Shows
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastThe 1619 Project: Book Club Discussion from USCThis is the last episode of the Bedrosian Bookclub in this incarnation, it's been a blast. We discuss the importance of The 1619 Project, the book, the project, and it's impact on our political discourse. Why should we pay attention to history, how does the historical narrative of a country affect the way we face the future? Aubrey Hicks is joined by Yesenia Hunter, LaVonna Lewis, Jen Bravo, and David Sloane in a conversation on the meaning and joy in the The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story. Follow Aubrey on Twitter @AubreyHi for a...2022-01-261h 27
P.S. You’re InterestingAnna HarveyJeff speaks with Anna Harvey, Professor of Politics; Affiliated Professor of Data Science and Law; Director, Public Safety Lab at NYU about research and more. Harvey’s research focuses on criminal justice, policing, judicial politics, and political economy. Email: bedrosian.center@usc.edu Twitter: @BedrosianCenter2021-12-1521 min
P.S. You’re InterestingMichael OlsonJeff speaks with Michael Olson, Assistant Professor of Political Science at Washington University at St. Louis about research and more. Olson’s research focuses on political representation using historic and contemporary observational data. Email: bedrosian.center@usc.edu Twitter: @BedrosianCenter2021-11-1720 min
The Bigger PictureCSI & Imagine LA De-mystify the Social Safety Net for Working FamiliesToday, USC Senior Olivia Olson, speaks with USC Price Center for Social Innovation and Imagine LA to understand a partnership study that examined the complex social safety network for low-income working families to identify stagnation points. The study looked at the total resources families have available and identified the threshold points where the safety net may actually become a barrier towards economic independence — a benefits cliff, where an increase in earnings leaves a family worse off, or a resource plateau, where such an increase leaves a family no better off in terms of the total resources available to...2021-10-2547 min
P.S. You’re InterestingZhao LiJeff speaks with Zhao Li, Assistant Professor of Politics and Public Affairs at Princeton University. Li studies institutional and behavioral factors in donor decision making in contemporary American Politics. She recently gave a research talk at USC Price, looking at the connections between Fox News and GOP campaign rallies and finances. Recent work has looked at the interaction of finance and access in PACs. Email: bedrosian.center@usc.edu Twitter: @BedrosianCenter2021-09-1520 min
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastThe Fact of a BodyThe Fact of a Body by *Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich is a true crime memoir. After encountering the child murderer Ricky Langley, Alexandria's desire to work as a lawyer to fight against the death penalty is up-ended. They spend several years investigating Ricky's story as a way to confront the story of their own child abuse. This is a deeply moving book, and a relatively easy read given the morose topic - a testament to the author's skill. Our conversation ranges from the effects of trauma on individuals and communities to the genre itself. If you haven't read it...2021-07-081h 24The Bigger PictureStudents & Innovative Emergency AidEven before the COVID pandemic brought the notion of precarity to the mainstream, many populations in the U.S. and abroad faced life through different types of insecurity. In 2019, after hearing story after story from students, the Leonetti/O'Connell Family Foundation created an emergency aid program. The project was co-designed with researchers at the USC Sol Price Center for Social Innovation and students experiencing precariousness. Emergency Aid programs work! Using aid from this pilot program, students at USC and LACCD were able to continue schooling under tenuous circumstances. So ... what now? O...2021-06-0346 minThe Bigger PictureThe LEWIS RegistryThe folks from the USC Safe Communities Institute stopped by to tell us all about the new LEWIS Registry. The LEWIS Registry is a crowdsourced public database for police officers who have been fired or resigned during an investigation of their behavior. In addition to the front, public-facing, end there is a backend for use by Law Enforcement.2021-05-2559 minThe Bigger PictureLanguage, Law, & Race: A Conversation With Jody ArmourOlivia Olson speaks with Professor Jody Armour about the power of "word work to really make the frozen circumstances that somebody is stuck in dance, by playing them to their own melody." In Prof Armour's latest book N*gga Theory, he focuses on the n-word to delve deeply into the social meaning behind the use of words. How can language challenge cultural boundaries? How can one word carry so much power? Certain language is a form of mutual aid. This is a powerful conversation on community. When the power of the state used...2021-05-0650 min
P.S. You’re InterestingMiguel PereiraJeffery speaks with new USC Dornsife assistant professor Miguel Pereira about research and experiments in political science. Pereira's research focuses on political representation and the behavior of political elites in established democracies, with a focus on causal inference. In addition, he shares some new research looking at responsiveness of legislators with specific policy expertise.2021-03-2422 minThe Bigger PictureTOC & AffordabilityLos Angeles County has a housing problem. There have been at least a dozen studies just at USC in the last year which tell us housing is not affordable and hard to find. So how have recent ballot initiatives worked toward increasing density and affordability for county residents? USC Professors Jorge De la Roca, Marlon Boarnet, and Richard Green are here to discuss their new analysis of inclusionary zoning and Transit Oriented Communities planning affects on the county and city of Los Angeles. How are we doing? Are we seeing signs of hope?2021-03-1147 min
The Bigger PictureData & Justice in Los Angeles"The past decade has elevated the urgent need for police reform, brought to the forefront by high-profile police killings and movements like #BlackLivesMatter. To better understand conceptions of public safety and support the growing public interest in criminal justice reform, the USC Price Center for Social Innovation partnered with Microsoft and the USC Price Safe Communities Institute to launch the NDSC Criminal Justice Data Initiative in the spring of 2019." Today, Aubrey Hicks (our ED) speaks to Gary Painter (Social Innovation) and Erroll Southers (Safe Communities Institute) about the germination of the collaboration, the process of understanding community...2021-03-0647 min
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastAccelerating Fair Chance HiringIn our new series on Community Impact we speak with Victoria Ciudad-Real, John Roberson III, Gary Painter, and Jeffery Wallace about findings from their collaborative project Accelerating Fair Chance Hiring among Los Angeles employers. The project, in which the Price Center partnered with LeadersUp and the State of California Workforce Accelerator Fund, used an employer survey and co-design sessions with Angeleno employers to determine the best way forward with Fair Chance hiring processes. What can employers take away from this project? Find more about the findings: https://socialinnovation.usc.edu/fairchance/2021-02-0144 min
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastHow Do Renters Cope with Unaffordability?This episode is a bit different but we decided this was too good to pass up. We aren’t discussing a book today, rather we’re going to cover another important report out of the USC Price School of Public Policy. In October we spoke to folks from the Price Center for Social Innovation and the Safe Communities institute about criminal justice. Today ... we're going back to the Price Center to discuss a new report on housing affordability in Los Angeles. The report covers findings from a door-to-door survey done in 2019 to uncover the realities of families livi...2020-12-151h 05
