Best Public Interest Law Center Podcasts (2024)

1
Alternatives Pt 2: Getting to the Roots of Violence 1:02:14

3M ago1:02:14

1:02:14

In this final episode of Move It Forward, we’ll conclude our conversation on community violence prevention, exploring alternatives to policing and prosecution that are focused on addressing the systemic factors which give rise to violence. Throughout this season, we’ve heard from people impacted by gun violence and homicide about the influences of …

1
Alternatives Part 1: Mediation and Mentorship 47:47

8M ago47:47

47:47

Throughout this season, we have shared a quite a bit of political history and a number of personal stories that have illustrated the failures of policing and incarceration. Today we’re kicking off a two part conversation on the alternatives, delving even deeper into the work of the violence prevention projects we have featured consistently througho…

1
The Intersection of Toxicology, Environmental Health Law, and Justice 31:10

9M ago31:10

31:10

As the foremost experts on the effects of chemicals, biological substances, and more, toxicologists are key contributors to health regulation and laws. Law Professor and lawyer Claudia Polsky, University of California Berkeley, discusses how science can influence environmental health law, as well as environmental justice, with co-hosts Anne Chappel…

1
Pitfalls in Pharmaceutical Production: Protecting the Actual Drug Makers 23:30

10M ago23:30

23:30

While pharmaceuticals provide positive benefits for patients, what about workers that may be exposed during production? Elizabeth M. Vancza, Merck & Co. Inc., reveals to co-hosts Anne Chappelle and David Faulkner the role of occupational toxicologists in understanding the exposure risks of pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and other substances that may a…

1
The Big Picture of Small Things: Nanotoxicology 30:10

10M ago30:10

30:10

Nanoparticles are manmade fibers, particulates, and other objects that are so small that when inhaled, they can escape the lungs and enter other body systems. Timothy Nurkiewicz, West Virginia University, studies the effects of these and other particulars. He discusses his inhalation and nanotoxicology research, as well as work with the National Gu…

1
Tox in the Family: Generational Exposure and DDT 25:00

10M ago25:00

25:00

Blood samples and health records for 15,000 pregnancies provides a wealth of scientific data. Add samples and records from the resultant children and grandchildren, and you have an invaluable cohort with which you can study the long-term results of events that occur during pregnancy. Barbara Cohn with the Public Health Institute is the Director of …

1
Bringing Cohorts in Cahoots with Lab Science 31:03

10M ago31:03

31:03

The fields of epidemiology and toxicology sometimes find themselves at odds, but Gradient’s Julie Goodman, an epidemiologist and toxicologist, shares how the two disciplines can complement each other to evaluate public health risks. Dr. Goodman also dives into the finer points of systemic reviews and meta-analyses in her conversation with co-hosts …

1
Estradiol Complicates Everything: Toxicology across the Gender Spectrum 28:31

11M ago28:31

28:31

When it comes to hormones, everyone has them all, but their levels are where things get interesting. How chemicals affect estrogen signaling in the brain is the research focus of Troy Roepke, Rutgers, who talks to co-hosts Anne Chappelle and David Faulkner about how gender is not easily defined biologically, what it is like to be a “fabulously quee…

1
Up in Smoke: Where Cannabis Meets the Immune System 33:56

11M ago33:56

33:56

Since the discovery of cannabinoid receptors in the mid-1990s, researchers have been trying to determine their role and how they affect the immune system. Barbara Kaplan, Mississippi State University, discusses research in this area with co-hosts Anne Chappelle and David Faulkner and also shares what scientists are discovering about CBD, vaping, TH…

1
The Limits of American Criminal Justice Part 2: Prisons and Prosecution 41:10

11M ago41:10

41:10

We’re back again with more exploration of our criminal justice system. In the first part of this conversation, we looked at policing. In this episode, we’re focusing on prisons and prosecution. There has been a lot of attention given in the past several years to police reform but there has been less focus on how we can change prosecution and incarc…

1
The Limits of American Criminal Justice Part 1: Police 45:32

1y ago45:32

45:32

The recent resurgence of gun violence and homicide shows the deep failures in our approach to criminal justice. But instead of investing in new strategies, politicians are pushing us to respond with the same methods of policing and incarceration that we’ve been using for decades. In the first part of this conversation on our justice system’s approa…

1
Drugs and Guns: How Violence Intersects with the Drug Economy 53:21

1+ y ago53:21

53:21

US media and policymakers have long focused on the connection between violence and the drug economy. Since the 70s, the War On Drugs has shaped our approach to these overlapping crises, putting millions of people behind bars and tripling the number of Americans in prison. Today, cities like Philadelphia are facing levels of gun violence we haven’t …

