Podcasts about University of Chicago

In this episode, I sat down with Deputy Dean Veronica Hauad of the University of Chicago to explore what the university calls the “life of the mind” — and what that truly means for applicants.If you've ever wondered how one of the most intellectually rigorous universities in the country evaluates students, this conversation pulls back the curtain.From the Core Curriculum to the famously creative essay prompts, Deputy Dean Hauad shares exactly what UChicago looks for — and why intellectual curiosity matters more than a résumé packed with achievements.What You'll Learn in This EpisodeThe Core Curriculum & Academic IdentityWhy UChicago remains deeply committed to a classic liberal arts foundation. Deputy Dean Hauad explains the eight subject areas every student completes — and how this shared academic experience shapes classroom conversations and campus culture.What “Fit” Actually MeansUChicago isn't looking for students who can simply handle the rigor — they're looking for students who enjoy dissecting ideas. Learn how the admissions team evaluates whether an applicant will thrive in an environment built around inquiry and debate.The Famous Supplemental EssaysWhy UChicago's unconventional essay prompts are so important — and why they reveal “how you think,” not just what you've accomplished. This is where applicants truly differentiate themselves.The “No Harm” Test-Optional PolicyA clear explanation of UChicago's approach to standardized testing. If a score doesn't strengthen an application, it won't be used. Context — including a student's high school profile — matters more than headline averages.Letters of Recommendation That Stand OutWhy specific classroom anecdotes carry more weight than glowing adjectives. Deputy Dean Hauad explains what makes a recommendation memorable.Financial Aid DemystifiedAn inside look at UChicago's “No Loan” policy and 100% need-met commitment. Families are encouraged to use Net Price Calculators early to understand affordability and reduce uncertainty.Top Takeaways for Families• Designate “Admissions Time.” Choose one set time per week to discuss college tasks and protect the rest of senior year for enjoying family time.• Don't Rush the Supplement. School-specific essays often reveal “fit” more clearly than the personal statement.• Stay True to Yourself. Instead of asking, “What does the college want?” ask, “What genuinely excites me?” The right colleges are looking for students who lean into their authentic intellectual interests.If you're navigating highly selective admissions — or simply want to better understand how top institutions evaluate applicants — this episode offers clarity, candor, and practical guidance straight from the source.University of Chicago - Admissions & Aid------------------------------------

Episode 146: Exploring Hyde Park Through the 57th Street Art Fair In this episode of The Chicagoland Guide, Aaron Masliansky sits down with Cate Slighton, longtime volunteer and leader of the 57th Street Art Fair, for a conversation about Hyde Park, neighborhood identity, public space, art, history, and one of Chicago's most enduring cultural traditions. As the 57th Street Art Fair approaches its 79th year, Cate shares how the fair began in 1948 as a small gathering of local artists and evolved into the oldest juried art fair in the Midwest. The discussion expands into the broader story of Hyde Park, from the World's Columbian Exposition and the growth of the University of Chicago to urban renewal, community activism, and the neighborhood's continued cultural influence. Topics discussed include: • The origins and evolution of the 57th Street Art Fair • Mary Louise Vollmer and the artists who helped launch the fair • Why the fair remains volunteer-run and free to attend • Hyde Park's early artist colonies and creative communities • The impact of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition • The University of Chicago's role in shaping Hyde Park • Urban renewal and neighborhood transformation • The Obama Presidential Center and the future of the South Side • Why public gathering spaces and cultural events matter • The changing landscape of art fairs and independent artists • What makes Hyde Park one of Chicago's most distinctive neighborhoods Learn more about the 57th Street Art Fair: https://www.57thstreetartfair.com/ The 79th Annual 57th Street Art Fair takes place June 6-7 in Hyde Park and features nearly 200 artists from across the country. The fair is free and open to the public.   Book Mentioned in This Episode: From Clotheslines to Canopies: A History of Outdoor Art Fairs in America by Kathleen Eaton https://artfairhistory.com/about-the-book   Learn more about The Chicagoland Guide: https://www.thechicagolandguide.com/ Connect with Aaron Masliansky: https://www.aaronmasliansky.com/ Thank you for listening to The Chicagoland Guide.For thoughtful, data-driven insights on living, working, and investing in Chicagoland, visit thechicagolandguide.com.Connect with Aaron Masliansky on LinkedIn for market updates and new episodes.If you have questions, ideas, or topics you'd like covered, feel free to reach out.If you found this episode valuable, consider subscribing and sharing it with someone who cares about Chicago and its future.

