After the Fact is a podcast from The Pew Charitable Trusts that brings you data and analysis on the issues that matter to you—from our environment and the scien...
Stat: 40%: Up to 40% of the food supply in the United States is wasted each year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Story: When you see the perfect displays of produce in grocery stores, do you ever wonder whether it’s all sold before it spoils? It isn’t, and stores often pay to send unpurchased produce to landfills. In this episode of “After the Fact,” Evan Ehlers, founder of Sharing Excess, shares how his organization is working to solve what he calls “the world’s dumbest problem.” As a college student in Philadelphia, Ehlers saw how this problem of food waste could be prevented and hunger could be addressed in the United States, where millions of people. lack access to three healthy meals per day. In just a few years, Sharing Excess—which receives support from the Pew Fund for Health and Human Services in Philadelphia—has evolved from a group of college volunteers to a growing organization that redistributes millions of pounds of food across the country to people in need. Pew’s Kristin Romens discusses the factors that contribute to food insecurity for individuals and families—and how funding organizations that support economic mobility projects can improve community outcomes.
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18:54
How Student Loans Shape Financial Futures
Stat: $1.6 trillion: The amount that Americans collectively owe in student loan debt. Story: In the United States, getting a college degree is often seen as a pathway to a prosperous future. But since the 1980s, the price of college has skyrocketed, leaving millions of students to rely on federal loans to help cover the cost. Now, many borrowers face high monthly payments that are difficult to afford while balancing necessities like food, housing, and health care. In this episode of “After the Fact,” we speak with Brian Denten from Pew’s student loan initiative about potential solutions to make repayment more manageable. And Washington Post reporter Danielle Douglas-Gabriel talks about the history of student loans and the impact they have on individuals and communities.
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20:18
Living Longer: Our 100-Year Life
More people are living longer. According to Pew Research Center, within the next 30 years, the population of Americans age 100 and over is expected to increase more than fourfold. With an aging population, how will the stages of our lives shift and expand? In this episode from 2019, Andrew Scott, longevity expert and economics professor at the London Business School, discusses what individuals and society can consider about the challenges and opportunities of living longer for. One upside, Scott says, is “this gift of time” means that people will be younger for longer
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20:08
A Conversation With Hank Green
Stat: 45%: The share of U.S. adults who describe research scientists as good communicators. Story: How does good communication help build trust in science? In this episode of “After the Fact,” we sit down with Hank Green—a science communicator and “internet guy” with over 30 million subscribers across his YouTube channels—to help answer this question. Green reflects on how his 2023 Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis inspired him to better connect with his audience and educate them about the science behind his treatment journey. He also speaks about the challenges of combating misinformation in today’s world, and why empathy, transparency, and clarity are key to fostering greater understanding.
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The Long Journey for Reasonable Opioid Care
Stat: 1 in 4: More than 2 million Americans suffer from opioid use disorder, but only about 1 in 4 receive any care. Story: Opioid use has become a major public health problem in the United States, but there are many obstacles to treatment, including stigma. In this episode, members of Pew’s substance use prevention and treatment team explain how to overcome barriers to care—and how new rules from the quarantine days of the pandemic can help show the way. We also hear from Jordan Scott, an advocate for people with substance use disorders in Pennsylvania, who shares her own long journey with addiction and the obstacles she faced. Please note that this episode references addiction and self-harm. If you or someone you know needs help, please call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or visit 988lifeline.org and click on the chat button.
After the Fact is a podcast from The Pew Charitable Trusts that brings you data and analysis on the issues that matter to you—from our environment and the sciences, to larger economic trends and public health. Experts from Pew and other special guests discuss the numbers and trends shaping some of society’s biggest challenges with host Dan LeDuc, then go behind the facts with nonpartisan analysis and stories.
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