Best Nexus Of The Universe Podcasts (2025)

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We Were Right: Kaiser and Jeremy Reunite to Riff on the China Vibe Shift 54:07

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4d ago54:07

54:07

This week on Sinica, I welcome back Jeremy Goldkorn, co-founder of the show and my longtime co-host, to revisit the "vibe shift" we first discussed back in February. Seven months on, what we sensed then has fully borne out — there's been a measurable softening in American attitudes toward China, reflected not just in polling data but in media cover…

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Prof. Jonathan Moreno of the University of Pennsylvania on Psychodrama, Culture, and the Network. 1:00:10

3h ago1:00:10

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Scientific Sense ® by Gill Eapen: Prof. Jonathan Moreno is University Professor Emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania. He has published more than a thousand papers, articles, reviews and op-eds and has been translated into several languages. His latest book is Impromptu Man. J.L. Moreno and the Origins of Psychodrama, Encounter Culture, and th…

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Lizzi Lee on Involution, Overcapacity, and China's Economic Model 1:24:51

10d ago1:24:51

1:24:51

This week on Sinica, I chat with Lizzi Lee, a fellow on the Chinese economy at the Asia Society Policy Institute and one of the sharpest China analysts working today. We dig into the 4th Plenary Session of the 20th Party Congress and what it reveals about China's evolving growth model — particularly the much-discussed but often misunderstood push a…

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Foreign Affairs Editor Daniel Kurtz-Phelan on Shifting Views of China 1:05:08

16d ago1:05:08

1:05:08

This week on Sinica, I chat with Daniel Kurtz-Phelan, editor of Foreign Affairs, about how the journal has both shaped and reflected American discourse on China during a period of dramatic shifts in the relationship. We discuss his deliberate editorial choices to include heterodox voices, the changing nature of the supposed "consensus" on China pol…

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Navigating Sales Tax Compliance in eCommerce & Retail 58:48

21d ago58:48

58:48

In this episode, TaxConnex partners Brian Greer and Jeff Meigs discuss Navigating Sales Tax Compliance in eCommerce & Retail - They dive into the complexities and challenges faced by businesses in this space. Whether you are an e-commerce entrepreneur, an online retailer, or a brick-and-mortar store venturing into online sales, understanding your s…

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Prof Setha Low of CUNY on Beach Politics 55:58

16d ago55:58

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Scientific Sense ® by Gill Eapen: Prof Setha Low is Professor of Psychology, Anthropology, Earth and Environmental Sciences and Women's and Gender Studies at the graduate institute of the New York City University. Her research interests include Anthropology of space and place Ethnography and Qualitative Methodology. Please subscribe to this channel…

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The View from Behind Xi Jinping's Desk, with Jonathan Czin 1:19:43

25d ago1:19:43

1:19:43

This week on the Sinica Podcast, I speak with Jonathan Czin, the Michael H. Armacost Chair in Foreign Policy Studies and a fellow at the Brookings Institution’s John L. Thornton China Center. His new essay in Foreign Affairs, “China Against China: Xi Jinping Confronts the Downsides of Success,” challenges the dominant Western narrative of Xi Jinpin…

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Prof Christine Webb of NYU on the Arrogant Ape: The Myth of Human Exceptionalism and Why It Matters 1:04:12

28d ago1:04:12

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Scientific Sense ® by Gill Eapen: Prof. Christine Webb is assistant professor at New York University, where she is part of the Animal Studies program. Her research focuses on the social behavior, cognition, and emotion of nonhuman primates. Please subscribe to this channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/ScientificSense?sub_confirmation=1…

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Prof. Ranjay Gulati of Harvard Business School on How to Be Bold 59:12

23d ago59:12

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Scientific Sense ® by Gill Eapen: Prof. Ranjay Gulati is Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. His latest book is How to Be Bold: The Surprising Science of Everyday Courage. Please subscribe to this channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/ScientificSense?sub_confirmation=1

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Prof. Christopher Bae of the Univ. of Hawaii on Asian hominin variability and the Chibanian puzzle 55:14

27d ago55:14

55:14

Scientific Sense ® by Gill Eapen: Professor Christopher Bae is professor of Anthropology at the University of Hawaii. His research interests include hominin fossils, vertebrate taphonomy, and lithics.Please subscribe to this channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/ScientificSense?sub_confirmation=1

