Podcasts about Sociology

For years, Dr. Jonathan Metzl thought about gun violence as a public health issue. His approach treated it like an epidemic and treated guns as a health risk. But as he studied a mass shooting that happened near where he lives in Nashville, he realized he had been missing something crucial for years— the cultural power of guns. This hour, as we reflect on the gun violence that has shaken the U.S. in recent weeks, we are listening back to our conversation with Dr. Metzl on his book What We’ve Become: Living and Dying in a Country of Arms. GUEST: Dr. Jonathan Metzl: Frederick B. Rentschler II Professor of Sociology and Psychiatry, and the director of the Department of Medicine, Health, and Society, at Vanderbilt University. His most recent book is What We’ve Become: Living and Dying in a Country of Arms. This episode originally aired on October 4, 2024.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alex Khasnabish is chair of the department of Sociology and Anthropology at Mount Saint Vincent University. He studies social movements, radical politics and social and political theory. He speaks with Jeff Douglas about the current polarized moment with social movements and why we struggle to speak to one another when we have differing political and social views.

What do children believe in? In Growing Up Godless: Non-Religious Childhoods in Contemporary England (Princeton UP, 2025) Anna Strhan, a Reader in the Department of Sociology at the University of York and Rachael Shillitoe, a senior social scientist in the UK civil service and honorary fellow in the Department of Sociology at the University of York use ethnography and interviews with young people and parents at a variety of schools in England to examine current forms of non-religiosity. The book explores how children make meaning and sense of their world, offering an account that foregrounds their sense of ethical commitments and their beliefs in key humanistic ideas. Theoretically rich, and with a wealth of fascinating empirical material, the book will be of interest across the humanities and social sciences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

What do children believe in? In Growing Up Godless: Non-Religious Childhoods in Contemporary England (Princeton UP, 2025) Anna Strhan, a Reader in the Department of Sociology at the University of York and Rachael Shillitoe, a senior social scientist in the UK civil service and honorary fellow in the Department of Sociology at the University of York use ethnography and interviews with young people and parents at a variety of schools in England to examine current forms of non-religiosity. The book explores how children make meaning and sense of their world, offering an account that foregrounds their sense of ethical commitments and their beliefs in key humanistic ideas. Theoretically rich, and with a wealth of fascinating empirical material, the book will be of interest across the humanities and social sciences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/critical-theory

What do children believe in? In Growing Up Godless: Non-Religious Childhoods in Contemporary England (Princeton UP, 2025) Anna Strhan, a Reader in the Department of Sociology at the University of York and Rachael Shillitoe, a senior social scientist in the UK civil service and honorary fellow in the Department of Sociology at the University of York use ethnography and interviews with young people and parents at a variety of schools in England to examine current forms of non-religiosity. The book explores how children make meaning and sense of their world, offering an account that foregrounds their sense of ethical commitments and their beliefs in key humanistic ideas. Theoretically rich, and with a wealth of fascinating empirical material, the book will be of interest across the humanities and social sciences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology

What do children believe in? In Growing Up Godless: Non-Religious Childhoods in Contemporary England (Princeton UP, 2025) Anna Strhan, a Reader in the Department of Sociology at the University of York and Rachael Shillitoe, a senior social scientist in the UK civil service and honorary fellow in the Department of Sociology at the University of York use ethnography and interviews with young people and parents at a variety of schools in England to examine current forms of non-religiosity. The book explores how children make meaning and sense of their world, offering an account that foregrounds their sense of ethical commitments and their beliefs in key humanistic ideas. Theoretically rich, and with a wealth of fascinating empirical material, the book will be of interest across the humanities and social sciences.

What do children believe in? In Growing Up Godless: Non-Religious Childhoods in Contemporary England (Princeton UP, 2025) Anna Strhan, a Reader in the Department of Sociology at the University of York and Rachael Shillitoe, a senior social scientist in the UK civil service and honorary fellow in the Department of Sociology at the University of York use ethnography and interviews with young people and parents at a variety of schools in England to examine current forms of non-religiosity. The book explores how children make meaning and sense of their world, offering an account that foregrounds their sense of ethical commitments and their beliefs in key humanistic ideas. Theoretically rich, and with a wealth of fascinating empirical material, the book will be of interest across the humanities and social sciences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion

From deepfakes to job automation, artificial intelligence is no longer on the horizon - it is already reshaping how we live, work, and govern. As the pace of technological change accelerates, the social, political, ethical and economic consequences are becoming harder to ignore. This autumn, Trinity College Dublin's School of Social Sciences and Philosophy presents AI: The Age of Disruption, a free public lecture series exploring the impact of artificial intelligence on human life. Across four Thursday evenings in September and October, experts from the School's four departments (Sociology, Philosophy, Economics and Political Science) will examine the complex realities of AI from multiple disciplinary perspectives. Paul O'Grady, Head of the School of Social Sciences and Philosophy, explains: "Artificial intelligence is already transforming our world in profound ways, from the way we work and interact to how we govern and make decisions. This series brings together researchers from across the School to explore what that means for individuals, institutions and society as a whole. We hope these events will spark important conversations and invite the public to think critically about the kind of future we are creating." Dates: Thursday 25 September, 2, 9 & 16 October 2025 Time: 7.00 pm - 8.30 pm Location: The Synge Theatre, Arts Building, Trinity College Dublin Admission: Free, but advance registration required. Full details and registration are available on Eventbrite. Schedule of Lectures: 'A New Sociology of Humans and Machines', Thursday 25 September 2025. What happens when machines become part of society? Professor Taha Yasseri, from the Department of Sociology, explores how intelligent systems are shaping communication, cooperation and decision-making, and why we may need a new sociological framework to understand our changing social world. 'Machines Like Us? The Ethics of Artificial General Intelligence', Thursday 2 October 2025. Can we create minds more powerful than our own, and should we? Dr Will Ratoff, from the Department of Philosophy, investigates the ethical, social and existential dilemmas raised by artificial general intelligence, from the promise of progress to the risks of unchecked creation. 'The New Economic Order with AI', Thursday 9 October 2025. AI is revolutionising work and productivity, but at what cost? Dr Jian Cao, from the Department of Economics, discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping the global economy, and what governments and societies must do to adapt, regulate and prepare for the future. 'Democracy & AI: Navigating the Political Risks', Thursday 16 October 2025. From deepfakes to data-driven campaigning, AI is challenging the foundations of democracy. Political Scientists Professor Constantine Boussalis, Dr Tom Paskhalis and Dr Asli Ceren Cinar explore the rise of algorithmic influence, misinformation, and targeted propaganda, and how democratic systems can adapt and respond.

What do children believe in? In Growing Up Godless: Non-Religious Childhoods in Contemporary England (Princeton UP, 2025) Anna Strhan, a Reader in the Department of Sociology at the University of York and Rachael Shillitoe, a senior social scientist in the UK civil service and honorary fellow in the Department of Sociology at the University of York use ethnography and interviews with young people and parents at a variety of schools in England to examine current forms of non-religiosity. The book explores how children make meaning and sense of their world, offering an account that foregrounds their sense of ethical commitments and their beliefs in key humanistic ideas. Theoretically rich, and with a wealth of fascinating empirical material, the book will be of interest across the humanities and social sciences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/british-studies

⸻ Podcast: Redefining Society and Technologyhttps://redefiningsocietyandtechnologypodcast.com _____ Newsletter: Musing On Society And Technology https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/musing-on-society-technology-7079849705156870144/_____ Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/nFn6CcXKMM0_____ My Website: https://www.marcociappelli.com_____________________________This Episode's SponsorsBlackCloak provides concierge cybersecurity protection to corporate executives and high-net-worth individuals to protect against hacking, reputational loss, financial loss, and the impacts of a corporate data breach.BlackCloak:  https://itspm.ag/itspbcweb_____________________________A Musing On Society & Technology Newsletter Written By Marco Ciappelli | Read by TAPE3We Have All the Information, So Why Do We Know Less?Introducing: Reflections from Our Hybrid Analog-Digital SocietyFor years on the Redefining Society and Technology Podcast, I've explored a central premise: we live in a hybrid analog-digital society where the line between physical and virtual has dissolved into something more complex, more nuanced, and infinitely more human than we often acknowledge.But with the explosion of generative AI, this hybrid reality isn't just a philosophical concept anymore—it's our lived experience. Every day, we navigate between analog intuition and digital efficiency, between human wisdom and machine intelligence, between the messy beauty of physical presence and the seductive convenience of virtual interaction.This newsletter series will explore the tensions, paradoxes, and possibilities of being fundamentally analog beings in an increasingly digital world. We're not just using technology; we're being reshaped by it while simultaneously reshaping it with our deeply human, analog sensibilities.Analog Minds in a Digital World: Part 1We Have All the Information, So Why Do We Know Less?I was thinking about my old set of encyclopedias the other day. You know, those heavy volumes that sat on shelves like silent guardians of knowledge, waiting for someone curious enough to crack them open. When I needed to write a school report on, say, the Roman Empire, I'd pull out Volume R and start reading.But here's the thing: I never just read about Rome.I'd get distracted by Romania, stumble across something about Renaissance art, flip backward to find out more about the Reformation. By the time I found what I was originally looking for, I'd accidentally learned about three other civilizations, two art movements, and the invention of the printing press. The journey was messy, inefficient, and absolutely essential.And if I was in a library... well then just imagine the possibilities.Today, I ask Google, Claude or ChatGPT about the Roman Empire, and in thirty seconds, I have a perfectly formatted, comprehensive overview that would have taken me hours to compile from those dusty volumes. It's accurate, complete, and utterly forgettable.We have access to more information than any generation in human history. Every fact, every study, every perspective is literally at our fingertips. Yet somehow, we seem to know less. Not in terms of data acquisition—we're phenomenal at that—but in terms of deep understanding, contextual knowledge, and what I call "accidental wisdom."The difference isn't just about efficiency. It's about the fundamental way our minds process and retain information. When you physically search through an encyclopedia, your brain creates what cognitive scientists call "elaborative encoding"—you remember not just the facts, but the context of finding them, the related information you encountered, the physical act of discovery itself.When AI gives us instant answers, we bypass this entire cognitive process. We get the conclusion without the journey, the destination without the map. It's like being teleported to Rome without seeing the countryside along the way—technically efficient, but something essential is lost in translation.This isn't nostalgia talking. I use AI daily for research, writing, and problem-solving. It's an incredible tool. But I've noticed something troubling: my tolerance for not knowing things immediately has disappeared. The patience required for deep learning—the kind that happens when you sit with confusion, follow tangents, make unexpected connections—is atrophying like an unused muscle.We're creating a generation of analog minds trying to function in a digital reality that prioritizes speed over depth, answers over questions, conclusions over curiosity. And in doing so, we might be outsourcing the very process that makes us wise.Ancient Greeks had a concept called "metis"—practical wisdom that comes from experience, pattern recognition, and intuitive understanding developed through continuous engagement with complexity. In Ancient Greek, metis (Μῆτις) means wisdom, skill, or craft, and it also describes a form of wily, cunning intelligence. It can refer to the pre-Olympian goddess of wisdom and counsel, who was the first wife of Zeus and mother of Athena, or it can refer to the concept of cunning intelligence itself, a trait exemplified by figures like Odysseus. It's the kind of knowledge you can't Google because it lives in the space between facts, in the connections your mind makes when it has time to wander, wonder, and discover unexpected relationships.AI gives us information. But metis? That still requires an analog mind willing to get lost, make mistakes, and discover meaning in the margins.The question isn't whether we should abandon these digital tools—they're too powerful and useful to ignore. The question is whether we can maintain our capacity for the kind of slow, meandering, gloriously inefficient thinking that actually builds wisdom.Maybe the answer isn't choosing between analog and digital, but learning to be consciously hybrid. Use AI for what it does best—rapid information processing—while protecting the slower, more human processes that transform information into understanding. We need to preserve the analog pathways of learning alongside digital efficiency.Because in a world where we can instantly access any fact, the most valuable skill might be knowing which questions to ask—and having the patience to sit with uncertainty until real insight emerges from the continuous, contextual, beautifully inefficient process of analog thinking.Next transmission: "The Paradox of Infinite Choice: Why Having Everything Available Means Choosing Nothing"Let's keep exploring what it means to be human in this Hybrid Analog Digital Society.End of transmission.Marco______________________________________

David Garland is Professor of Sociology in NYU's Department of Sociology and Arthur T. Vanderbilt Professor of Law at NYU School of Law. His area of research is social theory and historical sociology with a focus on the penal state and the welfare state. In 2012, the American Society of Criminology awarded him the Edwin H. Sutherland Prize for outstanding contributions to theory and research. He has been elected to membership of learned societies in both the United States and the United Kingdom, being a Fellow of the British Academy, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Royal Society of Edinburgh. 

Fat Studies: The Basics (Routledge, 2025) introduces the reading of fat bodies and the ways that Fat Studies, as a field, has responded to waves of ideas about fat people, their lives, and choices. Part civil rights discourse and part academic discipline, Fat Studies is a dynamic project that involves contradiction and discussion. In order to understand this field, the book also explores its intersections with race, class, gender, sexuality, age, disability, ethnicity, migration and beyond. In addition to thinking through terminology and history, this book will aim to unpack three key myths which often guide Fat Studies, showing that: fat is a meaningful site of oppression intersected with other forms of discrimination and hatred to be fat is not a choice (but also that a discussion of choice is itself problematic); and fat cannot be unambiguously correlated with a lack of health Fat Studies: The Basics is a lively and accessible foundation for students of Gender Studies, Sociology, Psychology, and Media Studies, as well as anyone interested in learning more about this emergent field. May Friedman is a Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/gender-studies

In this episode of The Kroc Cast, Josefina Echavarría Álvarez, director of the Peace Accords Matrix and the Legacy Project at the Kroc Institute, part of the Keough School of Global Affairs, explores the power of Colombia's Truth Commission Transmedia Platform and its relevance for peacebuilding worldwide. The conversation highlights how this innovative, multimedia archive preserves multiple voices and lived experiences of Colombia's armed conflict while offering insights for societies grappling with the legacies of violence. Joining the discussion are two distinguished scholars working with the Legacy Project: Leigh Payne, Professor of Sociology and Latin America at the University of Oxford, whose extensive research on transitional justice spans Latin America and beyond, and Emma Murphy, Postdoctoral Researcher at the Keough-Naughton Institute and the Kroc Institute, whose work develops the concept of agonistic transitional justice as an alternative to liberal approaches. Together, they reflect on the possibilities and challenges of memory, contestation, and multiplicity in processes of truth-telling and reconciliation.

Dr. William I. Robinson is a professor of Sociology at UCSB and writes and teaches about the concept of surplus humanity which is an excess of people relative to an environment's carrying capacity.

