Three O'Four's Podcast

Seamus and Dan discuss the recent measles outbreak in America, going over what social factors and public health conditions allowed for 700 cases of measles to develop in America, almost 20 years after the disease was considered eradicated. Recorded May 18th, 2019 Intro Song Credit - "Bad Case of Loving You" Robert Palmer

Seamus talks to both Dan and his boss, Andrew Strauss, about how they have been working on the startup Beemia for the past two years. The two detail the trials and tribulations of running a new company, and describe how the local economy and government has helped in the process. This is the first part in a longer look at recent college graduates staying in small college towns to add to the local economy. Recorded April 6th, 2019 Intro Song Credit: "Long Time Comin'" - Bruce Springsteen

Seamus reaches Dan from his Ford F-150 studios to discuss the changes Trump has made to the immigration process in America. The two talk about decisions which have lead to the deaths of two children in the custody of CBP, and the symbolism of the Wall. Recorded January 28th, 2018 Intro Song Credit: "Another Brick in the Wall" - Pink Floyd

Seamus talks to longtime Friend of the Pod Matt Crager. The two discuss the most recent election in Brazil, one which put far right candidate Jair Bolsonara in power. Matt discusses the candidates and consequences of Brazil's election from the perspective of one living in the country at the time. Recorded December 16th, 2018 Intro Song Credit: "Lambada" by Kaoma

Seamus talks to Andrew Boynton about his work as a Field Organizer for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. He talks about local organizing strategies, the candidates he represented, and how he found himself in his position. Recorded November 20th, 2018 Intro Song Credit: "American Girl" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Seamus, Dan, and Tori talk to longtime friend Caitlin Kushnir about her work with Madeleine Dean, Democratic nominee for the PA 4th House District. Caitlin talks about what she does for the campaign, how Madeleine is as a candidate and a person, and what voter interactions have been like. Recorded October 31st, 2018 Intro Song Credit: "Ghostbusters" - Ray Parker Jr.

Seamus sits down with fellow Physics PhD student Aleksei Khindanov to learn about his life in Russia before arriving at UCSB. Aleksei talks about growing up in the former Soviet Union, and how he interacts with the global news scene as a Russian citizen. Recorded October 20th, 2018 Intro Song Credit: "Back in the USSR" - The Beatles

Seamus, Tori, and Dan get together to talk about the EPA's proposed "Affordable Energy Plan" and how it is a departure from Obama era regulation. The three talk about the methodology and consequences, and why these changes are important. Recorded August 30th, 2018 Intro Song Credit: "Bohemian Rhapsody" - Queen

Seamus and Dan discuss the Ohio 12th Special Election held on August 7th. The two talk about how the safe Republican seat became a neck and neck race, and what this says about the 2018 Midterms. Intro Song Credit: "Danny Boy" - performed by Peter Hollens Recorded August 23rd, 2018

Seamus and Dan talk about the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to replace Anthony Kennedy on the Supreme Court. The two talk about Kavanaugh's history, how he has positioned himself, and what Democrats can do about his nomination. Recorded July 29th, 2018 Intro Song Credit: "Free Fallin'" Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Seamus and Tori discuss how Trump's behavior is such a departure from normal U.S. foreign policy. The two talk about the ideas at the heart of U.S. policy post WWII and what the costs of Trump's departure could mean for America. Recorded July 18th, 2018 Intro Song Credit "What a Wonderful World" - Sam Cooke

Seamus and Dan went through previous U.S. laws and policies which brought Session's DOJ to start separating families at the boarder. The two talk about the use of this as a deterrent, the humanity of the situation, and what others can do to help the already separated families. Recorded July 7th, 2018 Intro Song Credit: "Truckin'" by the Grateful Dead

Seamus and Dan talk to Sergio Herndandez about the recent changes in Spain's governing body. The three discuss how these changes were brought about and what the new center-left government plans to do after this unconventional rise to power. Recorded June 14th, 2018 Intro Song Credit: "New York City Serenade" - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

Dan, Seamus, and Tori talk about the Harvard study which estimated 4600 deaths in Puerto Rico as a result of Hurricane Maria. The three talk about how the study came about these numbers, and why they are so different from the official government estimate of 64 dead. Then, the three talk about what can be done to solve the ongoing problems in Puerto Rico. Recorded June 10th, 2018 Intro Song Credit: "Maria Maria" - Carlos Santana

