Top of Mind with Julie Rose

If the whole point of a democracy is to represent the voice of the people, then why do more than half of Americans say the two major political parties are doing a poor job representing the people? Would a third major party solve the problem? What could drive the Democrats and Republicans to embrace more moderate views? In this episode we look at why American politics have become so polarized and we explore how to stay engaged in democracy when neither party feels like a good fit. Thanks to listeners Jeff, Cydne, Alex, Troy and Noah for sharing their stories in this episode.Guests:Robert Saldin, Professor of Political Science, University of MontanaJon Schaff, Professor of Political Science, Northern State University Richard Davis, co-founder of the United Utah Party, author of "Beyond Donkeys and Elephants: Minor Political Parties in Contemporary American Politics."Pastor Fred Garry, Senior Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Metuchen, NJEvan Malbrough, fellow at the ACLU of Georgia, board member with The Andrew Goodman Foundation.

When you encounter a perspective that contradicts your own, the natural instinct is to either shut down or push back. But staying with that discomfort can pay off. Maybe it deepens a relationship or leads to some fresh insight. Top of Mind is launching a new series called “Stick With It” where we talk with people about a time they encountered a perspective that felt challenging, chose to stick with that discomfort, and they're glad they did. In this episode, we speak with a couple of friends – one is Black, one is white – about embracing tough conversations as they wrote a book together about race. And host Julie Rose shares a “Stick With It” story of her own. Email your story to topofmind@byu.edu.Guests: Shanterra McBride, author, preacher, speaker, founder of Marvelous UniversityRosalind Wiseman, co-founder of Cultures of Dignity, author of “Queen Bees and Wannabes” and co-author with McBride of “Courageous Discomfort: How to Have Important, Life-Changing Conversations About Race and Racism.

The freedom to believe—and express those religious beliefs—is embedded in America's founding documents. But being obviously religious—like wearing a hijab, turban or yarmulke—doesn't always bring a friendly response. If everyone knew, just by looking at you, that you are a person of faith, would you act differently? In this episode, we're thinking more deeply about how much we—as individuals and as a society—really value religious diversity and public expressions of faith. Guests: Simran Jeet Singh, Executive Director for the Aspen Institute's Religion & Society Program and author of The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life.Justin McClain, Catholic educator and author of Called to Teach, Alleluia to Amen, and Called to Pray.Asma Uddin, attorney, visiting law professor at Catholic University of America, author of “When Islam Is Not a Religion: Inside America's Fight for Religious Freedom”Diana Eck, founder of The Pluralism Project at Harvard University(photo credit: Simran Jeet Singh by John Noltner)

The word “activist” tends to scare off a lot of people. But working for change is more than protests and marches. In this episode we look to the example of Rosa Parks who did so much more than refuse to give up her seat on a segregated bus. And we consider why viral hashtags on social media rarely lead to big, lasting change. Plus, a new definition of activism that could motivate more of us to work on making the world a better place. Guests: HH Leonards, founder of The O Street Museum and Mansion in Washington, DC and author of “Rosa Parks Beyond the Bus: Life, Lessons and Leadership”Gal Beckerman, senior editor for books at The Atlantic, author of “The Quiet Before: On the Unexpected Origins of Radical Ideals.”Emma Petty Adams and Jennifer Walker Thomas, co-executive directors of MWEG (Mormon Women for Ethical Government)Karen Walrond, author of "The Lightmaker's Manifesto: How to Work for Change Without Losing Your Joy"

A major side effect of being such a grief-averse culture is the sheer panic many of us feel when confronted with someone who's suffered a devastating loss. What can you possibly say or do that will help? In this bonus episode you'll hear Julie's full conversation with grief specialist Lisa Athan. It's packed full of practical tips and uplifting insight.Guest:Lisa Athan, founder of Grief Speaks

