Podcasts about University of Chicago

Mike Stephen discusses the origins of gun violence in Chicago with Jens Ludwig, author of the new book called Unforgiving Places: The Unexpected Origins of American Gun Violence, and then sits down with local musician Andy Madden about his new music and upcoming record release performance.

Professor Nicholas G. Hatsopoulos from the Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy is on The Course this week to discuss his career path. From majoring in physics to psychology, to playing the Bouzouki and working in Greece for a year, it was only later in life that Professor Hatsopoulos found Neuroscience and found his passion as a scientist working on how the brain directs body movements. As his research team continues to explore this field, wearable robots or exoskeletons might not be too far in the horizon. Tune in to hear more about his career story!

What if a single number, derived from your DNA, could predict your income, education level or even who you're likely to marry? In his new book “The Social Genome,” Princeton University sociologist Dalton Conley explores the science behind how our genes are shaping our society in ways that are both profound and unsettling.Conley explains how our genes, and the genes of those around us, are influencing our lives in ways we barely understand—from fertility clinics selecting embryos based on genetic traits to the rise of “genetic sorting” in everything from dating to zip codes. He also debunks the idea of nature versus nurture, revealing how deeply intertwined they truly are.Are we heading toward a future of genetically coded inequality? And what policies and conversations are urgently needed to ensure we don't cross the line from science into dystopia?

What happens when a nation forgets its spiritual foundations? In this thought-provoking exploration of America's Christian heritage, Jesse Cope connects seemingly disparate current events—from China's role in the fentanyl crisis to universities' embrace of DEI policies—to reveal a common thread: our collective unwillingness to acknowledge ideologies fundamentally opposed to our founding principles.The heart of this episode centers on an illuminating examination of the 1811 New York Supreme Court case "People v. Ruggles." Through Chief Justice Kent's powerful opinion, we discover how early American jurisprudence understood religious freedom in a way dramatically different from today's interpretations. Kent unequivocally declared America "a Christian people" whose morality was "deeply engrafted upon Christianity," distinguishing the true faith from what he called "imposters." This historical perspective challenges our modern assumption that the First Amendment requires treating all religions equally.Cope brilliantly articulates that the First Amendment was never intended to "separate God from the state" but rather to prevent the government from favoring particular denominations—a crucial distinction lost in contemporary discourse. Drawing from James Chapter 4, he confronts listeners with a fundamental choice between friendship with the world and friendship with God, warning that pursuit of the former inevitably leads to conflict with divine principles.For anyone concerned about America's spiritual direction, this episode offers both sobering analysis and hopeful perspective. As Calvin Coolidge once observed, "The foundations of our society and our government rest so much on the teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in these teachings would cease." Have you made God your checkbox or your compass? The answer to this question might determine not just your personal faith journey but our collective future as a nation.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

What happens when a society abandons its moral foundation? In this thought-provoking exploration of faith, speech, and civil order, we journey through James 3 to understand the devastating power of our words and the necessity of taming our tongues. "The tongue is a fire," Scripture warns—capable of burning down relationships, communities, and even nations when left unchecked.Drawing from the fascinating 1811 New York Supreme Court case People v. Ruggles, we examine how America's founders viewed Christianity not merely as a personal belief system but as the essential moral framework for maintaining civil society. Chief Justice Kent's opinion that "whatever strikes at the root of Christianity tends manifestly to the dissolution of civil government" serves as a prophetic warning for our current cultural moment.Have we conducted a dangerous experiment by removing Christian principles from public life? Look around at the state of our marriages, families, communities, schools, and institutions. The correlation between our rejection of biblical morality and societal breakdown becomes increasingly difficult to ignore. This isn't about imposing a particular denomination—it's about recognizing that certain fundamental principles are necessary for maintaining order and protecting freedoms.Prayer doesn't require theological complexity or fancy language. God simply wants us to talk to Him as a good father wants to hear from his children. Thank Him for something, ask forgiveness for shortcomings, and pray for those around you. These simple actions connect us to the source of wisdom that can heal our divided hearts and troubled nation.Take a moment today to consider how your words affect those around you. Are you bringing healing or division? Building up or tearing down? The health of our relationships, communities, and country might depend on your answer.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

Professor Fred Chong is the Seymour Goodman Professor of Computer Architecture and is also a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. In this episode of the Course, Professor Chong shares how he witnessed the evolution of computers and A.I., while finding a niche, quantum computing and computer architecture, for himself to dive into as a research pathway.  As a faculty member at the University of Chicago, he finds joy, meaning and impact in teaching and guiding students. Tune in to listen to Professor's career story.