P.S. You’re InterestingMelissa LeeIn this episode of the PS You’re Interesting podcast, Jeff Jenkins speaks with Melissa Lee, Assistant Professor of Politics & International Affairs, Princeton University. They begin discussing a recent project in which Lee and co-author study the change in civic language reflecting the change in thinking about the U.S. as a collection of states to a nation. Moving from there to, they discuss possible new directions in research followed by a conversation about Lee's latest book: Crippling Leviathan: How Foreign Subversion Weakens the State. Email: bedrosian.center@usc.edu Twitter: @BedrosianCenter2020-11-2524 min
P.S. You’re InterestingClayton Nall In this episode of the PS You’re Interesting podcast, Jeff Jenkins speaks with Clayton Nall, Assistant Professor UCSB. Nall looks to explain how spatial policies change American politics. These discuss Nall's research on housing policy preferences and party affiliation and how building highways in the 1950s worked to build Republican suburbs (increasing the urban-suburban divide. Email: bedrosian.center@usc.edu Twitter: @BedrosianCenter 2020-10-2822 min
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastNDSC Criminal Justice Data ReportThis episode is a bit different but we decided this was too good to pass up. We aren't discussing a book today, rather we're going to cover an important report out of the USC Price School of Public Policy. Given recent events, the findings of this report can help us understand why and how the dialogue between communities and law enforcement is so fraught. Perhaps the two stakeholders are thinking about public safety in very different ways. This project can help us understand both the conflict and where to go from here. "The past decade...2020-10-1449 minP.S. You’re InterestingJared RubinIn this episode of the PS You’re Interesting podcast, Jeff Jenkins speaks with Jared Rubin, Professor in the Argyros School of Business and Economics at Chapman University. Rubin is an economic historian interested in the political and religious economies of the Middle East and Western Europe. His research focuses on historical relationships between political and religious institutions and their role in economic development. The topic at hand in this episode is political legitimacy and a hint at the Broadstreet blog. Email: bedrosian.center@usc.edu Twitter: @BedrosianCenter2020-09-3038 min
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastThe Ghost Map The Ghost Map, by Steven Johnson, focuses on an outbreak of cholera in central London in 1854. John Snow, a doctor who theorized that cholera was waterborne, used the opportunity to collect data to prove his theory. Meanwhile the neighborhood vicar, Henry Whitehead, wanted to prove him wrong. Johnson argues that the work of these two men ushered in the modern city. Did cholera change the world? "The history books tend to orient themselves around nationalist story lines: overthrowing the king, electing the presidents, fighting the battles. But the history book of recent Homo sapiens as a species should b...2020-09-281h 12
P.S. You’re InterestingChristian FongIn this episode of the PS You’re Interesting podcast, Jeff Jenkins speaks with Christian Fong, Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan. Fong's research focus is legislative politics. Recent work is on reciprocity in Congress questions the motivation for cooperation. They discuss recent research, Congressional leadership, as well as methodology - particularly machine learning. Email: bedrosian.center@usc.edu Twitter: @BedrosianCenter2020-09-1628 min
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastThe Affordable City (Author Interview)An interview with author of The Affordable City by Shane Phillips. (Follow Phillips on Twitter: @ShaneDPhillips) Shane Phillips believes that effectively tackling the housing crisis requires that cities support both tenant protections and housing abundance. There is no single solution to the housing crisis—it will require a comprehensive approach backed by strong, diverse coalitions. Read along with us! For September, we’re reading The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson. Join the conversation about each episode on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. Or email us at bedrosian.bookclub@usc.edu.2020-09-1559 min
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastThe Address Book (author interview) An interview with author of The Address Book, Deirdre Mask. The Address Book is a broad look at the invention and proliferation of the address. Relatively new, addresses were first a way for royals to count their subjects. Today, addresses can reflect our identity, our history, our race, and our access to opportunity. With the postal service in jeopardy, and the world in disarray, settle in for an interview with a beguiling author. Explore the many ways a simple address can change lives, cities, and the future. Follow Mask on...2020-09-0942 min
P.S. You’re InterestingMichael HankinsonIn this episode of the PS You’re Interesting podcast, Jeff Jenkins talks with Michael Hankinson, Assistant Professor of Political Science at George Washington University. Hankinson's work focuses on how institutional spatial scale affects political behavior to undermine democratic representation. They discuss institutional scale and how institutional design can affect representation drastically. For instance the move to districts versus at large voting at the city level - what happens when neighborhoods have more power in the political process? Email: bedrosian.center@usc.edu Twitter: @BedrosianCenter For more information, see the showpage.2020-09-0220 min
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastThe Address BookThe Address Book is a dive into the deep waters of the meaning of addresses, often with tangents into the weird and interesting lives of people throughout history. Beginning with some of the first addressing projects in Europe, we get the sense that something as simple as a number and street name can mean more than we could possibly imagine. 🎧 Host Aubrey Hicks is joined by Faith McKinney, Olivia Olson, and Anthony Orlando. Thanks again for listening … spread the word!2020-08-281h 20
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastThe City We BecameHey! It's our 100th episode! Thanks so much for listening! Today we're discussing award winning novelist N.K. Jemisin's The City We Became, bringing New York City alive in the first of a new series. It is the story of New York City: the story of its history, its people, the land, the place, and the layers that build to become something greater than the sum of its parts. Join us as we discuss the novel and the current political moment, the hope of the progressive, and the hope of the collective. Host Aubrey Hicks is joined b...2020-07-291h 26
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastCareAn interview with author of Care: Stories, Christopher Records. (Follow Records on Twitter: @cdrecords001) Care: Stories is the fiction debut by USC Price alum, Christopher Records. Records aims to show "ordinary queer people living ordinary lives in an ordinary place." The ordinary place in question is the Inland Empire, which depending on who is defining the area is as vast as Riverside and San Bernardino counties. The vastness of the place adds a sense of "stagnation and loneliness and cruelty," for the characters in the stories. Explore the ways in which place and care...2020-07-1438 min
