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The Kathleen Dunn Show

Kathleen Dunn

Focused on leading balanced discussions about the issues of the day and those of our time, "The Kathleen Dunn Show" aired Monday through Thursday, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on the Ideas Network stations from 2006 until August 10, 2017.

Dunn and her producers strove to be as timely as possible when choosing topics and guests. The immediacy of the show attracted many loyal listeners who sought in-depth discussions that go beyond the headlines.

July 2016

Date Description Audio
Wed, 07/27/2016 - 2:00pm Preparing For And Coping With An Empty Nest - When a child moves away from home for college or that first real job, it can be an emotional rollercoaster for parents. Kathleen and her guest discuss preparing for and coping with an empty nest, and how we can better manage the big transitions in our lives.
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Wed, 07/27/2016 - 1:00pm Long-haul Truckers' Unique Exposure To PTSD - Almost a third of the 3.5 million truck drivers in the U.S. will be involved in a serious road accident, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. In fact, trucking is one of the more dangerous occupations in the nation. Those risks make truckers vulnerable to PTSD. With so much time spent on the road away from home, long-haulers have little access to mental-health services. A former trucker turned college professor joins us to share her experiences in dealing with this phenomenon while out on America’s highways.
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Tue, 07/26/2016 - 2:00pm Former Gang Member Now Transforming The Streets He Used To Terrorize - A local community organizer shares his personal transformation from gangbanger to helping at-risk youth avoid prison or even death. He provides a sympathetic ear and teaches them about the resources available to help them change their lives.
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Tue, 07/26/2016 - 1:00pm When Did Porn Become Sex Ed? - Direct conversations about sex are becoming increasingly rare between teenage girls and adults. Our guest says that has unfortunately lead many girls and young women to turn to porn for Sex Ed lessons as they try to navigate tricky cultural norms that tell them they're "sluts" on the one hand and "prudes" on the other.
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Mon, 07/25/2016 - 2:00pm All Things Political - DNC Convention Coverage - A special All Things Political highlights the first day of the Democratic National Convention as part of our Wisconsin Vote Fall Election Coverage. A panel of guests join us for the DNC convention coverage in Philadelphia an extended two hour All Things Political from 1-3pm.
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Mon, 07/25/2016 - 1:00pm All Things Political - DNC Convention Coverage - A special All Things Political highlights the first day of the Democratic National Convention as part of our Wisconsin Vote Fall Election Coverage. A panel of guests join us for the DNC convention coverage in Philadelphia an extended two hour All Things Political from 1-3pm.
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Thu, 07/21/2016 - 2:00pm Why Are Americans Wasting So Many Vacation Days? - Americans wasted 658 million vacation days last year, according to a new report. Over the past 15 years, Americans are taking less and less vacation. We talk with the founder of Project Time Off to find out what's behind the trend and how it may be affecting our work performance and well-being.
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Thu, 07/21/2016 - 1:00pm Two Takes On How Trump Is Affecting The GOP - Two high-profile national correspondents offer different takes on how Donald Trump may be affecting the Republican Party. We first hear how Trump may save the GOP, and then we explore how a significant number of conservatives are working to reclaim the Republican Party to its true roots.
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Wed, 07/20/2016 - 2:00pm Dog Medicine: A Memoir - After 2:00, a writer and author joins to discuss her new memoir about her struggle with depression and suicidal thoughts and how the love of her newly adopted Golden Retriever, Bunker - helped bring her back to health. Dog Medicine; How My Dog Saved Me From Myself is the name of the book.
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Wed, 07/20/2016 - 1:00pm The Failed Coup In Turkey - Foreign policy experts weigh in on last week's failed coup attempt in Turkey, a vital ally to the U.S. in its war against ISIS. President Tayyip Erdogan has promised to crack down on the dissenters, even calling for introducing the death penalty.
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Tue, 07/19/2016 - 2:00pm Most Americans Support Gun Regulation, So Why Are They Losing The Debate? - The gun regulation debate has been front and center once again after several high-profile shootings over the past two weeks. The issue is expected to be a big part this week's Republican National Convention. According to Pew research, most Americans agree there should be universal background checks for all gun buyers. What do you think? We're taking your calls today. Download
Tue, 07/19/2016 - 1:00pm Can Keeping Busy Help The Brain? - After 1:00, we speak to the director of research at the Center for Vital Longevity, about her new study on the aging brain . While scientists have previously recommended engaging in mentally challenging activities, this new research suggests that keeping a busy schedule may offer similar benefits.
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Mon, 07/18/2016 - 2:00pm All Things Political - RNC Convention Coverage - All Things Political continues to highlight the first day of the Republican National Convention as part of our Wisconsin Vote Fall Election Coverage. A panel of guests join Kathleen for the RNC convention coverage in Cleveland . That’s an extended All Things Political from 1-3pm.
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Mon, 07/18/2016 - 1:00pm All Things Political - RNC Convention Coverage - A special All Things Political highlights the first day of the Republican National Convention as part of our Wisconsin Vote Fall Election Coverage. A panel of guests join Kathleen for the RNC convention coverage in Cleveland for an extended two hour All Things Political from 1-3pm.
