic, Americans reported an increased feeling of loneliness. With quarantine and more people isolating themselves, it makes sense, but does that make it a bad thing? What role does social media play in feeling lonely? And, what can we do to remedy it? Dr. Jaime Zuckerman is a licensed clinical psychologist from Delaware Valley. She talks about what causes loneliness and when to know to ask for help. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The United States and China have a complicated history dating back to 1949. But, relations shifted when President Richard Nixon visited China for the first time in 1972. A year later, the Philadelphia Orchestra toured China and was the first American orchestra to do so. The trip was more than just about music, it was diplomacy. Jennifer Lin is the author and filmmaker of “Beethoven in Beijing”. She details what happened on the tour and what it means for U.S. and Chinese relations 50 years later. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the U.S. about 6.7 million people have Alzheimer’s, making it the seventh leading cause of death in the country. It’s also the most common cause of dementia among older adults. In July, the FDA approved a new drug that helps slow down the rate of memory loss. Dr. Sanjeev Vaishnavi is an assistant professor of neurology at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and the Clinical Director of the Division of Cognitive Neurology. He tells us more about the new drug, some of the challenges of curing Alzheimer’s and what this new drug might mean for the future of Alzheimer’s research. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Clinical trials are how we find new medicines or ensure treatments work for a wide range of people. But what happens when the people doing the clinical trials are all the same? Jim Murphy is the CEO of Greenphire, a King of Prussia-based company dedicated to bettering clinical trials. He tells us what goes into them, how to improve them, and why it’s crucial to have a diverse range of people participating. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’ve seen tremendous growth in the interest of women’s sports over the past few years. Whether it’s celebrating the 50th anniversary of Title IX or explaining drama between basketball players, women’s sports have been constantly in the news. Dr. Julie Lanzillo, the program director and associate professor of sports management and sports business at Neumann University, tells us about what’s driving this shift in interest, how this affects franchising and investing, and what this all means for the future of women’s sports. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Federal student loan payments have been on pause since early on in the pandemic, but the break is over - those loans will start accruing interest again on September 1, and minimum payments will resume in October. What could that do for the national economy? Will we see people spending less on recreational activities, or will it be a benefit to have more money coming in for the government? We talk with Dr. Samuel Rosen, assistant professor of finance at Temple University's Fox School of Business, about the current state of student loan debt, the Biden administration’s new plan for loan forgiveness, and options for people who might have trouble making payments again. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Earlier this month, Fitch downgraded the U.S. credit rating from AAA to AA+. It was the first time the country’s rating dropped since 2011. What does downgrading the credit rating mean? How did it happen? And what does this all mean for us? Dr. Marco Airaudo is a professor of Economics at Drexel University's Lebow College of Business. He explains what it means for the U.S. credit rating to be down and how this affects us. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After the COVID vaccine rolled out less than a year after the pandemic was first announced, we wondered about progress on a similar front: how close are we to creating an HIV vaccine? What do scientists know about HIV? And what did COVID teach us about immunization? Dr. Amelia Escolano is an assistant professor at the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia. She talks about the intricacies of the HIV virus and what goes into developing an HIV vaccine. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At the height of the pandemic, we saw government assistance make a difference for a lot of people. They helped food banks like Share Food Program help a lot of Philadelphians get access to healthy food. But that pandemic-era relief has gradually come to an end. George Matysik is the executive director of Share Food Program. He discusses how the pandemic affected food banks, how they’ve had to adapt and how people can get involved. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Work is one of the biggest stressors in our lives, but it’s something we all have to do. So how can we decrease the mental toll work takes on us? Jeanette Bronée is the author of “The Self-Care Mindset”, a book about how to prioritize your mental health and do your best work. She says it’s all about how we think and the questions we ask ourselves. She joins us to discuss how to make that mental shift, how company leaders can create a positive environment, and how to find meaning in your work. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ozempic, and drugs like it, have been all the rage lately. Besides people with type 2 diabetes, we’ve also seen a lot of celebrities talking about it and using it to lose weight. What is it? Why are so many people using it? And, more importantly, is it safe? Jason Zupec, PharmD, BCACP, is a clinical associate professor in the department of pharmacy practice at Saint Joseph's University. He talks us through what these drugs do and what they could mean for the future of weight loss medication. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nonprofits are the glue to making the world a better place. Often they focus on issues like sustainability, health and wellness, and activism. But they need key resources to stay afloat. Enter, the Unless Project.It aims to help four local nonprofit organizations implement modern digital marketing strategies. Simon Rogers is the founder and CEO of A Little Better Company that’s piloting the program. He talks about how to apply, what the program will look like and the importance of innovative marketing. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On June 29, the Supreme Court, as was widely expected, effectively ended affirmative action, at colleges. What will this decision mean for students moving forward? How did the justices come to this decision? And, will this impact legacy admissions or the corporate world? Dr. Susan Liebell is a professor of political science at Saint Joseph's University. She takes a deeper look at the decision and talks about what it means for the future of college admissions. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

No matter who you ask, James Buchanan is always, without a doubt, considered to be one of the worst presidents in United States history. This tends to happen when you are in the Oval Office and do nothing to try and stop the outbreak of a civil war. But why did someone so fit for the job, fail so hard? Robert Strauss is the author of “Worst. President. Ever.: James Buchanan, the POTUS Rating Game, and the Legacy of the Least of the Lesser Presidents.” He discusses Buchanan’s presidency and what makes him the worst. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last year, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which gave women a constitutional right to an abortion. Last month, they gutted affirmative action which ended race-conscious admissions at colleges. In addition to the controversial decisions, it seems like key principles like standing and precedent, in some cases are being pushed aside. Is this a fair conclusion? We spoke with Laura Little, the James G. Schmidt Chair in Law at Temple University's Beasley School of Law, to get an answer and see if these recent decisions are changing the way professors teach the law. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Before the pandemic, about 8 million U.S. students were considered chronically absent during the school year. Now, that number has doubled. Students who are chronically absent often have lower test scores, fall behind, or even drop out at higher rates than others. Which students are most affected by chronic absenteeism? What can parents and schools do to help them? And, with other problems like graduation rates and teacher shortages, can absenteeism be fixed? Erica Peterson is the national education manager for School Innovations & Achievement. She discusses the importance of attending school and how this issue can help us reimagine our current school systems. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In June, several Reddit communities went dark in protest of new policy changes. Then, earlier this month, Twitter announced it would cap the number of tweets users can view. Now, Instagram released its new platform, Threads. With all of these changing social media platforms, what does this mean for the future of social media? What do users want from these new platforms? And, with there being so many places to post, how can we steer clear of disinformation? Derek Arnold is a senior instructor of communication at Villanova University and discusses what’s at stake with social media platforms changing. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The pandemic changed the way we look at work. The Great Resignation saw 50.5 million people quitting jobs in search of higher wages and remote work. Many people started prioritizing a healthy work-life balance and needed their jobs to reflect that. What does that look like? And, which people and populations are at the forefront of this? Thane Lawrie is the author of The Buddhist CEO. The fictional story is based on his own experience of trying to manage the stress of a CEO while finding the peace of a Buddhist. He discusses Western society’s obsession with hustle culture and what prioritizing work and life means for the future of labor. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A few weeks ago, Yevgeny Prigozhin - chief of the Russian paramilitary group, the Wagner Group - led a rebellion against Russia's military leadership. Things appear to have fizzled out, but there are a lot of questions left unanswered. Did this rebellion weaken President Putin and his allies? Will it have any effects on the war in Ukraine? What do Russian leaders and citizens think of Prigozhin’s criticism of the Russian military? And where exactly is Prigozhin now? We bring back two experts from Saint Joseph’s University - Dr. Melissa Chakars, Professor and Chair of the Department of History, and Dr. Lisa Baglione, Professor in the Political Science Department and a member of the International Relations Program - to break down the situation in Russia and whether or not it could lead to any change. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A recent study by the McKinsey Health Institute found that of the generations surveyed about the four dimensions of health: mental, physical, social and spiritual, Gen Zers were ranked worst across all categories. It also found that on average Gen Zers are more likely than other generations to cite negative feelings about social media, the Guardian reported. But is social media that bad? Can it offer positive solutions for Gen Z? And, do higher mental health rates just mean more people are talking about it? Alyssa Yiaski is a Masters's student in Psychology at Gwynedd Mercy University. She explains why Gen Z is so open to discussing mental health and the role social media plays. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Industrial hemp can be found everywhere — in clothes, cosmetics and even automotive and construction fiberglass. But in the United States, the stigma surrounding hemp, and marijuana products in general, limit its use. Dr. Carla Garzon is the K.H. Littlefield Endowed professor of plant science at Delaware Valley University. She’s also the leader of their Cannabis Research Program. She explains what the program does and talks about the benefits of working with cannabis. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After a portion of I-95 collapsed on June 11, many thought it would take months to reopen. Well, months turned into 12 days. Why were crews able to rebuild so quickly? What went into rebuilding? And, why can’t other projects be done as swiftly? Dr. Tripp Shenton is a professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Delaware. He explains the process of rebuilding I-95 and why it was easier and faster than other projects. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Children often come into kindergarten with the basic skills down: from academic skills like counting and simple math to softer skills like taking turns and learning right from wrong. But during the pandemic, many children weren’t going to preschool to learn these soft skills, making it that much harder for kindergarten students and teachers alike. Dr. Aimee E. Ketchum is a pediatric occupational therapist and assistant professor at Cedar Crest College in Allentown. She explains the barriers families and childcare providers face and how it affects children’s kindergarten readiness. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Between 1973 and 1980, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers, both of which enforce the Clean Water Act, defined the water they protected as “all waters that could affect interstate commerce.” Since then, a lot has gone into defining and redefining exactly what these waters are. Enter the Supreme Court. Their recent decision in Sackett v. EPA means that a significant amount of wetlands are no longer federally protected. How will this affect EPA regulations? Alex Geisinger is a professor of law at the Thomas R. Kline School of Law at Drexel University. He explains the history of the CWA and what this decision means for both private property owners and public spaces. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Supreme Court case Allen v. Milligan was a challenge to Alabama’s congressional map which was redrawn in the wake of the 2020 census. Despite more than a quarter of Alabama’s population being Black, only one district had a majority of Black voters. Activists argued that the new map directly violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which SCOTUS agreed with. What influenced the court's decision? Dr. Susan Liebell is a political science professor at Saint Joseph's University. She explains what this ruling means for democracy and the court. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On June 6, the PGA Tour agreed to merge with its rival LIV Golf, which is backed by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund. The fund is controlled by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, a controversial figure who rules over a kingdom accused by many of human rights abuses. Why did the two organizations merge? What does this mean for golf? And, more importantly, how will this affect professional sports moving forward? Andrew Brandt is the Executive Director of the Moorad Center for the Study of Sports Law at Villanova Law School. He tells us about what this new golf entity might look like. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When President Biden lifted the COVID-19 public health emergency in May, he subsequently removed the Title 42 provision limiting immigration into the United States on the grounds of a public emergency. What was Title 42? What will replace it? And, how does this affect the processing and number of immigrants coming to the U.S.? Fernando Chang-Muy is the Thomas O’Boyle lecturer of law at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. He tells us about the immigration process and how the U.S. benefits from foreign workers. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Days before the beginning of Pride Month, Target made headlines by announcing that, in select stores, it would be removing certain LGBTQ+ merchandise and pivoting its Pride strategy on the heels of backlash from a small but aggressive group of customers expressing anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment. Since then, the reaction from the LGBTQ+ and allied communities has been fierce. Bryan Buttler owns and operates a media relations firm based in Philadelphia that supports the LGBTQ+ community. In a conversation with KYW Newsradio’s Matt Leon, Buttler provides tips and resources for consumers to find out more about how much a company actually supports the LGBTQ+ community, and shares insights on the impact the LGBTQ+ community has on the economy. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When plastic surgery practices reopened after the initial wave of the pandemic, procedures increased by 44 percent, according to a 2021 report by the American Society of Aesthetic Surgery. The top three surgical procedures were liposuction, breast augmentation, and abdominoplasty. While these procedures are common, they overrepresent the types of plastic surgery that exist. Which surgeries are underrepresented? How were they discovered? Dr. R. Barrett Noone’s book, “From Trenches to Transplants,” examines the history of plastic surgery, beginning at the trenches of World War I. He tells us how the practice has advanced over the years and how he thinks plastic surgery will evolve. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 2020, international student enrollment in the United States dropped 15 percent because of pandemic era travel restrictions, according to Higher Ed Dive. While numbers are slowly increasing, with 948,519 students enrolling in the 2021/2022 academic school year, they don't rival pre-COVID levels. What’s affecting international student enrollment? Why is it important for the U.S. to have international students? And, what are international students looking for in higher education institutions? Martyn J. Miller is the assistant vice president for Global Engagement at Temple University. He tells us about international students' concerns and how we can learn from what other English speaking countries are doing to increase international student enrollment. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Millions of Americans are dealing with anxiety, and much about anxiety is a mystery. However, recently researchers from the Universities of Bristol and Exeter in the UK released some fascinating discoveries from work with mice that could lead to a better understanding of the neural roadmap behind feelings of anxiety, and more importantly, might eventually help provide a better tool kit for treating anxiety in humans. To learn more about this research, we caught up with Dr. Nathan Baird, Associate Professor of Biochemistry at Saint Joseph’s University To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The app TikTok is wildly popular, and in some circles, wildly controversial. The state of Montana recently passed legislation that would ban the app in the state. What is it about TikTok that would lead to a state take a drastic action like this? How legitimate are the concerns? Is it even possible to enforce, and what could a move like this lead to? For this conversation, we caught up with Dr. Hilde Van den Bulck, who is a professor and head of the communication department in the College of Arts and Sciences at Drexel University. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As far as we’ve come in medical and scientific research, sleep seems to be an area that we just can’t pin down. We might understand the stages of sleep and what REM sleep is - kind of - but there are still a lot of unanswered questions, or questions that we hear a variety of answers to. How much sleep do you really need? Do sleep aids like melatonin really help? What happens in our brains when we dream? Why does it seem to be harder to sleep as we get older? Why do we need sleep in the first place? We pose all those questions and more to Dr. Philip Gehrman, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, who specializes in Behavioral Sleep Medicine. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

During the pandemic, households enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, received at least a $95 per month increase to their usual benefits. In March 2023, benefits were cut back, but many of the people who receive those benefits haven’t recovered from the financial loss. They’ve had to turn to food banks, which are now struggling to meet the increased need. How have food banks had to adapt? And, what have they learned from years of high demand? Fred Waisak is the President and CEO of the Food Bank of South Jersey. He tells us about the impact of ending these increased benefits and how his and many other food banks are coping. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We have all heard conversations of “why didn’t they teach us this in school?” or “why did I take calculus if I’ve never had to use it?” Now with a wide scope of possible career opportunities, it might not make sense for all students to take the same classes in high school. Why does this happen, and how could we update the math curriculum? Do we have the teaching capacity to make these changes? Dr. Ted Coe is the Vice President of Academic Advocacy for Mathematics at NWEA. He joins us to discuss how we can reimagine math curriculums and what it would mean for students post-high school. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There are many precedents in politics that aren’t necessarily based on law but on norms, like the fact that there isn’t an age restriction for politicians and that Supreme Court justices serve for life. What are some of the other norms in politics that we’ve accepted to be true? Do politicians have too much power when these norms aren’t regulated? Dr. Ben Berger is an associate professor of political science at Swarthmore College. He explains how a lack of shame has affected our current political environment, and tells us the rules he thinks could give politicians an equal opportunity. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

TV and movie writers represented by the Writers Guild of America went on strike last week. We’ve seen several writers strikes before, but producer and director Andrew Susskind says that with the growth of streaming, this time is different. Susskind teaches producing, directing, writing, and editing at Drexel University's Westphal College of Media Arts and Design. He joins us to explain the motives of this strike that go beyond pay, looking at the structure of how writers are hired for streaming shows, the threat of AI, and more. He also gives us his predictions for how long this could last and what effects TV viewers could notice on their favorite shows. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a 25 percent increase in anxiety and depression, especially in young people and women, according to the World Health Organization. What affects our mental health? Why are young people struggling? And what can be done to help them? Schroeder Stribling is the president and CEO of Mental Health America, a community-based nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness. Their website offers a mental health screening tool, which in 2022, reached 6.3 million Americans. She explains the organization’s findings and tells us the importance of opening up the mental health conversation. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We are seeing a serious situation in Sudan where violence has erupted between two factions of the military. Hundreds of civilians have been killed and there is significant concern about this leading to a humanitarian catastrophe. To learn more about what is happening, we caught up with Dr. Kelly Duke-Bryant, an Associate Professor of History at Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ, who teaches a variety of courses on Africa. We asked her about the roots of this situation, learned why it isn’t a civil war, and also discussed why this conflict seems to be getting significantly more news coverage compared to other conflicts we have seen recently in Africa. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices