Top Of Mind With Julie Rose

Once a child is placed in foster care, reunification with a parent or guardian happens less than half of the time. But many child welfare agencies say reuniting families is the primary goal of foster care because placing a child in the care of strangers is always traumatic – even when it’s necessary. Why doesn’t reunifying families happen more often? Is there a solution that both protects children and prioritizes families? In this podcast episode, we’ll discuss how the foster system could do more to strengthen families and protect children while ensuring children and teens find stable homes with loving caregivers. Podcast 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 Sixto Cancel, Non-Profit Founder, Think of Us

As colleges across the country are seeking to increase student diversity, is affirmative action the solution? What is the impact of affirmative action on college admissions? 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. And affirmative action policies have benefited college applicants from certain minority groups. But, no one wants to be rejected from their dream school because of something they can’t control – like their race, or their parents’ income. In this podcast episode, we’ll explore the effects of affirmative action and consider other ways to create diversity in higher education. Podcast 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

One out of every 95 people on Earth has fled their home because of conflict or persecution. With thousands of people fleeing their countries and seeking asylum around the world, what can we learn from stories of refugees in America? What is the experience of leaving – when you’d rather stay – and resettling in a place where everything is foreign? Refugee stories give us a glimpse into the perseverance needed to find home again in a foreign place. In this podcast episode, people who came to America as refugees share their stories of heartbreak, healing, and new friendships as they seek to build a better life in a new country. Podcast Guests: Warda Mohamed Abdullahi, Somalian refugee, author of "Warda: My Journey from the Horn of Africa to a College Education" Mackenzie Wellman, Warda’s mentor 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, Se

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. Wrongful convictions happen all the time in America, and they could happen to anyone. Data indicates that the number of exonerations happening each year the United States has dramatically increased the past few years, highlighting just how many people have been wrongly sentenced for crimes they didn’t commit. How do we stop innocent people from going to prison? Or are they just the price we pay to keep communities safe? In this podcast episode, we look at how big mistakes are made in the American justice system and current efforts to prevent wrongful convictions. Podcast 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, defense attorney, author of “American Injustice: Inside Stories from the Underbelly of the Criminal Justice System” Emily Galvin

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 the current political divide feels different. Why are we so angry and fearful and ever more deeply entrenched in our safe little bubbles of like-minded people? Disagreement, conflict, and differences in opinion are normal and are often a healthy part of democracy. But the way we handle our differences in beliefs, attitudes, and opinions can do more harm than good. Does polarization in the United States pose a threat to our political system? And, most importantly, is there a way to end this toxic polarization in American politics? In this podcast episode, we discuss 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. Podcast 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 psychologi

The social stigma surrounding mental illness is very real. What would happen if we changed our perspective on mental illness and how we treat it? We typically think that the way to treat mental illness is through therapy and antidepressants. But the Western medicine perspective on mental health doesn’t always fit. 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 mental health symptoms and problems. In today’s podcast episode, we show the power of thinking differently about mental illness and how changing our perspective on treatment methods could open new paths to healing. Podcast 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

Americans are obsessed with work. Americans spend more time working than people in other wealthy nations, and despite complaining about being overworked, we still put in long hours at our jobs. Why do we feel the need to work so much? And why have we made productivity and busyness a key part of our identity? In this podcast episode, we take a deep dive into American work culture and how working less could actually be good for employers and employees. Podcast Guests: Joshua Fields Millburn, co-founder, “The Minimalists” Jamie McCallum, author of "Worked Over: How Round-the-Clock Work is Killing the American Dream" Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, author of "Shorter: Work Better, Smarter, and Less—Here's How" Ursula Mead, founder, and CEO of InHerSight

Living with autism comes with many challenges. In the past, the prevailing attitude was to fix or cure autism. But how could life improve for autistic people if we looked at the world through their eyes? Autistic people don’t necessarily want a cure. What they want is a better quality of life that allows them to have greater independence and be their true selves. In this podcast episode, we talk with autism advocates who argue that the way to make life better for people with autism spectrum disorder is not to force them to fit the world, but to help the world fit them. Podcast Guests: Emily Grodin and Valerie Gilpeer, co-authors of “I Have Been Buried Under Years of Dust.” Eric Garcia, journalist for The Independent and 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 in America 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 in the U.S. is achievable, there’s plenty of debate on the specifics. Some people say that we need to change policies. Other people say we need a new approach to helping poor people get better opportunities and essential resources. Advocates leading the fight against poverty are finding that the answer will start with a change in perspective on what poverty is and how it is impacting individuals in our country. We’re learning that American poverty isn’t an individual’s problem—it’s a community problem. In this podcast episode, we’ll be hearing from individuals who have experienced first-hand the effects of poverty and experts who have devoted their lives to ending poverty on how we can take a new approach to American poverty. Podcast Guests: Alicia, Circles

