Best Institute for Liberal Studies Podcasts (2024)

1
Transforming Hispanic-Serving Institutions for Equity and Justice 1:01:24

1h ago1:01:24

1:01:24

What makes Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) uniquely Latinx? And how can university leaders, staff, and faculty transform these institutions into spaces that promote racial equity, social justice, and collective liberation? Today’s book is: Transforming Hispanic-Serving Institutions for Equity and Justice (Johns Hopkins UP, 2023), by Dr. Gina A…

1
Ep. 231: Ryan Bourne - Is There A War On Prices? 1:04:48

23m ago1:04:48

1:04:48

Alex speaks with Ryan Bourne as he explores the misconceptions around inflation and the dangers of price controls, emphasizing how prices act as signals to coordinate economic activity and promote growth. Ryan explains the adverse effects of government intervention in setting prices, such as shortages, quality declines, black markets, and inefficie…

1
The Social Acceptance of Inequality 32:01

3d ago32:01

32:01

On this episode of International Horizons, Francesco Duina, Charles A. Dana Professor of Sociology at Bates College and Luca Storti, Associate Professor of Economic Sociology at the University of Turin in Italy and a Research Fellow of the Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies, discuss the rise of inequalities around the globe and the di…

1
Chris Haufe, "Do the Humanities Create Knowledge?" (Cambridge UP, 2023) 1:05:18

15m ago1:05:18

1:05:18

There is in certain circles a widely held belief that the only proper kind of knowledge is scientific knowledge. This belief often runs parallel to the notion that legitimate knowledge is obtained when a scientist follows a rigorous investigative procedure called the 'scientific method'. In Do the Humanities Create Knowledge? (Cambridge UP, 2023), …

1
Bryan Hanson on Disrupting Academic Bullying 1:27:43

2h ago1:27:43

1:27:43

Peoples & Things host Lee Vinsel talks with Bryan Hanson, ombudsperson for Virginia Tech's Graduate School, about a program he developed called Disrupting Academic Bullying, which seeks to encourage all members of academic communities to support and promote affirming environments for research and learning. Lee and Bryan talk about the reality of ha…

1
#132: Kim Reed — Author of “Workhorse: My Sublime and Absurd Years in the New York Restaurant Scene,” Fmr. Executive Assistant for Chef Joe Bastianich 28:02

10d ago28:02

28:02

In recent years, the celebrity chef and restaurant has taken the world by storm. The rise of the ‘chefprenaur’ has created a $10 billion dollar industry encapsulating everything from restaurant chains, branded cookware, cook books, television deals, and social media empires. Despite the glamor, one fact still remains: the restaurant scene is an unf…

1
Ep. 230: Kent Roach - Does Canada Have A Wrongful Conviction Problem? 57:14

7d ago57:14

57:14

Alex speaks with Donner prize nominee Kent Roach about a topic that many Canadians may overlook when thinking about issues that are recurring at home: wrongful convictions and its victims. Episode Notes: - Kent's award-winning book "Wrongfully Convicted: Guilty Pleas, Imagined Crimes, and What Canada Must Do to Safeguard Justice" https://a.co/d/d9m…

1
The Climate Crisis as a Problem of Collective Action: A Discussion with Dana Fisher 40:34

11m ago40:34

40:34

In this episode of International Horizons, Professor Dana Fisher, Director of the Center for Environment, Community, & Equity (CECE) and Professor in the School of International Service at American University, discusses with RBI Director John Torpey her approach to dealing with the climate crisis. Fisher explains how the climate crisis is really a …

1
Ep. 229: Ethan Nadelmann - Has Drug Decriminalization Failed? 1:06:24

1h ago1:06:24

1:06:24

Matt speaks with Ethan Nadelmann about drug decriminalization, legalization, and the slow end to the drug war in Canada and the United States, and how successes and failures in both countries compare to those abroad. Episode Notes: The Drug Policy Alliance website: https://drugpolicy.org/ Some history on Portugal's Drug Harm Reduction Programs: htt…

1
Matthew Berland and Antero Garcia, "The Left Hand of Data: Designing Education Data for Justice" (MIT Press, 2024) 52:54

43m ago52:54

52:54

Educational analytics tend toward aggregation, asking what a “normative” learner does. In The Left Hand of Data: Designing Education Data for Justice (MIT Press, 2024, open access at this link), educational researchers Matthew Berland and Antero Garcia start from a different assumption—that outliers are, and must be treated as, valued individuals. …