Fat Studies: The Basics (Routledge, 2025) introduces the reading of fat bodies and the ways that Fat Studies, as a field, has responded to waves of ideas about fat people, their lives, and choices. Part civil rights discourse and part academic discipline, Fat Studies is a dynamic project that involves contradiction and discussion. In order to understand this field, the book also explores its intersections with race, class, gender, sexuality, age, disability, ethnicity, migration and beyond. In addition to thinking through terminology and history, this book will aim to unpack three key myths which often guide Fat Studies, showing that: fat is a meaningful site of oppression intersected with other forms of discrimination and hatred to be fat is not a choice (but also that a discussion of choice is itself problematic); and fat cannot be unambiguously correlated with a lack of health Fat Studies: The Basics is a lively and accessible foundation for students of Gender Studies, Sociology, Psychology, and Media Studies, as well as anyone interested in learning more about this emergent field. May Friedman is a Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology

Fat Studies: The Basics (Routledge, 2025) introduces the reading of fat bodies and the ways that Fat Studies, as a field, has responded to waves of ideas about fat people, their lives, and choices. Part civil rights discourse and part academic discipline, Fat Studies is a dynamic project that involves contradiction and discussion. In order to understand this field, the book also explores its intersections with race, class, gender, sexuality, age, disability, ethnicity, migration and beyond. In addition to thinking through terminology and history, this book will aim to unpack three key myths which often guide Fat Studies, showing that: fat is a meaningful site of oppression intersected with other forms of discrimination and hatred to be fat is not a choice (but also that a discussion of choice is itself problematic); and fat cannot be unambiguously correlated with a lack of health Fat Studies: The Basics is a lively and accessible foundation for students of Gender Studies, Sociology, Psychology, and Media Studies, as well as anyone interested in learning more about this emergent field. May Friedman is a Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/psychology

Fat Studies: The Basics (Routledge, 2025) introduces the reading of fat bodies and the ways that Fat Studies, as a field, has responded to waves of ideas about fat people, their lives, and choices. Part civil rights discourse and part academic discipline, Fat Studies is a dynamic project that involves contradiction and discussion. In order to understand this field, the book also explores its intersections with race, class, gender, sexuality, age, disability, ethnicity, migration and beyond. In addition to thinking through terminology and history, this book will aim to unpack three key myths which often guide Fat Studies, showing that: fat is a meaningful site of oppression intersected with other forms of discrimination and hatred to be fat is not a choice (but also that a discussion of choice is itself problematic); and fat cannot be unambiguously correlated with a lack of health Fat Studies: The Basics is a lively and accessible foundation for students of Gender Studies, Sociology, Psychology, and Media Studies, as well as anyone interested in learning more about this emergent field. May Friedman is a Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We dive into Juan Guse's fascinating book profiling four ordinary men who became crypto millionaires. A sociological look at sudden wealth, class mobility, and the human side of digital money.

As states struggle to meet the needs of people with serious mental illness, some are signing on to a federal pilot project that's funneling new funding into institutional care.Guests:Alex Barnard, Assistant Professor of Sociology, New York UniversityDanny Pasquini, patientTeresa Pasquini, AdvocateTyler Sadwith, Medicaid Director, California Department of Health Care ServicesMorgan Shields, Assistant Professor, Washington University in St. LouisRuth Shim, Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, UC DavisLearn more on our website.Want more Tradeoffs? Sign up for our free weekly newsletter featuring the latest health policy research and news.Support this type of journalism today, with a gift. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.—Filip Cicek is a seasoned researcher with a Master's degree in Sociology and over 15 years of diverse experience spanning academia, non-profit, and business realms. Proficient in both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, Filip leads Ruthless Insights, a cutting-edge consultancy specializing in UX and market research.In our conversation, we discuss:* How physical product research forces rigor, patience, and multiple rounds of muddy discovery.* The invisible weight of decision-making when mistakes cost millions and can't be undone.* What it takes to manage client expectations and stop pretending research can always be fast.* Why Filip left academia and started Ruthless Insights after getting fired and how he made it work.* The real challenges of agency work and how bad recruiting, rushed timelines, and AI shortcuts create sloppy insights.Some takeaways:* Physical product research demands rigor, not speed. When mistakes cost millions and there's no going back post-launch, teams take research seriously. Filip explains how physical product work forces multiple rounds of exploratory studies, each more focused than the last, until real confidence is built. There's no skipping the mess of qualitative research, no rapid sprints, no quick pivots, no AB tests. The trade-off? You get to do real, strategic work that actually gets used if you're willing to sit in the mud for a while.* Filip and Nikki both agree: multiple rounds of generative research can feel like an existential crisis. You finish each round with more questions than answers, stuck in abstract insights your stakeholders don't always want to hear. But those vague, frustrating truths are the only path to real product clarity, especially in high-stakes spaces. Researchers need to get comfortable with uncertainty and help clients understand that clarity takes time.* Many stakeholders just don't know what good research actually takes. It's your job to tell them. Filip's advice: don't agree to three-week timelines just to be helpful, push back with clarity. Clients don't need speed, they need to not be wrong. And when researchers stop overpromising and start managing expectations, trust and repeat work follow.* Ruthless Insights was built on rejection and a bet on honesty. Filip started his agency after getting fired and being told to “bet on yourself” by a client. That same client helped him name Ruthless Insights, based on Filip's refusal to sugarcoat tough findings. His whole model is built around doing the job well without padding the process or the price, no fancy office, no fluff, just clean, useful insight. It's not glamorous, but it's what keeps clients coming back.* Most people don't understand how hard research is until they try it. From clients underestimating how long recruitment takes, to stakeholders clinging to a single quote from an interview, Filip has seen it all. He's learned to pre-empt confusion by overcommunicating upfront, bringing recruiters in early, and walking stakeholders through the analysis process. He doesn't try to move fast, he tries to be accurate. And that's what builds a reputation that outlasts a slide deck.Where to find Filip:* Ruthless Insights* Statis-fact* LinkedInStop piecing it together. Start leading the work.The Everything UXR Bundle is for researchers who are tired of duct-taping free templates and second-guessing what good looks like.You get my complete set of toolkits, templates, and strategy guides. used by teams across Google, Spotify, , to run credible research, influence decisions, and actually grow in your role.It's built to save you time, raise your game, and make you the person people turn to—not around.→ Save 140+ hours a year with ready-to-use templates and frameworks→ Boost productivity by 40% with tools that cut admin and sharpen your focus→ Increase research adoption by 50% through clearer, faster, more strategic deliveryInterested in sponsoring the podcast?Interested in sponsoring or advertising on this podcast? I'm always looking to partner with brands and businesses that align with my audience. Book a call or email me at nikki@userresearchacademy.com to learn more about sponsorship opportunities!The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, positions, or policies of the host, the podcast, or any affiliated organizations or sponsors. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.userresearchstrategist.com/subscribe

Author Anthony Abraham Jack discusses the book, Class Dismissed: When Colleges Ignore Inequality and Students Pay the Price, reviewed in the September 2025 issue of Contemporary Sociology by Laura Nichols.

Anna Go-Go has always defied expectations - she was a drummer (still rare for a woman), then a comedian and now a mass Go-Go dance instructor - always with her beloved cats by her side. But when she turned 40, she noticed people's attitudes changed towards her. They saw her as an older woman living alone with cats and really began to treat her like a ‘crazy cat lady'.The idea of a woman living alone with cats has caused cultural panic for centuries. In 2021 when US vice-president JD Vance was a Senate candidate, he described how his country was run by a bunch of ‘childless cat ladies' - miserable at their lives and the choices they made. The comments went viral and were heavily criticised but they also drew attention to the modern-day use of the cat lady trope. In this episode, with the help of history and science, Matthew Syed explores how and why this centuries-old shaming tactic has travelled through time and still echoes today.With performer, mass dance master and author of Cat Lady Manifesto, Anna Go-Go; Dr Corey Wrenn, Lecturer of Sociology at the University of Kent; historian and author of the book Catland, Kathryn Hughes; and evolutionary biologist at Washington University in St Louis and author of The Age of Cats, Professor Jonathan Losos. Presenter: Matthew Syed Producer: Vishva Samani Editor: Hannah Marshall Sound Design and Mix: Mark Pittan Theme music by Ioana Selaru A Novel production for BBC Radio 4

What declining birthrates mean for our future Guest: Dr.  Barbara Katz Rothman, Professor of Sociology, Public Health, Disability Studies and Women's Studies at the City University of New York Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does the BCGEU strike mean for the Province? Guest: Barry Eidlin, Associate Professor of Sociology at McGill University Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is being done about growing street disorder Guest: Patricia Barnes, Vice President of the BIABC What does the BCGEU strike mean for the Province? Guest: Barry Eidlin, Associate Professor of Sociology at McGill University BC Government Professional Employees Association also going on strike today Guest: Melissa Moroz, Executive Director, PEA Can cell phone bans in schools really work? Guest: Jason Schilling, Alberta Teachers Association What declining birthrates mean for our future Guest: Dr.  Barbara Katz Rothman, Professor of Sociology, Public Health, Disability Studies and Women's Studies at the City University of New York What does it really cost to put your kids through school? Guest: Erin Bury, Erin Bury, founder of Willful.co and writer for the globe and mail Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In addition to the United States, several key European governments continue to provide intelligence and arms to the Israeli military—support that enables the ongoing genocide in Gaza and obstructs the path toward a political solution. Germany is among these governments, and its complicity is particularly striking given its own history of genocides in the 20th century. In a recent article for Middle East Eye titled “As Gaza becomes a death camp, German complicity reveals the West's racist biopolitics,” Dr. Jürgen Mackert analyzes how this ideology determines who is deemed worthy of life and resources, and who is not. Dr. Mackert is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Potsdam, Germany, and the author of several works. His most recent book, On Social Closure: Theorizing Exclusion, Exploitation, and Elimination, explores the mechanisms by which societies create and enforce boundaries of belonging.

