Navigating our Future with Big Tech with Alexis Wichowski

Our nationality has long been a part of how we identify ourselves.  But Alexis Wichowski surveys the rise of “net states,” big tech companies that are, increasingly, taking on roles traditionally played by nation-states. Wichowski is a public servant, teacher, and writer.  She serves as Deputy Chi…

Adapting to a Changing World with Jen Schwartz

Change may be an essential part of human existence, but Jen Schwartz explores the dislocations in human society caused by the speed with which the world is changing around us. Schwartz is a senior features editor at Scientific American who produces stories on the intersection of technology and the…

2020 Story of the Year: The Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic on American Life

2020 is a year we won’t forget any time soon—though many of us might want to.  From the impeachment trial of the president, through the pandemic, and the 2020 election, this year has seen more than it’s fair share of important narratives.  Dr. Evelyn Farkas helps us make sense of them all and name …

Artistic Resilience with Gayle Kabaker

The uncertainty of a creative career—waiting for acceptance and dealing with rejection—can be an isolating experience. Gayle Kabaker turned artistic resilience into advice for coping through the pandemic. Kabaker is a graduate of the Academy of Art in San Francisco and has illustrated for various …

Harnessing the Power of Laughter with Gina Brillon

There hasn’t been a lot to laugh about in 2020, but Gina Brillon reminds us of the power of laughter and good humor even amidst so much tragedy. Brillon is a standup comic, singer, published writer, and poet.  Her newest one-hour comedy special, “Gina Brillon: The Floor is Lava,” is now available …

Making the Case for a Multiparty Democracy with Lee Drutman

America’s founders feared the rise of political factions that would pit Americans against Americans.  Lee Drutman warns that the founders’ greatest nightmares have come true and threaten the health and welfare of our republic. Dr. Lee Drutman is a senior fellow in the Political Reform program at N…

Extraterrestrial Exploration with Andrew Siemion

Science fiction is full of stories about communication and contact with civilizations beyond the stars.  Andrew Siemion leads a multi-national effort to scan the heavens for indications of intelligent life. Dr. Andrew Siemion is an astrophysicist and director of the Berkeley Search for Extraterres…

Exploring Loss, Creativity, and Change with Maggie Smith

It is one of the cruel realities of life for every nation and every individual: we all suffer loss and disappointment.  Maggie Smith is a poet whose new book offers wisdom—and hope—for anyone who knows that pain. Smith is the author of four books of poetry, including “Good Bones,” “The Well Speaks…

The Coronavirus and the Entertainment Industry

The pandemic has changed a lot of habits—including the ways in which people around the world spend their leisure time and resources.  Kate Aurthur tells us that the entertainment industry—literally built on storytelling—has been among the most effected. Aurthur is a veteran entertainment journalis…

Principled Leadership with Susan Eisenhower

In the pantheon of American presidents, perhaps none was better prepared for the job than Dwight D. Eisenhower.  Susan Eisenhower shares with us the principles that guided Ike in war and in peace. Eisenhower is the CEO and Chairman of The Eisenhower Group, Inc., a Washington D.C. based consulting …