Best The Progress Network With Zachary Karabell And Emma Varvaloucas Podcasts (2024)

1
The Honesty of Our Economy with Allison Schrager 54:03

31m ago54:03

54:03

Many news stories tend to focus on the doom and gloom of our current economy. Zachary and Emma speak with economist and author Allison Schrager, who tends to see things differently. Climbing wages, retirement planning, and even the current state of inflation are all positive elements of today's economy. TikTok and the rise of younger generations li…

1
A Colorblind Nation with Coleman Hughes 1:02:07

7d ago1:02:07

1:02:07

Can the idea of America looking beyond race work in such a divided time? Are there reasons we should still use race as a basis for public policy? Have colleges gone too far in their actions to confront racist actions in the past? Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas talk to Coleman Hughes, the author behind the new book 'The End of Race Politics: …

1
Introducing: What Could Go Right? 2:06

16d ago2:06

2:06

Negative news can be overwhelming, but it's important to question whether it accurately reflects our world. Join "What Could Go Right?" to hear positive stories from various experts and challenge the negative narrative. Let's strive for a more balanced view of what's happening today. Whether you need a change of perspective or change of heart, chec…

1
Introducing The Ongoing Transformation: Finding Collective Advantage in Shared Knowledge 38:37

1M ago38:37

38:37

While we are hard at work on season six of What Could Go Right, we wanted to share another show we think you’ll really enjoy – The Ongoing Transformation. The Ongoing Transformation is produced by our friends at Issues in Science and Technology. Each episode features conversations about science, technology, policy, and society. This episode explore…

1
Progress Check: Season 5 Recap with Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas 58:05

2M ago58:05

58:05

Are our fears about the future grounded in facts on the ground today? Will conflict and war wax or wane this century? And what global progress can we look to as examples of unexpected good occurring? Today, for our season finale, Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas reflect on lessons gleaned from this season's episodes. What Could Go Right? is pr…

1
Lessons From Former Presidents with Jared Cohen 56:00

2M ago56:00

56:00

Are we defined by our jobs? What happens to ex-presidents after they leave office? And how does that apply to the current political landscape as we head into the 2024 election? Today, we're joined by Jared Cohen, author of the book 'Life After Power: Seven Presidents and Their Search for Purpose Beyond the White House,' to explore how these leaders…

1
Inside Election Administration with Arizona's Secretary of State with Adrian Fontes 59:02

2M ago59:02

59:02

How are states like Arizona preparing for the 2024 presidential election in the United States? How do they ensure the public our votes are safe? And why can't we track our mail-in votes like Uber Eats? Today, we talk with Adrian Fontes, the Secretary of State of Arizona, to discuss the functioning and importance of the electoral process in the Unit…

1
Marxism and Modern Society with Freddie deBoer 53:40

3M ago53:40

53:40

Will the labor class change with AI? What actually is Marxism? And what, if anything, can we learn from it? Freddie deBoer, author and "Marxist of an old-school variety," shares why he thinks Marxist thought on capitalism, labor, and societal structures is still relevant and how he applies its principles to contemporary politics. What Could Go Righ…

1
Can We Collectively Change the Internet? with Chris Anderson 52:08

3M ago52:08

52:08

Is there any good left on the Internet? Could we maximize it for generosity instead of conflict? And how do you stay connected in a seemingly ever-polarizing environment? Chris Anderson, author and curator of TED, joins us to discuss the Internet's potential to create positive change, and why he hasn't given up on big-money philanthropy. What Could…

1
Is Free Speech Dead? with Greg Lukianoff 50:48

3M ago50:48

50:48

What's really happening on college campuses? Is free expression on them dead, or have we reached peak cancel culture? And why have younger generations completely abandoned the principles behind free speech? Today, we're joined by attorney Greg Lukianoff, the President and CEO of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), who shares…

