Apple News In Conversation

The WNBA is building something — and it’s not just the women’s version of the NBA

<p>Guest-hosted by David Greene: Sheryl Swoopes, often called the &ldquo;female Michael Jordan,&rdquo; was the first player signed to the WNBA. Her story is featured in the new documentary <a href="https://tubitv.com/movies/100014374/shattered-glass-a-wnbpa-story" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Shattered Glass: A WNBPA Story</em></a>, which takes a look at how far the league has come since Swoopes&rsquo;s early days &mdash; and what today&rsquo;s pro athletes say they still need from the league. Guest host David Greene spoke with Swoopes and the film&rsquo;s director, Andrea Buccilla.</p>

Former elite gymnast Maggie Nichols speaks out about Larry Nassar’s abuse

<p>Guest-hosted by David Greene: Maggie Nichols was the first athlete on the national team to report former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar&rsquo;s sexual abuse to the organization in June 2015. A year later, she was not selected for the U.S. Olympic team. She spoke with guest host David Greene about her new memoir, <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/unstoppable/id6450285390" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Unstoppable!</em></a></p> <p><em>Warning: This episode includes descriptions of sexual violence and restrictive eating.</em></p>

Why America is obsessed with the NFL

<p>Guest-hosted by David Greene: The NFL accounted for 93 of the top 100 U.S. broadcasts in 2023, according to Nielsen ratings. But not that long ago, the league was reeling from controversies around head injuries, allegations of racism in its hiring practices, and players protesting police brutality. To better understand the NFL&rsquo;s staying power, <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> guest host David Greene spoke with sports journalist Pablo Torre, host of the podcast <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pablo-torre-finds-out/id1685093486"><em>Pablo Torre Finds Out</em></a>. They dig into the league&rsquo;s ups and downs, America&rsquo;s obsession with football, and the Taylor Swift effect.</p>

College sports are a multibillion-dollar business. Why aren’t athletes getting a cut?

<p>Guest-hosted by David Greene: College football and basketball are multibillion-dollar industries. But while some Division 1 coaches and athletic directors make millions of dollars each year, the players themselves are not paid by the schools they compete for. That may soon change. The NCAA is facing a slew of lawsuits that could lead to student athletes being treated and compensated as university employees. ESPN panelist and <a href="https://apple.news/AXbNh_nb4QQ6LfVgCF3AH0g" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Washington Post</em></a> columnist Kevin Blackistone spoke with <em>Apple News In Conversation </em>guest host David Greene about the case against the NCAA &mdash; and the role that race plays in this debate.</p>

Inside the mind of one of the New Yorker’s most iconic cartoonists

<p>Roz Chast started at the<em> New Yorker </em>in 1978, when there was only one other woman cartoonist at the magazine. Decades later, she is a celebrated figure in the cartoon world and has become well-known for her distinctive style and humor. Her latest book, <a href="https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/i-must-be-dreaming-9781620403228/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>I Must Be Dreaming</em></a>, is an illustrated guide to Chast&rsquo;s dreams and the inner workings of her mind. Chast spoke with <em>Apple News In Conversation </em>host Shumita Basu about following her artistic intuition, the popularity of <em>New Yorker </em>cartoons, and her collection of canned goods.</p>

“There is a government cover-up around UFOs. It’s just not the one that you think.”

<p>Have we been visited by extraterrestrial life? And how much does the government really know when it comes to UFOs? Garrett Graff&rsquo;s latest book, <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/ufo/id6445638086" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>UFO: The Inside Story of the US Government&rsquo;s Search for Alien Life Here &mdash; and Out There</em></a>, investigates these questions and more. The national-security reporter recently sat down with <em>Apple News In Conversation</em>host Shumita Basu to share his findings.</p>

How the evangelical church became so political, according to a pastor’s son

<p>Journalist Tim Alberta was raised in the evangelical church and is a practicing Christian. But he&rsquo;s grown increasingly concerned about how entrenched politics has become in the evangelical movement. In his latest book, <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-kingdom-the-power-and-the-glory/id6445634752" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism</em></a>, Alberta lays out the state of the evangelical church today and its shift toward the cultural and political fringes. Below are excerpts from Alberta&rsquo;s interview with <em>Apple News In Conversation </em>host Shumita Basu.</p>

Esther Perel on the real reasons couples fight

<p><a href="https://www.estherperel.com/courses/turning-conflict-into-connection" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Esther Perel</a> is the relationship expert many couples dream of scheduling a session with. Her podcast, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/where-should-we-begin-with-esther-perel/id1237931798" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Where Should We Begin? With Esther Perel</em></a>, offers the next best thing. In it, she helps real couples work through their issues, often providing insights that are relevant to other relationships. <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu spoke with Perel about how she approaches her work, the challenges of modern love, and how to resolve conflict.</p>

Rebroadcast: Your brain is hardwired to resist change. Here’s how to retrain it.

