Stat: 35%: The percentage of Americans in 2019 who report a great deal of confidence in scientists to act in the public interest, up from 21% in 2016. Story: Public trust in science is front and center today as researchers seek to learn more about the coronavirus. In this episode, France Córdova, former National Science Foundation director, discusses confidence in scientific research, and Cary Funk, the Pew Research Center’s director of science and society research, shares survey results on how ...
Sep 11, 2020•20 min•Ep 86•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 79%: The percentage of people who agree that science has made life easier for most of us. Story: Science may sometimes seem abstract, but its benefits can be seen everywhere—from the technology in smartphones to the medicines we take. In this episode, we explore what science really is (and what it’s not) with Ira Flatow, host of the popular “Science Friday” radio program, and Carlo Rovelli, a world-renowned physicist and bestselling writer.
Sep 04, 2020•14 min•Ep 85•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 78%: The percentage of Americans who say it makes sense that studies on the coronavirus may present conflicting advice because research is constantly improving. Story: In the first episode of our new season “Conversations on Science,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, discusses the importance of science in our daily lives, especially amid the pandemic, and shares his own story about how he fell in love with science.
Aug 28, 2020•23 min•Ep 84•Transcript available on Metacast In a new season of Pew’s “After the Fact” podcast, we talk about science: what it is, how it’s conducted and explained to the public, and how it affects our lives. We speak with scientists and researchers—from Dr. Anthony Fauci and Pew biomedical scholar Pamela Bjorkman, who are on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, to “Science Friday” host Ira Flatow and physicist and bestselling author Carlo Rovelli, who speak about the scientific process and why it matters. Join us as we explore science...
Aug 21, 2020•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Story: With summer heating up, we’re again sharing our conversation with Pew biomedical scholar and Princeton scientist Lindy McBride about one of the peskiest and deadliest insects on the planet: the mosquito. Listen in for the facts about mosquitoes and why they find some people tastier than others.
Aug 03, 2020•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 78 percent: About 8 in 10 adults feel that libraries help them find information that is trustworthy and reliable. Story: Everybody knows what happened on the Fourth of July, but what about the First of July? That’s the anniversary of America’s first free library. Established in 1731 by Ben Franklin, it marked the democratization of information. Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden—the first woman and African American in that role—talks about how libraries and librarians continue that mission...
Jul 02, 2020•17 min•Ep 83•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 87 percent: Americans who say they are following news about the coronavirus outbreak fairly or very closely. Story: According to the World Health Organization, people are not only living through an epidemic but also an “infodemic”—a surge of information about COVID-19 that has made it hard for people to know which news and guidance about the virus is accurate. In a conversation with Alan Miller, founder and CEO of the News Literacy Project, we discuss how to sort fact from fiction today....
Jun 12, 2020•15 min•Ep 82•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 48% of U.S. adults have cardiovascular disease, according to the American Heart Association. Story: What do zebrafish have to do with human health? As it turns out, they can help researchers understand how and why heart disease happens. We spoke to Pew biomedical scholar (2002) Steven Farber at the Carnegie Institution for Science to learn more about his work, which is revealing new strategies to combat heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
May 29, 2020•16 min•Ep 81•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 21 million: The number of Americans not connected to broadband internet, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Story: While most Americans are managing remote work, learning, and even participating in social gatherings online during the pandemic, there are still millions of Americans who don’t have access to high-speed internet where they live. Kathryn de Wit, manager of Pew’s broadband research initiative, explains who’s not online and shares what some states and communities...
May 15, 2020•12 min•Ep 80•Transcript available on Metacast Story: With schools and universities closed and millions now learning and working from home because of the coronavirus, Pew’s latest edition of Trend magazine focuses on the topic of learning. In this rebroadcast featuring two Stanford University researchers with an essay in the magazine, you’ll hear about how breakthroughs in neuroscience and technology have given us insights into the human mind and how those findings are being applied in classrooms today.
May 06, 2020•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: $ 75 billion: The total amount of money that states had set aside in rainy day funds at the end of 2019 in case of an economic downturn. Story: The short-term effects of the coronavirus pandemic on our health care systems and daily lives were immediately clear. But how will states weather the economic storm over the long term? In this episode, we hear from Josh Goodman of Pew’s state fiscal health team, who shares insights on the steps that states are taking to address looming budget short...
Apr 24, 2020•12 min•Ep 79•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 44 percent: The percentage of Americans who say the COVID-19 outbreak has changed their lives in a major way. Story: From how we work, socialize, and even pray, the coronavirus has upturned American life. The Pew Research Center’s Claudia Deane summarizes recent survey findings, including Americans’ views of the impact on their daily life, their concerns about the economy, and trust levels in government and the health system.
Apr 15, 2020•11 min•Ep 78•Transcript available on Metacast As the world copes with the COVID-19 pandemic, Pew’s “After the Fact” podcast is taking a pause. For all our listeners, stay safe and healthy, and we’ll be back with new content soon.
Mar 20, 2020•37 sec•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 47 percent: The percentage decline of newsroom employees at newspapers between 2008 and 2018. Story: Newspapers are cutting staff or closing altogether, but in the final episode of our local news series we visit The Berkshire Eagle in western Massachusetts, which is bucking that trend . We speak to the publisher and editor who are adding reporters and to community leaders who value a local paper in their civic life.
Mar 13, 2020•20 min•Ep 77•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 2000: More than 2,000 of the 3,143 counties in the United States have no daily local newspaper. Story: What is a news desert? We explore the definition—a community with limited access to credible and comprehensive news and information—by traveling to southeast Georgia where the Waycross Journal-Herald abruptly closed in September 2019. We also interview expert Penny Abernathy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who has documented the spread of news deserts across the Unit...
Mar 06, 2020•19 min•Ep 76•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 71: The percentage of Americans who believe that their local news outlet is doing well financially. Story: Local news outlets are struggling against declines in circulation and advertising, with 2,100 newspapers closing over the past 15 years. In the first installment of our three-part series on the changing landscape of local news in America, we hear from experts on what’s changed and how it may be affecting our communities.
Feb 28, 2020•17 min•Ep 75•Transcript available on Metacast Story: In this series, we explore the decline in local news coverage across America. Host Dan LeDuc interviews journalism experts, travels to a “news desert” where the daily newspaper recently printed its last edition, and visits the newsroom of a paper that is bucking the trend and doubling down on its investment in community coverage.
Feb 21, 2020•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 800 million: The number of people in the world who live within the footprint, 62 miles, of a volcano. Story: In the latest episode in our “Scientists at Work” series, we go behind the scenes at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, where we meet geologist and volcanologist Ben Andrews, who works to answer three key questions about volcanoes around the world: When will an eruption happen, how big could the eruption be, and how fast?...
Feb 07, 2020•14 min•Ep 74•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 22.73: Ken Burns’ documentary Civil War was created from 22.73 miles of film. Story: Ken Burns is known for his expansive documentaries on American history and culture. With 33 documentary films to his name, what is the secret to his creative process? We travel to the New Hampshire barn where he works for a conversation about how he tells old stories in a new way and what inspires him to create.
Jan 24, 2020•27 min•Ep 73•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 59 percent: The percentage of Americans who say they have little to no confidence in the public’s political wisdom. Story: As the new year—and an election year—begins, we turn to data on our democracy to learn more about how Americans view institutions and civic life today. Host Dan LeDuc speaks with Michael Dimock, president of the Pew Research Center, about the latest research on trust, facts, and democracy in America.
Jan 10, 2020•20 min•Ep 72•Transcript available on Metacast Story: “After the Fact” is sharing one more fan favorite before the end of the year with Paula Marincola, executive director of The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage. She selected an episode with Pulitzer Prize-winning composer and 1999 Pew arts fellow Jennifer Higdon on how ideas become reality. Since that conversation, Jennifer has again been nominated for a Grammy Award. Host Dan LeDuc also speaks with Paula about the importance of the arts today.
Dec 27, 2019•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Story: “After the Fact” is sharing a couple more fan favorites as we close out 2019. This week, Ray Suarez, guest host of our “Future of Learning” series and a former broadcaster, selected an episode (No. 46) that focuses on how location can affect an individual’s economic prospects.
Dec 20, 2019•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 68 million: The number of Americans who say they have no religious affiliation as of , compared with 39 million in 2009. Story: This episode focuses on Americans’ views of religion and the generational changes that are taking place. Greg Smith of the Pew Research Center shares an update on the changing religious landscape, and host Dan LeDuc talks to a mother and daughter about their evolving religious paths.
Dec 06, 2019•21 min•Ep 71•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 100 feet: At nearly 100 feet in length, blue whales are the largest animal ever known to have existed on Earth. Story: Blue whales are big but they’re not invulnerable, often falling victim to strikes by ships in the northern India Ocean. Asha de Vos, a Pew marine fellow who founded Sri Lanka’s first marine conservation research and education organization, tells us about the beauty of blue whales and their importance to the health of the ocean....
Nov 22, 2019•18 min•Ep 70•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 94.7 million—It is estimated that the number of Americans ages 65 and older will nearly double from 49.2 million in 2016 to 94.7 million by 2060. Story: In this final episode of the Future of Learning series, we explore the aging mind, including how brains change over the years, how to stimulate the mind, and which traits can be found in “superagers.”
Nov 15, 2019•28 min•Ep 69•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 65 percent of all jobs in the American economy today will require postsecondary education and training. Story: School may be over for most workers in America’s economy, but the need to learn continues. In the third part of our series “The Future of Learning,” we hear how some individuals are learning new skills for tomorrow’s workforce and talk with experts about what’s needed to stay ahead of the curve.
Nov 08, 2019•17 min•Ep 68•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 30 percent. The amount of jobs worldwide that could become automated by 2030. Story: In part two of our series on learning, join guest host Ray Suarez as he interviews teachers and experts about the evolving classroom and how teachers are trying to prepare students to be flexible, motivated, and lifelong learners to prepare for jobs that haven’t been invented yet.
Oct 31, 2019•21 min•Ep 67•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 86 billion. The human brain has at least 86 billion neurons. Story: Breakthroughs in neuroscience and technology have given us a peek into the human mind, yet we have much to discover about how our brains actually learn new things. In the first part of our new series, you’ll travel with guest host Ray Suarez to the Brainwave Learning Center, a partnership with Stanford University, where scientists are measuring students’ brain waves to see what happens as they learn to read and gain other ...
Oct 25, 2019•21 min•Ep 66•Transcript available on Metacast Story: In this special series on learning, guest host Ray Suarez will examine the latest developments in neuroscience and cognitive psychology, explore workforce trends, and share inspiring stories from people on the journey to becoming lifelong learners.
Oct 17, 2019•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stat: 1 million—the number of Americans who default on student loan payments each year. Story: More Americans are seeking higher education, which means more people are taking on—and struggling with—student loan debt. For one first-generation college graduate, the complex repayment system proved overwhelming. We share her story and talk to Chronicle of Higher Education reporter Eric Kelderman and Pew researcher Sarah Sattelmeyer about key challenges and potential solutions to help keep borrowers ...
Oct 04, 2019•19 min•Ep 65•Transcript available on Metacast 
