Whether you notice it or not, you speak with an accent. Valerie Fridland, professor of linguistics in the English Department at the University of Nevada, Reno, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how accents from the Southern drawl to the California Valley Girl came to be, why accents are key to culture, and why, in our mass media world, some are fading away. Her book is “ Why We Talk Funny: The Real Story Behind Our Accents. ” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
May 11, 2026•47 min
Our lives are ruled by markets, but you don’t have to be an economist to understand these forces. Alex Mayyasi, host of the new podcast “Gastronomics” and a longtime contributor to “Planet Money,” joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the nuts and bolts of the economy – from how zoning codes create jobs to the cross purposes of dating apps – and breaks it down for the Average Joe to understand. His book is “ Planet Money: A Guide to the Economic Forces That Shape Your Life .” Learn about your ad choic...
May 08, 2026•45 min
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth believes America’s wars around the world are part of a holy Christian mission. Peter Wehner, contributing writer at The Atlantic and a senior fellow at the Trinity Forum, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the Psalms he quotes about smiting enemies, how he is taking inspiration from the Bible for military conquests and why he wants his entire chaplain corps to think this way. His article is “ Hegseth’s Unholy War Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-cho...
May 07, 2026•47 min
The average new car in America costs $50,000, but how many people can actually afford one? Clifford Winston is an economist who specializes in transportation and microeconomic policy. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss where the low-priced cars have gone, how all the new bells and whistles are squeezing those on a budget, and why even repair bills are now sky high. His article for The New York Times is “ The Death of the Basic American Car .” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choi...
May 06, 2026•46 min
The U.S. military attack on Venezuela was fast and surgical — so how is the country doing now? Missy Ryan, staff writer for The Atlantic, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss what Venezuelans on the ground think of the regime change, how the new government is faring and whether legitimate democracy now has a foothold there. Her article is called “ Venezuela Seems to Be Going … Well? ” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
May 05, 2026•46 min
For children who felt responsible for their parents’ happiness: There’s a way to turn that into joy. Anna Konkle is co-creator and co-star of the Hulu series “Pen15,” and she joins host Krys Boyd to discuss her childhood – when her parents fought all the time and she felt like the peacemaker – her complicated relationship with her father and how she turned that experience into comedy for her critically acclaimed series. Her book is called “ The Sane One .” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.p...
May 04, 2026•46 min
President Trump’s threats to attack drug cartels inside Mexico have put the bilateral relationship on edge. Arturo Sarukhan served as Mexican Ambassador to the United States from 2007 to 2013, and he joins guest host John McCay to discuss why he believes the U.S.-Mexico relationship hasn’t been this fractured since the 1980s, how the previous Mexican president known as AMLO played into this, and how nations across the world are watching and reacting to this new rhetoric. His article “ Can Mexico...
May 01, 2026•47 min
The super rich are wildly different than the rest of us, in part by the way they’ve designed their lives. New York Magazine features writer Lane Brown joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the frictionless world of the extremely wealthy – where access to just about anything is automatic – the differences between old and new money and the everyday stressors that they feel that those with less don’t. His article is “ What Does Extreme Wealth Do to the Brain? ” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.o...
Apr 30, 2026•46 min
Many of us offload heavy thinking to A.I., and our brains are going soft in the process. Cal Newport, professor of computer science at Georgetown University, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how employing computers to do our deepest thinking dulls our ability to concentrate and the things we can do right now to keep us sharp and alert. His recent essay published in The New York Times is “ There’s a Good Reason You Can’t Concentrate .” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
Apr 29, 2026•47 min
Recent graduates take heart: There is meaningful work out there for you. Jodi Kantor, Pulitzer-prize winning New York Times investigative reporter, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how to find passion in your work, what it takes to find out what we’re good at and how to choose work that the world needs. Her book is “ How to Start: Discovering Your Life's Work .” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
Apr 28, 2026•47 min
If you know someone who falls in love at first sight over and over again, there’s a word for that: emophilia. Daniel N. Jones is professor of management in the College of Business at the University of Nevada, Reno and core faculty within the Interdisciplinary Social Psychology Program. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the red flags for people in love with falling in love, why they might be missing huge pitfalls of potential partners and ways to build healthy partnerships beyond the initial but...