<p><em>This is an episode from our archives.</em></p> <p>Transitions can feel intimidating and destabilizing. But these moments can also be opportunities for growth, reflection, and self-discovery &mdash; especially when you have the right tools. In this episode of <em>Apple News In Conversation</em>, host Shumita Basu talks to <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-brain/id1028908750" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Hidden Brain</em></a>&rsquo;s Shankar Vedantam about why pivot points can feel so challenging and how to embrace them as opportunities, rather than obstacles.</p>

Rebroadcast: ‘The Office’ star Rainn Wilson on how to let go of resentment and find happiness

<p><em>This is an episode from our archives.</em></p> <p>Rainn Wilson understands why so many people are rejecting religion today. But he argues that the core aspects of faith still have something important to offer us. Spirituality has brought him community, purpose, and joy &mdash; even as he&rsquo;s struggled with depression, anxiety, and addiction. The actor explores these themes and shares what he&rsquo;s learned in his book <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/soul-boom/id6443263420" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution</em></a> and docuseries, <a href="https://www.peacocktv.com/stream-tv/rainn-wilson-and-the-geography-of-bliss" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Rainn Wilson and the Geography of Bliss</em></a>.</p>

How to unlock your family’s history

<p>Elizabeth Keating didn&rsquo;t realize how little she knew about her mother&rsquo;s life until after she had died. A trained anthropologist, Keating decided to develop a guide for interviewing and recording loved ones&rsquo; histories before it&rsquo;s too late. Her book, <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-essential-questions/id1610899966" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Essential Questions: Interview Your Family to Uncover Stories and Bridge Generations</em></a>, offers a blueprint for these conversations along with thought-provoking questions. On <em>Apple News In Conversation</em>, Keating shares what this process can teach us about ourselves and our families with host Shumita Basu.</p>

A guide to smarter, more ethical shopping this holiday season

<p>Holiday spending is expected to reach record levels this year. That makes for a lot of packages &mdash; and a lot of returns, donations, and junk. On <em>Apple News In Conversation</em>, host Shumita Basu speaks with <a href="https://apple.news/ToeaQ_L_NQPCFBus3ZQ7O4A" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Atlantic</em></a>&rsquo;s Amanda Mull, who reveals the strategies retailers use to get you to buy more stuff, and what you can do to have a more sustainable holiday.</p>

Rachel Maddow on America’s history of fighting fascism

<p>Rachel Maddow is best known for her show on MSNBC. But she&rsquo;s also a serious history buff. In her latest book, <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/prequel/id6449888093" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism</em></a>, Maddow lays out the rise of a dangerous antidemocratic movement in the United States in the 1930s and &rsquo;40s and how Americans stopped that campaign from flourishing. Maddow spoke with <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu about this forgotten piece of history and what it can teach us about responding to threats to democracy today.</p>

Rebroadcast: Why relationships fall apart over dirty dishes — and how to avoid the trap

<p>In this episode from our archives, <em>Apple News In Conversation&nbsp;</em>host Shumita Basu talks with Kate Mangino, a gender expert and the author of the book&nbsp;<a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/equal-partners/id1584661471" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Equal Partners: Improving Gender Equality at Home</em></a>. Mangino points to research that shows women still take on the majority of household responsibilities in different-sex relationships &mdash; and she argues there&rsquo;s a better way for partners to balance the mental and physical labor of running a home.</p>

What a former astronaut says TV gets right and wrong about space

<p>What if the United States had lost the space race &mdash; and the Soviet Union had been the first to land a man on the moon? These are the driving questions behind the Apple TV+ series <a href="https://tv.apple.com/us/show/for-all-mankind/umc.cmc.6wsi780sz5tdbqcf11k76mkp7" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em><strong>For All Mankind</strong></em></a>. The show explores the ripple effects of what coming in second could have meant for American culture, the feminist movement, geopolitics, and technology over several decades. And while fiction, it offers warnings about the future of space travel. On this week&rsquo;s episode of <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/apple-news-in-conversation/id1577591053" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em><strong>Apple News In Conversation</strong></em></a>, host Shumita Basu talks to the show&rsquo;s technical adviser and former NASA astronaut Garrett Reisman about how he helps ground the series in science.</p>

