Best Wonks At Work Podcasts (2024)

1
The Kids Aren’t Alright: Dr. Tiffany Howell 12:35

2h ago12:35

12:35

There is growing concern about the role social media plays in the mental health and development of young people. Arkansas’s governor, multiple other states, Congress, and the courts are all delving into this issue. The U.S. surgeon general has even called for warning labels on social media platforms. As those efforts move forward, it falls upon par…

1
Can Public Policy Make People Happy? 16:53

8d ago16:53

16:53

Are you feeling happy today? California lawmakers want to know. A newly formed legislative committee is taking on an unusual public policy challenge: They want to make California residents happier. Our guest today, Mark Baldassare, recently testified before the committee and shared his insights into how Californians are feeling. Baldassare, who is …

1
Sweetest Devotion: Tyler Faircloth 11:31

15d ago11:31

11:31

There are numerous risks along the birthing journey that contribute to poor outcomes for Arkansas moms and babies. One effective practice for promoting healthy outcomes for babies is breastfeeding, which supports their immune systems and cognitive development. Unfortunately, breastfeeding is not an option for some mothers. To learn more about a new…

1
The Heat Is On: Todd Yakoubian 16:53

27d ago16:53

16:53

Hundreds of cities in nearly every U.S. state are on track for one of their 10 warmest summers on record. Besides posing immediate risk for illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke, extreme heat can create cumulative stress on the human body over prolonged periods. Heat can also impact us in less obvious ways, such as worsening health risk…

1
A Historian's View on Our Dysfunctional Congress 41:33

30d ago41:33

41:33

When it comes to politics, Americans don’t agree on much these days, but they do agree that they don’t like Congress. Just 16% of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing, according to a June Gallup poll, continuing a trend of low approval ratings for the legislative body. That may be for good reason. From repeated battles for the House speak…

1
We Take Care of Our Own: Errin Stanger 29:37

2M ago29:37

29:37

Maintaining one's health is challenging for those whose basic needs such as housing and food are unmet. A new effort in Central Arkansas, Providence Park, seeks to address the needs of people who are chronically unhoused, offering permanent housing and wrap-around services including healthcare for those in need. Host Craig Wilson talks to Providenc…

1
Season 1 Recap 6:02

2M ago6:02

6:02

Thank you to all of our listeners for tuning into the podcast this year. We’re taking a short break this summer to record new conversations that explore the impact of public policy with USC Price School faculty. In the meantime, here are some highlights from our first season, where our guests offered evidence-based insights that paint a more nuance…

1
Now's the Time: Dr. Maria Rodriguez-Alcala 14:11

3M ago14:11

14:11

Maternal health has finally risen to the forefront of policy conversations in Arkansas, driven by the startling statistic that our state has the highest maternal mortality rate in the nation. Improving maternal health outcomes should be reason enough for policymakers to invest in positive change, but sometimes it helps to outline the economic benef…

1
A Professor’s Quest to Save Her Son 31:17

4M ago31:17

31:17

Four years ago, Elizabeth Currid-Halkett received some of the worst news imaginable: her son, Eliot, was diagnosed with a fatal neuromuscular disease. In her quest to save her son, she learned of a gene therapy that ultimately helped Eliot, but she ran into roadblocks that made it difficult to access this life changing treatment. Her story, recentl…

1
Behind the Wall of Sleep: Dr. Dimitry Fomin 17:28

4M ago17:28

17:28

When we’re well rested, we can start our day in a good mood and are better able to respond to whatever the day brings. There are, however, many different things that can keep us from getting a good night’s sleep. For some, minimizing common disruptions to sleep is not enough, as they deal with sleep disorders that cause problems with the quality, t…

1
Inside Political Polling 29:06

4M ago29:06

29:06

Recent elections outcomes have made many Americans question the accuracy of public polling. Political polls for the 2016 and 2020 presidential contests, for example, generally underestimated the support for former President Donald Trump. In many ways, measuring public opinion is more difficult than ever, but polls are still often accurate. They als…

1
Which COVID Policies Worked? 28:05

5M ago28:05

28:05

It’s been four years since the COVID-19 pandemic first swept the globe, shutting down schools and businesses and killing more than 1.1 million people in the U.S. alone. In response to the crisis, governments implemented public health policies that would come to define life for the next few years: Mask mandates, stay at home orders, vaccines and boo…

1
Home Sweet Home: Katherine Prentice 14:37

6M ago14:37

14:37

One impact of the pandemic on our healthcare system is that it inspired some necessary creativity and interest in new ways of providing care. One alternative care model that saw increased interest was the hospital-at-home model. About 150 hospitals have adopted this model, in which hospitals provide intensive care at home for patients with certain …

