Talk Cocktail
1,249 episodes - English - Latest episode: 15 days ago - ★★★ - 5 ratingsJeff Schechtman talks with authors, journalists, and thought leaders.
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Episodes
The Freaks Came Out to Write
April 04, 2024 15:35 - 29 minutes - 66.9 MBThe Village Voice existed at a unique moment in journalistic history. My guest, journalist Tricia Romano, has penned 'The Freaks Came Out to Write,' the definitive oral history of The Village Voice. It was a publication that not only captured but also shaped the zeitgeist of New York City from the paper's inception in 1955 until its closure in 2018. The Voice was more than a newspaper; it was a cultural beacon, a meeting point of news, culture, and lifestyle, embodying the ever-evolving spi...
America Last: The Right's Enduring Romance With Dictators
March 20, 2024 14:03 - 22 minutes - 52.4 MBA recent suggestion for a bumper sticker reading “Trump First, Putin Second, America Last” is more than just a witty jab at current political dynamics; it encapsulates the historical depth of right-wing politics in the United States. On thisWhoWhatWhy podcast I’m joined by Jacob Heilbrunn, editor of The National Interest, who offers a compelling analysis of the right wing’s enduring fascination with authoritarian figures. Drawing on his latest work, America Last: The Right’s Century-Long ...
Marriage is Now a Luxury Good
March 12, 2024 21:02 - 30 minutes - 68.7 MBProfessor Melissa Kearney, talks to me about the overlooked economic and social impacts of marriage and family structures and her book, "The Two-Parent Privilege." Kearney's research reveals the decline in marriage rates, particularly among non-college graduates, as an economic crisis with far-reaching consequences. She argues that the decrease in two-parent households, from 77% in 1980 to 63% today, affects children's behavior, education, and the class divide. Kearney emphasizes the economi...
Matthias Gafni gives voice to the lost souls of San Francisco
March 07, 2024 22:59 - 32 minutes - 73.5 MBMatthias Gafni, an investigative reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, delves into the darkest corners of the streets of San Francisco. For a recent project, he attempted to attribute names, faces, and families to 24 overdose deaths during a particularly harrowing week in 2023. They were not mere statistics but individuals with stories: a recent immigrant dreaming of a new life; a star student and athlete; a mechanic striving to escape his past, among others. Each narrative sheds ligh...
Reclaiming Populism: It’s Not What We Think It Is
February 21, 2024 17:38 - 30 minutes - 70.5 MBAs we look at the global political landscape, we see a resurgence of movements labeled as populist. Propelled by rapid social and technological changes, economic upheavals, and complex migration patterns, people around the world are in search of simple solutions to increasingly complex problems. This week my guest on the WhoWhatWhy podcast Steve Babson, argues that this represents a serious misinterpretation of the concept of populism.
Laura Pappano: The Political Battles inside America's Public Schools
February 12, 2024 18:38 - 34 minutes - 79.5 MBIn this podcast, I welcome Laura Pappano, author of "School Moms: Parent Activism, Partisan Politics, and the Battle for Public Education," to explore the intense politicization of American public schools. Pappano, with over thirty years of experience, delves into the far-right's efforts to control education, highlighting the shift from parental support to activism amidst challenges like local school failures and the pandemic. This conversation sheds light on the battle for the soul of our n...
Chance Vs. Choice: How Flukes Shape Our Lives
February 02, 2024 00:08 - 31 minutes - 73 MBDo we have the control over our own lives that we think we do? According to Brian Klaas, in his mind-bending new book FLUKE: Chance, Chaos, and Why Everything We Do Matters, we control nothing, but we influence everything. Think about the unexpected twists of fate that shape our lives. How many times have you stumbled upon a life-changing moment purely by accident? The party you almost skipped, where you met your significant other or a lifelong friend. Or that time you got lost in a neighbo...
Is the Abortion Battle the New Foundation for Modern Political Activism?
