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3 episodes with susan dominus
4 episodes with susan dominus
2 episodes with susan dominus
2 episodes with susan dominus
3 episodes with susan dominus
2 episodes with susan dominus
2 episodes with susan dominus
Take a journey down memory lane with journalist and self-described "retrologist" Rolando Pujol as he celebrates the charm of America's vintage roadside culture. Then, award-winning New York Times journalist Susan Dominus weaves researched stories with science to explore the circumstances that set families apart including the potential effects of your birth order.
Susan Dominus, New York Times Magazine staff writer and the author of The Family Dynamic: A Journey Into the Mystery of Sibling Success (Crown, 2025), talks about how siblings - especially in high-achieving families - influence each other almost as much as, or maybe more than, their parents.
Can sibling rivalries shape success? Zachary and Emma speak with Susan Dominus, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and staff writer at The New York Times Magazine. She is the author of The Family Dynamic: A Journey Into the Mystery of Sibling Success. Susan shares case studies about high-achieving families and how siblings can be powerful motivators. She also touches on the role of parents, the balance between encouragement and counterproductive pressure, and the importance of defining success beyond material wealth. What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and The Podglomerate. For transcripts, to join the newsletter, and for more information, visit: theprogressnetwork.org Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theprogressnetwork And follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok: @progressntwrk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Many parents believe that their actions will shape the success of their kids. But what if siblings actually matter more? Susan Dominus is a staff writer at the New York Times and the author of The Family Dynamic. In this episode, Susan and Adam discuss the psychology of achievement, the role siblings play in our accomplishments, and the relative impact of nature and nurture on excellence. FollowHost: Adam Grant (Instagram: @adamgrant | LinkedIn: @adammgrant | Website: adamgrant.net/)Guest: Susan Dominus (Instagram: @suedominus | Website: https://english.yale.edu/people/full-part-time-lecturers/susan-dominus) LinksThe Family Dynamic: A Journey Into the Mystery of Sibling SuccessSubscribe to TED Instagram: @tedYouTube: @TEDTikTok: @tedtoksLinkedIn: @ted-conferencesWebsite: ted.comPodcasts: ted.com/podcastsFor the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/worklife/worklife-with-adam-grant-transcriptsWant to help shape TED's shows going forward? Fill out our survey!Learn more about TED Next at ted.com/futureyou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, the fellas interview journalist and author Dr. Susan Dominus about her book, "The Family Dynamic, A Journey Into The Mystery of Sibling Success". Have you ever wondered how birth order affects things? Susan shares profound insights into how siblings uniquely shape each other's lives, often more profoundly than parents. This is an insightful episode about the inherent magic of family dynamics. Check out Susan's book: https://a.co/d/8yTY70K Join us: http://dadville.substack.com Thanks to our sponsors! Acorns - Head to http://acornsearly.com or download the Acorns Early app to help your kids grow their money skills today Quince - Go to http://quince.com/dadville for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! The Road to Kaeluma - Visit http://jesusfilm.org/kaeluma-dadville to listen, learn more, or access discussion guides and other bonus content! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Many parents believe that their actions will shape the success of their kids. But what if siblings actually matter more? Susan Dominus is a staff writer at the New York Times and the author of The Family Dynamic. In this episode, Susan and Adam discuss the psychology of achievement, the role siblings play in our accomplishments, and the relative impact of nature and nurture on excellence. FollowHost: Adam Grant (Instagram: @adamgrant | LinkedIn: @adammgrant | Website: adamgrant.net/)Guest: Susan Dominus (Instagram: @suedominus | Website: https://english.yale.edu/people/full-part-time-lecturers/susan-dominus) LinksThe Family Dynamic: A Journey Into the Mystery of Sibling SuccessSubscribe to TED Instagram: @tedYouTube: @TEDTikTok: @tedtoksLinkedIn: @ted-conferencesWebsite: ted.comPodcasts: ted.com/podcastsFor the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/rethinking-with-adam-grant-transcriptsWant to help shape TED's shows going forward? Fill out our survey! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss whether the US should join Israel's war on Iran, the tragic Minnesota assassinations and why US political violence is surging now, and the Supreme Court's unsurprising but willfully obtuse decision to uphold Tennessee's youth transgender care ban. Here are this week's chatters: Emily: A Family Matter by Claire Lynch; The Fall of Affirmative Action: Race, the Supreme Court, and the Future of Higher Education by Justin Driver; A Flower Traveled in My Blood: The Incredible True Story of the Grandmothers Who Fought to Find a Stolen Generation of Children by Haley Cohen Gilliland. John: Mary Cunningham for CBS News: Federal Reserve holds its benchmark interest rate steady at today's FOMC meeting; ABA Banking Journal: Fed's Powell says some areas of U.S. may be ‘uninsurable' in next decade David: Trip Gabriel for the New York Times: William Langewiesche, the ‘Steve McQueen of Journalism,' Dies at 70 Listener chatter from Jacob Podell in Chicago, Illinois: Juliana Kim for NPR: Family shows AI video of slain victim as an impact statement – possibly a legal first For this week's Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss the exciting possibilities and likely limitations of using AI tools for historical research and writing. In the latest Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with author Susan Dominus about her new book, The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Research by Emily Ditto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss whether the US should join Israel's war on Iran, the tragic Minnesota assassinations and why US political violence is surging now, and the Supreme Court's unsurprising but willfully obtuse decision to uphold Tennessee's youth transgender care ban. Here are this week's chatters: Emily: A Family Matter by Claire Lynch; The Fall of Affirmative