PODCAST

Think Out Loud

Oregon Public Broadcasting

OPB"s daily conversation covering news, politics, culture and the arts. Hosted By Dave Miller.

news

All Episodes

52:04

Exploring memory, longing and home with author Colm...

Think Out Loud ·

2026/01/15

Irish author Colm Tóibín has written short stories, essays, plays, articles and memoirs. But he’s best known for insightful novels such as “Brooklyn,” which follows Eilis Lacey as she emigrates from her home in Ireland to New York City. When she returns to Ireland for a family member’s funeral, Eilis finds herself caught between the comfort of home and the obligations of her new life in America, forcing her to decide between the

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52:31

What is the purpose - and the future - of public...

Think Out Loud ·

2026/01/14

OPB spent over a dozen years following a group of students from Kindergarten through the end of High School in 2025. The result was an amazing body of stories of the real lives and experiences of students, teachers, and families as they negotiate our public education system. One of the questions we have now is: how do you measure the success of education? We’ve gathered a group of big thinkers for a conversation about public education – what it is designed to do, who

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52:13

Author David Grann on his book 'The Wager'

Think Out Loud ·

2026/01/13

Author David Grann often writes about obsession. His stories feature people doing extraordinary, and often dangerous or morally questionable, things in pursuit of ambitious goals. He’s the author of the books “Lost City of Z,” “Killers of the Flower Moon,” and “The Wager.” Grann is also obsessive himself - about the research and details he puts into his books. We talk to Grann in front of a group of students at Nelson High School in

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13:18

Air pollution can impact adolescent brain...

Think Out Loud ·

2026/01/12

A new study from Oregon Health & Science University found that air pollution can impact adolescent brain development. The analysis indicated that exposure to common air pollutants is associated with accelerated cortical thinning in areas of the brain responsible for language, mood regulation and socioemotional processing. Researchers observed changes even in children who were exposed to pollution at levels the Environmental Protection Agency considers safe.Calvin Jara is

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16:31

After promising results, a pilot program giving cash...

Think Out Loud ·

2026/01/12

The Oregon Department of Human Services recently evaluated the first phase of a pilot program that gives $1,000 a month to youth experiencing homelessness. So far, the direct cash transfer program is producing promising results, including significant reductions in youth homelessness and improved mental health outcomes for participants. Now, early into its second phase, the program is riding the tailwinds of the first. Matt Rasmussen is the program manager for the Youth

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22:46

University of Washington collaborates on study using...

Think Out Loud ·

2026/01/12

By many measures, political polarization in the U.S. has grown in recent years. It’s reflected in recent surveys which show record high numbers of Americans who identify as conservative or liberal, or the stark differences between Republicans’ and Democrats’ current feelings toward the federal government. Social media can exacerbate this polarization, especially when algorithms social media companies use feed content that not only aligns with a user’s

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14:03

Oregon program aimed at helping people get jobs after...

Think Out Loud ·

2026/01/09

The WorkSource Oregon Reentry program helps people incarcerated in the state work on resumes, map out career goals and even connect with future employers. The program is funded by a roughly $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor and from the state, but those funds are set to expire this year. A bill in the Oregon legislature earlier this year would have funded the program, but failed to become law. Danielle Dawson is a collaborative investigative reporter for

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13:13

University of Washington study reveals financial...

Think Out Loud ·

2026/01/09

A recent study from the University of Washington School of Medicine reveals a national snapshot of the ways Americans are vulnerable to financial insecurity after undergoing medical procedures.Surveys showed that about 38% of people who undergo surgery in the United States report experiencing financial hardship after surgery – meaning they have incurred medical debt and have difficulty paying medical bills, or they delay medical care for fear of cost. John Scott is a

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18:16

A preview of Washington’s 2026 legislative session

Think Out Loud ·

2026/01/09

On Monday, Washington state lawmakers will meet in Olympia to kick off a 60-day legislative session. Last month, Gov. Bob Ferguson unveiled a proposed $79 billion supplemental budget that aims to fill a $2.3 billion shortfall in part by tapping the state’s rainy day fund and making cuts to spending on state programs and services. Lawmakers in both chambers will consider other proposals to shore up the state’s finances, including a contentious plan by Senate Democrats

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8:23

Latest updates about Border Patrol shooting of 2...

Think Out Loud ·

2026/01/09

Yesterday afternoon, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent opened fire on a man and woman during an attempted traffic stop in East Portland, according to local and federal law enforcement officials. Responding to a report of a shooting, Portland Police found the man and woman who were shot and applied first aid before the two were transported to local hospitals for treatment. U.S. Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the Portland

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16:46

What is the point of an art critic? Oregon arts...