Dan and Seamus talk about the misrepresentation of the missing 1500 children reported by the Dept. of Health and Human Services. The two also talk about legitimate criticisms for the Trump Administration's immigration policy, and how Trump's rhetoric has shifted what is normal in political discussion on immigration. Intro Song Credit: "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" - The Clash

Recorded May 21st, 2018 Tori, Dan, and Seamus talk about the recent actions taken by the Trump Administration to destabilize the Affordable Care Act. Then the three discuss two primaries which are happening tomorrow, and what they can indicate for the outlook of the Republican and Democratic parties. Intro Song Credit: "Sympathy for the Devil" - The Rolling Stones

Recorded April 23rd, 2018 Tori, Seamus, and Dan talk to Gabby Richards, a political consultant and PSU class of 2015 graduate who is working on Congressional Campaigns and with Political Action groups to help more women get elected to public office. The four talk about Pennsylvania politics, and what it means as a woman and millennial to get involved in political campaigns. Intro Song Credit: "Don't Stop" - Fleetwood Mac

Recorded April 12th, 2018 Seamus and Tori discuss the recent news about Paul Ryan deciding not to run for re-election, and what this could mean for the upcoming Midterm elections. Next the two go through data from the Special Elections to see what can be projected into November 2018 based on recent voter behavior. Intro Song Credit: "Bad Moon Rising" -Credence Clearwater Revival

Recorded April 5th, 2018 The three O'Fours are back together to talk about the wealth study, profiled by the New York Time's Upshot, which showed African American boys are severely disadvantaged compared to their white counterparts. The three talk through how the study was conducted, what it shows, and how America should react to it. Then, the three talk about the proposed changes to the 2020 census, and how studies like the one highlighted in the NYT will be affected. Intro Song Credit: "From Small Things" - Bruce Springsteen

Recorded March 29th, 2018 Dan and Seamus reunite in State College to talk about the March For Our Lives and how the national gun conversation has changed in the wake of intense student activism. The two discuss the March's impact, how privilege has played a role in the movement, and how the activism from young people will affect November's mid-terms. Then, Seamus questions Dan on the legitimacy of the premise of Cambridge Analytica's research: Are our personalities indicative to our political persuasions? Intro Song Credit: "Taking it to the Streets" - The Doobie Brothers

Recorded March 13th, 2018 Seamus and Dan discuss the recent news of Congress working to change Dodd-Frank. The two talk about what the changes could mean, why Dodd-Frank exists in the first place, and how other institutions like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau could also be affected. Also, the two banter about the recent departure of Secy. Tillerson. Intro Song Credit: "Money (That's What I Want)" - Barrett Strong

Recorded March 2nd, 2018 Seamus talks to Sarah Vasile, returning friend of the Pod and Social Media Editor at The Daily Collegian, about the recent chatter surrounding Facebook's handling of news during the 2016 election. The two also talk about Sarah's experience in the Collegian newsroom, and how the approach at TDC is fundamentally different from Facebook's algorithms. Intro Song Credit: "Bad Moon Rising" - Bruce Springsteen

Recorded February 15th, 2018 Dan and Seamus Skype from across the country to talk about something close to home, Pennsylvania gerrymandering, and the State Supreme Court case which recently ruled the Commonwealth's Congressional districts unconstitutional. The two go over some of the expert testimony used in the trial, and talk about the Constitutional arguments surrounding the ruling and how it can be used as a blueprint for future gerrymandering cases in other states. Intro Song Credit: "Satisfaction" - The Rolling Stones

Recorded February 5th, 2018 Dan and Seamus sit down to discuss the recent drop in the stock market, and the implications for a president who has tied so much political capital to the recent success of the market. The two then take a look into the uncertainty of the jobs report, and how that might play a role in economic policy moving forward. Also, E-A-G-L-E-S, EAGLES! Go Birds! Intro Song Credit: "I'm Going Down" - Bruce Springsteen

Recorded January 22nd, 2018 Seamus and Tori discuss what has brought about the current government shutdown and the compromises Democrats made to open up the government again. Then the two walk through a few ways the Trump Administration has been shutting down climate change research in Executive Agencies. Intro Song Credit: "Breakdown" - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Recorded January 16th, 2018 Dan and Seamus discuss the different immigration policies which have been swirling around the national conversation, from ending of DACA, Temporary Protected Status, and Sanctuary Cities to the proposal of a merit based immigration system. Also, the two reflect on Trump's comments from weekend. Intro Song Credit: "The Ties that Bind" - Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band