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Prof. Carmen Reinhart of Harvard on Sovereign Debt 1:13:33

1M ago1:13:33

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Scientific Sense ® by Gill Eapen: Prof. Carmen Reinhart is Professor of the International Financial System at Harvard Kennedy School. From 2020-2022 she served as Chief Economist at The World Bank Group. She was also Policy Advisor and Deputy Director at the International Monetary Fund, a member of the Advisory Panel of the Federal Reserve Bank of …

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The Symbolism of the Flying Tigers: Peking University's Wang Dong on the American Volunteer Group and its Historical and Diplomatic Usages 38:57

2M ago38:57

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This week on Sinica, I chat with Peking University's Professor Wang Dong (王栋), an international relations scholar at the School of International Studies at Peking University, where he also serves as Deputy Director and Executive Director of the Office for Humanities and Social Sciences and the Institute for Global Cooperation and Understanding. Pro…

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Prof. Tanya Luhrmann of Stanford on Porosity is the Heart of Religion 51:17

1M ago51:17

51:17

Scientific Sense ® by Gill Eapen: Prof. Tanya Marie Luhrmann is Professor of Anthropology at Stanford University, with a courtesy appointment in Psychology. Her work focuses on the edge of experience: on voices, visions, the world of the supernatural and the world of psychosis.Please subscribe to this channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/ScientificSen…

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Jasmine Sun on Silicon Valley through a Chinese Mirror 1:11:18

2M ago1:11:18

1:11:18

This week on Sinica, co-host Tianyu Fang makes his debut on the show to join me in interviewing his Stanford classmate and talented writer Jasmine Sun, who studies the anthropology of disruption. This summer, she took a trip to China with a group of friends with different levels of China experience, from people raised in the country to total novice…

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Prof. Shelly Flagel and Prof. Jacinta Beehner of the University of Michigan on goal/sign tracking 57:06

2M ago57:06

57:06

Scientific Sense ® by Gill Eapen: Prof. Shelly Flagel is Prof. Shelly Flagel is Professor of Psychiatry and Research Professor at the Michigan Neuroscience Institute. Her research focuses on understanding the biological and psychological factors that contribute to individual differences in vulnerability to mental illness, particularly addiction.. H…

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Telecom Compliance and the Universal Service Fund: What’s Next After the Supreme Court Ruling? 34:16

2M ago34:16

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The Universal Service Fund (USF) plays a critical role in keeping communications accessible across rural and underserved communities, but it’s also one of the most complex and controversial areas of telecom compliance. In this episode, Brian sits down with Jonathan Marashlian, Managing Partner at The CommLaw Group, to unpack the Supreme Court’s rec…

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Yascha Mounk on China and Western Liberalism 1:22:03

2M ago1:22:03

1:22:03

This week on the Sinica Podcast, I chat with well-known author and public intellectual Yascha Mounk about his recent fascination with China, his approach to learning about the country and learning Chinese, and his thoughts on how China fits into the current crisis of Western liberal democracy. 7:15 – Yascha’s experience of living in China and learn…

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Prof. Dani Bassett of UPenn and Prof. Perry Zurn of American University on curiosity. 57:57

2M ago57:57

57:57

Scientific Sense ® by Gill Eapen: Prof. Dani Bassett is Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, with appointments in the Departments of Bioengineering, Electrical & Systems Engineering, Physics & Astronomy, Neurology, and Psychiatry. They are also an external professor of the Santa Fe Institute. Bassett is most well-known for blending neural a…

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Prof. Itay Goldstein of UPenn on financial institutions,.AI-Powered Trading, and Collusion 51:32

2M ago51:32

51:32

Scientific Sense ® by Gill Eapen: Prof Itay Goldstein is Professor of Finance and Economics at the Wharton Business School of University of Pennsylvania. His research interests include feedback effects between financial markets and real economy, financial fragility and crises, financial institutions, and market Please subscribe to this channel: htt…

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What Did the September 3 Parade Mean? 1:43:11

2M ago1:43:11

1:43:11

This week on Sinica, I speak first with retired Senior Colonel Zhou Bo, a frequent commentator on Chinese military and security affairs and a prolific writer now at the Center for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University, and with Rana Mitter of the Harvard Kennedy School and author of Forgotten Ally, a book about World War II in …