January 29, 2024 18:47 - 27 minutes - 64 MBIn this week’s WhoWhatWhy podcast — marking the 51st anniversary of Roe v. Wade — I talk with Felicia Kornbluh, professor of history and gender studies at the University of Vermont. In our far-ranging conversation, we delve into significant shifts in the battle for reproductive rights following the Dobbs decision. Kornbluh, drawing insights from her book, A Woman’s Life Is a Human Life, sheds light on the resurgence of effective activism in states like California, Ohio, and Kansas. She exp...
Media Crack-up 2024: A Conversation with Project Censored's Mickey Huff
January 25, 2024 21:58 - 28 minutes - 65.9 MBIn a rapidly changing media landscape, where giants like Conde Nast, the Los Angeles Times, Sports Illustrated, and the Washington Post face massive layoffs, the very nature of news is transforming and it’s impacting our democracy. I talk with Mickey Huff, director of Project Censored, about the critical state of the media, who’s to blame and about his book "STATE OF THE FREE PRESS 2024." We delve into the top 25 underreported stories of 2023, and examine how corporate and political influen...
From Anxiety to Action: Young Floridians Transforming Politics
January 22, 2024 20:44 - 31 minutes - 71 MBAmid widespread concern about our politics, young, passionate individuals like Devon Murphy-Anderson and Alex Berrios are making a significant impact. In this week’s WhoWhatWhy podcast, we delve into their efforts to turn Florida blue. Murphy-Anderson and Berrios, through their initiative Mi Vecino, are revitalizing the grassroots political scene in Florida. They’re particularly focused on engaging Latino and Hispanic voters, not just during election cycles but throughout the year. They exp...
Digital Titans and the Echoes of the Gilded Age
January 17, 2024 21:01 - 26 minutes - 61.6 MBThe U.S. economy has shifted from traditional manufacturing giants to tech behemoths such as Amazon and Apple, driving significant economic and social changes. This evolution, while beneficial, also stirs fears about corporate power and change. Today's digital landscape, according to my guest, Tom Wheeler, mirrors the Gilded Age, suggesting a repeat of history's paradoxes of innovation and corporate excess. Wheeler, former FCC chairman and author of "Techlash," draws parallels between these ...
MAGA Unraveled: An Insider’s Perspective on Right-Wing America
January 15, 2024 16:30 - 26 minutes - 61.3 MBOn this week’s WhoWhatWhy podcast we talk with journalist Tina Nguyen, author of The MAGA Diaries: My Surreal Adventures Inside the Right Wing and How I Got Out. A one-time MAGA fellow traveler, Nguyen delves deep into the heart of the movement. Challenging the notion that it’s merely a product of Trump’s influence, Nguyen — who journeyed from a conservative student to disenchanted MAGA-member to jobs at Politico, Vanity Fair, and now Puck — exposes the intricate network of well-funded con...
The Last Candidate of the GOP
January 10, 2024 22:17 - 27 minutes - 63.5 MBMcKay Coppins' 'Romney, A Reckoning' transcends a mere political biography, Coppins highlights Mitt Romney as the final presidential candidate of a now-transformed party, portraying him as a historical footnote. Coppins adeptly elucidates Romney's journey and the pivotal role he played in the party's evolution.
‘Fox News’ Is Not News
January 06, 2024 19:50 - 29 minutes - 67.8 MBOn the third anniversary of January 6th, this WhoWhatWhy podcast features Brian Stelter, former CNN host and author of Network of Lies: The Epic Saga of Fox News, Donald Trump, and the Battle for American Democracy. It’s clear that Fox News will likely play a key role in determining whether America remains a democracy, and Stelter provides a colonoscopy into Fox News’s influential role in shaping U.S. politics, especially post-2020 election. He examines the network’s complex relationship...
