Harvard Thinking

Harvard University
  • 4.8 (14)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY
Harvard Thinking

A podcast where the life of the mind meets everyday life. Hosted by Samantha Laine Perfas, produced by Harvard University. Visit harvard.edu/thinking.

  1. 12/11/2024

    Changing how we deal with change

    Is it true that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? Absolutely not; Research shows that people can and do make dramatic shifts at nearly every life stage. Sometimes that change is intentional and other times it happens without our awareness. In this episode, host Samantha Laine Perfas speaks with psychiatrist Bob Waldinger, educator Rick Weissbourd, and experimental psychologist Mahzarin Banaji about how embracing change can lead to a better life.

    29 min

  2. 11/20/2024

    New frontiers in cancer care

    It’s a new era in the fight against cancer. The disease still kills nearly 10 million people worldwide every year, but advances in genomic sequencing and artificial intelligence have ushered in a new era of research. Treatments can now be personalized to patients and someday we might even have vaccines that can prevent the disease altogether. In this episode, host Samantha Laine Perfas, cancer researcher Levi Garraway, radiologist Connie Lehman, and cell therapy expert Cathy Wu talk about how close we are to turning a corner on cancer.

    27 min

  3. 11/06/2024

    The case for optimism

    Things aren’t what they used to be: they’re actually better. Yet even though many measures show how much progress we’ve made, many people feel like things are worse than ever. How do we change this perspective? In this episode, host Samantha Laine Perfas speaks with positive psychologist Tal Ben-Shahar, global governance expert Jane Nelson, and evidence-based optimist Steven Pinker about choosing optimism.

    30 min

  4. 10/23/2024

    Plastic in our blood? That’s a problem.

    Our planet is filled with plastic. On average, we produce 430 million tons every year, most of which is used only for a short period of time and then discarded. But plastic isn’t just in the environment: it’s now in our bodies. Microplastics have been found in our bloodstreams, lungs, and other organs, and we’re only recently beginning to understand how this affects our health. In this episode, host Samantha Laine Perfas, cell biologist Don Ingber, environmental health scientist Mary Johnson, and nanomaterial researcher Philip Demokritou discuss our destructive relationship with plastic.

    29 min

  5. 10/09/2024

    The case for a liberal arts education

    College is expensive. Even with ramped-up financial aid efforts from universities, people are still trying to decide if tuition will lead to a smart return on their investment. Is a liberal arts education worth the price tag? In this episode, host Samantha Laine Perfas talks with economist David Deming, educator Nancy Hill, and philosophy Professor Susanna Siegel about how to make a liberal arts education attractive again.

    27 min

  6. 09/25/2024

    Why school cellphone bans are spreading

    Schools are banning cellphones. And some states and cities are passing legislation that restricts student phone use in the classroom. Both parents and students have pushed back, yet schools say the removal of phones eliminates distractions and fosters face-to-face interactions that students themselves have come to appreciate. In this episode, host Samantha Laine Perfas talks with psychologist Laurie Santos, private school administrator Joy McGrath, and psychiatrist Susan Linn about what it would look like to take phones out of classrooms.

    31 min

  7. 05/08/2024

    How far has COVID set back students?

    American schools have not recovered from the pandemic. On average, schools have lost half a grade level in math and a little less than that in reading. Some students have rebounded, but others are in even worse shape than they were before — and that’s when you can get them in the classroom in the first place. In this episode, host Samantha Laine Perfas talks with economist Thomas Kane, education policy and program expert Heather Hill, and New York State Master Teacher Stephanie Conklin about how to regain pandemic learning losses.

    30 min

  8. 04/24/2024

    Forgiving what you can’t forget

    We’ve all held a grudge. As humans, we’ve all been hurt — and have hurt others. Forgiveness can be a way to release those negative emotions. What’s more, recent research shows forgiveness is linked to better health outcomes. So why is it so difficult? In this episode, host Samantha Laine Perfas speaks with Christian theologian Matt Potts, public health expert Tyler VanderWeele, and psychologist Laura Thompson to discuss forgiving when you can’t forget.

    28 min
See All (15)

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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

A podcast where the life of the mind meets everyday life. Hosted by Samantha Laine Perfas, produced by Harvard University. Visit harvard.edu/thinking.

Information

  • Creator
    Harvard University
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Harvard Thinking

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