Action: Race, the Supreme Court, and the Future of Higher Education by Justin Driver; A Flower Traveled in My Blood: The Incredible True Story of the Grandmothers Who Fought to Find a Stolen Generation of Children by Haley Cohen Gilliland. John: Mary Cunningham for CBS News: Federal Reserve holds its benchmark interest rate steady at today's FOMC meeting; ABA Banking Journal: Fed's Powell says some areas of U.S. may be ‘uninsurable' in next decade David: Trip Gabriel for the New York Times: William Langewiesche, the ‘Steve McQueen of Journalism,' Dies at 70 Listener chatter from Jacob Podell in Chicago, Illinois: Juliana Kim for NPR: Family shows AI video of slain victim as an impact statement – possibly a legal first For this week's Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss the exciting possibilities and likely limitations of using AI tools for historical research and writing. In the latest Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with author Susan Dominus about her new book, The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Research by Emily Ditto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss whether the US should join Israel's war on Iran, the tragic Minnesota assassinations and why US political violence is surging now, and the Supreme Court's unsurprising but willfully obtuse decision to uphold Tennessee's youth transgender care ban. Here are this week's chatters: Emily: A Family Matter by Claire Lynch; The Fall of Affirmative Action: Race, the Supreme Court, and the Future of Higher Education by Justin Driver; A Flower Traveled in My Blood: The Incredible True Story of the Grandmothers Who Fought to Find a Stolen Generation of Children by Haley Cohen Gilliland. John: Mary Cunningham for CBS News: Federal Reserve holds its benchmark interest rate steady at today's FOMC meeting; ABA Banking Journal: Fed's Powell says some areas of U.S. may be ‘uninsurable' in next decade David: Trip Gabriel for the New York Times: William Langewiesche, the ‘Steve McQueen of Journalism,' Dies at 70 Listener chatter from Jacob Podell in Chicago, Illinois: Juliana Kim for NPR: Family shows AI video of slain victim as an impact statement – possibly a legal first For this week's Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss the exciting possibilities and likely limitations of using AI tools for historical research and writing. In the latest Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with author Susan Dominus about her new book, The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Research by Emily Ditto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A lot of things impact an employer's decision to hire you or not. But one thing you may not have considered is where you fall in the order of interviewees. Listen as I explain why you want to be the fourth person interviewed. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-always-fourth-during-round-191931348.html Why did you turn out the way you did? Was it because of your parents, your siblings, your environment or all the above? What about birth order - does that really influence the direction your life takes? What do parents of successful kids tend to do more than other parents? All these questions and more are answered in my discussion with Susan Dominus. She has looked at the research on this and found that a lot of what we believe about how kids turn out is wrong. Susan is a writer for the New York Times and author of a book called The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success (https://amzn.to/3ZgfK6z). Did you know that compared to many other species, humans have a high rate of genetic diseases. Wouldn't you think by now that evolution and "survival of the fittest" would've weeded those out? What science has recently discovered, about DNA and genetics is astonishing and is helping us understand how genetics work, how diseases are passed on, how genes can mutate and make us sick, why we have such a high rate of genetic diseases and how we may soon be able to fix or prevent some of it. Joining me to discuss this is Lawrence Hurst. He is a professor of evolutionary genetics at the Milner Centre for Evolution at the University of Bath and author of the book, The Evolution of Imperfection: The Science of Why We Aren't and Can't Be Perfect (https://amzn.to/3ZgOjJS) There are things in your kitchen you need to get rid of. Over time we bring things into the kitchen that we never need, never use that take up a lot of valuable space. Listen as I offer some suggestions on what you can get rid of right now with no regret whatsoever. https://www.delish.com/food/a63527523/6-things-you-should-never-keep-on-your-kitchen-counter-according-to-organizational-experts/ PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!!! MINT MOBILE: Get your summer savings and shop premium wireless plans at https://MintMobile.com/something ! FACTOR: Factor meals arrive fresh and ready to eat, perfect for your summer lifestyle! Get 50% off at https://FactorMeals.com/something50off ROCKET MONEY: Cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster! Go to https://RocketMoney.com/SOMETHING QUINCE: Stick to the staples that last, with elevated essentials from Quince! Go to https://Quince.com/sysk for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! INDEED: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING right now! DELL: Introducing the new Dell AI PC . It's not just an AI computer, it's a computer built for AI to help do your busywork for you! Get a new Dell AI PC at https://Dell.com/ai-pc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and guest host Juliette Kayyem discuss the ominous juxtaposition of Trump sending National Guard troops and Marines to quell mostly peaceful protests in LA with his impending military parade in DC, RFK Jr. firing the entire CDC vaccine advisory board and what this means for the future of vaccines, and a unanimous Supreme Court decision that makes it easier to win “reverse discrimination” cases. Here are this week's chatters: Emily: David Marchese for the New York Times: The Interview: Ocean Vuong Was Ready to Kill. Then a Moment of Grace Changed His Life; Ocean Vuong for the New York Times (Opinion): My Brother's Keeper. John: The University of Cambridge: Medieval Murder Maps; podcast series: Medieval Murders. Juliette: Graham Dunbar for the Associated Press: What the Trump travel ban means for the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympic Games; Chelsea Jones for CBS News Miami: Will ICE agents be at Miami's FIFA Club World Cup games? Sheriff Cordero-Stutz responds after deleted CBP post. Listener chatter from Katie Johnston in