Podcast
Harvard Thinking
Hosted by Harvard University · EN
A podcast where the life of the mind meets everyday life. Hosted by Samantha Laine Perfas, produced by Harvard University. Visit harvard.edu/thinking.
24episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
How far has COVID set back students?
May 8, 202400:29:57Tap to summarizeAmerican schools have not recovered from the pandemic. On average, schools have lost half a grade level in math and a little less than that in reading. Some students have rebounded, but others are in even worse shape than they were before — and that’s when you can get them in the classroom in the first place. In this episode, host Samantha Laine Perfas talks with economist Thomas Kane, education policy and program expert Heather Hill, and New York State Master Teacher Stephanie Conklin about how to regain pandemic learning losses.
Transcribe →Forgiving what you can’t forget
Apr 24, 202400:28:07Tap to summarizeWe’ve all held a grudge. As humans, we’ve all been hurt — and have hurt others. Forgiveness can be a way to release those negative emotions. What’s more, recent research shows forgiveness is linked to better health outcomes. So why is it so difficult? In this episode, host Samantha Laine Perfas speaks with Christian theologian Matt Potts, public health expert Tyler VanderWeele, and psychologist Laura Thompson to discuss forgiving when you can’t forget.
Transcribe →The promise and peril of AI
Apr 10, 202400:27:15Tap to summarizeThe capabilities of artificial intelligence have fallen short of human imagination. They’re now catching up, advancing at an alarming rate. It raises the question: How do we develop these technologies ethically? In this episode, host Samantha Laine Perfas discusses AI with legal expert Sheila Jasanoff, computer scientist Martin Wattenberg, and statistician Susan Murphy.
Transcribe →What dying people actually need
Mar 27, 202400:26:11Tap to summarizeNothing is certain except death and taxes. Yet the inevitability of death doesn’t prevent the discomfort and uncertainty felt by those facing the end of their lives. Many experience long deaths in hospitals, while others wrestle with whether to undergo invasive life-extending treatments. How do we confront death — as patients, counselors, and healthcare professionals — in a way that honors the fullness of life? In this episode, host Samantha Laine Perfas joins Buddhist chaplain Chris Berlin, bioethicist Mildred Solomon, and radiation oncologist Tracy Balboni to talk about end-of-life care.
Transcribe →