To The Best Of Our Knowledge

How we live is indelibly intertwined with the care and empathy we give to each other. What if we put care into helping Americans find homes and build dwellings, into keeping their bodies and minds sound, and finding meaningful and well-paid work? In this three part series, "To The Best Of Our Knowledge" and the Economic Hardship Reporting Project bring you real life stories about economic struggle in our time, as well as ideas for solutions. Post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health challenges can push people into poverty. Meanwhile, the experience of financial desperation can also create even more trauma, even more suffering. How do you break the cycle? How do we truly care for people mentally and financially? If you or someone you know are having mental health struggles, we wanted to make sure you are aware of some resources. The National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day by calling 9-8-8. The National Alliance on Mental Illness reminds us that one in five people in the US has a mental health concern every year. You can find support and education at their web site, nami.org. Original Air Date: November 12, 2022 Interviews In This Hour: Trauma and poverty: The perfect storm experienced by U.S. veterans — Learning to cope when mental health care feels out of reach — More than one way to treat a mind — How harm reduction disrupts painful cycles of addiction Guests: Alex Miller, Katie Prout, Daniel Bergner, Maia Szalavitz Listen to the full series at ttbook.org/goingforbroke

Explore the housing crisis in America and the importance of care in society. Learn about the challenges faced by low-income individuals in finding affordable housing. Discover the concept of creating people-shaped cities and empowering residents to shape their own neighborhoods. Hear personal stories of hosting individuals experiencing homelessness and the impact of integrating care into government agencies.

Geologist Marcia Bjornerud, photographer Stephen Alvarez, and artist Dustin Illetewahke Mater discuss various fascinating topics in this podcast. From the wonders of ancient cave art to making art inspired by ancestors, they delve into shifting our minds to 'geologic' time and appreciating Earth's way of keeping time. They explore the cognitive challenge of understanding deep time and the impact of visual images on human evolution. They also discuss the significance of connecting with ancient art in caves and finding stillness and connection with nature.

In the 21st century, there are a lot of old crafts we think we don’t have much use for anymore. Blacksmithing. Wood turning. Spinning and basket-making. But here's the funny thing — as our world gets more and more virtual, traditional skills are starting to look better and better to a lot of people. Original Air Date: April 09, 2022 Interviews In This Hour: Could you build your own pots and pans? Coppersmith Sara Dahmen revives a lost art — A craftsman alone in the Alaskan wilderness — ‘He’s my Shakespeare’: Nick Offerman on the craft and wisdom of Wendell Berry Guests: Sara Dahmen, Monroe Robinson, Nick Offerman Never want to miss an episode? Subscribe to the podcast. Want to hear more from us, including extended interviews and favorites from the archive? Subscribe to our newsletter.

We all feel better after a good cry. In fact, humans are the only animals who cry emotional tears. But what about people who don't cry? And have you ever wondered why a sad song or movie makes you cry? Original Air Date: August 05, 2023 Interviews In This Hour: Hip-hop artist Dxtr Spits on teaching men to cry — The evolution and neuroscience of tears — What happens when an actor cries Guests: Dxtr Spits, Michael Trimble, Jen Plants Never want to miss an episode? Subscribe to the podcast. Want to hear more from us, including extended interviews and favorites from the archive? Subscribe to our newsletter. Categories: Tears, sad, crying, cry, sad boi, emotions, mourning

Pop music is a gazillion-dollar industry that churns out hits and creates celebrities. It seems like the definition of ephemeral – today’s chart topper is gone tomorrow. But pop music is a powerful vehicle for bringing people together, and fans - from K-pop to the #FreeBritney movement — have something to teach us about community and hope. Original Air Date: March 26, 2022 Interviews In This Hour: When we're disconnected, can we reconnect through K-pop? — From pop to punk: Shaping our musical identities — How a fan movement freed a pop star from her gilded cage Guests: Regina Kim, Kyla Nicole, Kelefa Sanneh, Samantha Stark Never want to miss an episode? Subscribe to the podcast. Want to hear more from us, including extended interviews and favorites from the archive? Subscribe to our newsletter.

