Best Non Player Conversations Podcasts (2025)

1
Americans want big ideas, but Trump’s opponents aren’t providing them 1:07:43

Play Pause

3h ago1:07:43

1:07:43

Episode Summary One of the most enduring myths of the Trump years has been that everyone who votes for him does so because they agree with him. Obviously a lot of his supporters do, but polls have consistently shown that Trump is a historically unpopular president with issue positions that most Americans have never supported. And yet, it remains t…

1
IndyGo Approve Rate Hike, Two Arrests At Micah Beckwith Town Hall, IU Professors Try To Save Language Program, Indiana Fever Players Push For Reproductive Rights 5:20

20h ago5:20

5:20

The IndyGo Board of Directors voted last week to approve a rate hike - the first one in sixteen years. Two people were arrested following a town hall with Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith in Newburgh, last week. Indiana University language professors are petitioning Governor Mike Braun and university leadership to save the school’s language programs. Fe…

1
FIESTA Indianapolis Canceled, Data Center Coming To Franklin Township, Sophie Cunningham Out For The Season, Pacers resign Rick Carlisle, Indy Officials Reverse Course on Encampment 7:24

4d ago7:24

7:24

The 44th annual FIESTA Indianapolis is canceled after a decision organizers say is meant to keep people safe. A massive data center campus is coming to Franklin Township in south Marion County. Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham will not be returning to the court this season. The Indiana Pacers announced that head coach Rick Carlisle has signed…

1
Local Bridge Makes List Of Endangered Landmarks, Push For Changes In How IPS Is Governed, IDOH Reminds Parents About Infant Sleep Safety, Non-Profits Counter Causes Of Youth Violence 8:21

5d ago8:21

8:21

A piece of Marion County history has landed on an annual list of the state’s most endangered landmarks. Parents and educators are pushing for major changes in how Indianapolis schools are governed. The Indiana Department of Health is reminding parents about how to put infants to sleep safely following an increase in deaths. Youth violence in Indian…

1
Local Initiative Honors Black History, A Vote On Franklin Township Data Center, GOP House Members Back Redistricting, East Side Intersection Overhauled, Crisis Response Unit Expansion 6:21

6d ago6:21

6:21

A local cultural initiative weaves together the stories, artwork and artifacts of Black Indianapolis’ residents to honor their history and identity. The Indianapolis Rezoning Committee is expected to vote today on a proposed data center campus in Franklin Township. Indiana’s Republican U.S. House delegation is backing President Donald Trump’s push …

1
The Human Cost of Failed Immigration Reform — A Conversation with Jessica Orozco Guttlein 37:43

6d ago37:43

37:43

Decades of failed immigration reform and political half-measures have left millions of immigrants in the U.S. without a path to legal status. Instead, families are being torn apart by harsh deportation policies, asylum seekers are forced into the shadows, and U.S. citizen children live in daily fear of losing their parents. In this episode, I speak…

1
IMPD Chief Response To Hate Group March, Butler Launches Own Engineering Program, West Nile Virus In Ham Co, Drug Court Celebrates Graduates, Cuts to Therapy With Medicaid Changes 5:47

7d ago5:47

5:47

Indianapolis Police Chief Chris Bailey released a statement in response to a hate group that marched in downtown Indianapolis over the weekend. Butler University will launch its own engineering program in 2026 — ending years of relying on a partner school. A Hamilton County resident tested positive for West Nile virus. A Hamilton County drug court …

1
City Backtracks On Unhoused People Camp Closure, Lost Music from Indy Group Rapture, AES Customers Can Give Feedback On Rate Hike, Policymakers Keep Elementary Literacy Top Priority 6:48

8d ago6:48

6:48

The Office of Public Health and Safety appears to be reversing course on fully closing down a camp for unhoused people in Fountain Square. Long lost music from the Indianapolis group Rapture, which thrived in the local 1970’s funk scene, is available for the first as a limited edition vinyl LP. AES Indiana customers will soon be able to give feedba…

