Best Discourse Magazine Podcasts (2025)

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Encountering Bravery with Lord John Alderdice 25:44

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16h ago25:44

25:44

At ROOM's fifth annual Gala held this past summer, we honored Lord John Alderdice with the Coline Covington Award for his courage in facing divisions, connecting communities, and forging peace through analytic thought. We are delighted to open our third season of Voices from ROOM with the Gala’s fireside chat between Lord Alderdice and Aneta Stojni…

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275 Kristen Huizar: Drawing, Printmaking & Documenting Los Angeles Life 1:29:20

1d ago1:29:20

1:29:20

Artist Kristen Huizar joins What’s My Thesis? to reflect on drawing, printmaking, and the act of documenting Los Angeles. Born and raised in Commerce, CA, she traces her path from community college to Cal State Long Beach, where persistence and community shaped her practice. Working with wax pastels on plastic vinyl, hand stitching, and large lino …

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Plasticity in Practice | Wired for This 40:05

6d ago40:05

40:05

What does it take to change a mind? In this episode of Wired for This, we’ll hear from Dr. Katy Milkman, James G. Dinan Professor at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and host of the behavioral economics podcast Choiceology. She co-founded the Behavior Change for Good Initiative and has advised organizations like Google, the Whit…

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274 Emma Christ on Artillery Magazine, Gallery Work, and the Future of Artist Support 1:25:37

7d ago1:25:37

1:25:37

In this episode of What’s My Thesis?, host Javier Proenza speaks with Emma Christ, editor at Artillery magazine and gallerist working between Portland and Los Angeles. Christ reflects on her beginnings in photography, formative years at Bard and Reed, and her transition from artistic practice into gallery management, editing, and writing. The conve…

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273 Israel Campos: Printmaking, Mexican Revolution Art, & Los Angeles Identity 1:00:08

14d ago1:00:08

1:00:08

In this episode of What’s My Thesis?, Los Angeles printmaker Israel Campos shares how his work bridges Mesoamerican codices, Mexican revolutionary art, and the mural traditions of his South Central upbringing. Known for his meticulous intaglio prints, Campos reclaims visual histories disrupted by colonization—collapsing linear perspective, weaving …

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The Science of Yet | Wired for This 32:23

22d ago32:23

32:23

Welcome to Wired for This—a deep dive into how we think, believe, change, and connect. In this limited series, we’ll explore the psychology of human behavior and neuroscience—what drives us forward, what holds us back, and how we navigate a world bursting with noise, contradiction, and complexity. Dr. Paul A. O’Keefe is a social psychologist and pr…

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272 Jackie Castillo: Southern California Light, Class, & Installation Art | ICA LA 1:14:48

23d ago1:14:48

1:14:48

In this episode of What’s My Thesis?, host Javier Proenza sits down with Los Angeles–based artist Jackie Castillo, whose practice transforms the overlooked landscapes of Southern California into sculptural, spatial interventions that challenge how we see, inhabit, and remember place. Born and raised in working-class neighborhoods of Orange County, …

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COLAs, Retro Pay, and Labor Day - APWU updates on issues that are on your mind 44:30

1M ago44:30

44:30

In this episode of Communicating with You, the Member, APWU President Mark Dimondstein and Industrial Relations Director Charlie Cash break down what every postal worker needs to know about our new contract—COLAs, general wage increases, retroactive pay, and long-overdue improvements like night differential changes and PSE step upgrades. Recorded j…

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271 Feminist Ritual, Asian Art, and Curating Beyond the Western Gaze | Ann Shi (a poco art collective) 1:04:49

1M ago1:04:49

1:04:49

This week on What’s My Thesis?, host Javier Proenza is joined by Ann Shi, a nomadic curator and founder of a poco art collective, whose deeply intuitive curatorial practice bridges Chinese literati aesthetics, feminist mysticism, and contemporary Asian diasporic identity. With roots in China, academic training in Oxford and at Sotheby’s Institute o…

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270 Filipino-American Artist Kim Garcia on Dementia, Diaspora, and Art as Emotional Archive 1:06:23

