Top of Mind with Julie Rose

Tackling tough topics in a way that will help you feel more empathy and empower you to become a better citizen, kinder neighbor, and more effective advocate. For people who are turned off by the divisive nature of the news, but still want to engage with important issues. Hosted by journalist Julie Rose, Top of Mind is a production of BYUradio.

166 episodes

13d ago latest

fortnightly cadence

English language

▶ Play latestRSS feed Website Education Self Improvement News Politics Commentary

https://www.byuradio.org/rss/showpodcastfeed/e9a84fc9-4bb1-476f-bd5d-0e907b754af8

Episodes 166

TRAILER: Top of Mind Podcast with Julie Rose
4y ago · 2:16
A podcast for people who are turned-off by the depressing, divisive nature of the news, but still want to engage with important issues in our communities. Hosted by radio journalist Julie Rose, Top of Mind tackles one tough topic each week in a way that will challenge you, help you feel more empathy and empower you to become a better citizen, a kinder neighbor and a more effective advocate. Top of Mind with Julie Rose is a production of BYUradio.
Bonus Episode: When the People Decide - Putting Money and Power in People’s Hands
2y ago · 24:48
We’re in between episodes this week on Top of Mind. In the meantime, we’ve got a story for you from a podcast we think you’re really going to like. It’s called When the People Decide, a podcast from the McCourtney Institute for Democracy at Penn State. The podcast traces the stories of Americans who are getting their hands dirty doing the hard work of democracy. In this episode, host Jenna Spinelle dives deep into an innovative budgeting practice where citizens decide how to spend a portion of their city’s budget. Imagine if you could be more directly involved in deciding how your city spends
BONUS: All the Best Advice from Guests on Top of Mind Season 3
3y ago · 23:58
As a final bonus to finish Top of Mind Season 3 “Finding Fairness” we’ve compiled the best insight from guests throughout the season on how to be a better citizen, kinder neighbor and more effective advocate for the things we care about. We're not a "how-to" podcast with checklists and action items. We probe for more clarity and empathy on the topic and let you decide where to go next. But our guests often do offer practical advice that’s pretty great. So here it is for you in one quick listen! Right now is a great time to binge all of Season 3 “Finding Fairness” because we’re taking a short b
ARCHIVE BONUS: How to Navigate the Journey from Loved One to Caregiver
4y ago · 36:25
Caregiving for a loved one can be difficult and confusing. Julie and her siblings are among the more than 20 million Americans who currently care for an aging parent- so this week's pick from the Top of Mind live radio archive hits close to home. In 2020, Julie spoke with Zachary White and Donna Thomson who combine their personal and professional experience into a "how to" handbook for the rest of us called “The Unexpected Journey of Caring." Guests: Donna Thomson, author, caregiver, activist, author of "The Four Walls of My Freedom: Lessons I've Learned from a Life of Caregiving" Zachary Whit
ARCHIVE BONUS: Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: The Essentials of Cooking with Samin Nosrat
4y ago · 50:46
Netflix star Samin Nosrat shares the one amazing meal that inspired her to become a professional chef. Her cookbook “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat” is a guide to the essential elements of successful cooking. In another of Julie’s favorite conversations from the Top of Mind live radio show archives, Nosrat explains how to make delicious food whether you’re a conscientious recipe-follower or a free-wheeling experimenter (like Julie). Top of Mind is a BYUradio podcast. Guest: Samin Nosrat, chef and author of "Salt, Fat, Acid Heat" (which is also a Netflix documentary series)
ARCHIVE BONUS: She Believed She Was White. At Age 27, She Learned the Truth About Her Race.
4y ago · 34:06
Sarah Valentine grew up believing she was the white daughter of her white parents. As an adult she learned her parents had been lying to her. She’s actually half Black. That truth completely unraveled Valentine’s sense of identity, which she writes about in her memoir “When I Was White.” Top of Mind host Julie Rose says she thinks often about this interview from our daily radio show archive because it really led her question her assumptions about race and racism. Top of Mind is a BYUradio podcast. Guest: Sarah Valentine, author of "When I Was White: A Memoir"
ARCHIVE BONUS: The Organ Thieves - A History of Transplants in the Segregated South
4y ago · 53:43
Before we were a weekly podcast, Top of Mind was a daily radio show. We were on the air – live - for two hours every weekday. And we did that for seven years. This means there’s a ton of great material in our archive. So, today we’re giving you a taste of that archive. First, we take a deep dive into the history of organ transplant surgery – and its darker side. You’ll hear how the TV world of Star Trek has influenced real science. We’ll be back with a new episode of the podcast on Monday, May 23rd.
ARCHIVE BONUS: The Other Talk - Why White Families Need to Talk About Race
4y ago · 53:05
