When Experts Attack!

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“When Experts Attack!” fights misinformation, zaps half-truths, and sets the record straight. Each episode is a conversation with a specialist in science, art, society or health, for example. Hear guests answer the question: "Hey, what does everybody get wrong about what you do?"

When Experts Attack!


    • Aug 6, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 28m AVG DURATION
    • 93 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from When Experts Attack!

    Taylor Swift is a sociological phenom

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2024 24:43


    Brian Donovan is teaching a university course on the artistic and sociological influence of Taylor Swift. He outlines how the semester's lessons mirror the performer's career from a breakout country music star to the gazillion-selling icon of her recent Eras tour.

    Small-city population health in Kansas

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2024 21:08


    Mahbub Rashid says his book is the first to examine how spatial qualities impact health issues for people living in areas that aren't strictly rural or metropolitan.

    The self-driving future of deliveries

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2024 17:55


    Sara Reed, an expert in transportation logistics, has extensively researched autonomous vehicle delivery. She discusses the technology's benefits for businesses and whether they'll outweigh potential drawbacks for customers and human employees — as well as other considerations for society's driverless future.

    People mimic Southern accents

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2024 16:45


    Linguist Lacey Wade has discovered many of us shift our speech in expectation of what others might sound like, especially in respect to the U.S. Southern accent.

    Culture shapes how our brains learn

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2024 23:34


    People don't learn the same way everywhere — in large part this comes down to culture. Guest Michael Orosco says new culturally responsive studies in neuroscience show working memory, executive function and other cognitive functions are influenced by how we grew up, where we were raised and the languages we speak.

    Wrongful convictions are political

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2024 22:18


    Public policy expert Kevin Mullinix discusses how policy reforms to reduce wrongful convictions depend on political sentiments in any given U.S. state, along with leanings of the governor and sway held by innocence-advocacy groups.

    AI is an elephant in the classroom

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2023 37:30


    Kathryn Conrad, University of Kansas professor of English, says artificial intelligence can no longer safely be ignored in academia. It's better, she believes, to try to establish some guideposts in a wild and wooly AI frontier.

    Incentive resentment

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2023 26:17


    Robert McDonald resents the intrusion of incentives into virtually every facet of modern life, from healthcare to education to the legal system. He lays out how this happened and offers ways to counter the false choices offered from on high.

    AI belongs in the classroom

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2023 30:57


    While many reasonable people fear possible disruptions from artificial intelligence like ChatGPT and its brethren, others look to seize its potential. Jamie Basham argues banning the technology from schools is not the answer — especially so for students living with disabilities.

    Slavic languages and conflict in eastern and central Europe

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2023 46:17


    Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, so much of the news has been focused on events in central and eastern Europe. Marc Greenberg, an expert in Slavic, German and Eurasian studies, talks about the languages, cultures and national identities driving history in a volatile region.

    The blame-China game

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2023 23:30


    China increasingly gets scapegoated for any crisis involving the economy, security or global health in the U.S. Jack Zhang, assistant professor of political science at the University of Kansas, studies how a nation that has at times been allied with the U.S. has turned into its major geostrategic rival.

    Steam train history derails ideas about extinction in nature 


    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2023 25:49


    Paleontologist Bruce Lieberman tracks the history of steam-powered locomotives for answers to huge questions about natural evolution and why species die out.

    Virtual reality boosts psychotherapy

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2023 32:17


    What if you could receive counseling and psychotherapy in a forest, log cabin or Sigmund Freud's office — maybe from a therapist who also happens to be a wizard, an Earth mother, a trickster or, uh, maybe even a furry? Well, you can! A new virtual reality system developed by University of Kansas researchers provides counseling in a setting that is therapeutic, calming and restorative, where people can interact with trusted figures.

    ChatGPT didn't write this podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2023 28:52


    John Symons, professor of philosophy at the University of Kansas, explores social, technological and existential concerns relating to artificial intelligence. A native of Cork, Ireland, Symons is an expert in Large Language Models, which he argues should be seen less as an existential threat and more as something to be excited about.

    Archaeology is science, pseudo-archaeology is nonsense

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2022 28:40


    Anthropologist John Hoopes has made it his personal and professional mission to ferret out pseudo-science in the field of archaeology. Specializing in the Mayan culture spanning the conjunction of North, Central and South America, Hoopes distinguishes between actual archaeology and “the stuff that you find in the grocery checkout counter or the airport book rack.”

    Hollywood's stereotypes of Black male teachers

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2022 36:12


    Moviemakers have pigeonholed Black male teachers into stereotypical tropes for years. Education scholar Daniel Thomas III has researched popular films featuring Black male teachers and found many can boil down to a few main clichés, some of which date back centuries.

    Death of the political apology

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2022 26:40


    Politicians don't say "I'm sorry" for anything anymore. We explore why with Brett Bricker, a national-champion debater and debate coach who researches argumentation and political rhetoric.