Apr 27, 2026•46 min
Putting your cute family on social media is clickbait gold — but what does it do to the kids? Journalist Fortesa Latifi joins guest host Courtney Collins to discuss family reality content and the perks, money and fame that come with it, the dangers of celebrity, and why, as viewers, we’re so hooked on the every move of total strangers. Her book is “ Like, Follow, Subscribe: Influencer Kids and the Cost of a Childhood Online .” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
Apr 24, 2026•47 min
Schools around the country are shuttering their Black studies departments—often without regulatory prompting. Jafari S. Allen is a professor of African American and African diaspora studies at Columbia University. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why schools, now admitting less Black students than before DEI crackdowns, are blaming low enrollment for shutting down these departments, and why these cuts are often preemptive, before any penalties are incurred. His article “ The Erasure of Black S...
Apr 23, 2026•46 min
We’ve heard a lot about the loneliness epidemic in this country, but it might be worth asking: Do we even like spending time with people anymore? Derek Thompson, staff writer at The Atlantic, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the phenomenon where we’re on our phones but digitally surrounded by people, and how this isolation is rewiring us to be more anti-social – including in both our personal relationships and political lives. His article is “The Anti-Social Century.” This episode originally aire...
Apr 22, 2026•46 min
The manosphere is an undeniable force right now, and there are people who will teach you how to join it. Charles Bethea, staff writer at The New Yorker, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss immersive camps that teach men how to become alpha males, what that actually means, and the surprisingly emotional reaction men have once they dive into the grueling physical activities asked of them. His article is “ How to Become an Alpha Male .” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
Apr 21, 2026•46 min
In dating, finding “the one” might be easier if you stop assuming “the one” will be a perfect match. Paul Eastwick is professor of psychology at UC Davis, where he serves as the head of the Social-Personality Psychology program and the director of the Attraction and Relationships Research Laboratory. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why we need to look past imperfections when choosing a mate, why what we know about evolutionary biology has been exaggerated, and the pros and cons of dating apps...
Apr 20, 2026•46 min
If the definition of “green” is yellow plus blue, how do you define “yellow” and “blue”? Kory Stamper is a lexicographer who has written dictionaries for nearly 30 years at Merriam-Webster, Cambridge Dictionaries and Dictionary.com. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the difficulty of defining colors, why they are nearly indescribable, and why it took the help of scientists to create descriptions of everything around us. Her book is “ True Color: The Strange and Spectacular Quest to Define Colo...
Apr 17, 2026•47 min
Even in our darkest moments, we can build the skills to keep our spirits up. Deepika Chopra is a psychologist, visual imagery expert and founder of Things Are Looking Up, a consultancy devoted to the intersection of science and soul. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how to develop optimism, how it’s a key to optimal health, and why this isn’t about toxic positivity. Her book is “ The Power of Real Optimism: A Practical, Science-Based Guide to Staying Resilient, Curious, and Open Even When Lif...
Apr 16, 2026•47 min
Nobody enjoys paying taxes, but how would our nation function without them? Vanessa S. Williamson is a senior fellow in Governance Studies at Brookings and a senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the history of taxation in this country, why your hard-earned tax dollars are critical to a functioning democracy, and why low taxes might mean lower interest in getting your civic needs met. Her book is “ The Price of Democracy: The Revolutionary Po...
Apr 15, 2026•1 hr 8 min
There’s got to be a happy medium between free-range parenting and helicoptering. Simon Lewsen writes for Maclean’s, Toronto Life and Report on Business, and he teaches at the University of Toronto. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the courage parents must drum up to allow children to have age-appropriate autonomy – when they learn independence and problem-solving skills – and also where to draw the line on that freedom. His article “ Is It Dangerous to Let Kids Be Free ?” was published by The ...