1
Aftermath: Grief and Life After Losing a Loved One to Gun Violence 40:50

1+ y ago40:50

40:50

This episode, we’re talking to people who have lost loved ones to homicide about those experiences and what happened afterwards, both immediately and over a longer period of time. There’s a lot of pain and grief here. For every person who is murdered, there is a family, a friend group, a community who feel that loss. The numbers – over 500 people m…

1
Staring Down the Barrel: What Happened to Our Communities when Gun Control Failed 37:22

1+ y ago37:22

37:22

This episode, we’re taking a closer look at guns. The vast majority of murders in this country are committed with firearms. We can’t have a meaningful conversation about murders and gun violence without talking about how these guns make their way to our streets. With more being bought now than ever before in the United States, we spoke to people wh…

1
Proximity: People Impacted by Gun Violence Explain the Crisis 46:01

2y ago46:01

46:01

What is at the root of violence in the United States? In this episode, we speak to people with close connections to gun violence about what they think causes it and talk about the impact of seeing great wealth while living in poverty. The richest 1% in the US controls about 40% of the nation’s wealth. Could this be why the U.S. has more murders tha…

1
Untrue Crime: How Sensationalism Distorts Our Sense of Safety 40:33

2y ago40:33

40:33

Are you a fan of true crime? From podcasts, books, documentaries, and Netflix series, our society is consumed with ‘juicy’ horror stories of crime. Whether it’s a story about serial killers or cold-blooded killings, people are hungry for more. In this episode of Move It Forward, we look at the genre of true crime with guest Chenjerai Kumanyika and …

1
When Inequality Feeds Violence, Exploring the Roots of a Crisis 36:14

2y ago36:14

36:14

There’s talk all over the country about the rise in gun violence and homicide. While nightly news headlines sensationalize a crisis, there is little time given to explore what is behind the rise in violence and what people are trying to do to address it. In Philly alone, over 560 people were murdered, making 2021 the city’s worst year on record. To…

1
Wildfire Smoke Isn’t Monkey Business 26:54

2y ago26:54

26:54

Because of natural exposure to wildfire smoke, nonhuman primates have provided an increased understanding of the long-term effects of smoke inhalation during infancy, shares Lisa Miller, University of California Davis (UC Davis). Dr. Miller also discusses with co-hosts Anne Chappelle and David Faulkner the importance of animal models in human healt…

1
Sweating It Out: Exercise versus Toxic Exposures 25:19

2y ago25:19

25:19

With nonalcoholic fatty liver disease affecting nearly a third of the US population, Luma Melo, University of Pittsburgh, describes how mouse studies have shown that low-impact exercise can help reverse liver damage. Dr. Melo also shares with co-hosts Anne Chappelle and David Faulkner how research funding works in her native Brazil and the role of …

1
Anthropogenic Ghosts on the Coast 26:42

2y ago26:42

26:42

While no longer national news, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill is still impacting the ecological health of the Gulf of Mexico and the livelihoods of the communities that rely upon the gulf’s aquatic life, as Robert “Joe” Griffitt of the University of Southern Mississippi reveals. Dr. Griffitt and co-hosts Anne Chappelle and David Faulkner discuss h…

1
Lions and Vultures and Tox, Oh My 29:24

2y ago29:24

29:24

How human activity, chemical exposures, and environmental factors combine to contribute to wildlife population declines is at the forefront of the research by Dr. Caroline Moore and other teams at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. Dr. Moore unravels the role of toxicology in wildlife conservation with co-hosts Anne Chappelle and David Faulkner. …

1
The Delicious World of Food Safety 26:43

2y ago26:43

26:43

Even chocolate companies and wineries need toxicologists. Alexandria G. Lau, ToxStrategies Inc., has worked for both and shares her experiences with co-hosts Anne Chappelle and David Faulkner. They also discuss the research and development that goes into new food products and how toxicologists play a role in food safety. About the Guest Alexandria …

1
Heat Stressed: Biostats and Public Health 25:42

2y ago25:42

25:42

Biostatistics or data science for public health—whatever you choose to call it—informs understanding of the health and environmental impacts of exposures. Emory University’s Howard Chang discusses with co-hosts Anne Chappelle and David Faulkner the intricacies of interpreting data, the controversial P value, and the team science involved in studyin…

1
The Life-Giving Properties of Liquid Gold 31:58

2y ago31:58

31:58

With limited existing research on the effects of medications and exposures on lactation, Christina D. Chambers, University of California San Diego, shares work underway to better assess risks and benefits for mom and baby. Co-hosts Anne Chappelle and David Faulkner also discuss with Dr. Chambers the tricky roles of epidemiology and observational st…

