Simplified

Lacey Alexander · apr.org

"Simplified" is an interview-style show where Morning Edition host Lacey Alexander takes complex topics and breaks them down so that everyone can better understand them. She enlists a new academic in the state of Alabama every week to simplify a big idea-- whether it's science, economics, media or anything in between. Contact the show at simplified@apr.org!Local support for Simplified is provided by The University of Alabama Online.

20 episodes

11d ago latest

fortnightly cadence

English language

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Episodes 20

Sports Media (College Football Edition) with Dr. Andrew Billings
3d ago · 29:01
Whether you were born and raised in the yellowhammer state or just moved to Pell City from Siberia, you are more than aware of Alabama's fascination with college football. Sure some die hard alums may watch high school football on Fridays, and some of us may tune in on Sundays to watch an NFL team or two. But it's not even worth debating that the collegiate version of the sport reigns supreme among the gridiron-enjoyers in our 67 counties. But what about this culture- the analysts, the sideline reporting, the athletes and coaches-- is almost addicting for us to engage with? What subtle tactics
Forever Chemicals with Dilara Hatinoglu
11d ago · 26:48
Earlier this year, after broadcasting our episode with Dr. Jason Bara about microplastics, we got an email from a listener named Hank asking if we would consider doing an episode on forever chemicals. Turns out, these two things are often brought up together in conversation—they’re both pollutants, both a bit of a headache to get rid of, and both are indicative of the advancements of technology. As Dr. Bara said in our microplastics episode, there may never be a world where we completely stop the use of plastics. As it turns out, that may also be true for these forever chemicals, or PFAS. Non-
Oral Health with Dr. Mia Geisinger
1mo ago · 29:00
If you get uncomfortable just thinking about going to the dentist, there's a word for that: dental anxiety. Research published in the Journal of the American Dental Association indicates that about 73% of U.S. adults hold some level of fear about dental work or oral health visits. Some research suggests that up to 15% of U.S. adults avoid the dentist entirely due to being terrified of those needles, drills, and bright lights. I'm a big believer in exposure therapy, though. So if you're one of those that fear the chair, these two episodes may help you feel better.
House Cat Health and Habits w/ Dr. Diane Delmain
1mo ago · 29:00
The American Veterinary Medical Association says that roughly one third of all American homes have at least one house cat. That's a LOT of feline companions, especially when you consider that many of these homes have multiple kitties (you can never have just one). Simplified is a podcast committing to simplifying potentially confusing topics, and if you've ever had a pet cat, you can likely attest to its mannerisms and health needs being, at least at times, a bit confusing. But have no fear-- we made a call to our friends "On the Plains" to get some advice on how to best care for your four-leg
Dermatology with Dr. Lauren Kole
1mo ago · 29:00
You've likely heard all about the new skin care trends taking over cosmetics stores. What used to be a process as simple as "wash your face before bed" is now a massive industry, with some facial washes, creams, scrubs and oils costing as much as a car payment! (google 'most expensive skin care' at your own risk) While a moisturizer infused with caviar is not a necessity, healthy skin practices can look different for people across all ages, economic backgrounds, ethnicities, and genders. Here to discuss best practices for care, and bring us back down to earth as far as skin care is concerned,
Adoption and Foster Care with Dr. Brian Gannon
1mo ago · 29:00
Multiple sources say that there are roughly 400,000 kids in the foster care system in the United States currently. There are some things that humans won't fully understand unless they live through them, and the processes surrounding adoption and foster care are likely included in those things. But taking super nuanced concepts and making them less scary to approach is what we do best here at Simplified! Dr. Brian Gannon is an associate professor in the department of pediatrics at The University of Alabama College of Community Health Sciences. He is a general pediatrician at the University Medi
Artificial Intelligence with Dr. Brian Butler
2mo ago · 29:00
If you want to start an argument at the dinner table, I personally suggest bringing up Artificial Intelligence. There are some that believe AI to be the answer to all of the world's problems, and some that think it could bring about the world's demise. It's one of those topics where the spectrum of support and opinions is incredibly wide. Whether you consider this phenomenon an indicator of progress or a harbinger of doom, our chat with AI researcher Dr. Brian Butler is worth your time. He's been looking into this technology for several years and can tell us plainly what it is, where it's comi
Media Ethics with Dr. Chris Roberts, Part Two
2mo ago · 29:00
A distrust and even dislike for news folk isn't necessarily new, (and in more than a few cases, not unwarranted) but in the last decade it seems that politics, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the endless void of Facebook has made many more civilians villainize "The Media™". So to break down what journalists SHOULD do, whether they do it or not, and why they should do it, we brought in someone who has made the clarification and explanation of media ethics their life's work. Dr. Chris Roberts at the University of Alabama is the authority on media ethics-- he's quite literally the vice chairman of the
Media Ethics with Dr. Chris Roberts, Part One
2mo ago · 29:00