The last few weeks we spent time diving into the fantasy that was the World's Columbian Exposition. This has always been an event that I would do anything to go back in time to attend. In reality, if I existed as myself all the way back in 1893, there's no way I would've attended the Fair. At best, I would've been on display at the Midway.Show Notes here! Send us Fan MailSupport the showIf you have anything you'd like us to talk about on the podcast, food or history, please email us at ⁠admin@77flavors.orgWATCH US ON YOUTUBE ⁠HERE⁠!Visit our *NEW* website ⁠https://www.77flavors.orgFollow us on IG:77 Flavors of Chicago ⁠@77flavorschi⁠Dario ⁠dariodurhamphotoSara @sarafaddah

BUY CAST BREW COFFEE TO SUPPORT THE SHOW - https://castbrew.com/ Become A Member And Protect Our Work at http://www.timcast.com Support The Chicago Thinker Here: https://thechicagothinker.com/donate/ Host: Tim Pool @Timcast (everywhere) Guest: Christopher Phillips My Second Channel - https://www.youtube.com/timcastnews Podcast Channel - https://www.youtube.com/TimcastIRL For advertising inquiries please email sponsorships@rumble.com

Starting in Autumn 2027, the University of Chicago will offer free tuition to undergrads of families with annual incomes below $250,000. The college says it also will cover all expenses of tuition, fees, housing and meals for families with annual incomes below $125,000. The University of Chicago says it wants to provide an education that is transformative and affordable.

Starting in Autumn 2027, the University of Chicago will offer free tuition to undergrads of families with annual incomes below $250,000. The college says it also will cover all expenses of tuition, fees, housing and meals for families with annual incomes below $125,000. The University of Chicago says it wants to provide an education that is transformative and affordable.

Starting in Autumn 2027, the University of Chicago will offer free tuition to undergrads of families with annual incomes below $250,000. The college says it also will cover all expenses of tuition, fees, housing and meals for families with annual incomes below $125,000. The University of Chicago says it wants to provide an education that is transformative and affordable.

In this episode, Michael D. Alter, Rattan L. Khosa Clinical Professor of Entrepreneurship, The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, shares lessons from building and scaling businesses, the traits that define successful entrepreneurs, and why focus, self-awareness and strong teams are critical to long-term growth.

In this episode, Michael D. Alter, Rattan L. Khosa Clinical Professor of Entrepreneurship, The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, shares lessons from building and scaling businesses, the traits that define successful entrepreneurs, and why focus, self-awareness and strong teams are critical to long-term growth.

Robert Pape - University of Chicago by Ron Paul Liberty Report

Nancy Lyon Havlik v. University of Chicago

Evan Narcisse is an American writer, journalist, and narrative designer whose work spans comics, criticism, and video games. After graduating from New York University, he began his career as a culture and technology journalist, writing for outlets including Time, Kotaku, and The Atlantic, where he explored the intersection of race, identity, and storytelling in popular media. He left journalism to become a writer for Marvel Comics, and there helped redefine a cultural icon with Rise of the Black Panther. As a narrative designer he has contributed to several major video game projects, including Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Redfall, and Black Panther. Now, as a senior writer for Brass Lion Entertainment, he's working on a new action title from the Wu-Tang Clan. Across mediums, his work combines sharp insight with deep empathy, expanding how, and for whom, stories are told.Recorded live at the University of Chicago. Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsoleTake the Acast listener survey to help shape the show: My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin Survey 2025 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the Sunday Book Review, Tom Fox considers books that would interest compliance professionals, business executives, or anyone curious. It could be books about business, compliance, history, leadership, current events, or anything else that might interest Tom. In this episode, we look at 4 top books released in March by the University of Chicago Press. Bicentennial by Marc Stein The Invention of Infinite Growth by Christopher F. Jones The Means of Prediction by Maximilian Kasy Against Innocence by Miriam Ticktin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new mobile clinic will allow adults with transportation issues to participate in the UChicago Dental Care Research Study which aims to understand how quality of life and health for older adults who don't have dental insurance may benefit from being offered no-fee dental care. The mobile clinic contains two dental chairs with resources to do cleanings, fillings, extractions, X-rays and more.

A new mobile clinic will allow adults with transportation issues to participate in the UChicago Dental Care Research Study which aims to understand how quality of life and health for older adults who don't have dental insurance may benefit from being offered no-fee dental care. The mobile clinic contains two dental chairs with resources to do cleanings, fillings, extractions, X-rays and more.

A new mobile clinic will allow adults with transportation issues to participate in the UChicago Dental Care Research Study which aims to understand how quality of life and health for older adults who don't have dental insurance may benefit from being offered no-fee dental care. The mobile clinic contains two dental chairs with resources to do cleanings, fillings, extractions, X-rays and more.

