Shows
Free Food For ThoughtReinventing the Los Angeles Times with Kevin MeridaEmma Pan and Tutu Jereissati sit down with Kevin Merida—the Executive Editor of the Los Angeles Times. In this episode, Kevin Merida talks about the changing nature of the Los Angeles Times and media coverage of the government and politics.
2023-03-2929 min
Free Food For ThoughtAdventures in International Film and Finance with Robert SimondsBaron Zeng and Justin Ongchin sit down with Robert Simonds—media entrepreneur and prolific film producer—in this exciting episode. From creating China's number one TV Show to running Bollywood's second largest streaming platform, Robert Simonds—founder and chairman of STX Entertainment—shares his story on how he succeeded in Hollywood as a young film producer and expanded his company globally. Frequent collaborators of his included Adam Sandler, Steve Martin, Dave Chapelle, and many others.
2023-03-2823 min
Free Food For ThoughtLiving a Life of Purpose with Tom LinebargerTutu Jereissati and Ryan Lenney sit down with Tom Linebarger, executive chairman of Cummins, Inc.—a global power technology company that pioneers new technologies to sustainably meet the world’s growing power needs, to talk about his career, life, and how to live a life a purpose. For Linebarger, working for an employer whose values aligned with his own was the key to finding his purpose.
2023-03-0925 min
Free Food For ThoughtThe Power of Storytelling with Charmaine WilkersonDorismar Cuevas and Nathaniel Worley sat down with former Southern California journalist-turned-novelist Charmaine Wilkerson to talk about the power of storytelling and her debut novel "Black Cake."
2023-03-0824 min
Free Food For ThoughtChanges in Iran with Pardis MahdaviNatalie Chen and Nathaniel Worley sit down with Pardis Mahdavi—the provost and executive vice president at the University of Montana—to talk about the political and cultural landscape in Iran.
2023-02-2224 min
Free Food For ThoughtBrown University Professor Omer Bartov on the Rise of AntisemitismEllie Lerner and Marshall Bessey sit down with Omer Bartov, the Samuel Pisar Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Brown University, to have an in-depth conversation about his new book, “The Butterfly and the Axe” and the rise of antisemitism.
2023-02-2019 min
Free Food For ThoughtUW Law Dean Tamara Lawson on Policing, Prosecution, and MoreNathan Verba and Nathaniel Worley interview University of Washington School of Law Dean Tamara Lawson (CMC '92) to discuss a variety of issues relating to her experiences so far as dean as well as her previous experience working as deputy district attorney at the Clark County District Attorney’s Office in Las Vegas, Nevada.
2023-02-0822 min
Free Food For ThoughtPutting the "Science" in Data Science with Jay CordesJustin Ongchin and Baron Zeng sit down with data scientist Jay Cordes in this insightful episode. Jay Cordes co-authored the book The 9 Pitfalls of Data Science with Pomona economist Gary Smith to help guide future data scientists away from the common pitfalls he saw in the corporate world.
2023-02-0526 min
Free Food For ThoughtAirTalk, Public Radio, and more with Larry MantleNathaniel Worley sat down with SoCal legend Larry Mantle to discuss his long-running show AirTalk, public radio, and more in this engaging episode sure to please any radio-enthusiast.
2023-02-0128 min
Free Food For ThoughtRussia's "Weak Strongman" with Timothy FryeTimothy Frye is the Marshall D. Shulman Professor of Post-Soviet Foreign Policy at Columbia University, author of four books, and holds the Library of Congress Chair on US-Russian Relations. Vedanth Reddy and Justin Ongchin sit down with Professor Timothy Frye to discuss Putin's worldview and Russia's similarities to other autocracies.
2023-01-3125 min
Free Food For ThoughtJoe SossNathaniel Worley sits down with Professor Joe Soss to discuss the interplay of politics, inequalities, and public policy in this insightful episode.
2022-11-2129 min
Free Food For ThoughtMichelle TusanIn this educational episode, Nathaniel Worley and Dorismar Cuevas sit down with Michelle Tusan, a Professor of History at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Hear an insightful discussion on modern British history, the British Empire, and women’s history.