Daniel Sokatch: A Pivotal Figure in Modern Jewish Dialogue and Israeli Affair is Redefining Jewish Advocacy
December 27, 2023 18:21 - 42 minutes - 97.7 MBOn October 7th, a pivotal event in Israel echoed globally, deeply affecting the local Israeli community. This impact extended worldwide, influencing international politics and discourse, from the Red Sea to capitals like Moscow, Washington, and Beijing. In the U.S., notably in Los Angeles and San Francisco, streets filled with protests, mirroring societal divides. These events highlighted the interplay of geopolitics and history, shaping future narratives about Israel, Judaism, and anti-Semit...
Unmasking the Elepahant
December 11, 2023 19:05 - 31 minutes - 71.6 MBMy WhoWhatWhy conversation with legendary campaign strategist Stuart Stevens, whose new book THE CONSPIRACY TO END AMERICA looks deep into the GOP’s True Colors and its dying future.
Jonathan Taplin vs. the tech billionaires
December 04, 2023 20:28 - 30 minutes - 70.3 MBJonathan Taplin, a film producer, scholar, and director emeritus of the Annenberg Innovation Lab, is a vocal critic of excessive techno-optimism. In his book, "The End of Reality: How Four Billionaires are Selling a Fantasy Future of the Metaverse, Mars, and Crypto," he argues that the California-centric billionaires Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Marc Andreessen are diverting public attention from critical issues. He criticizes the media's role in glorifying them and advocate...
From Poverty to Empowerment: The Rise of the Global Middle Class
November 28, 2023 22:23 - 30 minutes - 70.1 MBThe middle class stands as the most successful demographic in world history. By the time we reach 2030, it's projected that the fifth billionth person will have joined its ranks. This journey, which began just over two centuries ago by people in pursuit of a better life, has sparked an unparalleled global transformation. In today's landscape, where half of the global population finds themselves at or above the middle-class threshold, the work of my guest Homi Kharas shines a light on their...
Robert Sapolsky and our Illusion of Free Will
November 27, 2023 18:34 - 24 minutes - 57 MBRobert M. Sapolsky, a Stanford neurobiologist and MacArthur “genius” fellow, challenges our deeply ingrained beliefs about free will. Building on his seminal 2017 work "Behave," which explored the dynamics of nature and nurture, Sapolsky's latest book, "Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will," suggests that science, medicine, and philosophy may actually support determinism over free will. As societal discourse increasingly embraces a culture of victimhood, he questions the quintesse...
Don’t Shoot the Messenger: The Methods and Power of Pollsters
November 21, 2023 15:25 - 28 minutes - 64.9 MBIn this WhoWhatWhy podcast I talk with Scott Keeter, the senior survey adviser at Pew Research Center. In this role, he guides all of Pew’s research and polling. An expert on American public opinion and political behavior, he is a co-author of four books on the subject. Keeter discusses the complexities of modern polling amid a climate of skepticism and change. As the 2024 elections approach, Keeter confronts the polling industry’s pressing issues: dwindling response rates and the public’s...
My Conversation with Heather Cox Richardson
November 15, 2023 17:37 - 31 minutes - 72.8 MBAs our nation teeters on the knife's edge of democracy, it's imperative to understand the historical roots of our current predicament. Heather Cox Richardson offers a deep dive into the intricate weave of America's past and present. A Professor of History at Boston College, Richardson is not only an acclaimed author but also the influential voice behind the daily Substack 'Letters From an American.' In an era marked by relentless political turmoil, authoritarian threats, and pervasive so...
From Buy to Cell: The Journey of SBF
November 06, 2023 23:21 - 24 minutes - 55.1 MBIn this special WhoWhatWhy podcast, I talk with Zeke Faux, whose book Number Go Up: Inside Crypto’s Wild Rise and Staggering Fall (Crown Currency, September 2023), unpacks the crypto phenomenon and its disintegration, culminating in Sam Bankman-Fried’s (SBF) conviction for fraud and potential 110-year sentence. Faux, a Bloomberg investigative reporter who has covered SBF and the crypto craze since the beginning, spent time with SBF in the Bahamas and sat in the courtroom every day of the t...