Bangor, Northern Ireland: Sophie Hardach for the BBC: How the humble chestnut traced the rise and fall of the Roman Empire For this week's Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and guest host Juliette Kayyem discuss favorite dark comedy drama Hacks, which tackles the relationship between two women of differing generations and clashing opinions with witty banter and emotional richness. In the latest Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with author Susan Dominus about her new book, The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Research by Emily Ditto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and guest host Juliette Kayyem discuss the ominous juxtaposition of Trump sending National Guard troops and Marines to quell mostly peaceful protests in LA with his impending military parade in DC, RFK Jr. firing the entire CDC vaccine advisory board and what this means for the future of vaccines, and a unanimous Supreme Court decision that makes it easier to win “reverse discrimination” cases. Here are this week's chatters: Emily: David Marchese for the New York Times: The Interview: Ocean Vuong Was Ready to Kill. Then a Moment of Grace Changed His Life; Ocean Vuong for the New York Times (Opinion): My Brother's Keeper. John: The University of Cambridge: Medieval Murder Maps; podcast series: Medieval Murders. Juliette: Graham Dunbar for the Associated Press: What the Trump travel ban means for the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympic Games; Chelsea Jones for CBS News Miami: Will ICE agents be at Miami's FIFA Club World Cup games? Sheriff Cordero-Stutz responds after deleted CBP post. Listener chatter from Katie Johnston in Bangor, Northern Ireland: Sophie Hardach for the BBC: How the humble chestnut traced the rise and fall of the Roman Empire For this week's Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and guest host Juliette Kayyem discuss favorite dark comedy drama Hacks, which tackles the relationship between two women of differing generations and clashing opinions with witty banter and emotional richness. In the latest Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with author Susan Dominus about her new book, The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Research by Emily Ditto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
From the Wright brothers to the Williams sisters – how do some families produce extraordinary siblings? New York Times Magazine staff writer Susan Dominus joins host Krys Boyd to discuss her exploration of high-achieving siblings, what their parents did right (and what you might be doing wrong), and how a little friendly competition might be a key motivator. Her book is “The Family Dynamic: A Journey Into the Mysteries of Sibling Success.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and guest host Juliette Kayyem discuss the ominous juxtaposition of Trump sending National Guard troops and Marines to quell mostly peaceful protests in LA with his impending military parade in DC, RFK Jr. firing the entire CDC vaccine advisory board and what this means for the future of vaccines, and a unanimous Supreme Court decision that makes it easier to win “reverse discrimination” cases. Here are this week's chatters: Emily: David Marchese for the New York Times: The Interview: Ocean Vuong Was Ready to Kill. Then a Moment of Grace Changed His Life; Ocean Vuong for the New York Times (Opinion): My Brother's Keeper. John: The University of Cambridge: Medieval Murder Maps; podcast series: Medieval Murders. Juliette: Graham Dunbar for the Associated Press: What the Trump travel ban means for the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympic Games; Chelsea Jones for CBS News Miami: Will ICE agents be at Miami's FIFA Club World Cup games? Sheriff Cordero-Stutz responds after deleted CBP post. Listener chatter from Katie Johnston in Bangor, Northern Ireland: Sophie Hardach for the BBC: How the humble chestnut traced the rise and fall of the Roman Empire For this week's Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and guest host Juliette Kayyem discuss favorite dark comedy drama Hacks, which tackles the relationship between two women of differing generations and clashing opinions with witty banter and emotional richness. In the latest Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with author Susan Dominus about her new book, The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Research by Emily Ditto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's an age old question - how do you ensure your kids grow up to be successful?A new book by an award-winning New York Times journalist tries to answer it. Susan Dominus details six compelling stories in "The Family Dynamic" which uncovers how both parents and siblings help shape individual success. Host Gurdeep Ahluwalia speaks to author Susan Dominus about her research and how her own family dynamic helped shape her. ============================================You can read more about Susan and her book "The Family Dynamic" here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/624531/the-family-dynamic-by-susan-dominus/ You can follow Susan on X: @susandominus We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Elon Musk's dramatic entrance into the fight between Republican factions over details of the Big Beautiful Bill, whether an independent judiciary can survive in the face of new threats, and the implications of Trump's cruel new travel bans. Here are this week's chatters: Emily: Chris Cameron for the New York Times: Trump Orders Investigation of Biden and His Aides; Matt Brown and Chris Megerian for the Associated Press: Trump orders investigation into Biden's actions as president, ratcheting up targeting of predecessor; Amanda Seitz and Geoff Mulvihill for the Associated Press: Trump administration revokes guidance requiring hospitals to provide emergency abortions; Reva B. Siegel and Mary Ziegler in Virginia Law Review: Abortion's New Criminalization – A History-and-Tradition Right to Health-Care Access After Dobbs. John: The Economist: How to prevent drunken punch-ups; Maya Goldman for Axios: Seniors' marijuana use reaches new high; Benjamin H. Han, Kevin H. Yang, Charles M. Cleland, et al. in JAMA: Trends in Past-Month Cannabis Use Among Older Adults. David: Ian Austen for the New York Times: A 355-Year-Old Company That Once Owned One-Third of Canada Is Shutting Down; Heather Whiteside for The Conversation: More than a department store: The long, complicated legacy behind Hudson's Bay Company; Terina Ria for City Cast Salt Lake: How Julia Reagan Became a Billboard Icon; City Cast Salt Lake Podcast: The Julia