2022-11-1324 min
Free Food For ThoughtElizabeth ItoJustin and Nathaniel sit down with Peabody and Emmy award winning director Elizabeth Ito. Elizabeth Ito has been working as a creator, writer, director, and storyboard artist in the animation industry since 2004 on TV, feature, and commercial projects. Her first series, City of Ghosts, premiered in 2021 and won a Peabody Award in 2022.
2022-10-2427 min
Free Food For ThoughtLynda BarryJustin and Vedanth sit down with Lynda Barry in this creative and inspiring episode.
2022-10-1122 min
Free Food For ThoughtSanjib KalitaIn this episode, Nathaniel and Baron interview Sanjib Kalita, co-founder and CEO of Guppy—the Web3 credit bureau—and editor in chief of Money 20/20—the world’s leading fintech event series. They discuss the current FinTech landscape, data monetization, digital cash, and more, in this exciting episode.
2022-09-2929 min
Free Food For ThoughtJared DiamondNathaniel and Justin discuss topics ranging from ornithology to communication methods with UCLA Professor Jared Diamond, author of best-selling science books The Third Chimpanzee; Guns, Germs, and Steel; Collapse, The World Until Yesterday, and Upheaval.
2022-09-2627 min
Free Food For ThoughtMichael ShearNathaniel and Noah interview two-time Pulitzer Prize winning reporter Michael Shear, who currently writes for the New York Times as a White House correspondent. Shear, a 1990 graduate of Claremont McKenna College, shares his career path, his thoughts on the current state of media, and some reflections on the reporting of the Virginia Tech shooting in this thought provoking episode.
2022-09-2230 min
Free Food For ThoughtAmanda LittleIn this episode, Nathaniel and Dorismar interview Amanda Little, Professor at Vanderbilt University. Hear an insightful discussion on the future of food, the importance of efficiency, and how students today can become involved in the future of agriculture.
2022-09-2033 min
Free Food For ThoughtTyehimba JessIn this installment, Daenerys and Nathan W. sit down with Tyehimba Jess, a Pulitzer Prize winning poet.
2022-05-2427 minFree Food For ThoughtDavid TreuerVedanth and Nathan V. talk with anthropologist David Treuer about Native American narratives and how he approaches writing.
2022-05-2431 minFree Food For ThoughtMartha JonesIn this episode of Free Food for Thought, Daenerys and Joelle sit down with Professor Martha jones of Johns Hopkins University to discuss the history of Black women in American democracy.
2022-05-2425 minFree Food For ThoughtJohn ListIn this episode, Adhi and Justin sit down with Professor John List about the proliferation of experiments in social science, deformalizing economics, and the strategies to recognize a great idea in his new book, the Voltage Effect.
2022-04-2130 minFree Food For ThoughtJennifer BurnsMarshall and Daniel sat down with Dr. Jennifer Burns, an associate professor of history at Stanford University and author of Goddess of the Market: Ayn Rand the American Right, to discuss her research on Ayn Rand and her upcoming book on Milton Friedman. We discussed her research, the influence of Ayn Rand and Milton Friedman on today’s world, and the value of researching at the intersections.
2022-04-1718 minFree Food For ThoughtChris SloboginVedanth and Sophie sat down with Professor Chris Slobogin, Director of the Vanderbilt Criminal Justice Program and author of “Just Algorithms: Using Science to Reduce Incarceration and Inform a Jurisprudence of Risk” to talk about the role of algorithms and risk assessments in the legal system. We discuss the practical use of algorithms, their ethical ramifications, and the future of AI and machine learning in the legal system.
2022-04-1325 minFree Food For ThoughtDaron AcemogluFor this installment of Free Food for Thought, Simon and Daniel sit down with Daron Acemoglu, professor of economics at MIT. Their conversation covers Acemoglu’s work on growth and institutions, his approach to research, and the future of economics.
2022-04-0223 min
Free Food For ThoughtFiona HillIn this installment of free food for thought, Nathaniel and Simon talk to Fiona Hill of the Brookings Institution about the ongoing war in Ukraine, the historical roots of Putin’s war, and what inspired her to work in Russian affairs.
2022-03-1334 minFree Food For ThoughtMatt PykenNathaniel and Izabella sit down in conversation with Matt Pyken (CMC 83’), a television writer and producer from Southern California. Discover Matt’s journey from DC to Hollywood, reflections on his time at CMC, and how he brought the western writing room style to India in this exciting episode of Free Food for Thought.