What is it about grief that makes us so uncomfortable? American rituals are designed to keep mourning quiet and private. We mutter clichés that offer little comfort and expect grieving to be like getting the flu – you feel really bad and then you get better. We make even less space for grieving pets, or pregnancy loss. In today's episode we consider what might be different if we allowed for grief to be bigger, longer and more public?Guests: Jaqueline Dooley, writer, essayist - https://jacquelinedooley.medium.com/Brandy Schillace, author of “Death's Summer Coat: Our Strange, Unsettled History of Mourning”E.B. Bartels, author of "Good Grief: On Loving Pets Here and Hereafter"Katie C. Reilly, writer, attorney Lisa Athan, founder of Grief Speaks

What if you sent a hand-written, two-page letter to every single one of your Facebook friends? What if you struck up conversations with strangers more often? What if you mended a fracture in your family? In this episode, we explore how widening our circles and tending to relationships more mindfully could be good for us - and society.Guests:Amy Weinland Daughters, sports columnist and author of “Dear Dana: That Time I Went Crazy and Wrote All 580 of My Facebook Friends a Handwritten Letter”Joe Keohane, journalist and author of “The Power of Strangers: The Benefits of Connecting in a Suspicious World”Karl Pillemer, professor of human development and geriatrics at Cornell University, author of “Fault Lines: Fractured Families and How to Mend Them.”

Genealogy is compelling to so many, but why do we want to learn about people we don't know? Simple answer, the stories we find by tracing our roots can inspire us and become family legends. But what happens when we discover something dark in our family history? How do we reconcile our heroes with their frailties, or even evil deeds? Is it worth it to keep digging? In this episode, we explore how family history can open new doors, build resiliency within families, and why you should look to dig a little deeper. Guests:Christopher Jones, BYU History ProfessorLibby Copeland, author of “The Lost Family: How DNA Testing Is Upending Who We Are” Edward Di Gangi, author of “The Gift Best Given: A Memoir”Gaynell Brady, owner of Our Mammy's

People with synesthesia perceive the world very differently from the rest of us. Their senses merge so that sounds might also have tastes. The days of the week may be different colors. Numbers and letters might correspond to musical notes. This final installment in our summer series of archive interviews is especially meaningful to Julie because it drives home how two people can look at the same thing and see it very differently. What can the science of synesthesia teach us about navigating divisive issues we feel strongly about? Guest:Richard Cytowic, Clinical Professor of Neurology at George Washington University, author of "Wednesday is Indigo Blue" and "The Man Who Tasted Shapes"

Caregiving for a loved one can be difficult and confusing. Julie and her siblings are among the more than 20 million Americans who currently care for an aging parent- so this week's pick from the Top of Mind live radio archive hits close to home. In 2020, Julie spoke with Zachary White and Donna Thomson who combine their personal and professional experience into a "how to" handbook for the rest of us called “The Unexpected Journey of Caring."Guests:Donna Thomson, author, caregiver, activist, author of "The Four Walls of My Freedom: Lessons I've Learned from a Life of Caregiving"Zachary White, professor of communication, Queens University of Charlotte, co-author (with Thomson) of "The Unexpected Journey of Caring: The Transformation from Loved One to Caregiver"

Sarah Valentine grew up believing she was the white daughter of her white parents. As an adult she learned her parents had been lying to her. She's actually half Black. That truth completely unraveled Valentine's sense of identity, which she writes about in her memoir “When I Was White.” Top of Mind host Julie Rose says she thinks often about this interview from our daily radio show archive because it really led her question her assumptions about race and racism. Top of Mind is a BYUradio podcast. Guest:Sarah Valentine, author of "When I Was White: A Memoir"

Netflix star Samin Nosrat shares the one amazing meal that inspired her to become a professional chef. Her cookbook “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat” is a guide to the essential elements of successful cooking. In another of Julie's favorite conversations from the Top of Mind live radio show archives, Nosrat explains how to make delicious food whether you're a conscientious recipe-follower or a free-wheeling experimenter (like Julie). Top of Mind is a BYUradio podcast.Guest:Samin Nosrat, chef and author of "Salt, Fat, Acid Heat" (which is also a Netflix documentary series)

A professional magician teaches magic tricks to inmates, and it is changing their whole prison experience.The American Chestnut tree is nearly gone for good. These people are working hard to bring it back. A special type of wall creates a radiating cooling effect. Here's how it works.