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastThe Murmur of BeesOur host, Dr. Lisa Schweitzer, chose Sofía Segovia's The Murmur of Bees (translated by Simon Bruni) in August of 2019. It seemed like it would be a good sprawling family saga to read the next summer. Come June 2020, the choice would be prescient. The novel is, indeed, a sprawling family saga ... one set in the midst of the Mexican Revolution and the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic. It is the story of a family and their land as the world changes around them. It is a story of grief, of love, of family. Host Dr. S...2020-06-261h 21
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastNo Turning BackAn 18 year old Mohammad Darwish cries out, "We want freedom!" A revolution begins in the city of Rastan, Syria. April 1st, 2011. For many years, journalist Rania Abouzeid spends time near or inside Syria to interview the Syrian people through the many years of internal (with added external) conflict in the country. No Turning Back is the story of the civil war in Syria told through the eyes of the Syrians Abouzeid interviews, an accounting of their lives from 2011-2016. Listen as host Lisa Schweitzer is joined by Ehsan Zaffar, David Sloane, and Aubrey...2020-05-291h 38
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastRepublican Party Politics and the American South, 1865-1968Another bonus episode! Host Lisa discusses the book Republican Party Politics and the American South, 1865-1968 by Center Director, Jeffery Jenkins and Boris Heersink (Fordham). Heersink and Jenkins examine how National Convention politics allowed the South to remain important to the Republican Party after Reconstruction. They trace how Republican organizations in the South changed from biracial coalitions to mostly all-white ones over time. They explore how the 'whitening' of the Republican Party affected its vote totals in the South. Once states passed Jim Crow laws essentially to disenfranchise black voters, the Republican Party in the S...2020-05-2049 min
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastEnvironmental Justice in a Moment of DangerWe spent #EarthDay2020 talking about environmental justice. We spoke about an intriguing new book by UCDavis Prof. Julie Sze. Through the COVID-19 pandemic, we are seeing the results of persistent injustices, as the virus affecting marginalized communities harder, with more dire consequences. What must we learn from environmental justice struggles in order to form a more perfect union? Listen as host Lisa Schweitzer is joined by Jovanna Rosen, Madi Swayne, Jaime Lopez, and Olivia Olson to discuss Environmental Justice in a Moment of Danger by Julie Sze.2020-04-271h 26
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastBetraying Big BrotherCan a groundswell of feminist activism threaten an authoritarian patriarchal regime? Author, Leta Hong Fincher looks at this question through the study of women in China. In Betraying Big Brother, Fincher examines the current feminist movement in China. Following the "feminist five," the reader is exposed to the history of the changing roles of women in the country, as well as the current activist movement fueled first through connections built online through the movement to the streets of cities in China. Our discussion covers the book, thoughts on racism during the COVID-19 pandemic (at the...2020-03-301h 25
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastDestiny DisruptedTamim Ansary brings 1500 years of history to life in Destiny Disrupted: A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes. Destiny Disrupted gives readers a broad overview of history of the middle world, beginning with the time of Mohammed and the birth of Islam through almost the present day. Host Aubrey Hicks is joined by Olivia Olson, David Sloane, and Ehsan Zaffar on this episode! For links and more, visit our showpage.2020-03-041h 12
P.S. You’re InterestingRyan HübertIn this episode of the PS You’re Interesting podcast, Jeff Jenkins talks with Ryan Hübert, Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of California, Davis. Hübert's recent research has been on bias within the judicial system in the U.S. His research uses game theory, machine learning, and text analysis to study political institutions. They discuss the use of text analysis to study the judiciary and Hübert's new work using a theoretical model of behavior to look at discrimination in policing (though we think it might be a useful tool i...2020-02-2634 min
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastA Lot of People Are SayingDoes your favorite conspiracy come with evidence and theory of governance, or is it just a meme? Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, authors of A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy argue that the new conspiracism, while having the feel of classic conspiracy theories, have none of the search for meaning. The authors articulate the rise of this new kind of conspiracy thinking and the ramifications for democratic institutions and our collective understanding of the world. Host Lisa Schweitzer is joined by Olivia Olson, Jeff Jenkins, and...2020-02-241h 34
P.S. You’re InterestingJ. Andrew SinclairIn this episode of the PS You’re Interesting podcast, Jeff Jenkins talks with J. Andrew Sinclair, Assistant Professor of Government, Claremont McKenna College. In his research, Sinclair is interested in relationships between voters, elected politicians, and bureaucrats. They discuss the politics of the DMV, top-two primary elections (such as those in California), and accountability in public officials. Email: bedrosian.center@usc.edu Twitter: @BedrosianCenter2020-01-2926 min
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastOn Earth We're Briefly GorgeousIn today’s episode we're briefly gorgeous, or possibly briefly monstrous. We're pretty sure both are true. What we are sure of is that Ocean Vuong's magnificent novel On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous is just that; gorgeous and painful, heart fulfilling and heart breaking. Poet Ocean Vuong's debut novel is ostensibly a letter from the narrator, Little Dog, to his mother, Rose. Our narrator is a young man in his 20s. As a Vietnamese American, Little Dog writes of war, abuse, first love, exploration of language and the struggles of coming of age. Li...2020-01-281h 24
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastTrailblazerIn today’s episode we’re thinking about racism, sexism, misogynoir, and the journalism. We're reading Trailblazer, a memoir by journalist giant Dorothy Butler Gilliam. Gilliam shattered the barriers of race and gender as the first black female reporter at The Washington Post. She had to transform the way the Post viewed what was worthy of space on the pages, leaving a trail for more journalists to follow. Listen as Professor Lisa Schweitzer discusses the book with Caroline Bhalla, Brettany Shannon, and Donnajean Ward. Follow us on Twitter: @drschweitzer, @Coodence, @brettanyshannon, @DonnajeanWard, @BedrosianCenter Read a...2020-01-161h 32
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastChildren of the DreamAn interview with author of Children of the Dream: Why School Integration Works, Rucker C. Johnson. (Follow Rucker on Twitter: @ProfRucker) Rucker stopped by USC for a conversation with the Gary Painter, Director of the Sol Price Center for Social Innovation. While on campus, Rucker was also gracious enough to spend some time with our Executive Director, Aubrey Hicks. The conversation covers the goals behind the book and the hopeful idea that we can provide good education for our children given what we've learned in the 65 years since the Brown v. Board of Education decision. 2019-12-0948 min