1
Progress Check: 2024's Election Frenzy with Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas 41:37

3M ago41:37

41:37

The most people in history will vote in 2024, with 78 countries going to the polls. Is democracy really on the ballot, as some say? What new state laws are coming into effect, and is a new space race heating up? Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas are back to discuss the latest news stories we might have missed. What Could Go Right? is produced b…

1
Hashtag Trauma with Scott Barry Kaufman 52:03

4M ago52:03

52:03

What is vulnerable narcissism? Is #trauma a trend? And what psychological traits define our times? Psychologist and author Scott Barry Kaufman guides us through an examination of why, what, and who we are, advocating for a holistic understanding of intelligence and creativity. What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and The Podglom…

1
A Science of Culture with Michael Muthukrishna 58:13

4M ago58:13

58:13

How much are cultures crucial for progress, and can we deliberately create ones that lead to particular outcomes? What is it really about humans that separates us from animals? And how does the climate crisis fit into all this? Michael Muthukrishna, author of "A Theory of Everyone," explores the distinctiveness of human beings and draws on his inte…

1
Revisiting The Feminine Mystique with Rachel Shteir 53:42

4M ago53:42

53:42

How have gender politics shaped the role of women in our society? How far are we from equality, or are we there? And how has history informed our modern conversations on women's rights? In her latest book, "Betty Friedan: Magnificent Disrupter," renowned essayist, writer, and critic Rachel Shteir presents a compelling biography of the woman behind …

1
Climate Capital and a Green Tech Future with Jigar Shah 54:28

5M ago54:28

54:28

Will the green transition happen, and how far do we have to go? Jigar Shah, the director of the Loan Programs Office in the US Department of Energy, shares his insights into the current landscape, future potential, and challenges for the successful commercial deployment of critical clean energy technologies. What Could Go Right? is produced by The …

1
Progress Check: Politics and AI, Homeless Vets, and STDs with Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas 51:36

5M ago51:36

51:36

How much of a threat is AI to elections with new disclosure rules from big platforms in place? What's going on with infant mortality trends? And why can't we test for more illnesses at home? Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas are back to discuss the latest news stories we might have missed. What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Networ…

1
Change Is the Operative Force of History with Drew Gilpin Faust 59:07

5M ago59:07

59:07

What are the dangers of not acknowledging what has gotten better? How do we understand the marks history leaves on individuals? And what does a former president of Harvard think of higher education in the US today? We hear from historian, civil rights activist, and the first woman president of Harvard, Drew Gilpin Faust, about how her story and how…

1
Not Too Late for the Climate with Rebecca Solnit and Thelma Young Lutunatabua 1:01:20

6M ago1:01:20

1:01:20

Is climate discourse doomerism based on the right facts and frameworks? Are we not giving the potential of change enough credence? And where does the climate movement go from here? Today, we hear from the authors of "Not Too Late," Rebecca Solnit and Thelma Young Lutunatabua, whose climate activism is deliberately removed from despair. What Could G…

1
Progress Check: Climate Dads, Cell Phone Bans, and Asteroid Sampling with Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas 42:36

6M ago42:36

42:36

Who is going to work these days and who is staying home? How should schools handle cell phones on their grounds, and what is the UK doing about them in particular? And what did NASA scientists find in their latest asteroid sample? Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas are back to discuss the latest news stories we might have missed. What Could Go R…

1
Navigating Israel-Palestine with Ian Bremmer 50:56

6M ago50:56

50:56

Will there be peace in the Middle East, or will the current conflict escalate? How can we understand the situation with moral nuance? And how do we parse information in the "fog of war"? On today's episode, we talk with Ian Bremmer, foreign affairs analyst and president and founder of Eurasia Group, to examine the complicated crisis of Israel-Pales…

