The Connection with Marty Moss-Coane

As we get ready to mark the country’s 250th anniversary, we are still struggling to reconcile our deep-seated disagreements over policies, beliefs and values. There are many ways to define those differences: red and blue, urban and rural, male and female, young and old, native and immigrant. Historian Colin Woodard says our geography has long shaped our view about what it means to be an American and our views on the role of government. His new book, Nations Apart, shows how early colonists, with their conflicting views of individual liberty and the common good, created “an awkward federation of distinct regional cultures” that still exists today. He writes that it’s these 11 regions with their unique narratives and traditions, rather than the 50 states, that drive our current conflicts over authoritarianism and democracy. Colin Woodard joins us to discuss what’s pulling us apart and how we can create a more perfect union.

Angus Fletcher says our capacity for creativity and flexibility gives humans a leg up when it comes to competing with artificial intelligence. He calls this uniquely human trait “primal intelligence,” which is the ability to activate our intuition, imagination, emotions and common sense. Our brains, he says, are not computers, and intelligence requires far more than logic, patterns and data to solve problems. He believes that storytelling is humans true superpower, especially in an uncertain world. Fletcher trained as a neuroscientist and studied literature and combined the two as a professor at Ohio State University’s Project Narrative. His new book, Primal Intelligence, is about what he learned working with U.S. Army Special Operations. For instance, role-playing can reduce anxiety and activate the imagination. He joins us to discuss the art and science of human potential.

Champion marathon swimmer Diana Nyad had three messages when she staggered out of the water after completing her historic 2013 swim from Cuba to Key West: Never ever give up. You are never too old to chase your dreams. No one achieves greatness alone. Nyad first attempted the grueling 110-mile crossing in 1978 at age 28, then again in 2011 and 2012. Each time the powerful currents, the sharks, and the deadly box jellyfish forced her to abandon her quest to be the first person to make the crossing without a shark cage. On her fifth try, at age 64, she finally made it, swimming for nearly 53 hours, becoming the first person to complete the crossing. Nyad has said that facing her 60s and feeling her own mortality became a powerful motivator. Now in her mid-70s, she says she’s living the best decade of her life. This week, Diana Nyad joins us to reflect on her extraordinary career, her relentless drive, the healing power of forgiveness, and the lessons of aging.

Psychologist Robert Coplan says that too many of us aren’t getting enough time alone with ourselves, a condition he calls “aloneliness.” He explains that alone time often gets a bad reputation and is frequently confused with loneliness, which involves feelings of isolation and disconnection. Coplan has been researching and touting the benefits of solitude for years. He believes it deserves a more prominent place in our lives. According to Coplan, carving out even 15 minutes a day for yourself can be restorative and can strengthen your relationship with yourself and others. Robert Coplan is a psychology professor at Carleton University and first became interested in solitude watching young children at play. His new book is The Joy of Solitude: How to Reconnect with Ourself in an Overconnected World.  He joins us this week to discuss why we need solitude, what it can teach us about ourselves, and how it can spark creativity.

Scott Simon is one of the most recognized names — and voices — in public radio. He began working at NPR in the 1970s and became the first host of Weekend Edition Saturday in 1985, a job he still holds today. Known for his empathy and curiosity, he has earned numerous awards for his distinctive style of journalism. Marty sat down with Scott for a special WHYY member event earlier this week, and we’re bringing that conversation to this week’s edition of The Connection. Scott shared memories of an awkward sit-down with Bill Cosby and a hilarious conversation with Dame Edna. He also reflected on the inspiring people he’s met in war-torn regions and discussed the current state of journalism in a time when the profession is increasingly under attack. We also learned Scott adores his family and espresso, never got a driver’s license, and doesn’t think he has a voice for radio. And in a surprising twist, both he and Marty once played the Artful Dodger in their school productions of Oliver!.

Anthropologist Roy Richard Grinker comes from a long line of psychiatrists—his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather—all of whom believed that everyone has some degree of mental illness. Grinker’s book, Nobody’s Normal, explores the shifting history of stigma and acceptance toward people who are perceived as different. He writes about his daughter, who was diagnosed with autism in the 1990s, a time when the condition was still considered rare. In a recent piece for The New York Times, Grinker criticized Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy and President Trump for describing autism as a tragic epidemic and a “horrible crisis.” This week on The Connection, Roy Richard Grinker joins us to discuss the progress made in understanding autism, the ongoing efforts to overcome stigma, and the need to dispel persistent myths that threaten to set back public understanding. We’ll also explore how war shapes our understanding of psychological adversity, the limitations of psychiatric diagnoses, and the powerful role culture plays in defining what we consider mentally healthy or not.

Most American teens and tweens have smartphones and spend hours each day streaming videos, playing games, and using social media. Phones can allow kids to be creative, help them explore new ideas, and connect them with peers who share their interests. But they also come with significant downsides: screen time can be a major distraction, expose young users to inappropriate or dangerous content, rob them of sleep, and increase the risk of depression and anxiety. Psychologist Jean Twenge sounded the alarm about these risks nearly a decade ago. Her 2017 Atlantic article, “Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?”, sparked a national conversation about the impact of digital technology on kids. As a mother of three daughters, Twenge knows firsthand how difficult it is for parents to monitor and manage their kid’s online lives. She argues that tech companies have failed to take responsibility for protecting young people and that parents have been left to pick up the slack. Her new book, 10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World, gives parents the tools they need to help their kids develop a healthier relationship with social media. Twenge is a professor of psychology at San Diego State University.

A conversation with Columbia University linguist and author John McWhorter on the power of language, the dangers of censorship, and the evolution of slang and swearing.

Clinical psychologist Ingrid Clayton used fawning as a coping strategy growing up in a scary home. It helped her in those frightening moments but came at a terrible price.

Why don’t we always prioritize what matters most—like making time for family and friends or fitting in a workout during a busy day? Emily Falk believes that understanding how our brain works can help us make better, more intentional choices. Falk is a professor of communication, psychology, and marketing at the University of Pennsylvania, where she directs the Communication Neuroscience Lab. Her new book, What We Value: The Neuroscience of Choice and Change, explores how different regions of the brain shape the big and small decisions we make every day.