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Prof. Angus Fletcher of Ohio State on Why Computers Will Never Read (or Write) Literature 58:55

2M ago58:55

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Scientific Sense ® by Gill Eapen: Prof. Angus Fletcher is Professor of Story Science at Ohio State’s Project Narrative for the study of how stories work. His most recent book is Primal Intelligence, you are smarter than you know.Please subscribe to this channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/ScientificSense?sub_confirmation=1…

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Navigating Sales Tax Exemption Certificates for Your Business 56:48

2M ago56:48

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In its most basic form, a sales tax exemption certificate alleviates a company from collecting and remitting sales tax on certain products and services. The most common exemption is “sale for resale,” which allows businesses to purchase products free of tax. Other exemptions can apply to special entities, including government organizations and nonp…

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Prof. Alison Galloway of UC Santa Cruz on bone color changes due to fire, wild fires and victims 54:55

2M ago54:55

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Scientific Sense ® by Gill Eapen: Prof. Alison Galloway is Professor Emerita of Anthropology at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She is a forensic anthropologist with research interests in skeletal biology and aging in addition to anthropology. Please subscribe to this channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/ScientificSense?sub_confirmation=1…

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What Does China Want? The Authors of a New Paper Challenge the DC Consensus 1:29:32

2M ago1:29:32

1:29:32

This week on Sinica, I chat with Dave Kang (USC), Zenobia Chan (Georgetown), and Jackie Wong (American University in Sharjah, UAE) about their new paper in International Security titled "What Does China Want?" The paper, which has generated quite a bit of controversy, takes a data-driven approach to examine the claim that China seeks global hegemon…

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Prof. Kanaka Rajan of Harvard on Deep RL, Deep Behavior Analysis and Scalable Neural Forecasting 50:24

2M ago50:24

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Scientific Sense ® by Gill Eapen: Prof. Kanaka Rajan is Associate Professor of Neurobiology at Harvard Medical School, and a founding faculty member of the Kempner Institute for the Study of Natural and Artificial Intelligence at Harvard University. Her research seeks to understand how important cognitive functions—such as learning, remembering, an…

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Trump's India Tariff Tirade: A Gift to Beijing? With Evan Feigenbaum 1:03:36

3M ago1:03:36

1:03:36

This week on the Sinica Podcast, I welcome back Evan Feigenbaum, Vice President for Studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Evan served for many years as a State Department official, was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia and Central Asia among his numerous positions in government, and was instrumental in buil…

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Prof. Madeleine Beekman of the University of Sydney on the Origin of Language 1:01:12

3M ago1:01:12

1:01:12

Scientific Sense ® by Gill Eapen: Prof. Madeleine Beekman is a professor of evolutionary biology and behavioral ecology at the University of Sydney, Australia. Her latest book is the ORIGIN of LANGUAGE: How We Learned to Speak and WhyPlease subscribe to this channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/ScientificSense?sub_confirmation=1…

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The Engineering State and the Lawyerly Society: Dan Wang on his new book "Breakneck" 1:32:43

3M ago1:32:43

1:32:43

This week on Sinica, I'm delighted to be joined by Dan Wang, formerly of Gavekal Dragonomics and the Paul Tsai Law Center at Yale University, now with the Hoover Institute's History Lab. Dan's new book is Breakneck: China's Quest to Engineer the Future, and it's already one of the year's most talked-about books. In this conversation, we go beyond w…

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Dr. Tristan Bekinschtein of Cambridge on sleep, alertness, breathwork, and cognitive digital therapy 1:04:27

3M ago1:04:27

1:04:27

Scientific Sense ® by Gill Eapen: Dr. Tristan Bekinschtein is an EU Marie Curie Fellow and senior researcher at the MRC-Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, UK. His lab is primarily interested in the complexity of thought and what makes us human.Please subscribe to this channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/ScientificSense?sub_confirmation=1…

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Building Connexion: How Technology Powers Scalable Sales Tax Compliance 18:50

3M ago18:50

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In this special episode of It Depends, guest host Cate Gibson talks with Jackie Breiter, Partner & COO at TaxConnex, about Connexion, the proprietary platform that powers TaxConnex’s sales tax compliance process. Jackie shares how her background in engineering and operations helped shape Connexion into a tool that blends automation with human exper…