2022-03-0630 minFree Food For ThoughtRagen ChastainIn this episode of Free Food for Thought, Daenerys and Sophie sit down to chat with Ragen Chastain, a speaker, writer, ACE Certified Health Coach and functional fitness specialist, and activist. They cover the topics of media and its effect on Fatphobia, the impact of fitness culture among young people, and activism.
2022-03-0228 min
Free Food For ThoughtFrance CordovaIn this episode of Free Food for Thought, Nathan sits down with Dr. France A. Cordova, a leader in science, engineering and education. Hear a discussion of the importance of women in STEM, science’s current place in the public dialogue, and the sharing of her wisdom gained through decades of experience.
2022-02-1533 minFree Food For ThoughtMartha MinnowIn this episode, Adhitya and Daenerys sit down with Martha Minnow to discuss her career teaching and practicing law, legal challenges in the technology sector, and the key to asking a great question.
2022-02-0721 minFree Food For ThoughtRoger KarapinIn this episode, Nathan and Simon sit down with Professor Roger Karapin to discuss the past, present, and future of climate policy.
2021-12-2223 minFree Food For ThoughtPeter MoskosIn this installment of Free Food for Thought, Adhitya and Simon sit down with Professor Peter Moskos from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. In their discussion, they discuss Professor Moskos's path from police officer to sociologist as well as the outlook for more effective law enforcement in the United States.
2021-11-3029 minFree Food For ThoughtCharles YuDaenerys and Anna speak with Charles Yu, author of novels How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe and National Book Award winner Interior Chinatown. They discuss his transition from corporate law to writing full-time, the role of science fiction in imagining a more equitable world, and the inspiration behind Interior Chinatown.
2021-11-1526 minFree Food For ThoughtRyan CirzSophie and Simon sit down with Ryan Cirz, founder of Achaogen and Revagenix. They discuss the development of antibiotics, his path through the world of pharmaceutical startups, and how he stays motivated in field as tumultuous and antibiotic development.
2021-10-2720 minFree Food For ThoughtSteven PInkerThis week Izzy and Justin speak with Steven Pinker, a renowned cognitive psychologist, Harvard professor, and public intellectual. They discuss optimism in the face of uncertainty, the extent of human rationality, social media, and the validity of the nature versus nurture debate.
2021-10-2125 minFree Food For ThoughtNaomi BagdonasOn this week's episode, Sophie and Baron sat down to chat with Naomi Bagdonas, an alumna of CMC, lecturer at Stanford, and author of Humor, Seriously. In this episode we discussed Naomi's journey from the consulting world to comedy, the importance of humor in serious settings, and advice for how to navigate difficult professional and personal situations.
2021-10-1224 minFree Food For ThoughtDaniel KellyHow do psychedelics fit into the field of neuroscience and mental health research? We find the answers to this question and more in this week’s episode of Free Food For Thought. Nathan and Daenerys sit down with Dr. Daniel Kelly to explore the fascinating research being done on the macrodosing of psychedelic substances as a promising alternative form of mental health treatment. Hear Dr. Kelly share his research, insights, and more - all in this episode.
2021-10-0436 minFree Food For ThoughtSameer PandyaFor the inaugural episode of Free Food for Thought this school year, Daenerys Pineda and Simon Gilbert sat down with Professor Sameer Pandya of University of California Santa Barbara. Over the course of the interview, they discussed his recent book Members Only, representation of the diverse experiences of Asian-Americans, and his writing process.
2021-09-2725 min
Free Food For ThoughtThe Professor Series - Megan GallagherIn this episode of the Professor Series, Sophie sits down with Professor Megan Gallagher, Professor of Literature at CMC and Assistant Director of CMC's Center for Writing and Public Discourse. Professor Gallagher discusses the role of current events in teaching, as well as the marvels of GenZ and TikTok.
2021-05-1823 minFree Food For ThoughtValerie TiberiusIn this episode, Sabrina and Hans sit down with Valerie Tiberius, a professor of philosophy at the University of Minnesota. Tiberius shares her experiences about getting into philosophy, how she came about her research on values and well-being, and offers her perspective about human nature and relationships.
