Timothy Snyder’s '20 Lessons from the 20th Century' draws upon the history of the twentieth century to provide guidance on resisting tyranny today. The book emphasizes the importance of defending democratic institutions and upholding truth in the face of authoritarian threats. Snyder highlights the necessity of independent thought, critical analysis, and active participation in civic life. Each lesson serves as a reminder of the fragility of freedom and the vigilance required to protect it. By examining historical examples of how democracies have collapsed, the book equips readers with the knowledge and tools to recognize and resist tyranny in its various forms.
In 'Loving What Is,' Byron Katie and Stephen Mitchell present 'The Work,' a simple yet powerful process of self-inquiry. The book teaches readers how to apply four key questions to any problem, enabling them to see their troubles in a new light. Katie's method emphasizes that suffering is not caused by the situation itself but by our thoughts about it. Through clear examples and dialogues, the book shows how to apply 'The Work' in various areas of life, such as relationships, work, and personal anxieties, leading to lasting peace, clarity, and energy. The process helps readers accept reality as it is, rather than resisting it, and promotes a transformative practice for spiritual growth and mental well-being[2][3][4].
In 'Going Infinite', Michael Lewis delves into the life of Sam Bankman-Fried, the enigmatic founder of the failed cryptocurrency exchange FTX. The book provides a psychological portrait and a financial roller-coaster ride, tracing Bankman-Fried's trajectory from becoming the world's youngest billionaire to his eventual downfall. It covers topics such as high-frequency trading, cryptocurrencies, effective altruism, and the justice system. Despite criticism for its sympathetic portrayal of Bankman-Fried, the book offers a fascinating insight into the complex world of cryptocurrencies and the character of its central figure.
In our second episode of the season, Kavitha is joined by Asha Rangappa, former Special Agent and current Assistant Dean and Senior Lecturer at the Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs. Her work today is informed by years spent with the FBI specializing in counterintelligence, national security, and U.S. drug policy in Latin America. Together, Asha and Kavitha unpack what it means to lead with moral conscience in an increasingly divided world, and to embrace impact in the realms of academia, business, and public service.
Asha’s recent research, culminating in a forthcoming book project, advocates for the urgency of change when leaders succumb to moral disengagement and fail to challenge authoritarian bids for power. She encourages listeners, students, and her own daughters to embrace fear and resilience as two sides of the same coin, and to combat collective apathy and social disengagement by empowering the voices of dissenters and whistleblowers. The latter group, she argues, is characterized by their commitment to higher principles, empathy, and a willingness to take risks in order to make a difference.
Kavitha and Asha discuss the importance of supporting academia and media as two “critical institutions in a democracy,” citing these institutions as sources of a free exchange of ideas and truth-telling. Central to discussion is the question of how today’s leaders can develop and practice a strong moral conscience, which Asha contends is done by developing a code of values and principles, exercising habitual muscles which allow them to reject societal pressures of shame and conformity, and embracing the courage it takes to put themselves in the spotlight.
Transcript
S2E2—Asha Rangappa Transcript
Links and Resources
Information on YGELP and Yale SOM Executive Education:
Resources Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Where to Find Asha:
About Today’s Guest
Asha Rangappa is an Assistant Dean and Senior Lecturer at the Yale University’s Jackson School of Global Affairs and a former Associate Dean at Yale Law School.
Prior to her current position, Asha served as a Special Agent in the New York Division of the FBI, specializing in counterintelligence investigations. At Yale, she teaches courses on national security law, Russian information warfare, and leadership and ethics. She the author of The Freedom Academy, a bestselling online Substack publication about disinformation and its impact on democracy, and also co-hosts the legal podcast, It’s Complicated, with Renato Mariotti.
Asha graduated cum laude from the School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University and was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study constitutional reform and U.S. drug policy in Bogotá, Colombia. She received her law degree from Yale Law School where she was a Coker Fellow in constitutional law, and served as a law clerk to the Honorable Juan R. Torruella on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Asha is a former legal and national security analyst for CNN and currently a legal contributor for ABC News. She is an editor for Just Security, a member of the Council of Foreign Relations, and a Security Fellow with the Truman National Security Project.
Long Life Learning 