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Prof. Missy Cummings of George Mason University on autonomous vehicles, LLM and AI hazards 58:48

3M ago58:48

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Scientific Sense ® by Gill Eapen: Prof. Missy Cummings is Professor of Engineering and Computer Science at George Mason University. She is also the director of Mason's Autonomy and Robotics Center (MARC).Please subscribe to this channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/ScientificSense?sub_confirmation=1

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Chinese and U.S. AI Applications in Public Administration: Lessons and Implications for Ukraine 1:18:46

3M ago1:18:46

1:18:46

Artificial intelligence has been a frequent topic on Sinica in recent years — but usually through the lens of the two countries that have produced the leading models and companies: the United States and China. We’ve covered generative AI, national strategies, governance frameworks, and the geopolitical implications of AI leadership. This webinar, b…

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Prof. Paco Calvo, Professor at the University of Murcia on plant cognition and consciousness 1:03:19

3M ago1:03:19

1:03:19

Scientific Sense ® by Gill Eapen: Prof. Paco Calvo is a professor at the University of Murcia in Spain, where he leads the Minimal Intelligence Lab (MINT Lab), focusing on the study of minimal cognition in plants. His interdisciplinary work combines insights from biology, philosophy, and cognitive science to explore the fascinating world of plant b…

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Nuclear Weapons, Ukraine, and Great-Power Competition 1:12:49

3M ago1:12:49

1:12:49

Join me for a conversation with four fantastic panelists about nuclear safety and security issues brought on by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and more broadly on the state of nuclear security globally during this era of dramatic change. This program was made possible by the Ukrainian Platform for Contemporary China and the Center for Sla…

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Prof. Kent Berridge of the University of Michigan on addiction and Incentive-Sensitization Theory 55:57

3M ago55:57

55:57

Scientific Sense ® by Gill Eapen: Prof. Kent Berridge is professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan. His research includes Addiction, Psychology, Emotion and Brain & Behavior. Please subscribe to this channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/ScientificSense?sub_confirmation=1

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Tariffs & Sales Tax: What Every Business Needs to Know 8:02

3M ago8:02

8:02

Tariffs are making headlines, but how do they impact your sales tax obligations? In this episode, Jeff Meigs breaks down what tariffs are, how they’re treated for sales and use tax purposes, and why, unlike most tax questions, the answer here is surprisingly straightforward. From Washington State’s guidance to best practices for invoicing and compl…

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The World AI Conference in Shanghai: Two tech veterans share their impressions 1:26:01

3M ago1:26:01

1:26:01

This week on Sinica, Paul Triolo of DGA Albright Stonebridge and tech investor Ryan Cunningham join to talk about their observations and insights from the World AI Conference (WAIC), held in July in Shanghai, and what it tells them about China's ambitions in the fast-moving world of artificial intelligence. Don't miss this one! 04:21 - Ryan on his …

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Prof. Stephanie Schmitt-Grohé of Columbia on Exchange Controls, Nominal Wage Rigidity and inflation 1:07:19

3M ago1:07:19

1:07:19

Scientific Sense ® by Gill Eapen: Prof. Stephanie Schmitt-Grohé is Professor of Economics at Columbia University, an Associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research and a Research Affiliate at the Centre for Economic Policy Research. Her research focuses on the design of monetary and fiscal policies, including optimal macroprudential policy, …

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Chinese Cooking Demystified: Chris Thomas and Stephanie Li visit Shaxi! 1:17:54

4M ago1:17:54

1:17:54

This week on Sinica: On my final two days in Shaxi in Yunnan, Chris Thomas and Stephanie Li, the hosts of the marvelous YouTube channel Chinese Cooking Demystified, joined me for some cooking and lots of chatting about food! We recorded this show together and focus our conversation on their heroic attempt at a taxonomy of different Chinese cuisines…

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Prof. Sriram Sankararaman of UCLA on Neanderthal introgression, and gene-environment interactions 1:06:33

3M ago1:06:33

1:06:33

Scientific Sense ® by Gill Eapen: Prof. Sriram Sankararaman is Professor of Computer Science, Human Genetics, and Computational Medicine at UCLA. He is broadly interested in problems at the intersection of computer science, statistics, and biomedicine. Please subscribe to this channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/ScientificSense?sub_confirmation=1…

