Anthropologist Helen Fisher has long been trying to answer the question: why do you fall in love with one person rather than another? Her research says we've evolved four basic styles of thinking and behaving linked with the dopamine, serotonin, testosterone, and estrogen systems. Fisher used that research to create a questionnaire that's been taken by 15 million people in 40 countries, shedding light on how we choose our mates. She's also one of the experts behind the Singles in America survey ...
Feb 15, 2024•21 min
It's harder than ever to define what it means to be evangelical in America. But one constant? The Trump support. "The MAGA base is very real inside these evangelical spaces and it's not accurate to try to separate them," says scholar Kristin Kobes Du Mez, who herself has an Evangelical background. She tells Niala why white Evangelical power is stronger than ever for Republicans in 2024. Plus: Axios' Sophia Cai on what she's seen covering the Evangelical vote on the campaign trail, and why it mat...
Feb 08, 2024•21 min
This marks the end of so-called "Dry January," a phenomenon that's been growing in popularity. But for many, alcohol is still a daily struggle; it's the most common substance abuse addiction in the United States, affecting at least 1 out of every 10 people. Sean Daniels is a playwright and recovering addict whose critically-acclaimed autobiographical play "The White Chip" returns Off-Broadway today. Niala talks to Sean about using humor on stage to save lives. Plus, listeners tell us what Dry Ja...
Feb 01, 2024•20 min
There are more than 3 billion video gamers worldwide. Many come--and stay--for the community. Today: AI is changing gaming for these communities, and the head of one major video game developer says we need to advance gaming for users through responsible AI. Niala talks with Songyee Yoon of NCSoft, from the Axios House at the World Economic Forum, and gets context from Axios' global technology correspondent Ryan Heath. Plus: Stephen Totilo, author of the Game File newsletter, with a reality check...
Jan 25, 2024•21 min
Indigenous leaders are helming efforts to tackle the world's problems, from climate change to violence against women. And Fawn Sharp, Vice President of the Quinault Indian Nation and former President of the National Congress of American Indians, says "the world is starting to recognize they need us more than we need them." Niala Boodhoo sat down with Fawn in Davos, Switzerland at the annual World Economic Forum to talk about why Indigenous leadership matters now. Plus: Axios' Neil Irwin with a r...
Jan 18, 2024•21 min
January 6th, 2021 put our founding document to the test. And constitutional scholar Noah Feldman says, that although we survived our stress test, "our EKG went up and down a lot more than you would like it to do in what is supposed to be a 21st century democracy." What we've learned about the strength of our Constitution--and where its cracks show--ahead of our presidential election this fall. Plus: Axios' Alex Thompson on the piece of the Trump ballot story many of us may be missing. Guests: No...
Jan 11, 2024•21 min
Misty Copeland is the rare ballerina who's recognizable well beyond the world of ballet. In 2015, she became the first Black woman to reach the title of principal dancer with the prestigious American Ballet Theatre. Throughout her career, Misty has spoken out about being one of the few Black dancers on the professional stage, and why early and equal access to the arts is so important. Through her foundation, she’s trying to connect more young people to ballet through after-school programs. Niala...
Jan 04, 2024•22 min
For years, we've heard that China is an unstoppable economic engine. In 2023, that changed. One stat says it all: in the third quarter this year, foreign direct investment in China was negative for the first time in modern history. Today for the holidays we're bringing you another special episode of 1 big thing where we spotlight a leader from within our own newsroom. Axios' Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian explains why China's economic miracle has ended, but its power is still growing. Guests: Bethany ...
Dec 28, 2023•21 min
"As a passionate Muslim and a passionate Jew, we have come together to humbly share a path forward for how to transcend the construct of 'us vs. them' and side with humanity instead." That's from a recent open letter to college students across America, written by Daniel Lubetzky, founder of KIND Snacks, and Lonnie Ali, co-founder of the Muhammad Ali Center and wife of the late Muhammad Ali. Lonnie and Daniel have both witnessed the growing hatred on American college campuses as the Israel-Hamas ...
Dec 21, 2023•21 min
Extreme weather is being increasingly linked to climate change, thanks to the work of scientists the world over. But Dr. Fredi Otto's contribution is unique: she is getting it done faster. That hurricane, that drought, that wildfire? Her team at World Weather Attribution can say the extent to which climate change was a factor, but within weeks, not years. In other words, she leads the world's only rapid reaction force of climate scientists. Why she says linking extreme weather events to climate ...