1
The Great Awokening's Great Mistakes with Yascha Mounk 1:09:06

6M ago1:09:06

1:09:06

Are identity politics getting in the way of real progress? How did these marginal academic ideas go mainstream? And is it possible to make progress without diminishing the progress we have already made? Yascha Mounk, contributing editor at The Atlantic, host of The Good Fight podcast, and author of "The Identity Trap," offers his ideas on the pitfa…

1
A System Under Stress: Lincoln and Today with Steve Inskeep 1:00:23

6M ago1:00:23

1:00:23

What does it take to create great compromise? Can Abraham Lincoln's method of talking to people with opposing views work today? And is it possible to find hope through looking at history? Steve Inskeep, host of Morning Edition and Up Next on NPR, and author of Differ We Must: How Lincoln Succeeded in a Divided America, joins the show to break down …

1
Progress Check: Catching Up on the News with Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas 50:00

7M ago50:00

50:00

Is mental health worsening across generations? Has criminal justice reform actually worked? And are we ready for the first mass produced humanoid robots? "What Could Go Right?" hosts Zachary Karabell, founder of The Progress Network, and Emma Varvaloucas, executive director of The Progress Network, take a look at the progress that has been made sin…

1
Introducing What’s Your Problem: Building a Plane to Help Save the World 28:48

8M ago28:48

28:48

A new season of What Could Go Right is just around the corner, and in the meantime, we wanted to share an episode of a podcast that we think you’ll really like – What’s Your Problem. What’s Your Problem is a show from our friends at Pushkin Industries all about technology and business. Entrepreneurs and engineers talk about the future they’re tryin…

1
Introducing Smart People Podcast: Lessons From the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness 57:52

9M ago57:52

57:52

While we prepare for the launch of What Could Go Right’s fifth season this fall, we wanted to share another show we think listeners will enjoy – Smart People Podcast. Smart People Podcast is a biweekly interview show from our friend’s at Glassbox Media. It features today’s most well respected thought leaders and the host, Chris Stemp, and his co-ho…

1
Introducing Ones and Tooze: Could Green Hydrogen Revolutionize the Energy Sector? 36:09

9M ago36:09

36:09

What Could Go Right returns for season 5 this fall, but in the meantime we’re excited to share an episode of Ones and Tooze this week. Ones and Tooze is a weekly economics podcast from Foreign Policy hosted by FP deputy editor Cameron Abadi and FP columnist, economic historian and author Adam Tooze. In this episode, Cameron and Adam take a look at …

1
A Look Back and A Look Forward with Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas 49:57

10M ago49:57

49:57

Is the US economy okay or even positive? Are we making any progress on climate change? What's going on with global inequality? As we close out this season of "What Could Go Right?" hosts Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas look back at the predictions that started the year and check in with the current news of the day. What Could Go Right? is pro…

1
Renovating Our House with Danielle Allen 57:24

11M ago57:24

57:24

Is change possible? Can democracy be renovated to serve the constituency better? And what does this mean for the 2024 election? Political theorist at Harvard University and founder and president of Partners in Democracy, Danielle Allen, joins us to talk about how democracy is (or isn't) addressing our most urgent concerns. Plus, LGBTQ support skyro…

1
A Better World with James Pethokoukis 59:04

11M ago59:04

59:04

Did anyone "win" the debt ceiling debate? Where is the economy headed, long-term? And what breakthroughs can be used to build a better world? James Pethokoukis, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where he specializes in US economic policy, joins us to share his perspective on a brighter future. Plus, bacteria-fighting AI and trac…

1
What We Talk About When We Talk About Science with Sara Walker 51:25

11M ago51:25

51:25

What's the nature of the universe? What is life? And what do we talk about when we talk about science? We're joined by Professor Sara Walker, an astrobiologist and theoretical physicist with research interests in the origins of life, artificial life, and detection of life on other worlds, to see how the way we think about the world informs the rest…