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastThe Seven Necessary Sins for Women and GirlsIn today’s episode we’re thinking about the patriarchy, and Mona Eltahawy’s tools for women and girls. Tools to take down the premise by which prevents so many women from living full human lives. The Seven Necessary Sins for Women and Girls is a memoir, a manifesto, and a toolkit for women to retrain themselves to take up space in the world. To live fully, and without guilt for that humanness. Listen as Professor Nicole Esparza, Marisa Turesky, and Aubrey Hicks delve into the book. @nicolephd, @AubreyHi, @mturesky, @BedrosianCenter Read along with us...2019-11-251h 31
Bedrosian Bookclub Podcast5 Year RetrospectiveFor today's episode, we're thinking about the many books we've discussed over the years. After 70+ book discussions, we thought it was about time we did a look back at our favorite discussions, the surprises, the let downs, and what we hope for the future. @drschweitzer, @AubreyHi, @BedrosianCenter Read along with us! Next month we're reading The Seven Necessary Sins for Women and Girls by Mona Eltahaay. Join the conversation about each episode on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. Or email us at bedrosian.bookclub@usc.edu.2019-11-061h 00P.S. You’re InterestingSeth Hill In this episode of the PS You’re Interesting podcast, Jeff Jenkins talks with Seth Hill, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science UCSD. Hill studies how citizens motivate politician behavior. They discuss representation, elections, and some extras just for you! Email: bedrosian.center@usc.edu Twitter: @BedrosianCenter 2019-10-3029 min
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastThe Devil in SilverHost Lisa Schweitzer is joined by Aubrey L. Hicks, Susan Lindau, and Joan Miller to discuss Victor LaValle's The Devil in Silver. Pepper is a big man. He's accused of a crime that he doesn't see himself in. He's dropped suddenly, into a budget-strapped mental institution in Queens, New York called New Hyde. He's not mentally ill, but that doesn't seem to matter - the police don't want to work unpaid overtime to process him and the hospital machine doesn't want to refuse. 72 hours turns into a month and then more. In the darkness of h...2019-10-281h 16
P.S. You’re InterestingLeah StokesIn this episode of the PS You’re Interesting podcast, Jeff Jenkins talks with Leah Stokes. Stokes, a public scholar, is also an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science and affiliated with the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management and the Environmental Studies Department at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). They discuss the building of community on social media, being a public scholar, how politics is the barrier real work on climate change, her upcoming book, and many other things. What a time to study political science and the climate?! ...2019-10-1631 min
P.S. You’re InterestingDanielle ThomsenIn this episode of the PS You’re Interesting podcast, Jeff Jenkins talks with Danielle Thomsen, Assistant Professor of Political Science at UC Irvine. Her research in American Politics primarily falls into looking at Congress, parties, and gender & politics. They discuss why pipelines to primaries (and then to elected office) matter so much in terms of representation in this highly partisan era. Email: bedrosian.center@usc.edu Twitter: @BedrosianCenter2019-10-0325 min
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastBy-Right, By-DesignAnother bonus episode! Host Lisa discusses Professor Liz Falletta's book, By-Right, By-Design: Housing Development Versus Housing Design in Los Angeles. Falletta looks to help practitioners move beyond housing production as a zero sum game towards the more polyvalent solutions that will be required as LA densifies. Read along with us! We're reading Victor LaValle's The Devil in Silver for Spooktober. Let us know what you think of the book & our podcasts on Facebook or Twitter. Join the conversation about each episode on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. Or email us at bedrosian.bookclub@u...2019-09-3049 min
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastThe UndercommonsThe Undercommons is a series of essays exploring contemporary political thought from an inside/outside the commons perspective. Our guest today contends that under all the theory, the book is about friendship and the many ways in which friendship and conversation can be study. That study is love. Exploring issues of race, politics, the university, study, poetry, and ultimately ... friendship. Listen as two friends explore the book and what it means to be against and for the university. Featuring Aubrey Hicks and Chris Finley. Join the conversation about each episode on Twitter, Facebook, or ...2019-09-301h 27P.S. You’re InterestingAbby K. WoodIn this episode of the PS You’re Interesting podcast, Jeff Jenkins talks with a Bedrosian Faculty Affiliate, Abby K. Wood. Wood is Associate Professor of Law, Political Science and Public Policy. When she first started her career she noticed that program evaluation wasn't as robust as it could be, so she wanted to learn causal inference in order to find that balance. Her interest is in corruption and therefore transparency. Her current work is on campaign finance, transparency, and dark money. Email: bedrosian.center@usc.edu Twitter: @BedrosianCenter2019-09-0421 min
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastThe Line Becomes a RiverToday's book: The Line Becomes a River by Francisco Cantú. The southern border between Mexico and the U.S. can be a violent place. Yet isn't as easily defined as it seems.There are places where the border is permeable, invisible. The border is a construct, and the racialized rhetoric of The Border combined with two decades of militarization have wreaked havoc on the people and the land. Cantú becomes a border patrol agent to understand the realities on the ground ... but the complicity he feels drives him away. Can he escape the border, or do...2019-08-261h 31
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastCareer of EvilWhat is a summer book club without a good detective novel? Our conversation today dives into Robert Galbraith's third installment of the Cormoran Strike novels, Career of Evil. Today's host is convinced that Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling) might have the best descriptions of the complexity of London since Dickens! Host Richard Green is joined by Lisa Schweitzer and Aubrey Hicks. Join the conversation about each episode on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. Or email us at bedrosian.bookclub@usc.edu.2019-07-291h 12
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastThe Model ThinkerIf models of the world are all wrong, why are they critical to understanding our complex world? Today, host Pamela Clouser McCann discusses the book The Model Thinker with guests Jeffery A. Jenkins and James Lo. For links to some of the things we discuss, check out the showpage! Join the conversation about each episode on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. Or email us at bedrosian.bookclub@usc.edu.2019-07-171h 17
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastCommander in CheatCan the way a person plays golf really explain their whole personality? Famed golf writer Rick Reilly aims to make the case in Commander in Cheat. Detailing with excruciating detail and humor the myriad of ways President Trump cheats in the golf world. Does Reilly make the case for using golf as a metaphor for President Trump's governance? Listen as we hash that out. Host Lisa Schweitzer is joined by Anthony W. Orlando, David Sloane, and Richard Green. Join the conversation about each episode on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. Or email us at bedro...2019-06-271h 28