If we want to understand why capitalism feels broken, do we need to stop looking at the economy and start looking at the legal code that underpins it? In our system, capital is often described as money, machinery, or raw materials. But Columbia Law School professor Katharina Pistor argues that capital is actually a legal invention. An asset, whether it's a plot of land, an idea, or a promise of future pay, only becomes capital when it is given the right legal coding.  Pistor suggests that lawyers are the true coders of capitalism. They use the law to "enclose" assets, from land to user data, giving owners the power to exclude others and monetize that value. She argues for injecting principles of "fairness and reciprocity" back into private law, ensuring that contracts aren't just tools for the powerful to extract value from the weak. Luigi Zingales suggests that large corporations have become so powerful we may need a new branch of "quasi-public law" to govern the asymmetry between an individual consumer and a corporate giant. This episode explores the deep, often invisible architecture of our economic system and asks whether we can ever truly tame corporate power without rewriting the rules of the game. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

January 14, 2026 City Club event description: Gun violence is the most important challenge facing the city of Chicago. Unfortunately, Chicago—like many U.S. cities—is facing severe budget challenges as a result of continuing downtown struggles on the heels of COVID and the expiration of federal pandemic-relief funding. Can a financially strained city solve its biggest […]

Alex Seropian is a pioneering American video game developer whose work helped shape some of the most iconic series in the medium. After studying mathematics at the University of Chicago, he co-founded Bungie in 1991, first developing Operation Desert Storm then titles such as Pathways Into Darkness, Marathon, and Myth.In 2001, he and his team released Halo: Combat Evolved, a landmark first-person shooter that not only revolutionised console gaming but also established Microsoft's Xbox as a viable force in the industry. In 2004 he left Bungie and founded Wideload Games, eventually becoming head of Disney Interactive Studios. Since then, my guest has continued to establish innovative studios, most recently, Look North World.His depth of experience, from the earliest days of Macintosh design to modern cross-platform worlds, has given him a unique perspective on the craft, business, and evolution of interactive storytelling. Become a My Perfect Console supporter and receive a range of benefits at www.patreon.com/myperfectconsoleTake the Acast listener survey to help shape the show: My Perfect Console with Simon Parkin Survey 2025 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode recorded live at Becker's 31st Annual The Business and Operations of ASCs features Dr. Benjamin Levy, Gastroenterologist and Clinical Associate of Medicine, University of Chicago Medicine. He discusses rising demand for colonoscopy driven by updated screening guidelines, the value of ASC partnerships, and how emerging AI tools are transforming documentation, polyp detection, and overall efficiency in GI care.

This episode recorded live at Becker's 31st Annual The Business and Operations of ASCs features Dr. Benjamin Levy, Gastroenterologist and Clinical Associate of Medicine, University of Chicago Medicine. He discusses rising demand for colonoscopy driven by updated screening guidelines, the value of ASC partnerships, and how emerging AI tools are transforming documentation, polyp detection, and overall efficiency in GI care.

This episode recorded live at Becker's 31st Annual The Business and Operations of ASCs features Dr. Benjamin Levy, Gastroenterologist and Clinical Associate of Medicine, University of Chicago Medicine. He discusses rising demand for colonoscopy driven by updated screening guidelines, the value of ASC partnerships, and how emerging AI tools are transforming documentation, polyp detection, and overall efficiency in GI care.

Over the past two decades, the artist Theaster Gates has poured himself into his multifaceted practice that spans pottery, painting, sculpture, urban development, performance, archival research, and arts administration. Along the way, he has risen to become one of the most widely celebrated figures in the world of art, transforming abandoned, dormant buildings in Chicago's Grand Crossing neighborhood, on the city's South Side, into dynamic third spaces for social, cultural, and spiritual communion; linking his hometown of Chicago with Japan, where in 2004 he trained with master potters in the coastal city of Tokoname and has maintained a deep connection ever since; and effectively rescuing, recontextualizing, and resuscitating culturally significant archives.On this episode of Time Sensitive, our latest “site-specific” recording, Gates sits down with Spencer inside his personal library in Chicago to talk about his current exhibition, “Unto Thee,” at the University of Chicago's Smart Museum of Art (on view through Feb. 22, 2026); his forward-looking vision for his latest project, The Land School, which he and his Rebuild Foundation have reshaped into an arts incubator; and the vast, alchemic impacts of music on his life and work.Special thanks to our Season 12 presenting sponsor, Van Cleef & Arpels.Show notes: Theaster Gates[1:21] Dorchester Art and Housing Collaborative[5:07] The Land School (2025)[7:30] St. Laurence Elementary School[7:42] Solange Knowles[9:07] Stony Island Arts Bank[9:07] Rebuild Foundation[9:07] Black Cinema House[9:07] The Listening House[13:06] Jane Addams[13:06] Jane Jacobs[13:06] Jesse Jackson[13:23] Frederick Law Olmsted[13:23]  Huey P. Newton[13:31] Chicago Transit Authority[19:45] Cicero[23:24] Søren] Kierkegaard[23:24] Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel [25:31] “Unto Thee” (2025)[29:12] Fred Moten[29:29] “Art Histories” (2020)[35:18] Tokoname[42:26] “The Listening House” (2022)[49:29] “Afro-Mingei" (2024)[49:29] Mingei[51:24] Black is Beautiful and Black Arts movements[1:07:02] Theaster Gates's record collections[1:15:07] Martin Puryear[1:17:00] László Moholy-Nagy[1:17:00] Josef Albers[1:17:00] Carrie Mae Weems