“It’s intolerable”: the New Yorker’s David Remnick on the Israel-Hamas war

<p>David Remnick has reported on Israel and the Palestinian territories for many years. But his most recent trip to Israel was like nothing he&rsquo;d seen before. In an article for the <a href="https://apple.news/AuWA128wzTeiNH8UIh6kVNA" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>New Yorker</em></a>, Remnick writes about visiting with survivors of the Hamas massacre, Israel&rsquo;s assaults on Gaza,&nbsp;and what comes next. Below are excerpts from his interview with <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/apple-news-in-conversation/id1577591053"><em>Apple News In Conversation </em></a>host Shumita Basu.</p>

How facial-recognition technology is upending privacy as we know it

<p>Big tech companies first started working on artificial facial recognition more than a decade ago. But they chose not to release it, worried about who might use it and how. Then, in 2017, the small startup Clearview AI debuted its facial-recognition app and began marketing its tool to law-enforcement agencies. This week on <em>Apple News In Conversation,</em> host Shumita Basu talks to Kashmir Hill, a<em> New York Times</em> tech reporter and author of the new book <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/your-face-belongs-to-us/id6445181767" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Your Face Belongs to Us</em></a>, about what this technology is capable of, what guardrails exist, and what the future of privacy might look like.</p>

Marriage, murder, betrayal: the true story behind ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’

<p>After striking oil on their reservation, members of the Osage Nation became some of the richest people in the world in the 1920s. Then white Oklahomans began killing them for their wealth in a sinister and elaborate plot. These events are detailed by David Grann in his book <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/killers-of-the-flower-moon/id1092942258" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Killers of the Flower Moon</em></a>, which has recently adapted into a Martin Scorsese&ndash;directed movie for Apple TV+. <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/apple-news-in-conversation/id1577591053" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Apple News In Conversation</em></a> host Shumita Basu spoke with Grann and Osage Nation Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear, a consultant on the film, about bringing this history to the big screen.</p>

The realities of living in the Palestinian territories

<p><em>Warning: This episode describes graphic content, including the death of children.<br />The following interview is about the experiences of Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank and mostly focuses on events that took place before the latest escalation of violence in Israel and Gaza. It looks at one particular perspective and does not aim to capture all of the complexities of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.<br />If you&rsquo;d like to hear more of our coverage on the Israel-Hamas war, check out our daily news podcast, </em><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/apple-news-today/id1473872585" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple News Today</a>,<em> and last week&rsquo;s episode of </em><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/apple-news-in-conversation/id1577591053?i=1000631257214" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple News In Conversation</a>.<br />A winding drive along the tall separation wall. An agonizing wait at the checkpoint. An identification card that only allows access to some hospitals. These are the obstacles that kept Abed Salama from reaching his 5-year-old son after a bus accident in 2012. On this week&rsquo;s episode of <em>Apple News In Conversation</em>, host Shumita Basu talks to Nathan Thrall, author of <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/a-day-in-the-life-of-abed-salama/id6446252041" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: Anatomy of a Jerusalem Tragedy</em></a>, about what life is like for Palestinians in the West Bank. Listen to the full interview on&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/apple-news-in-conversation/id1577591053?i=1000631939883" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple Podcasts</a>.</p>

