Best Chris Griswold Podcasts (2025)

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The Techno-Industrial Policy Playbook w/Robert Bellafiore, Kelvin Yu, Santi Ruiz, and Chris Griswold 54:50

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23d ago54:50

54:50

The U.S. production base has slipped: China passed America in manufacturing output in 2011 and last year ran a surplus roughly equal to Britain’s entire GDP; at current capacity, it would take the United States about eight years to replace key munitions at wartime production rates. The urgency has propelled an alliance of think tanks — the Foundati…

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Bobby Hankinson: Kweendom: A Night of Queer Stand-Up 1:15:02

10h ago1:15:02

1:15:02

In this episode of Library Talks, New York’s funniest LGBTQ performers take the stage for a one-night-only celebration of queer comedy, community, and joy. Hosted by Bobby Hankinson, Kweendom is an all-LGBTQ comedy show featuring some of the city’s sharpest queer comedians and storytellers. Born from Hankinson’s frustration with lineups lacking aut…

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America First Antitrust w/ Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust Gail Slater 56:37

1d ago56:37

56:37

Gail Slater is the Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust at the Department of Justice (DOJ). She was nominated in December of last year and confirmed by the Senate in March on a bipartisan 78-19 vote. She inherited some major antitrust cases brought by prior administrations—including against Google, Apple, Visa, and LiveNation. And in her short …

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A Post-Mortem on a Moratorium w/James Wallner and Luke Hogg 1:09:11

7d ago1:09:11

1:09:11

The One Big Beautiful Bill is now President Trump's signature legislative achievement, including sweeping changes to taxes, immigration, and spending priorities. But buried in the budget reconciliation process, an AI regulation fight became one of the most contentious debates in the entire package. Senator Ted Cruz championed a 10-year moratorium o…

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John B. King, Jr. with Lisette Nieves: Teacher by Teacher 42:57

7d ago42:57

42:57

Former U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King, Jr talks to Lisette Nieves about his latest book, Teacher by Teacher.

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The Techno-Industrial Policy Playbook: Part II w/Austin Bishop and Julius Krein 56:58

15d ago56:58

56:58

Last week on the Dynamist, we spoke with several of the architects behind the Techno-Industrial Policy Playbook (TIPP). Part I covered key questions over regulation, trade policy, workforce development, investing in frontier science and technology, and how manufacturing can safeguard national security. In Part II, we dive into one of the pillars of…

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Kate Marvel and Friends, ‘Human Nature’ 55:42

14d ago55:42

55:42

In this episode of Library Talks, author and climate scientist Kate Marvel explores her latest book, Human Nature, with David Wallace-Wells, Monica Youn, and Lauren Kurtz through talks, performances, and more Each chapter of Kate Marvel’s new book, Human Nature, employs a different emotion to explore the science and stories behind climate change. K…

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Stephanie Burt with Special Guests: Super Gay Poems: LGBTQIA+ Poetry after Stonewall 1:01:14

21d ago1:01:14

1:01:14

In this episode of Library Talks, poets and critics read from and discuss the new anthology, Super Gay Poems: LGBTQIA+ Poetry after Stonewall. In Super Gay Poems, Stephanie Burt curates a boundary-pushing anthology of 51 poems by LGBTQIA+ writers, tracing the evolution of queer poetry since the Stonewall Riots. From sonnets to shaped poems, elegies…

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Barbara Demick with Jessica Bruder: Daughters of the Bamboo Grove 1:00:09

29d ago1:00:09

1:00:09

In this episode of Library Talks, acclaimed journalist and National Book Award finalist Barbara Demick talks to Jessica Bruder about her latest book, Daughters of the Bamboo Grove: From China to America, a True Story of Abduction, Adoption, and Separated Twins Barbara Demick investigates the origins, shocking cruelty, and legacy of China’s one-chil…

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China, Made by Apple w/ Patrick McGee 1:05:47

30d ago1:05:47

1:05:47

President Trump’s tariffs on China have highlighted how much American companies, and consumers, depend on products made in China. And arguably no company has been more exposed than Apple. The conventional wisdom in the West is that Apple and other corporations simply flocked to China for cheap, unskilled labor. While that is true, it masks the dept…

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Madeleine Thien with Jiayang Fan: The Book of Records 55:46

1M ago55:46

55:46

In this episode of Library Talks, author Madeleine Thien talks to Jiayang Fan about her latest book, The Book of Records. The Book of Records is a novel that leaps across generations, ideas, and centuries, as if different eras were separated by only a door. Madeleine Thien worked on The Book of Records during her 2021-2022 Fellowship at the Library…

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Nuclear 101: Reactors of the Future with Ed Petit De Mange, Patrick O’Brien, Kathleen Nelson Romans and Emmet Penney 59:21

1M ago59:21

59:21

Nuclear power is experiencing a notable revival in policy circles. The Trump administration has moved quickly on this front, drafting executive orders to accelerate plant construction, directing the Pentagon to explore reactor installations on military bases, and reshaping the regulatory landscape. A recent $900 million solicitation for small modul…

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Claire Hoffman with Jelani Cobb: Sister, Sinner 1:01:41

1M ago1:01:41

1:01:41

In this episode of Library Talks, Author and Journalist Claire Hoffman sits down with fellow journalist Jelani Cobb to talk about her latest book, Sister, Sinner: The Miraculous Life and Mysterious Disappearance of Aimee Semple McPherson Sister, Sinner chronicles the dramatic rise, disappearance, and near-fall of Aimee Semple McPherson. A pioneer o…

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Keeping Kids Safe Online w/Clare Morell 50:36

1M ago50:36

50:36

Most American parents say technology makes it harder to raise kids than in the pre-social media era. And while social scientists debate the exact impact of ubiquitous Internet access on children, policymakers are increasingly responding to parents’ concerns. The Kids Online Safety Act, which aims to address the addictive features of social media th…

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Permission to Build: How States Are Shaping our Energy Future w/ Thomas Hochman and Emmet Penney 46:57

2M ago46:57

46:57

America's infrastructure future isn't being decided in Washington—it's being fought permit by permit in state capitals across the country. While politicians talk about building more, the real bottlenecks are happening where rubber meets bureaucratic road. From Donald Trump to Pete Buttigieg, everyone agrees: America has forgotten how to build thing…

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Russell Shorto with Aidan Flax-Clark: Taking Manhattan 58:49

2M ago58:49

58:49

Bestselling author and historian Russell Shorto talks to Aidan Flax-Clark about his latest book, Taking Manhattan.

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Haleh Liza Gafori with Maya C. Popa: Water Translating Rumi 58:37

2M ago58:37

58:37

Acclaimed poet Haleh Liza Gafori discusses her latest translations of Rumi's lyric poetry in Water with prize-winning poet Maya C. Popa

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Digitizing the State: Lessons from Estonia w/Joel Burke and Keegan McBride 54:35

2M ago54:35

54:35

In an era where government tech projects often end in billion-dollar failures and privacy nightmares, there's a tiny Baltic nation that's quietly revolutionized what's possible. Estonia—a country of just 1.3 million people—has built what might be the world's most efficient digital government. Every public service is online. Digital signatures save …

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Chris Hughes with Joe Weisenthal and Tracy Alloway: Marketcrafters 54:51

2M ago54:51

54:51

Economist and writer Chris Hughes talks to Joe Weisenthal and Tracy Allowa about his latest book, Marketcrafters.

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A Conservative Realignment on Antitrust w/FTC Commissioner Mark Meador 57:50

2M ago57:50

57:50

Mark Meador is the newest commissioner on the Federal Trade Commission, which plays a dual role: enforcing both antitrust and consumer protection laws. It also serves as America's de facto technology regulator, including overseeing digital privacy and cybersecurity issues. Commissioner Meador embodies the political realignment reshaping conservativ…

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Unions and the New Right w/Liya Palagashvili 46:31

2M ago46:31

46:31

For decades, conservatives treated unions like an economic flu—tolerable in small doses, but best avoided altogether. But starting with Trump's election in 2016, that narrative began to unravel, with prominent Republicans increasingly taking pro-union positions. Perhaps the most striking example was Teamsters President Sean O'Brien speaking at the …

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Mike Hixenbaugh on his Award-Winning Book 'They Came for the Schools' 55:50

2M ago55:50

55:50

On this special episode of Library Talks, we speak with Mike Hixenbaugh, winner of the 38th annual Helen Bernstein Book Award for Excellence in Journalism, for his book They Came for the Schools: One Town's Fight Over Race and Identity, and the New War for America's Classrooms.

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AI for Science and Discovery, w/Austin Carson 53:55

2M ago53:55

53:55

The race to harness AI for scientific discovery may be the most consequential technological competition of this time—yet it's happening largely out of public view. While many AI headlines focus on chatbots writing essays and tech giants battling over billion-dollar models, a quiet revolution is brewing in America's laboratories. AI systems like Alp…

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Vicky Nguyen with Tracey Nguyen Mang: Boat Baby 1:00:53

3M ago1:00:53

1:00:53

News anchor Vicky Nguyen talks to Tracey Nguyen Mang about her new memoir, Boat Baby.

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How to Make Social Media Better w/Alissa Cooper 54:42

3M ago54:42

54:42

It’s easy to take for granted how much social media pervades our lives. Depending on the survey, upwards of 75-80 percent of Americans are using it daily—not to mention billions of people around the world. And over the past decade, we’ve seen a major backlash over the various failings of Big Tech. Much of the ire of policymakers has been focused on…

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José Andrés with Gail Simmons: Change the Recipe 1:16:47

3M ago1:16:47

1:16:47

Michelin-starred chef José Andrés talks to Gail Simmons about his latest book, Change the Recipe.

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Can AI Be Privately Regulated? w/Andrew Freedman 52:17

3M ago52:17

52:17

When it comes to AI policy, and AI governance, Washington is arguably sending mixed signals. Overregulation is a concern—but so is underregulation. Stakeholders across the political spectrum and business world have a lot of conflicting thoughts. More export controls on AI chips, or less. More energy production, but what about the climate? Less liab…

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Timothy Snyder: The New Paganism—A Framework for Understanding Our Politics 1:19:35

3M ago1:19:35

1:19:35

American historian Timothy Snyder presents his lecture The New Paganism—A Framework for Understanding Our Politics

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Tech and the Family: Building for the Next Generation w/Katherine Boyle and Neil Chilson 41:50

3M ago41:50

41:50

In this week’s episode of The Dynamist, guest host Jon Askonas is joined by Katherine Boyle, (General Partner at a16z) and Neil Chilson (Head of AI Policy at the Abundance Institute), to tackle a critical yet often overlooked question: How is technology reshaping the American family? As tech giants like TikTok and Instagram come under scrutiny for …

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Alissa Wilkinson with Aidan Flax-Clark: We Tell Ourselves Stories: Joan Didion and the American Dream Machine 51:21

3M ago51:21

51:21

Film critic Alissa Wilkinson talks to Aidan Flax-Clark about her latest book, We Tell Ourselves Stories.

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Antitrust and Big Tech: from Biden to Trump w/Lina Khan 53:22

3M ago53:22

53:22

During the Biden Administration, few figures in Washington sparked so much debate and caused so much spilled ink as Lina Khan. The Wall Street Journal published over 80 editorials criticizing her approach, while politically opposed tech titans like LinkedIn's Reid Hoffman and Tesla's Elon Musk called for her firing. Meanwhile, an unlikely coalition…

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Bluesky: Feed Freedom, or X-odus Refuge? W/ CEO Jay Graber 45:21

3M ago45:21

45:21

BlueSky was once a research initiative within Jack Dorsey’s Twitter aimed at decentralizing the architecture or the platform social media writ large. Today, BlueSky is an independent platform with remarkable momentum. Following Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter and subsequent policy shifts, BlueSky has experienced unprecedented growth, expanding f…

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Edna Bonhomme with Linda Villarosa: A History of the World in Six Plagues 58:42

4M ago58:42

58:42

Historian Edna Bonhomme talks to Linda Villarosa about her latest book, A History of the World in Six Plagues.

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Mutually Assured Malfunction and the AI Arms Race w/Dan Hendrycks and Sam Hammond 50:13

4M ago50:13

50:13

AI has emerged as a critical geopolitical battleground where Washington and Beijing are racing not just for economic advantage, but military dominance. Despite these high stakes, there's surprising little consensus on how—or whether—to respond to frontier AI development. The polarized landscape features techno-optimists battling AI safety advocates…

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Hamid Rahmanian with Ahmad Sadri and Melissa Hibbard: Shahnameh: The Epic of the Persian Kings 1:17:01

4M ago1:17:01

1:17:01

Artist Hamid Rahmanian speaks with translator Ahmad Sadri and producer Melissa Hibbard about the Persian epic poem Shahnameh.

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A Counterfeit Cloud over U.S.-China Trade w/ Joel Thayer 46:42

4M ago46:42

46:42

It’s an understatement that U.S.-China relations have been tense in recent years. Policymakers and industry leaders have elevated concerns around China’s trade practices, including currency manipulation, intellectual property theft, and allegations that China is directing or enabling fentanyl to flood into the U.S. Trade and public health are incre…

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Tech Made in America: Trump’s Tariffs and Industrial Policy w/Marc Fasteau and Ian Fletcher 54:21

4M ago54:21

54:21

Since President Trump returned to office, tariffs have once again dominated economic policy discussions. Recent headlines have highlighted escalating trade tensions with China, renewed disputes with Canada and Mexico, and the ongoing controversy surrounding Trump’s proposal to repeal the CHIPS Act—a $52 billion semiconductor initiative that enjoys …

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Lisa Kyung Gross with Yael Raviv and Abi Balingit: The League of Kitchens Cookbook 1:00:18

4M ago1:00:18

1:00:18

Cookbook Author Lisa Kyung Gross is joined by Yael Raviv and Abi Balingit to talk about her latest book, The League of Kitchens Cookbook

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Public Service Error 404: Tech Talent Not Found w/Arun Gupta 47:46

4M ago47:46

47:46

Everyone wants government to work better, and part of that is updating outdated systems and embracing modern technology. The problem? Our federal government faces a critical tech talent crisis. Only 6.3% of federal software engineers are under the age of 30, which is lower than the percentage of total federal workers under 30. That means that feder…

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Kenneth Roth with M. Gessen: Righting Wrongs 55:05

4M ago55:05

55:05

Kenneth Roth, the long-time head of Human Rights Watch, talks to M. Gessen about his first book, Righting Wrongs.

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Fusion: A Thousand Years of Energy? w/Sachin Desai and Thomas Hochman 55:32

4M ago55:32

55:32

Fusion energy, potentially a fuel source that could last a thousand years, is transitioning from science fiction to business reality. Helion Energy recently signed the first fusion power purchase agreement with Microsoft, promising 50 megawatts by 2028. But the story isn't just about the physics breakthroughs that make fusion possible. The U.S. and…

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Eliza Clark with Allison Nellis: She's Always Hungry 1:00:56

4M ago1:00:56

1:00:56

Eliza Clark talks to Allison Nellis about her debut short story collection, She's Always Hungry.

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Sarah Lewis with Nell Irvin Painter: The Unseen Truth: When Race Changed Sight in America 54:22

5M ago54:22

54:22

Historian Sarah Lewis talks to Nell Irvin Painter about her latest book, The Unseen Truth: When Race Changed Sight in America.

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Victoria Christopher Murray with Melissa Noel: Harlem Rhapsody 1:09:56

5M ago1:09:56

1:09:56

Bestselling author Victoria Christopher Murray sits down with journalist Melissa Noel to discuss her latest book, Harlem Rhapsody: The Extraordinary Story of the Woman Who Ignited the Harlem Renaissance.

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Finding the Middle of Social Media w/Renée DiResta and Luke Hogg 58:11

5M ago58:11

58:11

Mark Zuckerberg sent shockwaves around the world when Meta announced the end of its fact-checking program in the U.S. on its platforms Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. Critics lamented the potential for more mis/disinformation online while proponents (especially conservatives) rejoiced, as they saw the decision as a rollback of political censorshi…

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America's Education Emergency w/Chester Finn, Dan Lips, and Robert Bellafiore 48:47

5M ago48:47

48:47

During the pandemic from 2020 to 2021, Congress dropped $190 billion to help reopen schools, provide tutoring, and assist with remote learning. The results? Fourth graders' math scores have plummeted 18 points from 2019-2023, eighth graders’ have dropped 27 points - the worst decline since testing began in 1995. Adult literacy is deteriorating too,…

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Building American Talent: Education as National Security w/Melissa Moritz, Sara Schapiro, Dan Lips, and Robert Bellafiore 39:03

5M ago39:03

39:03

During the pandemic, Congress spent an unprecedented $190 billion to help reopen schools and address learning loss. But new test scores show the investment isn't paying off - fourth and eighth grade reading levels have hit record lows, performing worse than even during COVID's peak. As the Trump administration signals dramatic changes to federal ed…

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Jennifer Finney Boylan with Roxane Gay: Cleavage 1:02:06

5M ago1:02:06

1:02:06

In 2003, author Jennifer Finney Boylan published She’s Not There, which became the first bestselling work by a transgender American and established Boylan as a go-to source for public conversation about the impact of gender on our lives. More than two decades later, her new memoir, Cleavage, returns with older and wiser eyes to examine the joys and…

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Unbreaking Bureaucracy: State Capacity 101 w/Jennifer Pahlka and Andrew Greenway 59:38

5M ago59:38

59:38

The newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has put state capacity back in the spotlight, reigniting debates over whether the federal government is fundamentally broken or just mismanaged. With Elon Musk at the helm, DOGE has already taken drastic actions, from shutting down USAID to slashing bureaucratic redundancies. Supporte…

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David Wright Faladé with Julie Orringer: The New Internationals 52:10

5M ago52:10

52:10

Writer and scholar David Wright Faladé sits down with Julie Orringer to discuss his latest book, The New Internationals, a stunning historical novel that sets a coming-of-age narrative and cross-cultural romance amidst a vibrant political moment in postwar Paris.