The Week in Philly from KYW Newsradio

The Phillies' magical run to the World Series has completely consumed Philadelphia. While the city anxiously waits to see whether its club can ultimately beat the Houston Astros, one thing is already clear: Philly's economy is going to come out a winner. Villanova University Professor of Economics Peter Zaleski projects just how much money the Phillies' postseason push is worth, and examines the factors that make major sporting events such significant economic drivers. 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 Phillies are headed to the World Series for the first time since 2009! This success for the Phillies has had a dramatic effect on the city, as well. People whose opinions and beliefs are on opposite ends of the spectrum are united in their joy for the team. We wanted to talk about how sports successes like this can bring people together and how unique this phenomenon is. We caught up with Dr. Meredith Kneavel, Associate Dean of La Salle University’s School of Nursing and Health Sciences, to see just how much good a winning sports team can do for a city. 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 may sound like a sci-fi film, but NASA actually launched a spacecraft intended to crash into an asteroid earlier this month. Their DART mission - Double Asteroid Redirection Test - aimed to see if they could change the path of an object in space…and it worked. We asked Dr. Eric Jensen, Professor of Astronomy at Swarthmore College, to explain the goal of this mission, what happened, and what NASA could do after this test if an asteroid did ever threaten the planet. 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

Liz Truss made history - in the most ignominious possible way. After just six weeks as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, she submitted a shocking resignation, marking the briefest P.M. term in Britain's history. What went so wrong so fast? Where will the Conservative Party go from here to fill the leadership void? Immaculata University Associate Professor of Politics and Chair of the Department of Civic Engagement Dr. Joshua Weikert joined us when Truss was first appointed P.M., and returns for a bonus episode to explain the implications of this tumultuous development. 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 only a few weeks ago that President Biden praised negotiators from both railway companies and their unions for working overtime to work out an agreement that thwarted a strike. But guess what? One of the biggest unions in the country didn't approve the terms. Now, with a new November 19th deadline and the holiday shipping season looming, the threat of a service stoppage is back on. Saint Joseph's University Assistant Professor of Political Science Dr. Laura Bucci explains what the unions still want, and forecasts whether there could actually be a strike. 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

President Biden made big headlines by pardoning federal violations of simple cannabis possession, citing that “too many lives have been upended because of our failed approach to marijuana." But will the decision really move the needle? Scott Burris, Professor of Law at Temple University’s Beasley School of Law, examines the ripple effects of Biden’s announcement, and dives into the implications of how controlled substances, specifically marijuana, are scheduled by the federal government and 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

Many people were shocked when Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida arranged to have a group of asylum seekers sent from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard - but we've actually seen a move like this before. In the early 1960s, a group of Black people were sent from the South to progressive cities in the North based on false promises of job opportunities. These buses were dubbed the "Reverse Freedom Rides", in response to the Freedom Riders who protested segregation on public transportation. Timothy Welbeck, Director of the Center for Anti-Racism at Temple University, explains what happened back in the '60s and how it's reflected in what's happening today. 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 new report from the non-profit research center Child Trends shows that from 1993 to 2019, child poverty rates in the US decreased by nearly 60%. But there is still a lot of work to do. Jennifer Ng’andu is the Program Managing Director for the public health philanthropic organization the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. She joins the pod to talk about what was behind the significant drop in poverty rates, what still needs to be done, and why some incredibly effective programs - like the Child Tax Credit - were allowed to disappear. 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 are surging throughout Iran after a 22-year old woman, Mahsa Amini, was taken into custody and died. Why did she fall into the hands of the Guidance Patrol, which acts as Iran's moral police? For improperly wearing her head covering. On the surface, this event triggered a wave of unrest throughout Iran, but according to Temple University Professor of Political Science Dr. Sean Yom, the response has been a long time in the making. What are some of the unique dynamics specific to Iran that have come into play since Amini's death? How will Iranian leadership, long-known for suppressing protests with a coercive and crushing approach, handle such public displays of defiance? Yom believes the next few weeks could hold the answer, and that the implications could be dramatic. 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

Chronic heart disease. Arthritis. Diabetes. Physical disabilities. These are just some of the problems caused by obesity, which, in and of itself, is a growing problem in the United States. Just how much? Consider this troubling development: every state in America currently has an obesity rate that tops 25%. As recently as 20 years ago, not a single state had an obesity rate that high. Dara Lieberman, Director of Government Relations at Trust for America's Health, explains the ripple effects this trend is creating, and what policy makers might be able to do to 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