1
Walk of Life: Dr. Kalena Jones 17:01

6M ago17:01

17:01

There are several programs underway in Arkansas aimed at improving maternal and infant health outcomes. One such program is Life360 HOMEs, part of Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me, or ARHOME, the latest iteration of Medicaid expansion in the state. Life360 HOMEs are designed to provide additional, intensive supports to a number of target popu…

1
Trust. The Key to Safer Communities. 31:03

6M ago31:03

31:03

Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell discusses the lack of trust between police and the communities they serve. The challenge climaxed in 2020 with the murder of George Floyd, which sparked nationwide protests and calls for police reform. But McDonnell, now director of the Safe Communities Institute (SCI) at the USC Price School, says po…

1
Management Consultant, Policy Wonk, and Christian Men’s Influencer: Interview with Aaron Renn, author of Life in the Negative World 44:20

6M ago44:20

44:20

Author of "Life in the Negative World", Aaron Renn, joins me to discuss his new book. Key take-aways are: Dig your well before you’re thirsty. As I reflect on Aaron’s career in business, influencing public policy, and now helping readers and listeners directly, It’s clear how each piece of the puzzle builds on what went before in his career. Aaron …

1
I’ll Cover You: Dr. Joe Thompson 8:48

7M ago8:48

8:48

January 2024 marks 10 years since several key provisions of the Affordable Care Act took effect in Arkansas. In this episode, host Craig Wilson sits down with ACHI President and CEO Dr. Joe Thompson to discuss their perspectives on this anniversary. Dr. Thompson focuses on the impact of the state’s innovative approach to Medicaid expansion, while o…

1
Danger Zone: Dr. Nirvana Manning 23:48

7M ago23:48

23:48

Moms are more likely to die during pregnancy or shortly after giving birth in Arkansas than in any other state. This is a shocking statistic, especially because maternal mortality is largely preventable. In this episode, host Craig Wilson asks University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology Dr. Nirvana Manning what ca…

1
Psychology, Meet Public Policy 24:30

7M ago24:30

24:30

From combating climate change to improving sex education, Provost Professor Wändi Bruin de Bruin uses behavioral science to understand what motivates people’s behavior and how to change it for the better. In this episode, Bruin de Bruin shares how simpler language can make climate change easier to understand, why asking people who their friends are…

1
Fight From the Inside: Jordan Murdoch 28:46

9M ago28:46

28:46

Antibiotic resistance and the inappropriate use of antibiotics pose growing threats to public health, both here in Arkansas and around the globe. For U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week, we’re joined by one of our public health partners to learn more about these issues and what healthcare professionals and the public should know about antibiotic resista…

1
Live Bonus Episode 49:11

10M ago49:11

49:11

The United States Library of Congress selected Dr. Strangelove as one of the first 25 films in the National Film Registry. As we approach the 60th anniversary of Dr. Strangelove (in Jan 2024), our live podcast panel takes a critical look at the dark comedy and reveals how the satire is uncomfortably realistic, even to this day. Using dialogue from …

1
Signs for the Future 39:53

10M ago39:53

39:53

Some questions fall far outside the scope of what governments are designed to answer. How will we explain ourselves to extraterrestrials? What can we say to warn humans 10,000 years in the future about the nuclear waste we’re leaving behind? Assuming we develop the proper technology, would it be beneficial to breed glowing cats? Two decades after N…

1
Digital Witness: J. Foster Davis 20:26

10M ago20:26

20:26

Among the challenges currently facing rural hospitals is cybersecurity, which was one of the main concerns expressed in a recent report commissioned by the Arkansas General Assembly. According to Becker’s Hospital Review, nationwide there have been 327 data breaches reported to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Civil Rights as …

1
An Illegal Floating City 31:53

10M ago31:53

31:53

Fishermen dying mysteriously off the coast of Japan. Entire populations of sea animals disappearing. Despite decades of work by the international community, the high seas remain law enforcement’s biggest blind spot, and the site of environmental crimes whose effects reach around the world. But some people are attempting to stop these crimes: We fol…

1
When You’re Smiling: Dr. Burke Soffe 19:11

10M ago19:11

19:11

Only 57% of Arkansas adults reported having a dental visit in 2020. Like other health professions, there is an enormous need to educate, train, and keep dentists here in Arkansas to address the state’s significant oral health needs. That's why the announcement of a planned dental school at the newly established Lyon College Institute of Health Scie…