I discuss my visit to the University of Chicago, my lecture and the attendees at the conference in question, and the incredible books that I purchased at a used bookstore close to the university (on von Mises, Hayek, Friedman, Sowell, Galen, Adam Smith, and by E. O. Wilson, etc.). Life lesson: Read, read, read! _______________________________________ If you appreciate my work and would like to support it: https://subscribestar.com/the-saad-truth https://patreon.com/GadSaad https://paypal.me/GadSaad To subscribe to my exclusive content on X, please visit my bio at https://x.com/GadSaad _______________________________________ This clip was posted on November 10, 2025 on my YouTube channel as THE SAAD TRUTH_1935: https://youtu.be/Wv53M3bLDzA _______________________________________ Please visit my website gadsaad.com, and sign up for alerts. If you appreciate my content, click on the "Support My Work" button. I count on my fans to support my efforts. You can donate via Patreon, PayPal, and/or SubscribeStar. _______________________________________ Dr. Gad Saad is a professor, evolutionary behavioral scientist, and author who pioneered the use of evolutionary psychology in marketing and consumer behavior. In addition to his scientific work, Dr. Saad is a leading public intellectual who often writes and speaks about idea pathogens that are destroying logic, science, reason, and common sense.  _______________________________________

My lecture was part of the Freedom of Intellectual Navigation Conference organized and hosted by Professor Dorian Abbott on November 7, 2025. Hat tip to my wife for having recorded my talk on her phone. _______________________________________ If you appreciate my work and would like to support it: https://subscribestar.com/the-saad-truth https://patreon.com/GadSaad https://paypal.me/GadSaad To subscribe to my exclusive content on X, please visit my bio at https://x.com/GadSaad _______________________________________ This clip was posted on November 9, 2025 on my YouTube channel as THE SAAD TRUTH_1934: https://youtu.be/nxXohg8mgng _______________________________________ Please visit my website gadsaad.com, and sign up for alerts. If you appreciate my content, click on the "Support My Work" button. I count on my fans to support my efforts. You can donate via Patreon, PayPal, and/or SubscribeStar. _______________________________________ Dr. Gad Saad is a professor, evolutionary behavioral scientist, and author who pioneered the use of evolutionary psychology in marketing and consumer behavior. In addition to his scientific work, Dr. Saad is a leading public intellectual who often writes and speaks about idea pathogens that are destroying logic, science, reason, and common sense.  _______________________________________