In this episode, Eric Hsu and Louis Everuss celebrate their podcast reaching a quarter million downloads by spotlighting a work that has significantly developed the field of Science and Technology Studies (STS): Donald Mackenzie and Judy Wajcman's influential introductory chapter in their anthology on The Social Shaping of Technology, first published in 1985, and later updated in 1999. This text develops an oft cited critique of technological determinism, which posits that technology is an autonomous force in society, which is the primary driver of social change. Discussing this work leads Eric and Louis to talk about the Trump branded smartphone, Labubu, and the discontinued BlackBerry phone line, which Louis still feels sad about

⸻ Podcast: Redefining Society and Technologyhttps://redefiningsocietyandtechnologypodcast.com _____ Newsletter: Musing On Society And Technology https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/musing-on-society-technology-7079849705156870144/_____ Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/OYBjDHKhZOM_____ My Website: https://www.marcociappelli.com_____________________________This Episode's SponsorsBlackCloak provides concierge cybersecurity protection to corporate executives and high-net-worth individuals to protect against hacking, reputational loss, financial loss, and the impacts of a corporate data breach.BlackCloak:  https://itspm.ag/itspbcweb_____________________________A Musing On Society & Technology Newsletter Written By Marco Ciappelli | Read by TAPE3The First Smartphone Was a Transistor Radio — How a Tiny Device Rewired Youth Culture and Predicted Our Digital FutureA new transmission from Musing On Society and Technology Newsletter, by Marco CiappelliI've been collecting vintage radios lately—just started, really—drawn to their analog souls in ways I'm still trying to understand. Each one I find reminds me of a small, battered transistor radio from my youth. It belonged to my father, and before that, probably my grandfather. The leather case was cracked, the antenna wobbled, and the dial drifted if you breathed on it wrong. But when I was sixteen, sprawled across my bedroom floor in that small town near Florence with homework scattered around me, this little machine was my portal to everything that mattered.Late at night, I'd start by chasing the latest hits and local shows on FM, but then I'd venture into the real adventure—tuning through the static on AM and shortwave frequencies. Voices would emerge from the electromagnetic soup—music from London, news from distant capitals, conversations in languages I couldn't understand but somehow felt. That radio gave me something I didn't even know I was missing: the profound sense of belonging to a world much bigger than my neighborhood, bigger than my small corner of Tuscany.What I didn't realize then—what I'm only now beginning to understand—is that I was holding the first smartphone in human history.Not literally, of course. But functionally? Sociologically? That transistor radio was the prototype for everything that followed: the first truly personal media device that rewired how young people related to the world, to each other, and to the adults trying to control both.But to understand why the transistor radio was so revolutionary, we need to trace radio's remarkable journey through the landscape of human communication—a journey that reveals patterns we're still living through today.When Radio Was the Family HearthBefore my little portable companion, radio was something entirely different. In the 1930s, radio was furniture—massive, wooden, commanding the living room like a shrine to shared experience. Families spent more than four hours a day listening together, with radio ownership reaching nearly 90 percent by 1940. From American theaters that wouldn't open until after "Amos 'n Andy" to British families gathered around their wireless sets, from RAI broadcasts bringing opera into Tuscan homes—entire communities synchronized their lives around these electromagnetic rituals.Radio didn't emerge in a media vacuum, though. It had to find its place alongside the dominant information medium of the era: newspapers. The relationship began as an unlikely alliance. In the early 1920s, newspapers weren't threatened by radio—they were actually radio's primary boosters, creating tie-ins with broadcasts and even owning stations. Detroit's WWJ was owned by The Detroit News, initially seen as "simply another press-supported community service."But then came the "Press-Radio War" of 1933-1935, one of the first great media conflicts of the modern age. Newspapers objected when radio began interrupting programs with breaking news, arguing that instant news delivery would diminish paper sales. The 1933 Biltmore Agreement tried to restrict radio to just two five-minute newscasts daily—an early attempt at what we might now recognize as media platform regulation.Sound familiar? The same tensions we see today between traditional media and digital platforms, between established gatekeepers and disruptive technologies, were playing out nearly a century ago. Rather than one medium destroying the other, they found ways to coexist and evolve—a pattern that would repeat again and again.By the mid-1950s, when the transistor was perfected, radio was ready for its next transformation.The Real Revolution Was Social, Not TechnicalThis is where my story begins, but it's also where radio's story reaches its most profound transformation. The transistor radio didn't just make radio portable—it fundamentally altered the social dynamics of media consumption and youth culture itself.Remember, radio had spent its first three decades as a communal experience. Parents controlled what the family heard and when. But transistor radios shattered this control structure completely, arriving at precisely the right cultural moment. The post-WWII baby boom had created an unprecedented youth population with disposable income, and rock and roll was exploding into mainstream culture—music that adults often disapproved of, music that spoke directly to teenage rebellion and independence.For the first time in human history, young people had private, personal access to media. They could take their music to bedrooms, to beaches, anywhere adults weren't monitoring. They could tune into stations playing Chuck Berry, Elvis, and Little Richard without parental oversight—and in many parts of Europe, they could discover the rebellious thrill of pirate radio stations broadcasting rock and roll from ships anchored just outside territorial waters, defying government regulations and cultural gatekeepers alike. The transistor radio became the soundtrack of teenage autonomy, the device that let youth culture define itself on its own terms.The timing created a perfect storm: pocket-sized technology collided with a new musical rebellion, creating the first "personal media bubble" in human history—and the first generation to grow up with truly private access to the cultural forces shaping their identity.The parallels to today's smartphone revolution are impossible to ignore. Both devices delivered the same fundamental promise: the ability to carry your entire media universe with you, to access information and entertainment on your terms, to connect with communities beyond your immediate physical environment.But there's something we've lost in translation from analog to digital. My generation with transistor radios had to work for connection. We had to hunt through static, tune carefully, wait patiently for distant signals to emerge from electromagnetic chaos. We learned to listen—really listen—because finding something worthwhile required skill, patience, and analog intuition.This wasn't inconvenience; it was meaning-making. The harder you worked to find something, the more it mattered when you found it. The more skilled you became at navigating radio's complex landscape, the richer your discoveries became.What the Transistor Radio Taught Us About TomorrowRadio's evolution illustrates a crucial principle that applies directly to our current digital transformation: technologies don't replace each other—they find new ways to matter. Printing presses didn't become obsolete when radio arrived. Radio adapted when television emerged. Today, radio lives on in podcasts, streaming services, internet radio—the format transformed, but the essential human need it serves persists.When I was sixteen, lying on that bedroom floor with my father's radio pressed to my ear, I was doing exactly what teenagers do today with their smartphones: using technology to construct identity, to explore possibilities, to imagine myself into larger narratives.The medium has changed; the human impulse remains constant. The transistor radio taught me that technology's real power isn't in its specifications or capabilities—it's in how it reshapes the fundamental social relationships that define our lives.Every device that promises connection is really promising transformation: not just of how we communicate, but of who we become through that communication. The transistor radio was revolutionary not because it was smaller or more efficient than tube radios, but because it created new forms of human agency and autonomy.Perhaps that's the most important lesson for our current moment of digital transformation. As we worry about AI replacing human creativity, social media destroying real connection, or smartphones making us antisocial, radio's history suggests a different possibility: technologies tend to find their proper place in the ecosystem of human needs, augmenting rather than replacing what came before.As Marshall McLuhan understood, "the medium is the message"—to truly understand what's happening to us in this digital age, we need to understand the media themselves, not just the content they carry. And that's exactly the message I'll keep exploring in future newsletters—going deeper into how we can understand the media to understand the messages, and what that means for our hybrid analog-digital future.The frequency is still there, waiting. You just have to know how to tune in.__________ End of transmission.