The Shifting Sands of the Middle East: What’s Next for Israel, Hamas, and Iran?
October 30, 2023 17:24 - 23 minutes - 52.9 MBOn this week’s WhoWhatWhy podcast, I explore the intricate landscape of global terrorism, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the geopolitical reverberations of recent events. My guest is Kenneth Katzman, a senior adviser with The Soufan Group and a preeminent expert on the Middle East. Specializing in Iran, the Persian Gulf states, Iraq, and Afghanistan, Katzman has previously served as a senior analyst at the Congressional Research Service and an analyst at the CIA. My conversation w...
Navigating the New Geopolitics: A Conversation with Sam Ramani
October 23, 2023 18:07 - 29 minutes - 68.6 MBSam Ramani, is a distinguished Oxford scholar specializing in international relations. Ramani, also a member of London's Royal United Services Institute, brings a wealth of firsthand experience from Russia and Ukraine, as well as academic insights into Russia's military involvements in Chechnya and Syria. Ramani describes our global politics as increasingly volatile due to the erosion of international law and the rise of a multipolar world. He views Russia's invasion of Ukraine not merely a...
Carl Safina on Nature, Philosophy, and Unexpected Teachers
October 17, 2023 17:23 - 29 minutes - 68.2 MBIn a digital age that often alienates us from nature, ecologist and author Carl Safina offers a transformative tale in 'Alfie & Me.' Rescuing Alfie, a near-death baby screech owl, with his wife Patricia, Safina challenges conventional ideas about interspecies boundaries and our philosophical relationship with the world. Set amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the story serves as a poignant reminder that life's deepest lessons often come from unexpected sources. A MacArthur "genius" and Stony Brook p...
Can America Survive Its Own Constitution? The Tyranny of the Minority
October 16, 2023 19:05 - 31 minutes - 71.7 MBOn this week’s WhoWhatWhy podcast, Harvard professor Daniel Ziblatt, co-author of the new book Tyranny of the Minority, takes a hard look at the institutional inertia and political extremism that is threatening the future of American democracy. Ziblatt argues that the nation’s precarious condition is defined by two contrasting views of what George Washington called “the last great experiment for promoting human happiness”: one that aspires toward a multiracial, multicultural democracy focus...
The Invisible Frontlines: Israel’s Secret War Against a Nuclear Iran
October 09, 2023 18:48 - 29 minutes - 68.6 MBUpdated October 8, 2023 — The podcast below was recorded earlier this week before the horrific events in Israel and Gaza. However, while the focus of the podcast is on Israel’s efforts to halt Iran’s nuclear program, it clearly lays out what could be considered the precursor to the Hamas attack. The weakness and division within Israel, the broad effort to isolate Iran through the Abraham Accords, and attempts to establish peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia are all contributing factors. ...
The Wisdom of Survivors: Overcoming Global Trauma
October 02, 2023 17:59 - 28 minutes - 64.2 MBOur era is defined by trauma — from COVID-19 to climate change, divisive politics to economic pressures, gun violence and generational upheavals. And the collective effect of all these traumas can make it pretty hard to face the day. Robert J. Lifton, my guest on this week’sWhoWhatWhy podcast, has inspiring and realistic ideas for coping with it all, as suggested by the title of his latest book, Surviving Our Catastrophes: Resilience and Renewal from Hiroshima to COVID-19. The 97-year-...
When the Game Was War: The 1987-88 NBA Season
September 19, 2023 15:55 - 23 minutes - 54 MBTeams and athletes often define more than games; they encapsulate eras and collective memories. While some teams symbolize a specific year, like the 1998 Yankees, others represent an entire era, such as the Celtics from 1960 to 1966. Rarely, individual athletes like Tiger Woods in 2000 become the face of a time period. Even rarer is a year that defines an entire league, and for the modern NBA, that was the 1987-1988 season. It was a pinnacle year featuring iconic battles and drama with lege...