In this bonus episode from the Top of Mind archive: "The Other Talk." Most kids of color in America grow up talking about racism at home, but most white children don't. They should, though, says author Brendan Kiely. His new book is a guide for starting the conversation about race at home. Then, a short, inspiring chat with a doctor who collects flower arrangements and delivers them to patients in the hospital where she works.
ARCHIVE BONUS: The Secret Power of Breathing and Yawning
4y ago · 35:01
This week, Julie shares a conversation from Top of Mind’s live radio show archive that changed her life. In 2017 she spoke with Dan Brule, who is one of the world’s leading experts on breathwork. He recommends taking time daily to practice breathing. The techniques he shared have become Julie’s best tool for coping with stress and anxiety. Guest: Dan Brule, author of “Just Breathe: Mastering Breathwork for Success in Life, Love, Business and Beyond"
ARCHIVE BONUS: What Synesthesia Can Teach Us About Disagreeing
4y ago · 20:21
People with synesthesia perceive the world very differently from the rest of us. Their senses merge so that sounds might also have tastes. The days of the week may be different colors. Numbers and letters might correspond to musical notes. This final installment in our summer series of archive interviews is especially meaningful to Julie because it drives home how two people can look at the same thing and see it very differently. What can the science of synesthesia teach us about navigating divisive issues we feel strongly about? Guest: Richard Cytowic, Clinical Professor of Neurology at Georg
BONUS: Holiday Thanks and Some Episode Recommendations
3y ago · 11:12
Top of Mind launched its weekly format early in 2022 and we’re so gratified by your response. One listener wrote “I feel like I am becoming a better, more educated person every time I listen.” In this bonus podcast drop, Julie talks about some of the episodes from 2022 that affected her personally and several others perfect for helping you deal with challenges the holidays present (like grief and family conflict). We'd love to hear what you think of the podcast! What do you want more of? What would you like to see us do differently? Send an email to topofmind@byu.edu.
Bonus: How to Support Someone Who's Grieving
3y ago · 50:20
A major side effect of being such a grief-averse culture is the sheer panic many of us feel when confronted with someone who’s suffered a devastating loss. What can you possibly say or do that will help? In this bonus episode you’ll hear Julie’s full conversation with grief specialist Lisa Athan. It’s packed full of practical tips and uplifting insight. Guest: Lisa Athan, founder of Grief Speaks
HALLOWEEN BONUS: Family-Friendly Audio Drama feat. Top of Mind's Julie Rose
3y ago · 17:36
This week only on the Top of Mind podcast, a special Halloween treat. It’s an old-fashioned, family-friendly audio drama from storytelling podcast The Apple Seed about a family facing off against an evil robot maid. And there’s a voice you might recognize. Top of Mind host Julie Rose masquerades as the mom of the family. And stay tuned after the story for the inside scoop on Julie’s short-lived theater career. Subscribe to The Apple Seed podcast from BYUradio for a regular dose of stories for the whole family – folk tales, fairy tales, personal tales, historical tales and, of course, original
News from Top of Mind
3y ago · 1:44
We're hard at work on a new season of Top of Mind and won't have a new episode on the podcast feed for a few weeks. So, it's a great time to listen back to episodes you may have missed. And keep your Stick With It stories coming to topofmind@byu.edu.
BONUS: The Credit Card Debt Conversation - A Closer Look at the Role of Credit Counseling
1y ago · 21:24
In this special bonus episode of Top of Mind, Julie Rose revisits the challenge of credit card debt - a topic that hits home for many of us – by sitting down with Thomas Nitzsche, a financial educator at Money Management International (MMI) and Susan, who shares her personal journey of paying off $80,000 in debt over four and a half years with help from MMI. While some feel skeptical of credit counseling agencies, this conversation digs into how these credit counseling agencies work, how to find a reputable one, and the real benefits they offer. If you’re looking for practical insights on how
Has AI Changed What It Means to Be Creative?
13d ago · 53:51
Artificial intelligence can write poems, compose music, create works of art, and even help produce podcasts. But if AI can create almost anything, what makes human creativity special? In this episode, we explore one of today's biggest questions with philosopher Lindsay Brainard, illustrator Jon Cockley, musician Kate Brunotts, and pioneering AI artist Claire Silver. Together, they wrestle with whether AI is replacing creativity, expanding it, or simply changing what it means to create. GUESTS Kate Brunotts, freelance music producer (https://www.breakingsound.com/kate-brunotts) John Cockley, co
Can Family Estrangement Heal? The Truth About Reconciliation
27d ago · 53:56
Family estrangement is more common than most people realize and far more complicated than people often assume. In this episode, we explore why parents and adult children become estranged, what makes reconciliation so difficult, and why some families can reconnect after years—or even decades—apart. You'll hear the remarkable story of author Charlotte Gill, who reunited with her father after 20 years apart, alongside insights from psychologist Dr. Joshua Coleman, author of “Rules of Estrangement,” and researcher Sheri McGregor, who has spent years studying the experience of estranged parents. GU