Dec 14, 2023•21 min
UN climate conferences don't generally start off with a bang. But COP28 in Dubai this year did just that, when on day one a Loss and Damage fund was created to support developing nations hit hardest by climate change. It's been a 30-some year fight to get here for climate activists like Harjeet Singh, but he says the new fund is not enough. How one key climate activist says civil society can hold top emitters accountable. Guests: Harjeet Singh, Head of Global Political Strategy for Climate Actio...
Dec 07, 2023•22 min
According to the Surgeon General, about one in two American adults report experiencing loneliness. As self-help voices continue cropping up in every corner of the internet on staving off loneliness and finding happiness, Laurie Santos of Yale--host of The Happiness Lab podcast--brings a scientific perspective. She says research tell us we're bad at knowing what makes us feel good, but that getting better at it could have far-reaching consequences for society as a whole: "Ultimately, social conne...
Nov 30, 2023•21 min
As AI keeps getting better, how do we keep up? There's been a lot of news this week about leadership at OpenAI, just one company that's leading the way in the AI space. But amidst that chaos, AI technology keeps marching ahead. Ina Fried, Axios chief technology correspondent and co-author of the AI+ newsletter, has been testing out and writing about AI tools as they emerge and improve, from one that lets you create your own personal deepfake to an AI assistant that lets you attend multiple meeti...
Nov 23, 2023•21 min
U.S. politics have gotten more polarized, and more extreme. Today, Tennessee attorney Chloe Akers has a new plan to do something that can feel nearly impossible: elevate the voices in the middle. She tells Niala Boodhoo: "We're not using any other playbook to solve what we believe is the pervasiveness of extremism and how damaging that can be on the democratic process. We are creating a playbook." One Tennessean's new solution to an old problem. Plus, what being a moderate today really means, an...
Nov 16, 2023•21 min
Young people were struggling before the pandemic. Today, their mental health challenges are acute—and social media is making it worse. U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has been sounding the alarm, and he tells Niala Boodhoo: "If we don't do something now, we are at risk of losing a generation of young people." How does the Surgeon General plan to fix America's urgent youth crisis? Plus, a reality check on efforts in Washington and beyond to make social media safer for kids. Guests: U.S. Sur...
Nov 09, 2023•22 min
José Andrés has become a recognized figure on the scene in the aftermath of global disasters. The chef-turned-humanitarian traveled to Haiti more than a decade ago to cook food for victims of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake. Today: he's on the ground in war zones. How does one man lead an emergency response organization as the emergencies keep growing and changing? Plus, an update on food insecurity in the U.S., and why the numbers may come as a surprise. Guests: José Andrés, founder of World Centr...
Nov 02, 2023•21 min
On November 2nd, join host Niala Boodhoo for a new show from Axios that digs deep with leaders in business, politics, and culture on the ideas shaping our world. Plus, Axios journalists share context and reality checks all along the way. The bottom line: Listen every week for conversations with leaders and thinkers you know—or need to know—in 20 minutes or less. New episodes every Thursday.
Oct 19, 2023•1 min
Hunter Biden on Thursday was indicted for three counts related to his alleged illegal possession of a firearm. And on Capitol Hill, time is running out for Congress to avert a looming government shutdown. Plus, lab-grown meat goes kosher and halal. And, for our last daily show, we answer some of your burning questions. Guests: Axios' Mike Allen, Margaret Talev and Jennifer Kingson. Credits: Axios Today is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Alexandra Botti, Fonda Mwangi and Alex Sugiura. Music is compose...
Sep 15, 2023•13 min
White mainline Protestants are some of the country's largest religious groups. A new study shows their clergy tend to be more progressive than their churchgoers. We take a look at what that tells us about religion and political divisions in America today. Plus, Senator Mitt Romney underscores our aging political landscape. And, inflation eats away at American incomes. Guests: Axios' Russell Contreras, Emily Peck and Joann Muller. Credits: Axios Today is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Alexandra Botti...
Sep 14, 2023•11 min
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy opened an impeachment inquiry into President Biden, on Tuesday. The move could result in months of divisive hearings in Congress as both President Biden and former President Trump, who was impeached twice, campaign for the presidency. Plus, the United Auto Workers union gears up for a strike. And, the pluses and perils of homeownership in America today. Guests: Axios' Alex Thompson and Felix Salmon. Credits: Axios Today is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Alexandra Botti, ...
Sep 13, 2023•13 min
What's it like to fly into the eye of a hurricane? Niala joins a team of NOAA Hurricane hunters tracking Hurricane Lee to understand the science gathered on these missions, and how it helps create the forecasts that millions depend upon. Plus, monitoring AI for hate speech. And, the FDA approves updated COVID-19 vaccines. Guests: Axios' Russell Contreras and Adriel Bettelheim; NOAA's Alan Hough, Jack Parrish and Kevin Doremus. Credits: Axios Today is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Alexandra Botti, F...