Power Play: How Just 12 People Control America’s Economic Destiny: A conversation with John Coates
September 07, 2023 18:04 - 38 minutes - 89.2 MBIn this WhoWhatWhy podcast, I talk with Harvard Law Professor John Coates who discusses his new book, "The Problem of Twelve," which warns against the alarming concentration of financial power in the U.S. Four index funds control 25% of the S&P 500, and along with dominant private equity firms and "too big to fail" banks, they wield outsized influence over the economy and politics. Coates argues that this lack of transparency and extreme concentration of power threatens not just the economy...
Living History: A Conversation with Drew Gilpin Faust on the Pivotal Moments That Shaped Her and All of Us
August 28, 2023 16:57 - 28 minutes - 66.3 MBAs we mark the 60th Annerversay of the March on Washington, it takes us back to the issues of mid-century America. So it's only appropraite to be joined by Drew Gilpin Faust, a Bancroft and Francis Parkman Prize winner and former Harvard president. Her memoir, "Necessary Trouble: Growing Up in Midcentury," is more than a personal story; it's a lens into the pivotal moments of the 1950s and '60s. Faust's life personifies the era's turning points, illustrating that history isn't just a colle...
Can Boomers Age Out Gracefully? A Conversation with Dr. Rosanne Leipzig
August 15, 2023 14:31 - 26 minutes - 61.6 MBIn the 1960s, baby boomers captured the world's attention with their youthful zeal, setting the cultural tone for fifty years. Today, as they age, the spotlight has shifted to aging, reflecting our concerns about older leaders and a fondness for bygone times. The adage "60 is the new 50" is common, yet we must question the reality of modern aging. Has our progress truly allowed us to age more gracefully, and are there immutable aspects of aging? This is what Dr. Rosanne Leipzig examines in ...
What Sports Teach Us About Work and Life: A Conversation with Sally Jenkins
August 07, 2023 15:43 - 27 minutes - 63.6 MBToday we idolize those who excel in nearly every sport, viewing them as heroes and role models, and they are among the highest earners in our society. Undeniably, these individuals bring innate talents to their respective sports. However, these talents alone are insufficient. Their success hinges on what they do with their abilities—the discipline, practice, conditioning, resilience, and dedication to their sport. The question we face today is what we can learn from their success. In all ...
What We Imagine ”Out There” Reflects How We See Each Other
July 27, 2023 20:36 - 25 minutes - 58.4 MBIt appears we're not alone. No one enjoys solitude, and based on yesterday's testimony, we seem to have company in the cosmos. Science fiction has certainly presented us with a myriad of interpretations of what might exist beyond our planet. However, the individual manner in which we conceptualize the possibility of extraterrestrial life becomes a sort of Rorschach test—reflecting our worldviews, our notions of life, and our innate longing to connect with something larger than ourselves, e...
Why the Fentanyl Crisis Calls for a New War On Drugs
July 26, 2023 22:29 - 32 minutes - 74.4 MBIn the latest WhoWhatWhy podcast, I talk with award-winning author Sam Quinones about the growing crisis of fentanyl in America, arguing it's transforming not just individual lives, but also affecting cities and society at large. Highlighting the impact of potent synthetic drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine, Quinones links their widespread availability to increased mental illness, homelessness, and declining urban quality of life. He asserts that the traditional voluntary approach to a...
Oppenheimer is Not The First Movie About the Deveopment of the Atom Bomb...The First One Was a Bomb
July 18, 2023 14:07 - 28 minutes - 26.4 MBExactly 78 years ago this week, the first atomic bomb test took place in Alamogordo, New Mexico. A scene so profound it was likened to witnessing creation. Our guest is Greg Mitchell, author of "The Beginning or the End", a book that explores the crossroads of science, politics, and Hollywood in the Atomic Age." revealing how an early movie about Oppenheimer became pro-bomb propaganda and shaped public perception for over 75 years. As Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" nears release, Mi...