Think Out Loud ·

2026/01/08

Do we need art critics? If you ask Bob Hicks, executive editor of Oregon ArtsWatch, he says “critic” is a dumb word. As he argues in his recently published piece, the role of art criticism isn’t to be the final say in whether a piece of work is good or bad, but rather to be the start of a conversation. At the same time, arts journalism as a whole has faced a number of setbacks in the industry this year, including the Associated Press ending its book reviews,

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20:36

Cannabis and hemp industry might be looking at a sea...

Think Out Loud ·

2026/01/08

Last month, President Trump signed an executive order seeking to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III drug. Cannabis is currently Schedule I, alongside drugs the DEA defines as having no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Trump’s order fast-tracks the reclassification, and it could significantly change the industry, opening new doors for cannabis research and easing a punishing tax burden faced by businesses that grow and sell the product. The

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15:06

What Harney County officials and residents think...

Think Out Loud ·

2026/01/08

On Jan. 2, 2016, a dozen armed anti-government militants led by Ammon Bundy and his brother, Ryan, took over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters outside of Burns in Harney County. The 41-day siege at the bird sanctuary in rural Eastern Oregon attracted national and international media attention. On Jan. 26, one of the militants, Arizona rancher Robert “LaVoy” Finicum, died during an armed confrontation with the FBI and Oregon State Police. Law

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16:23

New director of University of Oregon’s Jordan...

Think Out Loud ·

2026/01/07

In September, Olivia Miller returned to Eugene to start her new position as the executive director of the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at the University of Oregon. She earned a master’s degree in art history from UO in 2009 and most recently served as the director of the University of Arizona’s Museum of Art in Tucson.Miller curated two exhibits at UA’s art museum that featured works selected from Schnitzer’s vast art collection, including “The

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19:07

Oregon ecologist on state's efforts to create safe...

Think Out Loud ·

2026/01/07

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife estimates 14.5 million wild vertebrate animals are killed on Oregon’s roadways each year. Data shows it’s difficult to control driver behavior with things like road signs and traffic regulations. A more effective way to mitigate animal fatalities is by redirecting the animals themselves. Wildlife crossings — human-made structures that allow animals to safely pass through habitats near roadways — have been a

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16:52

State program helps Oregonians with brain injuries...

Think Out Loud ·

2026/01/07

According to the Oregon Health Authority, nearly 35,000 Oregonians visited emergency rooms in 2023 for issues related to a brain injury. These injuries can result in a range of symptoms, from confusion and short-term memory loss to depression, anger issues and lack of impulse control. Depending on the severity of the injury, survivors may need access to resources such as employment and housing assistance in addition to medical and mental health services. Oregon launched a

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23:07

Portlander combines art and activism to advocate for...

Think Out Loud ·

2026/01/06

It’s estimated that more than 80,000 Oregonians are living with disabilities related to a brain injury. That includes Portlander Cheryl Green, who sustained a brain injury in 2010. Since then, Green has showcased the experiences of brain injury survivors through a number of projects, including a podcast, documentary film, short videos and her work as a self-described “access artist.” She’s also advocated for their needs as a member of the Oregon Brain

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13:51

Astoria library remodel honors legendary female...

Think Out Loud ·

2026/01/06

The Astoria library reopened in the fall of 2025 after a major renovation. When discussions about remodeling the library surfaced, it begged the question: What exactly does a community need from a public space? The same kinds of questions were posed when the original library was designed.Trailblazing Astorian architect Ebba Wicks Brown, the first woman in Oregon to receive an architectural license, designed the original Brutalist-style building in 1967. Rachel Jensen, the

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15:14

It’s been one year since Portland welcomed its new...

Think Out Loud ·

2026/01/06

It’s been one year since Portland welcomed its new 12-member city council, which was a part of a major voter-approved overhaul of the city’s government. Since January 2, 2025, the city has seen 48 council meetings, more than 190 pieces of legislation passed and nearly 40 resolutions. The new council has seen some wins, such as broader representation on the council and bureaucracy for bureaus moving more quickly. But has also brought challenges, such as ethical

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52:10

Portland author says we can harness our grief about...

Think Out Loud ·

2026/01/05

Wildfires, extreme heat, ice storms and other weather events have Oregonians thinking about climate change in a much more personal way. We talk with clinical psychologist Thomas Doherty, who helps people cope with anxiety, depression and other mental health issues brought on by the climate crisis. His new book, “Surviving Climate Anxiety,” teaches how to cope and heal from the psychological impacts of our environmental crisis.

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Think Out Loud

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