Best The Pell Center At Salve Regina University Podcasts (2025)

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Examining the impacts of ideological extremes on American democracy with Thomas Chatterton Williams 28:23

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12d ago28:23

28:23

In the summer of 2020, the country was racked by disease, violence, and social disruption as generations of racial injustice seemed to fall in the wake of the murder of George Floyd. Thomas Chatterton Williams warns, however, that extreme views on the left—ascendent in that summer heat—are just as dangerous to western liberalism as extreme views on…

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Examining the impacts of artificial intelligence on children with Mhairi Aitken 26:12

19d ago26:12

26:12

Artificial Intelligence is changing all of our lives and the biggest changes are yet to come. Yet despite the revolution on our doorstep, few have looked carefully at the impact of AI on children. Dr. Mhairi Aitken has done just that and has evidence-based advice for policy makers and developers. Aitken is a Senior Ethics Fellow in the Public Polic…

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Exploring paths to improve the health of democracy with James Fishkin 28:17

30d ago28:17

28:17

For more than a decade, now, the world has been experiencing a process of “democratic backsliding,” while alternatives to governing by popular consent have gained popularity—even in the West. James Fishkin offers a path to improving not just the health of democracy, but the effectiveness of liberal democratic governments. Fishkin holds the Janet M.…

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Tackling a crisis in critical thinking with Alex Edmans 27:56

30d ago27:56

27:56

Scholars, journalists and even some politicians often warn about the lack of critical thinking in contemporary public and private life. Alex Edmans picks up that alarm and warns that we’re regularly exploited by those who would use our own sloppy thinking and unconscious biases to mislead us. Edmans is a professor of finance at London Business Scho…

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Investigating the political impacts of “dark money” with Anna Massoglia 28:03

30d ago28:03

28:03

It’s comforting to think about American political institutions as “transparent” and open to scrutiny. However, this week on “Story in the Public Square,” Anna Massoglia describes a campaign finance system built, increasingly, on so-called “dark money.” Massoglia is a political influence expert and investigative journalist with more than a decade of…

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Charting the development of war powers and technology with Fred Borch 25:01

30d ago25:01

25:01

Eighty years ago, World War II ended in the Pacific with the first, and thus far, only use of nuclear weapons in warfare. The widely popular decision to use the bomb at the time has become fodder for historians to debate in subsequent decades. Fred Borch helps us view the decision to drop the bomb from the perspective of American leaders in that su…

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Analyzing the impact of artificial intelligence on theology with Sean O’Callaghan and Paul Hoffman 28:25

30d ago28:25

28:25

The history of humanity is the history of individuals making decisions, sometimes collectively, and sometimes individually. New artificial intelligence, AI, brings a new player into the mix: machines capable of making decisions alongside or instead of their human counterparts. Sean O’Callaghan and Paul Hoffman grapple with the theological implicati…

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Exploring public health under the Trump administration with Dr. Ashish Jha 27:08

30d ago27:08

27:08

Where five years ago, we were in the thick of the pandemic, with the bulk of the sickness and dying still to come, now, the U.S. federal government is poised to slash spending on public health, as well as basic research in science, healthcare and more. Dr. Ashish Jha helps us sort through competing claims and make sense of it all. An accomplished a…

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Documenting the impact of conspiracies and coverups with Phil Tinline 26:07

30d ago26:07

26:07

What if a secret gathering of luminaries concluded in the 1960s that the consequences of “peace” would be worse than continued war? Phil Tinline explains that in 1967, at the height of the Vietnam War, just such a story emerged, and its consequences reverberate to this day. Phil Tinline is a freelance writer and documentarian. He is the author of t…

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Exploring America’s evolving national story with Colin Woodard 29:52

1M ago29:52

29:52

For nearly 250 years, Americans have marked the fourth of July as the birthday of the nation, and in July of 2026, we’ll celebrate 250 years. Colin Woodard argues that the Declaration of Independence is as relevant and vital as ever, and that its promise is essential to preserving the republic today. Colin Woodard is a New York Times-bestselling hi…

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Tackling America’s financial landscape with Michael Corkery 28:10

3M ago28:10

28:10

Journalists chronicle the world in the so-called “first draft” of history. Michael Corkery is helping lead one of America’s great newspapers as it tells the story of President Trump’s second administration with a particular focus on its impact on the world of business and finance. Corkery is the finance editor at The New York Times, where he overse…

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Harnessing the power of altruism with Nicole Karlis 28:26

3M ago28:26

28:26

It’s not unusual for friends, family members, and even good bosses to tell us, “practice some self-care.” But Nicole Karlis says that there are physical and emotional benefits to practicing care for others, too. Karlis is an award-winning journalist and author covering health and science. Currently, she’s a regular contributor at Salon where she’s …

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Analyzing the shift of United States foreign policy with Frank Lowenstein 28:43

3M ago28:43

28:43

It’s been said that the great challenge of diplomacy is to do and say the nastiest things in the nicest ways. Frank Lowenstein uses his experienced eye to consider if this challenge rings true for the United States under the second Trump administration. Lowenstein is an international policy expert with a concentration in policy development, strateg…

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A Fresh Look at Sport and the Places we Call Home with Hanif Abdurraqib 27:49

4M ago27:49

27:49

It’s probably cliché to say that sport imitates life, but Hanif Abdurraqib traces the intimate details of basketball legends and faded school-yard stars in an unforgettable book about sport, life, and the places we call home. Abdurraqib is a poet, essayist, and author of the new book, "There's Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension,” is the …

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Exploring What Animal Festivals Say About Being Human with Elizabeth MeLampy 28:12

4M ago28:12

28:12

Humanity is capable of great dualities. Elizabeth MeLampy explores that in the way we both venerate animals, even while we exploit them. MeLampy is an attorney with experience in animal law and environmental law. She worked on issues related to farmed animals, wild animals, and captive animals with Harvard’s Animal Law & Policy Clinic while she was…

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A Look at the First Year of Motherhood Across the World with Abigail Leonard 27:51

4M ago27:51

27:51

The saying goes that mothers and motherhood are the same all the world-over. Abigail Leonard puts that folk-wisdom to the test in a new book chronicling the first year of motherhood for four women from four different countries. Leonard is an award-winning international reporter and news producer, previously based in Tokyo, where she was a frequent …

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May 5, 2025: Kimberly Clausing 29:02

4M ago29:02

29:02

Throughout the campaign of 2024, President Donald Trump promised to use tariffs to reset America’s global trade relationships, revitalize American manufacturing, and increase government revenues—and in the first months of his second administration, the president has used tariffs and the threat of tariffs to drive concessions even while raising anta…

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Reflecting on World War II 80 years later with Tim Gray 28:07

5M ago28:07

28:07

Eighty years ago, mothers with sons and husbands at war in Europe could celebrate the end of the war there, even as they worried about the possibility their loved ones might be heading to the invasion of Japan. Tim Gray has made his life’s work about telling the stories of those heroes, their sacrifices, and their legacy. Gray is a documentary film…

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April 14, 2025: Keon West 28:05

5M ago28:05

28:05

Most of us can probably point to examples of people who suffered from racism, or who overcame racism. But Keon West reminds us all that “the plural of anecdote is not data” and that science actually has a lot to say about the reality of racism today—if we take the time to consider it and really understand. West is a social psychologist and an Assoc…

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March 31, 2025: Marietje Schaake 27:55

5M ago27:55

27:55

We’re used to thinking of technology as politically neutral—the zeroes and ones of binary code that operate independently of partisanship. But Marietje Schaake says that, increasingly, private technology companies are usurping the function of government and thereby posing a real threat to the health of Western democracies. Schaake is a non-resident…

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A Behind the Scenes Look at The Glamour of Hollywood with Daniel D’Addario 27:51

6M ago27:51

27:51

Every year, American popular culture focuses on recognizing the entertainment world’s hits and misses in Awards Season. Daniel D’Addario gives us a well-informed, if fictional, glimpse behind the smiles and glittering ceremonies to understand the personal and professional commitment of actresses at the top of their games. D’Addario is chief corresp…

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The Inside Scoop on This Year’s Academy Award Nominees with Pete Hammond 27:57

7M ago27:57

27:57

From the story of a young sex worker to one about an aging star, another about a transgender drug lord, and another about a troubled immigrant and brilliant architect, this year’s Academy Award nominees for Best Picture tell stories that are both epic and intimate. Pete Hammond walks us through the nominees and what to watch for on Hollywood’s Nigh…

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Alice Marwick Explores the Impact of Social Networking on Political Discourse 27:54

7M ago27:54

27:54

There was a time in American public life when “the news” was a nightly ritual, a 30-minute glimpse into the wider-world, a way to stay informed. But Dr. Alice E. Marwick says that world is long gone, washed away in recent years with failing traditional news outlets and the rise of social media influencers. Marwick is the director of research at Dat…

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An Immigration Story in the Midst of a Changing World with Padma Venkatraman 27:39

8M ago27:39

27:39

Children’s and young-adult authors often explore the pain and loneliness of growing up. Padma Venkatraman does it in an elegantly told story that also explores immigration, environmental change, and the power of friends to make everything better. Venkatraman is an award-winning author who was born in Chennai, India. Before becoming a novelist, earn…

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Richard J. Evans Offers Lessons for Today from His Study of the Third Reich 28:10

8M ago28:10

28:10

The world will mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II later this year. Richard J. Evans helps us understand the murderous leaders of Nazi Germany, and the people at every level of German society who did their bidding. Evans is an historian of modern Germany and modern Europe and is the preeminent historian of the Third Reich today. He…

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Exploring the Questions of Space, Time and Our Universe and with Sean Carroll 28:21

9M ago28:21

28:21

So many of us are curious about the stuff of space and time and the forces that bind us all together. Author and physicist Sean Caroll wants to encourage that curiosity, and believes physics can be accessible to everyone. Carroll is the Homewood Professor of Natural Philosophy, a joint appointment between physics and philosophy at Johns Hopkins Uni…

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Examining The Deadly Impacts of Rising Temperatures on Everyday Life with Jeff Goodell 29:11

9M ago29:11

29:11

Climate change has been part of the public lexicon for decades, now. But what once seemed like some dystopian, distant future is, according to Jeff Goodell, a reality—where higher temperatures are reshaping agriculture, animal migrations, the health of the oceans, and our futures. Goodell is a bestselling author and has written seven books includin…

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Geopolitics, Climate Change, and the Olympics: The 2024 Story of the Year with Evelyn Farkas 28:24

9M ago28:24

28:24

From the joyous streets of Paris and the opening of the Olympic Games to the snap of gunfire at a presidential campaign rally, 2024 has seen its highs and lows. Evelyn Farkas helps us unpack the stories that defined 2024 and name our story of the year. Farkas is a highly respected expert in American foreign policy and geopolitics, particularly know…

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Ronald C. White Reflects on the Life and Legacy of Joshua Chamberlain 27:55

10M ago27:55

27:55

America’s wars have produced a legion of heroes. But historian Ronald C. White focuses us on the story of Maine’s Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, a Civil War lion whose service in war and in peace still resonates today. White is the author of two New York Times bestselling biographies, “A. Lincoln: A Biography,” and “American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysse…

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Perspectives on Advocacy, Empathy, and Storytelling in Public Media with Tiziana Dearing 27:06

10M ago27:06

27:06

Survey after survey shows that local media is the most trusted media in the United States today. Tiziana Dearing transformed a successful career in advocacy, philanthropy, and the academy into the morning voice of news and information in one of America’s great cities. Dearing is the host of WBUR’s “Morning Edition.” Prior to helping listeners start…

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Greg Eghigian on Unraveling the History of the UFO Phenomenon 28:11

10M ago28:11

28:11

Across human history, we have looked to the heavens and seen things that didn’t make sense. Greg Eghigian chronicles how those human experiences were translated by believers, skeptics, investigators and hoaxers in the aftermath of the Second World War into the UFO phenomenon we still talk about today. Eghigian is a historian of the human sciences a…

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Understanding Humanity Through the Healing Power of Pets and Unconditional Love with Carol Mithers 27:20

10M ago27:20

27:20

When many of us think about animal rescue, we think about abandoned pets looking for a new home. But Carol Mithers chronicles the work of one woman in Los Angeles who challenges us all to understand that animal and human suffering are connected. Mithers is writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, L.A…

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Luke Lorentzen Explores the Journey of a Hospital Chaplin in His Documentary “A Still Small Voice” 28:09

10M ago28:09

28:09

Shakespeare called death “the undiscovered country.” Luke Lorentzen documents the work of spiritual guides, also known as hospital chaplains, as they help patients navigate this country and the next. Lorentzen is an Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker and a lecturer in Stanford University’s Department of Art and Art History. His latest film, “…

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Joanna Weiss on the Intersection of Celebrity Culture and Political Engagement 28:12

10M ago28:12

28:12

The most 2024 story would have to involve the Olympics, presidential politics, and Taylor Swift. Joanna Weiss unpacks the recent convergence of those cultural phenomena and what they portend for American politics. Weiss a Boston-based writer and editor. She is executive director of the AI Literacy Lab at Northeastern University, a project to connec…

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Combatting the Evolving Forms of Disinformation in our World Today with Darren Linvill 28:16

10M ago28:16

28:16

Since 2016, the presence of foreign disinformation in American politics—and especially on our social media platforms—has been well documented. But Darren Linvill says different state-actors—like Russia and China—behave differently online, depending on their goals. Darren Linvill is a professor of communication whose research explores social media d…

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Domestic Violence: Healing and Prevention with Ashley Bendiksen 28:00

11M ago28:00

28:00

The data tells us that every minute of every day, 20 people are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. Ashley Bendiksen has turned her personal experience with domestic abuse into a calling to prevent domestic violence and help victims. Bendiksen is an author, domestic abuse survivor, speaker, and an award-winning activist. …

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Steven Brill on Disinformation in the Modern Era and its Consequences 28:21

11M ago28:21

28:21

Lies and disinformation are as old as humanity itself. But Steven Brill argues that the witches brew of 30-year-old legislative consequences; mixed with technological innovation; and bad actors threaten the lives of democratic institutions and truth itself. Brill is an award-winning journalist, author, and the founder of Court TV, The American Lawy…