1
The Leak from Compound 19 26:38

10M ago26:38

26:38

In February 2020, an elite group of biosecurity experts, worried about the threat of pandemics, plays a bizarrely prescient role-playing game. They run into an age-old pattern of secrecy and mistrust, one that thwarts their efforts to ‘beat’ the game. We travel back to a (real-life) period when dozens of mysterious deaths occurred in a closed Sovie…

1
Atomic: Dr. Michael Birrer 22:04

10M ago22:04

22:04

More than 17,000 Arkansans are diagnosed with cancer each year. As of late September, the most advanced cancer radiation treatment in the world is now available in our state following the opening of The Proton Center of Arkansas. The center in Little Rock is the result of a collaboration between the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arka…

1
Ground Control to Space Junk 28:24

10M ago28:24

28:24

There are no international laws against littering in space, which is a shame, because individual governments love to blow things up in low-Earth orbit. The result? A crisis of ricocheting debris that goes on forever. As private industry sends an unprecedented number of satellites into orbit, security experts find themselves in a race against the cl…

1
Windmills in a North Korean Cabbage Patch 35:59

11M ago35:59

35:59

An arms-control advocate accepts an invitation to the dacha of a hard-partying North Korean power broker. There, through a haze of smoke and propaganda, they identify some common ground and set out to test a hypothesis: That it’s possible for Americans and North Koreans to work together toward peace. The result is a tense but extraordinary moment i…

1
One Horse Town: Randy Barymon 23:21

11M ago23:21

23:21

Arkansas hospitals continue to face financial challenges coming out of the pandemic as inflation outpaces revenue. Earlier this year, the state established a new designation, the rural emergency hospital, following a move by Congress in late 2020. The new designation could make financial sense for some hospitals with lower inpatient volume, but the…

1
Skinny-Dipping in the USSR 27:43

11M ago27:43

27:43

As the Cold War draws to a close, a group of American scientists hatches a plan to board a Soviet warship with a nuclear weapons detector to prove to their own government that the USSR is open to nuclear arms verification. Meet the guys who brought a slug of depleted uranium through security at LaGuardia Airport, sat atop a Soviet nuclear device in…

1
Not Afraid: Chris Thompson 23:41

11M ago23:41

23:41

New digital technologies can boost our individual health and well-being and make the healthcare system more accessible, personalized, efficient, and cost-effective. This has created fertile ground for health technology startups exploring innovative ways to address patient and consumer needs. Recently, we've seen a flurry of startup activity in the …

1
You’re Welcome (A Prologue) 9:32

11M ago9:32

9:32

If you’re reading this, and you’re not in some sort of irradiated, post-apocalyptic hellscape… well, you can thank our host Jeffrey Lewis. He studies nukes—who has them, who wants them, and how to prevent them from going off—so that we’re less likely to die in a nuclear war. The thing is, lots of people have jobs like this. They’re not celebrities …

1
Introducing: The Reason We’re All Still Here 2:46

12M ago2:46

2:46

With the Iran nuclear deal dead as a doorknob, Jeffrey Lewis set out to make a new podcast, one that tells stories of scientists, journalists and maybe a vigilante or two... private citizens who are working to solve diplomatic problems and prevent the next global catastrophe. Yes this podcast is about saving the world – one arduous, unlikely, under…

1
Learning To Fly: Robin Howell 29:21

1y ago29:21

29:21

Cultivating interest in healthcare careers among students earlier in the educational process is key to ensuring a sufficient workforce pipeline to respond to the needs of Arkansans. That has been the focus of Robin Howell, senior program manager for regional campuses at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, for more than 35 years. In thi…

1
The Long and Winding Road: Dr. Joe Thompson 12:33

1y ago12:33

12:33

Findings from research on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on minority communities have largely been uniform in showing overwhelmingly disparate health outcomes. In this episode of Wonks at Work, host Craig Wilson discusses findings from ACHI's analysis of Arkansas-specific data on COVID-19 health disparities with ACHI president and CEO Dr. Joe …

1
The Heart of the Matter: Dr. Anthony Fletcher 21:00

1y ago21:00

21:00

The COVID-19 public health emergency may have ended, but some Arkansans who were infected are still experiencing health impacts. In this episode, host Craig Wilson welcomes CHI St. Vincent cardiologist Dr. Anthony Fletcher, who discusses findings from ACHI’s analysis of COVID-19 disparities and long COVID in Arkansas. Dr. Fletcher also gives a firs…

1
Living with the Law: Michelle Kitchens 27:37

1y ago27:37

27:37

Several new laws passed by the Arkansas General Assembly during its most recent session have already taken effect or will go into effect at the end of this month. In this episode of the podcast, we revisit the session through a healthcare lens for a review of what has already changed, what will soon become the law of the land, and what it all means…