Recorded Jan 2nd, 2018 The Three O'Fours bring in the new year by reflecting on the nation's legislative agenda at the one-year mark of the 115th US Congress taking office. The three share the accomplishments of the Congress in 2017, and look ahead to the main goals of 2018 and how midterms will shape the actions of members. Also, the three talk about much more important stuff, like the legitimacy of a Federalist government in todays economy. Have a happy and safe Semi-Major Axis Day from all at Three O'Four! Intro Song Credit: "Won't Back Down" - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Recorded December 18th, 2017 Seamus, Dan, and Tori discuss how the Trump Administration banned seven words from the CDC's budget proposal, and then talk about how the tax plan is shaping up in Congress. Intro Song Credit: "Only the Good Die Young" - Billy Joel

Recorded Dec 1st, 2017 Dan and Seamus reflect on one year of podcasting, and how the media environment has changed throughout the year. Intro Song Credit: "Badlands" by Bruce Springsteen

Recorded November 20th, 2017 Seamus and Dan sit down to discuss the recent November 8th elections, and what they could spell out for the immediate political future. Next, the two talk about the contents of the GOP tax plan, the rhetoric behind it, how the recent elections play into the politics, and ask why the hell our nation's grad students should be financing the Estate Tax repeal? Intro Song Credit: "For the Money" - The O'Jays

Recorded November 2nd, 2017 Dan and Seamus talk to returning Friend of the Pod, Sammy Geisinger, about her efforts as the director of the Association of Big Ten students to petition the Department of Education; asking that students be a part of the process of the recently announced Title IX revisions. The three also talk about other ways the ABTS interact with governing bodies. Intro Song: "Hungry Heart" - Bruce Springsteen

Recorded October 22nd, 2017 Dan, Seamus, and Tori talk about the case recently heard by the Supreme Court involving partisan gerrymandering in Wisconsin. The three talk about how computer data, a legal paper, and a little bit of math may cause the Supreme Court to rule in favor of Wisconsin Democrats, who are trying to show that district lines are so unfairly drawn there is almost no way Democrats could hold a majority of seats in the state government, even when they win a majority of the votes. Intro Song Credit: "What I Got" - Sublime MCA (1996)

Recorded October 9th, 2017 Seamus, Dan, and Tori reflect on the recent massacre in Las Vegas, the stigma both ends of the political isle attach to gun control, and how more guns in a society correlates to violence in the community. The three discuss how the 2nd amendment conversation should change in America. Intro Song Credit: "Do It Again" - Steely Dan

Recorded September 24th, 2017 Dan, Seamus, and Tori talk about the implications of the most recent GOP Healthcare bill, as well as the politics and Congressional rules surrounding any future Repeal and Replace efforts. Intro Song Credit: "Bad Case of Loving You" - Robert Palmer

Recorded Sept. 18th, 2017 Dan, Seamus, and Tori get together to talk about the new Pro-Hilary website Verrit. The three go through the pitfalls of the website, and the negatives of having a left-leaning media outlet. Intro Song Credit: "Come Together" - The Beatles Let It Be, Apple Records

Recorded September 10th, 2017 In the first cross continental podcast, Dan and Seamus discuss the Trump administration's recent decision to end DACA, how DACA is different from the DREAM Act, and how those protected by DACA impact the U.S. economy. Finally, the two talk about current proposed legislation which will protect DREAMers, and ways people can get involved and support DACA and the DREAM Act. Intro Song Credit: "Waiting' on a Sunny Day" - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (Live in Barcelona, The Rising Tour)

Recorded August 23rd, 2017 Seamus and Dan talk to Veronica (Roni) Joyce about her First Amendment advocacy work with F.I.R.E. in Philadelphia. Roni talks about what it means to defend the first amendment for all American citizens, and the three discuss current events where freedom of speech has been an issue. Intro Song Credit: "Fire" by Jimi Hendrix

Recorded August 14th, 2017 Seamus and Dan look at the multi-author, 673 page report on Climate Change titled "The Climate Science Special Report". The two talk about the main points of the report, as well as conservative criticism of the report and previous government climate reports. Intro Song Credit: "The Promised Land" - Bruce Springsteen

Recorded August 7th, 2017 Dan and Seamus sit down with Jason Karian to talk about the capabilities and uses of GIS, a geography based technology which has recently been employed by some politicians to gerrymander districts. The three talk about how bad the gerrymandering problem actually is, and what normal citizens can do to prevent such practices in the future. Intro Song Credit: "Desire" - U2