1
How to Be Optimistic About America with John Avlon 58:24

11M ago58:24

58:24

What road is hyperpartisanship taking us down? Can we learn from our history? And is the current state of American politics worse than ever before? Today, we talk with CNN's senior political analyst and author of "Lincoln and the Fight for Peace," John Avlon, to discuss how the past can inform our understanding of and response to current political …

1
Ukraine's Counteroffensive with Tim Mak 53:50

11M ago53:50

53:50

What is the human side of war? Investigative journalist Tim Mak joins us from Kyiv to share an update on Ukraine's spring counteroffensive, what life is like in a war-torn country, and what he has learned about resilience and mental health covering his first war. Plus, electric vehicles' growth is explosive, and a battery breakthrough that could ma…

1
Demon Drugs and Moral Panics with Maia Szalavitz 52:51

12M ago52:51

52:51

Is drug use always harmful? How does empathy play a role in addiction? Could it be more beneficial to approach drug use as a public health issue rather than a criminal one? In this episode, we speak with Maia Szalavitz, an award-winning journalist and author, about the potential benefits of harm reduction for addiction treatment and addressing larg…

1
Artificial Unintelligence with Baratunde Thurston 56:13

12M ago56:13

56:13

Is technology moving us forward or backward? What is the human cost of progress? And is artificial intelligence making people more divided, or can it help us find common ground? Comedian, commentator, and author Baratunde Thurston joins us to talk about how technology and humanity are sometimes at odds and sometimes companions. What Could Go Right?…

1
Challenging the Consensus on China with Jessica Chen Weiss 50:43

12M ago50:43

50:43

Is China the US's perennial enemy? How do the complexities of China's political landscape affect global affairs? And is conflict over Taiwan inevitable? In today's episode, we explore these questions with Jessica Chen Weiss, a Cornell professor and author specializing in Chinese foreign policy and nationalism. Plus, we learn about Uzbekistan's chan…

1
Demanding More: Politics in Sub-Saharan Africa with Ebenezer Obadare 53:37

1y ago53:37

53:37

Are the tides shifting in Africa? What direction is the continent's progress toward good governance headed? And how should we understand competing international interests and investment there? Ebenezer Obadare, a Douglas Dillon senior fellow for Africa studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, joins us to examine Nigeria's contentious election a…

1
The Boys Are Not All Right with Richard Reeves 1:03:37

1y ago1:03:37

1:03:37

Is the struggle of boys and men a partisan issue? And how have recent economic and social changes influenced the classroom, the workplace, and the family? Brookings Institution scholar Richard V. Reeves joins us to tackle the complex crisis of boyhood and manhood. Plus, we look at the US's renewable power industry and discuss Malaysia's death penal…

1
The Globalization Myth with Shannon O'Neil 56:39

1y ago56:39

56:39

How have regional dynamics shifted in an increasingly globalizing world? And what is going on in Latin America and Mexico, and how will it affect the United States? Today we talk with Shannon O'Neil, vice president, deputy director of studies, and senior fellow for Latin America Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, as well as the author of …

1
How to Create Positive Change with Danielle Moodie and Wajahat Ali 1:02:59

1y ago1:02:59

1:02:59

How does change actually occur? And what are the best tactics for bringing large coalitions together? Hosts of Democracy-ish, Danielle Moodie and Wajahat Ali, discuss the balance between angry revolution and individual hope, and what ultimately gets people on board with a movement. Plus, we take a look at the World Happiness Report and the college …

1
Entangled with Isaac Saul 1:04:36

1y ago1:04:36

1:04:36

Are we as divided as we think we are? Is it possible to move out of our political and news silos? And is there a way to re-establish trust in the media? Isaac Saul, the founder of Tangle News, shares his effort to offer truly bipartisan journalism. Plus, what's going on with Silicon Valley Bank, fentanyl test strips, and declassified Covid informat…