1M ago1:06:23

1:06:23

In this resonant episode of What’s My Thesis?, artist and educator Kim Garcia joins host Javier Proenza for a layered conversation about memory, community, and the personal and political frameworks that shape diasporic identity. Garcia, whose practice spans sculpture, drawing, and community-based collaboration, reflects on her evolving relationship…

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269 Paper, Process, and the Alchemy of Grief with Lauren Goldenberg Longoria 1:11:16

2M ago1:11:16

1:11:16

In this episode of What’s My Thesis?, host Javier Proenza is joined by artist Lauren Goldenberg Longoria for a conversation that traverses personal memory, studio practice, and the tender labor of transformation. Known for her materially rich works that fuse paper, performance, and poetic intuition, Goldenberg Longoria speaks candidly about the hea…

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268 Aggressive Feminism, Neurodivergence, and the Reclamation of Minimalism with Dena Novak 1:07:28

2M ago1:07:28

1:07:28

In this candid and moving conversation, host Javier Proenza sits down with Los Angeles-based artist Dena Novak, whose sculptural paintings and ceramics challenge the rigid codes of minimalism through what she calls “aggressive feminism.” Drawing from a rich personal archive of experience—one shaped by Orthodox Judaism, motherhood, neurodivergence, …

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Diana Taylor: A practice where research and materiality meet.  Presented by What's My Thesis? in partnership with DON’T LOOK Projects 1:04:29

2M ago1:04:29

1:04:29

Diana Taylor: A practice where research and materiality meet. Presented by What's My Thesis? in partnership with DON’T LOOK Projects In this illuminating live conversation recorded at DON’T LOOK Projects, UK-based artist Diana Taylor joins host Javier Proenza (What’s My Thesis?) for a deeply textured discussion around her first solo show in the Uni…

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The USPS Turns 250! Celebrate with APWU 19:44

2M ago19:44

19:44

APWU President Mark Dimondstein delivers a quick podcast episode sharing an op/ed he wrote for the 250th anniversary of the USPS and how you can get involved in celebrating. Visit apwu.org/250 for more information. Additionally, Mark talks about the recent APWU rally in NYC, where postal workers protested outside of Wells Fargo. Wells Fargo has pub…

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267 Gentrification, Grief, and the Labor That Built California with Corey La Rue 1:24:06

2M ago1:24:06

1:24:06

In this episode, artist and community advocate Corey La Rue. traces his relationship to the land, labor, and survival—from a near-death experience that altered the course of his life, to his ongoing advocacy for California’s agricultural workers and displaced communities. Raised in the Bay Area in California, La Rue shares his early exposure to fie…

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“We Need a New Logo!” … Or Do We? 23:48

2M ago23:48

23:48

In this episode of Diversity Discourse, the team from Jayne Agency discusses the intricacies of brand strategy, focusing on the importance of alignment, the need for clarity in branding, and the iterative process of managing a brand. They explore when a business should consider rebranding versus realigning, the metrics that can be used to measure b…

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Coming Sept. 10th, The American Scientist Podcast presents: "Wired for This" 0:39

2M ago0:39

0:39

The American Scientist Podcast presents a new audio series, Wired for This, premiering on September 10, 2025. Wired for This offers an in-depth look at how we think, believe, change, and connect. In this bi-weekly limited series, we’ll examine the psychology of human behavior and neuroscience—what drives us forward, what holds us back, and how we n…

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266 Dreams in Migrations: AAPI Identity, Diaspora, and Resistance in Contemporary Art 57:49

2M ago57:49

57:49

Dreams in Migrations: AAPI Identity, Diaspora, and Resistance in Contemporary Art In this special live episode of What's My Thesis?, host Javier Proenza moderates a closing panel discussion at BG Gallery for Dreams in Migrations—the third annual AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) exhibition curated by artist and organizer Sung-Hee Son. This…

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265 Queer Landscapes, Dual Lives, and the Art of Looking Closely with J. Carino 1:00:44

3M ago1:00:44

1:00:44

Queer Landscapes, Dual Lives, and the Art of Looking Closely with J. Carino Painter J. Carino joins What’s My Thesis? for a candid conversation on the formation of a deeply personal visual language—one that straddles autobiography, queer identity, and reportage practice. Known for his emotionally resonant paintings that combine landscape, figure, a…