This week, Julie shares a conversation from Top of Mind's live radio show archive that changed her life. In 2017 she spoke with Dan Brule, who is one of the world's leading experts on breathwork. He recommends taking time daily to practice breathing. The techniques he shared have become Julie's best tool for coping with stress and anxiety. Guest:Dan Brule, author of “Just Breathe: Mastering Breathwork for Success in Life, Love, Business and Beyond"

The humanitarian needs in the world right now are enormous. Helping out seems straightforward – you just send money or show up. But if you're not careful, your time and money may do no good. Worse, it might end up hurting those you're hoping to help. In this episode, we consider how best to respond in a humanitarian crisis, why doing a “service trip” to a distant village isn't necessarily helpful and ways to boost the impact of your charitable gifts. Guests: Svitlana Miller, founder, ToUkraineWithLove.orgMeg Sattler, director, Ground Truth SolutionsBocchit Edmond, Haiti's Ambassador to the United StatesPippa Biddle, author of “Ours to Explore: Privilege, Power and the Paradox of Voluntourism”Kat Rosqueta, founding executive director, Center for High Impact Philanthropy (impact.upenn.edu) at the University of Pennsylvania

The question of going to college - and where - is on the minds of most American families and young adults. We want college to be a character-building, mind-expanding experience, but we also want it to help graduates get good jobs. In this episode, we explore the ways that our conflicting expectations of American higher education play out—and how to make the best decisions for your family. Guests: Alexis Ayala, Business Development Representative at Okta Anthony Carnevale, Director of the Georgetown Center for Education and the Workforce Ron Lieber, New York Times Finance Columnist, Author of “The Price You Pay for College: An Entirely New Road Map for the Biggest Financial Decision Your Family Will Ever Make”Ken Rusk, Entrepreneur, Author of “Blue Collar Cash: Love Your Work, Secure Your Future, and Find Happiness for Life”

Clues to Beethoven's inner life are all throughout his music.Developing a less expensive portable MRI machine.Desensitization treatment works well for food allergies. Why do so many people still suffer?

Aging brings inevitable changes to our bodies, abilities and lifestyle. But it's not all bad. Surveys show time and again that people in their 80s are happier than young adults and people in middle age. Yet we all dread the prospect of growing older. In today's episode, we explore what aging is really like in America right now and how the experience might be better if we stopped fearing it. Guests:Katherine Esty, therapist and author of Eighty somethings: A Practical Guide to Letting Go, Aging Well, and Finding Unexpected HappinessBill Rodgers, decorated marathon runner and Olympian Marc Agronin, geriatric psychiatrist at Miami Jewish Health and author of The End of Old Age: Living a Longer, More Purposeful LifeAshton Applewhite, activist and author of The Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against AgeismDonna Butts, Executive Director of Generations United

In this bonus episode from the Top of Mind archive: "The Other Talk." Most kids of color in America grow up talking about racism at home, but most white children don't. They should, though, says author Brendan Kiely. His new book is a guide for starting the conversation about race at home. Then, a short, inspiring chat with a doctor who collects flower arrangements and delivers them to patients in the hospital where she works.

We're featuring another one of our great BYUradio podcasts on Top of Mind. The Lisa Show discusses how we can navigate life and parenting. And in this episode, host Lisa Valentine Clark seeks advice on how to be a good parent when the internet and technology are ever-changing.

