The Utopian

As capitalism dominates the world as the primary economic model, it has undoubtedly fallen under increased scrutiny. From rising inequality to its inability to protect workers' rights, many thinkers are doubting its ability to maximize human welfare. Can capitalism be saved? We speak with leading economist Dr. Branko Milanović to find out.

COVID-19 has shaken up our society in more ways than one. By presenting economic crises, existential uncertainties and social unrest, it is not the first of its kind to have such a catastrophic impact. We speak with Dr. Frank Snowden about the history of pandemics and where COVID-19 fits amidst it all.

With so many Americans deeply entrenched in debt, the American economy has one more obstacle to overcome. We speak with socially responsible entrepreneur, Nami Baral, and what she is doing to tackle this catastrophic public debt crisis. Check out Nami's initiative here: https://www.joinharvest.com/

The ongoing pandemic has revealed the extent to which access to reliable news could be the difference between life and death for some. Unfortunately, those trained to release this information — the reporters who staff the country's thousands of local news outlets — are on the brink of both financial and existential ruin. Nora Benavidez and Viktorya Vilk, advocates at PEN America, explain the threats facing America's newsrooms and how their further erosion harms us all. Read the report on the state of local news: https://pen.org/local-news/

As new cases of COVID-19 continue to rise, researchers around the globe are working to create new treatments and vaccines that will put an end to the pandemic. We speak with Neal Browning, a Seattle resident who is one of a handful of test subjects given a vaccine. This pioneering vaccine trial ran by the Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute may one day make the coronavirus a thing of the past. Follow Neal's journey: https://twitter.com/NealBrowning

Years ago, political philosopher Adam Smith coined the notion of the individual hand, arguing for the free market's ability to delegate itself. As the coronavirus carries on, is this truly the case? We explore this question with Shefali Kapadia, the executive editor of a leading supply chain publication Supply Chain Dive.

As our politicians continue debating the reality of climate change, we are already facing its impact in many parts of the world. We meet with Dr. Christopher Jones, a lead developer at the Cool Climate Network and an environmental policy expert, to discuss our role in stopping this inevitable crisis once and for all.

From the bananas we consume, harvested in the fields of Costa Rica, to our clothes and accessories produced in factories in China, our reliance on the global economy is tremendous. With the coronavirus disrupting the usual flow of international commerce, what will the global supply chain look like in the days that follow? We meet with Andrea Reyes, an expert in global supply chain and the chair of the NYC Fair Trade Coalition, to discuss these questions and more.

What is it like to live in Italy in the age of the coronavirus lockdown? In this episode, we meet with Milan residents Malvina Moretti and Roberta Zuffi to discuss the measures Italy is taking to contain this growing pandemic and how the world must follow in its footsteps. Donate to WHO to help fight the spread of COVID-19: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/donate

We traditionally view enslavement as a physical phenomena: chains, cages and coercive tactics. But maybe there is another form of enslavement that exists in a society where citizens are crippled by debt, poverty and other forces. Maybe it's time to reconsider what it truly means to be free. We explore these ideas with Micah Uetricht, the managing editor of Jacobin magazine, and discuss how we can achieve them from where we are today.

Are we inherently good or bad? In this episode, we meet with political psychologist Dr. Peter DeScioli to better understand the parts of human behavior that we ourselves are not fully conscious of.

Is higher education failing us? New York Times bestselling author William Deresiewicz says yes. We meet with him to discuss the philosophy of higher education, disparities in our current system and how we can work toward a more equitable model for all.