1
What does Biden’s temporary suspension of offensive arms transfers mean for US-Israeli relations? 30:47

9h ago30:47

30:47

Charles Blaha, a former State Department expert on the vetting of U.S. weapons transfers to other countries, helps us understand this important moment in the Israel-Hamas conflict. After an extended period of tension between U.S President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden has decided to freeze some transfers of weapons …

1
Rachelle Winkle-Wagner, "The Chosen We: Black Women's Empowerment in Higher Education" (SUNY Press, 2023) 37:37

2h ago37:37

37:37

The Chosen We: Black Women's Empowerment in Higher Education (SUNY Press, 2023) elevates the oral histories of 105 accomplished, college-educated Black women who earned success despite experiencing reprehensible racist and sexist barriers. The central argument is that these women succeeded in and beyond college by developing a Chosen We—a community…

1
Donald Opitz and Derek Melleby, "Learning for the Love of God: A Student's Guide to Academic Faithfulness" (Brazos Press, 2014) 58:08

11d ago58:08

58:08

Today I talked to Donald Opitz and Derek Melleby about their book Learning for the Love of God: A Student's Guide to Academic Faithfulness (Brazos Press, 2014). Most Christian college students separate their academic life from church attendance, Bible study, and prayer. Too often discipleship of the mind is overlooked if not ignored altogether. In …

1
Ep. 228: Craig Biddle - What Is Objectivism? 1:06:56

7d ago1:06:56

1:06:56

Matt speaks with Craig Biddle about objectivism and the legacy of Ayn Rand, and how it all ties to classical liberalism, the American ideal, and post-modernism. Episode Notes: Craig's work for the Objective Standard: https://theobjectivestandard.com/author/cbiddle/ Craig on X: https://twitter.com/CraigBiddle Free Ayn Rand books courtesy of the Ayn …

1
Leading from the Margins: College Leadership from Unexpected Places 56:18

4d ago56:18

56:18

Today’s book is: Leading From the Margins: College Leadership from Unexpected Places (Johns Hopkins UP, 2024), by Dr. Mary Dana Hinton, which is a guide to why people from marginalized backgrounds may be uniquely qualified to become effective higher education leaders―and how they can get there. Students and faculty in higher education increasingly …

1
#131: Dr. Magie Cook — CEO of Magie Cook International, Founder of Maggie’s Salsa, Fmr. Mexico National Basketball Team Member, Board Member at the University of Charleston, Nobel Prize Recipient 25:30

1M ago25:30

25:30

We’ve had a lot of impressive guests on the podcast, many who have overcome some real challenges in their lives to build something great, but today’s guest has an especially impressive story. Dr. Magie Cook began her life with 68 brothers and sisters in an orphanage in Mexico. Battling abuse, hunger, and poverty, during her high school years she ea…

1
Ep. 227: Bryce Tingle - How Are Regulations Damaging Markets? 1:16:01

20d ago1:16:01

1:16:01

Alex speaks with Bryce Tingle about corporations, how these unique legal entities are governed, how changes we have made to corporate governance has discouraged companies from joining Canada’s public markets, and how the decline in our public market is hurting Canadians. Episode Notes: 1. Bryce’s article “Returning Markets To The Centre Of Corporat…

1
The Rhetoric of Crisis in Israel-Palestine: A Discussion with Amos Goldberg 51:57

5d ago51:57

51:57

This week, RBI Director John Torpey speaks with Amos Goldberg, Professor of Holocaust History at the Department of Jewish History and Contemporary Jewry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, about the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Among other rhetorical aspects of the conflict, Goldberg reflects on the meaning of such slogans as “From the …

1
Kathryn Telling, "The Liberal Arts Paradox in Higher Education: Negotiating Inclusion and Prestige" (Policy Press, 2023) 42:47

9d ago42:47

42:47

What is the future of higher education? In The Liberal Arts Paradox in Higher Education: Negotiating Inclusion and Prestige (Policy Press, 2023), Dr Kathryn Telling, a lecturer in education at the University of Manchester, explores the rise of liberal arts degrees in England to examine the broader contours of the contemporary university. The book t…

1
Ep. 226: Eric Merkley - What Motivates NIMBYs? 56:30

1M ago56:30

56:30

Matt speaks with Eric Merkley about NIMBYism, the surprising touchpoints for unity between left and right on the subject of housing, and how uncovering the true motivations of NIMBYs has altered Eric's view of the housing crisis. Episode Notes: "Housing for Me, but not for Thee", Eric's paper serving as the basis for most of this conversation: http…