Reagan Billboard Debate, Permanent Farmers Market, MomTok Parody (audio 32:00). Listener chatter from Sam Rutledge in Eugene, Oregon: 2021 Telephone Game; Artist Application for 2025 Telephone Game For this week's Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss whether the term “TACO” (“Trump Always Chickens Out”) is a useful way of understanding Trump, and what else might be driving his unpredictable and impulsive actions. In the latest Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with author Susan Dominus about her new book, The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Kevin Bendis Research by Emily Ditto Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you'll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Elon Musk's dramatic entrance into the fight between Republican factions over details of the Big Beautiful Bill, whether an independent judiciary can survive in the face of new threats, and the implications of Trump's cruel new travel bans. Here are this week's chatters: Emily: Chris Cameron for the New York Times: Trump Orders Investigation of Biden and His Aides; Matt Brown and Chris Megerian for the Associated Press: Trump orders investigation into Biden's actions as president, ratcheting up targeting of predecessor; Amanda Seitz and Geoff Mulvihill for the Associated Press: Trump administration revokes guidance requiring hospitals to provide emergency abortions; Reva B. Siegel and Mary Ziegler in Virginia Law Review: Abortion's New Criminalization – A History-and-Tradition Right to Health-Care Access After Dobbs. John: The Economist: How to prevent drunken punch-ups; Maya Goldman for Axios: Seniors' marijuana use reaches new high; Benjamin H. Han, Kevin H. Yang, Charles M. Cleland, et al. in JAMA: Trends in Past-Month Cannabis Use Among Older Adults. David: Ian Austen for the New York Times: A 355-Year-Old Company That Once Owned One-Third of Canada Is Shutting Down; Heather Whiteside for The Conversation: More than a department store: The long, complicated legacy behind Hudson's Bay Company; Terina Ria for City Cast Salt Lake: How Julia Reagan Became a Billboard Icon; City Cast Salt Lake Podcast: The Julia Reagan Billboard Debate, Permanent Farmers Market, MomTok Parody (audio 32:00). Listener chatter from Sam Rutledge in Eugene, Oregon: 2021 Telephone Game; Artist Application for 2025 Telephone Game For this week's Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss whether the term “TACO” (“Trump Always Chickens Out”) is a useful way of understanding Trump, and what else might be driving his unpredictable and impulsive actions. In the latest Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with author Susan Dominus about her new book, The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Kevin Bendis Research by Emily Ditto Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you'll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Elon Musk's dramatic entrance into the fight between Republican factions over details of the Big Beautiful Bill, whether an independent judiciary can survive in the face of new threats, and the implications of Trump's cruel new travel bans. Here are this week's chatters: Emily: Chris Cameron for the New York Times: Trump Orders Investigation of Biden and His Aides; Matt Brown and Chris Megerian for the Associated Press: Trump orders investigation into Biden's actions as president, ratcheting up targeting of predecessor; Amanda Seitz and Geoff Mulvihill for the Associated Press: Trump administration revokes guidance requiring hospitals to provide emergency abortions; Reva B. Siegel and Mary Ziegler in Virginia Law Review: Abortion's New Criminalization – A History-and-Tradition Right to Health-Care Access After Dobbs. John: The Economist: How to prevent drunken punch-ups; Maya Goldman for Axios: Seniors' marijuana use reaches new high; Benjamin H. Han, Kevin H. Yang, Charles M. Cleland, et al. in JAMA: Trends in Past-Month Cannabis Use Among Older Adults. David: Ian Austen for the New York Times: A 355-Year-Old Company That Once Owned One-Third of Canada Is Shutting Down; Heather Whiteside for The Conversation: More than a department store: The long, complicated legacy behind Hudson's Bay Company; Terina Ria for City Cast Salt Lake: How Julia Reagan Became a Billboard Icon; City Cast Salt Lake Podcast: The Julia Reagan Billboard Debate, Permanent Farmers Market, MomTok Parody (audio 32:00). Listener chatter from Sam Rutledge in Eugene, Oregon: 2021 Telephone Game; Artist Application for 2025 Telephone Game For this week's Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss whether the term “TACO” (“Trump Always Chickens Out”) is a useful way of understanding Trump, and what else might be driving his unpredictable and impulsive actions. In the latest Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with author Susan Dominus about her new book, The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Kevin Bendis Research by Emily Ditto Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you'll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In THE FAMILY DYNAMIC: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success (Crown; on sale May 6, 2025), the acclaimed New York Times journalist Susan Dominus offers compelling profiles of six such families in search of the factors that led to their success—was it an inherited quality, a specific way of parenting, the influence of a sibling, or a twist of luck? Inspired by the iconic Brontë sisters, whose remarkable literary success prompted endless speculation, Dominus, the mother of twin teenagers, sought out contemporary high-achieving families who shared intimate stories of their upbringing. She introduces us to the Chens, young parents who fled their country's one-child policy to open a Chinese restaurant in Appalachia—then sent four children to elite colleges and on to careers that give back in technology and medicine; the Groffs, whose claim to fame is not just an award-winning novelist but an Olympic athlete and a notable entrepreneur; the Wojcickis, whose daughters made inroads as STEM pioneers in Silicon Valley; and the Murguias, who rose from exceptionally humble origins to become powerful jurists and civil rights champions. Woven into these and other stories is an account of centuries of scientific research into the ongoing question of nature versus nurture. Elegantly written and extensively researched, The Family Dynamic is more than a checklist of how-to's. It's a deep and moving exploration of the complexity of family life and the rewards—and burdens—of ambition.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-like-it-s-live--4113802/support.