1
Toxicology Is a Wise Choice: One Health, Many Ecosystems 24:06

2y ago24:06

24:06

Studying the effects of metals in whales and alligators, among other species, can offer immense insight into human health, John P. Wise Sr. tells Adverse Reactions co-hosts Anne Chappelle and David Faulkner. Dr. Wise also discusses research on chromosome instability and how you can help people everywhere make connections to the importance of enviro…

1
Space, the Final Risk Assessment Frontier 35:10

2y ago35:10

35:10

How do you set exposure limits to protect human health in a closed container floating in space? Valerie Ryder, a toxicologist at the NASA Johnson Space Center, takes co-hosts Anne Chappelle and David Faulkner into the small world of space toxicologists, where they also discuss research involving lunar dust, bone loss, and CO2. About the Guest Valer…

1
Where Do We Go From Here? 38:39

2+ y ago38:39

38:39

We’ve gone through the history of public school underfunding in PA, and we’ve taken a look at what the results on the ground look like. But now that the trial is underway, one big question remains: What happens now? In this final episode of Underfunded, we hear from a host of folks — a lawyer, some teachers, a former legislator, an activist and an …

1
Anna Harvey 21:15

2+ y ago21:15

21:15

Jeff speaks with Anna Harvey, Professor of Politics; Affiliated Professor of Data Science and Law; Director, Public Safety Lab at NYU about research and more. Harvey’s research focuses on criminal justice, policing, judicial politics, and political economy. Email: bedrosian.center@usc.edu Twitter: @BedrosianCenter…

1
Michael Olson 20:37

2+ y ago20:37

20:37

Jeff speaks with Michael Olson, Assistant Professor of Political Science at Washington University at St. Louis about research and more. Olson’s research focuses on political representation using historic and contemporary observational data. Email: bedrosian.center@usc.edu Twitter: @BedrosianCenterBy USC Bedrosian Center

1
How We Got Here: From No Child Left Behind To... ? 37:59

2+ y ago37:59

37:59

On today's episode, we look at how PA's public schools have come to the impasse they're in now, at the hand of shifting political priorities over the past handful of governors and presidents. Underfunded is a project of the Publc Interest Law Center, with a grant from the William Penn Foundation. For more information on the fight to fairly fund pub…

1
Zhao Li 20:22

2+ y ago20:22

20:22

Jeff speaks with Zhao Li, Assistant Professor of Politics and Public Affairs at Princeton University. Li studies institutional and behavioral factors in donor decision making in contemporary American Politics. She recently gave a research talk at USC Price, looking at the connections between Fox News and GOP campaign rallies and finances. Recent wo…

1
Episode 4: A Brief History of Underfunding, 1840-2001 31:58

3y ago31:58

31:58

History buffs take note! On this week’s show, we talk with a historian, a longtime journalist and a former legislator and learn that underfunding of PA public schools is very possibly older than the schools themselves.By Public Interest Law Center

1
To Breathe a Little Easier and Why the Lungs Are the Sexiest Organ 26:45

3y ago26:45

26:45

From vaping to wildfire smoke to pollutants such as diesel exhaust to airborne diseases, the lungs are the organ most exposed to our external environment, according to Ilona Jaspers of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Jaspers also introduces co-hosts Anne Chappelle and David Faulkner to convergence science, a new approach to int…

1
Su Ming Yeh L’04, current Executive Director at the Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project 21:34

3y ago21:34

21:34

A conversation with Su Ming Yeh L’04, current Executive Director at the Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project.By Penn Carey Law

1
All the Tox That's Fit to Print . . . or Present . . . or Blog 19:26

3y ago19:26

19:26

With pre-print services, data sharing, open access, and the internet rapidly changing the journal publication landscape, Toxicological Sciences Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey M. Peters provides co-hosts Anne Chappelle and David Faulkner with perspective on how journals are adapting to the times. Dr. Peters also details how new training and guidance progra…

1
More Than a Color Scheme: The Future of Toxicology in Green Chemistry 24:03

3y ago24:03

24:03

Margaret “Meg” H. Whittaker, Managing Director and Chief Toxicologist of ToxServices LLC, outlines the similarities and differences between risk assessment, alternative assessments, and green chemistry. Co-hosts Anne Chappelle and David Faulkner also discover how alternative assessments can lead to safer and more sustainable products that protect a…

1
Episode 3: Underfunding Everywhere: Ambridge, Slippery Rock, Duquesne, & Beyond (Part 2 of 2) 23:32

3y ago23:32

23:32

On today’s episode, we continue our “road trip” across PA to look at underfunding’s effects in our more rural communities. Along the way, we hear from folks who reveal that the problem has manifested in ways that are generational, often racialized, and just about omnipresent all over the state. Plus, a longtime observer of PA rural schools gives us…