There's the awards, the in-depth reporting, the great photos, and many other things that news outlets can brag about. One thing that most journalists are still working on however is earning solid trust from most of the public. A distrust and even dislike for news folk isn't necessarily new, (and in more than a few cases, not unwarranted) but in the last decade it seems that politics, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the endless void of Facebook has made many more civilians villainize "The Media™". So to break down what journalists SHOULD do, whether they do it or not, and why they should do it, we b
Mental Health with Dr. Abby Horton
3mo ago · 29:00
May is mental health awareness month, and organizations across the United States use this time to educate Americans on how to both understand mental health issues and offer support to people who are struggling. We're joining those voices with our last Simplified episode of the month: an informative chat with Dr. Abby Horton, an Assistant Professor at The University of Alabama’s Capstone College of Nursing. Dr. Horton has over a decade of researching wellness and mental health on her resume, making her the perfect guest to answer questions from Lacey (and the listening audience!) about what goe
Hurricanes with Dr. Jason Senkbeil
3mo ago · 29:00
Hurricane season has technically already started on Pacific Ocean side of the country, but the Atlantic side (that's our side btw) will be heating up very soon. Scientists say 97% percent of hurricanes occur from June to November, as Alabamians and their southeastern neighbors know all too well. Our guest today has been interviewed by national news entities on this topic, and if he's good enough for NPR, he's certainly good enough for us- Dr. Jason Senkbeil is a professor in the department of geography at The University of Alabama. His research has focused on atmospheric hazards and applied cl
Environmental Law with William Andreen
3mo ago · 29:00
Some of the biggest changes we've seen the current administration make is on legislation and regulations regarding environmental issues. A lot of protections have changed or gone away completely, and projects that could negatively impact the earth are getting approved easier. Alabama is no exception- the state legislature just this year passed a bill that says the state cannot impose stricter environmental regulations than the feds. But what is environmental law? Why does it matter? Why do so many people care, why should I care? William Andreen has answers to all of that and more. The Professo
Local Politics with Dr. Regina Wagner
4mo ago · 29:00
Primary elections for multiple state offices are less than three weeks away. Local elections such as these don't see the turnout that presidential elections do in our state, and that needs to change, because Dr. Regina Wagner says so! She's a political science professor at the University of Alabama and gave us tons of information on the processes and importance of state-level elections. Whether you're a republican, democrat, or somewhere in-between, your voice matters and needs to be counted.
Sleep with Dr. Adam Knowlden, Part 2
4mo ago · 29:00
Part two of our conversation with sleep expert Dr. Adam Knowlden is here! Do you know anyone that says "yeah, I actually get perfect sleep every single night"? Me neither. That's why it felt appropriate to interview today's guest, Dr, Adam Knowlden, who has been studying sleep habits and sleep hygiene for years. He is an associate professor of health science and director of the SLUMBRx Lab at the University of Alabama, and is a certified award-winning sleep-knower. There was so much good information in our discussion that we'll be turning our interview with him into two parts!
Sleep with Dr. Adam Knowlden, Part 1
4mo ago · 29:00
Do you know anyone that says "yeah, I actually get perfect sleep every single night"? Me neither. That's why it felt appropriate to interview today's guest, Dr, Adam Knowlden, who has been studying sleep habits and sleep hygiene for years. He is an associate professor of health science and director of the SLUMBRx Lab at the University of Alabama, and is a certified award-winning sleep-knower. There was so much good information in our discussion that we'll be turning our interview with him into two parts! Tune in next week for part two.
Social Media with Dr. Jessica Maddox
5mo ago · 28:30
Today Lacey sits down with a pro on social media culture, influence and history. Dr. Jessica Maddox is an Associate Professor of Entertainment and Media Studies at the University of Georgia, but spent 7 years of her academic career at the University of Alabama. In this episode, she chats with Lacey about how people can get dependent on social media, how these websites design themselves to make them as "scrollable" as possible, and how humans have craved connections (like the ones social media seems to provide) for centuries.
Real Estate with Grayson Glaze
5mo ago · 29:00
In today's episode of Simplified, Lacey has a great time chatting with Grayson Glaze, a professor of real estate at the University of South Alabama. He also serves as the program director for the real estate degree program at USA. Grayson answers questions about real estate law, the buying/selling process, and everything in between.
Insurance with Dr. Thomas Weida
6mo ago · 28:57
In today's episode, Lacey sits down with Dr. Thomas Weida, associate dean for clinical affairs for the College of Community Health Sciences at Alabama, and chief medical officer for the University Medical Center. Dr. Weida gives listeners a 101-class on Insurance; how it works, why it can get complicated, and what patients can do when they need a little help.
Microplastics with Dr. Jason Bara
6mo ago · 28:59
Episode 3 of Simplified is all about microplastics! Host Lacey Alexander is joined by Dr. Jason Bara, a professor at Alabama and the co-director of the Polymers and Soft Materials Research Center. Dr. Bara’s research group is focused on development of advanced polymer materials, processes for clean energy production, and more.
Puerto Rico with Dr. Michael Innis-Jiménez
6mo ago · 29:00
In our second episode, Lacey sits down with Dr. Michael Innis-Jiménez, an American Studies professor at The University of Alabama. His research is predominantly on how Latino communities function within the United States, making him the perfect guest to discuss the island of Puerto Rico and it's (legal and emotional) relationship to the US!