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss this week's Supreme Court decision that validates Trump's firing of 2 officials without cause thus stealth-overruling a key check on presidents, the power dynamics around who benefits from Trump's attempts to destroy Harvard, and the challenges and rewards of male friendship in modern life. Here are this week's chatters: Emily: Emily Davies for The Washington Post: Trump's clemency spree extends to ex-gangster, artist, former congressmen; Aaron Blake for CNN: ‘No MAGA left behind': Trump's pardons get even more political John: Jason DeParle for The New York Times: How a Generation's Struggle Led to a Record Surge in Homelessness; Malu Cursino for the BBC: Ancient human fingerprint suggests Neanderthals made art; Cara Tabachnick for CBS News: Last living grandson of 10th U.S. President John Tyler, a link to a bygone era, dies at 96; the Miller Center at the University of Virginia: President John Tyler (1790-1862); Sherwood Forest: More About Sherwood Forest and John Tyler. David: Sarah Zhang for The Atlantic: The ‘Man Eater' Screwworm Is Coming Listener chatter from Jody Litvak in Los Angeles: The Stamp Thief (trailer video 1:58) For this week's Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss WilmerHale's court win this week, in which Judge Leon struck down the president's politically-motivated executive order against the law firm as unconstitutional. In the latest Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with author Susan Dominus about her new book, The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Research by Emily Ditto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss this week's Supreme Court decision that validates Trump's firing of 2 officials without cause thus stealth-overruling a key check on presidents, the power dynamics around who benefits from Trump's attempts to destroy Harvard, and the challenges and rewards of male friendship in modern life. Here are this week's chatters: Emily: Emily Davies for The Washington Post: Trump's clemency spree extends to ex-gangster, artist, former congressmen; Aaron Blake for CNN: ‘No MAGA left behind': Trump's pardons get even more political John: Jason DeParle for The New York Times: How a Generation's Struggle Led to a Record Surge in Homelessness; Malu Cursino for the BBC: Ancient human fingerprint suggests Neanderthals made art; Cara Tabachnick for CBS News: Last living grandson of 10th U.S. President John Tyler, a link to a bygone era, dies at 96; the Miller Center at the University of Virginia: President John Tyler (1790-1862); Sherwood Forest: More About Sherwood Forest and John Tyler. David: Sarah Zhang for The Atlantic: The ‘Man Eater' Screwworm Is Coming Listener chatter from Jody Litvak in Los Angeles: The Stamp Thief (trailer video 1:58) For this week's Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss WilmerHale's court win this week, in which Judge Leon struck down the president's politically-motivated executive order against the law firm as unconstitutional. In the latest Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with author Susan Dominus about her new book, The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Research by Emily Ditto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Some families seem to have the secret code to sibling success. How else to explain how an Olympic athlete, an award-winning novelist and a successful entrepreneur could all be raised under a single roof? The journalist Susan Dominus set out to answer this puzzle.
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss this week's Supreme Court decision that validates Trump's firing of 2 officials without cause thus stealth-overruling a key check on presidents, the power dynamics around who benefits from Trump's attempts to destroy Harvard, and the challenges and rewards of male friendship in modern life. Here are this week's chatters: Emily: Emily Davies for The Washington Post: Trump's clemency spree extends to ex-gangster, artist, former congressmen; Aaron Blake for CNN: ‘No MAGA left behind': Trump's pardons get even more political John: Jason DeParle for The New York Times: How a Generation's Struggle Led to a Record Surge in Homelessness; Malu Cursino for the BBC: Ancient human fingerprint suggests Neanderthals made art; Cara Tabachnick for CBS News: Last living grandson of 10th U.S. President John Tyler, a link to a bygone era, dies at 96; the Miller Center at the University of Virginia: President John Tyler (1790-1862); Sherwood Forest: More About Sherwood Forest and John Tyler. David: Sarah Zhang for The Atlantic: The ‘Man Eater' Screwworm Is Coming Listener chatter from Jody Litvak in Los Angeles: The Stamp Thief (trailer video 1:58) For this week's Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss WilmerHale's court win this week, in which Judge Leon struck down the president's politically-motivated executive order against the law firm as unconstitutional. In the latest Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with author Susan Dominus about her new book, The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Research by Emily Ditto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The understanding that our lives are shaped by our parents is extremely ubiquitous. However, the influence of siblings is much less known. In her book, “The Family Dynamic: A Journey Into The Mystery of Sibling Success,” Susan Dominus shares her findings after spending time with multiple sets of high-achieving siblings to understand how sibling relationships affect each other. Reset sat down with the author to talk about family, define success and understand the ways siblings shape one another. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
Hello, Puzzlers! Puzzling with us today: New York Times staff writer and author of The Family Dynamic, Susan Dominus! Join host A.J. Jacobs and his guests as they puzzle–and laugh–their way through new spins on old favorites, like anagrams and palindromes, as well as quirky originals such as “Ask AI” and audio rebuses. Subscribe to The Puzzler podcast wherever you get your podcasts! "The Puzzler with A.J. Jacobs" is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and is a co-production with Neuhaus Ideas. Our executive producers are Neely Lohmann and Adam Neuhaus of Neuhaus Ideas, and Lindsay Hoffman of iHeart Podcasts. The show is produced by Jody Avirgan and Brittani Brown of Roulette Productions. Our Chief Puzzle Officer is Greg Pliska. Our associate producer is Andrea Schoenberg.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
New research suggests siblings may play a more powerful role than parents do in shaping each other's success. For more on this Susan Dominus, staff writer at the New York Times Magazine and author of The Family Dynamic: A Journey Into the Mystery of Sibling Success.
