EP 830 Stadiums Are America’s Public Squares

EP 830 Stadiums Are America’s Public Squares

While we may attend games at stadiums, the way in which these cavernous facilities are erected, located, financed and owned is serious business.  They represent the epicenter of many cities and have over the years reflected the cultural changes going on in our society.  They have also hosted a range of activities beyond the sporting …

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EP 829 The New Customer Experience: Please Hold and an Automated Attendant Will Be Right with You

EP 829 The New Customer Experience: Please Hold and an Automated Attendant Will Be Right with You

   Bad customer experiences are costing businesses more than ever, according to new research by experience management company Qualtrics.  Its work projects global losses of $3.7 trillion annually–a staggering 19 percent increase from last year’s $3.1 trillion projection.  You don’t need to see the macro picture when daily you suffer the frustrating indignities of calls …

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EP 828 Aside From Hand Wringing, What’s the Road Ahead for Democrats?

EP 828 Aside From Hand Wringing, What’s the Road Ahead for Democrats?

While on many issues–reproductive rights, gay marriage, increasing the minimum wage, pushing back on price gouging, more support for day care–polls show overwhelming support for more progressive leaning, or Democratic, positions, the party lost the 2024 presidential election.  And while the final popular vote tally was about a point and a half difference and Democrats …

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EP 827 The Political Dividing Line: College Degree/No College Degree

EP 827 The Political Dividing Line: College Degree/No College Degree

 Once the party of the working class, the Democratic Party is now the home of highly educated citizens with progressive social views who prefer credentialed experts to make policy decisions, while Republicans have become the populist champions of white voters who increasingly distrust scientists, journalists, universities, Hollywood, and even corporations.  The result of this new …

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EP 826 Finding Meaning in Grief

EP 826 Finding Meaning in Grief

When you experience grief, the world can feel overwhelming.  It can be difficult to imagine a future.  You feel lost and hopeless.  This can happen because of the death of a parent, partner, sibling, child or even a longtime companion.  Or it can occur because of the death of a relationship, marriage or even a …

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EP 825 Does America Have a Strategy to Reshore Lost Manufacturing Jobs?

EP 825 Does America Have a Strategy to Reshore Lost Manufacturing Jobs?

 We have been talking about returning manufacturing jobs to the Rust Belt of the Midwest and the once vibrant manufacturing hubs of the Northeast for a long time.  Almost since much manufacturing moved offshore about 50 years ago, leaving behind empty husks of buildings, environmental damage and broken lives. Yet doing so is easier said …

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EP 823 Presidents Who Met the Moment

EP 823 Presidents Who Met the Moment

 There was a time that America sensed that the right leader came along at the right time and pulled us through many crises–war, The Depression, pandemics and other economic travails.  I am not certain we feel that way about some of the recent commanders in chief. Yet history reminds us we have had many forgotten …

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EP 822 Can Math Improve Our Democracy?

EP 822 Can Math Improve Our Democracy?

Math is used by campaign strategists to help politicians decide where to travel and spend money when running for office. The same kinds of calculations can help ordinary citizens make the best use of their time and resources.  And for change agents who want a more representative democracy, these simulations and ‘what-if’s’ might give us …

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EP 821 Are Libraries More or Less Important in the Age of Digital Information?

EP 821 Are Libraries More or Less Important in the Age of Digital Information?

When we think of institutions that define welcoming spaces to convene and conduct business in virtually every community in America the local library is first and foremost.  It represents the one place in which you can build social cohesion, promote civic renewal, and advance the ideals of a healthy democracy.  And where you can get …

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