When we lose someone, we love, we often say we have a broken heart—but what if that's not just a metaphor?In her new book “The Grieving Body: How The Stress of Loss Can Be An Opportunity For Healing” University of Arizona Professor of Psychology Mary Frances O'Connor shares groundbreaking insights into the biological and physiological impacts grief has on our bodies. O'Connor reveals how profound loss can lead to serious medical conditions, from heart attacks to immune system breakdowns, and explains why grieving can make us more vulnerable to diseases like cancer, pneumonia, and even autoimmune disorders.Drawing on her personal experiences and extensive research, O'Connor outlines why our medical system—and society at large—needs to rethink how we support grieving individuals. She makes a powerful case for viewing grief not only as an emotional experience but as a medical event deserving careful monitoring and intervention, similar to pregnancy or chronic illness.

Welcome back to another history lesson! And yet again, we prove to you how vital Chicago is. Just come listen and be amazed!Send us a textSupport the showCheck out our weekly newsletter! Also, catch Dario on the new season of Netflix's "High On the Hog" here!!If you have anything you'd like us to talk about on the podcast, food or history, please email us at ⁠media@77flavorschi.com⁠ WATCH US ON YOUTUBE ⁠HERE⁠! Visit our website ⁠https://www.77flavorschi.com⁠ Follow us on IG: 77 Flavors of Chicago ⁠@77flavorschi⁠ Dario ⁠@i_be_snappin Sara @sarafaddah

In President Donald Trump's recent joint address to Congress, he said, "To unshackle our economy, I have directed that for every one new regulation, ten old regulations must be eliminated." Elon Musk, whom Trump has assigned to execute this vision, has argued that it is time to get rid of all regulations, or as Musk said, “regulations, basically, should be default gone.”Joining Bethany and Luigi to discuss this intensified commitment to deregulation and laissez-faire capitalism is Sam Peltzman, perhaps the leading living expert on the economics of regulation. Peltzman is the Ralph and Dorothy Keller Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business and director emeritus of the Stigler Center, which sponsors this podcast and is named after his mentor, Nobel-Prize laureate George Stigler. Together, the three of them chart a historical perspective on regulation, from Stigler's ideas of regulatory capture to the unintended consequences of deregulatory efforts over time to today's “chainsaw” approach to gutting federal agencies. To understand the costs and benefits of regulation, they discuss how federal agencies have recently intervened in markets, if the private sector could not have accomplished these interventions more efficiently, and if these interventions did more harm than good. Their case studies include the funding, testing, and rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine, the regulation of cryptocurrencies, the management of the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, and the role of the government in addressing climate change. In the process, they answer the trillion-dollar question: Are Trump's deregulation efforts actually efficient?Episode Notes:Revisit our recent episode with Federico Sturzenegger, the Argentinian Minister for State Transformation and DeregulationRead the op-ed Bethany mentions writing in the wake of the financial crisis: Who Wants a 30-Year Mortgage?At the end of the conversation with Peltzman, Luigi asks him about his recent academic papers tracing marriage and happiness. Read these papers on the Stigler Center's Working Paper archives: The Socio-Political Demography of Happiness (2023) and The Anatomy of Marital Happiness (2025)

Charles Lipson joins Mark to talk about the big issues for Chuck Schumer, the disconnect between the electoral base for Democrats vs. party power, mirror-image politics with tax cuts for the rich and the way that journalists are now "recruited".

This episode, recorded live at the Becker's Healthcare 12th Annual CEO + CFO Roundtable, features Mark Helms, Executive Director of Strategy & Analytics at the University of Chicago Medicine. Mark shares insights on navigating healthcare strategy in 2025, balancing cybersecurity investments with growth initiatives, and leveraging AI for predictive analytics and operational efficiency. In collaboration with R1.

Our understanding of alcohol addiction may need a re-write. Andrea King, professor of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience at the University of Chicago, tells us why. Andrea King is a clinical and research psychologist with expertise in addictive disorders, including alcohol use disorder. Questioning the Dark Side of Addiction   There is a long-held belief that […]

In this episode, Dr. Tipu Puri, Chief Medical Officer at University of Chicago Medical Center, discusses the evolving landscape of healthcare leadership, challenges in staffing, and the growing need for efficiency in patient care. He also shares insights on physician wellness, the future of healthcare delivery, and his approach to empowering teams for meaningful change.

In 2000, the United States declared that measles had been eliminated. But just 15 years later, the disease made a comeback—and it hasn't gone away since. In this episode, Dr. Adam Ratner, director of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at NYU and author of Booster Shots: The Urgent Lessons of Measles and the Uncertain Future of Children's Health, explains why measles outbreaks are occurring again—as vaccine hesitancy and the antivax movement is on the rise—and what this means for the future of children's health.Ratner describes why measles is the most contagious disease we know of, and why it can be particularly harmful to children. As vaccination rates for children and adults continue to decrease in the U.S., are we at risk of undoing decades of medical progress? And what can we do to stop it?