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the huge House tax bill and its broad economic implications with Harvard economist Jason Furman, the DOJ's selective investigation and prosecution of officials as a method of intimidation, and the Heritage Foundation's “Project Esther” as the Trump administration's blueprint for shutting down dissent with accusations of antisemitism. In the latest Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with author Susan Dominus about her new book, The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Research by Emily Ditto Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you'll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the huge House tax bill and its broad economic implications with Harvard economist Jason Furman, the DOJ's selective investigation and prosecution of officials as a method of intimidation, and the Heritage Foundation's “Project Esther” as the Trump administration's blueprint for shutting down dissent with accusations of antisemitism. In the latest Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with author Susan Dominus about her new book, The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Research by Emily Ditto Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you'll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the huge House tax bill and its broad economic implications with Harvard economist Jason Furman, the DOJ's selective investigation and prosecution of officials as a method of intimidation, and the Heritage Foundation's “Project Esther” as the Trump administration's blueprint for shutting down dissent with accusations of antisemitism. In the latest Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with author Susan Dominus about her new book, The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Research by Emily Ditto Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you'll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Finding happiness is no longer an abstract pursuit—there's serious science behind it, but it's research that hasn't always been held in the highest esteem. Susan Dominus, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how studying happiness became a respected field of study, what psychologists are learning about different types of happiness, and what data says about contentment. Her article is, "How Nearly a Century of Happiness Research Led to One Big Finding." Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
What makes a family tick? While parents spend lots of time and energy trying to shape their kids' lives, studies show that siblings play as significant a role in who their brothers and sisters become. We talk to New York Times Magazine staff writer Susan Dominus about her new book, “Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success,” and we hear from you: how did a sibling shape who you are? Guests: Susan Dominus, author, "The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success;" staff writer, New York Times Magazine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Emily Bazelon talks with author Susan Dominus about her new book, The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success. They discuss the commonalities among families that have multiple high-achieving children, what we can learn from these unique families, and more. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Emily Bazelon talks with author Susan Dominus about her new book, The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success. They discuss the commonalities among families that have multiple high-achieving children, what we can learn from these unique families, and more. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Emily Bazelon talks with author Susan Dominus about her new book, The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success. They discuss the commonalities among families that have multiple high-achieving children, what we can learn from these unique families, and more. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Emily Bazelon talks with author Susan Dominus about her new book, The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success. They discuss the commonalities among families that have multiple high-achieving children, what we can learn from these unique families, and more. Tweet us your questions @SlateGabfest or email us at gabfest@slate.com. (Messages could be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Meera Sodha is a cook and food writer based in London. Meera's best-selling cookbooks and weekly Guardian column, The New Vegan, are some of my favorite sources of cooking inspiration, but like many people, she experienced burnout that led her to fall out of love with food. Today on the show, Meera talks about finding her way back into the kitchen and how that experience inspired her new book, Dinner, an honest and helpful guide to getting the most important meal of the day on the table. Also on the show we have a conversation with Susan Dominus. Susan is a staff writer at the New York Times Magazine the author of a terrific new book, The Family Dynamic. We talk about how parents—and siblings—shape and fuel individual success, and focus on family a story with a Chinese restaurant at the center. We also talk about some of Susan's food-related work at the Times.Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We'd love to hear from you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Joanna Coles talks with Susan Dominus, author of the new book, 'The Family Dynamic'. Dominus demystifies why certain families produce super successful children. Through research, she reveals how some families are able to cut through the morass of day to day life and engage their children, yielding hyper-productive siblings. Joanna is also joined by Emmy-award winning actor, writer, and producer Dan Bucatinsky. The 'Hacks' star shares what life is like in Rome with his 20-year-old daughter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Parents unleash the arrow of ambition in their children, but siblings are often the ones who help guide its direction says Pulitzer Prize winning New York Times staff writer Susan Dominus. After a lifetime of curiosity about the ecosystems of families, Dominus set out to discover what families of high-achieving siblings had in common including the values, habits, and everyday rituals, like dinnertime conversations that influenced their children to hit the bullseye in their lives and work. Her book is called The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success.
Parents try everything to influence their children. But new research suggests that brothers and sisters have their own profound impact.Susan Dominus, a staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, discusses the surprising ways that our brothers and sisters shape our lives.Guest: Susan Dominus, a staff writer at The New York Times Magazine covering a broad range of topics. Her recent article was adapted from her book, “The Family Dynamic: A Journey Into the Mystery of Sibling Success,” which was published by Crown on May 6.Background reading: Read Susan's article about the surprising ways that siblings shape our lives.For more information on today's episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. Photo: Artwork by Kensuke Koike Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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What do high-achieving families have in common, and what are some good lessons from them we can replicate in our own parenting? Susan Dominus, author of the new book THE FAMILY DYNAMIC, discusses the forces at play in families with multiple successful members and how we can encourage our kids to succeed in the ways that make sense for them. Susan Dominus is a staff writer for The New York Times Magazine. In 2018, Susan was part of a team reporting on workplace sexual harassment that won a Pulitzer Prize for public service. Susan, Amy, and Margaret discuss: How socioeconomic status informs family dynamics The role that parent expectations play in child development Why relationships outside the family are important for kids Here's where you can find Susan: @suedominus on IG @susandominus.bsky.social on Bluesky Buy FAMILY DYNAMIC: https://bookshop.org/a/12099/9780593137901 We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://www.whatfreshhellpodcast.com/p/promo-codes/ mom friends, funny moms, parenting advice, parenting experts, parenting tips, mothers, families, parenting skills, parenting strategies, parenting styles, busy moms, self-help for moms, manage kid's behavior, teenager, tween, child development, family activities, family fun, parent child relationship, decluttering, kid-friendly, invisible workload, default parent, siblings, brothers, sisters, sibling relationship, kids age gap, sibling age gap , family dynamic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
There is no secret sauce to raising successful children, but it sure is fascinating to understand some of the elements that result in a family filled with high-achieving siblings. And it raises lots of important questions, too, like: What even is success? When are the sacrifices to reach goals too great? And what do parents ultimately want for their children? New York Times writer and author of The Family Dynamic, Susan Dominus, helps us dive into all these complicated questions. Show Notes: Join our LESS AWKWARD ESSENTIALS Go to Quince.com/awkward for free shipping and 365-day returns Head to phyla.com and use code PUBERTY for 25% off your first order Get 15% off, plus free shipping on your first set of sheets, at BollAndBranch.com slash AWKWARD. New customers can enjoy this special offer of only $1.99 a meal at Everyplate. Go to everyplate.com/podcast and use code AWKWARD199 to get started. Download the FREE Playbook for Getting Your Kid to Talk Order our book This Is So Awkward Check out all our speaking and curriculum at www.lessawkward.com and our super comfy products at www.myoomla.com To bring us to your school or community email operations@lessawkward.com To submit listener questions email podcast@lessawkward.com Watch the full episode on Youtube! Produced by Peoples Media Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode of SuperPsyched, host Dr. Adam Dorsay interviews Yale Lecturer and New York Times writer, Susan Dominus, about her new book, 'The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success'. The discussion delves into how family dynamics, specifically sibling interactions, play a significant role in shaping children's futures. Highlights include parental influence, the importance of family mottos, and the balance between intrinsic and extrinsic motivations. Both speakers share personal anecdotes and insights on creating environments that foster high achievement without compromising mental wellness.00:00 Welcome to SuperPsyched00:28 Introducing Susan Dominus and Her Book01:35 Susan's Personal Connection to the Topic04:16 The Influence of Siblings06:45 Parental Influence and Expectations15:29 Outsourcing Discipline and Encouraging Independence20:05 Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation24:29 Final Thoughts and Parenting Insights30:03 Conclusion and FarewellHelpful Links:Susan Dominus'The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success' Book
Why are some families full of exceptionally talented and intelligent siblings? Is it nature, or nurture, or some combination? Susan Dominus, a staff writer at The New York Times Magazine, discusses her new book The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success. And listeners weigh in on their own experiences and observations.