Sep 12, 2023•12 min
A 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit Morocco late Friday night near Marrakech. More than 2,100 people were killed and over 2,400 injured, as of Sunday. The death toll is expected to rise as rescuers continue to search through the rubble for survivors. Plus, how local governments are handling the humanitarian crisis for migrants across U.S. cities. And, what to know about the weekend's G20 summit in India. Guests: Axios' Hans Nichols and Stef Kight. Credits: Axios Today is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Al...
Sep 11, 2023•11 min
The 2024 presidential election is looking different from elections past for a number of reasons. A former president is running against a current president, which has only happened a handful of times in U.S. history, and each of the frontrunners has a distinctly low-profile campaign for now. Plus, your car has the power to gather and sell data about your life. And, your experiences with Narcan. Guests: Axios' Alex Thompson and Felix Salmon. Credits: Axios Today is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Alexa...
Sep 08, 2023•12 min
It's been about a month since the Lahaina wildfire broke out on Maui, and now the local community is facing another hardship: a severe economic downturn. The big picture: Most of Hawai'i's residents depend on tourism to pay the bills. With the drop in travel to Maui, locals and government officials are now urging people back. Plus, a new era for Airbnb. And, the latest from Ukraine and Blinken's surprise visit to Kyiv. Axios Today staff reading recommendations: Mobility: A Novel The Great Silenc...
Sep 07, 2023•12 min
It's been a rocky start to the school year when it comes to COVID. A late summer surge has already led to class cancellations in places like Kentucky and Texas. We dig deeper on how schools are dealing with this latest COVID wave. Plus, women are closing the labor force gap with men. And, the fallout continues from Spanish soccer's "MeToo" moment. Guests: Axios' Adriel Bettelheim and Emily Peck; Power Plays' Lindsay Gibbs. Credits: Axios Today is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Alexandra Botti, Fonda...
Sep 06, 2023•12 min
There's been a focus on the restriction or attempted restriction of voting rights in the last several years. But as Axios' Eugene Scott reports, there have been even more state led moves to expand voting access. Why it matters: Voting could look different for many people in 2024. Plus, low-quality health care is costing employers -- and workers -- big. In-flight telemedicine is coming soon. And, Narcan is arriving over-the-counter...but at too high a price? Guests: Axios' Eugene Scott, Tina Reed...
Sep 05, 2023•12 min
Republican presidential candidates are starting to distinguish themselves in the week following the first debate. And this week it was all about Vivek Ramaswamy and Nikki Haley. For our politics State of Play, we check the status of the GOP presidential primary contenders. Plus, testing the resilience of our oceans. And, ransomware hackers on the prowl over Labor Day weekend. Go deeper (7 min. read) Guests: Axios' Mike Allen, Alison Snyder and Sam Sabin. Credits: Axios Today was produced by Nial...
Sep 01, 2023•12 min
Senator Mitch McConnell once again seemed to freeze up during a press conference yesterday, for the second time since late July. This time, he was in his home state of Kentucky and the incident sent ripples of worry through the Republican Party in Washington. Plus, the rise of the apocalyptic seed vault. And, hate crimes are still increasing in the U.S. Guests: Axios' Hans Nichols, Russell Contreras and Ayurella Horn-Muller. Credits: Axios Today was produced by Niala Boodhoo, Alexandra Botti, Ly...
Aug 31, 2023•11 min
West Virginia University announced this month it would eliminate 32 of 338 majors, or about 9% of its course catalog. While WVU is staring down a 45 million budget deficit, some of the biggest proposed cuts are to the languages program. And humanities scholars and others are worried this could be a blueprint for attacks on higher education. Plus, the new business boom. And, the latest on Hurricane Idalia. Guests: Axios' Jennifer Kingson and Hope King. Credits: Axios Today was produced by Niala B...
Aug 30, 2023•12 min
The Department of Transportation is fining American Airlines $4.1 million for tarmac delays, the largest ever fine of its kind against an airline. The big picture: Between 2018 and 2021, American Airlines kept 43 domestic flights stuck on the ground for at least three hours, without giving passengers a chance to exit the plane. As summer comes to an end , we take a look at airline travel. Summer reading recommendations from Rebecca Makkai: Madonna in a Fur Coat Loot: A Novel Romantic Comedy Gues...
Aug 29, 2023•11 min
