The Week in Philly from KYW Newsradio

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

When the pandemic disrupted the workforce, showing that lots of jobs can be done remotely and making workers rethink the values they want from their jobs, many people thought it would change the way we work forever. In 2023, a lot of those workers are back in the office and feeling high levels of burnout. So how much really changed? Morning Consult puts out an annual report on the state of workers. We invited Amy He, their Industry Analyst Team Lead, to explain what this year’s results reveal about how work has or hasn’t shifted over the past year, how satisfied different types of workers are, and what workers really want from their jobs now. 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

Artificial intelligence is showing up everywhere. It’s the customer service chat box on websites. It’s the facial recognition feature in security cameras and phones. It’s even in filters on social media, and now, the workplace. But, 38 percent of Americans are cautious about how much AI is present in our everyday lives. Should we be worried about the expansion of AI? And, will increasing its usage affect job security? James Barlow is the founder of Triumph Technology Solutions, a Philadelphia-based data company. He tells us about how companies are using artificial intelligence and what investing in this technology means for 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

We’ve heard a ton about medical advancements that happened really quickly in response to COVID - meanwhile, scientists and doctors have been working on a cure and treatments for cancer for decades. Where does that research stand today? Are we any closer to finding a cure…or is that the wrong thing to look at? Dr. Jonathan Chernoff, Cancer Center Director at the Fox Chase Cancer Center, talks us through the progress that we have made, and why it might be slower than we’d like. He also explains what’s on the horizon and how new technologies, like mRNA, could 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

On May 11, the Biden administration is ending the public health emergency that gave everyone, insured or not, access to free testing and vaccines for COVID-19. They said it’s because cases have decreased by 80 percent, but the United States has reported the highest death toll of any country at 1.1 million. Are we really in the clear? And, what does it mean now that we’re no longer in a public health emergency? Dr. Esther Chernak is the Director of the Center for Public Health Readiness and Communication at Drexel University. She tells us why she believes this decision will negatively impact public perception of the pandemic, and what it tells us about health care 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

We are all way too familiar with the impact of a pandemic from the past three years dealing with the COVID-19 virus. But there is another kind of pandemic that's at the center of the hit video game and now TV show “The Last of Us”...a pandemic driven by a fungus that leads to zombies and the collapse of society. So this got us wondering - how much should we be worried about a fungal pandemic? How realistic is it? To get some answers, we spoke with Dr. Richard Bortnick, Associate Professor of Biology at Delaware Valley University in Doylestown. 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 more than 8,000 gallons of an acrylic polymer solution leaked into a tributary of the Delaware River, the city of Philadelphia panicked. But even after the all clear was given, many residents were still wary. This is just one example of a growing mistrust of government messaging. What could officials on the city, state, and national level be doing better in times of crisis? Dr. Mike Smith is an associate professor of communications at La Salle University. He tells us how he thinks the government and institutions should communicate with people and how to regain public trust once it’s gone. 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 was August 2021 when the U.S. closed the door on its 20-year war in Afghanistan with a scattershot exit from the country as the Taliban took over. A new three-part documentary from PBS’s Frontline looks at the war from all angles and examines how things went so wrong. The first episode was released this week, with the other two coming later in April. Martin Smith is a long-time Frontline correspondent who covered the war in Afghanistan and is one of the producers of “America and the Taliban.” We talked with Smith about the documentary and the mistakes that were made over two decades in Afghanistan. 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 recent years, autism rates have tripled due to advances in diagnostic capabilities and a greater understanding of autism. But how do you test for it? What goes into developing these tools? Dr. Diana Robins is the director of the AJ Drexel Autism Institute, and she developed the M-CHAT, or Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers. She tells us about the process of building this tool, how effective it can be when used properly, and how these screening tools can be improved over time. 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

Protests in Israel have continued since January, when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his party proposed judicial reforms. They say they want to reign in the Supreme Court, but many citizens think these reforms will remove checks and balances and dismantle the country’s democracy. There’s a lot to unpack to understand the situation, so we called on Rabbi Josh Weinberg, VP for Israel and Reform Zionism at the Union for Reform Judaism and Executive Director of the Association of Reform Zionists of America. He explains what these protests are about and what’s at stake, both in Israel and internationally. 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 global data intelligence company Morning Consult has a new report out called “A Brand’s Guide to Gen Alpha.” It’s a look at the next generation of consumers, a generation that is still taking shape. Joanna Piacenza, head of industry intelligence for Morning Consult, talks about the report and the fascinating trends it reveals. 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 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

Is it possible to examine the legacy of president without letting political beliefs get in the way? Ronald Gruner is the author of “We the Presidents”, a book that examines the presidencies over the last century, starting with Warren Harding. Gruner tells us how he uses the economy to examine presidential effectiveness, and how past policies shape the future of 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

Silicon Valley Bank, the nation’s 16th largest bank and a financial center for many tech startups, collapsed in mid-March. Startups across the country - including here in the Philadelphia region - are feeling the effects. But outside of the tech world, how big of a deal is this for everyone? Could this bank’s failure lead people to panic and push other banks to a tipping point? Dr. Samuel Rosen, Assistant Professor of Finance at Temple University's Fox School of Business, explains what led up to the collapse, what happens now for companies who used Silicon Valley Bank, and what this could mean for the future. 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 all kinds of jobs go virtual since the pandemic, but nursing? Actually, nursing started to go virtual in the acute care setting even before the pandemic. Now that remote work is increasing in popularity, some hospitals are looking to expand virtual nursing to different departments. Dr. Terri Hinkley, the CEO of the Medical Surgical Nursing Certificate Board and the Academy of Medical Surgical Nurses, discusses how virtual nursing can alleviate the nursing shortage, improve patient care, and provide a better work life balance. 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 board meetings across the country are increasingly becoming battle grounds in the American culture war. Do well-intentioned parents who want to shield their children from sensitive subject matter have legitimate concerns? And about those “sensitive” topics, how do we define what they are and what to do about them? When it comes to banning books and other forms of expression in schools, Cabrini University Chairperson and Associate Professor of Teacher Education Dr. Thomas Conway examines where the lines start to get blurred, plus potential consequences. 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