2021-05-0730 minFree Food For ThoughtThe Professor Series - JoAnne FergusonIn this episode of the Professor Series, Daenerys sits down with Professor JoAnne Ferguson, the coach of Pomona-Pitzer’s softball team. Coach Ferguson talks about how she develops her P.E. classes and gives us tips to help us thrive in our virtual world.
2021-05-0420 minFree Food For ThoughtThe Professor Series - Chloe MartinezIn this episode of the Professor Series, Nathan sits down with Professor Chloe Martinez to discuss her experiences as a scholar, poet, and educator navigating through this pandemic. Hear her thoughts on the topics of poetry, time management, and South Asian religions, and more.
2021-04-2733 min
Free Food For ThoughtGabrielle CalvocoressiIn this episode, Nathan and Daenerys speak with Gabrielle Calvocoressi, an accomplished poet and professor at UNC Chapel Hill. Calvocoressi discusses several impactful experiences during their formative years, the body positivity/neutrality movement, self-care, and the American experience, amongst other topics. Hear Calvocoressi share their thoughts on these informative topics in consideration with the difficulties that emerged from the ongoing pandemic.
2021-04-2329 minFree Food For ThoughtProfessor Series - Professor MillerIn this episode of the Professor Series, Nathan sits down with Professor Kenneth P. Miller to discuss Miller’s life, his most recent book, and the experiences and insights he's gained being a professor at CMC.
2021-04-1330 min
Free Food For ThoughtCandace ValenzuelaLive from the Ath, Tori and Anna speak with CMC alumna Candace Valenzuela '06, former candidate for Texas's 24th congressional district. Valenzuela discusses her path to the campaign trail, her experiences trying to make her campaign staff reflect the district they were serving, and things that are making her hopeful during this tumultuous time. She also shares many pieces of advice for our listeners, from how to constructively participate in politics to how she overcomes self-doubt.
2021-03-2639 min
Free Food For ThoughtStefanie JohnsonSabrina and Sophie speak with Dr. Stefanie Johnson, a researcher and professor at University of Colorado, Boulder's Leeds School of Business. Dr. Johnson has coined the term "inclusify," a term that defines inclusion as an action item. Dr. Johnson shares her experiences getting into the Diversity and Inclusion field and how she works to make diversity and inclusion a higher priority.
2021-03-1929 min
Free Food For ThoughtGraham Lee BrewerAdhi and Simon speak with Graham Lee Brewer, editor for Indigenous Affairs at High Country News and board member of the Native American Journalists Association. He shares how his reporting gives a platform to Indigenous voices and what the journalism industry can do to become more inclusive
2021-03-0525 min
Free Food For ThoughtEli SaslowMaya and Olivia sit down with Eli Slaslow, a reporter for the Washington Post and author of Rising out of Hatred: The Awakening of a Former White Nationalist. He discusses his path as a journalist, how his stories impact him and how he wants his stories to impact others, and how we as a country can change for the better through exposing ourselves to stories about those that are different from us.
2021-02-2625 min
Free Food For ThoughtCailin O'ConnorIn this week's episode, Sophie and Olivia sit down with Dr. O'Connor to discuss the overwhelming presence of misinformation and disinformation in today's world. Dr. O'Connor shares how her career led her to studying misinformation, dispels fake news myths, discusses the impact of misinformation on the COVID-19 pandemic, and gives tips on how everyone can catch fake news that they may come across.
2021-02-1920 min
Free Food For ThoughtCary AspinwallIn this episode, Tori and Adhi speak with Cary Aspinwall, a Dallas-based staff writer for The Marshall Project and Pulitzer Prize Finalist in Local Reporting. She discusses the triumphs and challenges in local journalism and offers wisdom to students interested in the field.
2021-02-1235 min
Free Food For ThoughtJud BrewerHow does "curiosity" help you overcome addictions and how do we overcome our inner-skeptic? Dr. Jud Brewer sat down with Sabrina and Sophie to talk about mindfulness as an alternative psychiatric solution, his personal journey entering this field of work, and his “five finger breathing” technique.
2021-02-0528 min
Free Food For ThoughtKatherine Mangu-WardIn the latest episode of Free Food for Thought, Sabrina and Simon sit down with Katherine Mangu-Ward, the Editor-in-Chief of Reason Magazine. Their discussion covers a wide range of topics, including Mangu-Ward’s career trajectory, how she navigates the rapidly shifting field of journalism, and the future of libertarianism.