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Simplified

Episodes 20

Sports Media (College Football Edition) with Dr. Andrew Billings

Forever Chemicals with Dilara Hatinoglu

Oral Health with Dr. Mia Geisinger

House Cat Health and Habits w/ Dr. Diane Delmain

Dermatology with Dr. Lauren Kole

Adoption and Foster Care with Dr. Brian Gannon

Artificial Intelligence with Dr. Brian Butler

Media Ethics with Dr. Chris Roberts, Part Two

Media Ethics with Dr. Chris Roberts, Part One

Mental Health with Dr. Abby Horton

Hurricanes with Dr. Jason Senkbeil

Environmental Law with William Andreen

Local Politics with Dr. Regina Wagner

Sleep with Dr. Adam Knowlden, Part 2

Sleep with Dr. Adam Knowlden, Part 1

Social Media with Dr. Jessica Maddox

Real Estate with Grayson Glaze

Insurance with Dr. Thomas Weida

Microplastics with Dr. Jason Bara

Puerto Rico with Dr. Michael Innis-Jiménez

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Episodes 20

Sports Media (College Football Edition) with Dr. Andrew Billings

Forever Chemicals with Dilara Hatinoglu

Oral Health with Dr. Mia Geisinger

House Cat Health and Habits w/ Dr. Diane Delmain

Dermatology with Dr. Lauren Kole

Adoption and Foster Care with Dr. Brian Gannon

Artificial Intelligence with Dr. Brian Butler

Media Ethics with Dr. Chris Roberts, Part Two

Media Ethics with Dr. Chris Roberts, Part One

Mental Health with Dr. Abby Horton

Hurricanes with Dr. Jason Senkbeil

Environmental Law with William Andreen

Local Politics with Dr. Regina Wagner

Sleep with Dr. Adam Knowlden, Part 2

Sleep with Dr. Adam Knowlden, Part 1

Social Media with Dr. Jessica Maddox

Real Estate with Grayson Glaze

Insurance with Dr. Thomas Weida

Microplastics with Dr. Jason Bara

Puerto Rico with Dr. Michael Innis-Jiménez