1
New Republican Leadership on Indy Council, Partnership Gets More Girls Into Basketball, IN And TX Dems Gather In Chicago, Concern Between Telehealth Companies And Drug Manufacturers 9:27

11d ago9:27

9:27

Republicans on the Indianapolis City-County Council have chosen new leadership. A new partnership between Eli Lilly, the Indiana Fever and the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis aims to get more girls into basketball. Indiana Democrats say pressure from the Trump administration to redraw districts is “congressional shoplifting.” A recent Senate report ra…

1
Safe Park Indy Program To End, State’s IREAD Passing Rate Increases, Hamilton County Changes Voting Plan, Harassment And Discrimination Inside An Indianapolis City Department 9:27

12d ago9:27

9:27

Safe Park Indy pilot program for homeless people living in their cars will end. The passing rate on Indiana’s third grade reading exam rebounded this year to the highest it's been since before the pandemic. A new plan could change how votes are cast in Hamilton County. A story of harassment and discrimination inside an Indianapolis city department.…

1
IMPD Increases Sobriety Checkpoints, New Curfew For Indy Teens, New PU Indy Student Center, Director Named For IN Office Of School Safety, Mayor Hogsett Proposes New $1.7B Budget 5:45

13d ago5:45

5:45

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department says it will ramp up impaired driving enforcement in the days leading up to Labor Day. Indianapolis teens have a new curfew. Purdue University in Indianapolis is getting a new student center this fall. Indiana has a leader for its new statewide school safety efforts. Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett is …

1
Two Indy Streets Converted to Two-Ways, Indy Gets Two Federally Backed Centers Studying Alzheimer’s, Patachou Foundation Changes Name, City Closes Camp for Unhoused People 4:59

14d ago4:59

4:59

Officials celebrated the conversion of two Indianapolis streets from one-way to now two-way traffic. Indianapolis will be home to one of two federally backed centers studying Alzheimer’s disease using stem-cell models of the human brain. An Indianapolis nonprofit that works to improve food security and equity inside schools will undergo a name chan…

1
Community Center Temporarily Closes, Next Steps After Harassment Investigation, Marion Co. DEI Committee Name Change, Braun Reappoints Purdue Trustees, State Fair Cheese Sculpture 6:08

15d ago6:08

6:08

A community center that serves more than 300 families on Indianapolis's northwest side will temporarily close its doors. The Indianapolis City-County Council has announced its next steps following the investigation into the city’s handling of inappropriate workplace behavior and sexual harassment allegations. The Health and Hospital Corporation of …

1
Terrified Trump is slinging ‘zombie food’ to distract his base from Jeffrey Epstein 1:24:12

16d ago1:24:12

1:24:12

Episode Summary Donald Trump in an unfamiliar situation. After years of being able to tell his followers what to think about almost everything, many of the MAGA faithful are upset at his administration for refusing to release the government’s files on the infamous sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein. When he was running for office last year, Trump and ma…

1
Sydney Sweeney and ‘Phantom Lib Syndrome’ 1:15:23

18d ago1:15:23

1:15:23

Episode Summary Right-wing Republicans have lost in the marketplace of ideas. Their policy views that evolution never happened, that tax cuts increase revenues, and that science is a big left-wing conspiracy are laughable. Whenever reactionaries attempt to debate progressives and liberals, as they recently tried against Mehdi Hasan, they fall flat …

1
IMS Responds to “Speedway Slammer” Post, Lawsuits Against Eli Lilly, Ideas to Combat Youth Violence in Indy, Federal Funds Improve Energy Efficiency for Seniors, Veep Talks Redistricting 6:20

18d ago6:20

6:20

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem thanked Indiana Governor Mike Braun for expanding detention beds and dubbed the added space the “Speedway slammer.” A series of lawsuits have been filed in Marion County court against drug manufacturer Eli Lilly. Republicans from the Indianapolis City-County Council are proposing new ideas to combat yout…

