Top of Mind with Julie Rose BYUradio

Americans have a perplexing perception of crime. One in three Americans report watching, listening, or reading true crime on a weekly basis. But our fixation on crime goes deeper than entertainment. Both Republicans and Democrats consider violent crime an increasing problem. But most of us are safer today than we’ve ever been. Violent crime in America is down 50% since the 1990s. What’s driving the disconnect in our perception of crime? And what consequences does it have for our communities? Where might be a better place to direct our attention?

On this podcast episode, we talk to a devoted fan of true crime who has also studied the effect it has on people. A leading research on crime and public perception in America explains how the 9/11 terror attacks fueled the disconnect in how safe Americans are and how safe they feel they are. We also speak with a survivor of intimate partner violence who created an organization to educate people about domestic and intimate partner violence, which pose a far greater threat to Americans than the crime we most fear.

Podcast Guests:
Amanda Vicary, Chair of the Psychology Department and professor at Illinois Wesleyan University (https://amandavicary.com/)

John Roman, senior fellow in economics, justice, and society at NORC at the University of Chicago, director of the Center on Public Safety and Justice (https://substack.com/@johnkroman)

Twahna P. Harris, domestic violence survivor and founder and executive director of The Butterfly Society (https://www.thebutterflysociety.org/)

These days anything that's widespread might be called an "epidemic." Violence, obesity, opioids, even loneliness. But in the public health space, the label "epidemic" carries special significance beyond that - it's a disease that's widespread - and usually contagious, too. How does thinking about social issues as epidemics change the way we approach them? We'll explore the pros and cons with first responders on the front line of each of those epidemics:
What changes if we think of opioid addiction as a disease rather than a crime or character flaw? In what ways is loneliness like a disease - and what's the prescription? Obesity got official epidemic status in America in the '90s. And yet, obesity rates have only increased, so what's to gain by viewing violence as a disease epidemic?

In this podcast episode, an ER doctor explains the cyclical, contagious nature of violence. A dietician considers the unintended consequences of making weight loss the focus of the obesity epidemic. A paramedic with 30 years of experience traces the evolution of the opioid overdose crisis in America and argues for empathy and harm reduction to save more lives. Finally, we consider America’s newest epidemic – loneliness – with the nation’s leading scientist on the harm caused by social isolation. In what ways does framing these issues as epidemics enable us to cure them?

Podcast Guests:
Rob Gore, MD, founder of the Kings Against Violence Initiative (KAVI), and author of “Treating Violence: An Emergency Room Doctor Takes on a Deadly American Epidemic” (https://kavibrooklyn.org/)

Kirsten Morrisson, registered dietitian and certified Intuitive Eating counselor, host of Intuitive Bites podcast (https://theintuitiverd.com/podcast/)

Peter Canning, paramedic, EMS coordinator at UCONN John Dempsey Hospital, and author of “Killing Season: A Paramedic's Dispatches from the Frontlines of the Opioid Epidemic” (https://www.petercanning.org/)

Julianne Holt-Lunstad, professor of psychology and neuroscience at Brigham Young University, director of the Social Connection & Health Lab, and lead scientist on the Surgeon General's 2023 report on Loneliness and Social Isolation (https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf)

Since 2020 — when George Floyd's murder was seen around the world and protests for racial justice swept the country — many Americans with white skin have begun to think explicitly about race and its consequences. What does it mean to be white in America? What’s it like to be not-white-enough? Or to not have your racial identity reflected on official government forms? How did white become the default against which all other skin colors are measured?

In this podcast episode, we explore the nuance of what it means to be white in America with guests who fall along the spectrum of whiteness. We’ll hear one woman’s story of waking up to her whiteness and understanding how skin color matters in America. A leading historian of race in America explains how – and why – whiteness was invented. We’ll consider the complicated relationship people who identify as Hispanic or Latin American have long had with whiteness. And a multiracial mother will share insights on how to help children be thoughtful, informed and brave about race.

Podcast Guests:
Debby Irving, racial justice educator, author of “Waking Up White (and finding myself in the story of race)” (https://www.debbyirving.com/)

Nell Irvin Painter, professor emerita of American History at Princeton, author of “The History of White People” and “I Just Keep Talking” (http://www.nellpainter.com/)

Julie Dowling, professor of Sociology and Latin American/Latino Studies, University of Illinois, Chicago, author of “Mexican Americans and the Question of Race”

Melissa Giraud, founder and co-director of Embrace Race (https://www.embracerace.org/)

We’re in between episodes this week on Top of Mind. In the meantime, we’ve got a story for you from a podcast we think you’re really going to like. It’s called When the People Decide, a podcast from the McCourtney Institute for Democracy at Penn State. The podcast traces the stories of Americans who are getting their hands dirty doing the hard work of democracy.

In this episode, host Jenna Spinelle dives deep into an innovative budgeting practice where citizens decide how to spend a portion of their city’s budget. Imagine if you could be more directly involved in deciding how your city spends its money. Would having that kind of influence change how you feel about your city? Or how much you trust local officials?

Find When the People Decide on your favorite podcast app. Or here: https://thepeopledecide.show/

In this podcast episode, Julie and the other members of the Top of Mind team reflect on moments from previous episodes that challenged them to stay curious and stick with uncomfortable perspectives instead of dismissing them or putting up defenses. As we put podcast episodes together, we have these “Stick With It” moments all the time – and we hope you do, too, because they’ve led us to new empathy, deeper relationships, and clarity about our own views. One of our producers grapples with the grading system she grew up with. Another reconsiders her thinking on the impact of social media use on teen mental health. We'll also explore a complicated relationship with unions, find empathy in the medication for mental health debate, and reassess the language we use when talking about homelessness.

We’d love to hear your “Stick With It” moments. Email your story to topofmind@byu.edu. We’re also on social media @topofmindpod.

Podcast Guests:
Top of Mind producers Alayna Beck, Vanessa Goodman, Amber Mortensen, Samuel Benson, and James Hoopes.

Find links below to all of the Top of Mind episodes referenced in this episode.

Many Students Lack Motivation to Learn. What Can We do?: https://www.byuradio.org/top-of-mind-many-students-lack-motivation-to-learn-what-can-we-do

Teen Mental Health in America is Getting Worse. What Can We Do About It?: https://www.byuradio.org/top-of-mind-teen-mental-health-in-america-is-getting-worse-what-can-we-do

An Explosion of Union Activity in the US and What it Means: https://www.byuradio.org/top-of-mind-an-explosion-of-union-activity-in-the-us-and-what-it-means

Ending Homelessness in America Feels Impossible. Is It?: https://www.byuradio.org/top-of-mind-ending-homelessness-in-america-feels-impossible-is-it

Our “Stick With It” series on the Top of Mind podcast continues with a story from David Beckemeyer, host of the podcast “Outrage Overload.” Beckemeyer used to spend his time engaging in social media fights. When his son, who also often indulged in heated online discussions, decided to step away from social media, Beckemeyer was prompted to closely examine his own behavior, leading him to make a significant change and delve into why so many of us fall into the outrage trap.

The Top of Mind podcast would love to hear your Stick With It story. Can you think of a time when you felt your perspective or worldview challenged and, instead of getting defensive, you chose to lean into the discomfort – and you’re glad you did? Email your story to topofmind@byu.edu.

Podcast Guest:
David Beckemeyer, host of the Outrage Overload podcast