Un-uninformed

How would you describe the pandemic? Today we describe it with poetry. Whether it’s expressing anger, hope, or excitement, poetry paints the picture of the COVID-19 pandemic in ways social media posts and cable news never can. We feature three poems: “A Week in Coronaville,” by Hannah Watts “Wave-anelle Villanelle,” by Melanie Cox “Happiness is … Continue reading "Slamdemic! – Reflecting on the Pandemic with Poetry"

With a lot of conflicting info about the coronavirus, many are asking: What info can we trust? In this podcast episode, neuroscientist Dr. Jason Shepherd helps us navigate fact vs. crap with coronavirus science. Dr. Jason Shepherd is a professor of neurobiology and, most recently, he wrote an article that went…viral…called: Misinformation Goes Viral. We … Continue reading "Can We Trust COVID-19 Science? – with Dr. Jason Shepherd"

We all know about physical hygiene, but what about emotional hygiene (especially during a pandemic)? In a time where all our lives have been disrupted, therapist Keri Dyer helps us creatively navigate our emotional health. How are you coping with your stress and anxiety: binge-watching Netflix, eating junk food, overspending? In this episode, Keri Dyer … Continue reading "Emotional Hygiene – with Keri Dyer"

How quickly should we open up the economy? We answer big questions like this with Andrew Dougherty (a.k.a. Big Daddy Dough), who is a macro-economist for China (and rapper). We tackle questions from listeners across the world such as: How will the US/China relationship be affected by this pandemic? How will the total lockdown in … Continue reading "What Pandemic Shutdowns do to Global Economies – with Big Daddy Dough"

When San Diablo Churros had to halt all their churro catering services due to the pandemic, Scott Porter saw this as an opportunity. He combined forces with two other local food startups to create the Quarantine Survival Kit. This kit, available for delivery, features San Diablo’s famous churros, tostadas from Sobe Eats, and gourmet sodas … Continue reading "Savoring Churros and Connection – with San Diablo Churros Founder Scott Porter"

In this new season, our goal is finding meaning while “COVID-19-ing.” In other words, how are we navigating this new normal? We’ll hear from our expert guests and YOU (that’s right, you the listener…see below). Listen to this episode to get a 13-minute preview of the season ahead! Part I: Upcoming episodes: Scott Porter: founder … Continue reading "New Season: “COVID-19-ing” – Creatively Navigating a New Normal"

True or False: Watching the news makes the world a better place for you. Many say this statement is definitely false because it seems the news just makes people depressed, angry, and polarized. So what if the news actually equipped viewers with ways to solve the problems they report on? In this episode we are … Continue reading "What if the News Gave Us Solutions, not Just Problems? – with Alicia Gettys"

Are voters choosing their politicians or are politicians choosing their voters? In one week, Utah voters have the opportunity to weigh in on this question. In this episode we’re talking about something called gerrymandering: when politicians rig the system by choosing their own boundaries for re-election. We talk to Blake Moore, a co-chair of the … Continue reading "Should Politicians Draw Their Own Boundaries? A Look at Gerrymandering"

In a little over a week, thousands of Utahns will be voting on bringing medicaid expansion to Utah. Medicaid expansion is part of the Affordable Care Act that brings medicaid to thousands of additional Americans than were initially covered. But states can opt out of this expansion. Utah is one of those states. That’s because … Continue reading "Medicaid Expansion: the Benefits & Costs"

This November, Utahns are voting on an initiative to legalize medical marijuana. This, of course, is a point of controversy. Supporters say it’s about time we help people suffering with conditions that can be helped by marijuana. People opposing this initiative say it goes too far. Over the last few weeks leading up to the … Continue reading "Medical Marijuana is Coming to Utah"

In this new mini-season we’re talking about some hot issues: medical marijuana, medicaid expansion, and gerrymandering. Un-Uninformed is based in Salt Lake City, Utah where these three big issues will be on the ballot for this November’s midterm elections. So if you’re not a Utah voter–go ahead and not listen to this if you are … Continue reading "New Season: Medical Marijuana, Medicaid Expansion, & Gerrymandering"

We’ve seen our society be polarized over: democrat vs. republican, Christian vs. Atheist, black vs. white, etc., etc. The overarching issue here is something called tribalism. It turns out that tribalism is part of human nature as our brains categorize our world into two groups: the Us and the Them. So what do we do about … Continue reading "Overcoming Polarization, Recognizing Tribalism- with Elizabeth Gamarra"

“Whether you are a gun-lover, gun-hater, or someone in the middle, no one can deny that gun violence is a terrible plague on American society.” This is a line from the book Guns and the Law, which was written by two law professor on opposite sides of America’s gun debate: Andrew McClurg (pro-gun regulation) and Brannon Denning … Continue reading "Solutions to America’s Gun Problem"

Talking about gun rights and gun control almost always triggers a heated debate. Almost always. In this episode, Sean Sevy talks with two law professors who are on opposite sides of the gun debate: Andrew McClurg (pro-gun regulation) and Brannon Denning (pro-gun rights). Not only can these two talk about guns passionately without strangling each other, but they even … Continue reading "Guns: The Good, the Bad, and the 2nd Amendment"

Last week we talked about how the opioid epidemic kills more Utahns than guns and car wrecks combined.  Now, with Part 2 of this discussion, we talk about some of the solutions to the opioid epidemic. Does the solution rely on doctors? Patients? We also talk about some of the benefits of a drug called … Continue reading "Finding Solutions to the Opioid Epidemic – with Angela Stander Ito (Part 2)"

In Utah, opioid overdoses have killed more people than car accidents and gun deaths combined. In this episode we talk about the origins of the opioid epidemic both in Utah and throughout the nation. Joining us is Angela Stander Ito from the Utah Department of Health to give us some of her insights as she … Continue reading "Utah’s Opioid Epidemic – with Angela Stander Ito (Part 1)"

We all know that some companies make it and some don’t. But then there are those few companies that kick butt when it comes to being extremely successful and implementing radical innovation. There’s a science behind all of this. Joining us on this episode of Un-Uninformed is Dr. Sunnie Giles who has dedicated her research … Continue reading "How to Become an Extremely Successful Leader – with Dr. Sunnie Giles"

After a three-month break, Un-Uninformed is back with a new season that will knock your socks off. Here’s what you have to look forward to: How to be a leader that can create a kick-butt company like Google. We talk to Dr. Sunnie Giles about her new book The New Science of Radical Innovation. The Opioid … Continue reading "New Season: Guns, Opioids, & Innovative Leaders"

Almost a quarter of the people in the world are Muslim.  But how much do we really understand Islam and Muslim culture here in America? Joining us in this episode is Maysa Kergaye, the coordinator for the Islamic Speaker’s Bureau here in Salt Lake City, Utah. She frequently reaches out to the community in helping … Continue reading "Being Muslim in Utah – with Maysa Kergaye"

Many of the greatest conflicts in our world have been attributed to religious differences. So if religion has often been attributed to the cause of conflict, is religion creating world peace, or destroying it? To answer this question we attend the Global Peace and Spiritual Life Lecture Series where the keynote speaker is Elder D. … Continue reading "Is Religion Destroying World Peace or Creating It? – with Elder D. Todd Christofferson"