Scientific Sense Podcast ® by Gill Eapen: Prof. Chris Kennedy is professor of Linguistics at the University of Chicago. His work is geared towards discovering and describing the principles that are involved in relating linguistic forms to meanings; determining how this mapping is achieved through the interaction of properties of the linguistic system, properties of cognition more generally, and broader features of communicative contexts; and understanding the extent to which structural and typological features of language can be explained in terms of meaning.  Please subscribe to this channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/ScientificSense?sub_confirmation=1

In December 2024, Bitcoin, one of the earliest cryptocurrencies and undoubtedly the most famous, hit $2 trillion in market capitalization, bigger than Tesla, Meta, and Saudi Aramco. In this episode, Nobel Prize-winning economist and Chicago Booth finance professor Eugene Fama—widely considered the “Father of Modern Finance”—predicts it will go to zero within ten years.Legendary investor Ray Dalio called crypto a bubble a decade ago; now, he calls it “one hell of an invention.” Larry Fink of BlackRock previously referred to Bitcoin as an index of money laundering. Today, he sees it as “a legitimate financial instrument.” Less than 36 hours after launching his own cryptocurrency before his second inauguration, United States President Donald Trump appeared to have made more than $50 billion on paper for himself and his companies. (During his first term, Trump called crypto “not money, whose value is highly volatile and based on thin air.”) Amidst this noise of crypto doubters changing tune, Fama joins Bethany and Luigi to discuss why he remains dubious about Bitcoin's ambitions.Bitcoin uses more electricity than many countries—around 91 terawatt-hours annually. Is this amount unsustainable? What makes its value so volatile, and what are the implications for the banking sector and our economy? If cryptocurrencies' purpose is a reaction to an underlying distrust in financial institutions, can decentralized blockchain, the technological ledger that enables anonymous crypto exchange, fix it? Last but not least, why do supporters of a decentralized service, whose value lies in its existence outside traditional government structures, need to spend billions in lobbying to convince politicians, including the president, of its utility?Show Notes:Read ProMarket's archives on Bitcoin and cryptocurrency.Revisit our prior Capitalisn't episode with author Zeke Faux, The Capitalisn't of Crypto: SBF and Beyond.

Conventional wisdom says that a strong economy helps incumbents, while a weak economy hurts them. But new research from University of Chicago economist Lubos Pastor titled “Political Cycles and Stock Returns” challenges this idea, suggesting that economic downturns actually push voters toward Democrats, while economic booms favor Republicans.If true, this theory could explain decades of presidential elections—and even the stock market's historic tendency to perform better under Democratic administrations. But does the data back it up?

Imagine a future in which Band-Aids talk to your cells, pacemakers are powered by light and your gut microbiome gets a tune-up—all thanks to tiny bioelectric devices. Sounds like sci-fi, right? Think again. Prof. Bozhi Tian of the University of Chicago is on the frontier of bioelectronics, building living machines that can heal, enhance and maybe even transform what it means to be human. In this episode, he explains his research lab's work and explores the thrilling, strange and sometimes unsettling world in which biology meets technology.

Have you ever wondered what it truly takes to turn a groundbreaking idea into a successful business venture? On this episode of The Angel Next Door Podcast, our host Marcia Dawood explores this question with Anya Cheng, an innovative entrepreneur from the Bay Area. Anya's journey from big tech to launching her own AI-powered company showcases the transformative potential of unique data in revolutionizing an industry.Anya Cheng is the founder of Taelor, an AI company on a mission to redefine how men dress by leveraging cutting-edge technology and unique consumer data. With a background that includes strategic roles at Meta, eBay, McDonald's, and Target, Anya's experience in tech is both broad and deep. She played a pivotal role in developing Facebook and Instagram Shopping and expanding McDonald's food delivery services worldwide, equipping her with the skills to seamlessly integrate technology with consumer behavior.In this must-listen episode, Marcia and Anya discuss the intricacies of Taelor's business model, especially its novel approach to using AI and unique data to personalize men's fashion. Anya reveals how her company gathers authentic consumer feedback and detailed garment quality data, providing invaluable insights to brands and improving sustainability in fashion. Additionally, Anya shares her fundraising journey, shedding light on the challenges faced by women and people of color in the startup ecosystem. For anyone interested in AI, the power of unique data, or building a tech startup, this episode is packed with expert advice and inspiring stories, making it essential listening. Taelor — Men's wardrobe rental with expert styling✨ 30% off first month with code: Angel30. using this link.Give the gift of time and confidence! Taelor Gift Card

Five years after COVID became a global pandemic, could another health crisis be on our horizon? According to scientists who study diseases, the possibility of a fungal pandemic—the subject of science fiction TV shows like “The Last of Us,” could be more of a reality, thanks to climate change and our warming planet. As fungi are adapting to warmer climates, they are becoming increasingly stronger and more resistant against the drugs we have to fight them.Arturo Casadevall is one of the scientists who is warning against fungi's powerful potential. He's a professor of microbiology and immunology at the Johns Hopkins' Bloomberg School of Public Health and the author of the new book, What If Fungi Win? He explains why fungi are becoming a growing public health threat, and what tools we have to protect ourselves from a future fungal outbreak.

