Top of Mind with Julie Rose

BYUradio
  • 4.6 (171)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Tackling tough topics in a way that will help you feel more empathy and empower you to become a better citizen, kinder neighbor, and more effective advocate. For people who are turned off by the divisive nature of the news, but still want to engage with important issues. Hosted by journalist Julie Rose, Top of Mind is a production of BYUradio.

  1. The One Thing That Makes Difficult Conversations Easier

    Jul 6

    The One Thing That Makes Difficult Conversations Easier

    Why do some difficult conversations leave us feeling understood while others leave us frustrated and further apart? In this episode, we explore a surprisingly powerful tool that can make even the hardest conversations easier: storytelling. You'll hear about groundbreaking research from BYU showing how personal stories can increase empathy between autistic and neurotypical individuals. You'll learn why vulnerability helps people connect across differences, how stories create understanding where facts and arguments often fail, and why some of the world's leading dialogue facilitators begin difficult conversations by asking people to share a personal story. GUESTS Garrett Cardon, cognitive neuroscientist, audiologist, and Professor in the Department of Communication Disorders at Brigham Young University (https://education.byu.edu/directory/view/garrett-cardon). Kennedy Kleinman, storytelling researcher, workshop facilitator, and master’s student in English at Brigham Young University (https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/studentpub_uht/480/). John Sarrouf, Co-Executive Director of Essential Partners (https://whatisessential.org/). Story Slam participants – Zanza, Julie, Benjamin, Emma, and Natalie Top of Mind episode featuring the Abortion Talks - https://www.byuradio.org/top-of-mind-how-to-talk-about-abortion CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (1:44) The Double Empathy Problem (4:30) Storytelling Experiment Setup (9:52) Five Stories on Stage (15:52) Results Brain Sync and Takeaways (25:55) Transformative Story Framework (29:18) Workshop Steps (32:18) Storytelling Beyond Campus (35:09) Stories in Deep Divides (46:54) Asking for Stories (53:11) Conclusion

    54 min
  2. Are Juries America’s Best Defense Against Injustice?

    Jun 22

    Are Juries America’s Best Defense Against Injustice?

    Every year, millions of Americans receive a jury summons, but how many of us truly understand the responsibility that comes with deciding another person's fate? In this episode, we explore one of the foundations of American democracy: trial by jury. We’ll hear from a juror who struggled with the weight of a guilty verdict, a man who was wrongfully convicted and sent to death row, and a former felon who argues that America's jury system excludes crucial voices. GUESTS Kristin Campbell, Senior Fellow, Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement (PACE) (https://www.pacefunders.org/). Herman Lindsey, Executive Director of Witness to Innocence and a former death row prisoner (https://www.witnesstoinnocence.org/). James Binnall, attorney, professor at California State University Long Beach, and author of “Twenty Million Angry Men: The Case for Including Convicted Felons in Our Jury System” (https://www.ucpress.edu/books/twenty-million-angry-men/paper). Valerie Hans, Professor of Law at Cornell University and one of the nation's leading jury researchers (https://www.lawschool.cornell.edu/faculty-research/faculty-directory/valerie-hans/). CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (1:05) Kristin Campbell Jury Shock (3:55) Who Counts as a Peer (5:42) Deliberating the Gun Charge (7:32) Verdict Weight and Aftermath (10:35) Defendant Perspective Herman Lindsey (16:57) How Juries Get Skewed (20:27) Felons Banned from Juries (25:32) Binnall Research on Inclusion (34:43) Host Jury Story and Fixes (49:47) Rebuilding Trust in Juries

    53 min
  3. Why Is Everyone Asking for a Tip Now?

    Jun 8

    Why Is Everyone Asking for a Tip Now?

    Why does it feel like everyone is asking for a tip now? From coffee shops and takeout counters to self-checkout screens, tipping culture in America has changed fast, and many of us feel confused, pressured, or even guilty about it. In this episode of Top of Mind, we explore the hidden psychology of tipping, the history behind it, and what our tipping habits reveal about power, status, fairness, and human connection. Hear from customers who feel overwhelmed by “tip creep,” workers who rely on gratuities to survive, restaurant owners struggling to pay staff fairly, and one of the nation’s leading experts on tipping behavior. GUESTS Matt Johnson, Top of Mind listener from Texas Jaime Wilson, behind-the-counter worker, food blogger and self-employed baker (https://www.jaime-wilson.com/about). Mike Fadem, owner and founder of Ops and Leo, pizzerias in Brooklyn, New York and drummer for The Jealous Girlfriends (https://www.opsbk.com/). Michael Lynn, professor of consumer behavior and services marketing at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration (http://www.tippingresearch.com/). CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (1:04) Why Tipping Feels Weird (6:24) Workers’ Side of the Counter (10:44) Tipping’s Dark History (17:04) Going Tip Free (19:44) Why Tip Free Failed (22:22) Pandemic Tip Shifts (25:51) Pooling Tips (28:03) Tip Creep Meets Tipflation (34:26) Digital Screens Pressure Us (39:36) Discrimination/Inequity (43:35) Why Ending Tipping Fails (46:44) A Better System (48:00) What Tipping Says About Us (52:17) Conclusion