How Women Changed Journalism: A conversation with Brooke Kroeger
July 12, 2023 17:03 - 32 minutes - 74.5 MBToday, every major news network is steered by women; Fox, NBC, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, not to mention leading papers like The Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and even the New York Times. A scenario that would have been scoffed at just two decades ago, but now made possible thanks to the tireless efforts of countless trailblazers. Pioneers like Margaret Fuller, Nellie Bly, and Ida B. Wells paved the way for extraordinary women like Martha Gellhorn, Rachel Carson, and Joan Didion. Each of...
AI May Tell Us More About the Cosmos Than Telescopes: A Conversation with Andrew Pontzen
June 29, 2023 04:41 - 26 minutes - 24.2 MBUnleashing the power of AI and supercomputers, we're on the brink of a cosmic revelation. The creation of galaxies in code, a feat akin to the invention of the telescope, is revolutionizing our understanding of the universe. Renowned cosmologist Andrew Pontzen, harnessing the might of these computational behemoths, is leading us into a new era where virtual worlds mirror reality, offering unprecedented insights into our cosmos. His book, 'The Universe in a Box,' explores how these simulat...
How the Memory of the ’60s Civil Rights Era Is Being Co-Opted
June 21, 2023 21:41 - 21 minutes - 48.5 MBOur celebration of Juneteenth is a direct result of the civil rights struggles of the 1960s. The battles led by Martin Luther King Jr. and many others created an enduring legacy on which the continued fight for civil rights rests. But what happens when this legacy is manipulated, distorted, and appropriated to further agendas far removed from the original purpose? What does it mean when various causes are labeled the “civil rights struggle of our time?” Does it dilute the impact of the orig...
Space: It’s Not Just for Governments Anymore: A Conversation with Ashley Vance
June 14, 2023 19:38 - 29 minutes - 66.9 MBThe recent congressional budget battles have underscored the scarcity of public funds for space, science, and technology. This has paved the way for the private sector, a world that Ashlee Vance delves into in this week’s WhoWhatWhy podcast and in his new book, When the Heavens Went On Sale: The Misfits and Geniuses Racing to Put Space Within Reach. My WhoWhatWhy conversation with Ashley Vance:
Living and Dying by the Myth of Rugged Individualism: A Conversation with Alissa Quart
June 02, 2023 20:32 - 25 minutes - 23.8 MBThe concept of American individualism, is a fundamental aspect of our culture and the American dream. Historically shaped by the westward expansion, manifest destiny, and the Puritan theology of self-reliance, this ideology is now facing a shift. Current trends suggest that a growing number of young Americans are rejecting the traditional American dream. We'll explore the reasons behind this shift, questioning whether societal complexities, generational changes, or the absorption of 60s a...
Flying Green, Climate Justice, and Higher Prices
May 18, 2023 21:28 - 31 minutes - 72.2 MBOne of the great ironies of the world today is that while the problems we face, particularly with respect to climate, must, if they’re ever to be solved, bring the world closer together in seeking solutions. One of the ways that we can come together via travel or in person is also one of the supreme carbon-intensive things that we do to harm the planet. And yet, the airline industry has committed to at least making the effort towards zero emissions by 2050. Like so much of what must save us...
The Era of Social Media Journalism Is Over: A Conversation with Ben Smith
May 12, 2023 17:26 - 24 minutes - 56.7 MBIn the early 2000s, a significant media-business mistake emerged: the belief that website traffic is a commodity like oil, which would generate increased revenue as advertising improved. However, unlike other commodities, traffic lacked scarcity. The internet made traffic virtually infinite, posing challenges for new media-business models. In this podcast, Ben Smith, former founding editor-in-chief of BuzzFeed, former media columnist for The New York Times, and author of Traffic: Genius, R...