As we step into 2025, many of us are thinking about how to turn our New Year's resolutions into lasting changes. But what if the secret to success lies not in willpower but in the words we use every day? To kick off the year, we're sharing our past episode with Jonah Berger, a professor at The Wharton School and author of Magic Words: What to Say to Get Your Way.In this episode, Berger uncovers the science behind the language we use and how it shapes our habits, decisions, and relationships. From simple word swaps that can help you stay on track with your goals to strategies for using language to connect with others more effectively, this conversation is packed with insights to help you make 2025 a year of transformation.

Daniel Ziblatt is an American political scientist, Eaton Professor of the Science of Government at Harvard University, and the co-author (with Steven Levitsky) of several bestselling books, including How Democracies Die and Tyranny of the Minority. Ziblatt writes from the position that what defines strong democracies is free and fair competition for power, inclusive participation, and a package of civil liberties that make those first two conditions possible.2024 saw voters in more than 60 countries go to the polls—and deliver difficult outcomes for incumbents and traditional political parties. This week, Ziblatt joins Bethany and Luigi to discuss the fate of democracy after 2024. They explore how big money and corporate power have destabilized democracies worldwide by interfering with the conditions for free and fair competition for power. The consequence has been the movement of voters toward political extremes, which in turn can often threaten economic growth, civil liberties, and the rule of law. Nevertheless, should we judge the strength of democracy by process or outcome? Does democracy still thrive when the people vote for undemocratic politicians and parties?Together, Ziblatt and our co-hosts discuss how to curb global democratic decline by realigning government away from the interests of corporations or big money and back to those of the people.Episode Notes:Revisit ProMarket's series seeking to understand the issues of political economy driving global populist movements during the 2024 “year of elections.”

On our last episode we had a discussion about what voters care about when electing politicians…and we mentioned a prior episode where we discussed if something as seemingly arbitrary as looks factor into voter choice. Do more attractive politicians do better?We all know you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but if we're being honest we all do it on occasion anyway. Could it be that we also elect our politicians just based on how they look? Of course, there's the old idea of looking “presidential”, but how much power does that really have to sway an election?As we take some time off for the holidays, we thought it would be great to re-release that episode. We'll be back in a few weeks with brand new episodes! Thanks for listening!

We have long heard the claims that a glass of red wine is good for your heart, but it turns out that the research that fueled this wisdom was actually skewed. Some studies made it appear like moderate drinkers were healthier than people who didn't drink at all, leading the public to believe that alcohol was healthier than it is. While drinking alcohol occasionally might not have catastrophic effects on your health, the data shows that even moderate drinking will reduce your life expectancy.In this episode, we speak with Tim Stockwell, a scientist at the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research and a professor of psychology at the University of Victoria. Stockwell has reviewed hundreds of studies that he claims embellished alcohol's effects, and he explains how the new science of drinking is changing the public perception of alcohol. Today, trends like sober-curiosity and “Dry January” are on the rise, and some countries around the world are even implementing new policies around alcohol regulation.

Do politicians really understand what drives voters—or are they relying on flawed assumptions that could shape democracy in troubling ways?A groundbreaking new study by University of Calgary political scientist Jack Lucas, “Politicians' Theories of Voting Behavior,” reveals striking gaps between how politicians perceive voters and how voters see themselves. While politicians often hold a cynical, “democratic realist” view of voters, citizens are far more optimistic about their own behavior. But who's right—and does it even matter?

Mike Stephen gets an update on the effort to re-map Chicago community areas from Emily Talen, director of The Urbanism Lab at the University of Chicago, discusses the state of local food journalism Mike Gebert, editor of Fooditor, and reflects on the good work of the soon-to-be-sold Quimby's bookstore in Wicker Park.

How did a classicist's journey through Greco-Roman literature and Arabic studies shape his unique approach to academia? Today's episode features Elisha Russ-Fishbane, associate professor at NYU and research director at the Center for the Study of Antisemitism.In this engaging conversation, Elisha recounts his academic journey that began with a love for Greco-Roman literature and took him through the high intellectual demands set by mentors like Vatican Latinist Reginald Foster. He shares how the tragic events of September 11 influenced his study of Judaeo-Arabic classics, blending intense scholarly engagement with personal identity as an observant Jew.Listening to this episode, you'll grasp the historical and contemporary significance of open inquiry and intellectual humility within higher education. Elisha's reflections promise insight and inspiration for anyone dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge.In This Episode:Influence of classical studies and mentorsSeptember 11th's impact on academic and personal identityInsights from medieval Jewish-Muslim intellectual interactionsMaimonides' approach to intellectual humility and cross-cultural truth-seekingReflections on higher education's purpose versus career-focused outcomesChallenges and optimism in navigating open dialogue in contemporary academiaCommitment to teaching and fostering human connections in academiaAbout Elisha:Elisha Russ-Fishbane, Associate Professor of Hebrew and Judaic Studies at NYU and Research Director of NYU's Center for the Study of Antisemitism, is a scholar of medieval Jewish history focusing on Jewish-Muslim and Jewish-Christian interaction and exchange. His undergraduate courses include the history of antisemitism, Jewish-Muslim relations, and a course on the aims of higher education and the past, present, and future of universities, called "The University: What It Was, What It Is, What It Could Be.” Elisha is currently a participant in the Open Inquiry Workshop at the Heterodox Academy's Segal Center for Academic Pluralism.Elisha is the author of Judaism, Sufism, and the Pietists of Medieval Egypt: A Study of Abraham Maimonides and His Circle (Oxford University Press, 2015) and Ageing in Medieval Jewish Culture (The Littman Library of Jewish Civilization, 2022), and is currently at work on a book on Islam in the medieval Jewish imagination.Contact Elisha: elisha.russfishbane@nyu.edu Follow Heterodox Academy on:Twitter: https://bit.ly/3Fax5DyFacebook: https://bit.ly/3PMYxfwLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/48IYeuJInstagram: https://bit.ly/46HKfUgSubstack: https://bit.ly/48IhjNF