How does sociology help to explain modern life? In A Sociology of Awkwardness: On Social Interactions Going Wrong (Routledge, 2025)Pauwke Berkers, a full professor Sociology of Popular Music at the Erasmus University Rotterdam, and Yosha Wijngaarden, an assistant professor of Media and Creative Industries at the Erasmus University Rotterdam, examine how people interact in settings as diverse as work, everyday life, self-help and even contemporary dating. Alongside this rich empirical research, the book outlines a uniquely sociological approach to awkwardness, displacing the idea that it is a personal characteristic and showing how both the idea of awkwardness and people's experiences around it are closely associated with social contexts and constructions. The book will be of interest to anyone who has ever felt awkward! It is available open access here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

How does sociology help to explain modern life? In A Sociology of Awkwardness: On Social Interactions Going Wrong (Routledge, 2025)Pauwke Berkers, a full professor Sociology of Popular Music at the Erasmus University Rotterdam, and Yosha Wijngaarden, an assistant professor of Media and Creative Industries at the Erasmus University Rotterdam, examine how people interact in settings as diverse as work, everyday life, self-help and even contemporary dating. Alongside this rich empirical research, the book outlines a uniquely sociological approach to awkwardness, displacing the idea that it is a personal characteristic and showing how both the idea of awkwardness and people's experiences around it are closely associated with social contexts and constructions. The book will be of interest to anyone who has ever felt awkward! It is available open access here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/critical-theory

How does sociology help to explain modern life? In A Sociology of Awkwardness: On Social Interactions Going Wrong (Routledge, 2025)Pauwke Berkers, a full professor Sociology of Popular Music at the Erasmus University Rotterdam, and Yosha Wijngaarden, an assistant professor of Media and Creative Industries at the Erasmus University Rotterdam, examine how people interact in settings as diverse as work, everyday life, self-help and even contemporary dating. Alongside this rich empirical research, the book outlines a uniquely sociological approach to awkwardness, displacing the idea that it is a personal characteristic and showing how both the idea of awkwardness and people's experiences around it are closely associated with social contexts and constructions. The book will be of interest to anyone who has ever felt awkward! It is available open access here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology

How does sociology help to explain modern life? In A Sociology of Awkwardness: On Social Interactions Going Wrong (Routledge, 2025)Pauwke Berkers, a full professor Sociology of Popular Music at the Erasmus University Rotterdam, and Yosha Wijngaarden, an assistant professor of Media and Creative Industries at the Erasmus University Rotterdam, examine how people interact in settings as diverse as work, everyday life, self-help and even contemporary dating. Alongside this rich empirical research, the book outlines a uniquely sociological approach to awkwardness, displacing the idea that it is a personal characteristic and showing how both the idea of awkwardness and people's experiences around it are closely associated with social contexts and constructions. The book will be of interest to anyone who has ever felt awkward! It is available open access here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/popular-culture

In a retail landscape obsessed with speed and conversion, Anthropologie has mastered something far more elusive: cultural alchemy. How do you transform a fleeting TikTok trend into a cross-category empire spanning everything from ceramic lamps to cashmere sweaters? COO Candan Erenguc reveals the operational artistry behind turning cultural moments into commerce gold, and why connection always trumps conversion. The Genius Behind That Viral DressKey takeaways:Community over conversion - Building authentic customer relationships drives long-term success more than short-term sales optimizationCultural instinct beats data - When responding to viral moments and cultural trends, intuition often signals opportunities before data can catch upChoice trumps speed - Customers value optionality in how, when, and where they receive products more than just fast deliveryLocalized curation wins - Store-specific assortments based on neighborhood demographics and customer needs drive expansion successCross-category trend application - Scaling cultural moments across diverse product categories (from eccentric lamps to dog sweaters) maximizes trend participation[00:03:13] "[Our merchant teams] are ahead of the curve, predicting trends. And if I may be so bold, they're influencing trends." - Candan[00:05:53] "It's symbiotic. Our goal is to give customers what they want. But I think …sometimes they don't know yet what they want." - Candan[00:20:04] "Connection over conversion. You build the connection, everything else will come." - Candan[00:16:41] "I don't think that the most important thing is speed. I think the most important thing is choice." - Candan[00:19:43] "We're also at a time where people are much more savvy than we give them credit for." - PhillipIn-Show Mentions:Listen to Mindy Massey, Anthropologie Global Director of Stores, on the latest season of Step By Step.Associated Links:Check out Future Commerce on YouTubeCheck out Future Commerce+ for exclusive content and save on merch and printSubscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce worldListen to our other episodes of Future CommerceHave any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners!

In the second episode on metascience, we discuss the benefits of metascientific study according to Mario Bunge, some key milestones in sociology, psychology, and anthropology of science, and whether there should be a science of the science of science.   Shownotes Galton, F. (1874). English men of science: Their nature and nurture. McMillian & Co. https://archive.org/details/englishmenofscie00galtuoft Latour, B. & Woolgar, S. (1979). Laboratory life: The social construction of scientific facts. Sage Publications.  Candolle, A. de (with Fisher - University of Toronto). (1873). Histoire des sciences et des savants depuis deux siècles; suivie d'autres études sur des sujets scientifiques, en particulier sur la sélection dans l'espèce humaine. Genève, Georg. http://archive.org/details/histoiredesscie00cand Vaesen, K. (2021). French Neopositivism and the Logic, Psychology, and Sociology of Scientific Discovery. HOPOS: The Journal of the International Society for the History of Philosophy of Science, 11(1), 183–200. https://doi.org/10.1086/712934  

In this episode, I engage with a caller struggling to find direction after graduating in sociology and anthropology, focusing on criminal justice. He shares his frustrations with a challenging job market and feelings of inadequacy following a promising lead that fell through. We explore how his rigid upbringing has impacted his confidence and relationship with authority. Discussing solutions, I emphasize adopting a proactive mindset and embracing skills in emerging technologies like AI. We conclude with practical steps for self-education and skill development to help him reclaim his career path.FOLLOW ME ON X! https://x.com/StefanMolyneuxGET MY NEW BOOK 'PEACEFUL PARENTING', THE INTERACTIVE PEACEFUL PARENTING AI, AND THE FULL AUDIOBOOK!https://peacefulparenting.com/Join the PREMIUM philosophy community on the web for free!Subscribers get 12 HOURS on the "Truth About the French Revolution," multiple interactive multi-lingual philosophy AIs trained on thousands of hours of my material - as well as AIs for Real-Time Relationships, Bitcoin, Peaceful Parenting, and Call-In Shows!You also receive private livestreams, HUNDREDS of exclusive premium shows, early release podcasts, the 22 Part History of Philosophers series and much more!See you soon!https://freedomain.locals.com/support/promo/UPB2025

We discuss the role of collective memory in the myth-making of American exceptionalism.    Hajar's civic action toolkit recommendations are:  1) Advocate 2) Relate 3) Create   Hajar Yazdiha is an Associate Professor of Sociology at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences and the author of The Struggle for the People's King: How Politics Transforms the Memory of the Civil Rights Movement.     Let's connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/   Discover new ways to #BetheSpark:  https://www.futurehindsight.com/spark    Follow Mila on X:  https://x.com/milaatmos    Follow Hajar on X:  https://x.com/HajYazdiha    Read The Struggle for the People's King:  https://bookshop.org/shop/futurehindsight    Sponsor:  Thank you to Shopify! Sign up for a $1/month trial at shopify.com/hopeful.   Early episodes for Patreon supporters: https://patreon.com/futurehindsight  Credits:  Host: Mila Atmos  Guests: Hajar Yazdiha Executive Producer: Mila Atmos Producer: Zack Travis

