The Measure of Everyday Life
WNCU public radio
Interested in human behavior and how people think? The Measure of Everyday Life explores ideas about how we live and why people act as they do. Independent Weekly has called the show "unexpected" and "diverse" and says the show "brings big questions to radio." Join host Dr. Brian Southwell (@BrianSouthwell) as he explores the human condition.
Episodes air each Sunday night at 6:30 PM in the Raleigh-Durham broadcast market and a podcast of each show is available online the Wednesday following. The show is made possible by RTI International.
Episodes air each Sunday night at 6:30 PM in the Raleigh-Durham broadcast market and a podcast of each show is available online the Wednesday following. The show is made possible by RTI International.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 23, 2024 • 29min
Measuring the Health and Diet of Americans
What do Americans eat? What do we know about their overall health? Answering questions like those requires measurement on a national scale. For decades, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has continuously fielded its National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. On this episode, we talk with Tony Nguyen, Chief Medical Officer for the project.
Dec 18, 2024 • 29min
Civic Leadership and Aging
Article 2 of the U.S. Constitution sets an age limit for people running for various offices but we do not have an upper age limit. What do Americans think about aging and civic life? On this episode, we talk with Yewande Addie of RTI International about her work on storytelling and public understanding.
Dec 11, 2024 • 30min
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Crime
Crime rates in the United States are generally lower now than they were a few decades ago and yet researchers and criminal justice professionals continue to search for innovations to reduce rates of criminal offense. One approach which some advocates have proposed addresses mental health concerns. On this episode, we talk with Robert VerBruggen, Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, about the use of cognitive behavioral therapy with incarcerated people.
Nov 13, 2024 • 29min
Suicide Prevention and Native American Communities
On this episode, we lift up the work of three researchers who are making a difference through their efforts to promote suicide prevention among Native American people: Ivette Rodriguez Borja, Rebecca Perry, and Monica Desjardins of RTI International.
Oct 30, 2024 • 30min
Climate Change and Food Marketing
When we read about the devastating effects of weather-related disasters, we often focus on housing and infrastructure. Such situations also might affect our eating patterns. On this episode, we talk with Lindsey Taillie of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health about her work on food marketing, the ways in which climate change might exacerbate unhealthy eating, and what steps we might take next.
Oct 16, 2024 • 30min
Collaborative Care to Help Trauma Survivors
When we hear stories about injuries from violence at the hands of other people or in the face of disasters, we often hear about acute physical injuries but there is more to the story in terms of mental health. How can we best support patients who have suffered trauma? On this episode, we talk with Douglas Zatzick of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington.
Oct 9, 2024 • 30min
Social Media, Posting Behavior, and Mental Health
Although it is easy to scroll through social media applications to see posts from all over the world, it can be challenging to know what is real and what is artificial and to know about the mindset and wellbeing of people posting content. New tools can help us assess what gets posted online and to turn that into useful signals for interventions to help society. On this episode, we talk with Ana-Maria Staicu of the Department of Statistics at North Carolina State University about her work.
Oct 2, 2024 • 30min
Learning How Developing Minds Shape Language
How exactly does language evolve and how do people shape it? On this episode, we talk with Molly Flaherty of Davidson College. She has studied the birth and evolution of a new language: Nicaraguan Sign Language.
Sep 25, 2024 • 30min
All We Need is Love?
Rob Faure Walker, an insightful author from University College London, explores the relationship between love and market dynamics. He critiques society's fixation on negative news and the transactional nature of human connections. Walker discusses the historical shift in market perception impacting our values and the need for community and emotional ties. Delving into cultural influences from the 1960s and the importance of conscious engagement, he advocates for embracing wonder and authenticity in our daily lives.
Sep 11, 2024 • 30min
Genetic Screening to Save Lives
We have seen recent innovations in our efforts to detect medical conditions in infants through genetic screening, including a program called Early Check based in North Carolina. The service now provides parents in North Carolina a free scan and review of a baby's entire genetic blueprint to look for hundreds of conditions. On this episode, we talk about the initiative with researcher Heidi Cope of RTI International and pediatrician Elizabeth Jalazo of the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.