One of the worst nightmares for a homeowner? Finding out you've got lead water pipes. Not only is replacing them expensive, but lead in water poses a serious health risk, especially for young children. Identifying and removing lead water pipes is a decades-old problem, but Dr. Charles Haas, the LD Betz Professor of Environmental Engineering at Drexel University, has been working with a team to find fresh solutions. With the Biden-Harris administration prioritizing clean water, the timing seems optimal. 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

Over the past few months, we’ve seen a lot of reports of weird things happening in the oceans - dead whales and dolphins washing ashore in New Jersey, crabs disappearing off the coast of Alaska, “red tides” filled with toxic algae in Florida. These things sound pretty worrying - are they a sign of serious damage to our climate? We discuss these concerns with Dr. Lisa Rodrigues, Associate Professor of Environmental Science, and Dr. Samantha Chapman, Professor of Biology, both from Villanova University. They tell us not to be too alarmist, and give us a realistic look at the state of our oceans and how we can 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

With Governor and a U.S. Senate seat up for grabs in Pennsylvania during the 2022 midterm election cycle, plenty of political eyes were fixed on the Keystone State. What everyone ended up witnessing was a one-sided performance in favor of Democrats, who not only claimed the gubernatorial and senate races, but tipped the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in their favor as well. What lessons and cues should Republicans take from these losses? KYW Newsradio's Jim Melwert spoke to three political strategists, including two affiliated with the GOP, about how - and if - Republicans can regain their footing in Pennsylvania. 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 implementation of name, image, and likeness sponsorships for student-athletes has been messy, while the power of member institutions continues to be consolidated to the few rather than the many. As a result, the NCAA's identity is shifting, and its influence could be on the decline. What's stopping schools from leaving and going off on their own? Dr. Karen Weaver, Graduate Faculty at the University of Pennsylvania, answers this question, and explores other key issues facing a rapidly-changing NCAA. 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

That politicians grapple with mental health issues should come as no surprise. Think of the pressures and demands of the gig. What is alarming to one expert, however, is that too few elected officials seem willing to share their struggles. That's why Dr. Ann Rosen Spector believes there could be power in United States Senator John Fetterman's recent decision to buck past precedent, and go public about his clinical depression diagnosis. Spector, a Philadelphia-based psychologist, also discusses the signs of clinical depression, and why diagnosing it can be tricky. 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

Are you keeping an eye on the sky now more than ever? If your answer is yes, we get it. In recent weeks, the United States has shot down four unidentified flying objects, calling into question who (or what) is watching us. But here's the thing: so far, only one of the four objects shot down is said to have been a foreign spy instrument, and according to one expert, this ambiguity poses a problem that's potentially big. La Salle University Assistant Professor of Political Science Dr. Mark Thomas served as a special advisor to the Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Army in the early 2000s, and has experience working on national security issues. He weighs in on how much information a spy balloon can actually collect, and where the leak about the balloon might have come from. 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

Money is a major source of concern for a lot of working Americans - 87%, according to a recent survey by the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA). And retirement isn’t what it used to be - systems like social security haven’t adapted to today’s economy and lifespans. How can workers manage their finances and make sure they’re saving enough - and early enough? Jeff Jones is the Board Chair for NAPFA. He gives us some advice on how to assess your financial situation, and how employers can 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

Much like the plot of the 2003 disaster film, The Core, the rotation of Earth’s inner core is changing. But unlike the movie, this change is very subtle. What exactly makes up the Earth’s core? And how significant is its rotation change? Swarthmore College Professor of Astronomy Dr. Eric Jensen explains how scientists made this new discovery and what it could mean for the future. 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 seems like every few weeks, we hear about another high-ranking U.S. government leader who, knowingly or not, left office with classified documents. Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Mike Pence - all three are currently under investigation. But is this really that big of a deal? Or, is it just something else for politicians to make noise about? Villanova University Professor of Political Science Dr. David Barrett takes a look at past precedent in similar situations, and whether Biden, Trump, or Pence could ultimately face charges. 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 union went on strike. Its company sued for damages. Now, with the case having made its way across the country from Washington state to the Supreme Court, power dynamics hang in the balance. But is the court really ready to break with nearly 65 years of precedent and upend federal labor laws? Dr. Susan Liebell and Dr. Laura Bucci, Professor and Assistant Professor of Political Science at Saint Joseph's University, respectively, think not only is it likely, but will probably happen. And that would be bad news for the rights of individual workers and their ability to unionize and participate in collective action. 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 February 2022, after years of threats, Russia invaded Ukraine. A war that some people never thought would happen is still going on a year later. What has changed? Is there an end to this in sight, or could things escalate even further? Where does Ukraine stand in terms of international support? We bring back two experts from St. Joseph’s University who have helped us understand this crisis throughout the past year - Dr. Lisa Baglione, Professor of Political Science and member of the International Relations Program, and Dr. Melissa Chakars, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of History. 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