Standard economic theory informs how we think about business strategy and the economy and presumes that people are selfish, have well-defined preferences, and consistently make welfare-maximizing choices. In other words, we are rational. But what if that is not the case?Nobel Prize-winning economist Richard Thaler is out with an updated edition of his bestselling 1991 book, "The Winner's Curse: Paradoxes and Anomalies of Economic Life." In the new edition, he and his co-author Alex Imas (both professors at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business) reflect on the last thirty years of behavioral economics and how it makes sense of tensions between our psychological biases and impulses that make us less than fully rational in practice. Using a wealth of empirical evidence, the authors explore the behavioral anomalies that contradict the expectations of standard economic theory and explain a wide range of real-world examples from banking crises to social media addiction.Earlier this month, Thaler joined Bethany and Luigi for a sold-out Capitalisn't recording in front of a live audience in Chicago to walk through the anomalies of human behavior that have endured from biblical times to the age of Big Tech. Thaler reflects on how views and the adoption of behavioral economics have changed over the last thirty years, both within academia and beyond (wonder why you can't put down your phone? Silicon Valley has read Thaler). He also shares how behavioral economics can influence public policy from canceling “junk fees” and dubious subscriptions to deciding which parts of the Affordable Care Act to keep and which are unlikely to produce their desired outcomes. Over conversation, light banter, and audience Q&A, Thaler shares his views on the state of capitalism and reveals how there is no grand unified theory of human behavior that incorporates all its irrationalities—only departures from the standard model. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Crazy Wisdom, host Stewart Alsop talks with Richard Easton, co-author of GPS Declassified: From Smart Bombs to Smartphones, about the remarkable history behind the Global Positioning System and its ripple effects on technology, secrecy, and innovation. They trace the story from Roger Easton's early work on time navigation and atomic clocks to the 1973 approval of the GPS program, the Cold War's influence on satellite development, and how civilian and military interests shaped its evolution. The conversation also explores selective availability, the Gulf War, and how GPS paved the way for modern mapping tools like Google Maps and Waze, as well as broader questions about information, transparency, and the future of scientific innovation. Learn more about Richard Easton's work and explore early GPS documents at gpsdeclassified.com, or pick up his book GPS Declassified: From Smart Bombs to Smartphones.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversationTimestamps00:00 – Stewart Alsop introduces Richard Easton, who explains the origins of GPS, its 12-hour satellite orbits, and his father Roger Easton's early time navigation work.05:00 – Discussion on atomic clocks, the hydrogen maser, and how technological skepticism drove innovation toward the modern GPS system.10:00 – Miniaturization of receivers, the rise of smartphones as GPS devices, and early mapping tools like Google Maps and Waze.15:00 – The Apollo missions' computer systems and precision landings lead back to GPS development and the 1973 approval of the joint program office.20:00 – The Gulf War's use of GPS, selective availability, and how civilian receivers became vital for soldiers and surveyors.25:00 – Secrecy in satellite programs, from GRAB and POPPY to Eisenhower's caution after the U-2 incident, and the link between intelligence and innovation.30:00 – The myth of the Korean airliner sparking civilian GPS, Reagan's policy, and the importance of declassified documents.35:00 – Cold War espionage stories like Gordievsky's defection, the rise of surveillance, and early countermeasures to GPS jamming.40:00 – Selective availability ends in 2000, sparking geocaching and civilian boom, with GPS enabling agriculture and transport.45:00 – Conversation shifts to AI, deepfakes, and the reliability of digital history.50:00 – Reflections on big science, decentralization, and innovation funding from John Foster to SpaceX and Starlink.55:00 – Universities' bureaucratic bloat, the future of research education, and Richard's praise for the University of Chicago's BASIC program.Key InsightsGPS was born from competing visions within the U.S. military. Richard Easton explains that the Navy and Air Force each had different ideas for navigation satellites in the 1960s. The Navy wanted mid-Earth orbits with autonomous atomic clocks, while the Air Force preferred ground-controlled repeaters in geostationary orbit. The eventual compromise in 1973 created the modern GPS structure—24 satellites in six constellations—which balanced accuracy, independence, and resilience.Atomic clocks made global navigation possible. Roger Easton's early insight was that improving atomic clock precision would one day enable real-time positioning. The hydrogen maser, developed in 1960, became the breakthrough technology that made GPS feasible. This innovation turned a theoretical idea into a working global system and also advanced timekeeping for scientific and financial applications.Civilian access to GPS was always intended. Contrary to popular belief, GPS wasn't a military secret turned public after the Korean airliner tragedy in 1983. Civilian receivers, such as TI's 4100 model, were already available in 1981. Reagan's 1983 announcement merely reaffirmed an existing policy that GPS would serve both military and civilian users.The Gulf War proved GPS's strategic value. During the 1991 conflict, U.S. and coalition forces used mostly civilian receivers after the Pentagon lifted “selective availability,” which intentionally degraded accuracy. GPS allowed troops to coordinate movement and strikes even during sandstorms, changing modern warfare.Secrecy and innovation were deeply intertwined. Easton recounts how classified projects like GRAB and POPPY—satellites disguised as scientific missions—laid technical groundwork for navigation systems. The crossover between secret defense projects and public science fueled breakthroughs but also obscured credit and understanding.Ending selective availability unleashed global applications. When the distortion feature was turned off in May 2000, GPS accuracy improved instantly, leading to new industries—geocaching, precision agriculture, logistics, and smartphone navigation. This marked GPS's shift from a defense tool to an everyday utility.Innovation's future may rely on decentralization. Reflecting on his father's era and today's landscape, Easton argues that bureaucratic “big science” has grown sluggish. He sees promise in smaller, independent innovators—helped by AI, cheaper satellites, and private space ventures like SpaceX—continuing the cycle of technological transformation that GPS began.

Michael interviews Julie Johnson, Executive Director of the Center for Research Informatics at the University of Chicago, about synthetic data in healthcare. Julie shares her unconventional career path, which included studying nursing at Georgetown and conducting video game research to improve surgical skills. They discuss the definition, creation, and potential of synthetic data in accelerating research and improving efficiencies, while addressing challenges such as trust and privacy concerns. Julie emphasizes the importance of validating findings with real-world data and explores the future of synthetic data in reshaping medical research and decision-making.

For decades, neuroscience has promised breakthroughs in treating conditions like depression, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's. Yet despite powerful technologies and billions invested, progress has been frustratingly slow. Why?On this episode of Big Brains, we talk with Nicole Rust, neuroscientist at the University of Pennsylvania and author of Elusive Cures. Rust argues that the traditional “domino” view of the brain—where one broken piece can simply be fixed—has held us back. Instead, she says we need to embrace the brain's true nature: a complex, dynamic system more like the weather than a machine.We explore why treatments so often fail, what makes mood such a scientific mystery, and whether a new era of brain research—powered by models, feedback loops, and fresh ways of thinking—can finally deliver the cures that have long eluded us. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Billions of years ago, Mars may have looked less like the barren red desert we know today and more like Earth—with a blue sky, flowing rivers, and even seas. What happened to turn a once-habitable world into the frozen, lifeless planet we see now?On this episode of Big Brains, University of Chicago geophysical scientist Edwin Kite takes us on a journey through Mars' hidden past. From evidence of a lost carbon cycle to theories about ancient climate swings, Kite's research is rewriting the story of the Red Planet. But it's not just about the past—his work is also at the forefront of a provocative question: could humanity one day terraform Mars and make it a living world again? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Peter Maurer, Assistant Professor of Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, speaks with Pitt's HexAI podcast host, JordanGass-Pooré, about the future impact of quantum sensing on biomedical research and diagnostics.Peter's research lab leverages the extreme environmental sensitivity of quantum systems to develop powerful sensors suitable for cutting-edge biological research that are optically addressable and can operate under ambient conditions. He outlines both near-term and future applications of powerful quantum sensors in pathology and laboratory medicine. He provides a key example of how these sensors could enable a new type of nanoscale NMR spectroscopy, capable of measuring magnetic fields from biomolecules to non-invasively probe their chemical information and signaling pathways. In the near future, he points to diagnostic tools, currently being developed by companies, that use the unique optical signatures of quantum sensors for highly sensitive, background-free protein detection in small volumes. For the long term, he envisions the technology as a "field opener" for studying protein aggregation in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.Peter outlines how AI can be applied to analyze complex data from sensors that respond to multiple environmental factors and highlights the challenge of bringing together experts from quantum technology, biophysics, and medicine who can "talk each other's language.” He also touches on how the use of synthetic data in quantum sensing is a "completely under-appreciated" area with the potential to analyze complex environmental properties that would otherwise be missed by looking at single types of measurements. To advance the field from academic proofs-of-concept to clinical tools, he stresses the need for collaboration with academic and industry partners who can help engineer robust, "turnkey" systems that can be widely tested and used.The University of Pittsburgh Health and Explainable AI podcast is a collaborative initiative between the Health and Explainable AI (HexAI) Research Laboratory in the Department of Health Information Management at the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, and the Computational Pathology and AI Center of Excellence (CPACE), at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.Hosted by Jordan Gass-Pooré, a health and science reporter, this podcast series explores the transformative integration of responsible and explainable artificial intelligence into health informatics, clinical decision-making, and computational medicine. From reshaping diagnostic accuracy to enhancing patient care pathways, we'll highlight how AI is creating new bridges between researchers, clinicians, and healthcare innovators. Led by Ahmad P. Tafti, Hooman Rashidi and Liron Pantanowitz, the HexAI podcast is committed to democratizing knowledge around ethical, explainable, and clinically relevant AI. Through insightful conversations with domain experts, AI practitioners and students will spotlight the latest breakthroughs, discuss real-world applications, and unpack the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in responsible AI in healthcare. So whether you're a student, practitioner, researcher, or policymaker, this is your gateway to the future of AI-powered healthcare

University of Chicago Medical Center v. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

We're living in an attention economy—and most of us are broke. But what if the secret to restoring your focus, improving your mental health, and even reducing crime rates wasn't found in an app or a pill, but in a tree?In this episode, we speak with University of Chicago psychologist Marc Berman, whose research on “soft fascination” and nature's cognitive effects is reshaping how we think about everything from urban planning to depression treatment. From groundbreaking hospital studies to surprising results with plastic plants, Berman's work uncovers the deep—and often invisible—power that natural environments hold over our minds and bodies.Whether you're a city planner, a parent, or just someone feeling mentally fatigued, this conversation may just change the way you think about a walk in the park.

This week, the Trump administration announced it would sell around 5% of mortgage giants and government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The sale would begin to reintroduce the two firms to private markets after 17 years of government conservatorship. The decision to re-privatize two of the largest mortgage firms in the world, and a prominent reason why the United States is one of the only countries where people can get 30-year fixed-rate mortgages, will have enormous implications for the U.S. economy, housing market, and the American dream.Fannie Mae was founded during the Great Depression with the idea of making mortgages more widely available to Americans by buying mortgage loans from banks. Freddie Mac came along in 1970 to provide competition and increase liquidity for mortgages. In part, Fannie and Freddie increased liquidity by repackaging their mortgages into mortgage-backed securities and reselling them to investors. In the early 2000s, the subprime mortgage crisis began as smaller, unregulated financial actors started offering risky mortgage loans and likewise repackaged them to investors. When the crisis imploded in 2008, it gutted the market for mortgage-backed securities, and the U.S. government seized Fannie and Freddie to prevent them from collapsing. The government feared that without Freddie and Fannie, many Americans would no longer be able to afford home ownership. Today, Fannie and Freddie still back roughly 50% of all mortgage loans, with other government agencies making up another chunk.The Trump administration's plans to take these GSEs public again will allow the two firms to raise billions through new stock offerings and shift risk back to the private sector. But the question is, why is the government doing this? Will it help fix the country's housing crisis—which Trump has reportedly called a national emergency—or will it make matters worse? Bethany and Luigi get together to discuss what it would mean for Fannie and Freddie to go public, who benefits from these developments, and their implications for home loans, the housing market, and the American economy.Also check out Bethany's book, published in 2015: Shaky Ground: The Strange Saga of the U.S. Mortgage Giants

We've long marveled at how efficiently plants convert sunlight into energy—but no one guessed they were using quantum mechanics to do it.In this episode, we speak with Greg Engel, a pioneering University of Chicago biophysicist who helped launch the field of quantum biology. Engel explains how plants and bacteria evolved to exploit quantum effects for photosynthesis—and how understanding these systems could spark a revolution in quantum sensing, medicine, and neuroscience.Engel's team has already built quantum sensors inspired by nature's designs, with the potential to transform how we detect disease, develop drugs, and even read neural signals. The ultimate goal? A new era of quantum medicine, powered by the weird and wonderful physics found in leaves.

For decades, private equity has been the darling of pension funds, university endowments, and sovereign wealth funds, promising high returns and low volatility. Now, President Donald Trump has made it possible for everyday investors to get in on the magic with his executive order, "Democratizing Access to Alternative Assets for 401(k) Investors.” The order relieves regulatory burdens that limit the access of defined contribution plans, like 401(k)s, to alternative assets such as private equity (but also cryptocurrency and real estate). The hope is to give American workers access to greater choice, diversification, and potential growth towards a comfortable retirement.But Trump's order comes just as longstanding questions about private equity's promise of high returns and low risk are coming to the fore. Has the distribution of returns slowed to a trickle? What does data actually say about private equity's performance, and where is the industry headed? There is also a long standing debate whether private equity is good for society, independent of financial returns.Is private equity actually a ponzi scheme that now threatens the retirements of millions of American workers? To make sense of it all, Luigi and Bethany are joined by Dan Rasmussen, an experienced investor and author who began his career in private equity but has emerged as one of the most prescient critics of the industry. Together, the three of them distill what the state of the industry means for the future welfare of investors, workers, and the American economy as a whole.Bonus: Check out ProMarket's recent series on the impact of private equity in the health care industry.

Political scientists have long argued that legislators believe the public is more conservative than it really is—potentially shaping policies that don't align with what voters actually want. But what if that story is incomplete?In this episode, we talk with University of Chicago political scientist Adam Zelizer, who challenges the conventional wisdom. His new research suggests that politicians may not be systematically biased to the right, but rather exhibit something he calls “midpoint bias”.We unpack why this matters: How do politicians perceive their constituents? Are surveys of public opinion misleading policymakers—or are policymakers just inattentive? And what does this all reveal about the messy relationship between democracy, representation, and what voters actually want?

You've heard of plastic polluting oceans. But what if it's polluting you—your brain, your reproductive system, even your unborn children?In this eye-opening episode, we speak with Prof. Matthew Campen, a scientist at the University of New Mexico, whose latest studies have uncovered evidence of microplastics in placentas, reproductive organs and brains of humans—particularly in the frontal cortex, where decision-making and personality live.We explore how these plastic particles are entering our bodies (hint: it's not just your water bottle), what they might be doing to us, and why scientists are just beginning to understand the true scope of the issue. From declining sperm counts to potential links with dementia, this episode asks a critical question: Are microplastics the next big public health crisis?

What is the right way, if there is one at all, to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) technology into our education system? For Sal Khan, CEO of one of the world's largest nonprofit education technology platforms, the answer is to take a step back and ask: Where can AI best complement current pedagogy? If a problem can be solved by pencil and paper, should we really be using AI instead?Khan joins Bethany and Luigi to discuss his recent book, “Brave New Words: How AI Will Revolutionize Education (And Why That's a Good Thing),” in which he makes the case for why the education sector will not only survive but thrive in the age of AI. He shares his 17-year journey to build and grow his organization, which now provides over 10,000 videos on everything from integral calculus to art history, reaching more than 170 million registered users in over 20 languages, mostly for free. Together, the three talk about how and where AI can enhance the learning process: how AI has shifted Khan's philosophy and approach to pedagogy, how it could democratize educational and economic opportunity, and what this all means for traditional modes of learning and instruction in schools and universities. They also discuss concerns about data ownership, Khan's partnerships with tech companies, and the guardrails he proposes to protect education against the monetization of students' data and the concentration of benefits to privileged children. Ultimately, he makes the case for why teachers aren't going anywhere—and leaves aspiring nonprofit and civic leaders with advice on how to build a successful, mission-driven organization.Read a review of Sal Khan's book on ProMarket, written by Capitalisn't team member Matt Lucky.

Do Democrats and Republicans really misunderstand each other as much as we think?This week, we dive into a surprising new experiment that puts that idea to the test — literally. Psychologist and researcher Adam Mastriani created a kind of “political Turing test,” asking people to write persuasive statements from the perspective of the opposite political party. Then, he tested whether others could tell the real from the fake. The results? Most people couldn't.We unpack what this means for our understanding of polarization, partisan animosity, and political identity. Is the problem really misunderstanding — or something deeper? Are partisans more empathetic than we give them credit for? Or are they just really good at writing what they think others want to hear?We also explore the experiment's implications for political science research, theory-building, and the broader sociology of science.

This episode recorded live at the Becker's Hospital Review 15th Annual Meeting features Matt Morton, Executive Director and Chief Information Security Officer, University of Chicago. He shares how his team is securing AI tools like Phoenix AI to support clinical research, discusses the cybersecurity staffing and resource challenges faced by academic medical centers, and emphasizes the importance of adaptability in leading through rapid technological change.

Juan Pablo went from a late-start sophomore at UChicago to securing a coveted Private Banking summer analyst seat at JPMorgan in Miami. In this episode he reveals: How 50+ cold calls turned into warm referrals—and three Superdays The mock-interview routine inside WSO Academy that leveled up his technical & market questions fast Why targeted outreach (15 banks) beat the scatter-shot 50-application strategy Insider tips on speaking to directors with confidence, building a “precision hobby” resume, and turning econ coursework into market-moving insight If you're gunning for asset & wealth management, private banking, or any front-office role, Juan Pablo's playbook is pure gold. Watch, take notes, and start lining up your own calls. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello listeners…we're re-releasing one of our favorite Big Brains episodes—an incredibly insightful conversation with psychologist Adam Alter. If you've ever felt stuck in your life or career, this episode offers practical strategies and surprising science to help you move forward. From why your best ideas might come after you feel like giving up, to what Netflix can teach us about breaking through inertia, this episode is packed with revelations. We'll be back with brand-new episodes starting in August—also, check out our new YouTube page where you can now watch video versions of Big Brains.

Scientific Sense ® by Gill Eapen: Dr. Foy Scalf is Head of Research Archives at the Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, and founder and co-editor of Oriental Institute Demotic Ostraca Online (OIDOO). His research focuses on the use of funerary texts in first-third century ad Egypt and the demise of indigenous funerary practices and scripts. He is interested in how language, text and ritual practice interact and influence each otherPlease subscribe to this channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/ScientificSense?sub_confirmation=1

This week on Summer Playlist 2025, we welcome Michael Greenstone into the SmarterMarkets™ studio. Michael is Director of the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC), Founding Director of the University's Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth, and Milton Friedman Distinguished Service Professor in Economics.   David Greely sits down with Michael to discuss how EPIC is translating the insights of cutting edge energy and environmental research into real world impact, including building cap-and-trade particulate emissions markets in India.  

Today, we're continuing our exploration of the fascinating intersection between positive psychology and travel and I couldn't be more excited to have one of the leading minds in the field with us.  Shige Oishi is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Chicago, an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and one of the most cited psychologists in the world. With over 200 journal articles and books to his name — including his latest book, Life in Three Dimensions — Shige has spent decades researching happiness, meaning, and cultural influences on well-being. In today's episode, we unpack what psychological richness really means, how it differs from happiness and meaning, and how travel is one of the very best ways tap into this powerful dimension of life.  If you've ever felt that travel enriches your life in unexpected ways, this episode is for you. So sit back, relax, and get ready to dive into the world of curiosity and perspective shifts with one of the foremost experts on the subject.  Let's dive in!  Learn more at www.luxtravelinsider.com   Connect with me on Social: Instagram LinkedIn  

A thrilling exploration of competing cosmological origin stories, comparing new scientific ideas that upend our very notions of space, time, and reality.By most popular accounts, the universe started with a bang some 13.8 billion years ago. But what happened before the Big Bang? And how do we know it happened at all? Here prominent cosmologist Niayesh Afshordi and science communicator Phil Halper offer a tour of the peculiar possibilities: bouncing and cyclic universes, time loops, creations from nothing, multiverses, black hole births, string theories, and holograms. Along the way, they offer both a call for new physics and a riveting story of scientific debate.Incorporating insights from Afshordi's cutting-edge research and Halper's original interviews with scientists like Stephen Hawking, Roger Penrose, and Alan Guth, Battle of the Big Bang: The New Tales of Our Cosmic Origins (University of Chicago Press, 2025) compares these models for the origin of our origins, showing each theory's strengths and weaknesses and explaining new attempts to test these notions. Battle of the Big Bang is a tale of rivalries and intrigue, of clashes of ideas that have raged from Greek antiquity to the present day over whether the universe is eternal or had a beginning, whether it is unique or one of many. But most of all, Afshordi and Halper show that this search is filled with wonder, discovery, and community—all essential for remembering a forgotten cosmic past. 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

Prof. James Evans, a University of Chicago sociologist and data scientist, believes we're training AI to think too much like humans—and it's holding science back.In this episode, Evans shares how our current models risk narrowing scientific exploration rather than expanding it, and explains why he's pushing for AIs that think differently from us—what he calls “cognitive aliens.” Could these “alien minds” help us unlock hidden breakthroughs? And what would it take to build them?

Migration policies shape not only the economies of countries but also their politics. In this episode, we dive deep into how letting people leave—or restricting their exit—can have surprising ripple effects on collective action and political reform in their home countries. Yale political scientist Emily Sellars reveals why migration might weaken the power of ordinary people to organize and push for change—and why even those who leave might ultimately lose out. Could closing borders paradoxically strengthen democracy abroad? We unpack a provocative new model that challenges our assumptions about emigration and its role in global politics. Papers discussed:“Emigration And Collective Action”: https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/704697?journalCode=jop

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?