This year's election might have been the most contentious in modern memory. It's not just that politics have changed, but it seems that people have too. You've probably heard this phrase: “People aren't as kind as they used to be”. Maybe you've experienced the feeling that people are acting meaner to each other, year after year. But is it true? Are people really less kind than they used to be?With that question in mind, and as we take some time off for the Thanksgiving holiday, we wanted to reshare our episode with psychologist Adam Mastroianni. Mastroianni wondered if people are really becoming less moral in today's world, so he set out to find an answer, and published his findings in the journal Nature, “The Illusion of Moral Decline.” While the title may be a giveaway for his findings, he asks: If people are becoming less moral, why do we all feel the same way—and what can we do to shake this “illusion?”

For years, the world worried about overpopulation and our capacity to sustain ever-increasing numbers of people. Now, the worry is underpopulation—and recent numbers are stunning. Fertility rate is the average number of children that are born to a woman over her lifetime. According to the United Nations, this number is currently 1.64 in the U.S.: If it stays this way, in three generations there will only be half as many young Americans as there are today, holding immigration constant. In China, this number is even lower: one child per woman. Just eight countries are expected to account for more than half the rise in global population between now and 2050.Economic theory is based on the idea of expansion, and humanity has been expanding since 1500. If that is about to change, then the very foundation of our economic theory will need rethinking.Acclaimed author, historian, and filmmaker Sir Niall Ferguson (Stanford/Harvard) joins Bethany and Luigi to discuss why we're heading toward a global population decline and what it all means for civilization. They discuss how factors like climate change, immigration, reproductive rights, artificial intelligence, and the trade-offs women face between career and motherhood are influencing decisions to have children. What are the implications of falling birth rates not just for the market economy but also for geopolitics and intergenerational conflict? Can we reverse trends in fertility before it is too late?

In the episode In The Club powered by Club Colors, Laurie Buman, the Director of Design and Identity at the University of Chicago, delves into the branding and marketing strategies behind the award-winning Big Brains podcast at the University of Chicago. Discussing the alignment of various university functions, the refreshed branding efforts in 2019, and the importance of creative and fun elements in branding, the conversation highlights the role of centralized documents and licensing sheets in maintaining brand integrity. Additional topics include the challenges and rewards of mission-driven design, insights into creating engaging initiatives such as scavenger hunts, and managing color schemes and logo use across departments. With tips for young designers and reflections on collaborative projects, this episode offers a comprehensive look at maintaining a cohesive and dynamic university brand.KEY TAKEAWAYSCommunication and Meetings: Regular communication and monthly brainstorms are essential for aligning different functions within a university's branding efforts.Brand Identity: Successful branding involves putting the podcast brand forward and subtly integrating the university's identity to appeal to a broader audience.Audience Engagement: Creative initiatives like changing podcast episode colors and organizing interactive events like scavenger hunts enhance brand engagement.Licensing and Marketing: A strong relationship with licensing teams and clear guidelines are crucial for maintaining brand integrity across various products and platforms.Educational Impact: Mission-driven design in a higher education setting provides both professional fulfillment and a sense of contributing to societal improvement.Adaptability: Being flexible with bookstore merchandise and incorporating trending fashion elements while maintaining core brand identity is important.QUOTES"We wanted it to really feel fresh and exciting... like something we always knew was happening.""You have to have a clear description of how those can be used.""Figure out where your heart is and what kind of things are important to you.""Work that's aligned with who you are and makes a difference... you're going to be a much happier designer.""As a brand director, we have a resource page that says, 'Here's where you download the guidelines... the assets... the logos.' Very clear."Connect and learn more about Laurie Buman.https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-buman-b8ab715/If you enjoyed this episode of In the Club Podcast with Club Colors, please leave us a review on your favorite podcasting platform!Club Colors: https://www.clubcolors.com/

Hello Not Another Politics Podcast Listeners. We took some time off in preparation for the Thanksgiving Holiday but given the incredible political events of the month we wanted to re-share an episode that we think is even more relevant today than when we recorded it. Why is populism on the rise across the globe? One story says this movement is driven by anti-elite and anti-establishment sentiment, that they just want to throw the bums out. Another says it's driven by identity politics, an anti-immigrant pro-nativist ideology. Both stories don't leave room for much hope. But what if there was another story that not only gives us some hope but supplies a clear solution.