Once a child is placed in foster care, they're reuniting with their parent or guardian less than half of the time. But many child welfare agencies say reuniting families is a top priority. Is it possible to have a system that both protects children and prioritizes families? Guests: Aby, a Mother who reunited with her child Dalton Shump, Permanency Case Worker, KVC Molly Tierney, Managing Director, North American Public Sector at Accenture, Former Director of the Baltimore City Department of Social Services Lynn Price, Founder, Camp to Belong

The US Supreme Court has repeatedly held that some amount of race-based discrimination is okay in college admissions, if the goal is to create a more diverse campus. But, no one wants to be rejected because of something they can't control – like their race, or their parents' income. In this episode, we'll explore the effects of affirmative action and consider other ways schools might create diversity if the Supreme Court bans race-based admissions decisions. Guests: Zachariah Chou, author of USA Today op-ed "My race may have played a factor in my college rejections, but I support affirmative action" Wenyuan Wu, Executive Director of Californians for Equal Rights Foundation Monica O'Neal, psychologist in Boston and faculty at Harvard Medical School Rick Sander, economist and law professor at UCLA Audrey Dow, Senior Vice President of The Campaign for College Opportunity

One out of every 95 people on Earth has fled their home because of conflict or persecution. What is the experience of leaving – when you'd rather stay – and resettling in a place where everything is foreign? In this episode, people who came to America as refugees share their stories of heartbreak, healing, and new friendships. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Guests: Warda Mohamed Abdullahi, Somalian refugee, author of "Warda: My Journey from the Horn of Africa to a College Education" Luma Mufleh, founder of Fugees Family, author of "Learning America: One Woman's Fight for Educational Justice for Refugee Children" Liz Jevtic-Somlai, Associate Director at Their Story is Our Story Aden Batar, Services Director at Catholic Community Services of Utah

18 years. That's how long Anthony Graves spent in prison for a crime he never committed. Unfortunately, his story is not uncommon in this country. Can we stop wrongful convictions, or are they just the price we pay to keep communities safe? In this episode, we look at how such big mistakes are made in the American justice system and efforts to prevent wrongful convictions. Guests: Anthony Graves, exoneree, author “Infinite Hope: How Wrongful Conviction, Solitary Confinement, and 12 Years on Death Row Failed to Kill My Soul.” David Rudolf- author, “American Injustice: Inside Stories from the Underbelly of the Criminal Justice System” Emily Galvin-Almanza, co-founder of Partners for Justice Walter McNeil, sheriff of Leon County, Florida

Before we were a weekly podcast, Top of Mind was a daily radio show. We were on the air – live - for two hours every weekday. And we did that for seven years. This means there's a ton of great material in our archive. So, today we're giving you a taste of that archive. First, we take a deep dive into the history of organ transplant surgery – and its darker side. You'll hear how the TV world of Star Trek has influenced real science. We'll be back with a new episode of the podcast on Monday, May 23rd.

Division is nothing new in America, but something about this moment feels different. Why are we so angry, fearful, and ever more deeply entrenched in our safe little bubbles of like-minded people? More importantly, how do we get out? In this episode, the root causes of toxic polarization in America today, practical advice on bridging our differences, and the story of one man trying to change the narrative one difficult conversation at a time. Guests: Dylan Marron, author, “Conversations with People Who Hate Me.” Amy Chua, Yale Law School professor, author, “Political Tribes,” and “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother.” Peter Coleman, social psychologist, Columbia University, author, “The Way Out: How to Overcome Toxic Polarization.”

The way we think about mental illness from a Western medicine perspective doesn't fit everyone. More and more people are taking antidepressants, but rates of depression aren't declining. Meanwhile, some unconventional methods, like indigenous practices and psychedelics, are helping people cope with symptoms. In today's episode, we show the power of thinking differently about mental illness. Guests: Sam, mental health patient Terrie Moffitt, clinical psychologist, professor, Duke University Joseph Gone, cultural clinical psychologist, professor, Harvard University Reid Robison, chief medical officer, Novamind

Long Description – Millions of Americans move each year in search of a better house, neighborhood, job, or quality of life. Is leaving the only way to live some place better? What would it take for an imperfect place to become your perfect match? Today we crisscross the country and check in with Top of Mind listeners about what makes a city great. Guests: Majora Carter – Author of “Reclaiming your Community” Jim and Deb Fallows – Co-authors of “Our Town: A Journey into the Heart of America” Melody Warnick – Author of “This Is Where You Belong” and “If You Could Live Anywhere” Lynn Kreutz, Hayley Trotter, Reed Wolfley, Erika Layland, Jenny Van Stone, Kim Parati – Top of Mind Listeners

Whether we work in an office, a construction site, or even a radio station, we've all complained about being overworked. Americans spend more time working than people in other wealthy nations. Why do we feel the need to work so much? In this episode, we take a deep dive into American work culture and how working less could actually be good for employers and employees.

Top of Mind is giving listeners a sneak peek at one of the other podcasts here at BYU Radio. Constant Wonder is all about exploring the hidden marvels of our world. In this episode, the amazing tale of how an orphaned baby orca found its way home.

Living with autism can be difficult, and in the past, the prevailing attitude was to find ways to fix or cure autism. But that idea is changing. “For too long, we have been forced to navigate a world where all the road signs are written in another language,” writes author and journalist Eric Garcia. Garcia is autistic. In this episode, we talk with current autism advocates who argue that the way to make life better for autistic people is not to force them to fit into the world but to help the world fit them. Guests: Emily Grodin and Valerie Gilpeer, co-authors of “I Have Been Buried Under Years of Dust.” Eric Garcia, journalist, author of ‘We're Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation.” Monique Botha, community psychologist, and researcher at the University of Stirling Sarah and Larry Nannery, co-authors of “What to Say Next: Successful Communication in Work, Life and Love with Autism Spectrum Disorder.”

People who experience poverty are constantly riding a rollercoaster of highs and lows as they struggle to better their situation. In desperation, they're asking, “Is there any way out?” While a growing number of people agree that ending poverty is achievable, there's plenty of debate on the specifics. Advocates leading the fight against poverty are finding that the answer will start with a change in perspective. We're learning that poverty isn't an individual's problem—It's a community problem. Guests: Alicia, Circles Participant Chris Robinson, Circles Participant Robert Rector, Senior Research Fellow, Heritage Foundation Dr. H. Luke Schaefer, Professor, University of Michigan, Co-author of “$2.00 a Day: Living on Almost Nothing in America." LaMont Hampton, Program Coordinator, Circles Davis County Paul Born, Founder, Tamarack Institute

Citizenship is a prerequisite for voting in most of the world. But New York City plans on allowing non-citizens to vote in city elections. How does being given or denied the right to vote affect somebody's sense of belonging in a community? In this episode, we look at the history of voting rights and restrictions in America and see how voting by non-citizens plays out in places where it is allowed. Guests: Woojung Diana Park, Immigrant Justice Organizer, Minkwon Center in New York City Chaewon Jessica Park, Immigrant Justice Organizer, Minkwon Center in New York City Howard Husock, Senior Fellow of Domestic Policy Studies, American Enterprise Institute Ron Hayduk, Professor of Political Science, San Francisco State University Kate Stewart, Mayor of Takoma Park, Maryland

Maia Szalavitz was introduced to the concept of harm reduction while using illegal drugs in her 20s. A friendly woman advised her to clean the needles with bleach. She claims that kind gesture saved her life even though it was a few years before she kicked the drug habit. Harm reduction has evolved in the last 40 years. New York City just opened the first government-sanctioned supervised injection sites in the country. Can you accept somebody as they are without enabling their harmful behavior to continue? Are they mutually exclusive? Guests: Maia Szalavitz - author of Unbroken Brain: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding Addiction Dr. Leslie Suen - addiction medicine specialist, UCSF Darwin Fisher – Program Manager, Insite Keith Humphreys - addiction researcher, professor, Stanford University School of Medicine David Murray - co-director for the Center for Substance Abuse Policy Research, Hudson Institute Brendan Cox - Director of Policing Strategies, LEAD National Support Bureau

If you stood a thin person next to someone who is, well, not so thin, and were asked to pick who you thought was healthier, you're more than likely going to choose the skinny person, right? We've been programmed to think that body weight is the best indicator of a person's health and fitness. But this mindset isn't always true. The disconnect between body weight and health is more common than you think, and we may be making ourselves more unhealthy by not believing it. Mirna Valerio, ultramarathoner, founder of Fat Girl Running Kathryn Hively, Founder of Just BE Parenting Glenn Gaesser, Professor of Exercise Physiology, Arizona State University Corinne Hannan, Psychologist and Assistant Clinical Professor, Brigham Young University

