Best Columbia University In The City Of New York Podcasts (2025)

1
Columbia Campus Update: Book Talks, Film Screenings, Extraterrestrial Life, Football, and Fall Flavors—Oct 27–Nov 3 2:17

Play Pause

7d ago2:17

2:17

Hey Roar-ee the Lion, it's Jenny with your Campus Update for October 27 through November 3. Let's get you set for the week—fast.First up—on Monday, October 27, at noon, Professor Steven Zipperstein will discuss his book "Philip Roth: Stung by Life" in 617 Kent Hall. Register by October 23 to attend. Next—also on Monday, October 27, at 6 p.m., the I…

1
How We Win the Battle for the Soul of the University with Professor Katherine Franke 29:11

2d ago29:11

29:11

President Trump is waging war on free speech and academic freedom. And too often, colleges and universities have waved the white flag. Over and over, places of higher education have given in to the Trump administration’s outrageous demands and allowed the federal government to have an unprecedented say in what gets taught and what people can say on…

1
S2. E8. Disco's Revenge 59:02

4d ago59:02

59:02

In the wake of Disco Demolition Night in 1979—a cultural bonfire that seemed to signal the end of disco—something unexpected began to rise from Chicago’s underground. This episode traces the story of Frankie Knuckles, the Bronx-born DJ who became known as the “Godfather of House.” After the backlash against disco pushed the genre out of the mainstr…

1
Campus Update: Events, Sports, and Fall Highlights at Columbia—Your Guide for October 20–27 2:03

12d ago2:03

2:03

Hey Roar-ee the Lion, it's Jenny with your Campus Update for October 20 through October 27. Let's get you set for the week—fast.First up—B Term kicks off today, October 20. Make sure you're registered and ready to roll.Next, on October 20 at 5:00 p.m., the Institute for Comparative Literature and Society is hosting "Dalit Studies Futures" at the He…

1
Signal Award Re-Release. S2.S2. Lost Women of Disco 50:33

18d ago50:33

50:33

We're thrilled to announce that our episode “S2.E2. Lost Women of Disco” has been named a finalist in the Best Indie Podcast category at the 2025 Signal Awards! This powerful episode dives deep into the untold stories of the trailblazing women who shaped the culture we now call “disco”, but were overshadowed by history. We are re-releasing this epi…

1
Columbia Campus Update: Flu Fair, Homecoming Festivities, Film Festival, Volleyball Highlights & Fall Weather Prep (Oct 13–20) 2:27

21d ago2:27

2:27

Hey Roar-ee the Lion, it's Jenny with your Campus Update for October 13 through October 20. Let's get you set for the week—fast.First up—the Columbia Health Flu Fair is happening Tuesday, October 14, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Lerner Hall Auditorium. No appointment needed; just bring your CUID to get your flu shot. Next, Homecoming 2025 kicks off Fri…

1
Columbia Campus Update: Key Deadlines, Events, and Tips for October 6–13 2:12

25d ago2:12

2:12

Hey Roar-ee the Lion, it's Jenny with your Campus Update for October 6 through October 13. Let's get you set for the week—fast.First up—if you're considering withdrawing from a course, doing so by Monday, October 13, ensures you receive a 60% tuition credit. After that, the credit decreases, so plan accordingly. Next, for those in the Mailman Schoo…

1
Inside the Right-Wing Plot to Ban Books with NYT Bestseller Kalynn Bayron 34:01

1M ago34:01

34:01

A legion of far-right activists is determined to purge school libraries of books they don't like. A huge percentage of the books they want to get rid of are about race or racism, feature people of color, or include LGBTQ characters. This is a nationwide movement, and New York is not immune. Several New York school districts are facing calls to ban …

1
S2.E7. Disco Sucks 1:01:40

1M ago1:01:40

1:01:40

On July 12, 1979, Chicago’s Comiskey Park erupted into chaos during what was supposed to be a quirky baseball promotion. Shock radio jock Steve Dahl’s “Disco Demolition Night” incentivized listeners to bring disco records to a White Socks doubleheader, where, between games Dahl promised to blow them up in center field. Instead, the event descended …

1
Campus Highlights: Youth Panel, Med Student Finance, Application Workshop, Football Updates & Food Trucks (Sept 29–Oct 6) 2:27

