Stat: $1.6 trillion : The amount that Americans collectively owe i n student loan debt. Story: In the United States, getting a college degree is often seen as a pathway to a prosperous future. But since the 1980s, the price of college has skyrocketed, leaving millions of students to rely on federal loans to help cover the cost. Now, many borrowers face high monthly payments that are difficult to afford while balancing necessities like food, housing, and health care. In this episode of “After the...
Feb 28, 2025•20 min•Ep 152•Transcript available on Metacast More people are living longer. According to Pew Research Center, within the next 30 years, the population of Americans age 100 and over is expected to increase more than fourfold. With an aging population, how will the stages of our lives shift and expand? In this episode from 2019, Andrew Scott, longevity expert and economics professor at the London Business School, discusses what individuals and society can consider about the challenges and opportunities of living longer for. One upside, Scott...
Jan 31, 2025•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 45% : The share of U.S. adults who describe research scientists as good communicators. Story: How does good communication help build trust in science? In this episode of “After the Fact,” we sit down with Hank Green—a science communicator and “internet guy” with over 30 million subscribers across his YouTube channels—to help answer this question. Green reflects on how his 2023 Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis inspired him to better connect with his audience and educate them about the science beh...
Jan 17, 2025•23 min•Ep 151•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 1 in 4 : More than 2 million Americans suffer from opioid use disorder, but only about 1 in 4 receive any care. Story: Opioid use has become a major public health problem in the United States, but there are many obstacles to treatment, including stigma. In this episode, members of Pew’s substance use prevention and treatment team explain how to overcome barriers to care—and how new rules from the quarantine days of the pandemic can help show the way. We also hear from Jordan Scott, an advo...
Dec 13, 2024•21 min•Ep 150•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 4 million to 7 million : The United States has a shortage of 4 million to 7 million homes. Story: For many Indigenous communities, the concept of land or home ownership can stand in opposition to their cultures—which often place more emphasis on land stewardship. But just like communities across the country, on and off the reservation, housing availability and affordability is a growing problem. In this episode, Jody Cahoon Perez, now the executive director of the Salish and Kootenai Housi...
Nov 29, 2024•10 min•Ep 149•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 41% : The share of U.S. adults who have some form of health care debt. Story: Millions of Americans are struggling with debt, from credit card bills to unexpected medical expenses. And many face a tough choice between paying off debt or covering basic needs such as rent, food, and health care. But what happens when these debts go unpaid? In this episode, Lester Bird of The Pew Charitable Trusts explains how it’s possible for consumers with debt to end up in civil court, facing a lawsuit, o...
Nov 15, 2024•18 min•Ep 148•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 1 foot : the amount the sea level rose in the Chesapeake Bay in the last century, twice as fast as the global average. Story: Climate change is driving sea-level rise and worsening coastal flooding across the globe. And in many coastal communities, the rising waters are changing local environments and the places people call home. For generations, the Nause-Waiwash people have raised families, worked, and practiced traditions like muskrat trapping in the marshlands of Maryland’s Eastern Sho...
Nov 01, 2024•18 min•Ep 147•Transcript available on Metacast The rise of deepfakes—realistic fake videos made with artificial intelligence software—is making it even more difficult to sort fact from fiction. When this episode originally aired in 2019, 57% of social media news consumers said they expected what they see there to be largely inaccurate. And the public continues to be wary about changes in the digital landscape. In 2023, Pew Research Center found that 52% of U.S. adults said they are more concerned than excited about AI in their everyday lives...
Oct 18, 2024•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 2 million : The number of times people with mental health conditions in the United States are jailed annually. Story: In the United States, law enforcement officers and emergency room physicians are often the only service providers on call to respond to people in a mental or behavioral health crisis — but they don't always have adequate training or capacity to handle these calls. As communities throughout the country grapple with increasing demand for mental health resources, new solutions...
Oct 04, 2024•22 min•Ep 146•Transcript available on Metacast If you’ve ever seen a manatee, chances are you were in Florida — but these aquatic relatives of the elephant also live across 21 African countries. In this episode, 2017 Pew marine fellow Lucy Keith-Diagne discusses the African manatees that live in remote, murky waters, and explains what makes this species different from other manatees and the challenges marine scientists experience in collecting data on them. Since this episode first aired in 2018, Keith-Diagne and her fellow researchers have ...