    Kansas once incarcerated women for having sex

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2022 23:24


    Seen by some today as a bastion of women's rights, Kansas once locked up more than 5,000 women for contracting venereal disease, thanks to a law that seems to have been applied only to women. Guest Nikki Perry, author of “Policing Sex in the Sunflower State,” explains how this happened.

    Good basketball shooting can be coached. Here's how

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2022 35:33


    Basketball coaches have a million tips on how to be a better shooter. Guest Dimitrije Cabarkapa says scientific evidence shows which are best. Keeping your elbow tucked in, bending your knees — data show these “coaching cues” are better than others.

    Social media isn't stealing our face-to-face time

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2022 11:03


    There's been a drop in how much time people around the world spend in face-to-face interaction, but guest Jeffrey Hall says don't blame social media. It might be our jobs and commutes taking time from in-person get-togethers.

    Savvy, lazy or crazy, Putin will soon lose power

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2022 20:54


    According to Valery Dzutsati, visiting assistant professor of political science at the University of Kansas, the attempted conquest of Ukraine has exposed Vladimir Putin. But he says the Ukraine invasion may have been inevitable, even if Putin weren't in charge. Dzutsati is a native of European Russia and an expert in politics and conflict in Eurasia and Eastern Europe. He's also likely on Putin's hit list.

    When Experts Attack! #36: Resignation Nation

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2022 23:25


    It's been called The Great Resignation or, more poetically, The Big Quit. Since last July, more than 20 million Americans have left their jobs voluntarily. Researcher Clint Chadwick discusses the Great Resignation and whether the job market will be forever changed by this extraordinary event.

    Resignation nation

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2022 23:26


    It's been called The Great Resignation or, more poetically, The Big Quit. Since July 2021, more than 20 million Americans have left their jobs voluntarily. Researcher Clint Chadwick discusses the Great Resignation and whether the job market will be forever changed by this extraordinary event.

    When Experts Attack #35: Don't Fear Prudence

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2021 17:00


    Do we act out of a sense of what's moral or do we act out of self-interest? Dale Dorsey, professor of philosophy at the University of Kansas, argues that prudence —essentially our own self-interest — is an important aspect of decision-making, one that needs to be taken more seriously.

    Don't fear prudence

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2021 17:01


    Do we act out of a sense of what's moral or do we act out of self-interest? Dale Dorsey, professor of philosophy at the University of Kansas, argues that prudence — essentially our own self-interest — is an important aspect of decision-making, one that needs to be taken more seriously.

    When Experts Attack #34: The Media's Meditation Monolith

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2021 34:18


    Media tend to cover meditation and mindfulness as potential panaceas that can be good for everyone. But assuming mediation and mindfulness will help everyone's mental health is like supposing anyone can run a marathon with no training. The practices can have many benefits but also side-effects for some.

    The media's meditation monolith

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2021 34:19


    Media tend to cover meditation and mindfulness as potential panaceas that can be good for everyone. But assuming mediation and mindfulness will help everyone's mental health is like supposing anyone can run a marathon with no training. The practices can have many benefits, but also side-effects for some.

    Financial transparency isn't always the answer

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2021 33:12


    Guest Alexander Platt says that in some cases transparency regarding who invests in which companies can stifle economic competition, help defeat corporate reform and ultimately hurt the consumer.

    When Experts Attack #33: Financial transparency isn't always the answer

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2021 33:11


    Guest Alexander Platt says in some cases transparency regarding who invests in which companies can stifle economic competition, help defeat corporate reform and ultimately hurt the consumer.

    When Experts Attack #32: Is the drug lord the new Robin Hood?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2021 49:40


    Rafael Acosta Morales, author and University of Kansas associate professor of Spanish language and literature, argues traditional American media stereotypes of cowboys, desperadoes and drug lords don't jibe with actual perceptions of people living on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.

    Is the drug lord the new Robin Hood?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2021 49:41


    Rafael Acosta Morales, author and University of Kansas associate professor of Spanish language and literature, argues traditional American media stereotypes of cowboys, desperadoes and drug lords don't jibe with actual perceptions of people living on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.

    Video games are history teachers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2021 24:05


    Increasingly, people are learning about historical events via video games. Guest Andrew Denning looks at just what versions of history are depicted in video games and considers how historians should react.

    When Experts Attack! #31: Video games are history teachers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2021 24:04


    Increasingly, people are learning about historical events via video games. Guest Andrew Denning looks at just what versions of history are depicted in video games and considers how historians should react.

    When Experts Attack! #30: Talk to students about Anti-Asian bias and violence

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2021 21:57


    People might think it's inappropriate to discuss recent Anti-Asian and Anti-Asian American discrimination and violence in the classroom. In this episode, researcher Hyesun Cho explains why school is one of the best places to talk about the topic.

    Talk to students about anti-Asian bias and violence

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2021 21:58


    People might think it's inappropriate to discuss recent anti-Asian and anti-Asian American discrimination and violence in the classroom. In this episode, researcher Hyesun Cho explains why school is one of the best places to talk about the topic.

    Your politics might help you get the job — or not

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2021 27:26


    The next time you go for a job interview, you might want to ditch the Che Guevara shirt or the MAGA hat — because what you reveal about your political leanings could determine if you land the gig.