1M ago2:27

2:27

Hey Roar-ee, it's Jenny with your Campus Update for September 29 through October 6. Let's get you set for the week—fast.First up—the "Youth in a Changing World: Aspirations and Anxieties" panel is happening tonight at 10:00 PM at the Roy and Diana Vagelos Education Center. This event celebrates the launch of the "Youth in a Changing World" digital …

1
Columbia Climate Week, Education Innovation, Academic Freedom, and Blockchain Research: Campus Highlights for September 22, 2025 1:48

1M ago1:48

1:48

Good afternoon, Columbia community! It's Monday, September 22, 2025, and here's what's happening on campus this week.From today through Friday, Columbia Engineering is hosting a series of events as part of Climate Week NYC. Faculty and students will share their progress and initiate conversations on topics ranging from climate forecasting and plasm…

1
Morningside Lights, Climate Week, Academic Freedom, and Research Highlights: This Week at Columbia, Sept 15–26, 2025 2:03

2M ago2:03

2:03

Good afternoon, Columbia community! It's Monday, September 15, 2025, and here's what's happening on campus this week.The 14th Annual Morningside Lights Festival is in full swing. Free lantern-building workshops are ongoing through September 19, celebrating the theme "TIMEFRAME 1965," which honors the images and influences of that pivotal year. The …

1
S2. S6. Night at the Baths 59:50

2M ago59:50

59:50

Disco didn't just happen—it emerged from the vibrant gay club scene of 1970s New York City. In this episode, hosts Ryan Purcell and Kristie Soares explore how iconic venues like the Continental Baths, the Mineshaft sex club, and the legendary Paradise Garage became part of a musical revolution that transformed popular culture. Joining them is Lucas…

1
Career Expo, Lantern Festival & Climate Week: Key Columbia Events September 8–26, 2025 1:30

2M ago1:30

1:30

Good afternoon, Columbia community! It's Monday, September 8, 2025, and here's what's happening on campus this week.This Friday, September 12, from 10 AM to 3 PM, the Career Design Lab is hosting the Fall 2025 Career & Networking Expo at the Westin Times Square. This event offers students and alumni a chance to engage directly with recruiters, netw…

1
S2. S5. From Stonewall to Studio 54 47:33

2M ago47:33

47:33

In the fifth episode of Season Two of Soundscapes NYC, hosts Ryan Purcell and Kristie Soares sit down with the legendary DJ Nicky Siano. The history of dance music in 1970s New York is synonymous with the life and work of Siano. He was among the early attendees of David Mancuso’s Loft dances, where he learned to organize parties and DJ for an audie…

1
Columbia Weekly: Student Events, Career Expo, Climate Week, Arts Celebration & Campus Updates for September 2025 5:13

2M ago5:13

5:13

Good afternoon, Columbia community! It's Monday, September 1, 2025, and welcome to this week's edition of our campus news podcast. Let's dive into the latest happenings and upcoming events at Columbia University.Starting with the weather, it's currently mostly cloudy with a temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit. As the day progresses, expect tempera…

1
Columbia Update: Major Data Breach, Research Breakthroughs, New Fellowships, and Campus Events for Fall 2025 4:14

2M ago4:14

4:14

Good afternoon, Columbia community. It's Monday, August 25, 2025, and here's what's happening on campus.Today's forecast for New York City is mostly sunny with temperatures reaching a high of 86°F (30°C) this afternoon. Expect intermittent clouds throughout the day, with temperatures cooling to around 74°F (24°C) by late evening. A perfect day to e…

1
S2.E4. Disco's "Latin Tinge" 1:01:02

2M ago1:01:02

1:01:02

In the 1930s, musician Ferdinand “Jelly Roll” Morton identified the influence of Latin American rhythms like the habanera in jazz, as a sonic “tinge” that fundamentally shaped his style as a stride pianist. In the Seventies, disco presented its own Latin tinge. The Latin American and Latino influence on 1970s New York disco extended far beyond the …

1
Columbia Update: Major Data Breach, $220M Federal Settlement, New AI Startup, Protest Documentary, Leadership Change, and Football Preview 3:32