A guide to help you understand the Israel-Hamas war

<p>The news coming out of Israel and Gaza this week has been fast-moving and devastating. It&rsquo;s always hard, during a rapidly-changing news event, to know where to find accurate, contextualized information. It&rsquo;s especially challenging in this particular war, where the history of conflict is so long, complicated, and emotionally-charged. For this week&rsquo;s episode of <em>Apple News In Conversation</em>, we&rsquo;ve compiled some of the best reads and listens to help you follow what&rsquo;s happening today.</p> <p>An Israeli journalist speaks with <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/were-going-to-die-here/id1258635512?i=1000630889936"><em>Radio Atlantic</em></a> about how his family survived when Hamas attacked their community.</p> <p><a href="https://apple.news/ADDqdqgjyQsSiGPPM_rbLNw">Fox News</a> reporter Trey Yingst takes cover from a Hamas rocket attack during a live report.</p> <p>On <a href="https://apple.news/A5xQ0_6o-SYKPAil8IlK25Q">Channel 4 News</a>, a filmmaker shows life inside Gaza: &ldquo;It feels like the world is collapsing.&rdquo;</p> <p>Journalist Maram Humaid documents the bombardment and the sleepless nights in Gaza with a daily diary on <a href="https://apple.news/AZA8E5Tk_Qq-cnOazQKfNlA">Al Jazeera</a>.</p> <p>The <a href="https://apple.news/AtMcLTMGhSuSnLA260JxyVA">Washington Post</a> shares a timeline of the big turning points and lesser-known moments in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.</p> <p>Historian Rashid Khalidi talks about the origins of this conflict on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/palestine/id1451109634?i=1000523361687"><em>Throughline</em></a>.</p> <p><a href="https://apple.news/AfZB9QCJ9RlqccorDvMXUTQ">Vox</a> offers an explainer on the militant group Hamas.</p> <p>The Hamas attack was launched from the Gaza Strip. <a href="https://apple.news/ABICMgCbxRL-20IUVbR9DuA">NBC</a> breaks down what you need to know about this area between Israel and Egypt.</p> <p>Wall Street Journal correspondent Dov Lieber talks about how Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has shaped this conflict on the <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wsj-whats-news/id152016440?i=1000631074173"><em>What&rsquo;s News</em></a> podcast.</p> <p><a href="https://apple.news/AUl3ksf3CQPaS2HEFJavaOQ"><em>The New Yorker</em></a>&rsquo;s David Remnick writes about the grief and rage felt by people on both sides of the Israel-Gaza border.</p> <p>The <a href="https://apple.news/A10Fs9qMFSTG9wTPYEQO-iQ">Washington Post</a> explores why our brains believe lies.</p> <p><a href="https://apple.news/AeB9t5mS9T42ZOmjYoLwyIg">Poynter</a> explains how to avoid false information on social media about the war.</p>

America loves the AR-15. Here’s how that happened.

<p>In the United States, AR-15s grace bumper stickers, mugs, and politicians&rsquo; Christmas cards. They&rsquo;re also the weapon used in some of the deadliest mass shootings in modern American history. <em>Wall Street Journal</em> reporters Cameron McWhirter and Zusha Elinson trace the rifle&rsquo;s rise in their new book, <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/american-gun/id6445178070"><strong><em>American Gun: The True Story of the AR-15</em></strong></a>. They spoke with <em>Apple News In Conversation </em>host Shumita Basu about how this weapon became a symbol of both gun rights and horrific tragedies.</p>

The secret to finding joy in running

<p>Martinus Evans did not have an easy start to running. Weighing over 300 pounds, he set out to finish a marathon after a doctor told him to &ldquo;lose weight or die.&rdquo; He writes about his running journey in his new book, <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/slow-af-run-club/id6443367648" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Slow AF Run Club: The Ultimate Guide for Anyone Who Wants to Run</em></a>. In this week&rsquo;s episode of <em>Apple News In Conversation</em>, Evans talks with host Shumita Basu about the lessons he&rsquo;s learned from being a &ldquo;back-of-the-packer.&rdquo;</p>

Elon Musk’s biographer on two years of shadowing the tech billionaire

<p>Walter Isaacson, author of the new biography <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/elon-musk/id6445774227" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em><strong>Elon Musk</strong></em></a><em>,</em> spent two years following the world&rsquo;s richest man in an effort to understand what drives him. Isaacson joins <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu to explain what he learned about Musk&rsquo;s reach and power, how his childhood shaped him, and why he has weekly meetings about colonizing Mars.</p>

Why so many American kids are struggling to learn how to read — and how to fix that

<p>America has long struggled with how best to teach kids to read. But a new approach, called the science of reading, is gaining steam &mdash; and it&rsquo;s proving successful. At the same time, many classrooms haven&rsquo;t caught up to it, and some students are being left behind. In the latest episode of <em>Apple News In Conversation</em>, host Shumita Basu talks to Karen D&rsquo;Souza, a reporter for <a href="https://apple.news/AKtZYm2QjQt2tvARh96ccFw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>EdSource</em></a>, about how our understanding of literacy has evolved over time, and what educators, parents, and lawmakers are doing to better prepare young readers.</p>

Her family had always kept her aunt a secret. She set out to uncover the truth.