In this episode, meet children's author Antwan Eady, teacher and advocate Chasten Buttigieg, and New York Times Magazine staff writer Susan Dominus. Tune in to hear what Antwan Eady wishes he had in the recording studio with him, what Chasten Buttigieg's favorite section of his book to read (and write) was, and who Susan Dominus would cast to narrate her audiobook if she didn't read it herself. The Gathering Table by Antwan Eady: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/692628/the-gathering-table-by-antwan-eady-illustrated-by-london-ladd/audio Papa's Coming Home by Chasten Buttigieg: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/763440/papas-coming-home-by-chasten-buttigieg-illustrated-by-dan-taylor/audio The Family Dynamic by Susan Dominus: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/624531/the-family-dynamic-by-susan-dominus/audio/
What do you think of this episode? Do you have any topics you'd like me to cover?What really shapes success — nature, nurture, luck? It's a perennial question. The Family Dynamic is a brilliant, captivating exploration of families in which all of the children became high-achievers. The award-winning author, Susan Dominus, has woven academic research into a book of wonderfully engaging family stories that tease out the role played by our environment: Parents with a bold vision, community, neighbourhoods, and most enlightening of all siblings. If you've ever questioned how important your parenting really is, the impact of siblings on your child's life, the role of community, or whether our kids should do chores, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.THE BOOK: The Family Dynamic by Susan DominusCONTACT DETAILS:Website: Susan P Dominus at susanpdominus.comInstagram: @Sue DominusBlue Sky: Susan DominusFacebook: She remains active and friendly on FacebookAdditionally, the New York Times Magazine.SIBLINGS: Based on Susan Dominus's research, siblings play a crucial role in a child's success through several key mechanisms:Motivational Influence
You know those families where the kids all grow up to be remarkably successful? New York Times journalist Susan Dominus has spent the last few years getting to know some of them, looking for parenting techniques and life lessons. She's written a book about her findings called The Family Dynamic. "I thought I wrote a book about high-achieving families," she tells us, "but when I look back, it's really a book about families who did believe that the sky's the limit."
I've always been fascinated by how birth order shapes family dynamics, especially as we navigate this season of parenting. Penn and I are very aware that we don't have many more years “on the record” with our kids. Have we done enough to help them become their best selves? This week, we're chatting with Susan Dominus, an award-winning writer for The New York Times and a journalism professor at Yale. Her new book, The Family Dynamic, is all about what makes exceptional families tick—and since she couldn't find a book that explored this, she spent years writing it herself! It's available for pre-order now and comes out May 6th. We dig into what sets thriving families apart, what we can learn from them, and how to help our own kids succeed. Plus, we wrap up with another hilarious Top 5 list from Penn. Check out The Family Dynamic and pre-order here: https://amzn.to/4c1tAPoVisit Our ShopJoin Our NewsletterFind us on SubstackFollow us on YouTubeFollow us on InstagramFollow us on TikTok Follow us on FacebookKim and Penn are award-winning content creators known for their online videos, including original music, song parodies, and comedy sketches. Their videos have resulted in over 2 billion views and 9 million followers across their social media platforms since they (accidentally) went viral in 2013. They have a New York Times bestselling book on ADHD, best-selling book on marriage communication, a top-rated podcast, a fun-filled family card game, and most recently, they were the winners on Season 33 of The Amazing Race.The Holderness Family Podcast is produced by Ann Marie Taepke and edited and engineered by Max Trujillo of Trujillo Media and Sam Allen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dear Readers,They say in schools, February's no joke. Alongside my colleagues, I've certainly been putting in the hours in order to serve our students the best we can. But there's always still reading to be done — not only for this newsletter and our reading community, but also for my own self-care. It makes me happy that I keep getting to do this, week after week. Thank you for reading and supporting Article Club.I have a feeling you're going to like this week's issue. Instead of the regular offering (i.e., four articles), I'm switching things up and sharing with you some great writing and thinking from a variety of genres. Scroll down and you'll find:* an essay about racial appropriation and the end of an interracial friendship* an interview with Susan Dominus about IVF and her article, “Someone Else's Daughter”* an article about the care a park ranger takes in order to support unhoused people in Golden Gate Park* a podcast episode about how young people definitely don't think using generative AI is cheatingAlso, don't miss our pet photo, as well as our poll toward the end. Hope you enjoy.If you like what we're doing here at Article Club, and want to support this venture with a paid subscription, I would be very grateful. It's $5 a month or $36 a year.1️⃣ Dear White SisterI appreciate the work of Tressie McMillan Cottom, so when she recommended Don't Let It Get You Down, a collection of essays by UC Berkeley Law professor Savala Nolan, I knew I needed to check it out. I was not disappointed. As the book's subtitle makes clear, Prof. Nolan writes plainly and thoughtfully about race, gender, and the body. In the chapter, “Dear White Sister,” Prof. Nolan decides whether to approach a close and long-time white friend after an objectionable post on Instagram. In short, the friend quotes Beyoncé's song “Freedom” to celebrate her love for roller skating and progress in roller derby.Prof. Nolan writes: “I feel a peculiar sensation when white people borrow — take — something Black: it's like there's an octopus in my chest, peacefully afloat, when danger suddenly appears. The animal contracts its jellied