1
Bootstrapping the American Dream with Alissa Quart 1:00:50

1y ago1:00:50

1:00:50

Has the American Dream changed? Is a side hustle the answer to income inequality? And is self-reliance the all-important north star we have been led to believe it is? Today, author, journalist, and Executive Director of the Economic Hardship Reporting Project, Alissa Quart, asserts that at the heart of our distress is a misplaced belief in our inde…

1
Government Secrecy with Matthew J. Connelly 1:03:20

1y ago1:03:20

1:03:20

What's with Biden's, Trump's, and Pence's classified documents? Why is everything secret in the first place? And what is this costing democracy? Matthew J. Connelly, professor of international and global history at Columbia University, principal investigator at History Lab, and author of the book "The Declassification Engine," looks at the conseque…

1
Living Up to America's Promises with Peniel E. Joseph 1:04:23

1y ago1:04:23

1:04:23

Are we actually a "United" States? Has the US lived up to the promise of inclusivity, freedom, equality, and opportunity for everyone? And where can we go from here? Peniel E. Joseph, professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs and the history department in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Texas at Austin, joins us to ask these qu…

1
Moral Ambition with Rutger Bregman 52:04

1y ago52:04

52:04

What incentivizes human behavior? How many of our problems come from a lack of cash? And how does shame work as a motivator? Join us and Rutger Bregman, author of “Humankind” and “Utopia for Realists,” to talk about balancing a critical eye with the conviction that the world can be improved upon. Plus, we look at the new billions being spent to fig…

1
Good Indicators: A Bird's Eye View of 2023 with Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas 47:13

1y ago47:13

47:13

What's going on with "the economy"? Is now the best time to be in love in all of human history? Should we be worried about the global state of democracy? "What Could Go Right?" hosts Zachary Karabell, founder of The Progress Network, and Emma Varvaloucas, executive director of The Progress Network, take a look at the world as it currently is and as…

1
Misinformation, Climate Momentum, and Negative Headlines with Bina Venkataraman 53:08

1+ y ago53:08

53:08

Is there a shift in momentum around the climate crisis? Will we ever hit our environmental goals? How has gatekeeping and bias informed our news? Plus, we talk with Editor-at-Large for The Boston Globe and former Senior Advisor for Climate Change Innovation in the Obama White House, Bina Venkataraman. What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progres…

1
The Modern Muslim World, Social Media's Positive Effects, and Gay Marriage in America with Mustafa Akyol 53:49

1+ y ago53:49

53:49

Are we in an ebb of liberalism worldwide, or are recent events like the protests in Iran a sign of pushback? What would a "John Locke" movement for Islam look like? We’re joined by Mustafa Akyol, senior fellow at the Cato Institute’s Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity, whose work examines the intersection of religion, culture, and government.…

1
The Fix for Crypto, Healthcare, and Equal Opportunity with Avik Roy 55:34

1+ y ago55:34

55:34

What does crypto mean for the future of banking? Why isn’t there an “Uber” for healthcare? Is negative economic growth necessarily bad? Today we’re joined by Avik Roy, President of the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity, to explore these questions. Plus, Sierra Leone pushes for change, Congress passes a “Bombshell” bill, and the 8 billion…

1
Moving Away from Toxicity: Recapping the Midterms with Steve Clemons 54:44

1+ y ago54:44

54:44

Are Americans truly done with "angertainment" and toxic politicians? Is democracy safe? Where does the United States go from here? Founding Editor at Large of Semafor and former Editor at Large of “The Hill” and “The Atlantic” Steve Clemons joins us to react to the midterm results and analyze their impact. What Could Go Right? is produced by The Pr…

1
Democracy on the Ballot, Climate Change, and Salary Transparency 49:54

1+ y ago49:54

49:54

Will the COP27 conference strengthen action against global warming? Is democracy really on the ballot? And as crime remains a concern for many Americans, what's really going on? Join Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas as they examine what's happening today. What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and The Podglomerate. Learn more…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

The Progress Network With Zachary Karabell And Emma Varvaloucas Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide