The Open Mind, Hosted by Alexander Heffner

The Open Mind on PBS

The Open Mind is a thoughtful excursion into the world of ideas across media, politics, technology, the arts and all realms of civic life. read less
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A Multiplicity of Generational Crises
Jul 31 2023
A Multiplicity of Generational Crises
Elder justice leader M.T. Connolly discusses her new book "The Measure of Our Age."
A Multiplicity of Generational Crises
Jul 31 2023
A Multiplicity of Generational Crises
Elder justice leader M.T. Connolly discusses her new book "The Measure of Our Age."
The Science of Decisionmaking
Jul 26 2023
The Science of Decisionmaking
University of Minnesota neuroscientist David Redish discusses the science of our choices.
Rejuvenating American Citizenship
Jul 18 2023
Rejuvenating American Citizenship
Raj Vinnakota of Institute for Citizens & Scholars discusses how rejuvenate American citizenship.
Porn and Us
Jul 12 2023
Porn and Us
University of Nebraska sociologist Kelsy Burke discusses pornography in American society.
Food Will Save the Union
Jun 5 2023
Food Will Save the Union
Historian Alex Prud'homme discusses diplomacy in American political life.
Speaking of Empathy and Patriotism
May 31 2023
Speaking of Empathy and Patriotism
Army National Guard veteran Joseph Earl Thomas discusses his new book "Sink: A Memoir."
Empowering Without Disempowering
May 24 2023
Empowering Without Disempowering
University of Oklahoma bestselling author Honorée Fanonne Jeffers discusses free speech and book banning.
A Just Law Enforcement
May 16 2023
A Just Law Enforcement
Hear Foundation cofounders Leon Ford and Ret. Pittsburgh Police Chief Scott Schubert discuss public safety.
The Science of Bridging Divides
May 9 2023
The Science of Bridging Divides
Stanford Graduate School of Education's Geoffrey Cohen discusses how to bridge ideological and political differences.
How Gen Z Will Govern
Feb 27 2023
How Gen Z Will Govern
Political strategists Annie Wu and Victor Shi discuss how Gen Z will govern.
The Nonexistent Left and Right
Feb 22 2023
The Nonexistent Left and Right
"The Myth of Left and Right" coauthors Verlan Lewis and Hyrum Lewis discuss U.S. political ideologies.
Are Polarized Resentments Calming?
Feb 14 2023
Are Polarized Resentments Calming?
American University scholar Elizabeth Suhay discusses "The Politics of Truth in Polarized America."
Making Politics Work Again
Feb 9 2023
Making Politics Work Again
Institute for Political Innovation founder Katherine Gehl discusses the key to fixing a politics industry.
The Ponzi of Crypto
Jan 30 2023
The Ponzi of Crypto
"Tracers in the Dark" author Andy Greenberg discusses crypto corruption.
Objective and Subjective Definitions of Democracy
Jan 9 2023
Objective and Subjective Definitions of Democracy
Oxford University Press "Democracies in America" coauthor Bert Emerson discusses disparate and shared understandings of democratic rule
Gen Z > Millennials?
Jan 8 2023
Gen Z > Millennials?
USC Center for Inclusive Democracy director Mindy Romero and Voters of Tomorrow director Santiago Mayer discuss youth turnout in the 2022 elections and the future of representative government.
Of Quietude and Inquietude
Dec 28 2022
Of Quietude and Inquietude
Bestselling novelist Xochitl Gonzalez discusses rights to fairness amid gentrification.
Rudiments of Humanity
Dec 20 2022
Rudiments of Humanity
Violinist Arianna Warsaw-Fan Rauch discusses her new book Declassified: A Low-Key Guide to the High-Strung World of Classical Music.
Realities of Black Lives
Dec 14 2022
Realities of Black Lives
British-Congolese filmmaker Kiosa Sukami discusses his new film “A Letter to Black Men” and representation of Blackness in the press and film.
Who Broke American Education?
Nov 1 2022
Who Broke American Education?
Historian Nicole Hemmer and columnist Will Bunch discuss the politicization of the U.S. education system.