<p>Growing up, Jennifer Senior thought her mom was an only child. But when she was 12 years old, she learned her mom had a sister, named Adele, who was institutionalized as a baby. Adele had spent almost her entire life separated from her family. Decades later, in 2021, Senior reconnected with her aunt and uncovered the dark history of institutionalizing children with intellectual disabilities. Senior wrote about her aunt&rsquo;s story in the <a href="https://apple.news/AOhyVHf7YT46EVdIY63FbPw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Atlantic</em></a> and spoke with <em>Apple News In Conversation </em>host Shumita Basu about her experience.</p>

Think Again: The signs that you’re ready to retire

<p>When longtime LA Times columnist Steve Lopez reached his mid-60s, he started to think about retiring. But he wasn&rsquo;t sure how to go about it &mdash; or if he should do it all. He gave himself one year to decide and spoke with many different people &mdash; Norman Lear and Mel Brooks, among others &mdash; about their thoughts on retirement. He wrote a book about his journey, called <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/independence-day/id1599215168"><em>Independence Day: What I Learned About Retirement From Some Who&rsquo;ve Done It and Some Who Never Will</em></a>. Lopez&rsquo;s conversation from earlier this year with <em>Apple News In Conversation</em> host Shumita Basu wraps up this summer&rsquo;s <a href="https://apple.news/A2n1iBsW5T-6q-2wdwIGd_g"><em>Think Again</em></a> series.</p>

Think Again: What losing family taught Anderson Cooper about grief and gratitude

<p>Anderson Cooper is now the only living member of the family he grew up with. When he was 10 years old, his father died of a heart attack. His brother died by suicide about a decade later. And in 2019, his mother died at the age of 95. It&rsquo;s only recently that Cooper has been able to talk about and process these deaths. For<em> Apple News In Conversation</em>&rsquo;s <em>Think Again </em>series, he spoke with host Shumita Basu about what he&rsquo;s learned by talking to people about death and grief on his podcast, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-there-is-with-anderson-cooper/id1643163707" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>All There Is</em></a> &mdash; and the advice he has for those who are struggling with loss.</p>

Think Again: Why people lose themselves in parenthood — and how to reclaim your sense of self

<p>You&rsquo;ve prepped the nursery, read all the books, and are eagerly waiting to meet the new member of your family. But are you also ready to meet the new version of yourself? For <em>Apple News In Conversation</em>&rsquo;s <em>Think Again</em> series, host Shumita Basu talks to Jessica Grose, author of <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/screaming-on-the-inside/id1610113142" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Screaming on the Inside: The Unsustainability of American Motherhood</em></a>, about the ways parenthood can change you, the lack of societal support for this seismic life shift, and how reconnecting with your sense of self can help you navigate it.</p>

Think Again: The most confusing years of your life — and strategies to get through them

<p>Early adulthood can be a particularly confusing and unsettling phase of life. You&rsquo;re figuring out how to get a job, pay rent, and plan meals. At the same time, you&rsquo;re also determining your values and the kind of person you want to be. It can feel like being pulled down two completely opposite life paths. In the latest episode of <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/apple-news-in-conversation/id1577591053"><em>Apple News In Conversation</em></a>&rsquo;s <em>Think Again</em> series, host Shumita Basu talks to psychotherapist Satya Doyle Byock about how to balance the tugs of purpose and survival during the period she calls &ldquo;quarterlife.&rdquo; She&rsquo;s even written a book on it, called, <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/quarterlife/id1592218477"><em>Quarterlife: The Search for Self in Early Adulthood</em></a>.</p>

Think Again: Your brain is hardwired to resist change. Here’s how to retrain it.

<p>Transitions can feel intimidating and destabilizing. But these moments can also be opportunities for growth, reflection, and self-discovery &mdash; especially when you have the right tools. In the first episode of <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/apple-news-in-conversation/id1577591053"><em>Apple News In Conversation</em></a>&rsquo;s monthlong &lsquo;Think Again&rsquo; series, host Shumita Basu talks to <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-brain/id1028908750"><em>Hidden Brain</em></a>'s Shankar Vedantam about why pivot points can feel so challenging and how to embrace them as opportunities, rather than obstacles.</p>