Our show
The Measure of Everyday Life is a weekly exploration of social science researchers and people from various walks of life talking about what makes us tick, how we interact, and why it all matters. Our show airs each Sunday night from 6:30 – 7 p.m. in the Durham, NC, listening area on WNCU and most episodes are available as a podcast download online following the original airing. (Click Listen or look for us on your favorite podcast app.) The show has been made possible with underwriting from RTI International as well as other foundation support.
Our host, Brian Southwell
Brian Southwell, PhD, is Distinguished Fellow at RTI International, an independent, nonprofit research institute in Research Triangle Park, NC.
He also is an adjunct faculty member at Duke University, the University of Delaware, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also has advised efforts such as NOVA Science Studio.
Brian’s research appears in journal articles, chapters, and books on topics ranging from public understanding of emerging infectious diseases to modeling human memory. His co-edited book, Misinformation and Mass Audiences, addresses the challenges of inaccuracy in the public sphere and he often talks publicly about our information landscape. Previously, he co-edited Innovations in Home Energy Use: A Sourcebook for Behavior Change and wrote Social Networks and Popular Understanding of Science and Health. He and collaborators also have published a book based on the show called Measuring Everyday Life. Brian spent roughly a decade teaching at the University of Minnesota and earned degrees at the University of Virginia and University of Pennsylvania. He grew up in New York, which you can still detect in his candor.
Our current team

A dynamic team produces and edits episodes and shares our story with different audiences. Markeith Gentry (pictured) is our Senior Producer. He is a graduate of North Carolina Central University where he was a performing musician, photographer, and videographer, and he has continued to hone those skills professionally. In addition to working with The Measure of Everyday Life, Markeith also helps support WNCU’s music programming. In addition, WNCU staff members such as Kimberley Cartwright Pierce and Alshadera (Al) Dawson have helped ensure our show airs each week. Kimberley helped develop the original idea for the show along with WNCU General Manager Lackisha Sykes and Al oversees audio engineering at the station in addition to hosting various programs.
Our extended WNCU family
A dedicated team has made our show possible since its founding. Previous producers have helped to organize behind-the-scenes efforts for many of the episodes in our archives and we have had the great fortune of working with many other staff members and interns from North Carolina Central University, Duke University, and UNC-Chapel Hill.
[Page photo credits: P. Williams, M. Gentry]