Send us a textIn this relaunch episode of Conversations with Kenyatta, host Kenyatta D. Berry and producer Caitlin Howle introduce the podcast's powerful new direction—spotlighting stories systematically erased from history and amplifying marginalized voices. Drawing on her extensive research and her own family history as a descendant of enslaved individuals, Kenyatta shares the inspiration behind this shift. Together, they explore the challenges of uncovering erased histories, the role of storytelling in genealogy, and the potential of modern tools like AI. This episode sets the stage for a series designed to educate, inspire, and reframe how we think about America's past.Timestamps00:00 Welcome Back to Conversations with Kenyatta00:51 The Inspiration Behind the New Focus01:49 Exploring Historical Erasure04:12 Genealogy and Historical Context07:11 Challenges in Telling Erased Stories17:06 The Role of AI in Genealogy25:38 The Emotional Connection to Genealogy31:27 Hopes for the Podcast's Impact34:42 Conclusion and Future ExcitementConversations with Kenyatta features Kenyatta D. Berry. Music for episodes 1-76 is "Good Vibe" by Ketsa, Music for episodes 77+ is “Rheme – Afrobeat x African Instrumental x Reggae Beat,” via Pixabay.Learn more about Kenyatta and her work at KenyattaBerry.com.You can also connect with her on social media:Instagram: @Kenyatta.BerryFacebook: facebook.com/KenyattaDBThanks for listening, we'll see you next time on Conversations with Kenyatta. We are dedicated to exploring and discussing various aspects of genealogy, history, culture, and social issues. We aim to shed light on untold stories and perspectives that enrich our understanding of the world. Disclaimer: All guest opinions expressed in Conversations with Kenyatta are their own and do not reflect the views of Kenyatta D. Berry. .

Dr Alessandra Seggi is a Professor of Sociology and Crimonology for Villanova University, and Author of the book "Youth and Suicide in American Cinema: Context, Causes, and Consequences." She talks about the ethics and effects of depictions of suicide, the possible positive applications, processing emotions, as well as the risks. With suicide being such a huge risk for youth, this is an important topic for everyone. Go to www.alessandraseggi.com to learn more about her work.  This Sunday (8/31) is the Broken Brain's 4th Annual Live Stream for Overdoes Awareness. Visit www.dwighthurst.com/live for times, links, and ways to join the stream. 

Greg Brady spoke to Brad Wilcox, Professor of Sociology and Director of the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia, author of Get Married: Why Americans Should Defy the Elites, Forge Strong Families and Save Civilization about an expected spike in marriage thanks to Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce engagement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of 'The Biggest Table,' hosted by Andrew Camp, guest Ethan Amos discusses food, hospitality, and hunger issues. Ethan, originally from the White Mountain Apache Reservation and now the President and CEO of the Flagstaff Family Food Center, shares his childhood experiences with food and his efforts to address food insecurity in Northern Arizona. He discusses the complexities of health, food access, and the role of food banks, emphasizing the importance of hospitality and the dignity of choice. The conversation also touches upon the systemic issues of hunger, the impact of political decisions on SNAP benefits, and community resilience. Ethan shares how his team at the food center works to meet these challenges while maintaining exceptional customer service and community engagement.2024 Northern Arizona Food Equity Report is available on Flagstaff Family Food Center's website.Email Ethan Amos at ethan@hotfood.orgEthan Amos is a local to Flagstaff, but is always happy to share that he is originally from the White Mountain Apache reservation in Whiteriver, Arizona. He has over eighteen years of experience working in the nonprofit, government, and corporate sectors as a subject matter expert on health-related social needs and health equity issues impacting individuals and families of lower-income brackets. Now, as the President & CEO of the Flagstaff Family Food Center, Ethan is the lead strategist and ambassador advancing the organization's mission to serve those experiencing hunger. Though hunger relief has been the organization's primary focus, Ethan has introduced several anti-hunger initiatives to address food access issues in northern Arizona. Ethan has a bachelor's degree from Northern Arizona University, where he studied Applied Indigenous Studies and Sociology. He lives in Flagstaff with his wife, Lucy, and their four boys (three sons and one nephew).This episode of the Biggest Table is brought to you in part by Wild Goose Coffee. Since 2008, Wild Goose has sought to build better communities through coffee. For our listeners, Wild Goose is offering a special promotion of 20% off a one time order using the code TABLE at checkout. To learn more and to order coffee, please visit wildgoosecoffee.com. 

⸻ Podcast: Redefining Society and Technologyhttps://redefiningsocietyandtechnologypodcast.com ______Title: Why Electric Vehicles Need an Apollo Program: The Reneweable Energy Infrastructure Reality We're Ignoring | A Conversation with Mats Larsson | Redefining Society And Technology Podcast With Marco Ciappelli______Guest: Mats Larsson New book: "How Building the Future Really Works." Business developer, project manager and change leader – Speaker. I'm happy to connect!On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matslarsson-author/Host: Marco CiappelliCo-Founder & CMO @ITSPmagazine | Master Degree in Political Science - Sociology of Communication l Branding & Marketing Advisor | Journalist | Writer | Podcast Host | #Technology #Cybersecurity #Society

Remember the old days of the internet when you went to a website from your bookmarks, read an article or review or essay or story, and then made your way down to the comments, where a rational and considerate discussion was happening? Then, one day, people started trying to have the FIRST comment in the comment section by commenting "First!" And from there, maybe literally everything about the internet and society started going to... heck... Join us as we talk about "First" or "First Post," and wax philosophical about what the internet used to be, and what it has done to us all. Plus, there's a MouthGarf Report and I See What You Did There!Please give us a 5 star rating on Apple Podcasts! Want to ask us a question? Talk to us! Email debutbuddies@gmail.comListen to the archives of Kelly and Chelsea's awesome horror movie podcast, Never Show the Monster.Get some sci-fi from Spaceboy Books.Get down with Michael J. O'Connor's music!Next time: First Comedy Central Presents

⸻ Podcast: Redefining Society and Technologyhttps://redefiningsocietyandtechnologypodcast.com ______Title: Why Electric Vehicles Need an Apollo Program: The Reneweable Energy Infrastructure Reality We're Ignoring | A Conversation with Mats Larsson | Redefining Society And Technology Podcast With Marco Ciappelli______Guest: Mats Larsson New book: "How Building the Future Really Works." Business developer, project manager and change leader – Speaker. I'm happy to connect!On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matslarsson-author/Host: Marco CiappelliCo-Founder & CMO @ITSPmagazine | Master Degree in Political Science - Sociology of Communication l Branding & Marketing Advisor | Journalist | Writer | Podcast Host | #Technology #Cybersecurity #Society

Welcome back to an encore episode of the No Labels, No Limits podcast, where we spotlight bold individuals who rise above limiting beliefs to lead empowered, purpose-driven lives. I'm your host, Sarah Boxx, and today we revisit a conversation with someone who has made it her mission to help women navigate one of life's most difficult transitions—divorce—with clarity and financial confidence.Leah Hadley is the Founder and CEO of Great Lakes Divorce Financial Solutions and Great Lakes Investment Management. A nationally recognized financial empowerment expert, Leah is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA), Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC), mediator, and award-winning financial planner.But Leah didn't start in finance. With degrees in Education and Sociology, she began her career in the classroom before burnout led her to a temp job at an investment bank—an unexpected detour that set her on a new path.Through her own life transitions—including becoming a parent of three overnight, navigating divorce, and building a business from scratch—Leah discovered how essential financial planning is to peace of mind. Today, she empowers women with compassionate, customized financial guidance before, during, and after divorce, helping them gain control, independence, and a fresh start.In this episode, we discuss:How Leah went from teacher to trusted financial advisorThe most important step to building financial confidenceWhat to look for in a financial professional—and when to reach outThe first steps women should take during divorce to reduce financial stressHow financial education can change life outcomesFree Resource:Leah originally offered our listeners access to her free 40-minute webinar, Plan for Financial Freedom: 6 Steps You Can Take Today.Visit www.planforfinancialfreedom.com to see if this offer is still available.Please note: Any time-sensitive offers mentioned in this episode may no longer be active.Connect with Leah Hadley:Website: www.greatlakesdfs.comInstagram: Leah Hadley (@watchherthrive) • Instagram photos and videosLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/leahahadleyFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/intentionaldivorce/Facebook Group: Watch Her ThriveConnect with Sarah Boxx:Website: https://sarahboxx.com/Enjoying NLNL?Be sure to check out our sister show, the Nonprofit Transformation Podcast (NPT)—where we highlight strategies and stories from nonprofit leaders driving meaningful change in their communities.Listen here: https://shows.acast.com/nonprofits-todaySubscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@NonprofitsToday⁩