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264 Strategic Generosity: Collecting, Curating, and Championing Emerging Artists with Leslie Fram 1:06:28

3M ago1:06:28

1:06:28

Strategic Generosity: Collecting, Curating, and Championing Emerging Artists with Leslie Fram In this galvanizing episode of What's My Thesis?, host Javier Proenza is joined by Leslie Fram—collector, curator, marketing strategist, MFA educator, and tireless champion of emerging talent—for a sweeping conversation that summons the urgent need for inn…

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The Art of Showing Up: Command Presence in Leadership 23:07

3M ago23:07

23:07

In this episode, leadership communications coach Salvatore Manzi discusses the importance of presence in communication and leadership, sharing insights from his experience as a communication coach. He emphasizes that presence can be taught and is essential for effective communication, especially for introverted individuals. The discussion also cove…

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263 Astrology, Embodiment, and the Myth of Power: A Conversation with Alystair Rogers 1:24:20

3M ago1:24:20

1:24:20

Astrology, Embodiment, and the Myth of Power: A Conversation with Alystair Rogers In this episode of What's My Thesis?, host Javier Proenza is joined by artist Alystair Rogers for a searching, radically honest exploration of transformation—personal, political, and astrological. Traversing terrains of gender, spirituality, social critique, and visua…

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APWU Tentative Agreement: What you need to know and how to vote 1:25:30

3M ago1:25:30

1:25:30

Listen to the latest episode of our podcast where APWU President Mark Dimondstein talks all about the new tentative agreement. He invites IRD Charlie Cash to talk about the big picture, Sec-Treas Liz Powell to talk about the ratification timeline, and APWU Craft Directors Lamont Brooks, Idowu Balogun, Michael Foster, and Arrion Brown to talk about …

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262 Building Gene’s Dispensary: Community, Curation, and Creating New Art Spaces in Los Angeles with Keith J Varadi 1:26:38

4M ago1:26:38

1:26:38

Building Gene’s Dispensary: Community, Curation, and Creating New Art Spaces in Los Angeles with Keith J Varadi In this wide-ranging conversation on What’s My Thesis?, host Javier Proenza welcomes artist, curator, and writer Keith J. Varadi, founder of Gene’s Dispensary, for an illuminating discussion on forging alternative pathways in the contempo…

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Authentic Activism with Ipek S. Burnett 44:57

4M ago44:57

44:57

This week, Aneta and Isaac speak with Dr. Ipek S. Burnett, author, cultural critic, and co-chair of the Human Rights Watch's Executive Committee. Burnett compares Robert J. Lifton's work on psychic numbing in the face of acute atrocities to the everyday psychic numbing in our contemporary life. She argues for exercising critical consciousness and i…

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261 What We Keep: Material Memory and Cultural Translation in the Work of Chenhung Chen 1:00:29

4M ago1:00:29

1:00:29

In this intimate conversation hosted at Don’t Look Projects for her solo show By the Company They Keep, the Chenhung Chen traces a path from formative memories of classroom murals in Taiwan to a tactile, spiritually inflected sculptural practice rooted in the poetics of material and memory. Drawing on a lifetime of cross-cultural experience—born in…

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A Binding Legacy with Rina Lazar 42:50

4M ago42:50

42:50

This week, Aneta and Isaac speak with Dr. Rina Lazar, a clinical psychologist practicing in Tel Aviv who brings an anti-war perspective to current events from within Israel. Lazar explores the origins of the Israeli state, its contemporary actions, and what it means to be a part of something while opposing it. Struggling to be heard, Lazar juggles …

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260 Light, Legacy, and the Detroit Mindset with Gerald Collins 1:04:29

5M ago1:04:29

1:04:29

This week on What’s My Thesis?, host Javier Proenza is joined in-person by multidisciplinary artist Gerald Collins, whose practice illuminates the intersection of architecture, chromotherapy, and community. Based in Detroit, Collins returns to the show for a candid and expansive conversation that moves through memory, material, and meaning with str…

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Too Radical, Not Radical Enough with Max Beshers 39:57

5M ago39:57

39:57

This week, Aneta and Isaac talk with licensed clinical social worker Max Beshers. Beshers applies analytic thinking in spaces ranging from private practice to anti-racism reading groups to local activism efforts in Chicago geared towards ending police violence. Beshers contends with what 'radical' means now and the fear stoked by being seen as too …

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259 The Radical Intimacy of the House Gallery: Rethinking the Contemporary Gallery Model with Liz Hirsch 1:05:29

5M ago1:05:29

1:05:29

In this episode of What's My Thesis?, host Javier Proenza is joined by Liz Hirsch, co-director of 839—an artist-run house gallery in Los Angeles that reimagines what a commercial art space can look and feel like. Located in a 1920's bungalow, 839 is part of a growing network of intimate, artist-centered spaces shaping the future of exhibition-makin…

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Breaking Barriers in Spirits: Blackleaf Organic Vodka is Redefining Luxury and Sustainability 27:25

5M ago27:25

27:25

In this conversation, Kevin Larkai and Monté Burrow, the founders of Black Leaf Organic Vodka, discuss their journey in creating the first French organic vodka in the U.S., emphasizing their commitment to sustainability, overcoming barriers in the spirits industry, and the importance of cultural authenticity. They share insights on the challenges f…

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258 Queer Spectacle, Polaroid Realities, and the Art of Wrestling with Identity with Christopher Anthony Velasco 1:37:38

5M ago1:37:38

1:37:38

Queer Spectacle, Polaroid Realities, and the Art of Wrestling with Identity with Christopher Anthony Velasco In this illuminating episode of What’s My Thesis?, host Javier Proenza welcomes artist and educator Christopher Anthony Velasco—a polymath of performative personas, analog photography, and speculative queer mythologies. Known for his immersi…

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257 Building a Gallery from the Ground Up: Materiality, Mentorship, and Making Space with Rhett Baruch 1:26:25

5M ago1:26:25

1:26:25

In this episode of the podcast, host Javier Proenza is joined by Rhett Baruch, founder of the contemporary art space Rhett Baruch Gallery, for a candid conversation that moves fluidly between car culture and curatorial strategy—touching on everything from VTEC engines and flat-plane V8s to the architecture of gallery identity in Los Angeles. Baruch…

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Fascism's Erotic Lure with Sue Grand 52:36

5M ago52:36

52:36

This week, Aneta and Isaac speak with Sue Grand, faculty and supervisor at the NYU postdoctoral program in psychotherapy and psychoanalysis. Grand dissects the constructions, destructions, erotics, and paradoxes necessary to building a fascist regime. Reflecting on her own and her father's experience with the echoes of Nazism, Grand unveils the urg…

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Fatima Smith: Reimagining Philanthropy for Black & Brown Communities 30:56

5M ago30:56

30:56

This Diversity Discourse conversation with Fatima Smith, founder of Collective 365, explores the mission and operations of Collective 365, an organization dedicated to supporting Black and Brown communities through unrestricted funding and community-driven grants. The discussion highlights the importance of democratizing philanthropy, the challenge…

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256 Worldbuilding Through Memory and Myth: Elias Hernandez on Storytelling, Surrealism, and the Legacy of Conflict 1:03:46

6M ago1:03:46

1:03:46

"Worldbuilding Through Memory and Myth: Elias Hernandez on Storytelling, Surrealism, and the Legacy of Conflict" In this immersive episode of What’s My Thesis?, host Javier Proenza welcomes artist and educator Elias Hernandez, whose deeply narrative visual practice draws from Latin American surrealism, video game aesthetics, and inherited stories o…

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APWU Contract Update, March 20 Recap, and More 29:14

6M ago29:14

29:14

President Dimondstein gives an update on the current contract negotiations, our March 20th actions, and the threat of privatization of our public Postal Services.By APWU

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255 Sanctuary in Practice: Art, Advocacy, and Survival with Dalia Palacios 1:16:16

6M ago1:16:16

1:16:16

Episode Title: “Sanctuary in Practice: Art, Advocacy, and Survival with Dalia Palacios” In this luminous and profoundly intimate episode of What’s My Thesis?, host Javier Proenza is joined by teaching artist and community advocate Dalia Palacios, whose multidisciplinary practice and lived experience offer a compelling meditation on resilience, disp…

