[Image: Detail from Theft: A History of Music] On The Measure of Everyday Life, we explore the full range of human expression and popular culture as it relates to social concerns. Recently, we saw where that openness can lead. One week, we sat down with Duke University Law School professors James Boyle and Jennifer Jenkins to talk about their use…
Category: News
Measure Radio in Montréal
Host Brian Southwell recently traveled to the Palais des Congrès de Montréal in Montréal, Québec, to talk with attendees at the American Sociological Association’s (ASA) annual conference. Carmen Russell, director of communications for ASA organized the panel, entitled Broadcasting Sociology, and interviewed Brian as well as Andrea Hunter, a former CBC journalist and current professor at Canada’s Concordia University who teaches about radio…
Soledad O’Brien on TMEL
We recently had the chance to talk with award-winning reporter, anchor, documentary maker, and CEO Soledad O’Brien about social movements and the role of journalists for an upcoming episode of the show. She also offered a few words of support. Listen here:
On the origin and sharing of ideas: a three-part series
The Measure of Everyday Life team recently partnered with SwitchPoint to interview speakers from all over the world about how they generate, develop, and present ideas. We are airing a three-part series based on the interviews this month. You can find the first installment here: http://measureradio.libsyn.com/switchpoint-pt-1-conceiving-ideas. Parts two and three are here: http://measureradio.libsyn.com/switchpoint-pt-2-developing-an-idea and http://measureradio.libsyn.com/switchpoint-pt-3-delivery. Plus, we have an exciting array of episodes lined up for…
Why misinformation happens and what we can do about it
Our own Brian Southwell presented at Frank 2017 on misinformation. Here’s a video of his appearance.
Recap of session with Dr. Sarah Gaither
By Nupoor Kulkarni
A first-person account of The Measure of Everyday Life radio show’s live episode preview at the Duke Coffeehouse from correspondent, Nupoor Kulkarni.

McCall Wells, Dr. Brian Southwell and Dr. Sarah Gaither
Tucked away inside the unassuming entrance of the Duke Coffeehouse, the experience within is anything but. With its vibrant artwork practically coming to life off of the cement walls, on a warm February night, the Coffeehouse provides an engaging space for self-reflection and compelling conversation. The show’s mission – to make social science relevant in daily life – becomes clear in the dimly lit room as host Brian Southwell settles into conversation with Duke University’s Dr. Sarah Gaither.
Live at Duke, Feb 23 at 8pm
Date: February 23, 2017,
Time: 8 to 10pm (doors open at 7:30pm)
Place: Duke Coffeehouse [map] (Parking is free in front of the Coffeehouse after 5pm on weekdays. )
Description: WNCU 90.7 FM and The Measure of Everyday Life present “When Worlds Meet: The Social Science of Intergroup Encounters!”
Want a behind-the-scenes look at radio production? Ever wondered how your favorite podcasts are created? Curious how to make social science research engaging? Looking for something cool to do on a Thursday night?
If you’ve answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, please consider joining Duke Professors Sarah Gaither and Brian Southwell, host of The Measure of Everyday Life, as they preview an upcoming episode of the radio show. Sarah Gaither, a professor of neuroscience and psychology, will discuss her cutting edge work on interracial relations and perceptions of racial difference.
The event will also include the debut of a story on the refugee experience by Duke graduate, McCall Wells. The preview will be followed by an interactive Q&A session with Professor Gaither.
Come get FREE coffee and tea while it’s hot! We’ll see you there.
Want to post a flyer about the event? Here is a PDF copy to share and post. You can also share the event on Facebook.
Looking back, looking ahead: Two years of social science stories with WNCU
This January, we are celebrating two years of partnership with WNCU 90.7 FM. Relying on a public radio budget to translate social science research and theory into practical discussion, in-depth interviews with guests in studio, and feature stories by a range of contributors has been challenging at times but has been worth all the effort. We’ve built a forum for precisely the type of research-informed discussion that is sometimes missing in our contemporary information environment. WNCU has been a welcoming and supportive host and we have greatly appreciated their help as they have built on their considerable expertise as music historians and presenters to develop a comfortable home for discussion of everyday life as social scientists see it.
We recently celebrated with a second anniversary episode put together by students in the first Social Science Radio Workshop at Duke University this fall. Thank you to the Social Science Research Institute, Center for Documentary Studies, and Sanford School of Public Policy for their support in making the semester-long workshop a reality.
We are delighted to welcome the talented McCall Wells and Marina Poole as interns. You’ll be hearing more from them and several other new contributors soon.
Student takeover at Measure Radio
Today we handed the microphone to students from Duke University. As we approach our two-year anniversary, we asked the students to select what they thought were the most compelling episodes the past year and record an intro to the segment. Here are some photos of the students at WNCU.