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Decision Options ® by Gill Eapen: Dr. Ian Williams on Science Funding Options 1:17:15

4M ago1:17:15

1:17:15

Decision Options ® by Gill Eapen: Dr. Ian Williams on Science Funding OptionsPlease subscribe to this channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/ScientificSense?sub_confirmation=1

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Introducing taxC: The Power of Tech + Human Expertise in Sales Tax Compliance 24:50

4M ago24:50

24:50

In this special episode, Brian Greer is joined by Brent Reeves, Co-Founder of CereTax, to discuss the story behind taxC - a powerful offering from TaxConnex that blends CereTax’s robust tax engine with TaxConnex’s white-glove compliance services. In the episode they discuss: The 20+ year relationship between the founders of TaxConnex and CereTax Wh…

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Prof. Simon Hogg of Durham University on wind energy 1:09:54

4M ago1:09:54

1:09:54

Scientific Sense ® by Gill Eapen: Prof. Simon Hogg is Emeritus Professor of Engineering at Durham University in the UK. His Research Interests include Power generation, turbomachinery, and Wind power Please subscribe to this channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/ScientificSense?sub_confirmation=1

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Dr. Foy Scalf of the University of Chicago on funerary texts in ancient Egypt 56:36

4M ago56:36

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Scientific Sense ® by Gill Eapen: Dr. Foy Scalf is Head of Research Archives at the Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, and founder and co-editor of Oriental Institute Demotic Ostraca Online (OIDOO). His research focuses on the use of funerary texts in first-third century ad Egypt and the demise of indigenous funerary practices and scripts. …

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Adam Tooze Climbs the China Learning Curve 1:03:28

4M ago1:03:28

1:03:28

I'm in Shaxi, a wonderful little town in the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, and I was joined here by the Columbia economic historian Adam Tooze, who shared his thoughts on what he sees happening on the ground in China. Adam's been in China for the last month and reflects on his experiences learning about the country — and even attempting the langu…

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Marketplace Facilitators and Sales Tax 37:48

4M ago37:48

37:48

Online sellers hear an endless amount these days about “marketplace facilitators.” What are they? How can they help you? And how can they hurt? In the world of sales tax, household names like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy are major marketplace facilitators, but what are your sales tax obligations when selling through them? Listen to this episode as we dis…

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Dr. Heidi Gardner of Harvard Law School on collaboration, leaders and boards 49:36

4M ago49:36

49:36

Decision Options ® by Gill Eapen: Dr. Heidi Gardner is a Distinguished Fellow at Harvard Law School’s Center on the Legal Profession and Program Chair of the Sector Leadership Master Class and Smarter Collaboration Master Class. Previously she was a professor at Harvard Business School. Please subscribe to this channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/Sci…

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Prof. Trey Ideker of UCSD on predictive oncology, genomics and Desmosome mutations 1:01:05

4M ago1:01:05

1:01:05

Scientific Sense ® by Gill Eapen: Prof. Trey Ideker is Professor of Medicine, Bioengineering and Computer Science, and former Chief of Genetics, at the University of California San Diego (UCSD). He is also the Director of the Bridge2AI Functional Genomics Data Generation Program and Co-Director of the Cancer Cell Map Initiative. Please subscribe to…

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Prof. Ernest Chi Fru of Cardiff University on the importance of Phosphorous on life 39:32

4M ago39:32

39:32

Scientific Sense ® by Gill Eapen: Prof. Ernest Chi Fru is Associate Professor of BioGeoChemistry at Cardiff University. He focuses on how life influences the cycling of elements like iron, sulfur, arsenic, phosphorus, copper, zinc and carbon through the geobiosphere, and how these processes have shaped Earth's atmosphere and environment over geolog…

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Prof. David Pearce of Northumbria University on the Microbial communities in the Artic and Antarctic. 49:00

4M ago49:00

49:00

Scientific Sense ® by Gill Eapen: Prof. David Pearce is Professor of Applied Sciences at Northumbria University. The underlying theme of his research is to use microbiology to understand Polar ecosystem function and the potential for shifts in biogeochemical activity that may result from environmental change. Please subscribe to this channel: https…