1
Diana Chapman Walsh, "The Claims of Life: A Memoir" (MIT Press, 2023) 1:15:54

15d ago1:15:54

1:15:54

The engaging memoir of a legendary president of Wellesley College known for authentic and open-hearted leadership, who drove innovation with power and love. The Claims of Life: A Memoir (The MIT Press, 2023) traces the emergence of a young woman who set out believing she wasn’t particularly smart but went on to meet multiple tests of leadership in …

1
#130: Justin Brooks — Author of “You Might Go to Prison, Even Though You're Innocent,” Founder of the California Innocence Project, Director of the LLM Program in Law at University of San Diego 28:23

1M ago28:23

28:23

According to a recent study, about 4-6% of all those incarcerated are considered to be wrongly imprisoned. That’s over 70,000 people who are wrongly incarcerated every year. Today’s guest, Justin Brooks has dedicated his life to representing those who have fallen victim to wrongful incarceration. Justin practiced as a criminal defense attorney in W…

1
Ep. 225: Ben Klutsey - How Do We Rebuild Trust? 1:01:44

1M ago1:01:44

1:01:44

Sabine speaks with Ben Klutsey about political polarization, commonalities between the United States and Canada, and his documentary on the subject entitled "Undivide Us" Episode Notes: The documentary's website with more information, a trailer and the option to request a screening: https://undivideusmovie.com/ Kevin Vallier's "Trust in a Polarized…

1
Words of Attack: Rhetoric Against Liberal Democratic Values with James McAdams 32:56

29d ago32:56

32:56

With a presidential campaign in the US just around the corner and populist and authoritarian thinkers gaining broader platforms, University of Notre Dame political scientist A. James McAdams shines a light on the terms being used today by the Far Right to undermine liberal democracy. How successful are these thinkers in changing public views? And h…

1
Darren Wershler et al,, "The Lab Book: Situated Practices in Media Studies" (U Minnesota Press, 2022) 48:41

1M ago48:41

48:41

A hybrid lab functions in the space between institutions and infrastructure, creating new opportunities for understanding their interconnection. However, their legitimacy remains fuzzy without formal and methodological critique. The Lab Book: Situated Practices in Media Studies (U of Minnesota Press, 2021) proposes the "extended lab model" to descr…

1
Ep. 224: Rachael LaRose - What Happened To Our Relationships During The Pandemic? 1:07:58

2M ago1:07:58

1:07:58

Alex speaks with Rachael LaRose about the hidden costs of the pandemic, especially as they effected our commercial relationships, loose ties with individuals that once provided much value to our lives, and orthodox communities who rallied to prioritize faith in the face of fear. Episode Notes: - Rachael's webpage with past publications, etc.: https…

1
James McElvenny, "A History of Modern Linguistics: From the Beginnings to World War II" (Edinburgh UP, 2024) 37:37

1M ago37:37

37:37

Ingrid Piller speaks with James McElvenny about his new book A History of Modern Linguistics: From the Beginnings to World War II (Edinburgh UP, 2024). This book offers a concise history of modern linguistics from its emergence in the early nineteenth century up to the end of World War II. Written as a collective biography of the field, it concentr…

1
Shardé M. Davis, "Being Black in the Ivory: Truth-Telling about Racism in Higher Education" (UNC Press, 2024) 50:44

27d ago50:44

50:44

When Sharde M. Davis turned to social media during the summer of racial reckoning in 2020, she meant only to share how racism against Black people affects her personally. But her hashtag, BlackintheIvory, went viral, fostering a flood of Black scholars sharing similar stories. Soon the posts were being quoted during summer institutes and workshops …

1
Kelsey Keyes and Ellie Dworak, "Supporting Student Parents in the Academic Library: Designing Spaces, Policies, and Services" (ACRL, 2024) 1:05:24

27d ago1:05:24

1:05:24

Student parents can feel unwelcome and invisible in their institutions. And for every student parent who is struggling to complete an education despite these hurdles, there are many others who have not been able to find a way. Supporting Student Parents in the Academic Library: Designing Spaces, Policies, and Services (ACRL, 2024) by Kelsey Keyes a…

1
#129: Jennifer Pahlka — Author of “Recoding America: Why Government is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better,” Fmr. US Deputy Chief Technology Officer, Founder of Code for America 18:18

2M ago18:18

18:18

According to a Pew Research poll, over 40% of adults in the United States are considered to be digitally illiterate, and while America’s crumbling transportation infrastructure often makes headlines, its digital infrastructure is equally as out of date. Organizations from the IRS, to the healthcare system are still relying on technology from the 80…

