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Are Americans actually becoming less healthy?

That’s an idea that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been repeating for a while now. While there are some nuggets of truth in that – on the whole, American life expectancy has gone up a lot in Kennedy’s lifetime. So why does a backward-looking narrative serve his agenda? And what would actually move the needle forward on improving Americans’ health?

Brittany is joined by NPR health policy correspondent Selena Simmons-Duffin to get into the nuances of what “healthy” means.

Want more about modern health? Check out these episodes:
The difference between losing weight & being "healthy"
Exercise is more important than ever
Sex is pleasurable. It should feel safe too.

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As the old vanguard of civil rights leaders pass, who will fill the void?

Last month, the world lost a titan in the struggle for civil rights: the Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr. His style of leadership is deeply familiar: masculine, charismatic, and inspiring. But is that archetype of the modern Moses-style social justice leader still as salient as it once was? And if not, what would does that mean for civil rights organizing moving forward? We're getting into why it all starts with you and your communities.

Brittany is joined by Dr. Marcus Lee, assistant professor of African American studies at Princeton University, and Dr. Kellie Carter Jackson, the chair of Africana Studies at Wellesley College, to find out.

Interested in more conversations about civil rights and protest? Check out these episodes:
The biggest threat to Trump? Ordinary people.
Is The Squad dead? Cori Bush on the future of progressive politics

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Politically "independent" used to mean you were moderate. Not anymore. 

It's no secret that Americans are politically divided, as faith in political parties erodes. In the past, so-called "independent" voters were likely shifting between Democrats and Republicans. But now, especially Gen-Z, are pushing in new directions, far from the center. In this episode, we explore how "independent" became a rallying cry for change on the left and the right. 

Danielle Kurtzleben guest hosts with Elena Moore, a political reporter for NPR, and Dr. Omar Ali, a professor of African American political history at UNC & author of In the Balance of Power: Independent Black Politics and Third Party Movements in the United States.

Want more episodes on political culture? Check out these episodes:
Woke is BACK! ...really?
MAGA has a DEI policy. Just ask Nicki Minaj.
The Swoletariat: a history of leftist fitness

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Can you afford to get married? Or get a divorce?

Nothing sets the internet on fire more than the fantasy of finding a partner (usually a man) to pay for your lifestyle. We’re here to put those fires out: dating across class is rare (we will explain why) and financial differences can hurt the partner who has less. Plus, with more women becoming the breadwinners, are women actually the new power partners?

Brittany is joined by Wailin Wong, Business and Economics journalist and co-host of The Indicator from Planet Money, and Reema Khrais, host of Marketplace’s This is Uncomfortable (which just had a BRAND NEW season drop. Check it out!)

(0:00) The explicit and implicit ways money shows up in dating
(6:49) Why marriage is a GOOD financial investment
(12:10) Why marriage is a BAD financial investment
(20:13) Dating someone wealthier than you is harder than you think
(37:54) Will women surpass men as the breadwinners?

Want more episodes on dating and finances? Check out these episodes:
Is marriage worth it? Single women say no.
Want to date a rich man? It's harder than you think.
Your date gave you 'The Ick?' That might be a YOU problem.

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If the apps aren't working for you, don't stress – there’s a different way to date.

Dating apps have quickly become a fixture of modern dating. They do work for a lot of people – but many are also dissatisfied with the endless swiping and paywalled features. With the apps so ubiquitous, is it still possible to date offline? Or have dating apps made some people too scared of face-to-face rejection?

Brittany is joined by Manuela López-Restrepo, All Things Considered producer and writer, to get into her offline dating journey – and what she’s learned along the way.

(0:00) Are you fed up with dating apps? Us too!
(4:48) The dating app paradox: who makes money when you swipe...
(15:09) How dating apps change what rejection feels like
(23:05) A trip to a real life singles night (will Manuela find a date?)

Want more about modern dating? Check out these episodes:
The embarrassing truth of dating men
It's never too late to find a good relationship. Here's proof.
Your date gave you 'The Ick?' That might be a YOU problem.

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