United Nations special experts have a crucial role in upholding international human rights law. These independent specialists hold mandates to report and advise on different areas within human rights as special rapporteurs, independent experts, or members of working groups. But how exactly do these appointments work, and what are the responsibilities, capabilities, and on-the-ground impacts of these experts? In this episode, we hear from our very own co-host, Professor Claudia Flores, member of the UN Working Group on Discrimination against Women and Girls and Professor Fionnuala ni Aolain, former UN special rapporteur on counter-terrorism. Professors Flores and ni Aolain describe their work as UN mandate holders and how they address the most pressing issues in their areas of expertise. 

What if we could predict the economy the way we predict the weather? What if governments could run simulations to forecast the effects of new policies—before they happen? And what if the key to all of this lies in the same chaotic systems that explain spinning roulette wheels and rolling dice?J. Doyne Farmer is a University of Oxford professor, complexity scientist, and former physicist who once beat Las Vegas casinos using his scientific-based methods. In his recent book “Making Sense of Chaos: A Better Economics for a Better World” Farmer is using those same principles to build a new branch of economics called complexity economics—one that uses big data to help forecast market crashes, design better policies and find ways to confront climate change.But can we really predict the unpredictable? And how will using chaos theory shake up well-established economic approaches?

Trump's back in the White House—how did it happen? This week, we break down what the political science literature has to tell us about why voters swung his way, what Kamala Harris's loss tells us about populism and political discontent, and what's next for American democracy. Plus, co-host Will Howell makes a big announcement!

While Americans rely on debit transactions for the necessities of life, most are unaware of the networks that drive those transactions, nor are they aware that one company, Visa, has monopolized debit transactions, penalized industry participants that seek to use alternative debit networks, and co-opted innovators, technology companies, and financial institutions to forestall or snuff out threats to Visa's debit network dominance.” So begins the monopolization lawsuit filed on September 24 by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) against the country's largest card company, Visa Inc.On one level, the case is simple: The DOJ alleges a clear violation of laws protecting markets against monopolies. But the case gets more complicated when looking at the details, in part because payment systems are mostly invisible part of the financial ecosystem. In effect, the DOJ alleges that Visa is pulling the levers of a really opaque and complex system to preclude competition and squeeze fees out of banks and vendors for itself.To understand the complexities and implications of the case, Bethany and Luigi are joined by Kathryn Judge, Harvey J. Goldschmid Professor of Law at Columbia University. Judge is an expert on banking, financial crises, regulatory architecture, and intermediation design beyond finance. Her book, Direct: The Rise of the Middleman Economy and the Power of Going to the Source (HarperBusiness, 2022), was on the long list for the Financial Times Business Book of the Year Award. Together, the three of them discuss both the surface-level and structural issues of an economy where consumers and small businesses are shortchanged on what is essentially a private sales tax on all debit-card purchases—and how to look for collective solutions when opt-outs aren't possible.Episode Notes: Also check out the ProMarket article “A DOJ Victory Against Visa May Not Help Merchants or Consumers” by Lulu Wang, Assistant Professor of Finance at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.

In the episode In The Club powered by Club Colors,  we are joined by Laurie Buman, the Director of Design and Identity at the University of Chicago, as she takes us through her journey from a high school artist to a vital player in university branding. Laurie shares her experience transitioning from advertising to a purpose-driven role in higher education. She discusses the challenges and triumphs involved in creating and maintaining a cohesive brand identity for UChicago, including the development of a new logo system and brand guidelines. The conversation delves into balancing heritage with modern relevance through careful font selection, digital and physical branding efforts, and the crucial role of environmental graphics, especially in the medical field. Laurie also emphasizes the importance of consistency across various university departments, student organizations, and vendor partnerships, highlighting the collaborative initiatives needed to keep the university's brand both traditional and forward-thinking.KEY TAKEAWAYSCareer Beginnings: Laurie started her journey in creative design with the influence of her high school art teacher and worked her way up through various roles in the University of Milwaukee bookstore.Transition to Advertising: She spent 25 years self-employed in the advertising industry, gaining diverse experience with clients and agencies, particularly enjoying branding for startups.Higher Education Focus: Laurie moved to a role at the University of Chicago, driven by a desire to apply her design skills to a purpose beyond selling, and now works as the Director of Design and Identity.Branding Strategy: She emphasizes maintaining traditional elements while incorporating modern design techniques, such as pairing traditional Garamond font with a modern sans serif font.Collaborative Efforts: Laurie's work involves collaboration across various departments to ensure brand consistency, even integrating environmental grQUOTES"I've always been an artist. And so my high school art teacher really helped guide me on my path to getting into college.""I was looking for work that had a little bit more of a purpose from a higher level instead of advertising.""One great thing about being the branding director is that I also oversee licensing. I get a really broad view of what's happening at the university.""We're an institution that's based in tradition. That cannot change... but we're looking forward to it.""It's always based in tradition, but with a modern spin.""Being self-employed for 25 years was a great start to coming into a higher education space."Connect and learn more about Laurie Buman.https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-buman-b8ab715/If you enjoyed this episode of In the Club Podcast with Club Colors, please leave us a review on your favorite podcasting platform!Club Colors: https://www.clubcolors.com/