1
Speak Softly and Carry a Big Dataset: The Exposome 27:09

3y ago27:09

27:09

Ohio State University’s Darryl B. Hood reveals how a database with about 25,000 environmental factors and variables associated with the public health exposome may soon lead to major breakthroughs in addressing disparate public health outcomes in various communities. He also shares with co-hosts Anne Chappelle and David Faulkner his experiences from…

1
Episode 2: Episode 2: Underfunding Everywhere: Allentown & Erie (Part 1 of 2) 21:55

3y ago21:55

21:55

This week, we begin a two-part road trip around PA, checking in across the state to hear stories from superintendents and students alike, visiting cities, small towns, rural areas, and everything in between. On today’s episode, we take a look at what’s going on in Allentown and Erie. Join us for part two, when we hear what underfunding looks like i…

1
DNA Isn't Destiny, So What Is? 30:25

3y ago30:25

30:25

Epigenetics expert Dana C. Dolinoy of the University of Michigan School of Public Health illuminates how our nascent understanding of the epigenome is leading to breakthroughs in understanding the causes—and potential treatment—of some public health problems. Co-hosts Anne Chappelle and David Faulkner also talk with Dr. Dolinoy about the collaborat…

1
The United States of Toxicity 26:59

3y ago26:59

26:59

Retired National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Director and lifelong federal scientist Linda S. Birnbaum discusses the intersection of policy and science, as well as the effect of environmental exposures on public health, with co-hosts Anne Chappelle and David Faulkner. Dr. Birnbaum also shares her insights on how to be an effe…

1
Capturing Adverse Reactions 9:01

3y ago9:01

9:01

Meet co-hosts Anne Chappelle and David Faulkner as they explore the origins of Adverse Reactions, how people are at the heart of all science, and why the science of toxicology is more relevant than ever. About Anne After graduating from the University of Delaware with a BS in biology in 1991, Anne Chappelle accidentally found her calling when she w…

1
Episode 1: The Hunger Games 24:00

3y ago24:00

24:00

Public schools in PA aren't fairly funded, and this has been the case for decades. In episode one of Underfunded, hosted by education journalists Melanie Bavaria and Meg St-Esprit, we take a look at what it's really like on the ground right now, for teachers, kids and communities. Along the way, we'll talk with educators, community organizers, and …

1
Care Not Cops: Mental Health Responses for Our Communities 50:49

3y ago50:49

50:49

What is mental health? How can we be more whole and how can we advocate for systems that help all of our community members heal? In this episode, we look at mental health with two practitioners -- Iresha Picot and Jacqui Johnson. Listen to their conversation that ranges from trauma to mental health crisis response to hip-hop. Learn about the policy…

1
Trailer 2:18

3y ago2:18

2:18

Public school funding in Pennsylvania has been on the skids for decades now, but today, it’s doing real harm all over the state. And this isn’t by accident. PA’s legislature has created a system where the kids who need the most, get the least, usually because of where they live. So much so that across the Keystone State, 86% of public school studen…

1
Miguel Pereira 22:35

3y ago22:35

22:35

Jeffery speaks with new USC Dornsife assistant professor Miguel Pereira about research and experiments in political science. Pereira's research focuses on political representation and the behavior of political elites in established democracies, with a focus on causal inference. In addition, he shares some new research looking at responsiveness of l…

1
When Life Means Death 35:27

3y ago35:27

35:27

How can we truly understand Life Without Parole without knowing its impact on the families and communities of those who are condemned? In this episode, we look at the sentence through the eyes of Patricia Vickers. She shares about her complicated struggles as the mother of a son who's been condemned to life in prison. Learn about the growing moveme…

1
Rachel VanSickle-Ward and Kevin Wallsten 24:31

3y ago24:31

24:31

In this episode, Jeff speaks with Rachel VanSickle-Ward and Kevin Wallsten. In The Politics of the Pill, the two authors explore how gender has shaped contemporary debates over contraception policy in the U.S. Within historical context, they examine the impact that women and perceptions of gender roles had on media coverage, public opinion, policy …

1
Reopening Hope at the Board of Pardons 41:07

3+ y ago41:07

41:07

As much as “mass incarceration” and “criminal justice reform” have become common terms in American vernacular, one would think we know pretty-much all there is to know about them. In Episode 5, we dig into an important part of the criminal legal system — Commutation and the Board of Pardons. Hear from Naomi Blount-Wilson, a woman who spent 37 years…

1
Black Feminist Perspectives 59:20

3+ y ago59:20

59:20

With everything we’re confronted with, we recognize the need to look through different sets of eyes. In this episode, we take a look through the lens of Black Feminism. Join us for a rich conversation on the subject with some powerful thinkers in our society — Mandisa More-O’Neal, Tiyi Morris, Erica Perry, and Kris Henderson. Nikki Grant also joins…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Public Interest Law Center Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide