“Scared to Believe” (Encore)
Santa isn’t the only myth we use to keep children in line! In the 1990s, evangelical churches bought and gave away thousands of copies of the book, “Left Behind,” hoping its overwrought depiction of t...
25 Dec 202043min
A Little White Christmas Lie
What, exactly, are parents accomplishing when they encourage their children to believe in the idea of an extravagently-dressed stranger breaking and entering into their homes on Christmas Eve? Is Sant...
18 Dec 202043min
Their Libertarians Attract Bears!
Welcome to Grafton, New Hampshire, a not-very-picturesque town where the streets are dark, the fires are unregulated, the cats are missing, and the camps are armed. Oh, and there are bears. Smart, dan...
11 Dec 202055min
Don’t Accentuate the Positive
NYU and University of Hamburg psychology professor Gabriele Oettingen explains why positive thinking can backfire, and offers a method that might work better. She is the author of “Rethinking Positive...
4 Dec 202048min
Evangelical Christians’ Lesbian Poster Girl
Julie Rodgers was raised in a conservative evangelical home, so she knew they’d be horrified when she came out as a lesbian in her teens. To please her family and community, she first tried to change ...
27 Nov 202058min
Suicide Is a Public Health Issue
Trigger warning: This episode is about suicide and suicide prevention. While the pandemic has made mental health a part of the national conversation, policy makers and the public still tend to think ...
20 Nov 202050min
Are We Overstating Abuse?
CW: Sexual violence Author Sarah Schulman joins the show to discuss her provocative and influential book, Conflict Is Not Abuse: Overstating Harm, Community Responsibility, and the Duty of Repair. Sh...
13 Nov 202041min
IN PRAISE OF MAGICAL THINKING
Oxford University professor of anthropology Chris Gosden joins us to discuss his book: A History: From Alchemy to Witchcraft, from the Ice Age to the Present. Also: We make politics disappear! Which i...
6 Nov 202047min