body and expels a gush of protective ink, then darts away in panic. Don't belittle ‘Freedom,' I hissed inside. ‘Freedom' isn't for a white girl in the Midwest taking up roller derby.”By Savala Nolan • Don't Let It Get You Down • 25 min2️⃣ An Interview With Susan Dominus: “I was just so inspired by the goodness of the people involved.”Many of you read and appreciated January's article of the month, ”Someone Else's Daughter,” by Susan Dominus, which told the story of a horrible IVF mistake that resulted in two women giving birth to the other woman's genetic baby. More importantly, the piece illuminates the generosity of the human spirit, as the mothers, filled with grief and shame for an error they didn't make, embrace each other and figure out a way to raise their children together.I got to interview Ms. Dominus a few weeks back, and hope you take a listen. Over and over again in our conversation, she shared how reporting and writing the piece left her inspired and hopeful. Here's an excerpt: I would say the main thing that I really did want people to feel reading the piece was that same inspired feeling I felt in hearing their stories — that there is always a way, not always, but that when there is conflict or crisis, if you respond with openness and generosity, sometimes beautiful things come of that. That's what I took away as a human being, just being part of it. I was so inspired by the goodness of the people involved and the way that their goodness allowed them to turn something awful into something really beautiful.➡️ Listen to the interview by clicking the play button below.3️⃣ Her Job Is To Remove Homeless People From SF's Parks. Her Methods Are Extraordinary.It's easy to bewail the rise and intractability of homelessness. It's much harder to do something about it. That's why I appreciated reading this article about the efforts of Amanda Barrows, a park ranger for San Francisco Recreation and Parks. In 2015, the government agency launched a new program designed to connect unhoused people with the services they need. Since Ms. Barrows joined the force in 2021, she has helped 60 people leave Golden Gate Park and accept more permanent housing.Reporter Susan Freinkel does an excellent job following Ms. Barrows as she builds relationships with her clients, earns their trust, and listens to what they need. Having grown up in public housing, having lived in a “dodgy SRO” for five years, and having lost her father to a fentanyl overdose, Ms. Barrows says that her work feels natural. “I can relate to a lot of the people who I contact through my own lived experience.”By Susan Freinkel • The San Francisco Standard • 16 min • Gift Link4️⃣ Playboi Farti And His AI Homework MachineIn case there's any doubt: How teenagers think about using generative artificial intelligence in school is very different from how most educators think about it. In essence, we think it's cheating (or plagiarism, or whatever big word we want to use), and they don't. To them, ChatGPT is like a word calculator. Why slog away at a boring five-paragraph essay about The Great Gatsby that's been done millions of times when a robot can do you it for you?That's the essential question of this podcast episode, in which host PJ Vogt tests a theory he holds — that writing is more than answering a teacher's prompt, and that generative AI is more than just a labor-saving tool. It's thinking, he argues, and if we give away thinking to a computer, then our humanity is doomed.By PJ Vogt • Search Engine • 61 min • Apple Podcasts✅ It's time for a quick poll. I'd love to hear from you.Last week, we confirmed that there's no widespread conspiracy to keep this newsletter out of your inbox. Delivery is working well most of the time.But what about your reading habits? Do you focus on the current week's issue? Or do you like diving into the archives to check out past issues?Thank you for reading this week's issue. Hope you liked it.
Dear Readers,First things first: Let's welcome our 51 new subscribers Violet, Rae, Olga, Taylor, Joyce, Sogo, Emily, Callie, Angelina, Peter, Tya, Emily, Natalie, Christine, Heather, Mary, Hannah, Marie-Pierre, Kristy, Fernanda, Maurtini, Helen, Angelina, Colette, Ronald, Courtney, Kelley, Jaymi, Katy, Steph, Deborah, Cathy, Christina, Brenna, Megan, Jacki, Alina, Cynthia, Caryn, Brittany, Nimi, Katie, Shell, Jamie, Candice, Samuel, Leslie, and Stephanie. New subscribers, I hope you find the newsletter a solid addition to your email inbox. Welcome to Article Club. Make yourself at home.
John and Craig look at three extraordinary news stories and ask, How Would this be a Movie? Stories include the United Healthcare CEO assassination, a small town's process for licensing fortune tellers, and a harrowing I.V.F. mixup. We also follow up on AI, Flightplan's source material, Craig's Belfast accent, and answer a listener question on the order of surnames for writing partners. In our bonus segment for premium members: Hey Alexa, play John and Craig's conversation about home automation. I don't think she heard– HEY ALEXA, PLAY JOHN AND CRAIG'S CONVERSATION ABOUT HOME AUTOMATION. Links: The Wheel Spins by Ethel Lina White The Conundrum of the Workshops by Rudyard Kipling OpenAI's controversial Sora is finally launching today. Will it truly disrupt Hollywood? by Wendy Lee for LA Times I Went to the Premiere of the First Commercially Streaming AI-Generated Movies by Jason Koehler A timeline of the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and search for his killer by Michael R. Sisal and Cedar Attanasio for Associated Press How do you license a fortune teller? by Paul Debole An I.V.F. Mix-Up, a Shocking Discovery and an Unbearable Choice by Susan Dominus for NYT Magazine Monsters, Aliens, and Holes in the Ground by Stu Horvath Your Consciousness Can Connect With the Whole Universe by Manasee Wagh for Popular Mechanics Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt! Check out the Inneresting Newsletter Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription! Craig Mazin on Threads and Instagram John August on BlueSky, Threads, Instagram, and Mastodon Outro by Matthew Chilelli (send us yours!) Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli. Email us at ask@johnaugust.com You can download the episode here.
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