Think Out Loud

Portland host of “Conspirituality” podcast on debunking health misinformation

The podcast “Conspirituality” [https://www.conspirituality.net/] digs into the conspiracy theories arising at the intersection of health, wellness and spirituality. As reported [https://www.wweek.com/news/2026/01/21/a-top-debunker-of-wellness-influencers-sets-up-his-podcast-studio-in-portland/] in Willamette Week, the show’s three co-hosts combine their expertise in health journalism, psychology and cult research to "discuss the stories, cognitive dissonances, and cultic dynamics tearing through the yoga, wellness, and new spirituality worlds.”  Portlander Derek Beres is one of the co-hosts [https://www.conspirituality.net/about] of “Conspirituality.” He joins us to talk about analyzing and debunking pseudoscience in a time of unprecedented health misinformation.

Lewis & Clark College in Portland displays rare manuscripts from the Middle Ages

If you want to see some really old stuff, Portland isn’t a bad place to be. With dozens of antique shops around the city, it isn’t hard to find objects more than a hundred years old.   But from now until March 6, Lewis & Clark College will do you one better: Its special collections department has unveiled an exhibit featuring manuscripts from the Middle Ages, some dating back to 13th century Europe. While rare now in the 21st century, the items on display were once mundane, everyday objects, including legal documents and prayer books with colorful illustrations.   It’s not often that small liberal arts colleges gain access to such rare documents, as larger research institutions and elite universities frequently take priority. In fact, it’s the first time in nearly three decades that a collection this old has made its way to the Rose City. The exhibit, “Shaping the Soul,” is free and open to the public.   At Lewis & Clark College, Hannah Crummé is the head of special collections, and Karen Gross is a medievalist and professor of English. They join us to share more about the manuscripts and their significance today, hundreds of years later.

Immigration agents used banned chokeholds in more than 40 cases across the country and Portland, new reporting finds

After the murder of George Floyd, federal law enforcement agencies banned the use [https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/15/us/police-accountability-george-floyd] of chokeholds during arrests. But new reporting from ProPublica found more than 40 cases [https://www.propublica.org/article/videos-ice-dhs-immigration-agents-using-chokeholds-citizens] where immigration agents used these banned practices, including in Portland. Nicole Foy reported on this story and joins us to share more.

University of Oregon center studies the business, branding and evolution of the Olympics

The 2026 Winter Olympics [https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/your-2026-winter-olympics-guide-everything-to-know-about-the-milan-cortina-games] kick off next Friday in northern Italy, with nearly 3,000 athletes from more than 90 countries vying for a medal in events ranging from figure skating to curling. Twelve athletes from Oregon and Washington have qualified for Team USA’s roster [https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/news/vonn-shiffrin-kim-malinin-among-team-usa-official-roster-milano-cortina-2026] competing in Milan, Cortina D’Ampezzo and a handful of other sites where skiing and snowboarding events will be held.     Yoav Dubinsky, an associate teaching professor of marketing at University of Oregon, will also be there to attend matches, do research and help organize an Olympic studies symposium in Naples. Dubinsky is also the operational director of the Olympic Studies Hub [https://business.uoregon.edu/faculty/centers/warsaw/olympic-studies-hub#pillars], which he helped launch within the UO’s business college in December 2024. It’s part of a network of more than 80 Olympic Studies and Research Centers recognized by the International Olympic Committee.    Although this is the sixth Olympics Dubinsky will attend, which he first did as a former sports journalist, it will be his first Winter Olympics. We’ll talk to him about what events he plans to attend and his research interests, including the marketing and branding opportunities host nations seize on to promote their culture and polish their image with visitors and viewers worldwide.

The challenges of keeping Oregon seafood local

A 2022 study [https://industry.visittheoregoncoast.com/industry-news/planes-passing-in-the-night-oregon-exports-seafood-then-imports-more-for-local-restaurants/] from the Oregon Coast Visitors Association found that 90% of seafood sold on the Oregon coast wasn’t locally caught. In fact, much of the seafood caught in Oregon is exported to other countries. The OCVA estimates that Oregon's coastal communities lose roughly $252 million a year because of seafood exportation. There are many challenges with trying to keep Oregon seafood in Oregon, including a lack of workforce and existing infrastructure. The OCVA and the Oregon Ocean Cluster are working to address this. This weekend, the group will be hosting its 2nd annual Blue Food Forum where consumers, researchers and industry professionals can get a taste of local products and learn more on the latest challenges facing the industry today. Marcus Hinz, director of the OCVA, joins us to share more.