3M ago3:32

3:32

Good afternoon, Columbia community. Today is Monday, August 18, 2025, and here are the latest updates from our campus.Columbia University has experienced a significant data breach affecting approximately 870,000 individuals, including current and former students, staff, applicants, and family members. Discovered after a system outage on June 24, th…

1
SCOTUS Undermined Trans Rights: How Do We Protect Them in NY 41:52

3M ago41:52

41:52

In its recent decision in the case, United States v. Skrmetti, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a Tennessee law banning gender-affirming medical care does not violate the Constitution and can remain in effect. The decision is a devastating loss for trans rights and risks emboldening other states to advance similar bans. The decision comes as the T…

1
Columbia Data Breach, $221M Antisemitism Settlement, AI Startup Raises $7M, Lions Football Ranked 4th, NYC Heatwave Update 3:14

3M ago3:14

3:14

Good afternoon, Columbia community. Today is Monday, August 11, 2025, and here are the latest updates from our campus.Columbia University has experienced a significant data breach affecting approximately 870,000 individuals, including current and former students, staff, applicants, and family members. The breach, discovered after a system outage on…

1
S2.E3. A Spatial History of Disco 1:14:07

3M ago1:14:07

1:14:07

In the third episode of Season Two of Soundscapes NYC, hosts Ryan Purcell and Kristie Soares take you on an immersive journey through the hot nights and wild streets of Lower Manhattan during the Seventies. For this episode, Jesse Rifkin, a New York-based music historian and the owner and sole operator of Walk on the Wild Side Tours NYC, designed a…

1
Columbia University Settles $221M Federal Case, Faces Leadership Changes, Lawsuit, and Ongoing Campus Protests 2:22

3M ago2:22

2:22

Good afternoon, Columbia community. It's Monday, August 4, 2025, and here's what's happening on campus.Currently, it's partly sunny with a temperature of 69 degrees Fahrenheit. Expect hazy sunshine throughout the day, with temperatures reaching a high of 89 degrees by mid-afternoon.Columbia University has agreed to a $221 million settlement with th…

1
Mahmoud Khalil in His Own Words 38:50

3M ago38:50

38:50

On this episode, we hear from Mahmoud Khalil. Mahmoud is a lawful permanent resident who was kidnapped by the Trump administration and held in detention because of his advocacy for Palestinian Rights. After more than 100 days in detention, Mahmoud is finally where he belongs: at home with his family in New York City. In this episode – which is a co…

1
Columbia Restores Federal Funding After $220M Settlement, Expels Protesters, and Celebrates Faculty and Alumni Achievements 2:45

3M ago2:45

2:45

Good afternoon, Columbia community. Today is Monday, July 28, 2025, and here are the latest updates from our campus.Columbia University has reached a significant agreement with the federal government, resulting in the restoration of previously suspended federal research funding. The university will pay over $220 million to settle investigations int…

1
S2.E2. Lost Women of Disco 49:47

3M ago49:47

49:47

Women have been central to the evolution of dance music culture since its earliest days, yet their contributions have often been overlooked. From Régine Zylberberg's pioneering work in creating the modern discotheque in 1950s Paris to Sharon White's trailblazing presence at New York's legendary venues in the 1970s, female DJs have shaped dance floo…

1
S2.E1. Love Saves the Day 59:37

4M ago59:37

59:37

The Loft was a dance party series organized by DJ David Mancuso in his Manhattan warehouse apartment at 647 Broadway from Valentine’s Day 1970 to June 1974. The parties offered an alternative to New York’s commercial nightclub scene. The invitation-only events featured an egalitarian space for music and dance with a top-of-the-line sound system, ec…

1
What is Copaganda, and How do We Fight It? 25:02

4M ago25:02

25:02

We might not realize it, but we are swimming in a sea of what this episode’s guest calls Copaganda. The way media outlets decide what stories to cover, which experts to quote, and even what supposedly objective words to use in news stories, profoundly impact how we view the world we live in. In his book, Copaganda: How Police and the Media Manipula…

1
Trans Athletes, Trump, and the Right to Play Sports 33:19

6M ago33:19

33:19

Some of us might think that the fight for trans people’s right to play sports is new. But a recent book, “The Other Olympians: Fascism, Queerness, and the Making of Modern Sports” delves into the history of this debate that has lasted the better part of a century at least. Now the Trump administration is threatening states with funding cuts and oth…

1
SPECIAL EDITION Ford to City: Drop Dead 57:42

6M ago57:42

57:42

On October 30, 1975, the New York Daily News printed the most famous headline in its history: “Ford to City: Drop Dead.” The previous day, President Gerald Ford had delivered a speech at the National Press Club in Washington on the looming bankruptcy of New York City. In the speech, Ford publicly denied the near-bankrupt New York City a federal bai…

1
What are the Stakes of Mahmoud Khalil’s Case? 39:12

7M ago39:12

39:12

The Trump administration has made clear that if you dare to disagree with the president, you will be punished. That was the message when ICE agents illegally arrested and detained Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful permanent resident and recent graduate student at Columbia University, in retaliation for his advocacy for Palestinian human rights. He was separ…

1
We Know How to Solve the Mental Health Crisis. Will We Actually Do it? 1:09:32

7M ago1:09:32

1:09:32

It happens like clockwork. A person suffering from serious mental health problems is accused of a heinous and tragic crime committed against a stranger. Then the calls come from law enforcement, politicians, and right-wing tabloids to lock more people up. Rinse and repeat. This all happens despite the fact that people living with mental health chal…

1
How Can NY Protect Immigrants From Trump? 28:35

8M ago28:35

28:35

The Trump Administration has stoked widespread fear in immigrant communities across New York and around the country. Through immigration raids, and a non-stop barrage of anti-immigrant policies, Trump’s plans to tear families apart and launch the largest mass deportations in U.S. history are well underway. There’s no sugarcoating how bad the curren…

1
The Case for Open Borders 46:04

9M ago46:04

46:04

It seems like ancient history, but it actually wasn’t that long ago when – during the first Trump administration – large protests featured signs that read “no kids in cages” and “no body is illegal.” It is hard to remember that less than a decade ago, Democrats running in their party’s presidential primary were competing over who was more pro-immig…

1
S1.E10. Turning the Page, Tuning the Dial 48:56

9M ago48:56

48:56

In the tenth episode of Soundscapes NYC, host Ryan Purcell expands upon previous episodes to consider the various musical styles that emerged in New York City during the Seventies alongside punk rock. In dialogue with music critic Will Hermes, author of Love Goes to Buildings on Fire: Five Years in New York that Changed Music Forever (Farrar, Strau…

1
S1.E9. Jubilee (1978) 49:27

10M ago49:27

49:27

In the ninth episode of Soundscapes NYC, host Ryan Purcell traces the trans-Atlantic movement of artists associated with punk culture in New York and London. In conversation with British cultural historian Matt Worley, we follow New York-based artists like Jayne (née Wayne) County, Johnny Thunders, Jerry Nolan, and others to the U.K. where they emb…

1
S1.E8. Rock 'N' Roll Resurrection 55:27

10M ago55:27

55:27

In the eighth episode of Soundscapes NYC, host Ryan Purcell talks with music history professor Steve Waksman about the social and stylistic transformation of the New York rock scene during the mid-1970s. The introduction of new bands clashed with the old guard, culminating with a violent altercation between artists in CBGB in March 1976. In 2024, W…

1
S1.E7. Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ 45:28

11M ago45:28

45:28

Bruce Springsteen was keenly aware and excited by the sounds of the CBGBs scene during the Seventies. With his own bands, the Boss performed in the same venues associated with punk rock and ultimately wrote songs for Patti Smith and the Ramones. Yet Springsteen’s sound has remained distinct from punk rock as it emanated from New York. In the sevent…

1
S1.E6. Illustrating Punk 42:42

11M ago42:42

42:42

In the sixth episode of Soundscapes NYC, host Ryan Purcell talks with John Holmstrom a comic illustrator and founder of Punk magazine. In the early 1970s, Holmstrom moved from suburban Connecticut to New York City to attend the School of Visual Arts where he studied under the celebrated comic illustrator Will Eisner and Harvey Kurtzman creator of M…

