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
Sep 14, 2022 • 30min
The Arts and Our Brains
We sometimes look to the arts as an outlet for enjoyment but the arts also can affect our social interactions, our future imagination, and perhaps even how we learn. On this episode, we talk with Susan Magsamen, Executive Director of the International Arts + Minds Lab at Johns Hopkins University.
Aug 31, 2022 • 30min
A History of Historically Black Colleges and Universities
In 1965, the United States Congress officially recognized Historically Black Colleges or Universities as schools of higher learning, but the history of HBCUs extends all the way back to the 1830s. On this episode, we talk with Dr. Jelani Favors of North Carolina A&T State University, author of the award-winning Shelter in a Time of Storm: How Black Colleges Fostered Generations of Leadership and Activism.
Aug 17, 2022 • 30min
Food Insecurity on College Campuses
Every fall in the U.S., students across the country head off to college. What you might not know is that some of them aren’t sure if they are going to have enough to eat when they are there. On this episode, we talk with two people trying to address that: Katharine Broton of the University of Iowa and Kathleen O’Neill of Bunker Hill Community College in Boston.
Aug 10, 2022 • 30min
The Long-Term Effects of Good Teaching
Can you remember a teacher who affected your life? As many students return to school in the U.S., we know teachers can have important effects. How exactly does good teaching make a difference? On this episode, we talk with Julie Schmidt Hasson of Appalachian State University, author of Safe, Seen, and Stretched in the Classroom: The Remarkable Ways Teachers Shape Students’ Lives.
Jun 29, 2022 • 30min
Farming and Race
With the increase in food prices in recent years, farming has been in the news and farming continues to be challenging work. In the U.S., various organizations have sought to support young farmers in their work. On this episode, we talk about that history with Dr. Antoine Alston of North Carolina A&T State University, co-author of the new book, The Legacy of The New Farmers of America.
Jun 15, 2022 • 30min
Face Time and Emotion
When we talk with people who aren't in the same room as us, we often are not limited to phone calls or written correspondence anymore. What difference does it make to see someone’s facial expressions when interacting with them? On this episode, we talk with Lisa Feldman Barrett, Professor of Psychology at Northeastern University, about what facial expressions can and can't tell us.
Jun 8, 2022 • 30min
Acting as a Team
We often refer to teams and teamwork, both as an explanation for success and as a worrying force as we consider polarization in society. On this episode, we talk with Don Forsyth, a psychology professor at the University of Richmond who has sought to understand group dynamics.
May 25, 2022 • 30min
Managing Group Discussion
Every day, many of us have conversations with small groups of people. Sometimes that now happens via videoconference or group chat. A lot happens when groups try to talk, though, that you might not realize. On this episode, we talk with conversation researcher Tanya Stivers of the University of California, Los Angeles, about group interaction successes and challenges.
May 18, 2022 • 30min
Philanthropy as a Bet on the Future
Philanthropy is sometimes cited as a force for good in the 21st century. People have donated money for societal gain for hundreds of years, though, and we can learn lessons from the successes and failures of past investments. On this episode, we talk with Michael Meyer of the University of Pittsburgh about his book, Benjamin Franklin’s Last Bet: The Favorite Founder’s Divisive Death, Enduring Afterlife, and Blueprint for American Prosperity.
May 11, 2022 • 30min
Homelessness and Housing
The real estate market in the U.S. has been in the headlines recently. What might that have to do with the challenge of homelessness? On this episode, we talk with Gregg Colburn, faculty member at the University of Washington and co-author of a new book called Homelessness is a Housing Problem.