2021-01-2926 minFree Food For ThoughtDebra TolchinskyDebra Tolchinsky sheds light on her documentary project, “True Memories and Other Falsehoods,” her interest in the human memory, and her career as a documentary filmmaker.
2020-11-0134 minFree Food For ThoughtAlex KotlowitzKoss and Seth sit down with Alex Kotlowitz, former staff writer of The Wall Street Journal and critically acclaimed author of An American Summer: Love and Death in Chicago. They discuss his journey from working on a cattle ranch to the Emmy winner he is today, his approach to journalism and his drive to share the stories of a segregated society.
2020-11-0122 minFree Food For ThoughtKatherine ForestSeth and Maya sit down with former District Judge for the Southern District of New York, Katherine Forrest, to discuss the use of Artificial Intelligence in the courtroom.
2020-11-0125 minFree Food For ThoughtNikole Hannah JonesMelanie and Anna sit down with Nikole Hannah-Jones, a writer for the New York Times Magazine and creator of the 1619 project. Listen in to hear their discussion on modern-day segregation in America's public school system and how Hannah-Jones' own relationships with that system inspired her journalistic career.
2020-11-0123 minFree Food For ThoughtDwayne BettsAnna and Nandeeni sit down with Dwayne Betts, a poet, Yale Law School graduate and current Ph.D. candidate, who spent nearly 9 years in prison for a crime he committed at age 16. They discuss his decision to pivot from poetry to law, blending legalese into poetry, and his past and present ambitions.
2020-11-0124 minFree Food For ThoughtSusan HockfieldSabrina and Sam sat down with Professor Susan Hockfield to talk about her passion in STEM, her current book and the interdependence of academia, administration leadership in higher education and public service in government.
2020-02-0225 minFree Food For ThoughtSymone SandersFree Food for Thought presents a conversation with Symone D. Sanders that couldn't be more relevant to today's political conversation. Sanders, a current senior advisor for former Vice President Joe Biden's 2020 presidential campaign, sat down with Skip and Anna to discuss her early career as political strategist, her thoughts on the importance of millennial voices in political media, and why she approaches presidential campaigns like start-ups. Get ready for an engaging political conversation and another fifteen episodes of Free Food coming out biweekly this fall!
2020-01-1132 minFree Food For ThoughtCarl Wilkens"One of the greatest vaccinations to fear is having a mission."
Carl Wilkens sat down with Nandeeni and Sam to discuss his initial experiences in developing Africa, his relationship with God, and the decision that made him the only American to willingly reside in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide.
2020-01-1129 minFree Food For ThoughtKim Sajet - Live“The museum is becoming this place for conversation and shared memory...and that’s kind of been the Obama effect as well.”
Over Family Weekend at Claremont McKenna College, Skip and Melanie sat down with Kim Sajet, Director of the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. to talk about her life and career as a museum director, the political nature of portraiture, and how the Obama Portraits have taken the Gallery by storm.
2020-01-1141 minFree Food For ThoughtSean Hagan"What’s great about the IMF is that it’s an institution that is constantly evolving, and it’s constantly evolving because it’s job is to manage crises and crises tend to evolve."
-Sean Hagan on Free Food for Thought
Will and Shivani sit down with Sean Hagan, General Counsel and Director of the Legal Department at the International Monetary Fund, to discuss the evolving role of the Fund.
2020-01-1122 minFree Food For ThoughtJonathan HaidtKate and Melanie sit down with Professor Jo Scott-Coe to discuss her research and writings.
2020-01-1123 minFree Food For ThoughtJo Scott-CoeKate and Melanie sit down with Professor Jo Scott-Coe to discuss her research and writings.
2020-01-1113 minFree Food For ThoughtDavid Tolchinsky“The conservative movement as I knew it is really a finished project. It doesn’t have anything useful to say to the present moment… But the conservative disposition, the conservative impulse, that will always be part of the human brain.”
- David Frum on Free Food for Thought
Sophia and Will sit down with David Frum, former George W. Bush speechwriter and conservative intellectual, to talk about the past, present, and future of the conservative movement.