https://haarc.center.uchicago.edu/We used to think aging inevitably led to memory loss, but a small group of people—known as SuperAgers—are defying the odds. These individuals, all over 80, have the memory performance of someone in the 50s. The question is: how?One of the leading experts studying SuperAgers is University of Chicago neurologist Emily Rogalski. She explores the fascinating science behind SuperAgers—uncovering what makes their physical brains different and how their lifestyle choices could be the key to a having a sharper, healthier brain well into old age.

As the United States elections draw near, everyone is wondering who will take control of Washington next. In this week's Capitalisn't episode, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Brody Mullins reveals how the real winner will be neither Democrats nor Republicans. Rather, it will be the lobbyists.Mullins is the co-author (along with his brother Luke, also an investigative reporter) of The Wolves of K Street: The Secret History of How Big Money Took Over Big Government. Brody joins Bethany and Luigi to discuss how corporations ranging from Genentech to Google participate in the invisible but massively influential lobbying industry to bend government policy toward their favor. Together, the three trace the roots and evolution of political lobbying from the 1970s to now and explore how it penetrates and leverages other spheres of society to abet its operations. How are academia and the media complicit in this ecosystem of influence operations? How has lobbying adapted to the changing attitudes of Americans towards Big Business? How might it change under either a Harris or Trump administration and beyond?Episode Notes: Luigi mentions the transformational work of one figure in American politics who fought back against lobbyists' substantial influence: consumer advocate Ralph Nader. Revisit our prior conversation and episode with Mr. Nader.

When it comes to online discourse, do Americans really value free speech—or are they more comfortable with censorship than expected?A surprising new paper from University of Rochester Political Scientist Jamie Druckman, “Illusory Interparty Disagreement: Partisans Agree On What Hate Speech To Censor But Do Not Know It” reveals a surprising alignment between Democrats and Republicans on what kinds of speech should be silenced. But is this unity a good thing, or does it hint at a creeping authoritarianism?

On Big Brains, we get to speak to a lot of groundbreaking scholars and experts, but some conversations we walk away knowing we've just heard from someone who is really changing the world. We certainly felt that way years ago after talking to University of Chicago scholar James Robinson, and it turns out…the Nobel Prize committee agreed in 2024 when it awarded him a share of the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel.Robinson was honored for the exact work that we talked to him about nearly five years ago. The author of numerous best-selling books, including Why Nations Fail (2012) and The Narrow Corridor (2019), he won the Nobel this year because his work researching what makes nations succeed and…what makes them fail. There's no better time to refamiliarize ourselves with his important research and celebrate his Nobel win.

You asked and we answered: Over the last year, we have solicited listeners' questions via voicemail, email, and social media. In this episode, our producer, Matt, turns the tables on Bethany and Luigi and puts them in the hot seat to answer your burning questions in an Ask Me Anything “AMA” format.How do Bethany and Luigi actually define capitalism? Does universal basic income disincentivize work? Does the adoption of artificial intelligence mean we need to rethink economics? What would Bethany and Luigi do if they were president for a day? And perhaps the scariest one of all: does Luigi believe in taking time off?

In the wake of the 2020 U.S. presidential election, claims of widespread voter fraud have fueled political controversies and public distrust. But how credible are these claims?In this episode, we sit down with political scientist Justin Grimmer to discuss his new paper “An Evaluation of Fraud Claims from the 2020 Trump Election Contests” which systematically debunks over 1,000 fraud allegations from the 2020 election. Grimmer and his co-author comb through the data, analyzing everything from accusations of underage voting to machine vote-switching. Are these claims grounded in reality, or are they just a tool for sowing doubt? Tune in as we dive into the data, the myths, and the facts about the integrity of American elections.

How old is the universe—and how fast is it expanding? These are part of one of the biggest—and most contested—questions in science, and the answers could change our understanding of physics.In this episode, we talk with renowned UChicago astronomer Wendy Freedman, who's spent decades trying to solve these very questions. There are two ways to measure how fast the universe is expanding, also known as the Hubble constant; Freedman has done groundbreaking research to calculate this number using stars, but the problem is, her numbers don't match up with scientists using a different method. And the implications of that difference are massive, because it could indicate that our Standard Model of physics could be broken.Yet Freedman's latest research, using the powerful James Webb Space Telescope, might finally give us a clearer answer. In our conversation, we explore the age of the universe, the mysteries of dark matter and what all this could mean for the future of physics—and maybe even the discovery of life beyond Earth.

Last week, United States presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump delivered hour-long speeches outlining their economic policies for the country if they win in November. This week on a special episode of Capitalisn't, Bethany and Luigi weigh in on the candidates' economic proposals. What makes this discussion particularly urgent is that neither candidate is espousing a traditional Republican or Democratic platform. Further, despite the length of their respective speeches, there were few specifics. Instead, both candidates are running on "vibes" more than detailed manifestos. With just under five weeks to go before Election Day, Bethany and Luigi sift through the proposals around taxes, tariffs, price gouging, and the “Opportunity Economy,” helping us separate the substance from the slogans.

International technology policy expert, Stanford University academic, and former European parliamentarian Marietje Schaake writes in her new book that a “Tech Coup” is happening in democratic societies and fast approaching the point of no return. Both Big Tech and smaller companies are participating in it, through the provision of spyware, microchips, facial recognition, and other technologies that erode privacy, speech, and other human rights. These technologies shift power to the tech companies at the expense of the public and democratic institutions, Schaake writes.Schaake joins Bethany and Luigi to discuss proposals for reversing this shift of power and maintaining the balance between innovation and regulation in the digital age. If a "tech coup" is really underway, how did we get here? And if so, how can we safeguard democracy and individual rights in an era of algorithmic governance and surveillance capitalism?Marietje Schaake's new book, “The Tech Coup: Saving Democracy From Silicon Valley,” is available here. Read an excerpt from the book on ProMarket here.

Ever thought about how your college degree might sway your political leanings? Voters with and without college degrees drifting apart, especially on issues like economics, social values, and foreign policy, but what's driving this shift, and how are party positions influencing voters across different education levels?A new paper from University of Pennsylvania's William Marble, “What Explains Educational Realignment? An Issue Voting Framework for Analyzing Electoral Coalitions” gives some surprising answers to these questions and challenges the assumptions we often hear in the media.

Matt Gentry is a 2x Olympian and the first NCAA champion in Stanford wrestling history. This past summer, Matt was named head coach at the University of Chicago.

One of the biggest questions of every election is: What's going on with young voters? There is endless speculation on the news about what young people care about, but very little good research examining their views on the candidates and the issues that matter most to them. The first-of-its-kind GenForward Survey changed that when it was created in 2016 at the University of Chicago.Led by renowned University of Chicago political scientist Cathy Cohen, the survey digs into what is animating young voters—especially young voters of color who are millennials and in Generation Z—and what they think of the candidates. With tight races in key swing states, young people might just hold the keys to the White House—and Cohen says that understanding what how they may vote in November is crucial to understanding the 2024 election.

America's universities have powered its economy by developing an educated workforce and producing transformative technology, including the internet and vaccines. They were seen as vehicles for social mobility; when veterans returned home from World War II, the newly enacted G.I. Bill compensated millions with paid college and vocational school tuition. However, universities today are bloated and expensive, losing the public's trust, and have become a battleground for controversial culture wars. Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation's blueprint for a second Trump administration, plans significant cuts to university subsidies. A big battle is looming over the future of American universities.To shed some light on what this future might look like, Bethany and Luigi are joined by Hanna Gray, Distinguished Service Professor Emerita of History and President of the University of Chicago from 1978 to 1993 — a period marked by immensely challenging debates on free speech, financial constraints, and leadership decisions. Gray has written that the creation of the modern university “rested on a faith, pervasive in the post-war world, and the potential for education to create a better world, to produce both social mobility and a meritocratic society that would realize the true promise of democracy.” With her trademark humor, sharp wit, and unwavering resolve, she offers insights from her trailblazing experience into whether this promise is more unkept than kept and if faith will be enough for the modern university system to survive.Episode Notes: Read the Kalven Report on the University's Role in Political and Social Action here.

More and more women in the United States are saying no to motherhood. Alarmingly, in 2023, the U.S. fertility rate reached the lowest number on record. But the idea of non-motherhood is actually not a new phenomenon, nor did it come out of the modern feminist movement. For centuries, women have made choices about limiting births and whether or not to become mothers at all. This history is documented in a new book, "Without Children: The Long History of Not Being a Mother," by University of Chicago Assistant Instructional Professor Peggy O'Donnell Heffington.Heffington writes about the historic trends of non-motherhood as well as the modern factors that are playing a role in women's choices to not have children today — from lack of structural support in the workplace, to a national law for paid maternity leave, and the sheer lack of affordability. She writes that if these trends continue, American millennials could become the largest childless cohort in history.