    54 min
  4. Who Owns Culture? Museums, History, and the Stories We Tell

    May 25

    Who Owns Culture? Museums, History, and the Stories We Tell

    Who owns culture, and who gets to tell its stories? We explore the complex and often uncomfortable debate around cultural ownership, appropriation, and representation. You’ll hear how a hidden figure in a centuries-old painting forced museums to rethink history, why some argue artifacts should be returned to their communities, and how others worry that limiting who can tell cultural stories may actually close doors to understanding. We also explore stories of repatriation and healing, alongside questions about cultural appreciation vs. appropriation. GUESTS Marenka Thompson-Odlum, PhD, Research Curator, Pitt Rivers Museum at the University of Oxford (https://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/labelling-matters). Tiffany Jenkins, journalist and author of “Keeping Their Marbles: How the Treasures of the Past Ended Up in Museums and Why They Should Stay There” (https://tiffanyjenkinsinfo.com/). Ann E. Meilus Esq., President of the Barre Museum Association Manny Iron Hawk, member of the Lakota Nation; Spokesperson for HAWK (Heartbeat at Wounded Knee) 1890 Survivor Descendants society Renee Iron Hawk, member of the Lakota Nation; Secretary for HAWK 1890 Survivor Descendants society (https://nativenewsonline.net/sovereignty/we-re-going-to-make-a-way-wounded-knee-survivors-and-relatives-travel-to-new-england-to-ask-for-their-artifacts-back). Mia Moody-Ramirez, PhD Chair of Journalism, Public Relations & New Media, Baylor University College of Arts & Sciences (https://www.miamoody.org/). CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (0:57) Glasgow Portrait Revealed (2:58) Scotland and Slavery Links (4:48) Reframing Museum Labels (7:02) Inside Pitt Rivers Museum (9:57) Three Curator Questions (13:51) Shrunken Heads Removed (16:28) Who Owns the Past (21:17) Case Study Elgin Marbles (28:33) Wounded Knee Repatriation (39:02) Appreciation vs Appropriation (47:49) Navigating Gray Areas

    54 min
  5. Are America’s Kids Okay? How We Can Do Better

    May 11

    Are America’s Kids Okay? How We Can Do Better

    America’s kids are facing serious challenges, from rising anxiety and depression to falling behind in school and growing up in increasingly complex family situations. But there’s also hope. In this episode of Top of Mind, we’ll hear from educators, researchers, and policy experts tackling the biggest issues facing kids today: from teen mental health first aid in schools, to rethinking education after the pandemic, to addressing chronic absenteeism and supporting single mothers. GUESTS Jen Schnormeier, Instructional coach at Gilbert High School, lead trainer for Teen Mental Health First Aid (https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/). Justin Reich, professor of digital media at MIT, Director of the Teaching Systems Lab, host of the Teach Lab podcast, author of “Failure to Disrupt” (https://www.teachlabpodcast.com/). Hedy Chang, founder and executive director of Attendance Works (https://www.attendanceworks.org/). Ronald Mincy, professor of Social Policy and Social Work Practice, Columbia University, co-founder of the Future Families and Child Wellbeing Study (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/300330248_Effect_of_Father_Engagement_on_Child_Behaviors). CHAPTERS (0:00) Teachers Unprepared (1:15) Mental Health First Aid (2:29) Why Kids Are Struggling (11:22) Handling Suicide Talk (17:19) Academic Crisis Pivot (18:43) Pandemic Lessons from Students (27:41) Chronic Absence Surge (29:50) Why Attendance Matters (31:25) Barriers Keeping Kids Home (36:52) Single Parenthood Spotlight (41:36) Reframing Nonresident Fathers

    54 min
  6. Why Primary Elections Matter More Than You Think

    Apr 27

    Why Primary Elections Matter More Than You Think

    Most Americans focus on the general election in November. But what if the real decision is happening months earlier? In this episode of Top of Mind, we take a closer look at primary elections, the often-overlooked part of the political process that determines who actually makes it onto the final ballot. In fact, in many districts, whoever wins the primary is almost guaranteed to win the general election. So why don’t more people vote in primaries? And are the rules of the system helping or hurting our democracy? Host Julie Rose speaks with advocates for and against primary election reform to discuss new possibilities for a more representative future. GUESTS Nick Troiano, founder of Unite America and author of “The Primary Solution: Rescuing Our Democracy from the Fringes” (https://www.uniteamerica.org/). Charlie Buckles, deputy chairman of the Louisiana Republican Party and a delegate to five Republican National Conventions. Doug Goodman, an independent voter and founder of Nevadans for Election Reform (https://www.facebook.com/Nevadansforelectionreform/). Rob Boatright, a political science professor at Clark University, and author of several books on the history of primary elections (https://wordpress.clarku.edu/rboatright/). Top of Mind episode about money in politics - https://www.byuradio.org/top-of-mind-what-can-we-do-about-americas-money-in-politics-problem Top of Mind episode about rebuilding trust in elections - https://www.byuradio.org/top-of-mind-what-will-it-take-to-rebuild-american-trust-in-elections CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (1:31) Nick’s Run and Wake Up Call (4:45) The Case for One Ballot (13:25) Louisiana Switchback Debate (25:40) Polarization and Primaries (31:46) Fixing Weak Parties (34:49) Ballot Initiatives Roadblocks (36:25) Ranked Choice Voting Explained (37:47) Nevada Top Five Proposal (43:58) Ranked Choice Critiques (45:03) Turnout Versus Rule Changes (45:55) National Primary Day Idea (50:04) Conclusion

