It Turns Out

Former NIH researcher Kevin Hall explains the science of why we eat what we eat, and debunks persistent myths about willpower, metabolism, and protein. He shares his startling findings from studying The Biggest Loser contestants—revealing why extreme exercise doesn’t prevent metabolic slowing—and explains how our modern food environment is engineered to override our conscious control. Plus, why MAHA has some good ideas, but isn’t on track to make America much healthier.
Hall is a co-author of Food Intelligence, published by Avery Books.
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The fertility rate in America has fallen more than 20 percent in the last two decades. Why is this happening, and should we try to turn it around?
The drop is even more stark, if you look back several decades, to a time when women were having - on average - close to four kids each.
Kara is joined by Notre Dame economist Kasey Buckles, who argues that the numbers aren't what they seem.
She explains why the post-war "Baby Boom" was actually a historical anomaly, and discusses whether the Trump administration's proposed $5,000 baby bonuses might actually move the needle.
Plus, could increasing political divisions between men and women be slowing family formation?
And which segments of society are most likely to say they aren’t having the number of children they want?
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A generation ago, a "China Shock" decimated American manufacturing. Today, a second wave is looming—and this time, it’s coming for engineers, scientists, and tech professionals.
In this episode, Kara sits down with MIT economist David Autor to discuss why the U.S. is uniquely unprepared for China Shock 2.0. From the "apex predators" of the Chinese EV market to the rapid migration of biotech innovation to the East, Autor explains why American "chauvinism" and a political attention span he describes as being similar to "a squirrel on cocaine" are putting our most strategic industries at risk.
We explore the existential threat to companies like Ford, the potential hollowing out of hubs like Cambridge and Silicon Valley, and the "callous" myth that displaced workers can simply re-train for a new career.
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What happens when the world’s most powerful tech leaders decide they are the architects of humanity's future? Astrophysicist Adam Becker, author of More Everything Forever, takes a hard look at the "Plan B" visions of Silicon Valley’s elite.
From Elon Musk’s mission to colonize a "poisonous" Mars to Jeff Bezos’ dream of trillion-person space colonies, Becker argues that these blueprints are often more science fiction than scientific fact.
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What happens when a culture is suddenly engulfed by 24/7 betting, wagering, and prediction markets?
In this episode of It Turns Out, host Kara Miller sits down with Dr. Timothy Fong, a psychiatrist and co-director of the UCLA Gambling Studies Program, to explore the hidden costs of America's new favorite pastime: "solitude entertainment."
From the staggering story of a student who drained his $180,000 college fund in just 18 months, to the psychological traps of treating apps like DraftKings and Polymarket as second jobs, Fong explains how the normalization of digital gambling is rewiring our brains and deepening the wealth gap.
Discover the science behind addiction, the reality of why the house always wins, and what this unprecedented surge in financial risk-taking means for society's future.
For more on the massive growth of sports gambling, check out the work of The Journalist's Resource at Harvard's Shorenstein Center.
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