'Serial' is arguably the original true crime podcast. It recently came back into the news when Adnan Syed, the man convicted of murdering of Hae Min Lee in the podcast's first season, was released from prison with his conviction overturned. If this podcast really helped correct a wrongful conviction, then it made a major positive impact. But a lot of true crime stories don't have such a great outcome. Sometimes, they end up drawing attention to the wrong places. Dr. Bess Rowen teaches a Gender, Performance, and True Crime class at Villanova University. She helps us examine the impact 'Serial' had, who benefits and who suffers from resurfacing these tragic stories, and whether or not the true crime trend can last. 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

Mental health care is in high demand right now, and there aren’t enough therapists to meet the need. A lot of people have turned to mental health apps - but is that really therapy? It's a start, but do these apps provide the level of help patients need? Plus, some people have concerns over privacy and therapist burnout when apps are involved. So we asked clinical psychologist Dr. Jaime Zuckerman to help us understand the pros and cons of therapy apps, what to look out for, and how to find the mental health care that's best for you. Thanks to TJ Walsh, psychotherapist and founder of TJ Walsh Counseling, for providing background information for this episode. If you’re looking for low-cost therapy, you can find some options through Open Path Collective. 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

Inflation is proving pesky, and the Federal Reserve is having a tough time getting it under control. What's been the Fed's primary tactic to date? Raising interest rates, which happened again with another dramatic hike this past week. But Philadelphia economist David Fiorenza wonders whether the Fed should consider using other inflation-fighting tools in its arsenal as well. Plus, we try to make sense of some emerging trends in the housing market. 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

Vladimir Putin bet against Ukraine's resilience. He also bet against the West's ability to stay united. Now, nearly seven months since Russia invaded Ukraine, Putin appears to be scrambling. How has Ukraine managed to gain momentum on the frontlines? Why has Volodymyr Zelenskyy proven to be such an effective leader? What impact has the United States had on the war? Could Putin actually be removed from office? Dr. Melissa Chakars, Saint Joseph's University Professor and Chair of the Department of History, and Dr. Lisa Baglione, Saint Joseph's University Professor of Political Science, caution that while Russia might seem to be on its heels, the country remains extremely dangerous. 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

President Biden and Democrats in Congress have had some major legislative wins lately. The Inflation Reduction Act, the infrastructure bill, gun control legislation, and the American Rescue Plan -- they add up to more legislative wins than most presidents see in their first two years. But is it enough to keep Democrats in power in the midterm elections? We talk with Dr. David Barrett, Professor of Political Science at Villanova University, about these legislative achievements, how they compare to past presidencies, how they’ve affected public opinion of Biden, and whether or not they’ve done anything to renew people’s faith in government overall. 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 last several days, Hurricane Fiona has pummeled Puerto Rico. Despite the storm's destruction, the island remains resilient, and, according to Dr. Michelle Carlo, the people there are eager to get back on their feet. Carlo, the medical advisor for the nonprofit humanitarian organization Direct Relief, checks in from the San Juan region with a first-hand account of the destruction, and provides information about what type of help Puerto Rico needs. 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

Guess what? For as divided as the United States has become, polls show that most Americans agree: our democracy is at risk. So why do we have such a hard time getting along? Saint Joseph's University Professor of Political Science Dr. Susan Liebell takes a look at the health of democracy in America, and explains why she thinks the country has reached a crossroads, especially as tensions grow between what voters want, and the people who represent them. 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 Fed is coming! The Fed is coming! At least its next meeting is. What should we expect? In his weekly check-in, Philadelphia economist David Fiorenza forecasts how the November midterm elections could impact the Fed's handling of another round of interest rate hikes. Plus, why, in the face of inflation, does retail spending remain strong? And what are the takeaways from some noteworthy import pricing trends? David has the answers. 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

NASA wants to go back to the moon. We are still waiting for the launch of Artemis I, which had to be scrubbed a couple of times, but they are going to try again soon. This is a bold and exciting initiative, and we wanted to learn more about it, so we asked Dr. Karen Masters, Professor of Astronomy and Physics at Haverford College to come on the podcast and talk about Artemis. 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 the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, there has been a lot of focus on the British monarchy in the United States. From news articles to social media to wall-to-wall coverage on the cable news channels, America is fascinated by the monarchy. And of course, events around the royal family like royal weddings get fawning coverage in the US. When you think about it, isn't that kind of odd? The United States is a country founded by fighting a war for independence from the crown, and yet many Americans seem to be enthralled with a lot about the British monarchy. Why is that? We asked Dr. Catherine Warrick, Associate Professor of Political Science at Villanova 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