What makes food "authentic"? Do we need to feel close to where it's made? Know the complete history of where it comes from? Be able to diagram the chemistry of how it dances along our taste buds? How can we quantify the romance between eaters and the food they love? In this hour, we talk about what it means to truly love what you eat and drink — and we ask why it matters. Original Air Date: June 30, 2018 Interviews In This Hour: The Frightening Sameness Beneath Hundreds of Flavors — A Little Grammy, A Little Bubbe: A Writer Embodies Family History Through Food — Anyone Can Cook—With the Right Elements — Does 'Selling Out' Make a Difference You Can Taste? — Two Dishes, Two Tastings: A Dinner Party with Simran, Michael, Samin and Josh Guests: Simran Sethi, Samin Nosrat, Michael Twitty, Josh Noel Never want to miss an episode? Subscribe to the podcast. Want to hear more from us, including extended interviews and favorites from the archive? Subscribe to our newsletter.

Can neuroscience explain what happens to the brain on psychedelics? And even if we map the brain while it’s tripping, does that tell us why these experiences can be so transformative?  We’ll talk with some of the pioneers in psychedelic research — from Amanda Feilding’s boundary-busting work to Robin Carhart-Harris’ theory of the "entropic brain." Also, renowned neuroscientist Christof Koch goes down the rabbit hole on 5-MeO-DMT, also known as toad venom.   Original Air Date: July 15, 2023 Interviews In This Hour: Exploring consciousness on toad venom — The godmother of the European psychedelic revival — How therapeutic psilocybin could help heal long-buried trauma — Magic mushrooms and the 'entropic brain' Guests: Christof Koch, Amanda Feilding, David Nutt, Robin Carhart-Harris Never want to miss an episode? Subscribe to the podcast. Want to hear more from us, including extended interviews and favorites from the archive? Subscribe to our newsletter.

When was the last time you got up off your couch and actually went out to see a movie? Or a play or a concert? It’s fun to go see things in person, but at the end of a long day, Netflix is streaming and the couch is two feet away. But what happens when everyone stays home? When the movie theaters and art houses and performance spaces sit empty? Do we lose something in the process? Original Air Date: October 21, 2017 Interviews In This Hour: An Old-Fashioned Movie House Wedding — The Modern Ruins Of American Movie Palaces — The Sudden Demise of a Beloved DIY Venue — Saved By The Scene, In Real Life or Online — A Fast-Talking Curator's Great Escape From Galleries Into The Real World — I Went To The Woods To Level Up Deliberately — Where We're Going, We Don't Need Talk Show Sets Guests: Matt Lambros, Matt Conboy, JJ Skolnik, Hans Ulrich Obrist, Tracy Fullerton, Will Smith, Mark Riechers, Laurie Gebhard Never want to miss an episode? Subscribe to the podcast. Want to hear more from us, including extended interviews and favorites from the archive? Subscribe to our newsletter.

Now that road trip season is upon us, we take a deep look at the open road. We’ll talk with interstate long-haulers, join an elephant named Solomon on his journey across 16th century Europe, and take the “blackest road trip ever.” And Manal al-Sharif tells the story of her radical road trip — being a Saudi woman who learned how to drive. Original Air Date: July 01, 2023 Interviews In This Hour: Put It In Boogie Gear On the Backslide — A Guidebook to the 'Blackest Road Trip Ever' — Philip Pullman on 'The Pocket Atlas of the World' — Driving While Female — Julie Schumacher on 'Elephant's Journey' — Getting High At Disney World Guests: Finn Murphy, Lawrence Ross, Philip Pullman, Manal al-Sharif, Julie Schumacher, John Jeremiah Sullivan Never want to miss an episode? Subscribe to the podcast. Want to hear more from us, including extended interviews and favorites from the archive? Subscribe to our newsletter.