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Thu, 07/14/2016 - 2:00pm Barbra Streisand: Redefining Beauty, Femininity, and Power - Kathleen's guest writes in a new biography about Barbra Streisand that from the inception of her career, she was not only an exceptional singer but a different kind of singer. They discuss what makes her unique.
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Thu, 07/14/2016 - 1:00pm Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Bashing Of Donald Trump - U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg received criticism this week for scathing comments she made about Donald Trump. Many have called the comments inexcusable coming not only from someone serving on the nation's highest court, but any judicial official. We talk with a legal expert about whether this has happened before in American history and whether the comments were inappropriate.
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Wed, 07/13/2016 - 2:00pm Toy Companies Are Making More Of An Effort To Be Gender Neutral - The idea of what young girls and boys should be playing with is changing, and toy companies, like Mattel, are starting to make toys more gender neutral. Our guest talks about how she believes this is a big step in the right direction to raising children without gender stereotypes.
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Wed, 07/13/2016 - 1:00pm Wisconsin vs Minnesota In Voting Rights - We discuss how states are fighting for the ballot box with a writer who is comparing Wisconsin to Minnesota. His latest article in The Nation is titled  "The GOP’s War on Voting Is Working ."
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Tue, 07/12/2016 - 2:00pm Does Islamophobia Threaten U.S. National Security? - A human rights lawyer and former NPR commentator joins us to discuss his new book, "Scapegoats: How Islamophobia Helps Our Enemies and Threatens Our Freedoms." The book chronicles anti-Islamic incidents that have been on display in America since the Sept. 11 attacks, how it threatens national security and w hat it's like "to be part of a religious minority in the crosshairs of bigotry."
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Tue, 07/12/2016 - 1:00pm A Call For Understanding In Wake Of Last Week's Shootings - The nation is still trying to make sense of last week's tragic shootings that have deepened racial divides throughout the country. We speak with a Chicago Tribune columnist about the incidents, as well as the Black Lives Matter movement, modern police tactics and gun laws.
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Mon, 07/11/2016 - 2:00pm Are Professors Overwhelmingly Liberal? - We speak with a guest who says that University professors are overwhelmingly liberal on campuses around the country, and we need to advocate for the hiring of more conservative professors, similar to that of affirmative action.
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Mon, 07/11/2016 - 1:00pm All Things Political For July 11, 2016 - The FBI recommended the U.S. Justice Department not pursue charges against Hillary Clinton in her handling of emails while serving as secretary of state. While it virtually closes the door on criminality, how will the scandal affect her presidential campaign? Donald Trump reached out to Latino voters last week, but will it work? And how will the relationship be repaired between law enforcement and the communities they serve in wake of several tragic shootings? We dissect the latest news in the headlines with t he politics editor of the National Journal.
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Thu, 07/07/2016 - 2:00pm 'Are We Smart Enough To Know How Smart Animals Are?' - According to a growing body of research, animals are not only smarter than we thought but also engaged in forms of thinking we have only begun to understand. We're joined by one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people to discuss his latest book, "Are We Smart Enough To Know How Smart Animals Are?"
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Thu, 07/07/2016 - 1:00pm Do Gender Quotas Work? - More than 100 countries have adopted gender quotas for political leadership positions. But are they working? We'll talk to the author of a new study that found that the quotas are having positive effects, helping to accelerate women's representation in leadership positions.
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Wed, 07/06/2016 - 2:00pm Transitioning: A Look At The New Laws Affecting The Transgender Community - The U.S. military announced last week that it was lifting the ban on transgender personnel openly serving the country. Additionally, a U.S. judge blocked a law allowing religion as reason to deny service to LGBT people, and there is continued attempts to pass and ban transgender bathroom bills. We look at transgender issues with a psychologist and author of the book "The Gender Creative Child: Pathways for Nurturing and Supporting Children Who Live Outside Gender Boxes."
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Wed, 07/06/2016 - 1:00pm What's Going On With The Olympic Games In Brazil? - The Olympic games in Brazil are only weeks away and many questions remain about the country's ability to host the event. We discuss the economic impact of the games and whether the stadiums in Rio will be ready in time, the bans against some Russian athletes, public health concerns surrounding the Zika virus and Brazil's mounting political upheaval.
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Tue, 07/05/2016 - 2:00pm Wisconsin's Indian Child Welfare Act - At one point in American history, an alarming number of Native children were removed from their homes and placed with non-Native families until the Wisconsin Indian Child Welfare Act was passed in 1978 and updated after a lengthy and contentious process. We speak to some people involved in a new documentary that uncovers this history. The film is available on YouTube for free here .
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Tue, 07/05/2016 - 1:00pm All Things Political For July 5th 2016 - Princeton History and Public Affairs professor and CNN commentary contributor, Julian Zelizer is Kathleen's guest for this week's edition of All Things Political. Join us for a review the top political news of the week, on a special Tuesday edition of the weekly - All Things Political.
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July 2016