Best Walter Shaub Podcasts (2024)

1
Over Classified 18:15

1+ y ago18:15

18:15

How did classified records wind up in the homes of former President Trump and two former vice presidents, Joe Biden and Mike Pence? In this week’s episode, The Continuous Action explains how the over-classification of government documents contributed to those news stories. The government has been classifying far too many documents — just about ever…

1
Courting Disaster 24:05

1y ago24:05

24:05

The Supreme Court has an ethics problem. The Project on Government Oversight’s Sarah Turberville and David Janovsky join Walt to discuss the need for a code of conduct for the highest court in the United States. The court’s legitimacy relies on the public’s faith in the institution, and it’s clear the American people believe the court has been poli…

1
Infiltrated! 22:53

1+ y ago22:53

22:53

A 2015 membership roll for the Oath Keepers, a violent, anti-government extremist group, included hundreds of current or former employees of the Department of Homeland Security. That’s according to a leaked document reviewed by the Project On Government Oversight. Since the creation of the document, members of the Oath Keepers, including its founde…

1
The Authoritarian’s Fist 23:37

1+ y ago23:37

23:37

Imagine a world in which the president had unfettered power to use the massive federal workforce as a weapon against political rivals. In that scenario, federal officials would be forced to serve a political party’s interests instead of the public interest. Your access to federal benefits and services could be slowed or blocked depending on your de…

1
Anything Goes 29:31

1+ y ago29:31

29:31

Members of Congress write their own rules — and those rules allow stock trades galore! In this episode of The Continuous Action, host Walt Shaub dives into topic of congressional stock trading, outlining the problems with the practice and asking the question we’re all thinking: How is this legal? He’s joined by a member of Congress who’s leading a …

1
Banned from Office! 23:19

1+ y ago23:19

23:19

Is Donald Trump constitutionally disqualified from running for president? In this episode of The Continuous Action, Walt Shaub and Virginia Heffernan examine a provision of the Constitution that bans insurrectionists from holding public office. The “disqualification clause” was ratified with the rest of the 14th Amendment just after the Civil War, …

1
Explaining Science for Everyone • David Pogue, award-winning science and tech journalist 48:41

1+ y ago48:41

48:41

Summary We're bombarded daily with news about groundbreaking science or shiny new technologies. More than ever, we have to rely on the explainers who can help us understand why and how these achievements actually matter. Will they improve our lives, or more importantly the lives of the vulnerable, in meaningful ways? In this episode, we'll hear fro…

1
Expanding Access to Proof • Ashish Gadnis, CEO of BanQu 52:12

1+ y ago52:12

52:12

Summary How easily could you prove that you are, indeed, you? For most of you, it would be no sweat. In fact, you've probably done it hundreds of times. As a result, you can do things like get a bank account, rent a car, or buy an apartment. In much of the world, proof is harder to come by. Many people don't have a way to prove things like their in…

1
Introducing: Bad Watchdog 3:35

1+ y ago3:35

3:35

The Continuous Action will return for a second season in the spring of 2023. In the meantime, check out the Project On Government Oversight's newest podcast, Bad Watchdog. Bad Watchdog is about what happens when the watchdog tasked with overseeing the most powerful law enforcement agency in the country doesn’t do its job. In a six-part series, host…

1
Finding and Developing Good Ideas • Dr. Cecilia Conrad, CEO of Lever for Change 52:24

1+ y ago52:24

52:24

Summary What would you do with $800,000 that came with no strings attached? This actually happens to about two dozen MacArthur Fellows every year. Or better yet, a grant of $100 million, like MacArthur gave away in its 100 and Change program? It sounds exhilarating, but what if getting the money depended on you having a good idea for how to use it?…

1
You Deserve Ethical Government • Walter Shaub, senior ethics fellow at POGO 58:47

2y ago58:47

58:47

Summary No matter what political ideology we have, we all agree that we deserve ethical government. But, trust in government in the US and around the world is at historic lows. Much of this falling trust comes from seeing political officials use their power to enrich themselves at the cost of the public good. In this episode, Walter Shaub—a leading…

1
Overcoming Paralysis • Dr. Dale Hull, Executive Director of Neuroworx 56:21

2y ago56:21

56:21

Summary Over 5 million people in the US live with paralysis, caused by injury, stroke, or disease. Recovery is incredibly hard because nerve damage is difficult and sometimes impossible to heal. Moreover, our medical and insurance systems are inadequate, designed to help people live with their injuries rather than heal from them. A pioneering thera…

1
Purpose Beyond Profit • Jim Parke, CEO of Otter Products 49:45

2y ago49:45

49:45

Summary What does it look like when a company has a purpose beyond profit? Rather than focusing on merely making money, Otter Products—the world's leading maker of mobile device protection—has a higher purpose: "We grow to give." In this episode, I talk with the CEO of Otter Products, Jim Parke. Join us to hear his amazing stories and learn about w…

