Life, liberty and the pursuit of grievances

The odds of a child and a wife being diagnosed with two different types of brain cancers are astronomically small – and yet, it happened to one family. Alan Townsend, dean of the University of Montana’s W. A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss his daughter’s battle with an invasive tumor, then his wife’s devastating diagnosis, and how he used his training as a scientist to guide him through it all. His book is “This Ordinary Stardust: A Scientist’s Path from Grief to Wonder.”

We’re told to eat healthy fruits and vegetables, but how can we avoid the pesticides that cover them? Catherine Roberts, associate editor for health at Consumer Reports, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss what to look for when picking produce to avoid harmful substances, why out of season fruits and vegetables might be a no-no, and why you don’t always have to buy organic to stay safe. Her article is “Produce Without Pesticides.”

Christian Paz, senior politics reporter at Vox, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the social media platform’s influence on voting habits, how stylized and highly emotional political videos grab attention, and how users end up in an echo chamber that doesn’t challenge their views.

The modern notion of the ideal man involves a lot of lean muscle mass — but why does our culture demand so much bulk from men whose lives for the most part no longer revolve around manual labor? Washington Post classical music critic Michael Andor Brodeur is a lifelong lifter, and he joins host Krys Boyd to discuss his examination of modern masculinity, why the gym took over after the Industrial Revolution, and what building muscle means for healthy — or unhealthy — identities. His book is “Swole: The Making of Men and the Meaning of Muscle.”

Last summer, former military officials testified to Congress about UFOs, and once again the nation’s imagination was ignited. Greg Eghigian, professor of history and bioethics at Pennsylvania State University, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the history of America’s fascination with UFOs — an obsession that spread globally — and what it all means for our civilization back here on Earth. His book is “After the Flying Saucers Came: A Global History of the UFO Phenomenon.”

 During summer break, campus protests over the war in Gaza have subsided, but the questions about what constitutes free speech remain. New York Times Magazine staff writer Emily Bazelon joins host Krys Boyd to discuss what makes a university a “safe space” for free speech, how 90s era laws complicate that, and how students should be included in discussions about the rules of campus protesting. Her article is “The Battle Over College Speech Will Outlive the Encampments.”

Researchers are diligently gathering data about near-death experiences to better understand the thin line between life and death. Science journalist Rachel Nuwer joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the phenomenon, which has been recorded since ancient times, and how it may offer insight into how we understand consciousness. Her Scientific American article is “Lifting the Veil on Near-Death Experiences.”

When elite women runners cross finish lines they are stepping over a history that didn’t want women running at all. Maggie Mertens joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how the modern Olympics were originally meant solely for men, the health excuses invented to keep women on the sidelines, and how innovations like the humble sports bra revolutionized sports. Her book is “Better Faster Farther: How Running Changed Everything We Know About Women.”

Only about 3-percent of the nation is vegan, but big business sees a growth opportunity. Nina Guilbeault is cofounder of Plant Futures, a nonprofit affiliated with UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss companies working to make vegan foods more accessible to the general public, and how food movements catch on. Her book is “The Good Eater: A Vegan’s Search for the Future of Food.”

Crowdfunding has gone from a resource to boost startups to a way for patients to plead for money to cover medical bills. Nora Kenworthy is a professor at the University of Washington Bothell, and she joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why so often GoFundMe campaigns fail and why even the most successful fundraising efforts mask the inequities of a health system that’s too expensive for most Americans. Her book is “Crowded Out: The True Costs of Crowdfunding Healthcare.”