1
Love Your Family and be the Classiest Corpse in the Graveyard – Interview with Abby O’Leary, founder of Fare Well Associates 35:52

1y ago35:52

35:52

Abby O’Leary is founder of Fare Well Associates, a consultancy that helps families deal with details during times of grief and loss. Key takeaways: 1. We’re all going to die, so die in style! Make an estate plan, then execute it and fund it. 2. You can make a business out of anything. Some businesses may be easier than others, but if there’s a way …

1
You'll Never Walk Alone: Lt. Tim Shepard 21:47

1y ago21:47

21:47

In this episode, we revisit the intersection of mental health and law enforcement, a space in need of innovative solutions and a topic that has been the focus of two previous episodes. Host Craig Wilson welcomes Fayetteville Police Lt. Tim Shepard for a discussion of his work in Northwest Arkansas as the supervisor of the Crisis Intervention Respon…

1
Justice Bites and Redemption Restores – Interview with Attorney Josh Walthall of Boerema Blackton 35:49

1y ago35:49

35:49

Josh Walthall, a former prosecutor for New Hanover County and the North Carolina State Bar brings career and life advice – and great stories – for licensed professionals and everyone else trying to do the right thing in their job. Key take-aways are: 1. Many situations that give rise to complaints or enforcement actions can be avoided by treating o…

1
Even Flow: Anne Santifer 22:47

1y ago22:47

22:47

In this episode, we explore how electronic health records — digital collections of patients' medical histories (lab results, medications, ER visits, etc.) — can be used to improve the care we receive. Host Craig Wilson is joined by Anne Santifer, executive director of the Office of Health Information Technology at the Arkansas Department of Health,…

1
Make That Connection: Dr. Mike Wilson 27:41

1y ago27:41

27:41

Harm reduction is a key part of how we address the opioid epidemic. Making the overdose-reversal drug naloxone more widely available is a mainstay of harm reduction and the chief objective of ACHI's NaloxHome program. It is also critical to connect people with substance use disorder to treatment options and not miss opportunities for intervention. …

1
You Are The We - David Ferriero 58:24

1+ y ago58:24

58:24

Preservation of our founding documents and records of debates and other commentaries on the purposes and intentions of the Founders are essential to both our past and present application of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. They are more than memories of the past, they continue to be the foundation upon which our government and liberties res…

1
Our Sun Is Rising – A Group Of Americans 57:53

1+ y ago57:53

57:53

“America is perfect idea; the United States is a work in progress.” This has been a constant theme during our “Becoming America” series. In today's society, more diverse than ever, how do the ideas that motivated our Founders stand up? Does the Constitution still resonate with the people? This episode features everyday Americans sharing their thoug…

1
We, The People - Andrew Guilford 55:04

1+ y ago55:04

55:04

The Preamble of the Constitution contains its most revolutionary statement, beginning with the remarkable statement that the new government would be based on the authority of “We the People.” In this episode of “Becoming America,” Dr. Jo Ellen Chatham, Judge Jim Gray, and Bijan Kian interview Judge Andrew Guilford. Retired after serving for nearly …

1
Someone Has Got To Decide – Dr. Gordon Lloyd 52:58

1+ y ago52:58

52:58

Fortunately, there are thousands of documents recording the drafting and ratification of our Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Letters, journals, newspaper articles, political pamphlets and much more provide a comprehensive account – including from both sides - those who favored and those who disapproved of the Constitution. Our guest in this ep…

1
It’s Lonesome At The Top - George Washington 57:11

1+ y ago57:11

57:11

It can be lonesome at the top, especially when you lead not only a country but a country at the cusp of transformation. At the creation of the United States, there was one indispensable man. He commanded the Continental Army through the Revolutionary War, presided over the Constitutional Convention, and was elected to be our first President. We all…

1
The Studied Silence – Maj. Gen. James Williams 48:55

1+ y ago48:55

48:55

Why did our Founding Fathers ignore the issue of slavery when crafting the Constitution? To understand this better, we need to put everything in context with the times. The incipient federation was at risk of many Southern states not joining if slavery was outlawed, and many of the delegates themselves were slave owners. But to their credit, they d…

1
Policy Wonks - Tom Campbell 1:00:18

1+ y ago1:00:18

1:00:18

The Constitutional Convention was by no means a smooth proceeding. The delegates represented a wide array of interests and opinions and argued about almost every provision before coming to a near-unanimous conclusion before the Convention adjourned. Among the most hotly contested issues were the relationship between the states and the new national …

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