1
S1.E5. A Queer Etymology of Punk 50:14

11M ago50:14

50:14

In the fifth episode of Soundscapes N.Y.C., host Ryan Purcell talks with British music critic Jon Savage about how LGBTQ resistance shaped American popular music from the 1950s to the 1980s. Savage discusses the curious and queer roots of the word punk stretching back to the time of Shakespeare when it was used to connote ambiguous and transgressiv…

1
S1.E4. Sounds of the City Collapsing 49:15

12M ago49:15

49:15

In the fourth episode of Soundscapes NYC, host Ryan Purcell and music historian Jesse Rifkin tour a constellation of seedy bars and venues in the 1970s that nurtured bands during the early days of punk rock. These spaces include well-known clubs like CBGBs and Max’s Kansas City and lesser-known haunts like the Mercer Arts Center and Mother’s that s…

1
S1.E3. How Punk Broke the Binary 1:08:00

1y ago1:08:00

1:08:00

When singer Debbie Harry helped form Blondie in 1974 she developed a unique stage persona to front the band. Though she may have appeared to fans as a hyper-femme caricature, Harry recalls her role as androgynous or "transexual" in her 2019 memoir Face It. In the third episode of Soundscapes N.Y.C., host Ryan Purcell talks with Cornell University p…

1
What the Hit Broadway Musical SUFFS can Teach Us About the Fight for Abortion Rights 37:23

1y ago37:23

37:23

Watch the video version of this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwHV7aTjToU&t=923s SUFFS is a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical set in the early 1900s that chronicles the suffragists’ fight to secure women’s right to vote. More than a century later, the production’s Broadway run is happening at a moment when abortion rights, and wom…

1
S1.E2. Wayne County at the Trucks (1974) 51:14

1y ago51:14

51:14

In the second episode of Soundscapes N.Y.C., host Ryan Purcell talks with Tony Zanetta. In the late 1960s, Zanetta worked in Off-Off-Broadway theater and ultimately landed a role playing the Andy Warhol character in Pork, an absurdist play based on Warhol’s phone recordings. Zanetta followed the cast to London where he befriended David Bowie who su…

1
S1.E1. Gender Crisis N.Y.C. 47:30

1y ago47:30

47:30

In the premiere episode of Soundscapes N.Y.C., host Ryan Purcell talks with celebrated writer Lucy Sante about the landscape of gender logics within the New York rock scene. It was a nebulous soundscape of counterculture formed around gender explorations and social upheaval set to the soundtrack of an aggressive style of rock ’n’ roll that critics …

1
The Abortion Issue Not Enough New Yorkers Are Talking About 16:08

1+ y ago16:08

16:08

Across the country, politicians are restricting people’s rights and freedoms, including the right to abortion and the right for all of us to be who we are. Since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, twenty-one states have either banned or restricted abortion care. There’s also a full-blown assault on LGBTQ rights, with hundreds of anti-LGBTQ …

1
This NY Team is Fighting an Anti-Trans Sports Ban 23:24

1+ y ago23:24

23:24

This February in Long Island, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman issued an executive order banning transgender girls and women from participating in girls’ and women’s sports at county-run facilities. The NYCLU sued to block this policy, arguing that it violates New York’s Human Rights Law and Civil Rights Law, which explicitly prohibit discrim…

1
This Law Effectively Banishes People from New York City 33:56

1+ y ago33:56

33:56

The NYCLU recently filed a lawsuit challenging the misleadingly-named Sexual Assault Reform Act, or SARA. SARA is a New York law that prevents certain people required to register on the state’s sex offender registry from knowingly being within 1,000 feet of a school at any time and for any reason. It’s also been interpreted to prevent people subjec…

1
Access to Abortion is Under Threat in NY 45:39

1+ y ago45:39

45:39

Fifty years ago, New York first opened its doors to people from across the U.S. who needed abortion care. Now, following the Supreme Court's decision to gut Roe, numerous states have banned or severely restricted abortion care. In the face of this attack on basic reproductive rights, New York must once again be a leader in expanding care for its re…

1
Inside Columbia’s Crackdown on Pro-Palestinian Free Speech 24:48

1+ y ago24:48

24:48

Universities should be havens for robust debate, discussion, and learning – not sites of censorship where administrators, donors, and politicians squash political discourse they don't approve of. But Columbia University recently violated New York law to single out and suspend two student groups for participating in a peaceful student demonstration …