Top of Mind with Julie Rose

Episódios

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  TRAILER: Top of Mind Podcast with Julie Rose 26.01.2022 2min

  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.
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  Bonus Episode: When the People Decide - Putting Money and Power in People’s Hands 06.05.2024 24min

  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 its money. Would having that kind of influence change how you feel about your city? Or how much you trust local officials? Find When the People Decide on your favorite podcast app. Or here: https://thepeopledecide.show/
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  BONUS: All the Best Advice from Guests on Top of Mind Season 3 26.06.2023 23min

  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 break for the summer. We’ll be back in August with Top of Mind Season 4 “Assessing Assumptions.” Could the systems we've built to keep our communities safe and thriving work better if we weren't so set in our ways?
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  ARCHIVE BONUS: How to Navigate the Journey from Loved One to Caregiver 15.08.2022 36min

  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 White, professor of communication, Queens University of Charlotte, co-author (with Thomson) of "The Unexpected Journey of Caring: The Transformation from Loved One to Caregiver"
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  ARCHIVE BONUS: Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: The Essentials of Cooking with Samin Nosrat 01.08.2022 50min

  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)
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  ARCHIVE BONUS: She Believed She Was White. At Age 27, She Learned the Truth About Her Race. 08.08.2022 34min

  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"
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  ARCHIVE BONUS: The Organ Thieves - A History of Transplants in the Segregated South 16.05.2022 53min

  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.
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  ARCHIVE BONUS: The Other Talk - Why White Families Need to Talk About Race 27.06.2022 53min

  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.
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  ARCHIVE BONUS: The Secret Power of Breathing and Yawning 25.07.2022 35min

  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"
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  ARCHIVE BONUS: What Synesthesia Can Teach Us About Disagreeing 22.08.2022 20min

  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 George Washington University, author of "Wednesday is Indigo Blue" and "The Man Who Tasted Shapes"
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  BONUS: Holiday Thanks and Some Episode Recommendations 26.12.2022 11min

  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.
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  Bonus: How to Support Someone Who's Grieving 19.09.2022 50min

  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
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  HALLOWEEN BONUS: Family-Friendly Audio Drama feat. Top of Mind's Julie Rose 31.10.2022 17min

  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 radio dramas like the one you’re about to hear.
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  News from Top of Mind 06.02.2023 1min

  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.
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  BONUS: The Credit Card Debt Conversation - A Closer Look at the Role of Credit Counseling 03.06.2025 21min

  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 structured debt management can offer both financial relief and peace of mind, this conversation is for you. Original episode on credit card debt - https://www.byuradio.org/making-sense-of-americas-credit-card-debt CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 00:43 Interview with Thomas Nichi from MMI 01:14 Susan's Debt Story 04:19 How Credit Counseling Agencies Work 11:46 Debt Management vs. Debt Settlement 18:19 Finding Reputable Credit Counseling Agencies 19:42 Final Thoughts and Advice 20:58 Conclusion and Outro
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  Can Family Estrangement Heal? The Truth About Reconciliation 03.08.2026 53min

  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. GUESTS Charlotte Gill, author of “Almost Brown: A Memoir” (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/705633/almost-brown-by-charlotte-gill/). Sheri McGregor, author of “Done with the Crying: Help and Healing for Mothers of Estranged Adult Children” (https://a.co/d/93JwJ4C). Joshua Coleman, clinical psychologist and author of “The Rules of Estrangement: Why Adult Children Cut Ties and How to Heal the Conflict” (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/622584/rules-of-estrangement-by-joshua-coleman-phd/). CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (1:07) Charlotte’s Break (2:58) Why Families Split (9:37) Reunion in Bogota (16:28) No Apology Needed (17:58) Life with Dad Today (21:26) Parents Left Behind (29:10) Choosing Joy Again (31:58) Reconciliation Is Possible (33:29) Culture Fuels Estrangement (38:24) Coleman’s Family Story (42:24) Letter of Amends (45:19) Boundaries and Common Mistakes (49:18) What Reconciliation Looks Like (53:32) Conclusion
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  Can You Joke About Anything? Where Funny Becomes Offensive 20.07.2026 53min

