Ideas Matter | WashU
Hosted by WashU’s Sandro Galea, the Ideas Matter podcast features thoughtful conversations about forces shaping our lives and institutions. It provides expert perspectives on topics like immigration, global trade, public health, AI, creativity, and democracy. The show aims to deepen understanding and inform better public debate.
Episodes
E16: The Future of Free Speech
Is freedom of speech declining across the world? And if so, what does it take to reverse the trend? In this episode of Ideas Matter, WashU’s Sandro Galea, dean of the Bursky School of Public Health, and human rights advocate Jacob Mchangama, a research professor at Vanderbilt University, explore the essential role freedom of speech plays in a democracy.
E15: Medicine, Science, and Ancient Wisdom
Should medicine be more broadly defined? Can an emphasis on our shared humanity lead to better treatments? And what about joy? In this episode of Ideas Matter, WashU’s Sandro Galea, dean of the Bursky School of Public Health, and the University of Chicago’s Geeta Maker-Clark, a physician and expert on integrative nutrition, explore how a more holistic approach to medicine can benefit us a
E14: Rural America Beyond the Caricature
When Americans talk about rural America, what do they often get wrong? How do our perceptions of rural America differ from the reality of these communities? And should commonalities, rather than differences, be driving the conversation? In this episode of Ideas Matter, WashU’s Sandro Galea, dean of the Bursky School of Public Health, and USC’s Elizabeth Currid-Halkett, an expert on geogra
E13: The Future of Foreign Assistance and Global Health
After the dismantling of USAID, and with millions of lives at stake, what does the future of global healthlook like now? And what compelled a USAID civil servant of over a decade to risk his job by exposing thecurrent administration’s choices to restrict foreign aid?In this episode of Ideas Matter, WashU’s Sandro Galea, dean of the Bursky School of Public Health, andformer USAID civil ser
E12: Why Global Health Research Matters for U.S. Health
Why does global health matter for Americans? What kind of return can investing in global health yield? And will a more globalized approach help us meet the challenges of this moment? In this episode of Ideas Matter, WashU’s Sandro Galea, dean of the Bursky School of Public Health, and the University of Michigan’s Josh Ehrlich explore how being more open to innovations from beyond our bord
E11: Inequality and Opportunity in America
What drives inequality in America, and how can we level the playing field? In this episode of Ideas Matter, WashU’s Sandro Galea, dean of the Bursky School of Public Health, and Stanford University’s Lukas Althoff discuss socioeconomic inequality in the United States, and what efforts have the best return on increasing opportunity for all. Spoiler alert: enhancing the quality and accessib
E10: Caste: A Global Story
How can India’s caste system inform our efforts to address racism and injustice globally? In this episode of Ideas Matter WashU’s Sandro Galea, dean of the Bursky School of Public Health, and the University of Pennsylvania’s Suraj Yengde explore the historical foundations of caste and the ways in which it mirrors the social dynamics of our world today.
E9: The Future of Journalism
Journalism’s role in our daily lives has shifted dramatically in recent decades, so how can it best engage the public in this moment? For this episode of Ideas Matter, WashU’s Sandro Galea, dean of the Bursky School of Public Health and vice provost for interdisciplinary studies, and Lisa Gibbs, president and CEO of the Pulitzer Center, discuss what it takes for a news outlet to maintai
E8: The Future of Higher Education
As AI ushers in a fourth industrial revolution and universities face the onset of the demographic cliff, what does the future of higher education look like? In this episode of Ideas Matter, WashU’s Sandro Galea, dean of the Bursky School of Public Health, and Stanford University’s Mitchell Stevens discuss how higher education reached this crossroads and what kinds of institutional changes
E7: The Future of Science and the Replication Crisis
In a post-pandemic era and with AI on the rise, restoring the public’s trust in science is critical—but what will it take to do so? In this episode of Ideas Matter, Sandro Galea, dean of WashU’s Bursky School of Public Health, joins Stanford Medicine’s John Ioannidis to discuss his famous paper, “Why Most Published Research Findings Are False,” and to explore how science can do better.
E6: Political Polarization and the Future of Democracy
As a country, are we too far gone to heal our political divides, or is it still possible to change course? Professor Lilliana Mason of Johns Hopkins University joins WashU’s Sandro Galea to discuss why politics have become so personal and what polarization means for the future.
E5: Cross-Border Commerce
How is e-commerce shaping our global economy? And what role will it play in the future of U.S.-China relations? Professor Lizhi (Liz) Liu, of Georgetown University, joins WashU’s Sandro Galea to discuss the booming political economy surrounding e-commerce in China.
E4: Power, Knowledge, and COVID-19
Did the scientific community’s response to the pandemic fall short of the reasoned pursuit of truth? Alex Broadbent of Durham University and Pieter Streicher of the University of Johannesburg—authors of a new book on science during the COVID moment—join WashU’s Sandro Galea to discuss what is still to be learned from the pandemic.
E3: AI and Creativity
What does AI mean for the future of human creativity? Janet Rafner of the University of Southern Denmark in Odense, an expert in hybrid intelligence and human–AI co-creativity, joins Sandro Galea to discuss AI’s role in the creative space.
E2: Trade, Tariffs, and Globalization
What role do tariffs play in today’s global economy and how could tariffs shape the future of international trade? The University of Chicago’s Robert Gulotty, an expert in international relations and political economy, joins WashU’s Sandro Galea to discuss how systems of trade could contribute to global cooperation in the 21st century.
E1: Immigration in a Changing World
In the hotly contested debate surrounding U.S. immigration policy, what does it take to find common ground? Alexander Kustov, an expert in public opinion and democratic governance and a professor of global affairs at the University of Notre Dame, joins host Sandro Galea to discuss the factors driving this debate.
Trailer: Introducing Ideas Matter: A WashU Podcast
In a time when public debate often generates more heat than light, Ideas Matter is designed to inform a better conversation about what matters most. This biweekly podcast, hosted by Sandro Galea, explores topics ranging from immigration, global trade, and public health to AI, creativity, and the future of democracy. We hope you will join the conversation.
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