1
State Fair Changes Rules for Minors Attending, $500 Billion in Federal Education Grants Released, Central Indiana Residents Take Transportation Survey, VP Vance Meets with Gov. Braun in Indy 4:43

19d ago4:43

4:43

The Indiana State Fair has changed rules related to minors attending the fair. The Trump administration is releasing five billion dollars in federal grant funding for education that it unexpectedly withheld earlier this summer. Central Indiana residents are being asked to participate in a survey on their transportation habits. Governor Mike Braun s…

1
Trump’s war on statisticians and the ‘liberal bias’ of reality 1:32:02

20d ago1:32:02

1:32:02

On Tuesday, Brad DeLong joined me for a live Theory of Change episode to discuss Donald Trump’s firing of Erika McEntarfer, the former commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and how it is part of a decades-long war on sound economics and expertise in general waged by reactionary Republicans. We also discussed Brad’s own efforts to get econ…

1
Things Do Not Have to Be This Way: Dismantling American Patriarchy with Anna Malaika Tubbs 46:50

20d ago46:50

46:50

Author and scholar Anna Malaika Tubbs joins The Electorette to discuss her powerful new book, Erased: What American Patriarchy Has Hidden from Us—a sweeping, incisive examination of how American patriarchy was built to exclude, erase, and control. In this conversation, Anna unpacks the nation’s gendered social order, from its origins in the Constit…

1
Free Construction Training for Recently Incarcerated, Woman With Animal Cruelty Conviction Breaks Terms of Release, ICE Releases Purdue Student From Custody, IMPD Keeps Kids Safe 5:16

20d ago5:16

5:16

A local nonprofit launched a free construction training program Tuesday for recently incarcerated people. A woman with a prior animal cruelty conviction was sentenced in late July to additional prison time for breaking the terms of her release in Indianapolis. A Purdue University student was released from ICE custody Monday after being detained lat…

1
Indianapolis Public Library Get Changing Stations, Summer Break Comes to Close for Students, Beto O’Rourke Holds Indy Town Hall, Tariffs Put Tabletop Gaming Industry at Risk 5:19

21d ago5:19

5:19

Several branches of the Indianapolis Public Library are getting changing stations, designed to help people with mobility challenges use the restroom. Summer is coming to a close for children in Marion County. Former Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke called on Hoosiers to support Texas Democrats in their fight against a Republican redi…

1
ILEARN Scores Show Deep Divides in Marion County, City Market Project Hit with Delays, EPA Moves to Undo Climate Change Finding, Investment in Dolly Parton's Imagination Library 5:57

22d ago5:57

5:57

Fewer than 3 in 10 Marion County public school students passed Indiana's latest ILEARN exam. An ambitious overhaul of the entire City Market block has hit a number of delays. The Environmental Protection Agency wants to undo its finding that climate change harms people, and eliminate greenhouse gas standards for cars and trucks. First Lady Maureen …

1
In an age of fictionalized reality, we need literary criticism more than ever 1:10:37

23d ago1:10:37

1:10:37

Episode Summary If you’ve watched or listened to this podcast for a while, you probably know by now that Theory of Change is about stories—larger trends that happen and the narratives we tell ourselves about them. We’re finite beings; we exist for a moment within a small slice of spacetime. To understand anything at all about externality, we have …

1
Penske Entertainment Sale to FOX, Touring Rally Touts Benefits of Unions, Muncie Fifth-Grader Gets Grand Prize for History Competition, 2025 Indiana State Fair Kicks Off 5:18

25d ago5:18

5:18

Penske Entertainment has sold a one-third interest in the company to FOX. Dozens of workers and supporters rallied in Indianapolis Wednesday for the latest stop on a bus tour touting the benefits of unions. A Muncie fifth-grader was named the grand prize winner of a national presidential history competition. The 168th Indiana State Fair begins toda…

1
Purdue and Gleaners Food Bank to Open Pharmacy, Concerns Over Eli Lilly and Pfizer Relationship, IU Researchers get Top Awards, Ground Breaking for New Subsidized Housing 5:21