  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 racial humor (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/josp.12384). Mike Cundall, Professor of Philosophy, North Carolina A&T State University; founder of Mirth Management Consulting and author of “The Humor Hack” (https://www.mirthmanagement.co/). CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (1:09) Meet Comic Isak Allen (2:01) Race Jokes and Family History (5:59) Why Humor Matters (7:02) Comedy as Catharsis (8:39) Avoiding Hacky Stereotypes (9:18) Anything Off Limits (11:09) “Blaccent” and Obama Bit (16:37) Philosophers on Laughter (20:41) Race Satire and Colbert (25:03) Racially Insensitive Humor (31:31) Offense and Power (36:34) Workplace Humor Debate (49:09) Humor as Kindness
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  The One Thing That Makes Difficult Conversations Easier 06.07.2026 53min

  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 difficult conversations by asking people to share a personal story. GUESTS Garrett Cardon, cognitive neuroscientist, audiologist, and Professor in the Department of Communication Disorders at Brigham Young University (https://education.byu.edu/directory/view/garrett-cardon). Kennedy Kleinman, storytelling researcher, workshop facilitator, and master’s student in English at Brigham Young University (https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/studentpub_uht/480/). John Sarrouf, Co-Executive Director of Essential Partners (https://whatisessential.org/). Story Slam participants – Zanza, Julie, Benjamin, Emma, and Natalie Top of Mind episode featuring the Abortion Talks - https://www.byuradio.org/top-of-mind-how-to-talk-about-abortion CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (1:44) The Double Empathy Problem (4:30) Storytelling Experiment Setup (9:52) Five Stories on Stage (15:52) Results Brain Sync and Takeaways (25:55) Transformative Story Framework (29:18) Workshop Steps (32:18) Storytelling Beyond Campus (35:09) Stories in Deep Divides (46:54) Asking for Stories (53:11) Conclusion
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  Are Juries America’s Best Defense Against Injustice? 22.06.2026 52min

  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, Executive Director of Witness to Innocence and a former death row prisoner (https://www.witnesstoinnocence.org/). James Binnall, attorney, professor at California State University Long Beach, and author of “Twenty Million Angry Men: The Case for Including Convicted Felons in Our Jury System” (https://www.ucpress.edu/books/twenty-million-angry-men/paper). Valerie Hans, Professor of Law at Cornell University and one of the nation's leading jury researchers (https://www.lawschool.cornell.edu/faculty-research/faculty-directory/valerie-hans/). CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (1:05) Kristin Campbell Jury Shock (3:55) Who Counts as a Peer (5:42) Deliberating the Gun Charge (7:32) Verdict Weight and Aftermath (10:35) Defendant Perspective Herman Lindsey (16:57) How Juries Get Skewed (20:27) Felons Banned from Juries (25:32) Binnall Research on Inclusion (34:43) Host Jury Story and Fixes (49:47) Rebuilding Trust in Juries
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  Why Is Everyone Asking for a Tip Now? 08.06.2026 54min

  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 leading experts on tipping behavior. GUESTS Matt Johnson, Top of Mind listener from Texas Jaime Wilson, behind-the-counter worker, food blogger and self-employed baker (https://www.jaime-wilson.com/about). Mike Fadem, owner and founder of Ops and Leo, pizzerias in Brooklyn, New York and drummer for The Jealous Girlfriends (https://www.opsbk.com/). Michael Lynn, professor of consumer behavior and services marketing at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration (http://www.tippingresearch.com/). CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (1:04) Why Tipping Feels Weird (6:24) Workers’ Side of the Counter (10:44) Tipping’s Dark History (17:04) Going Tip Free (19:44) Why Tip Free Failed (22:22) Pandemic Tip Shifts (25:51) Pooling Tips (28:03) Tip Creep Meets Tipflation (34:26) Digital Screens Pressure Us (39:36) Discrimination/Inequity (43:35) Why Ending Tipping Fails (46:44) A Better System (48:00) What Tipping Says About Us (52:17) Conclusion