The Connection with Marty Moss-Coane

in the latest report from the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI). A quarter of Americans now call themselves religiously unaffiliated citing the clergy sex abuse scandals and teachings against the LGBTQ community as the reasons they no longer believe. On the other hand, most Americans identify as Christian even as the country becomes more religious diverse and fewer Americans attend religious services. This episode, we look at “religious churning” in the country and the role religion, especially Christian Nationalism, is playing in our politics this election season. Our guest is Robert P. Jones, founder and president of PRRI and author of several books including, The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy.

There's something to those gut feelings, the hunches you have that push you toward a decision. We'll talk about where intuition comes from and when to use it.

Millions of people share their lives with dogs. What makes the dog-human connection so unique and so fulfilling?

Primatologist Frans de Waal died last week. We listen back to Marty's interviews with de Waal about our connections to our great ape cousins.

Taking the rules of improv off the stage. We talk about what improv can teach us about life, ourselves, being in the moment…and having fun

Psychotherapist Esther Perel on love and intimacy in a time of conflict

A conversation on how to make friendship a centerpiece of your life.

Human beings are built for sleep. It’s a normal, natural process and yet many of us have a troubled relationship with it. This Friday on The Connection — how to make sleep your friend. We’ll dive into the fascinating physiology of sleep and explore what our brains and bodies are doing during these “off” hours. We’ll discuss how sleep affects our memories and mood, how our daily activities affect our sleep cycles and what we can do to get restorative shut eye. And we’ll also dispel some myths…does everyone needs 8 hours a night? Our guests are Duke University sleep medicine specialist Jade Wu, author of Hello Sleep, and Penn Medicine sleep specialist Indira Gurubhagavatula.

Author Charles Duhigg explores the power of conversation to form deeper connections and bridge divides.

Neuroscience journalist Maia Szalavitz on recovering from substance use disorder and the myths and misconceptions of addiction.

Psychiatrist and neuroscientist Amir Levine explains the science of our attachments to our children, romantic partners, friends, and pets.

Former NPR host Michele Norris asked Americans to share their thoughts about race on a postcard. "Our Hidden Conversations" is about what she learned.

Molly Roden Winter, author of "More: A Memoir of Open Marriage" and husband Stewart Winter discuss non-monogamy, its effect on themselves and their 24-year marriage.

More people than ever are living single -- many by choice. We talk about finding purpose and fulfillment as a single person and erasing the stigma that's attached.

We look at dictatorships and authoritarianism. Even with their emphasis on obedience, disinformation, nostalgia and scapegoating, support is on the rise at home and abroad.

Can drawing a picture, gazing at a painting or singing a song help connect us with others? Physician Jeremy Nobel believes art may be the answer to our loneliness epidemic.

Poet and writer Ross Gay explains ways to find delight in everyday life, even when we are feeling grief or sorrow.

Forget 'fail fast, fail often.' Business professor Amy Edmondson explains not all failures are equal. This hour, how we can learn and grow from failing well.

Dr. David H. Rosmarin on new ways of thinking about anxiety, why it can be a beneficial emotion and help us thrive.

A conversation on grief and death with a mother coping with the loss of her young daughter and a palliative care physician guiding patients and their families at the end life.