Citizenship is required for voting in most countries and states. Is there value to this voting rights restriction? Where can non-citizens vote? Some municipalities—like New York City—are allowing non-citizens to vote in city elections. But in most local and federal elections non-citizens are denied voting rights because Congress has said that individuals must be legal citizens and registered to participate in U.S. elections. How does being given or denied the right to vote affect somebody’s sense of belonging in a community? In this podcast episode, we look at the history of voting rights and restrictions in America and see how voting by non-citizens plays out in elections where it is allowed. Podcast Guests: Woojung Diana Park, Immigrant Justice Organizer at Minkwon Center in New York Chaewon Jessica Park, Immigrant Justice Organizer at Minkwon Center in New York Howard Husock, Senior Fellow of Domestic Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute Ron Hayduk, professor of political science at Sa

Harm reduction is intended to prevent death, drug overdose, and substance abuse. But is harm reduction enabling drug use? Or does harm reduction truly save lives? Harm reduction has evolved in the last 40 years. New York City just opened the first government-sanctioned supervised injection sites in the country. Debate over the effectiveness of these harm reduction centers is controversial. Maia Szalavitz remembers the first time she was introduced to harm reduction; a friendly woman advised her to clean her needles with bleach during the HIV/AIDS crisis. Instead of facing judgment for her drug use, she was told that her life was worth living regardless. Whereas other people feel that harm reduction is supporting risky behavior and enabling drug use. Here on the podcast, we will take a deep look into the harm reduction debate and discuss whether it’s possible to accept somebody as they are without enabling their harmful behavior. Podcast Guests: Maia Szalavitz - author of the New York Times bestseller, Unbrok

Is weight an indicator of health? We often think that skinny people are healthier than people with obesity, but research suggests we may be wrong about how we view body weight. Studies have shown that BMI isn’t always an accurate predictor of health. While the risks associated with being overweight shouldn’t be ignored, countless other factors contribute to wellbeing and are better determinants of health. Nevertheless, the impacts of diet culture and society’s predisposed assumptions about fatness still impact both old and young. In this podcast episode, we explore the relationship between weight and health. Podcast Guests: Mirna Valerio, Ultramarathoner, founder of Fat Girl Running Kathryn Hively, Founder of Just BE Parenting Glenn Gaesser, Professor of Exercise Physiology at Arizona State University Corinne Hannan, Psychologist and Assistant Clinical Professor, Brigham Young University

Race and racism are crucial topics in our national dialogue. And 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? And what is the difference between race and racism? Two researchers say we are getting it all wrong and that biological race is a myth. But they say that socially-defined race and racism are real and very present in America. Tune into this podcast as we discuss the complexity of biology and ethnicity, how years of racial discrimination and prejudice have shaped the way we view humanity, and, most importantly, how we can think differently about race to create a more inclusive society. Podcast 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,

Jasmine Reed has lived with 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. Countless patients suffer from chronic pain with little relief. There’s a lot we can learn from hearing these chronic pain stories that can help us develop greater empathy and find solutions. In this podcast 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. Podcast Guests: Jasmine Reed, Chronic illness. Daniel Clauw, Director, Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center, University of Michigan. Tor Wager, Professor of Neuroscience, Dartmouth College.

We rarely know if our decisions will lead to failure or success. So why do we take risks? What causes us to readily embrace risky situations, while other times we back away? It’s often more arbitrary than we might want to admit. Whether it’s an everyday parenting situation or a death-defying rock climb, each decision we make involves some degree of risk. We are constantly evaluating those risks, and everyone calculates risk differently. How we measure uncertainty is complex and our perceptions of risk change based on the situation. We’ll be exploring that complexity here on the podcast as we examine how people gauge risk and look at ways to bring more rationality into our decision making. Podcast Guests: Jamie Davis Smith-Parent, attorney, and disability advocate Seema Lakdawalla- 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

Nearly half of people who leave prison will end up back behind bars. Why is it starting over after life in prison so difficult? Would their lives be different if no criminal record shaped their life after jail? And how can we offer support? In this episode, we consider how the US justice system makes it difficult for people convicted of crimes to rebuild their lives after prison. We will hear the stories of formerly incarcerated individuals, insights from experts on the criminal justice systems, and perspectives of advocates who support individuals as they adjust to life after prison. Exploring the complexity and challenges of adjusting to life after incarceration can help us learn how we can encourage and support individuals as they rebuild their lives. Podcast 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

A podcast for people who are turned-off by the depressing, divisive nature of the news, but still want to engage with important issues in our communities. Hosted by radio journalist Julie Rose, Top of Mind tackles one tough topic each week in a way that will challenge you, help you feel more empathy and empower you to become a better citizen, a kinder neighbor and a more effective advocate. Top of Mind with Julie Rose is a production of BYUradio.