1
HIV In Ghana, Hardship and Hope • Dr. Naa Ashiley Vanderpuye-Donton 59:23

2y ago59:23

59:23

Summary For over 20 years, Dr. Naa and her husband Eddie have led efforts to care for people with HIV and AIDS in Ghana. During that time, their clinic has treated more than 15,000 patients and their foundation has reached millions of Ghanaians to reduce the spread of the disease and the stigma faced by those who have it. In this episode, we’ll lea…

1
Home • Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International 52:16

2y ago52:16

52:16

Summary Everyone needs and deserves a home. It’s our place to be safe, healthy, and loved. In this episode, we’ll learn from Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International and author of the book, Our Better Angels. Jonathan will teach us about the critical failures that are keeping people from having a safe and decent place to live, a…

1
Out of Control 50:28

2y ago50:28

50:28

In Episode 5 of The Continuous Action, hosts Walt Shaub and Virginia Heffernan sound a dire warning about the largest law enforcement agency in the country, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). While most people think of the agency as having limited reach, two-thirds of Americans live within CBP jurisdiction. It’s also one of the country’s lea…

1
It’s Good To Be The King 53:49

2y ago53:49

53:49

Hosts Walt Shaub and Virginia Heffernan investigate the ways presidential power has expanded at the expense of checks and balances. What systems exist to rein in a would-be authoritarian president, and how are they faring in these turbulent times?  The hosts talk to historian Matt Dallek, who explains the expansion of presidential power and the dan…

1
Bonus: China’s Surveillance State  39:12

2y ago39:12

39:12

This bonus episode features our full interview with Maya Wang, the senior China researcher for Human Rights Watch. As Maya explains, a comprehensive, multi-layered surveillance system blankets much of China with one primary goal: to ensure that the Chinese communist party can rule forever. We included an excerpt of this interview in Episode 3, “The…

1
The Eyes On Your Face 54:16

2+ y ago54:16

54:16

In Episode 3, hosts Walt Shaub and Virginia Heffernan grapple with government surveillance, focusing in particular on facial recognition technology and the ways that the government could — and already does — abuse this pervasive technology. Facial recognition expert Jake Laperruque describes the arms race between technology companies developing new…

1
War Lies, Watchdogs, and Whistleblowers 54:46

2+ y ago54:46

54:46

In Episode 2, hosts Walt Shaub and Virginia Heffernan explore a troubling truth: the government lies, particularly when it comes to war. The government has repeatedly misled the American people to justify starting or staying in a military conflict, leaving whistleblowers and watchdogs the dangerous task of exposing the truth. Military expert Mandy …

1
The Wave 51:16

2+ y ago51:16

51:16

In the inaugural episode of The Continuous Action, former Office of Government Ethics Director Walt Shaub and journalist Virginia Heffernan begin exploring the issues confronting democracy by examining the wave of voter suppression efforts crashing across the states. They interview Janai Nelson, president and director-counsel of the NAACP’s Legal D…

1
Introducing The Continuous Action 3:10

2+ y ago3:10

3:10

On The Continuous Action, co-hosts Walter Shaub and Virginia Heffernan break down some of the biggest issues facing our republic today. In this limited series, Shaub, former director of the Office of Government Ethics, and Heffernan, a seasoned journalist, interview experts, activists, philanthropists, and others on topics ranging from voting right…

1
Bonus Episode • Tyler Shultz Reflects on the Elizabeth Holmes Trial and Verdict 33:22

2+ y ago33:22

33:22

Summary On January 4 , Elizabeth Holmes, the founder and CEO of the blood testing company Theranos, was found guilty of defrauding her investors. Listen to Tyler Shultz—one of the principle whistleblowers—reflect on the trial and verdict, sharing a perspective that only he can. About Our Guest Tyler Shultz graduated from Stanford with a Biology deg…

1
Humility • Prof. Brad Owens 50:37

3y ago50:37

50:37

Summary If you want to improve yourself and could choose only one trait to begin, you should start with humility. It's called the "mother of all virtues" because it opens the door to all kinds of personal development. But humility is also sorely misunderstood. It isn't just an internal attitude about ourselves, but an outward set of behaviors that …

1
History of Innovation • Dr. Anton Howes 41:48

3y ago41:48

41:48

Summary We are surrounded by the fruits of human creativity and innovation. This capacity to improve our world has done immeasurable good. But where does innovation come from and how do we get more of it? Looking back to one of the most potent periods of world history, my guest this week—Dr. Anton Howes—guides us through the lessons we can learn fr…