Artificial intelligence is becoming more and more prevalent every day, in every part of our lives. That includes in the world of medicine. AI has helped advance medical care in a lot of ways, but is there a point that's too far? Professor Sam Hodge teaches Law and Anatomy at Temple University. He talks with us about how AI is being used, from the exam room to the operating room, and some of the legal issues that get tricky when you involve technology. Plus, what could the future of AI in medicine 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

If you're online at all, you've probably seen a ton of political ads going into the midterm election - maybe even for candidates outside of your district. What's the logic behind these ad campaigns? How detailed can their targeting get, and how are candidates using that targeting? Andrew Arenge, Director of Operations for the University of Pennsylvania's Program on Opinion Research and Election Studies, explains just how important digital ads are to political campaigns, how much money is going into them, and the strategies that some of the major candidates in Pennsylvania are using. 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 gas prices go down, people seem less worried about inflation. How much are the two connected? We check in with Philadelphia economist David Fiorenza on that and how much more the Federal Reserve could increase interest rates to control inflation. Plus, we're at a 3-month unemployment low, the Jersey shore saw good profits from Labor Day Weekend, and is the housing market finally starting to correct itself? 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

These are tricky times in the United Kingdom. The country is dealing with an energy crisis, and the face of the monarchy, Queen Elizabeth II, just passed away. But such are the circumstances under which Liz Truss takes over as Britain's new Prime Minister. Dr. Joshua Weikert, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Civic Engagement at Immaculate University, looks back at Truss' path to 10 Downing Street, and examines the issues she'll have to navigate in the early days of her tenure. 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 it comes to work, what's wrong with simply doing what's in your job description - no more, no less? Is it unreasonable for companies to expect employees to buy in to corporate hustle, and always go above and beyond? Questions like these have been getting more and more attention ever since the TikTok-inspired concept of "quiet quitting" went viral. Jennifer Rossi Long, Senior Director of West Chester University's Twardowski Career Development Center, examines the implications of "quiet quitting," and explains why it might just be a good mindset for employers and employees alike to embrace. 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 Biden administration has announced its much anticipated - and much debated - student loan forgiveness program. We dig into what that looks like and the motives behind it with Dr. Sam Rosen, Assistant Professor of Finance at Temple University's Fox School of Business. We talk about who the program helps and how, what Pell Grants are and why they're important to the program, what impact it could have on inflation, and whether or not this does enough to address the high cost of education overall. 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

For most of the pandemic, the housing market has been out of control. Sellers have seen home values soar, while many buyers have either been forced to make insane offers, or simply put dreams of a new house on hold. Recent trends, however, suggest the tide could finally be turning, and that a course correction could be on the horizon. In his weekly check-in, Philadelphia economist David Fiorenza examines this storyline, breaks down the August jobs report, and looks at overall consumer confidence. 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

Mikhail Gorbachev's leadership of the U.S.S.R. represented a defining moment in Russian history. On the heels of his passing at 91, how will the last Soviet leader be remembered? The answer to this question probably depends a lot on where you're from in the world, says Dr. Mark Schrad, Professor of Political Science and Director of Russian Area Studies at Villanova University. While Gorbachev drew praise from the West for being a man of peace and principle, those same qualities complicated his legacy at home. 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

War. Gas prices. Inflation. Recession fears. 2022 has thrown a lot at us, and there's still fourth months to go. How have these developments affected travel and hospitality ? Morning Consult travel and hospitality analyst Lindsey Roeschke explains what's happening in the industry, and how these trends could impact you - the consumer. Interested in reading more about Morning Consult's findings after you listen? Check out their semi-annual travel and hospitality report: Travel and Hospitality Trends Report | H2 2022 (morningconsult.com) 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

Nursing is an incredibly hard job in the best of times. For the last few years, nurses have been facing significant stress, burnout, and political opposition on top of their normal jobs. These are challenging times for the profession, so we wanted to know if the last couple of years have changed how hospitals and healthcare providers recruit nurses. How have nursing schools adjusted the ways they teach and prepare people for the job? How different is the job now than it was just a couple of years ago? We asked Dr. Wendy Robb, Dean of the School of Nursing at Cedar Crest College in Allentown. 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 has been a year since the US officially pulled out of Afghanistan. When the US left, thousands of Afghans left as well, some settling in the United States. Many had to leave in the middle of the night, possibly with a bag, some just the clothes they were wearing. We wanted to talk about what the last year has been like for the people who resettled here in America. What kind of challenges have Afghan families faced in a new country? What kind of support do they need? We asked Nazanin Ash, CEO of Welcome.US and Wida Amir, board member of the Afghan-American Foundation. 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

More big news about the Federal Reserve tackling inflation came down, is the worst over or will there be more to come? Unemployment filings went down a bit and the labor market keeps chugging along. The GDP estimates got a little more positive than the last time we chatted about them. Could we be looking at a positive number in the third quarter? And what is student loan debt forgiveness going to mean in the big picture? Philadelphia economist David Fiorenza is on the podcast to talk about the biggest economic news of the week and what it means for you and me. 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 US response to the monkeypox outbreak continues to hit snags, as access to vaccines, ability to find treatments, and even getting appropriate care in the doctor's office can be anything but a sure thing. So where are we in the timeline of this outbreak? Have we learned anything from the coronavirus pandemic that should have helped us respond to Monkeypox? And why is there still so much red tape around TPOXX, a treatment we know works? We asked these questions and a lot more to Dr. Michael LeVasseur, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology & Biostatistics at Drexel University's Dornsife School of Public Health. 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 about to start another pandemic school year, but this time COVID vaccines are available to everyone over 6 months old. Plus, a new omicron-specific booster is on the way. Should you get your kids vaccinated or boosted now, or wait for the new booster? How important is it to vaccinate younger kids who haven't been getting as sick? Ross McKinney, Jr., MD, a pediatric infectious disease expert and Chief Scientific Officer at the Association of American Medical Colleges, answers these questions and explains what risks children and their families could face if they're not vaccinated against COVID and other infectious diseases. 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 Inflation Reduction Act, the big package passed by Democrats in Congress and signed into law by President Biden addresses a lot of issues, and that includes healthcare. This law is going to have a noticeable effect on a lot of Americans' healthcare costs, and we wanted to know exactly what that will mean, so we asked Dr. Robert Field, Professor of Law and Professor of Health Management and Policy 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

"I know from all the time that I have spent in the prisons, that there are women who are absolutely both legally and factually innocent of the crimes that they've been convicted of," says Dr. Jill McCorkel, founder of The Philadelphia Justice Project for Women and Girls, a nonprofit organization working to end the mass incarceration of women in the United States. Right now, McCorkel and the Philly Justice Project are fighting to free India Spellman. Spellman was sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2013, for a crime McCorkel says she clearly didn't commit. So how does something like this happen? How often does it happen? And why has McCorkel made it her mission to fight for women and girls behind bars? Today on the podcast, Matt Leon asks Dr. McCorkel about the mission and the case of India Spellman. Learn more about the Philadelphia Justice Project for Women and Girls here: https://www.phillyjusticeproject.org/ 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

Whether because of the pandemic or Russia's invasion of Ukraine, supply chain issues have sent major ripple effects through the global economy. According to Philadelphia economist David Fiorenza, companies are starting to make savvy adjustments, which he says is good news. This week, David also takes a look at a couple other key economic trends, from inflation to the housing market. Plus, he forecasts what to expect from the Federal Reserve in its next round of rate hikes. 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 been paying a lot of attention to the January 6th Committee investigating the insurrection at the Capitol. With a break until the hearings resume in September, we wanted to take stock of what we have learned so far. But since the last hearing there have been so many developments on multiple fronts connected to former President Donald Trump like the FBI searching Mar-A-Lago, and connected to the committee like Liz Cheney losing her GOP primary in Wyoming. We wanted to talk about them all, so we caught up with Ben Berger, Associate Professor of Political Science at Swarthmore College and Executive Director of The Lang Center for Civic & Social Responsibility. 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

Some of the biggest and most impactful items in the Inflation Reduction Act deal with the environment, sustainability, and trying to mitigate climate change. So what are they? Is it going to work? Do we have enough time to stop the acceleration of climate change before it's too late? We asked Dr. Samantha Chapman, Professor of Biology at Villanova University and Co-Director of the Center for Bio-Diversity and Ecosystem Stewardship. 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 Inflation Reduction Act was passed by Democrats without a single Republican vote in the House and Senate and signed into law by President Biden. It deals with climate change, healthcare, taxes and more -- and it's such a large and wide ranging piece of legislation that we needed some help to really understand of what this law does and what it doesn't do. We asked friend of the podcast Dr. Scott Deacle, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Business and Economics at Ursinus College to come on the podcast and help break all of this down. 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 police killing of Breonna Taylor was thrust back in the headlines recently when federal charges were announced against the four current and former Louisville, Kentucky police officers that were involved in the botched raid that led to this tragedy back in March of 2020. So why is this important? What does it mean for police departments, and police accountability? We asked Dr. Jill McCorkel, Professor of Sociology and Criminology at Villanova University. Dr. McCorkel is also the Executive Director of the Philadelphia Justice Project for Women and Girls. 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

Inflation and gas prices are both down this week, and Philadelphia economist David Fiorenza is optimistic going into the fall. He updates us on job numbers, the housing market, and what we could see as a result of the second round of the American Rescue Plan Act. Plus, we find out what "stressflation" is and what that looks like in our region. 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

Economy got you down? We get it. Interest rates have soared. Inflation has been surging. A recession could be on the horizon...yet based on the numbers, we're still spending money, despite our decreasing confidence in the economy. What factors are driving this inherently contradictory trend? Which demographics of people are being disproportionately affected the most? Is there any end in sight? La Salle University Associate Professor of Marketing Dr. Meghan Pierce offers some answers, and tries to help us make sense of a very whacky economic moment. 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

Raise your hand if you know someone who was radicalized online during COVID-19. A lot of people have gone down an online video rabbit hole and emerged with some pretty wild beliefs and worldviews. Some situations strain families. Other times, the outcomes can be a lot worse. When we hear about tragedies like mass shootings, we often hear the term online radicalization attached to the person behind the atrocity. So how does this happen, how does someone become radicalized? What does that look like, and how easy is it to fall down the rabbit hole? We asked Dr. Dustin Kidd, Associate Professor and Chair of the Sociology Department at Temple 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

Kids in the US have had a couple of rough years at school because of the COVID-19 pandemic. One academic year was turned upside down as everyone scrambled to online learning on the fly. The next year was better, but you still had kids in and out of the classroom and there wasn't always consistency. And throughout it all, there has been a lot of concern for how much learning for kids was interrupted, and the impact that has. So is this something we can measure? The not-for-profit organization NWEA supports students and educators, and they've done some research into how far kids fell behind and if we are seeing them bounce back. We wanted to talk about this research, what it says and what it means so we caught up with Karyn Lewis, PhD, Director of the Center for School and Student Progress. 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

Political leaders take trips to other countries and areas all the time, and usually they don’t draw a lot of attention. But that was not the case with a recent trip that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi made. The Speaker traveled to Taiwan on a recent trip through Asia, and that did not sit well with China, which responded with fiery rhetoric and alarming military drills. So what’s the big deal? Why did this strike such a nerve? We asked Dr. Edward Wang, Professor of History and Coordinator of Asian Studies at Rowan 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

A few months ago we asked Sigal Atzmon, the CEO and founder of medical science & tech company Medix Global to come on the podcast to talk about her concern that the US would emerge from the pandemic weaker than other countries. A lot has happened since then -- new variants, new information about long COVID, and another health emergency in monkey pox. We wanted to follow up with Atzmon, ask if her thinking has changed since the last time we talked, and figure out where we are in this very long pandemic. 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 was stunning news out of Afghanistan recently -- the US had killed Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. His name became all too familiar to Americans in the wake of 9/11, and he had been leading the terrorist organization since Osama Bin Laden was killed by US forces back in 2011. So what does his death mean for the terrorist organization? Is the world any safer today than it was a week ago? What does the terror landscape even look like now? We asked Dr. Lisa Baglione, Professor of Political Science 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 most optimistic economists wouldn't have believed these jobs numbers. Are we finally back to pre-pandemic employment figures? We've been overwhelmed the last few weeks with GDP and recession talk -- how do smart people square the strength of the labor market with all the talk of a recession? What's the Federal Reserve going to do next, and which direction are mortgage rates going? Philadelphia economist David Fiorenza is on the podcast to break down the biggest economic stories of the week and why they're important to you and me. 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

Terri Hinkley understands and respects why people might be opposed to abortion. But in the aftermath of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, the CEO of the Academy of Medical Surgical Nurses is concerned about the unintended consequences she thinks the ruling will cause, particularly for nurses and other health care practitioners. Unprecedented gray areas. Life or death judgement calls. Mental trauma risks. Hinkley believes volatile dynamics like these will now all be in play in a state-driven, post-Roe world. 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