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastWho Fears DeathIn today's episode, we discuss Nnedi Okorafor's Afrofuturist novel Who Fears Death. A young woman, named Onyesonwu meaning Who Fears Death learns she is a child of rape, deals with being an outcast, and after a trauma finds out she has special powers. She learns she is at the center of a prophecy that could change the world. We discuss some themes of the book: gender, friendship, love, hatred, violence, nature, the desert, cities, and life during and after genocide. Joining host Aubrey Hicks for this discussion are Marisa Turesky and David Sloane. Join...2019-05-241h 38
P.S. You’re InterestingPamela BanIn this episode of the PS You’re Interesting podcast, Jeff Jenkins talks with Pamela Ban, Assistant Professor of Political Science at UC San Diego. Ban discusses her recent research. First, she looks at how policy outcomes might change as Congress has a bit more gender representations. Then they discuss the revolving door and lobbying - how the cool off period has affected the lobbying industry. Finally, she thinks about how to use empirical data from newspapers to think about political power. Email: bedrosian.center@usc.edu Twitter: @BedrosianCenter2019-05-0821 min
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastWhite FragilityHost Aubrey Hicks is joined by professors Chris Redfearn and Liz Falletta in a discussion of the New York Times bestselling book White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo. On today's podcast, we talk about how white fragility works to sustain and reproduce the racist institutions & socialization which we all inherited. Scheduling in the Spring semester is always hard. We decided to go ahead with a three white person panel for this particular book. We hope to model the kinds of conversations we hope are happening across the country in predominately white communities. To echo DiAngelo, this i...2019-04-261h 25P.S. You’re InterestingElisabeth R. GerberIn this episode of the PS You’re Interesting podcast, Jeff Jenkins's guest is Elisabeth R. Gerber, Associate Dean for Research and Policy Engagement; Jack L. Walker, Jr. Collegiate Professor of Public Policy (UMich). They discuss the move from Political Science departments to public policy departments - how the focus has moved from theory development to theory application, and how engagement with community stakeholders outside of the university can help solve real world problems. Plus they look at some of the other questions Gerber asks in her research ... including her interest in the future of work. Emai...2019-04-1033 min
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastBody HorrorBody Horror: Capitalism, Fear, Misogyny, Jokes by Anne Elizabeth Moore This month, Lisa is joined by Marisa Turesky, Chris Redfearn, and Aubrey Hicks to discuss Body Horror, a book of essays on the interaction between the abnormal, frail, resilient, squishy bodies of women and the world, from journalist Anne Elizabeth Moore. Warnings: spoilers, cursing, & triggers. Read along with us! Let us know what you think of the book & our podcasts on Facebook or Twitter. Our March read: An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon Email: bedrosian.center@usc.ed...2019-02-211h 23P.S. You’re InterestingPhilip PotterWhen do leaders pay penalties for backing down on promises? In this episode of the PS You’re Interesting podcast, Jeff Jenkins's guest is Philip Potter, Associate Professor of Politics (UVA), and the Founding Director of the National Security Policy Center. Potter's work looks at how public opinion effects foreign policy, when do policymakers have leeway, and when does public opinion constrain policy? Email: bedrosian.center@usc.edu Twitter: @BedrosianCenter 2019-02-1323 minP.S. You’re InterestingBoris HeersinkNational Party Committees and Political Power In this episode of the PS You’re Interesting podcast, Jeff Jenkins and political Boris Heersink, Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Fordham University, look at the national party committees. What kind of power do the national committees have? What is the role of the committees, outside of the conventions? What role does the President play? Email: bedrosian.center@usc.edu Twitter: @BedrosianCenter @jaj7d @Boris_Heersink2019-01-3024 min
P.S. You’re InterestingMartin GilensDemocracy & Inequality of Political Influence In this episode of the PS You’re Interesting podcast, Jeff Jenkins talks economic and political inequality in democracies with Martin Gilens, Professor of Public Policy at UCLA Luskin. The degree of political influence is dramatically unequal for people within the United States, public policy can help increase democratic representation and Gilens walks us through a some history as he expresses policy options to get us to more democracy, rather than less. Email: bedrosian.center@usc.edu Twitter: @BedrosianCenter2018-12-1924 min
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastFear: Trump in the White HouseThis month, Lisa is joined by Anthony Orlando, Jeff Jenkins, and Christian Grose to discuss Bob Woodward's latest reportage on the Presidency: Fear. How does this stack up to other Woodward titles and how does the principal-agent theory work it's way into conversation with these political junkies? For links to some of the things we discus, check out the showpage: bedrosian.usc.edu/bookclub/fear What we’re reading: Anthony : Heirs of the Founders by H.W. Brands Jeff : The Odessa File by Frederick Forsyth Christian : The Republic for Which It Stands...2018-12-191h 21
P.S. You’re InterestingGregory DeAngeloPS You’re Busted: How bridging silos in research & practice can impact human trafficking irl In this episode of the PS You’re Interesting podcast, Jeff Jenkins talks about human trafficking with Greg DeAngelo, Associate Professor of Economic Studies at Claremont Graduate University. How does an economist get data on human trafficking, and other black market enterprises? What are the pressing questions law enforcement have that academics could help? What are the larger impacts of black market economies? How can we use technology and interdisciplinary work to capture meaningful data? Email: bedrosian.center@usc.edu...2018-12-0527 min
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastAmerican Sonnets for my Past and Future AssassinThis month, Lisa, Richard, and Aubrey discuss the new book of sonnets from Terrance Hayes, American Sonnets for my Past and Future Assassin. Hayes' sonnets are "acrid with tear gas, and they unravel with desire." For the poetry doubters everywhere. Read along for next month : Fear: Trump in the White House by Bob Woodward You can email us at bedrosian.center@usc.edu. Follow us on Twitter. Please like the Bedrosian Bookclub on Facebook. Check out the showpage for what we're reading and more. This podcast was produced by Aub...2018-11-261h 07
P.S. You’re InterestingD. Roderick (Rod) KiewietAmerica, Heck Yeah! Public Schools & Baseball In this episode of the PS You’re Interesting podcast, Jeff Jenkins and D. Roderick (Rod) Kiewiet, Professor of Political Science at Caltech, break down the long standing myth of the equalizing force of public education. We hold the idea that public schools present Americans with equal opportunity. Kiewiet gets to the reality through public school funding in California compared to the nation. In a related pivot, they turn to the great American pastime and look at Moneyball, data, and baseball. Email: bedrosian.center@usc.edu Twitter...2018-11-2122 min
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastThe Death of TruthThis month, Aubrey, Ange-Marie, Jeff, and David discuss the new book from renowned literary critic Michiko Kakutani, The Death of Truth : Notes on Falsehood in the Age of Trump. Or, perhaps ... death by a thousand "realities." Read along for next month : Fear: Trump in the White House by Bob Woodward Find what we're reading and more on the showpage. You can email us at bedrosian.center@usc.edu. This podcast was produced by Aubrey Hicks and Jonathan Schwartz. Sound production by the Brothers Hedden. Follow us on Twitter. Please li...2018-11-211h 22