    52 min
  7. Are Routine Traffic Stops Helping or Hurting Public Safety?

    Apr 13

    Are Routine Traffic Stops Helping or Hurting Public Safety?

    Getting pulled over is one of the most common interactions Americans have with police, but do routine traffic stops make our communities safer? In this episode, we explore the real impact of traffic enforcement through powerful personal stories, expert insight, and new data from cities rethinking how policing works. Alexander Landau shares the traffic stop that nearly cost him his life and how it led him to advocate for reform. Valerie Castile reflects on the killing of her son, Philando Castile, and the pattern of stops that preceded his death. Meanwhile, law enforcement leaders and researchers weigh-in on whether reducing low-level traffic stops can improve safety, reduce racial disparities, and protect officers. Original airdate: August 21, 2023 GUESTS Alexander Landau, founder and Director of Community Relations for Denver Justice Project (https://www.denverjusticeproject.org/). Valerie Castile, mother of Philando Castile and President of the Philando Castile Relief Foundation (https://www.philandocastilefoundation.org/). Officer Mark Ross, St. Paul police officer and President of the St. Paul Police Federation (https://sppdfederation.com/). Dr. Thaddeus Johnson, Professor of Criminal Justice and Criminology at Georgia State University, Senior Fellow at the Council on Criminal Justice, and former Memphis police officer (https://time.com/6252760/reducing-fatal-police-encounters-traffic-stops/). Chief Axel Henry, current Chief of Police for the Saint Paul Police Department (https://www.stpaul.gov/departments/police/administration-office-chief). CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (0:54) Landau Stop Turns Violent (11:49) Philando Castile Pattern (19:22) St Paul Cuts Low Level Stops (22:13) A Friendly Equipment Stop (24:07) Warnings and Compliance (25:58) Officer Safety Mindset (26:42) Worst Case Traffic Stop (29:02) Officer Conduct (33:20) Low Level Stops and Staffing Crunch (36:46) Chief Henry's Mind Change (39:44) Reform Evidence from Fayetteville (42:51) Incentives and AI Risks (51:13) Trauma Informed Policing

    54 min
  8. Justice in Healthcare: Who Deserves to Be Healthy?

    Mar 30

    Justice in Healthcare: Who Deserves to Be Healthy?

    Who deserves to be healthy—and who’s responsible for making that possible? In this episode of Top of Mind, we explore one of the toughest questions in modern healthcare: how we decide who gets care, compassion, and lifesaving treatment. A doctor reflects on a moment with a patient that changed his understanding of kindness in medicine. A widow shares the devastating consequences of a transplant policy that kept her husband from getting the organ he needed. And a bioethicist walks us through the uncomfortable reality of deciding who gets lifesaving care when resources are scarce. Original airdate – March 13, 2023 GUESTS Dr. Michael Stein, primary care physician and Chair of Health Policy at the Boston University School of Public Health (https://www.michaelsteinbooks.com/home) Debra Selkirk, Chief Advocacy Officer at the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism and widow of a liver failure patient (https://centerforhealthjournalism.org/debra-selkirk) Dr. Jacob M. Appel, psychiatrist and bioethicist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (https://jacobmappel.com/) Dr. Dayna Bowen Matthew, Dean of the George Washington University Law School and expert in public health and civil rights law (https://www.law.gwu.edu/dayna-bowen-matthew) CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (0:57) Beatrice and the Broken Promise (3:17) Kindness Over Judgment (5:47) Empathy Improves Outcomes (8:35) Public Health vs Individualism (13:03) Alcohol and Transplant Fairness (26:09) Social Worth Taboo (27:32) Stewardship and Past Choices (29:07) Vaccine Refusal Priority (31:28) Manufactured Medical Scarcity (34:27) Just Health and Family Story (47:16) Racism Stress and Community Action

    54 min
See All (165)

Trailer

4.6
out of 5
171 Ratings

About

Tackling tough topics in a way that will help you feel more empathy and empower you to become a better citizen, kinder neighbor, and more effective advocate. For people who are turned off by the divisive nature of the news, but still want to engage with important issues. Hosted by journalist Julie Rose, Top of Mind is a production of BYUradio.

Information

More From BYUradio

You Might Also Like