DIY Foreign Aid, Play Anything, Mad in Marriage

Susan Appe is an Assistant Professor of Public Administration at Binghamton University. Susan Appe's research focuses on government-nonprofit relations and the dimensions and evolution of the nonprofit sector in both developed and developing countries. President Trump wants to cut foreign aid to other countries that are struggling.  How would this affect us Americans?  Will other groups step up to the plate and start helping where the government isn’t?  Susan Appe shares some of the work being done by independent organizations to help struggling areas of the world.

Student producer Liana Tan took 4 months off from the show to complete an internship in New York City and trips to Hawaii, Canada, Turkey, and Greece. She is back with a tangent that highlights the some of the best moments and odd situations that marked her summer.

Ian Bogost, Ph.D., is an author and an award-winning game designer. He is Professor of Interactive Computing at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Bogost is also Founding Partner at Persuasive Games LLC, an independent game studio, and a Contributing Editor at The Atlantic. He is author or co-author of ten books, including his newest book Play Anything: The Pleasure of Limits, the Uses of Boredom, and the Secret of Games.  Games are the center of our social lives. We play games because they are fun, but what does fun really mean? According to Ian Bogost games are fun because they have limitations. Not only are games filled with rules and boundaries, but all areas of our lives are filled with limitations as well

The Amish people are known for shunning technology preserving a more simple life. In recent years computers and cellphones have found inroads in Amish communities creating fresh opportunities for prosperity. Student contributor Makena Bauss shares this story about a clash of old work sensibilities and new world technology.

Brian Willoughby, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University. Dr. Willoughby is also the Director of the RELATE Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to studying and improving romantic relationships. Dr. Willoughby's research focuses on young adult dating and relationship patterns. Dr. Willoughby is the co-author of the book "The Marriage Paradox" Dr. Willoughby discusses how being "mad" may be hurting your marriage.