26d ago5:21

5:21

A new charitable pharmacy project from Purdue University and Gleaners Food Bank will soon open to the public. A recent senate report raises concerns about growing relationships between telehealth companies and drug manufacturers Eli Lilly and Pfizer. Two Indiana University School of Medicine researchers received top awards at the Alzheimer’s Associ…

1
Are Governors The New Power Players in U.S. Politics? A Conversation with Ofirah Yheskel 20:09

26d ago20:09

20:09

In this episode of The Electorette, I’m joined by Ofirah Yheskel, Director of External Affairs for the Democratic Governors Association, to unpack the growing national influence of Democratic governors—especially in the face of Republican extremism and Trump-aligned policymaking. We discuss two high-stakes gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Je…

1
Damien Center Opens New Dental Clinic, At-Risk High School Student Program Ends, Todd Young and Other U.S. Senators Push for Fully Funded NIH, IN Revamping School Quality Grading System 5:00

27d ago5:00

5:00

A new affordable dental clinic is now open at the Damien Center. Indiana is ending a widely praised high school program aimed at keeping at-risk students on track for college and careers. A group of 14 Republican U.S. Senators including Indiana’s Todd Young sent a letter urging the White House to fully fund the National Institutes of Health. Indian…

1
Diplomacy vs. Disaster: Sara Haghdoosti on Building a Progressive Foreign Policy 35:11

28d ago35:11

35:11

What does a truly progressive foreign policy look like—and what happens when we abandon it? Foreign policy often feels like a conversation for elites. But in this episode, Sara Haghdoosti, Executive Director of Win Without War, argues otherwise. She joins Jen Taylor-Skinner to unpack how the collapse of diplomacy between the U.S. and Iran—and Israe…

1
Fountain Square Homeless Encampment Will Close, Indiana Housing Wage Gap Remains Large, Bubba Wallace Wins Brickyard 400, IU Indianapolis ASL Program Cut Due to State Budget Policy 6:10

28d ago6:10

6:10

A Fountain Square encampment for people experiencing homelessness will close next month. There is still a large gap between what it takes to afford an average two-bedroom apartment in Indiana and the typical Hoosier renter’s wage. Bubba Wallace became the first Black driver to win a major race on Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s 2.5-mile oval at the B…

1
275: From the Battlefield to the CBD Boardroom: Craig Henderson of Extract Labs 1:12:40

29d ago1:12:40

1:12:40

Craig Henderson is the CEO of Extract Labs, a Boulder, Colorado-based full-service hemp extraction laboratory offering a proprietary line of boutique CBD-infused products. Craig started the company in his garage in 2016. This Episode is Sponsored By: Jon Ostenson, Founder of FranBridge Consulting and Top 1% US Franchise Consultant is here to help y…

1
Cumberland Police Use New Technology, Indy Chosen for New USDA Hub, Indiana High Schoolers aren't Going Straight to College, Indy's Animal Care Agency Closer to Having New Leader 5:16

29d ago5:16

5:16

Cumberland Police have announced they are deploying a new tool to end vehicle chases safer. Indianapolis is one of five new hub locations announced for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The number of Indiana high schoolers who go straight to college has reached a record low. Indianapolis's struggling animal care agency is one step closer to havin…

1
AI is not the main problem—how we use it can be 1:08:38

1M ago1:08:38

1:08:38

Episode Summary People often say that history repeats itself—so often, in fact, that the phrase has become a cliché. Yet when it comes to technology, that sentiment holds a lot of truth. We don’t just reinvent the tools of our ancestors; we also recycle the same debates, challenges, and controversies that have surrounded earlier innovations, often…

1
IPS gets Grant for Literacy Programs, Local Nonprofits Merge, Historic Fishers House to be Torn Down, Successful Fetal Spinal Surgery at Riley, Cookie Monster Grand Marshall at Brickyard 400 5:34

1M ago5:34

5:34

Indianapolis Public Schools is getting a 10.5 million dollar grant over the next five years to support the district’s literacy programs. Two local nonprofits that serve Hoosiers experiencing homelessness announced a merger. A house that’s been standing in Fishers since the late 1800s is soon to be torn down. Surgeons at Riley Children’s Hospital in…

1
Pro-Palestinian Protestors Gather at War Memorial, School Attendance has Renewed Attention, Improved Safety for Students Who Walk or Bike to School, Period Packs for Those in Need 5:21

1M ago5:21

5:21

Around 50 people met at the Indiana War Memorial downtown Tuesday night to protest the Israeli government and the ongoing war in Gaza. The importance of school attendance got renewed attention in Indiana after absenteeism spiked during the pandemic. The importance of school attendance got renewed attention in Indiana after absenteeism spiked during…

1
Legendary Sports Editor Passes Away, Virtual Learning Program to Expand, Indiana Supreme Court Denies Todd Rokita's Request, Concern Over Indiana's Proposed Medicaid Cap on Therapy 6:10

1M ago6:10

6:10

Legendary sports editor Bob Hammel passed away Saturday night at 88 years old. Fort Wayne Community Schools' virtual learning program is expanding statewide. The Indiana Supreme Court on Friday denied Attorney General Todd Rokita's request to dismiss a disciplinary complaint against him. Indiana has proposed changes to Medicaid waivers that provide…

1
Caitlin Clark Likely Unavailable for Liberty Game, Anti-ICE Protest at U.S. Sen. Young's Office, Judge's Ruling on Union Schools Corporation, Addressing the Root Causes of Violence in Indy 8:27

1M ago8:27

8:27

Caitlin Clark is not expected to be available Tuesday night, when the Indiana Fever resume their season at the defending champion New York Liberty. Dozens protested outside of U.S. Senator Todd Young's Indianapolis office Sunday over increased funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. A law dissolving Union Schools Corporation in 2027 sparke…

1
Why mediocrity seems to be the key to innovation in evolution and technology 1:04:11

1M ago1:04:11

1:04:11

Episode Summary Large language models, the computer programs often referred to as artificial intelligence are everywhere these days. There's a lot of hype, a lot of doomerism, and a lot of nay-saying. But despite what all the commentators are saying, the current AI technology is neither a magical god-being nor a tremendous scam. It’s just a really…

1
Federal Cuts Threaten Indiana's NPR and PBS Stations, WNBA All-Star Weekend, Letter Confirms Immigrant Detainee Plans at Camp Atterbury, Medicaid Data to be Shared with ICE 6:17

1M ago6:17

6:17

Indiana's local NPR and PBS stations face severe financial challenges after Congress eliminated federal support for public media. WNBA All-Star Weekend brought thousands of fans to downtown Indianapolis. A new letter from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirms that Camp Atterbury in Indiana is planned to be used to hold immigrant detainees, aft…

1
U.S. Secretary of Education Praises Indiana for School Choice, Marion County ILEARN Results, New Safety Initiatives for Downtown Indy, City Council One Step Closer to Stricter Curfew Hours 5:06

1M ago5:06

5:06

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon praised Indiana as a national model for school choice and affordability during a visit to Purdue University. Marion County public schools scored generally lower than the state average in this year's state exam, the ILEARN. The safety of downtown Indianapolis is top of mind for local and state officials ahea…

1
Sutherland Park Cemetery's New Owner, Indiana Cancer Center Could Lose Designation, Report Shows Neglect Around Toxic Coal Ash Laws, Indiana Lawmakers React to the State's Fiscal Year 6:21

1M ago6:21

6:21

A local cemetery in Indianapolis has a new owner with plans to provide more holistic, inclusive funeral services. Indiana's only comprehensive cancer center could lose its National Cancer Institute designation if the state doesn't invest in cancer research. An analysis by the group Earthjustice shows some utilities and landowners might not be follo…