A Conversation with Hernan Diaz about his Pulitzer Prize Winning Novel ”Trust”
May 12, 2023 14:23 - 24 minutes - 55.4 MBHernan Diaz was just awarded the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for his novel, "Trust." Last year, I had the opportunity to talk with Diaz about the book, his perspective on the Gilded Age, the persistent myths surrounding wealth, and the impact of these narratives on society as a whole. We also explored how the affluent can essentially "buy" their own reality amidst the enigmatic allure of money. Diaz's novel couldn't be more relevant to our current times. My conversation with Hernan Diaz:
Cyber Weapons and a New Arms Race… Without Firing a Shot: A Conversation with Nicole Perlroth
May 02, 2023 20:42 - 31 minutes - 71.6 MBAs software takes over our lives — from hospitals to schools and even our national infrastructure — we’re facing an explosive wave of cyberattacks that could threaten our very existence. The US — a hacker’s favorite playground — is a ticking time bomb, with 80 percent of its crucial systems tied to the internet and in private hands, with ZERO government control. Join me in my WhoWhatWhy podcast for a conversation with New York Times cybersecurity reporter Nicole Perlroth. We are diving de...
Myth, Religion, Fascism… The Recipe for Right-Wing Politics: My conversation with Jeff Sharlet
May 01, 2023 20:42 - 31 minutes - 73.1 MBMy WhoWhatWhy conversation with Jeff Sharlet about “The Undertow.” He explores the complex relationship between religion, religious nationalism, right-wing politics, and how these forces have intertwined with Trumpism and are fueling a slow civil war My WhoWhatWhy conversation with Jeff Sharlet:
The Value of Killing Time: A Conversation with Sheila Liming
April 27, 2023 20:56 - 25 minutes - 59 MBStruggling to find time for various tasks, our multi-colored Google calendars signify the complexity of the 21st century. The TV show Friends, popular across generations, nostalgically reminds us of simpler times in the early '90s without constant digital distractions. This era allowed for unstructured, agenda-free time spent with friends, which now seems like a quaint memory. Nowadays, we hang out less frequently and with fewer friends, often while multitasking or participating in structu...
Science Is Simply Curiosity Writ Large: A conversation with Dr. Suzy Sheehy
April 13, 2023 03:44 - 31 minutes - 71.4 MBWe live in a world that's constantly evolving, driven by innovations in digital technology, AI, and space exploration. Yet, we often overlook the underlying physics that form the foundation of these advancements. The discoveries in physics of the past 120 years have truly shaped our world in ways that were once unimaginable. They were fueled by curiosity, serendipity, and the desire to ask "why?" Dr. Suzie Sheehy, a physicist, science communicator, and academic has devoted her life to explo...
How the Police Became Untouchable: A conversation with Joanna Schwartz
March 28, 2023 21:32 - 26 minutes - 61.5 MBRecent police shooting victims Tyre Nichols and Anthony Lowe highlight the ongoing trend of officer impunity. The recent report on the Louisville police department and Breonna Taylor further underscores this issue. Greater accountability is necessary for police improvement, but the responsibility extends beyond law enforcement to our legal system, courts, and elected officials. UCLA law professor Joanna Schwartz, an expert in police accountability and public interest lawyering, has has stu...
Dissecting the Silicon Valley Bank Debacle: A conversation with Dean Baker and Brad DeLong
March 21, 2023 21:06 - 48 minutes - 111 MBIt has been a momentous week for banks and markets. What some have dubbed an “extinction-level event” was, at its core, the failure of a couple of banks. To help us put all of this into proper perspective, we are joined on this week’s WhoWhatWhy podcast by two distinguished economists, J. Bradford DeLong and Dean Baker. DeLong served as deputy undersecretary of the treasury in the Clinton administration and is currently a professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley. H...