Apr 14, 2026•45 min
Constitutional law is a different animal than civil or criminal law — and a president can subvert it. Duncan Hosie is a fellow at Stanford Law School, and he joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why the judicial branch shouldn’t be the end game for dealing with a president’s executive orders, why the legislative branch needs to get more involved, and why hoping that the Supreme Court will definitively decide hot-button issues is a mistake. His article in The New York Times is “ The Courts Cannot Save...
Apr 13, 2026•46 min
Screen time and junk food offer dopamine hits — and our kids are not immune. Michaeleen Doucleff reports on children’s health for NPR’s science desk, and she joins guest host Courtney Collins to discuss misconceptions about dopamine, why it’s making kids lonely and anxious, and ways to introduce healthier habits into your family’s lifestyle. Her book is “ Dopamine Kids: A Science-Based Plan to Rewire Your Child’s Brain and Take Back Your Family in the Age of Screens and Ultraprocessed Foods .” L...
Apr 10, 2026•46 min
Social security benefits help children and spouses survive after a death — but accessing them is a Sisyphean task. Chabeli Carrazana, The 19th’s economy and childcare reporter, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how DOGE gutted the Social Security Administration so there’s not enough staff to process claims, the hours on hold families must wait and how women and children are impacted disproportionately by these failures. Her article is “ Widows are waiting months for the benefits meant to help them...
Apr 09, 2026•46 min
Dutch teens with mental illness can choose to end their lives though euthanasia. Charles Lane, nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how the Netherlands came to the decision to grant assisted suicide to teenagers with parental approval, what makes a mental illness diagnosis so controversial for this method of dying and to discuss a doctor who says granting these requests is the moral option. His article “ When Mentally Ill Teenagers Ask t...
Apr 08, 2026•46 min
The U.S. has conducted military operations in Venezuela and Iran – will Cuba be next on the list? Jon Lee Anderson, staff writer at The New Yorker, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why Cuba was declared a threat to U.S. national security, the dire situation of its citizens now that the island nation has been cut off from supplies, and how this all compares to 1962’s Cuban Missile Crisis. His article is “ Is Cuba Next? ” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
Apr 07, 2026•47 min
Life-saving advancements have come a long way, but engineering artificial blood has been a challenge. Nicola Twilley is a New Yorker contributor and co-host of the podcast Gastropod. She talks to Krys Boyd about the breakthroughs — and setbacks — in the quest for artificial blood, why it’s needed more than ever, and why eyes are on Big Pharma to finance it. Her article is “The Long Quest for Artificial Blood.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
Apr 06, 2026•46 min
The narrative is that private companies are buying up single-family homes and driving up prices — but the data doesn’t really back that idea up. Eric Levitz is a senior correspondent at Vox, and he joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how only about a half of 1 percent of homes are owned by institutional investors, why private equity might actually keep rents down and neighborhoods more diverse, and why he feels like a new housing bill in Congress could do more harm than good. His article is “ The ‘p...
Apr 03, 2026•46 min
Leaders of the Right say they want to re-balance higher education — but even within the ranks the movement is divided as to what that really means. Len Gutkin, editor of The Chronicle Review, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why some feel a return to the classics is a strategy to even out Left-leaning college campuses, why red-state legislatures don’t feel that goes far enough, and what this argument is doing to academic freedom. His article is “ The Right's Academic Civil War ” was published by ...
Apr 02, 2026•45 min
DEI is being dismantled, what comes next for those interested in working toward equality? Kenji Yoshino is Chief Justice Earl Warren Professor of Constitutional Law at the NYU School of Law and the faculty director of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why, though counterintuitive, opening programs up to all people does help minority groups, how the language of DEI backfired and how to build a “multicultural meritocracy.” His book, writ...
Apr 01, 2026•45 min
If you were given thousands of dollars in free money to gamble, would you find yourself a little — or a lot — addicted to the games? McKay Coppins, staff writer at The Atlantic, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how his magazine gave him $10,000 to use as seed money as he explored the rise of online sports gambling, why he was surprised at how much the gambling interfered with his family life and sleep and how he received special dispensation from his church to take part in the experiment. His art...
Mar 31, 2026•47 min
