Top of Mind with Julie Rose

Most Americans focus on the general election in November. But what if the real decision is happening months earlier? In this episode of Top of Mind, we take a closer look at primary elections, the often-overlooked part of the political process that determines who actually makes it onto the final ballot. In fact, in many districts, whoever wins the primary is almost guaranteed to win the general election. So why don’t more people vote in primaries? And are the rules of the system helping or hurting our democracy? Host Julie Rose speaks with advocates for and against primary election reform to discuss new possibilities for a more representative future. GUESTS Nick Troiano, founder of Unite America and author of “The Primary Solution: Rescuing Our Democracy from the Fringes” (https://www.uniteamerica.org/). Charlie Buckles, deputy chairman of the Louisiana Republican Party and a delegate to five Republican National Conventions. Doug Goodman, an independent voter and founder of Nevadans for Election Reform (https://www.facebook.com/Nevadansforelectionreform/). Rob Boatright, a political science professor at Clark University, and author of several books on the history of primary elections (https://wordpress.clarku.edu/rboatright/). Top of Mind episode about money in politics - https://www.byuradio.org/top-of-mind-what-can-we-do-about-americas-money-in-politics-problem Top of Mind episode about rebuilding trust in elections - https://www.byuradio.org/top-of-mind-what-will-it-take-to-rebuild-american-trust-in-elections CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (1:31) Nick’s Run and Wake Up Call (4:45) The Case for One Ballot (13:25) Louisiana Switchback Debate (25:40) Polarization and Primaries (31:46) Fixing Weak Parties (34:49) Ballot Initiatives Roadblocks (36:25) Ranked Choice Voting Explained (37:47) Nevada Top Five Proposal (43:58) Ranked Choice Critiques (45:03) Turnout Versus Rule Changes (45:55) National Primary Day Idea (50:04) Conclusion

Who deserves to be healthy—and who’s responsible for making that possible? In this episode of Top of Mind, we explore one of the toughest questions in modern healthcare: how we decide who gets care, compassion, and lifesaving treatment. A doctor reflects on a moment with a patient that changed his understanding of kindness in medicine. A widow shares the devastating consequences of a transplant policy that kept her husband from getting the organ he needed. And a bioethicist walks us through the uncomfortable reality of deciding who gets lifesaving care when resources are scarce. Original airdate – March 13, 2023 GUESTS Dr. Michael Stein, primary care physician and Chair of Health Policy at the Boston University School of Public Health (https://www.michaelsteinbooks.com/home) Debra Selkirk, Chief Advocacy Officer at the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism and widow of a liver failure patient (https://centerforhealthjournalism.org/debra-selkirk) Dr. Jacob M. Appel, psychiatrist and bioethicist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (https://jacobmappel.com/) Dr. Dayna Bowen Matthew, Dean of the George Washington University Law School and expert in public health and civil rights law (https://www.law.gwu.edu/dayna-bowen-matthew) CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (0:57) Beatrice and the Broken Promise (3:17) Kindness Over Judgment (5:47) Empathy Improves Outcomes (8:35) Public Health vs Individualism (13:03) Alcohol and Transplant Fairness (26:09) Social Worth Taboo (27:32) Stewardship and Past Choices (29:07) Vaccine Refusal Priority (31:28) Manufactured Medical Scarcity (34:27) Just Health and Family Story (47:16) Racism Stress and Community Action