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254 Art as Infrastructure: A Conversation on Social Practice, Community, and the Evolving Role of Nonprofit Art Spaces in Los Angeles 1:33:19

6M ago1:33:19

1:33:19

Art as Infrastructure: A Conversation on Social Practice, Community, and the Evolving Role of Nonprofit Art Spaces in Los Angeles An interview with Pranay Reddy, Director of LA Artcore In this compelling episode of What’s My Thesis?, host Javier Proenza sits down with Pranay Reddy, the director of LA Artcore, for a far-reaching conversation that ex…

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Jeffrey Rosen on Virtue and the Pursuit of Happiness 38:15

6M ago38:15

38:15

In this episode of the Pluralist Points podcast, Ben Klutsey, the executive director of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, speaks with Jeffrey Rosen, the president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, about the Founders’ understanding of the pursuit of happiness and how it relates to virtue. They discuss the notion of bounded l…

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253 Artist-Run Futures, and Burning the Art World Down (Gently) - Cat Gunn 1:28:00

6M ago1:28:00

1:28:00

Spiritual Kinship, Artist-Run Futures, and Burning the Art World Down (Gently) - Cat Gunn In this episode of What’s My Thesis, Javier Proenza welcomes Cat Gunn—artist, curator, and co-organizer of Other Places Art Fair South (OPAF South)—for a wide-ranging conversation on community, creative identity, and the radical possibilities within artist-run…

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Living Histories with Mary B. McRae 43:45

7M ago43:45

43:45

This week, Aneta and Isaac speak with Mary B. McRae, who describes her experience growing up in a segregated southern Black community, migrating to NYC as a teen, and her revolutionary days in groups like the Black Panther Party. Highlighting the importance affirmative action programs had for her generation, she reminisces about the doors that were…

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252 Art Criticism, Political Engagement, and the Role of Discontent with Elwyn Palmerton 1:05:51

7M ago1:05:51

1:05:51

Art Criticism, Political Engagement, and the Role of Discontent with Elwyn Palmerton What’s My Thesis? Podcast | Hosted by Javier Proenza In this incisive and far-ranging episode of What’s My Thesis?, host Javier Proenza welcomes artist and writer Elwyn Palmerton for a wide-reaching dialogue that explores the intersections of contemporary art, cult…

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251 What’s My Thesis? – Live from Orange Coast College: Dakota Noot on Art, Censorship & Community Building 1:18:54

7M ago1:18:54

1:18:54

What’s My Thesis? – Live from Orange Coast College: Dakota Noot on Art, Censorship & Community Building Orange Coast College | Frank M. Doyle Pavilion | Southern California Art Scene In this milestone episode of What’s My Thesis?, host Javier Proenza sits down with artist, curator, and community-builder Dakota Noot for a special conversation inside…

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250 The Business of Art: Building a Sustainable Market with Tyler Park Presents 1:09:34

7M ago1:09:34

1:09:34

The Business of Art: Building a Sustainable Market with Tyler Park Presents In this deep dive episode of What’s My Thesis, we explore the intricate world of contemporary art galleries, artist representation, and the strategies behind building a sustainable market for emerging artists. Our guest, Tyler Park, founder of Tyler Park Presents, shares in…

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Kurt Weyland on Populism vs. Pluralism 45:30

7M ago45:30

45:30

In this episode of the Pluralist Points podcast, Ben Klutsey, the executive director of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, speaks with Kurt Weyland, the Mike Hogg Professor in Liberal Arts at the University of Texas at Austin, about the rise of populism. They discuss what factors contribute to populism, how worried we should be about i…

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249 Exploring the Weird and Wonderful: Art, Aliens, and Roadside Attractions Episode - Mary Sabo 1:14:20

7M ago1:14:20

1:14:20

What do UFOs, roadside attractions, and outsider art have in common? In this episode, we dive into the world of creative obsession, unconventional artistry, and the mysteries of the universe. Our guest, artist Mary Sabo, takes us on a journey through the cultural quirks of Las Vegas, the surreal nature of desert landscapes, and the fascinating real…