1
Impact Investing • Geoff Woolley 50:18

3y ago50:18

50:18

Summary: How do we get more money for those who need it? Charity only accounts for less than 1% of all the money globally, and has stayed consistently flat over time. We need more ways to help people prosper. Impact investing is a rapidly growing approach that uses capital markets to solve social problems. My guest this week, Geoff Woolley, is a pi…

1
Meaningful Work • Prof. Andrea Veltman 35:35

3y ago35:35

35:35

Summary: People spend most of their waking hours working. It's no wonder that we want to enjoy our work, but that can be complicated. The world is full of dangerous or difficult jobs with low pay. How does meaningful work fit ethically in such a world? In this episode, we'll learn from Dr. Andrea Veltman, an expert in the philosophy of work. Togeth…

1
Intervention • Bill O’Rourke 24:23

3y ago24:23

24:23

Summary: Sometimes it's hard to be the hero. According to research, this is one of the most common dilemmas that people face. Bill O'Rourke will guide us through what intervention looks like and how to stand up to those we work with and know. Notice the skills Bill uses, things like gathering the facts, seeking perspective from others, acting confi…

1
Creativity • Andrew Maxfield 36:18

3y ago36:18

36:18

Summary: You have a superpower, the ability to imagine completely different circumstances than what reality provides. Take a moment to look around; just about everything you see came from the fruits of someone's creativity. You have the same power, even if you don't think you do. In this episode, you'll learn how to expand and explore your creativi…

1
Resilience • Melissa Sevy 32:53

3y ago32:53

32:53

Summary: "People who were not lacking in capability, but lacking an opportunity" Artisans in the developing world have incredible, valuable skills, but limited access to global markets. From jewelry to baskets, and pottery to blankets, Melissa Sevy creates opportunities for artisans to flourish, providing jobs, fair pay work, and dignity. But it ha…

1
Character, Service, and Sacrifice • Chaplain George Youstra 44:32

3y ago44:32

44:32

Summary: What does a career look like when its very purpose is to embody character, service, and sacrifice? It looks exactly like the career of military chaplains. Chaplains play a critical role that touch every aspect of military service, from battlefield counseling to advising the highest levels of command. Being a good chaplain means being an in…

1
Blowing the Whistle • Tyler Shultz 48:18

3y ago48:18

48:18

Summary: "The real trade secret was that there was no secret." Elizebeth Holmes—Founder of Theranos—raised billions of dollars in startup capital. The entire company failed to produce a functioning technology, putting customer's lives in danger and defrauding investors. Tyler Schultz recounts his harrowing experience as a young graduate working in …

1
Hope • David Williams 40:07

3+ y ago40:07

40:07

Summary If we look, we can see missing hope in all kinds of places. Some parents lack hope because their child struggles with chronic illness, some families don't even know if they can buy groceries next week, and some don't even have a home. Throughout his career, David Williams has become an expert in giving people hope, and he'll share what he's…

1
Neuroscience of Altruism • Dr. Abigail Marsh 43:07

3+ y ago43:07

43:07

Summary What makes some people more generous than others? And when it comes to altruism, how do we get more of it? In this episode, we learn about how altruism works in the brain, and the clues are surprisingly found in how psychopaths experience fear. Neuroscientist and professor Abigail Marsh will tell us what she's learned about altruism and the…

1
Finding Your Calling • Prof. Jeff Thompson 24:42

3+ y ago24:42

24:42

Summary Do you feel like you have a calling in life? Is there something when you wake up each day that you feel you are meant to do? If you don't feel like you do, this episode will help you find what you're missing. We'll learn from Prof. Jeff Thompson, a professor of management and expert in calling. About Our Guest Jeff Thompson is a professor a…

1
Trailer 3:06

3+ y ago3:06

3:06

Season 1 of How to Help launches on May 10th! Be sure to subscribe to get episodes automatically. Here's the list of topics and guests coming this season: Finding Your Calling - Prof. Jeff Thompson (world expert on calling and author of The Zookeeper's Secret) Neuroscience of Altruism - Prof. Abigail Marsh (neuroscientist, TED Speaker, and author o…

1
Matthew Stephenson: Corruption & The 2016 Election Part I 55:36

6y ago55:36

55:36

In this episode, recorded in the immediate aftermath of the 2016 election, we speak about the role of corruption in the 2016 Election with Harvard Law Professor and creator of The Global Anticorruption Blog, Matthew Stephenson. He speaks with Jeremy Feigelson about corruption as a campaign issue, and perspectives on corruption in the Trump Administ…

1
Walter Shaub: Ethics in the Trump Era 55:23

6y ago55:23

55:23

In the first episode of Integrity File, we speak about ethics laws with Walter Shaub, former director of the Office of Government Ethics until his July 2017 resignation. He speaks with Professor Richard Briffault about the importance of these laws, their mechanics, and his role in their enforcement over the past three administrations. The event was…

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