1
Ep. 223: Sam Bowman - Why Can't We Have Nice Things? 1:13:06

2M ago1:13:06

1:13:06

Matt speaks with Sam Bowman about the global housing crisis and why, in English-speaking countries in particular, a growing consensus across the political divide is pointing to problems with central planning, NIMBYism and a supply limit as the causes. Episode Notes: Sam Bowman’s on substack: https://substack.com/@sambowman Sam on "Vetocracy": https…

1
Margaret Price, "Crip Spacetime: Access, Failure, and Accountability in Academic Life" (Duke UP, 2024) 1:09:02

2M ago1:09:02

1:09:02

In Crip Spacetime: Access, Failure, and Accountability in Academic Life (Duke University Press, 2024), Margaret Price intervenes in the competitive, productivity-focused realm of academia by sharing the everyday experiences of disabled academics. Drawing on more than three hundred interviews and survey responses, Price demonstrates that individual …

1
Why Should We Preserve Memory of the Holocaust? 44:35

2M ago44:35

44:35

Wojtek Soczewica has led the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation since 2019, near the site of the killing fields. The Foundation aims at the preservation of the remains of the concentration and extermination camp and of all the personal items that belonged to victims and survivors. Today they serve as material witnesses of the tragic history safeguarding…

1
Cathryn M. Copper, "The Experimental Library: A Guide to Taking Risks, Failing Forward, and Creating Change" (ALA Editions, 2023) 42:01

2M ago42:01

42:01

Using techniques garnered from startups and quickly evolving technology companies, in The Experimental Library: A Guide to Taking Risks, Failing Forward, and Creating Change (ALA Editions, 2023), Cathryn Copper explores how information professionals can use experimentation to make evidence-based decisions and advance innovative initiatives. The las…

1
Contingent Faculty and the Remaking of Higher Education 1:00:14

1M ago1:00:14

1:00:14

Today’s book is: Contingent Faculty and the Remaking of Higher Education: A Labor History (University of Illinois Press, 2024), which is an essay collection co-edited by Eric Fure-Slocum and Claire Goldstene. It explores why in the United States more than three-quarters of the people teaching in colleges and universities work as contingent faculty.…

1
Citizenship Across Time and Space with David Jacobson 44:14

2M ago44:14

44:14

In this episode of International Horizons, RBI director John Torpey discusses the past and future of citizenship with David Jacobson, Professor of Sociology at the University of South Florida (Tampa). They discuss the origins of the concept of citizenship in the ancient Near East a few thousand years ago and how kinship notions shape the debate on …

1
#128: Dave Eng, EdD — Clinical Professor of eLearning, Training + Development, + Instructional Design at NYU, Principle at University XP, Founder of Bandito’s Gaming on Games, Theory, and Tech 22:38

2M ago22:38

22:38

A study came across our desks recently that said, gamification was “just a fad.” We’re going to disagree with that, and so does our guest today Dr. Dave Eng; a creative intellectual, educator, designer, & researcher focusing on games, theory, and technology. Dave serves as the faculty member of NYU’s School of Professional Studies and the Principle…

1
Ep. 222: Akshaya Kamalnath - Does Corporate Diversity Work? 55:40

2M ago55:40

55:40

Alex speaks with Akshaya Kamalnath about her work on Corporate Diversity, the social pressures and cultural trends that corporations are facing, as well as the jurisdictional realities of handling diversity, amongst other issues. Episode Notes: Akshaya's page at ANU: https://researchers.anu.edu.au/researchers/kamalnath-a Akshaya's blog: corporatela…

1
How Can We Reach International Consensus on AI Regulation? 43:13

2M ago43:13

43:13

In this episode of International Horizons, RBI director John Torpey interviews Gabriele Mazzini, a lawyer and officer of the European Commission and expert in AI regulation. Mazzini discusses the means through which European countries have found agreement on the definition of AI and how to regulate it. Moreover, Mazzini stresses that the fears of a…

1
John Warner on Teaching Writing in the Age of Generative AI 1:26:22

1M ago1:26:22

1:26:22

Peoples & Things host Lee Vinsel talks with writer and editor John Warner, who taught writing at the college level for more than twenty years. Warner is the author of at least three - or four depending on whether you count a work of parody - books on writing and higher education, and today he is perhaps best known for his Substack, The Biblioracle …

1
Colette Cann and Eric Demeulenaere, "The Activist Academic: Engaged Scholarship for Resistance, Hope and Social Change" (Myers Education Press, 2020) 56:56

2M ago56:56

56:56

How can traditional academic scholarship be disrupted by activist academics? How can we make space for those who are underrepresented and historically oppressed to come to academia as their authentic selves? How can the platform of academia create space for change in the world? In The Activist Academic: Engaged Scholarship for Resistance, Hope and …

1
Mary K. Bolin, "Refocusing Academic Libraries Through Learning and Discourse: The Idea of a Library" (Chandos, 2022) 56:51

2M ago56:51

56:51

Academic libraries are changing in the face of information technologies, economic pressures, and globally disruptive events such as the current pandemic. In Refocusing Academic Libraries Through Learning and Discourse: The Idea of a Library (Chandos, 2023), Mary K. Bolin argues for a radical vision of library transformation, offering practical solu…

1
Is Grad School for Me?: Demystifying the Application Process for First-Gen BIPOC Students 50:12

2M ago50:12

50:12

Today’s book is: Is Grad School for Me? Demystifying the Application Process for First-Gen BIPOC Students (U California Press, 2024), by Dr. Yvette Martínez-Vu and Dr. Miroslava Chávez-García. It is the first book to provide first-generation, low-income, and nontraditional students of color with insider knowledge on how to consider and navigate gra…

1
Beth Linker, "Slouch: Posture Panic in Modern America" (Princeton UP, 2024) 30:05

2M ago30:05

30:05

In 1995, a scandal erupted when the New York Times revealed that the Smithsonian possessed a century's worth of nude "posture" photos of college students. In this riveting history, Beth Linker tells why these photos were only a small part of the incredible story of twentieth-century America's largely forgotten posture panic--a decades-long episode …

1
#127: Dr. Jerry Lynch — Author of “The Mindful Coach,” Founder and Director of Way of Champions, Former Naval Officer, Sports Psychologist, Philosopher 57:54

2M ago57:54

57:54

Who’s ready for our first podcast 3-peat? Dr. Jerry Lynch is back for his third solo appearance on the Bring It In podcast, to share with us some wisdom from his latest book, “The Mindful Coach.” Dr. Jerry Lynch is the Founder of Way of Champions, a performance consultancy that combines elite sports psychology, with international philosophy concept…

1
Deirdre McCloskey - Why Does Liberalism Work? 1:04:54

2M ago1:04:54

1:04:54

In May 2022, Alex spoke with Deirdre McCloskey in a wide-ranging conversation that addresses the economic, philosophical, and political reasons why liberalism just works. We're reposting that important conversation today on The Curious Task.By Institute for Liberal Studies

1
Matthias Doepke and Fabrizio Zilibotti, "Love, Money, and Parenting: How Economics Explains the Way We Raise Our Kids" (Princeton UP, 2019) 59:00

2M ago59:00

59:00

Parents everywhere want their children to be happy and do well. Yet how parents seek to achieve this ambition varies enormously. For instance, American and Chinese parents are increasingly authoritative and authoritarian, whereas Scandinavian parents tend to be more permissive. Why? Love, Money, and Parenting investigates how economic forces and gr…

1
Fran Martin, "Dreams of Flight: The Lives of Chinese Women Students in the West" (Duke UP, 2021) 1:31:57

2M ago1:31:57

1:31:57

Dreams of Flight: The Lives of Chinese Women Students in the West (Duke UP, 2021) explores the significance of transnational educational mobility in the life aspirations of young, middle-class Chinese women. Based on extensive, long-term ethnographic research, Fran Martin explores how young Chinese women negotiate competing pressures on their ident…

1
The Pioneering Life of Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit 46:47

2M ago46:47

46:47

Manu Bhagavan and Ellen Chesler discuss Bhagavan’s latest book on Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (Penguin, 2023), admired sister of India’s founding Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and a pioneering public servant, diplomat, and women's rights advocate, in her own right. They talk about the Nehru’s privileged upbringing and elite education, their conversio…

1
#126: Alissa Quart — Author of “Bootstrapped: Liberating Ourselves from the American Dream,” Prof. at Columbia University, Executive Director of the Economic Hardships Reporting Project, Nieman Fellow 26:23

3M ago26:23

26:23

You’ve probably heard the term “pull yourself up by your bootstraps,” referring to one's ability to pick themselves up, and get to work. But what if we said the whole phrase was actually a joke? There’s no one better to explain this than Alissa Quart, an author, professor at Brown and Columbia Universities, and the Executive Director of the Economi…

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