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
Apr 27, 2022 • 29min
Toxic Workplaces
Chances are that if you have earned a paycheck you have had at least one day negatively affected by the behavior of a co-worker, supervisor, or employee. What do organizational psychologists say about the challenges of problematic employees? On this episode, we talk with book author Dr. Mitchell Kusy, corporate psychologist at Antioch University and consultant for The Healthy Workforce Institute.
Apr 6, 2022 • 30min
Making Sense of Social Media
When historians consider this moment through which we are all living, what might they say about social media? On this episode, we talk about the roles social media are playing in the lives of teenagers and young adults today with content creator Lydia Keating of Boston University and Jacqueline Nesi, psychiatry and human behavior professor at Brown University.
Mar 23, 2022 • 30min
Working from Home
One experience that many of us have had during the pandemic is working from home. What has been the effect of that on our interactions with colleagues? On this episode, we talk with Rory McGloin of the University of Connecticut about his research on this topic.
Mar 16, 2022 • 29min
Laughter and Social Connection
Why do we laugh? What is the point? On this episode, we discuss laughter as a source of joy and as a tool for connecting people with Adrienne Wood, a psychology professor and laughter researcher at the University of Virginia.
Mar 9, 2022 • 30min
Exercise and Our Brains
What good might exercise do for our brain? You may have experienced a sense of relief in the short-term after working out. Exercise also can have important long-term effects on our brains. On this episode, we talk with Jennifer Heisz of McMaster University, author of Move the Body, Heal the Mind: Overcome Anxiety, Depression, and Dementia and Improve Focus, Creativity, and Sleep.
Feb 9, 2022 • 30min
Understanding Money
News headlines often refer to financial concepts such as inflation. Even though many of us spend money almost every week, exactly what money is and how it gets distributed around the world isn’t always clear, though. On this episode, we talk with authors of a new book called Crowdfunding and the Democratization of Finance: sociologist Mark Davis of the University of Leeds and Bruce Davis of Abundance Investment.
Feb 2, 2022 • 30min
Beyond Humanity
With new technologies, it is now possible to alter a human being into something different than they were. As a result, we are facing new ethical and philosophical challenges. Stefan Sorgner, professor at John Cabot University in Italy, does not think the questions we are facing are all that new. We talk with him on this episode about his new book, We Have Always Been Cyborgs.
Jan 26, 2022 • 30min
Singing Together to Build Community
Human beings find inspiration in making music together. The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged our ability to gather but people have still found ways to sing together. What can we learn from our history of communal singing as we face a difficult present and future? On this episode, we talk with Esther Morgan-Ellis, Associate Professor of Music History and orchestra director at the University of North Georgia.
Jan 12, 2022 • 30min
Music for Stress Relief
As we begin a new year, many of us have faced stress and are searching for ways to cope. One source of relief is an old one: namely, music. Researchers now are learning to use music to manage stress. On this episode, we talk with Jennifer Fiore, a music therapy professor at Western Michigan University.
