Paris sits down with acclaimed astrophysicist and NOVA’s Particles of Thought host Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi for a wide‑ranging, thought‑provoking conversation that bridges cutting‑edge science, identity, and purpose. Drawing from his new book, Why Do We Exist?: The Nine Realms of Universe that Make You Possible, Dr. Oluseyi unpacks the hidden layers of the cosmos, from subatomic particles to the vast structure of space‑time and connects them to the very real question of who gets to participate in these discoveries. Together, Paris and Hakeem explore why making science accessible to Black communities matters, how representation in academic and scientific spaces can reshape what young people imagine as possible, and why seeing yourself reflected in the pursuit of knowledge is essential to expanding our collective understanding of the universe and our place within it.

Rooted is brought to you by our sponsor, Britebound—helping middle and high school students to explore their passions, try out career paths, and make confident decisions about their future. To learn more, visit https://bit.ly/britebound

Subscribe to the Rooted YouTube channel: •GBH News Rooted

Follow Rooted on Instagram

Listen to Rooted on Spotify

Follow Rooted on Threads

Follow Rooted on TikTok

Subscribe to the Rooted newsletter

Support GBH and help shape a future where facts matter, stories unite us, and everyone has access to quality media. Join us. Fund the Future: https://bit.ly/FundtheFutureYT