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastBless Me, UltimaOur new tradition, on the Bedrosian Bookclub, is to read a witchy book for the month of October. This year ... We're taking a look at the coming of age novel, Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya. This is the story of Antonio Marez, a six year old boy caught between his Father's love of travel, his mother's desire he become a priest, the town (modernity), and the farmland of the llano (tradition). Then a magical elder, a curandera (a healer who uses herbs and magic) comes to live with the family. She mentors the young boy as h...2018-10-261h 13
P.S. You’re InterestingBenjamin A. T. GrahamSocial Network Roles in Foreign Capital and Research In this episode of the PS You’re Interesting podcast, Jeff Jenkins and Benjamin A. T. Graham, assistant professor in the School of International Relations at USC, discuss the role that migrants can play in bringing foreign capital into countries. He uses case studies from the Philippines and Georgia to get at what kinds of social networks evolve in developing countries. Migrant affiliated firms have capabilities that other foreign forms can't match, as the social ties between the firm and local people are extremely important in getting things...2018-10-2532 min
P.S. You’re InterestingLaGina GausePolitical Influence of Public Protest In this episode of the PS You’re Interesting podcast, Jeff Jenkins and LaGina Gause, Assistant Professor of Political Science at UC San Diego, discuss the pro-democracy (small d) results of her study on legislative responsiveness to collective action by marginalized groups. Her findings seem counterintuitive, in that the relationship between the costs faced by protesters and legislative action. "Evaluating contemporary collective action data, I find that following protest, legislators are more likely to support the interests of racial and ethnic minorities, the poor, and other groups that face greater costs to participation than they...2018-10-1025 min
P.S. You’re InterestingBenjamin NewmanCreativity, Energy, and Experimentation In this episode of the P.S. You're Interesting podcast, Jeff Jenkins and Benjamin Newman, Associate Professor of Public Policy and Political Science at the UC Riverside, discuss creativity and experimentation in political science. As a young scholar, Ben was interested in figuring out why people have the opinions they have, why they vote the way they do. To answer these questions, and integrate the questions he has about the people and circumstances surrounding him, Ben is developing a set of research questions and experiments to explore his world. What worries do...2018-09-2638 min
P.S. You’re InterestingUpdate from Our ProducersA quick update from our Producers: We will use this feed, for the Our American Discourse podcast, to bring you a new series of conversations. We will change the title to PS You’re Interesting. PS will be a series of conversations on new and novel research in political science. We’re conceiving this as a way to keep Anthony’s amazing work alive, and continue on in his tradition. The Our American Discourse podcast will still live on his website and ours. So the archive of episodes will remain on all the different platforms to give other h...2018-09-1401 min
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastBonus - Interview with E. Glen WeylSpecial bonus track! An interview with one of the co-authors of Radical Markets: Uprooting Capitalism and Democracy for a Just Society, E. Glen Weyl. (Follow Glen on Twitter: @glenweyl) As part of a nationwide book tour for this new book, full of radical ideas, Glen stopped by USC for a book talk to some of our Econ, PoliSci, and Public Policy students, faculty, and staff. While here in sunny SoCal, Glen was also gracious enough to spend some time with our Executive Director, Aubrey Hicks. The conversation covers some of the radical ideas in the boo...2018-05-0931 min
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastKindredDana, a black woman living in 1976 Los Angeles and protagonist of Octavia Butler's Kindred, must confront the violent acts that begin her direct familial line. She is drawn back in time again and again to save one Rufus Weylin from death. Rufus turns out to be the white slave owner who will eventually (if he lives) become Dan's own great, great, great, grandfather. Dana must choose to save this terrible man in order to both protect the many generations of her own family, her self. How does the legacy of slavery live on in the present? Join...2018-04-301h 03
LA Hashtags Herself“The question of access is about audience and participation, and being able to deliver.”Rochelle Steiner is a curator, writer, public art producer, and Professor of Critical Studies at USC’s Roski School of Art and Design. She has curated over 60 major exhibitions and large-scale public art projects in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Listen to Rochelle share the discoveries she has made through her career of bringing art into public spaces and the implications of art and design in the urban realm “in all of its radical complexity.” Among many things, we learn about her work as the Director of the Public Art Fund in New York City (where she produced Olafur...2018-04-261h 04
P.S. You’re InterestingSpeaking Your TruthHow It’s Possible to Talk About and Improve Diversity and Inclusion Diversity and inclusion sound like universally accepted ideas, but when we try to talk about how we fall short of them and how we can improve, they become two of the most controversial political sparks in the fire that rages around our American discourse. Many people believe they can’t speak the truth in their hearts, and so they see no path forward. At the USC Price School, we have been challenging this assumption and lifting up these voices to unfurl a path that had been...2018-04-0338 min
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastEnder's GameIn Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card is a dystopian novel looking at how adults groom manipulate, and use Ender Wiggin to wage war on an alien race. From the time he was a toddler, Ender is monitored by an organization to determine if he is eligible for Battle School. Six year old Ender is shipped off to military training with other precocious children. Soon Ender's life is one constant war game, against other squads, all the other children, the teachers ... and ultimately the aliens. Do the ends justify the means? What if it isn't all a...2018-03-231h 17
P.S. You’re InterestingWho Do Politicians Really Represent & Do We Notice?With Donald Trump’s approval ratings at record lows, it’s worth asking how much this one number matters…and whether the people who approve really are better represented by him than the people who don’t. If our politicians really do represent some Americans better than others, it calls into question the very foundational ideals of our representative democracy. In this episode, Brian Newman uncovers who’s represented, who’s not, and how it affects their view of government. Prof. Newman is the Frank R. Seaver Professor of Political Science at Pepperdine University and co-author of...2018-03-2033 min
P.S. You’re InterestingWhy the Federal Reserve Is More Politically Constrained Than You ThinkWe’ve been having a mistaken debate, or so it would seem based on the new book The Myth of Independence. The Federal Reserve, the nation’s central bank and most influential economic regulator, isn’t as independent as critics like Rand Paul and Bernie Sanders suggest. Congress created it, and Congress continues to shape it to the people’s will. This new perspective might just change your expectations about Fed policy and your appreciation for their delicate strategic work. In this episode, Sarah Binder discusses the historical research that led to this new thesis and helps us appre...2018-03-0634 min
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastKillers of the Flower MoonIn Killers of the Flower Moon, David Grann brings readers back to Osage County Oklahoma in the 1920s. After discovering oil, members of the Osage U.S. state/federal governments, the money was often held in guardianship for tribe members. Soon, the Osage were found murdered, or killed under mysterious circumstances. What followed is a tale of greed and corruption at multiple levels. Who were the heroes of this story? How did Hoover use these murders to create a narrative to bolster the FBI, during a period in which the nation was wary of a Federal institutions...2018-02-271h 15
P.S. You’re InterestingThe Risky, Rocky Ride of Today’s Economy . . . and the Central Bankers Who Keep WatchJust when you thought the economy was the only good news you could count on, the stock market took a dive on the heels of Janet Yellen’s exit from the Federal Reserve. Suddenly, Americans everywhere wondered whether the volatility and uncertainty in Washington had finally caught up with the long, steady recovery stretching from those dark days in 2009. Should we be worried? Who’s looking out for the economy? And do they have a plan for the risks that await us in 2018 and beyond? In this episode, USC Price School Dean Jack H. Knott interviews Atlanta Fed...2018-02-211h 02
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastUrsula K. Le Guin and the Walk Away from OmelasThe world lost one of the greats on Monday, January 22nd. Ursula K. Le Guin passed away at the age of 88 and left a hole in many hearts around the world. "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas." We use this short, short story as a jumping off point to discuss our mutual love of Ursula K. Le Guin, science fiction/fantasy, and how reading shaped our lives. Omelas is the city of happiness, what does it mean to travel to the city of happiness? Why doesn't everyone live there? Why would you walk away? What is t...2018-02-0646 min
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastCoriolanusIn Coriolanus, Shakespeare brings us to a Rome in a time of transitional government, leadership, citizenship. Patrician Menenius tries to calm a mutiny among the Roman plebeians over the way they feel they have been treated by the nobles. His friend, the great war hero, Caius Martius Coriolanus agrees to run for counsel. However, Coriolanus treats the plebeians with contempt, giving tribunes Sicinius and Brutus the ability to destroy Coriolanus' governing hopes, to destroy his reputation in Rome. Join us for a conversation on leadership, citizenship, military prowess, and running for elected office. Can Shakespeare still teach...2018-01-301h 11
P.S. You’re InterestingIn Defense of Our Political Party System (Sort Of)A government shutdown doesn’t inspire confidence. Politicians, their parties, and the leaders of those parties all get a hefty amount of blame from the American people. But you know that Winston Churchill quote about democracy being the best system except for all the others? It turns out there’s some truth to that. With today’s guest, we ask where all this gridlock comes from, what we can really do about it, and whether politics really deserves all the blame it gets. In this episode, Thad Kousser reveals some surprising facts about the political game and some u...2018-01-2437 min
P.S. You’re InterestingLet Every Voice Be Heard: How to Elevate the Public Debate in 2018Our American Discourse is a small piece of a big effort. We’re not the only ones trying to raise the level of public debate in this country. Take a walk through the Price School, and you’ll see room after room of scholars who genuinely care about the public interest. Stop at the Bedrosian Center, and you’ll find the people who have taken it upon themselves to engage directly with the public. That’s where I spend most of my days on campus, and it’s where I want to take you today to meet the leader who makes...2017-12-2657 min
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastDemocracy in ChainsDemocracy in Chains begins as the story of James Buchanan, the Nobel Prize winning economist who popularized public choice economist. MacLean argues that Buchanan joined up with wealthy special interest individuals to influence politics. In partnership with the Koch brothers, MacLean argues that Buchanan and other public choice economists, worked directly to benefit a small group of propertied individuals over the will of the majority. The work was short listed for the National Book Award while also being widely and sharply criticized by conservative think tanks and public choice economists. Featuring host Jeffery Jenkins (@jaj7...2017-12-1959 min
LA Hashtags HerselfGo Fug Yourself’s Heather Cocks and Jessica MorganHeather Cocks and Jessica Morgan are self-proclaimed “authors, bloggers, and fashion assassins.” Creators of so many people’s favorite celebrity fashion blog, Go Fug Yourself, and authors of bestsellers like the fortune-telling The Royal We (about an American who falls in love with and marries a British prince), Heather and Jessica share with us their collaborative process, their intentions to make the blog communal and someplace people want to come. “You always want the site, as your baby, to be something you’re proud to share with people.” For links to some of the things we talk about: http...2017-12-011h 06
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastAll the President’s Men (40th Anniversary Edition)Bernstein and Woodward published All the President's Men a mere three months before Nixon's resignation. We're revisiting (or visiting for the first time) this classic work of political journalism in the wake of the many callbacks since the 2016 Presidential election. Are dirty tricks just part of politics? What role does the press play? Are there parallels to the Trump administration? Featuring host Jeffery Jenkins (@jaj7d ), and guests Aubrey Hicks (@AubreyHi), Lisa Schweitzer (@drschweitzer), and Donnajean Ward (@DonnajeanWard). @BedrosianCenter For more info: https://bedrosian.usc.edu/bookclub/all-the-president’s-men2017-11-281h 33
LA Hashtags HerselfLOST LA with public historian Nathan MastersPublic historian Nathan Masters is host, producer, and managing editor of LOST LA, a co-production of KCETLink and USC Libraries LA as Subject research alliance. The show, which just started its second season, “recenter[s] the telling of Los Angeles history” away from the Anglo-American perspective. “The point that we make is that LA has always been diverse.” For links to some of the things we talk about: http://bedrosian.usc.edu/lahashtags/2017-10-191h 04
P.S. You’re InterestingThe Very First OAD MixtapeCheck out this compilation of some of the best moments in Our American Discourse history. And even if you’ve heard them all, it helps to be reminded just how much we’ve learned and how entertained we’ve been by the guests we’ve been fortunate to interview. With the holiday season just around the corner, think of this mixtape as our gift to you. https://bedrosian.usc.edu/discourse/mixtape 2017-10-1835 min
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastBONUS – Lolly Willowes: Or the Loving HuntsmanLolly Willowes: Or the Loving Huntsman is the deceptively simple novel by Sylvia Townsend Warner, about a woman who after 40 years spent in devotion to taking care of her father, and her brother's family, decides to move to the countryside and become a witch! Does she find freedom, or does she exchange one form of subjugation for another? If you haven’t read the novel yet, beware - we assume you’ve read it, so here's your spoiler alert! Featuring Aubrey Hicks (@AubreyHi), Lisa Schweitzer (@drschweitzer), and David Sloane (@dcsloane53 ) @BedrosianCenter To listen...2017-10-131h 21
