Crosscut Talks on NWPB

Summary

The Crosscut Ideas Festival is a celebration of big ideas and a gathering for bold thinkers. Newsmakers, changemakers and innovators come together to take a fresh look at the biggest issues of our time.

In partnership with Crosscut, NWPB will air a series of "Crosscut Talks".
Below is the current schedule of upcoming episodes.

LISTEN

Intelligence in Jeopardy with Ken Jennings
Big Tech’s Midlife Crisis

July 15, 6:00 p.m. NWPB News Service

Intelligence in Jeopardy with Ken Jennings 

Ken Jennings is the highest-earning American game-show contestant ever, having won money on five different game shows, including $4,522,700 on Jeopardy!, which he now co-hosts. He believes that learning is a lifelong process, and that there is always something new to learn: “The more you learn, the more you realize how much you don’t know. Embrace that feeling and keep learning.” 

Big Tech’s Midlife Crisis 

Industry-wide layoffs and tumultuous profits are making us wonder, what exactly is going on with the tech industry? The Washington Post’s tech industry analyst joins us to consider whether the industry is going through a midlife crisis — and what could happen next. 

Is the Metaverse Our Future
CRISPR and the Future of Genetic Engineering

July 22, 6:00 p.m. NWPB News Service

Is the Metaverse Our Future 

Tech companies have placed big bets on the metaverse, believing it can profoundly impact the way people communicate and build relationships. But consumers have been slow to adopt. It’s too early to say whether the metaverse will be a success, but if it is, it could upend the way we engage with the world. 

CRISPR and the Future of Genetic Engineering 

Jennifer Doudnam, co-founder of the CRISPR gene-editing tool that offers incredible opportunities to treat or cure diseases, develop crops resistant to pests and diseases, and livestock more efficient at producing meat and milk. There are also risks, including the concern that it could lead to a new class of “designer babies,” among many ethical concerns. Where do we go from here? 

You Can (Help) Solve the Climate Crisis
Our Plastic Planet

July 29, 6:00 p.m. NWPB News Service

You Can (Help) Solve the Climate Crisis 

As more focus is put on climate science, each of us needs to learn how we can change our habits in our home, communities and government to save our planet. In this uplifting and encouraging session, we’ll explore doable solutions for all of us to take on the overwhelming challenges facing our planet. 

Our Plastic Planet 

The recently defeated Washington Recycling and Packaging Act sought to address the problem of plastic pollution; requiring companies to be responsible for the end-of-life management of packaging, set minimum recycled content requirements and ban some packaging. It failed to advance, so the question remains: what can we do to tackle the massive plastic problem here at home and all over the world?

Our Biodiversity Crisis
Psychedelics and Our Mental Health

August 5, 6:00 p.m. NWPB News Service

Our Biodiversity Crisis 

Last summer, 60 experts who co-authored a study published in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment said that for the long-term habitation of the planet, biodiversity loss was equally as critical than the challenge of climate change. America’s wildlife is in crisis – one we can reverse, though, if we look to solutions within reach rather than those that are far off.   

Psychedelics and Our Mental Health 

Psychedelics, like Ketamine, LSD and Psilocybin, have been shown to be effective in treating many mental health conditions. Ketamine was approved by the FDA, and it’s likely that more psychedelics will be legalized in the coming years. While they may offer new hope for people who have not responded to traditional treatments, there are many concerns about safety and a lot of questions to ask. 

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