Today, I interview Michael Grant and Lee Glickstein. Michael once struggled with stage fright, from freezing in high school to facing the daunting role of speaking at his uncle's memorial service. His voice, long held back by anxiety and fear, often felt locked away.Everything began to shift when he discovered Speaking Circles, created by Lee. Instead of relying on performance or technique, Michael experienced the power of pauses, silence, and being truly seen. He learned to drop into his heart, receive listening, and let his authentic words emerge naturally.What once felt like collapse slowly transformed into presence, connection, and shared humanity. Now, Michael is stepping into personal leadership with a voice no longer frozen by fear. Together with Lee, he shares how listening itself can be healing, how authenticity matters more than performance, and how true voice is found not in speaking louder—but in speaking from the heart.__________________Michael Grant is an architectural designer whose journey with stage fright has spanned decades. What began in high school as a phobia of public speaking—whether in class, on stage, or even raising his hand—developed into a deep-seated anxiety that shaped much of his adult life.Over the years, Michael explored countless avenues to face this fear: public speaking courses, acting classes, personal growth workshops, and three years with Toastmasters. While these tools helped him function in front of groups, he never truly felt safe internally. The anxiety persisted, often leaving him frozen under the spotlight, even on Zoom calls.Everything changed when he was asked to MC his uncle's memorial ceremony—a high-stakes moment with over 130 attendees. Michael feared delivering a stiff, scripted performance instead of honoring his heartfelt intention: to create a safe, loving, and inclusive space.He discovered Be Heard Now! by Lee Glickstein, immersing himself in the practice of speaking from true inner presence, and with intensive dedication to planning and practice, he pulled it off. The memorial became a magical experience. Today, Michael sees his early fears not as burdens, but as invitations into lifelong personal growth.__________________Lee Glickstein, founder of Speaking Circles International, is an authority on leadership presence and magnetism in public speaking. Decades of debilitating stage fright led him to develop an innovative approach to solving the epidemic fear of being fully oneself in front of groups.Lee has presented his unique programs at over 20 chapters of the National Speakers Association. He is the author of Be Heard Now! Tap Into Your Inner Speaker and Communicate with Ease (Bantam Doubleday and Sounds True Audiotapes) and Be Seen Now! Inspiring Insights into Being a Fearless Speaker (Precosity Press).He has facilitated thousands of Speaking Circles, workshops, seminars, and retreats around the world. Through Speaking Circles International, his team has trained over 1,000 Speaking Circle facilitators, who have led groups in eight countries and six languages.Lee graduated from Brooklyn College with a B.A. in Sociology in 1966. In 1996, he was awarded the Athena Award for Excellence in Coaching and Mentoring.Lee lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. His hobby is constructing crossword puzzles for The New York Times.__________________Find Lee here:https://speakingcircles.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/leeglickstein/Support the showI'm Dr. Doreen Downing and I help people find their voice so they can speak without fear. Get the Free 7-Step Guide to Fearless Speaking https://www.doreen7steps.com​.

Happy Thursday! Jane is kicking off about what she deems to be an inappropriate funeral song, whilst Fi expresses her biggest fear: eating jellyfish cereal in a lighthouse. Plus, Fi speaks to Professor Sophie Watson, Head of Sociology at The Open University, about the importance of water to our cities. You can listen to the playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3qIjhtS9sprg864IXC96he?si=uOzz4UYZRc2nFOP8FV_1jg&pi=BGoacntaS_uki If you want to contact the show to ask a question and get involved in the conversation then please email us: janeandfi@times.radio Follow us on Instagram! @janeandfi Assistant Producer: Hannah Quinn Podcast Producer: Eve Salusbury Executive Producer: Rosie Cutler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Nathan Goodman interviews sociologist Timothy Dunn on the militarization of the U.S.-Mexico border and its consequences for human rights. Dunn discusses how U.S. border militarization grew out of the Cold War era “low intensity conflict” doctrine and was expanded by both parties through the 1990s strategy of “prevention through deterrence.” While this policy reduced crossings in urban areas like El Paso and San Diego, it pushed migrants into deserts and mountains, ultimately contributing to thousands of migrant deaths. Dunn explains how U.S. military training and interventions in Central America fueled violence and migration, how financial institutions and drug war policies have perpetuated instability, how political entrepreneurs use crisis narratives to expand coercive power, and how programs like Operation Lone Star model a new wave of militarized enforcement. He calls for more humane immigration reforms grounded in human rights, economic realities, and the everyday resilience of immigrant communities.Dr. Timothy J. Dunn is a Professor of Sociology at Salisbury University in Maryland. He is the author of Blockading the Border and Human Rights: The El Paso Operation that Remade Immigration Enforcement (University of Texas Press, 2009) and The Militarization of the U.S.-Mexico Border, 1978-1992: Low-Intensity Conflict Doctrine Comes Home (University of Texas Press, 1996).Show Notes:Handbook on Human Security, Borders and Migration (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2021) edited by Natalia Ribas-Mateos and Timothy DunnTodd Miller's book, Empire of Borders: The Expansion of the US Border around the WorldJason De León's book, The Land of Open Graves: Living and Dying on the Migrant TrailGary Becker's article, "Crime and Punishment: An Economic Approach" (Journal of Political Economy, 1968)Mexican Migration ProjectMacArthur Fellowship Recipient: Kelly Lytle HernándezNo More Deaths / No Más MuertesCoalición de Derechos HumanosCoalition for Humane Immigrant RightsACLU | Immigrants' RightsIf you like the show, please subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and tell others about the show! We're available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and wherever you get your podcasts.Virtual Sentiments, a podcast series from the Hayek Program, is streaming. Subscribe today and listen to season three, releasing now!Follow the Hayek Program on Twitter: @HayekProgramLearn more about Academic & Student ProgramsFollow the Mercatus Center on Twitter: @mercatusCC Music: Twisterium