    When Experts Attack #29: Your politics might help you get the job, or not

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2021 27:25


    The next time you go for a job interview, you might want to ditch the Che Guevara shirt or the MAGA hat — because what you reveal about your political leanings could determine if you land the gig. Our guest this episode is Jill Ellingson, the Dana Anderson Professor of Management at the University of Kansas School of Business.

    When Experts Attack #28: The US just elected the first woman vice president. But media coverage is still sexist.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2021


    Guest Teri Finneman, associate professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Kansas, recounts the problematic history of media covering women in U.S. politics from Victoria Woodhull, a.k.a “Mrs. Satan,” in 1872 to recent coverage of Kamala Harris’ shoes.

    The US just elected the first woman vice president. But media coverage is still sexist.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2021 31:40


    Teri Finneman, associate professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Kansas, recounts the problematic history of media covering women in U.S. politics, from Victoria Woodhull, a.k.a “Mrs. Satan,” in 1872 to recent coverage of Kamala Harris' shoes.

    When Experts Attack! #27: The COVID-19 vaccines are revolutionary

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2020 38:20


    Molecular biologist and coronavirus researcher Anthony Fehr discuss the rollout of the new vaccines and what’s understood about COVID transmission at this point. He also says the coronavirus variant that’s prevalent in the U.S. might be more easily spread, accounting for at least some of our higher rates of infection and death than seen in other countries.

    The COVID-19 vaccines are revolutionary

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2020 38:21


    Molecular biologist and coronavirus researcher Anthony Fehr discuss the rollout of the new vaccines and what's understood about COVID transmission at this point. He also says the coronavirus variant that's prevalent in the U.S. might be more easily spread, accounting for at least some of our higher rates of infection and death than has been seen in other countries.

    When Experts Attack! #26: Antarctica was lush

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2020 31:53


    We might think of it today as a wasteland of ice and penguins, but Antarctica once was covered in greenery. Paleobotanist Brian Atkinson explains how to look for ancient plant fossils in Antarctica, and how those fossils could forecast the fate of plants on our rapidly warming planet.

    Antarctica was lush

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2020 31:54


    We might think of it today as a wasteland of ice and penguins, but Antarctica once was covered in greenery. Paleobotanist Brian Atkinson explains how to look for ancient plant fossils in Antarctica — and how those fossils could forecast the fate of plants on our rapidly warming planet.

    Are 'essential workers' treated like performers in the porn industry?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2020 25:32


    Could the social and economic pressures faced by essential workers during the current pandemic be similar to those faced by women in the porn industry? Akiko Takeyama, author and associate professor of women, gender and sexuality studies, says in both the pandemic and porn, economic and structural issues make it hard for workers to say no.

    When Experts Attack #25: Are ‘essential workers’ treated like performers in the porn industry?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2020 25:31


    Could the social and economic pressures faced by essential workers during the current pandemic be similar to those faced by women in the porn industry? Guest Akiko Takeyama, author and associate professor of women, gender and sexuality studies, says in both the pandemic and porn, economic and structural issues make it hard for workers to say no.

    When Experts Attack #24: Libraries are better than search engines

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2020 33:01


    The pandemic has changed how we use libraries. So has the internet. So what? Libraries have been evolving for 4,000 years in how they store and create knowledge. And libraries aren’t just the place where you find information — they lead the drive for creating and sharing knowledge with people all over the world.

    Libraries are better than search engines

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2020 33:02


    The pandemic has changed how we use libraries. So has the internet. So what? Libraries have been evolving for 4,000 years in how they store and create knowledge. And libraries aren't just the place where you find information — they lead the drive for creating and sharing knowledge with people all over the world.

    When Experts Attack! #23: Trumpism Isn’t Populism

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2020 27:09


    Thomas Frank, author of “What’s the Matter with Kansas” and more recently “The People, No: A Brief History of Anti-Populism,” explains that populism — a term invented in Kansas — has been commandeered by political opportunists in the U.S. and Europe.

    Trumpism Isn't Populism

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2020 27:10


    Thomas Frank, author of “What's the Matter with Kansas” and more recently “The People, No: A Brief History of Anti-Populism,” explains that populism — a term invented in Kansas — has been commandeered by political opportunists in the U.S. and Europe.

    Witches are dangerous because they don't need men

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2020 36:28


    For Jane Barnette, Halloween is a thrilling time of year. In this episode, the associate professor of theatre talks about her research into the portrayal of witches on stage and screen, and she challenges widespread notions that gave rise to fictional witches such as the Wicked Witch of the West. In part, Barnette's perspective is based on her own practice of witchcraft.

    When Experts Attack #22: Witches are dangerous because they don’t need men

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2020 36:27


    For Jane Barnette, Halloween is a thrilling time of year. In this episode, the Associate Professor of Theatre talks about her research into the portrayal of witches on stage and screen, and she challenges widespread notions that gave rise to fictional witches such as the Wicked Witch of the West. In part, Barnette’s perspective is based on her own practice of witchcraft.

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