Can You Joke About Anything? Where Funny Becomes Offensive
1mo ago · 53:21
Can you joke about anything, or are some topics simply off limits? In this episode, we explore what makes something funny, why people disagree so deeply about what's offensive, and whether comedy has ethical limits. Through conversations with a stand-up comedian and two philosophers, we examine race, satire, intent, workplace humor, and the surprising ways laughter can strengthen or strain our relationships. GUESTS Isak Allen, stand-up comedian (https://www.drybarcomedy.com/isaka). Luvell Anderson, Professor of Philosophy, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; scholar of the ethics of racia
The One Thing That Makes Difficult Conversations Easier
1mo ago · 53:58
Why do some difficult conversations leave us feeling understood while others leave us frustrated and further apart? In this episode, we explore a surprisingly powerful tool that can make even the hardest conversations easier: storytelling. You'll hear about groundbreaking research from BYU showing how personal stories can increase empathy between autistic and neurotypical individuals. You'll learn why vulnerability helps people connect across differences, how stories create understanding where facts and arguments often fail, and why some of the world's leading dialogue facilitators begin diffi
Are Juries America’s Best Defense Against Injustice?
2mo ago · 52:46
Every year, millions of Americans receive a jury summons, but how many of us truly understand the responsibility that comes with deciding another person's fate? In this episode, we explore one of the foundations of American democracy: trial by jury. We’ll hear from a juror who struggled with the weight of a guilty verdict, a man who was wrongfully convicted and sent to death row, and a former felon who argues that America's jury system excludes crucial voices. GUESTS Kristin Campbell, Senior Fellow, Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement (PACE) (https://www.pacefunders.org/). Herman Lindsey,
Why Is Everyone Asking for a Tip Now?
2mo ago · 54:09
Why does it feel like everyone is asking for a tip now? From coffee shops and takeout counters to self-checkout screens, tipping culture in America has changed fast, and many of us feel confused, pressured, or even guilty about it. In this episode of Top of Mind, we explore the hidden psychology of tipping, the history behind it, and what our tipping habits reveal about power, status, fairness, and human connection. Hear from customers who feel overwhelmed by “tip creep,” workers who rely on gratuities to survive, restaurant owners struggling to pay staff fairly, and one of the nation’s leadin
Who Owns Culture? Museums, History, and the Stories We Tell
3mo ago · 54:13
Who owns culture, and who gets to tell its stories? We explore the complex and often uncomfortable debate around cultural ownership, appropriation, and representation. You’ll hear how a hidden figure in a centuries-old painting forced museums to rethink history, why some argue artifacts should be returned to their communities, and how others worry that limiting who can tell cultural stories may actually close doors to understanding. We also explore stories of repatriation and healing, alongside questions about cultural appreciation vs. appropriation. GUESTS Marenka Thompson-Odlum, PhD, Researc
Are America’s Kids Okay? How We Can Do Better
3mo ago · 54:09
America’s kids are facing serious challenges, from rising anxiety and depression to falling behind in school and growing up in increasingly complex family situations. But there’s also hope. In this episode of Top of Mind, we’ll hear from educators, researchers, and policy experts tackling the biggest issues facing kids today: from teen mental health first aid in schools, to rethinking education after the pandemic, to addressing chronic absenteeism and supporting single mothers. GUESTS Jen Schnormeier, Instructional coach at Gilbert High School, lead trainer for Teen Mental Health First Aid (ht
Why Primary Elections Matter More Than You Think
4mo ago · 52:23
Most Americans focus on the general election in November. But what if the real decision is happening months earlier? In this episode of Top of Mind, we take a closer look at primary elections, the often-overlooked part of the political process that determines who actually makes it onto the final ballot. In fact, in many districts, whoever wins the primary is almost guaranteed to win the general election. So why don’t more people vote in primaries? And are the rules of the system helping or hurting our democracy? Host Julie Rose speaks with advocates for and against primary election reform to d
Are Routine Traffic Stops Helping or Hurting Public Safety?
4mo ago · 54:06
Getting pulled over is one of the most common interactions Americans have with police, but do routine traffic stops make our communities safer? In this episode, we explore the real impact of traffic enforcement through powerful personal stories, expert insight, and new data from cities rethinking how policing works. Alexander Landau shares the traffic stop that nearly cost him his life and how it led him to advocate for reform. Valerie Castile reflects on the killing of her son, Philando Castile, and the pattern of stops that preceded his death. Meanwhile, law enforcement leaders and researche