⸻ Podcast: Redefining Society and Technologyhttps://redefiningsocietyandtechnologypodcast.com _____________________________This Episode's SponsorsBlackCloak provides concierge cybersecurity protection to corporate executives and high-net-worth individuals to protect against hacking, reputational loss, financial loss, and the impacts of a corporate data breach.BlackCloak:  https://itspm.ag/itspbcweb_____________________________A Musing On Society & Technology Newsletter Written By Marco Ciappelli | Read by TAPE3August 18, 2025The Narrative Attack Paradox: When Cybersecurity Lost the Ability to Detect Its Own Deception and the Humanity We Risk When Truth Becomes OptionalReflections from Black Hat USA 2025 on Deception, Disinformation, and the Marketing That Chose Fiction Over FactsBy Marco CiappelliSean Martin, CISSP just published his analysis of Black Hat USA 2025, documenting what he calls the cybersecurity vendor "echo chamber." Reviewing over 60 vendor announcements, Sean found identical phrases echoing repeatedly: "AI-powered," "integrated," "reduce analyst burden." The sameness forces buyers to sift through near-identical claims to find genuine differentiation.This reveals more than a marketing problem—it suggests that different technologies are being fed into the same promotional blender, possibly a generative AI one, producing standardized output regardless of what went in. When an entire industry converges on identical language to describe supposedly different technologies, meaningful technical discourse breaks down.But Sean's most troubling observation wasn't about marketing copy—it was about competence. When CISOs probe vendor claims about AI capabilities, they encounter vendors who cannot adequately explain their own technologies. When conversations moved beyond marketing promises to technical specifics, answers became vague, filled with buzzwords about proprietary algorithms.Reading Sean's analysis while reflecting on my own Black Hat experience, I realized we had witnessed something unprecedented: an entire industry losing the ability to distinguish between authentic capability and generated narrative—precisely as that same industry was studying external "narrative attacks" as an emerging threat vector.The irony was impossible to ignore. Black Hat 2025 sessions warned about AI-generated deepfakes targeting executives, social engineering attacks using scraped LinkedIn profiles, and synthetic audio calls designed to trick financial institutions. Security researchers documented how adversaries craft sophisticated deceptions using publicly available content. Meanwhile, our own exhibition halls featured countless unverifiable claims about AI capabilities that even the vendors themselves couldn't adequately explain.But to understand what we witnessed, we need to examine the very concept that cybersecurity professionals were discussing as an external threat: narrative attacks. These represent a fundamental shift in how adversaries target human decision-making. Unlike traditional cyberattacks that exploit technical vulnerabilities, narrative attacks exploit psychological vulnerabilities in human cognition. Think of them as social engineering and propaganda supercharged by AI—personalized deception at scale that adapts faster than human defenders can respond. They flood information environments with false content designed to manipulate perception and erode trust, rendering rational decision-making impossible.What makes these attacks particularly dangerous in the AI era is scale and personalization. AI enables automated generation of targeted content tailored to individual psychological profiles. A single adversary can launch thousands of simultaneous campaigns, each crafted to exploit specific cognitive biases of particular groups or individuals.But here's what we may have missed during Black Hat 2025: the same technological forces enabling external narrative attacks have already compromised our internal capacity for truth evaluation. When vendors use AI-optimized language to describe AI capabilities, when marketing departments deploy algorithmic content generation to sell algorithmic solutions, when companies building detection systems can't detect the artificial nature of their own communications, we've entered a recursive information crisis.From a sociological perspective, we're witnessing the breakdown of social infrastructure required for collective knowledge production. Industries like cybersecurity have historically served as early warning systems for technological threats—canaries in the coal mine with enough technical sophistication to spot emerging dangers before they affect broader society.But when the canary becomes unable to distinguish between fresh air and poison gas, the entire mine is at risk.This brings us to something the literary world understood long before we built our first algorithm. Jorge Luis Borges, the Argentine writer, anticipated this crisis in his 1940s stories like "On Exactitude in Science" and "The Library of Babel"—tales about maps that become more real than the territories they represent and libraries containing infinite books, including false ones. In his fiction, simulations and descriptions eventually replace the reality they were meant to describe.We're living in a Borgesian nightmare where marketing descriptions of AI capabilities have become more influential than actual AI capabilities. When a vendor's promotional language about their AI becomes more convincing than a technical demonstration, when buyers make decisions based on algorithmic marketing copy rather than empirical evidence, we've entered that literary territory where the map has consumed the landscape. And we've lost the ability to distinguish between them.The historical precedent is the 1938 War of the Worlds broadcast, which created mass hysteria from fiction. But here's the crucial difference: Welles was human, the script was human-written, the performance required conscious participation, and the deception was traceable to human intent. Listeners had to actively choose to believe what they heard.Today's AI-generated narratives operate below the threshold of conscious recognition. They require no active participation—they work by seamlessly integrating into information environments in ways that make detection impossible even for experts. When algorithms generate technical claims that sound authentic to human evaluators, when the same systems create both legitimate documentation and marketing fiction, we face deception at a level Welles never imagined: the algorithmic manipulation of truth itself.The recursive nature of this problem reveals itself when you try to solve it. This creates a nearly impossible situation. How do you fact-check AI-generated claims about AI using AI-powered tools? How do you verify technical documentation when the same systems create both authentic docs and marketing copy? When the tools generating problems and solving problems converge into identical technological artifacts, conventional verification approaches break down completely.My first Black Hat article explored how we risk losing human agency by delegating decision-making to artificial agents. But this goes deeper: we risk losing human agency in the construction of reality itself. When machines generate narratives about what machines can do, truth becomes algorithmically determined rather than empirically discovered.Marshall McLuhan famously said "We shape our tools, and thereafter they shape us." But he couldn't have imagined tools that reshape our perception of reality itself. We haven't just built machines that give us answers—we've built machines that decide what questions we should ask and how we should evaluate the answers.But the implications extend far beyond cybersecurity itself. This matters far beyond. If the sector responsible for detecting digital deception becomes the first victim of algorithmic narrative pollution, what hope do other industries have? Healthcare systems relying on AI diagnostics they can't explain. Financial institutions using algorithmic trading based on analyses they can't verify. Educational systems teaching AI-generated content whose origins remain opaque.When the industry that guards against deception loses the ability to distinguish authentic capability from algorithmic fiction, society loses its early warning system for the moment when machines take over truth construction itself.So where does this leave us? That moment may have already arrived. We just don't know it yet—and increasingly, we lack the cognitive infrastructure to find out.But here's what we can still do: We can start by acknowledging we've reached this threshold. We can demand transparency not just in AI algorithms, but in the human processes that evaluate and implement them. We can rebuild evaluation criteria that distinguish between technical capability and marketing narrative.And here's a direct challenge to the marketing and branding professionals reading this: it's time to stop relying on AI algorithms and data optimization to craft your messages. The cybersecurity industry's crisis should serve as a warning—when marketing becomes indistinguishable from algorithmic fiction, everyone loses. Social media has taught us that the most respected brands are those that choose honesty over hype, transparency over clever messaging. Brands that walk the walk and talk the talk, not those that let machines do the talking.The companies that will survive this epistemological crisis are those whose marketing teams become champions of truth rather than architects of confusion. When your audience can no longer distinguish between human insight and machine-generated claims, authentic communication becomes your competitive advantage.Most importantly, we can remember that the goal was never to build machines that think for us, but machines that help us think better.The canary may be struggling to breathe, but it's still singing. The question is whether we're still listening—and whether we remember what fresh air feels like.Let's keep exploring what it means to be human in this Hybrid Analog Digital Society. Especially now, when the stakes have never been higher, and the consequences of forgetting have never been more real. End of transmission.___________________________________________________________Marco Ciappelli is Co-Founder and CMO of ITSPmagazine, a journalist, creative director, and host of podcasts exploring the intersection of technology, cybersecurity, and society. His work blends journalism, storytelling, and sociology to examine how technological narratives influence human behavior, culture, and social structures.___________________________________________________________Enjoyed this transmission? Follow the newsletter here:https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7079849705156870144/Share this newsletter and invite anyone you think would enjoy it!New stories always incoming.___________________________________________________________As always, let's keep thinking!Marco Ciappellihttps://www.marcociappelli.com___________________________________________________________This story represents the results of an interactive collaboration between Human Cognition and Artificial Intelligence.Marco Ciappelli | Co-Founder, Creative Director & CMO ITSPmagazine  | Dr. in Political Science / Sociology of Communication l Branding | Content Marketing | Writer | Storyteller | My Podcasts: Redefining Society & Technology / Audio Signals / + | MarcoCiappelli.comTAPE3 is the Artificial Intelligence behind ITSPmagazine—created to be a personal assistant, writing and design collaborator, research companion, brainstorming partner… and, apparently, something new every single day.Enjoy, think, share with others, and subscribe to the "Musing On Society & Technology" newsletter on LinkedIn.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Chief of Staff and Vice President for Strategy and Policy at Bard College Malia DuMont, Political Consultant and lobbyist Libby Post, and Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at Vassar College Catherine Tan.

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by qualitative sociologist, Dr. Gretchen Sisson. Gretchen's researches pregnancy, abortion and adoption at Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH) department at UC San Francisco. Her 2024 book is: “Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood “ Follow Gretchen: @GretchenSisson