When we think of race, we might naturally think of one's skin color. But someone who is black can have white skin. So what is race? Two researchers say we are getting it all wrong and that biological race is a myth. But they say socially-defined race and racism are alive and continue to this day. Guests: Natalie Devora, Author of "Black Girl White Skin: A Life In Stories" Dr. Joseph L. Graves Jr, Professor of biological sciences at North Carolina A&T State University, co-author of “Racism, Not Race: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions” Dr. Alan Goodman, Professor of biological anthropology at Hampshire College, co-author of “Racism, Not Race” Terry and Michele Wright, Co-Founders, National Organization of African Americans with Cystic Fibrosis Lauren Michele, Black blogger with Cystic Fibrosis

Jasmine Reed has lived with a chronic illness since she was 15. After years of seeing doctors and trying different treatments, she doesn't feel much better. Reed wishes others would believe she is in pain even though she doesn't look sick. Chronic pain doesn't necessarily come from a specific external cause, so it's hard to treat and hard to prove to others. But that doesn't mean it's not real. In this episode, we talk to chronic pain experts about treatments and chronic pain's connection to the opioid epidemic. We also talk to neuroscientists about pain patterns in the brain and how we can help to heal ourselves. Guests: Jasmine Reed, person with a chronic illness. Daniel Clauw, Director, Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center, University of Michigan. Tor Wager, Professor of Neuroscience, Dartmouth College.

Hundreds of parents volunteered their children as participants in the COVID-19 vaccine trials. To some of us, that seems like a crazy risk. But to those parents, it didn't feel risky at all. The way that we think about risk is complex. It changes based on the situation, and it's more arbitrary than we might want to admit. In this episode, we examine how people gauge risk, whether it's in an everyday parenting situation or a death-defying rock climb, and we look at ways to bring more rationality into our risk-taking. Jamie Davis Smith - Parent, attorney, and disability advocate Seema Lakdawala - Parent and virologist at the University of Michigan Lenore Skenazy - Author and founder of the non-profit Let Grow Jane Joseph - Neuroscientist at the Medical University of South Carolina Alex Honnold - Professional rock climber Paul Slovic - Professor of psychology at the University of Oregon

Bobby Love's story is amazing. Love escaped prison, raised a family, and lived trouble-free for over 40 years. But he probably wouldn't have been able to do that so well, if he hadn't completely changed his identity after the escape. He had no parole requirements to trip him up, no criminal record shaping where he could live or work. In this episode, we consider how the US justice system makes it difficult for people convicted of crimes to rebuild their lives after prison. And we'll explore some solutions. Guests: Bobby and Cheryl Love – Co-Authors of “The Redemption of Bobby Love.” Nathan Sterling – Formerly incarcerated individual Karl Daniels – Formerly incarcerated individual Reuben Jonathan Miller – Professor, University of Chicago. Author of “Halfway Home: Race, Punishment, and the Afterlife of Mass Incarceration.” Sue Mason – Executive Director, What's Next Washington Krista Gulbransen – Executive Director, Berkeley Property Owners Association Penny Jennings – Vice-President of Strategic Programs, Greyston Bakery Leroy Bailey – Employee, Greyston Foundation Nicolas Debray – President, The Body Shop Americas Ted Castle – Owner, Rhino Foods

Antibiotic overuse in hospitals may be fueling the problem with drug-resistant infections. A faked satellite image could be used to spread false stories or create a hoax about a natural disaster. Americans with a fear of needles can now get their shots through a small patch instead.

Over the decades, Sesame Street has used internal research to adapt their content for new generations. Teens who spend a lot of time on social media end up with poor mental health.

How one indigenous man connected to his culture to break free from a cycle of homelessness and addiction. Some scientists make incredible progress in conserving extinct species after cloning a ferret from frozen DNA. Enterprising underserved populations have a new opportunity to forego expensive investment costs and run their very own restaurant franchise.