Sep 20, 2024•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Story: Mangrove forests are natural protectors, shielding coasts from storms, sheltering species, and soaking up carbon. In 2019, when this episode originally aired, 50% of the world’s mangroves had been lost. Now, 50% of the world’s remaining mangroves are at risk. Reversing the decline of these habitats isn’t just a science—it’s an art, says marine biologist Octavio Aburto. He uses his camera along with high-resolution satellite imagery to assess real-time changes in mangrove coverage—and to r...
Sep 06, 2024•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast The “After the Fact” team provides data and expert analysis on the biggest challenges facing society today. We go behind the scenes with experts, examine solutions pointing the way forward, and feature people and stories that bring data points to life. What keeps you listening to the podcast? Tell us in a short survey at pewtrusts.org/podcastsurvey . Upon submission we’ll enter your name to win a $100 gift card. The survey deadline is Sept. 15 so fill it out soon for your chance to win. Read the...
Aug 30, 2024•34 sec•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 13% : The average five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer patients in 2024, according to the American Cancer Society. This is compared to a 90% average five-year survival rate for people diagnosed with breast cancer. Story: Scientists have made tremendous progress on cancer research to improve patient survival rates. But challenges still exist because some cancers can suddenly become unaffected by treatment. In this episode, Christina Towers, a cancer cell biologist from the Salk Ins...
Aug 23, 2024•25 min•Ep 145•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 11% : An estimated 11% of U.S. adults who have ever had COVID-19 are currently experiencing symptoms of long COVID, which can last three months or longer. This suggests that millions of people across the country could be affected. Story: Long COVID is a health condition that’s continuing to puzzle scientists. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, doctors saw some patients who would recover quickly, while other people’s symptoms continued to worsen—and many symptoms varied widely and lasted long ...
Aug 09, 2024•21 min•Ep 144•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 150%-300%: Beaches maintained with Indigenous management techniques experience 150% to 300% more clam production than beaches without. Story: Conserving the environment sometimes requires people to actively manage a natural place and Indigenous communities across North America have shown the way for centuries. In this episode, Marco Hatch, associate professor of environmental science at Western Washington University and member of the Samish Indian Nation, discusses Indigenous stewardship p...
Jul 26, 2024•19 min•Ep 143•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 41% : The share of adults who experienced high levels of psychological distress at some point during the pandemic. Story: New studies show that physical touch is vitally important to the human experience. And during the pandemic, many Americans felt the impact of its loss because of quarantines and isolation. But how do our brains and bodies distinguish between different types of touch? In this episode, Ishmail Abdus-Saboor of Columbia University discusses how his research tries to answer ...
Jul 12, 2024•20 min•Ep 142•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 73% : The percentage of U.S. adults who have a great deal or fair amount of confidence in scientists to act in the public’s best interests, according to Pew Research Center Story: Scientific discovery is essential to advancing society and improving people’s lives. In this series, “From Lab to Life,” we’re featuring scientists from a range of fields who share a common goal of making the world a better place. Trust in their work is vital to their success, so many scientists are recognizing t...
Jun 28, 2024•19 min•Ep 141•Transcript available on Metacast Every day, science is improving the world. A new series from “After the Fact” tells you how. Featuring conversations with scientists from a range of fields, we look at innovative research that’s advancing society and making people’s lives better. We also learn more about the scientists themselves—personal stories of how they got started and what motivates them. Tune in to hear how these researchers are strengthening trust in science, building community, and making the world a better place....
Jun 21, 2024•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 49% : The share of Americans who say the availability of affordable housing in their local community is a major problem, compared to 39% in 2018. Story: Montana has been rapidly attracting new residents for more than a decade and during the COVID-19 pandemic the pace only accelerated. Housing prices there have tripled in some cities just as in many other states that have seen an influx of people. In this episode, we hear from Montana state lawmakers Daniel and Katie Zolnikov about the bipa...
Apr 19, 2024•21 min•Ep 140•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 12% : From 2017 to 2022, Minneapolis increased its housing stock by 12% while rents remained flat. Story: Minneapolis is drawing positive national attention for the city’s approach to curbing soaring housing costs. In this episode, we hear from Meg McMahan and Jason Wittenberg from Minneapolis’ Office of Community Planning and Economic Development about the city’s history of disparities in zoning policies and the strategies they’re implementing to secure more housing for residents. We also...
Apr 05, 2024•19 min•Ep 139•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 70%: The share of Americans who think young adults today have a harder time than their parents’ generation when it comes to buying a home. Story: Putting a roof over their heads is a struggle for many Americans. Rising house prices, restrictive zoning, increasing rents, and a lack of small mortgages are some of the hurdles facing people who want a safe and secure place to call home. In this episode, Alex Horowitz and Tara Roche, directors of The Pew Charitable Trusts’ housing policy initia...
Mar 22, 2024•18 min•Ep 138•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 60% : The share of Americans who say they’re very concerned about the cost of housing. Story: In just a few years, from 2019 to 2022, the national median sale price for a single-family home increased by 25%. And the rising costs of buying and maintaining a house has 60% of Americans concerned. Is the American Dream of homeownership out of reach for many? In this episode of “Housing in America,” Richard Fry, an expert at the Pew Research Center, talks about the current trends in housing, li...
Mar 08, 2024•16 min•Ep 137•Transcript available on Metacast Rising rents, escalating home prices, and limited housing supply. They are some of the forces pushing the American Dream of homeownership out of reach for many. Increasingly, there is bipartisan support to find a way forward. In this season, After the Fact explores these trends and the challenges individuals and families face in finding housing that’s affordable and accessible . We also speak with experts and policymakers who are trying to help more people find a place to call home....
Mar 01, 2024•1 min•Transcript available on Metacast Story: Over most of last year, “After the Fact” looked at how people are restoring and building community at a time when the nation is divided and exhausted. From faith leaders to community activists, and from academics to policymakers, we found rich voices who offered stories of people coming together. At a time of division, they showed that unity is possible—and, in fact, is happening in many places, probably even near you. As the new year begins, this special episode shares reflections from t...
Jan 31, 2024•8 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 57% : The percentage of Americans who believe that partisan conflicts receive too much attention these days. Story: A majority of Americans say partisan fighting gets too much attention while important issues facing the country get too little. In the final episode of our season on polarization, Utah Governor Spencer Cox says elected officials can do better at bridging our political divides. He is chair of the National Governors Association and leads an initiative called Disagree Better* th...
Dec 15, 2023•19 min•Ep 136•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 79% : The share of Americans who believe access to the internet and social media has made people more divided in their political opinions. Story: Social media plays a significant role in society, but data shows that most Americans believe it negatively affects our democracy and contributes to polarization. In this episode of “Beyond Polarization,” we hear how high school senior Eli Tillemann is helping his classmates learn how to embrace diversity of opinions. We also speak with Heidi Hern...
Dec 01, 2023•20 min•Ep 135•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 65% : The share of Americans who say they always or often feel exhausted when thinking about politics. Story: Political polarization has become overwhelming for the majority of Americans, with most agreeing that more attention is being paid to partisan fighting than solving the nation’s problems. But there is hope. In this episode of “Beyond Polarization,” we speak with experts from Pew Research Center about how Americans view politics and opportunities to find common ground. We also talk ...
Nov 17, 2023•22 min•Ep 134•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: An inaccurate “double”: Both Democrats and Republicans imagine that almost twice as many of their political opponents hold more extreme views than they really do, according to a study by More in Common. Story: During times of increased polarization and increasing stresses on democracy, researchers are studying how to break down partisan divides and address misconceptions among members of the public. In the first episode of “Beyond Polarization,” Columbia University professor and author Pet...
Nov 03, 2023•20 min•Ep 133•Transcript available on Metacast If discussing politics feels different today, that’s because it is. Pew Research Center reports that 65% of Americans say they always or often feel exhausted when thinking about politics because of the country’s deep partisan divisions. As polarization increases and trust declines, how can we move forward together? We speak with researchers and bridge builders fro m across the political and generational spectrum in a new season of “After the Fact.” They share how they are facilitating civil dial...
Oct 27, 2023•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 65% : The percentage of Philadelphians who said the city is “pretty seriously off on the wrong track” in 2023. Story : Philadelphia is a thriving city with a deep history as the birthplace of American democracy. But Philadelphians, like residents of other large cities, are also grappling with issues such as gun violence, deep poverty, and accessing affordable housing. In a recent survey, 65% of Philadelphians said the city is on the wrong track. Philadelphia is Pew’s hometown and in this e...
Aug 25, 2023•14 min•Ep 132•Transcript available on Metacast 