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Examining the Implications of International Scarcity and Plenty with Francis Gavin 28:45

12M ago28:45

28:45

It may be a scarcity mindset that views plenty as better than a world where nations and people compete over limited, scarce resources. But Francis Gavin explains that even in a world of plenty, there are vexing international challenges for which the United States is not prepared. Gavin is the Giovanni Agnelli Distinguished Professor and the inaugur…

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Eric Deggans on The Stories We Tell and the Truths They Reflect About Our World Today 27:56

12M ago27:56

27:56

The shear amount of media generated and consumed in the United States every day is simply staggering. Eric Deggans reminds us that the stories we tell, tell us something about ourselves—whether those stories are about music, or politics, or race. Deggans is NPR’s first full-time TV critic and media analyst, providing reviews, feature stories, comme…

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Climate Change as a National Security Issue with Sherri Goodman 28:25

1y ago28:25

28:25

The impact of climate change on the world around us is there for everyone to see—from stronger and more frequent storms to the loss of Arctic Sea ice. But Sherri Goodman says the threat isn’t just to crops or the polar bears, but to American national security. Sherri Goodman, Senior Fellow at the Wilson Center’s Environmental Change and Security Pr…

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Francesca Mari on the Power of Story to Explore Personal and Public Issues Alike 27:59

1y ago27:59

27:59

The stories journalists tell can stretch from the personal to the public. Francesca Mari is no different, giving us narratives and an understanding of personal health crises, the challenge of housing, and the kinds of shelter offered by both families and physical structures. Francesca Mari is a contributing writer to The New York Times Magazine foc…

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Annalee Newitz on the Power of Story in Disinformation 28:05

1y ago28:05

28:05

Disinformation has a long history in the United States—often taking the form of storytelling. Best-selling author Annalee Newitz explains how stories have been weaponized—historically and today—and charts a path to a more peaceful future for all Americans. Newitz writes fiction and nonfiction about the intersection of science, technology and cultur…

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Dr. Dean-David Schillinger on Public Health Lessons from an American Public Hospital 29:06

1y ago29:06

29:06

We know healthcare means hospitals and stethoscopes, and x-rays, and bloodwork, and prescriptions. But Dr. Dean-David Schillinger says stories are the key to healthcare—both our willingness to tell them; and our caregiver’s ability to listen and understand them. Schillinger is a primary care physician, scientist, author, and public health advocate.…

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Exploring the Importance of Coexistence in Wildlife Conservation with Ruth Ganesh 27:55

1y ago27:55

27:55

It’s easy to think that people and animals are incapable of coexistence. But Ruth Ganesh warns that mindset is dangerous to biodiversity, to the existence of some of planet earth’s most remarkable creatures, and even to humanity. Ganesh is a creative conservationist and philanthropist with a particular interest in environmental issues. She has spen…

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Exploring Tyranny through Poetry with Leah Umansky 27:16

1y ago27:16

27:16

Tyranny comes in many forms. But Leah Umansky uses her art—poetry—to remind us that whether the tyrant is personal, societal, or political—resistance is possible. Leah Umansky is a poet, writer, artist and writing coach. She has been an educator for over 15 years and teaches 8th and 10th grade English at a private school in New York. She is also th…

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Michael Sobolik on China and the Imminent Cold War 27:56

1y ago27:56

27:56

Over the last 25 years, while the United States fought costly wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the People’s Republic of China has been expanding its influence, its economic relationships, and even the reach of it’s military. Michael Sobolik offers a sober look at the challenge China poses to the West and offers a strategy to guide America’s response. …

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Ray Suarez on the Immigrant Experience in Today’s America 28:08

1y ago28:08

28:08

Immigration has long-been a contentious issue in American politics. But legendary journalist Ray Suarez says immigrants keep coming to the United States, overcoming obstacles, working for better opportunities for themselves and their families, and all the while buying into the idea of America that binds us all together. Suarez is a journalist and a…

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Reflections from a Career on the Front Lines with Sean Carberry 28:24

1y ago28:24

28:24

The last 25 years have produced plenty of conflict and a seasoned community of journalists who have moved towards the sound of fighting. Sean Carberry documents the personal costs of those reporters, producers, photographers, and videographers who, in documenting the worst of humanity, have paid a price with their physical and emotional health. Car…

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Examining the Wealth Gap between Black and White Americans with Louise Story and Ebony Reed 27:41

1y ago27:41

27:41

The myth is that anyone who works hard, saves their money, and makes good decisions, can develop wealth in the United States. But Louise Story and Ebony Reed document the long and painful history of the structures, policies and practices that have resulted in a profound wealth gap between Black and White Americans. Louise Story is a professor at Ya…