The death penalty - maybe more than any other question of crime and punishment - poses a conundrum for America as a majority Christian nation. Since colonial times, Christian ministers and believers have been among the strongest supporters of capital punishment for murder. Today, American Christianity is more divided. And the Bible offers seemingly contradictory guidance. From the Old Testament’s call to justice and retribution to the New Testament’s emphasis on grace and forgiveness, Christians wrestle with what kind of justice system reflects the will of God. In this episode of Top of Mind, host Julie Rose seeks for clarity on the matter as a Christian herself. She speaks with a Baptist pastor who ministers to death row inmates and opposes capital punishment, a Presbyterian pastor who considers the Bible clear in its support of the death penalty as God’s law, and a Southern Baptist seminary graduate and trial lawyer who questions America’s ability to implement capital punishment as God intended. GUESTS Pastor Kevin Riggs, senior pastor of Franklin Community Church. Co-author of “Today! The Best Day of My Life” with Pastor Kevin Burns, who is on death row in Tennessee. https://www.amazon.com/Today-Best-Day-My-Life/dp/B0DBJNP92T Reverend Rom Prashkapalan, pastor at Zion Presbyterian Church in Fredericksburg, Virginia https://www.zion-presbyterian.com/ Matthew T. Martens, Southern Baptist seminary graduate, trial lawyer and author of Reforming Criminal Justice: A Christian Proposal https://matthew-martens.com/ CHAPTERS (0:00) Introduction (1:38) History and Modern Divide (4:43) Case for Abolition (9:02) Restorative Justice and Victims (18:32) Pro Death Penalty Theology (27:34) Why God Punishes (28:55) Life in Prison vs Execution (30:38) Repentance and Exceptions (34:27) Wrongful Convictions Debate (44:13) Reforming Justice with Love

Family history can sometimes feel distant, irrelevant, or even risky. Why look back when the past may hold stories we’d rather not claim? In this episode of Top of Mind, we explore why learning about our ancestors matters—how their stories, traditions, and struggles can shape our identity and strengthen family bonds. We also wrestle with a harder question: what do we do when our history includes dark or painful truths? Together, we consider how facing the full story of our past can foster resilience, understanding, and growth. GUESTS Christopher Jones, BYU History Professor (https://christophercjones.com/) Libby Copeland, author of “The Lost Family: How DNA Testing Is Upending Who We Are” (https://libbycopeland.com/) Edward Di Gangi, author of “The Gift Best Given: A Memoir” (https://www.digangiauthor.com/) Gaynell Brady, owner of Our Mammy’s (https://ourmammys.com/) CHAPTERS (0:00) Family Reunion Memories (1:23) Discovering a Complicated Legacy (6:43) Teaching and Reconciling History (8:02) A Personal Family History Project (15:03) Adoption and Biological Roots (19:53) The Search for Biological Family (24:18) Unexpected Discoveries (26:15) Connecting with Ancestral Roots (27:59) A Dream Visit from Grandmother (28:31) Uncovering Family Tragedies (30:06) The Popularity of Genealogy (31:41) American Identity and Genealogy (39:02) African American Genealogy Challenges (48:56) Healing Through Genealogy (53:21) Conclusion Original airdate: August 29, 2022

What if the world believed you couldn’t understand it—while inside, your mind was full of thoughts, poetry, and frustration you had no way to express? In this episode of Top of Mind, host Julie Rose sits down with Emily Grodin, who spent 25 years unable to speak, and her mother Valerie Gilpeer, to share the extraordinary story of the moment Emily finally found her voice through typing after a devastating meltdown on a transatlantic flight. Emily’s poems and reflections challenge long-held assumptions about autism, communication, and intelligence. Her story is paired with insights from journalist Eric Garcia, psychologist Dr. Monique Botha, and nonprofit executive Sarah Nannery, each offering perspective on what life is really like for autistic individuals in a world not built for them. GUESTS Emily Grodin and Valerie Gilpeer, co-authors of “I Have Been Buried Under Years of Dust.” Eric Garcia, journalist for The Independent and author of ‘We're Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation.” Monique Botha, community psychologist and researcher at the University of Stirling Sarah and Larry Nannery, co-authors of “What to Say Next: Successful Communication in Work, Life and Love with Autism Spectrum Disorder.” CHAPTERS (0:00) A Turbulent Flight (1:58) Introduction to Top of Mind (2:45) Emily's Journey (4:39) Emily's Reflections on Communication (6:42) Valerie's Belief in Emily's Potential (10:41) Emily's Breakthrough (17:32) Eric Garcia: Autism and Advocacy (26:52) University Challenges (27:21) Universal Design for Disabilities (28:11) Accommodations? (30:37) Cure Research? (32:58) Mental Health and Autism (34:34) Challenges for Autistic Researchers (38:38) Workplace Dynamics and Autism (42:13) Personal Experiences and Coping Strategies (53:17) Conclusion

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

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?

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.

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

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"

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)

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.

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.