Recorded July 29th, 2017 Seamus and Dan talk about the fact that science can't "prove" anything, and how that works its way into discussions. The two get into how our scientific understanding changes through time and how the scientific community attaches certainties to beliefs and observations. Dan and Seamus try to resolve how our technical discussions should address these issues, especially when talking to a general audience. Intro Song Credit: "Won't Get Fooled Again" - The Who

Recorded July 18th, 2017 Dan and Seamus sit down in 304 Studios one last time to discuss the future of the GOP effort to repeal Obamacare. The two go through the events which lead to the current state of the Republican effort, and read notable commentary from key GOP lawmakers. Next, Dan and Seamus talk about the future of the Podcast, and also look back at what has already been accomplished. Intro Song Credit: "Communication Breakdown" - Led Zeppelin 1969, Led Zeppelin (Atlantic)

Recorded July 13th, 2017 Seamus talks to Tori Bertocci about the Republican's changing stance on climate change, the unpopular healthcare bills circulating through Congress, and the Georgia 6th Special Election, and how campaign finance has played a major role in all of these issues. Intro Song Credit: "Money" by Pink Floyd The Dark Side of the Moon, 1973 (Harvest)

Recorded July 2nd, 2017 Seamus and Dan sit down with Carver Murphy to talk about his work as an Assistant Campaign Manager for the Adam Hinds State Senate campaign in Western Massachusetts. Carver talks about the role he played in the campaign, how the State Senate race differs from national elections, and the relationship State Senators have with their constituents. Intro Song Credit: "This Land is Your Land", written by Woody Guthrie and performed by Bruce Springsteen.

Recorded June 22, 2107 Dan and Seamus talk to McQuillin Murphy about the effects of climate change on small island nations, and how the countries are planning to respond to future threats of global warming. Intro Song Credit: "Good Times Bad Times" by Led Zeppelin (1969) Atlantic Records

Recorded June 14, 2017 Dan and Seamus FaceTime their longtime friend and mentor, Mark Goldy Brown, who is finishing up his second year as a Peace Corp Volunteer in Ancash, Peru. The trio discuss the Peace Corp's mission abroad, Mark's efforts to improve sustainability in his municipality, and the Peruvian perception of recent American actions with regards to Climate Change. Intro Song Credit: "I'm On Fire" performed by Mumford and Sons, made famous by Bruce Springsteen

Recorded June 2nd, 2017 Seamus talks to Adam Uliana about his research experience with sustainable practices in various countries, from Belgium to Rwanda. Adam details how the international perspective on green initiatives and climate change is different from those in America. Finally, Seamus and Adam talk about the ramifications of the U.S. withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accords. Intro Song Credit: "California Dreamin'" The Mamas and Papas

Recorded May 26th, 2017 Live from Honda Civic Studios and US 322, Dan and Seamus talk about the American Healthcare Act, examining what has changed to allow for passage through the House, and going through the CBO evaluation of the bill. Correction: The bill was passed on May 4th, 2017, not March 4th as mentioned in the beginning of the podcast. Intro Song Credit: "Born to Run" - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (1975) Columbia Records

Recorded May 10th, 2017 Dan and Seamus sit down with Mike Makowski to discuss the Mental Health resources available to Penn State Students, both with personal anecdotes and general statistics. The three talk about the funding of the CAPS program and the stigma associated with mental health on a college campus. Intro Song Credit: "You Never Can Tell" - made famous by Chuck Berry, performed by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (1964) performed 2013

Recorded May 9th, 2017 Dan and Seamus sit down to look at Congressional elections and international elections after the Trump victory in November to gain a sense of voters attitudes. Intro Song Credit: "You Never Can Tell" - made famous by Chuck Berry and performed by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (1964), Performed in 2013

Recorded May 3rd, 2017 Dan and Seamus sit down with four highly accomplished Penn State Seniors: Sarah Bevilacqua (Chemistry), Kokila Shankar (Biology), Marisa Borusiewicz (Mechanical Engineering), and Syliva Biscoveanu (Physics, Spanish). The group talks about various issues facing women in STEM fields, both in early development, the university setting, and in the workforce. Intro Song Credit: "Hooked on a Feeling" - Blue Suede (1974)

Recorded April 26th, 2017 Seamus and Dan talk to Megan Cichocki, a senior majoring in Political Science and Economics, about her senior thesis, which examines the lethality of non-state terrorist groups. Megan talks about her findings, and how she started on her path to studying U.S. international relations. Intro Song Credit: "Don't Stop" - Fleetwood Mac Rumors (1976)