2020-01-1122 minFree Food For ThoughtDavid Frum“The conservative movement as I knew it is really a finished project. It doesn’t have anything useful to say to the present moment… But the conservative disposition, the conservative impulse, that will always be part of the human brain.”
- David Frum on Free Food for Thought
Sophia and Will sit down with David Frum, former George W. Bush speechwriter and conservative intellectual, to talk about the past, present, and future of the conservative movement.
2020-01-1124 minFree Food For ThoughtMarianne Haver-Hill"The middle class is shrinking -- we need to expand it. So that means we have to lift those on the lowest end."
- Marianne Haver Hill on Free Food for Thought
Shivani and Skip sit down with Marianne Haver Hill, executive director of Propel LA, to chat about her work with MEND, the volunteer model, and the implementation of Propel LA.
2020-01-1116 minFree Food For ThoughtSusannah Wellford“Make sure your education is opening your mind to new ways of thinking about things and that you will get a chance to be with people who oppose your values and the ways you think about things. I really do think that progress in this country will come from getting together because we are so polarized right now.“
- Susannah Wellford on Free Food for Thought
Melanie and Shivani sit down with Susannah Wellford, founder of Running Start, to talk about reaching across the ideological aisle and empowering young women both inside and outside of the clas...
2020-01-1125 minFree Food For ThoughtAmal KassirAmal Kassir on U.S. intervention in Syria: “Politics is exhausting. The United States’s responsibility, and I’m not talking about the leaders so much I am the people … our responsibility is to take care of the refugees and help the humanitarian situation. That’s someone who has lost hope; that’s my solution.”
- Amal Kassir on Free Food for Thought
Will Frankel and Shivani Pandya sit down with poet and activist Amal Kassir to talk about Syria, the power of art, and what it means to be American.
2020-01-1123 minFree Food For ThoughtJelani Cobb“I do think there is a line [in free speech]. The line should not be 'I disagree with what you’re saying.' The line should not be 'what you’re saying is disrespectful.' The line should not be 'what you’re saying is obnoxious, or even offensive.' But I do think there is a line when someone becomes dangerous. And in that regard, you have to say, 'I don’t think that it’s responsible to present this person with a forum.'"
Professor Jelani Cobb on Free Food for Thought
Shivani Pandya and Skip Wil...
2020-01-1120 minFree Food For ThoughtLynn Novick[Ken and I are] talking about doing a history of crime and punishment in America -- it would go back to before the pilgrims came here, people coming here enslaved, [and ask] what are our notions of what is a crime? What is the proper punishment? What is the role of the criminal justice system? How has it evolved? We’re in a very bad place right now, and we have been for a very long time, and we have to try to figure out how we got here so we can get out of it.”
Lynn Novick on F...
2020-01-1119 minFree Food For ThoughtSteve Kotkin“As a thought experiment, if I was in charge, I would create incentives for experimenting and for making mistakes. Because it turns out that every time that I made a mistake, I learned something! … But how can we get to a point where you are rewarded for taking the chances, for getting out of your comfort zone?”
Professor Steve Kotkin on Free Food for Thought
Shivani Pandya and Nick Sage sit down with Professor Steve Kotkin to discuss higher education incentives in pursuing intellectual experimentation.
2020-01-1122 minFree Food For ThoughtLee Dugatkin"To me success is waking up and feeling that you’re contributing to enlightening society--and that may be through the science I’m doing, it might be through the history I’m doing, it might just be through talking to people like I am here."
Lee Dugatkin on Free Food for Thought
Nick and Connor sat down with Professor Dugatkin to discuss how his life and career built up to his new book, How to Tame a Fox (and Build a Dog). The conversation ranged from the history of science to the role of behavior in geneti...
2020-01-1125 minFree Food For ThoughtMichael Klarman"I don’t think we’re necessarily destined to have a democracy, I think it’s something we have to fight for."
Professor Michael Klarman on Free Food for Thought
Melissa and Melanie sit down with Professor Michael Klarman to discuss the role constitutional law played in the nation's founding and continues to play in politics today.
2020-01-1123 minFree Food For ThoughtLeslie Jamison"I think we need to recognize that there are all sorts of things that might condition students bringing different levels of comfort to the classroom. Not just gender, but things like educational background, class background, racial background, that all of these things just inflect what it means to move through the world, like on every level in contemporary America."
Leslie Jamison on Free Food for Thought
Shivani and Shiv sit down with novelist and essayist Leslie Jamison to talk about her take on personal narratives, teaching, and empathy in the writing process.
2020-01-1124 min2020-01-1124 minFree Food For ThoughtDave RubinKate Ridenour and Nick Sage sit down with Dave Rubin, creator and host of The Rubin Report, to chat about free speech, burgeoning media, and classic liberalism.
2020-01-1125 minFree Food For ThoughtNeel Kashkari“People would say, ‘oh you’re crazy, no one can win.’ I say, ‘look, simple. If I have a choice of being hopeless like you or delusional, I’ll take delusional all day long. You can be hopeless, but I’m going to charge up this hill.”
Neel Kashkari, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis and author of the 2008 TARP bank bailout, sits down with Zach and Melissa to discuss his role at the Treasury Department in 2008, what drives him towards public service, and reflections on his unsuccessful 2014 gubernatorial campaign.
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Kashkari on how...
2020-01-1119 minFree Food For ThoughtCameron Munter“Ultimately when you are overseas you are dealing with people, and you’re trying to figure out what is it that lets them become human to you and what is it about you that allows you to become human to them.”
Former U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter sits down with Zach and Shiv to discuss track-two diplomacy, cultural immersion, and his thoughts on success.
Biography:
Cameron Munter is President and CEO of the EastWest Institute (EWI) in New York. Ambassador Munter served as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer for nearly three...
2020-01-1125 minFree Food For ThoughtJohn Yoo“Sometimes lawyers confuse what they think is moral versus what the law says, and those are different things.”
Professor John Yoo, a deputy assistant attorney general in Bush’s first term, sat down with Kate and Skip to discuss his path to law school, clerking at the Supreme Court, and his role in the torture and war powers legal debate.
Biography:
John Yoo is the Emanuel Heller Professor of Law at the University of California at Berkeley, where he has been on the faculty since 1993. Yoo received his B.A., summa cum laude, in Ame...
2020-01-1117 minFree Food For ThoughtJay Nordlinger“In a liberal democracy like ours, I think there is such a thing as freedom from politics.”
National Review Senior Editor Jay Nordlinger sat down with Zach and Bryn last week to discuss his "night job" as an music reviewer, new book on the children of dictators, and the role of politics and party affiliation in daily life.
Biography:
Jay Nordlinger is a senior editor at National Review and writes about topics ranging from politics to human rights to the arts. Originally from Michigan, Nordlinger attended the University of Michigan before relocating to New...
2020-01-1124 minFree Food For ThoughtTim Wright“The same fear and trepidation I saw in South Africa amongst the whites I see here.” | Timothy Wright '77 on Trump and contemporary America.
Wright, a CMC alum and lawyer, sat down with Zach and Melissa to discuss his path to CMC, time in South Africa, and insights about success.
Biography:
Since his time at Claremont McKenna College, where he played varsity football for four years, and graduated in 1977 with a dual degree in Economics and Political Science, Timothy has been exceptional. At the UCLA School of Law, he became the first African Amer...
2020-01-1118 minFree Food For ThoughtRobert Sapolsky“I would also dart and anesthetize my baboons using blow gun systems, and there's a bunch of people in DC where I would love to put a big hefty dart in their rears, and maybe put in some ear tags and find out what's going on with their hormone levels.” | Professor Robert Sapolsky, biologist and neuroscientist, on the natural processes behind today’s decision-makers.
Sapolsky sat down with Shiv and Wes to discuss his path to neuroscience, human compassion, and effective strategies for talking about science in political and social terms.
Biography:
One of the...
2020-01-1119 minFree Food For ThoughtMaria Trujillo“The kind of climate that is being created in our country right now, I think, is going to negatively affect in terms of people coming forward and reporting those [human trafficking-related] crimes.”
Skip and Zach sat down Maria Trujillo, CMC alumna and Human Trafficking Program Manager at the Colorado Department of Public Safety, about her experiences abroad and the fight against human trafficking today.
Biography:
Maria A. Trujillo ’01 serves as the Human Trafficking Program Manager at the Colorado Department of Public Safety in the Division of Criminal Justice, specifically the Office for Victims Progra...
2020-01-1118 min2020-01-1116 min2020-01-1124 minFree Food For ThoughtJack PitneyElection Reflection: CMC's Professor Jack Pitney sat down with Kate and Zach on November 7 to discuss the following day's election, his predictions, and teaching politics in today's political climate.
Biography:
Professor Pitney is the Roy P. Crocker Professor of American History and Politics at Claremont McKenna College, where he teaches courses on Congress, interest groups, political parties, and mass media. A leading expert on the structure and practice of American politics, Pitney is a widely published author or co-author of six books on American politics. Before he was a professor at Claremont McKenna, Professor Pitney w...
2020-01-1120 minFree Food For ThoughtAmy Whitaker“Art and business are central to democracy. What does that mean?”
Author, artist, and entrepreneur Amy Whitaker sat down with Zach and Jackie to talk about the intersections of art, life, creativity, and democracy.
Biography:
Amy Whitaker is an author, artist, and entrepreneur who is currently an assistant professor of Visual Arts Management at NYU’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. She teaches at the intersection of business, creativity, and everyday life and thinks that art and business are both vital to democracy.
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“The whole id...
2020-01-1122 minFree Food For ThoughtLarry Rosin“The polling industry is one of the most collegial. Like everything to do with 2016, there were conspiracy theories galore, and I can tell you because I know all these people, they were just trying their best to get things right. The idea that they were spinning the results to try to hurt or help a candidate is just ludicrous.”
Polling expert Larry Rosin sits down with Wes and Skip to discuss the nature of the polling industry and its role in the 2016 election.
Biography:
Larry Rosin is the president of Edison Research, which he c...
2020-01-1122 minFree Food For ThoughtSpencer Wells“When [one guy we tested] got these results he literally started crying. He said, “Now I know why I feel connected to these different groups. It really gives me a sense of belonging.’”
Spencer Wells, population geneticist and former explorer in residence for National Geographic, wants to create an app for people to discover their genetic makeup. Hear Wells’ thoughts on DNA sequencing, his Emmy award, and the future of consumer genomics.
Biography:
Wells is a population geneticist and former explorer in residence for National Geographic. He directed the Genographic Project, which tells the story...
2020-01-1116 minFree Food For ThoughtAdotei AkweiAmnesty International’s Adotei Akwei sat down with Melissa and Shiv to discuss making human rights about human beings, the power of “click activism,” and his life path.
Biography:
Adotei Akwei is managing director of government relations for Amnesty International USA. Since 1988, he has worked with a focus on human rights and U.S. foreign policy toward Africa, working at CARE USA, the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, the American Committee on Africa, and The Africa Fund.
Description:
How can activists personalize human rights abuses to garner the attention of the world...
2020-01-1121 min2020-01-1117 minFree Food For ThoughtLinda HervieuxWes and Kate sit down with author and journalist Linda Hervieux to hear about her backstory and research on African-American soldiers in World War II.
2020-01-1126 minFree Food For ThoughtLee JussimIn a “post-truth” era, how can we make sure to rely on credible information grounded in empirical evidence? Dr. Lee Jussim sits down with Zach and Wes to discuss the dangers of relying on unsubstantiated claims -- for example, how do we know that stereotypes really are inaccurate? -- and his journey from public housing in Brooklyn to the forefront of social psychology research.
2020-01-1129 minFree Food For ThoughtCornell BrooksSkip and Kate sit down with Cornell Brooks, President and CEO of the NAACP, to discuss his beginnings as a social justice advocate, racial progress made in the Obama years, and how to channel energy from the Women's March into a sustained political movement.
2020-01-1121 min2020-01-1131 minFree Food For ThoughtRandall KennedyMelissa and Shivani sit down with Professor Randall Kennedy from the Harvard Law School.
2020-01-1129 min2020-01-1112 minFree Food For ThoughtPardis MahdaviJanine and Lauren sit down with Professor Pardis Mahdhavi from Pomona College to talk about her research in Iran's sexual politics.
2020-01-1111 min
Free Food For ThoughtKamau BellShivani and Lauren sit down with W. Kamau Bell to talk with him about race and comedy.
2020-01-1119 min