LA Hashtags HerselfAll your health and fitness data, and one woman who mines itDonna Spruijt-Metz, MFA, PhD, is the director of the USC mHealth Collaboratory at the USC Dornsife Center for Economic and Social Research. Donna researches ways of using smartphones and other Internet of Things platforms to take individuals' temporally dense, context-specific data, such as mood and eating behaviors, from individuals and devise just-in-time interventions to address obesity. “This is NOT to replace medicine or public health, and I’m not so sure if they’re making it easier. We’re here to make it better.” For more information and to find links to some of the things we talk about chec...2017-10-121h 25
P.S. You’re InterestingSports, Racism, and the First AmendmentTo some, it represents the highest ideals of our society. To others, it is a symbol of unfulfilled potential at best, outright oppression at worst. Are we referring to the American flag? Or to American sports? This debate is about more than one athlete or one gesture. It is about an institution, a system of competition, dominance, and deeply ingrained beliefs. In this episode, we examine this balance of power—and the protestors who are trying to change it. In front of a live audience at USC, Prof. Jody David Armour interviews ESPN writer Jason Reid about Co...2017-09-191h 02
LA Hashtags Herself“I would have given you a very different answer before November 2016": Marissa GluckMarissa Gluck is a digital research strategist who’s worked in tech since the mid-90s, an urbanism and architecture writer, and a principal of the design-cum-civic engagement non-profit Design East of La Brea, or de LaB. Through her unique bundle of expertise, Marissa gives us insights into how her three fields engage with issues of culture, identity, and civic participation. This long, fun conversation is about how Marissa is, above all, an conversationalist. Learn how she uses empathy and storytelling to make things accessible to her audience, whoever they are at the time. Thanks again for li...2017-09-141h 19
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastThe Death of ExpertiseTom Nichols' The Death of Expertise is a broad look at the antipathy toward "experts" and "expertise" among the citizenry of contemporary United States. Nichols contends that this antipathy is dangerous for our democracy, that this distrust not only makes for unhealthy conversation but damages both political and public relationships with the very experts' guidance. We discuss the argument, the nature of expertise, the role of the academic in civic education, and the state of civics in general. Find out if we liked this book and who we think should read it. If you haven't read it...2017-08-291h 28
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastWhite TearsFor our discussion of Hari Kunzru's White Tears, we return to the question can America overcome its sin of racism? Or will our collective inability to deal with the consequences of our actions win the day? White Tears is a genre bending look at white male hipster culture, a ghost story of untold American stories, a revenge tale, a dive into the depths of collectors of the Blues, a beautifully written story about friendship, greed, race, music, New York City, the South ... if you have not read this novel, beware - this podcast it mostly spoilers! 2017-08-281h 24
P.S. You’re InterestingTransit-Oriented DevelopmentTime and time again, we hear that we’re living in an “urban renaissance.” People are moving back into the cities, and cities are once again building the things that people want. But where should they go? In an age of congested freeways and greenhouse gas emissions, gentrification and concentrated poverty, suburban sprawl and all sorts of inequality, where is the best place to build, to live, to walk, and to shop? One answer has been touted to address all those problems: near public transit. In this episode, we define, describe, and debate “transit-oriented development” with Seva Rodnyansky...2017-07-2645 min
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastAmerican SwastikaIn American Swastika: Inside the White Power Movement's Hidden Spaces of Hate (2nd edition), Pete Simi and Robert Futrell look at the white power movement. Over 15 years of interviews allow the authors to use real stories to focus on white power families and the different ways the white power movement indoctrinates the next generation of white power warriors. We discuss the different types of groups, the different gateways people take into the movement, the ties that bind them, the family life, the "safe spaces" that bring them together and form deep bonds between members. We al...2017-06-261h 22
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastSlow Philosophy and The Slow ProfessorLooking at academia as microcosm of society at large, we find many Americans can get something from this conversation on the difference between love of wisdom and the need to know (control). What might happen if we gave ourselves time (and permission) to understand and learn, rather than, or in addition to, acquire more and more skills? Is slowness the nature of wisdom? Inspired by the article, “In Praise of Slowness,” in Los Angeles Review of Books, we discuss two books on the idea of slowness in scholarship : The Slow Professor by Maggie Berg and Barbar...2017-06-221h 25
P.S. You’re InterestingThe Art of Leadership in Precarious TimesThe great leadership gurus usually tell a story of virtue rising to the top. They advise us to think positive, treat everyone with respect, and follow our moral compass. But we don’t have to look far to see leaders who turn this wisdom on its head. Negativity, disrespect, and divisiveness seem to be the order of the day. Were the experts wrong? Is good leadership dead? Surely there must be a more realistic way to understand the whims of the masses—and make straight their path once more. In this episode, we get a more realistic take...2017-04-1146 min
P.S. You’re InterestingThe Affordable Housing CrisisThroughout the country, Americans are moving into the cities, and construction isn’t keeping up. Rents are rising faster than incomes. Housing costs are eating away an increasing share of the average family’s budget. Without sufficient renewal, the existing housing stock is aging, and the quality is declining. Affordability has reached crisis levels. In this episode, we confront the crisis with Raphael W. Bostic. Professor Bostic holds the Judith and John Bedrosian Chair in Governance and the Public Enterprise in the Sol Price School of Public Policy at USC, where he is also the Chair...2017-02-0846 min
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastBONUS – Interview with Viet Thanh NguyenSpecial bonus track! An interview with The Sympathizer author Viet Thanh Nguyen. On April 18, 2016, The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen won the Pulitzer Prize in the fiction category. Less than a month later, USC Professor Nguyen’s nonfiction book Nothing Ever Dies was published. These were written together over the last 13 years or so, are part of Nguyen’s exploration of the underlying issues of war and the aftermath of war on those countless affected. The novel while dark, gives voice to the things we hide from ourselves as societies when we try to build a his...2016-09-2931 min
Bedrosian Bookclub PodcastDream CitiesWade Graham's latest book Dream Cities: Seven Urban Ideas That Shape the World is ostensibly about the architects and the seven big ideas that have shaped contemporary cities across the world. Our discussion centers on whether Graham has fulfilled that mission or whether he's trapped in the confines of an under 350 page book for this massive introduction to urban planning and city history. The answer may lie in the reader rather than the book, listen to the conversation for a lively jaunt through recent architectural history. Find links to some of the things we discuss on our showpage: http...2016-08-2800 min