This is Democracy

Sheena Chestnut Greitens, an expert on China's political landscape, discusses the complexities of US-China relations, Xi Jinping's security focus, Taiwan's future, and the evolving dynamics between the two nations. The conversation highlights the historical connections, cultural clashes, and strategic implications in the global arena.

On this episode of This Is Democracy, Jeremi and Zachary discuss the ongoing university protests across the nation, specifically focusing on the demonstrations at Yale and UT Austin and their impacts on the surrounding environment. Zachary sets the scene with his poem entitled, "For Lisa."

On this episode of This is Democracy, Jeremi and Zachary are joined by Dr. Art Markman to discuss the growing epidemic of political disillusionment and despair in modern society, and what can be done about it. Zachary sets the scene with his poem entitled, "A Pessimist's Apocalypse" Dr. Art Markman is the Annabel Irion Worsham Centennial Professor of Psychology and Marketing at the University of Texas at Austin. He is also Vice Provost for Academic Affairs at The University of Texas. Dr. Markman has published more than 150 scholarly works about cognitive science, decision-making and organizational behavior. Dr. Markman has written several books including: Smart Thinking; Smart Change; Bring Your Brain to Work. Dr. Markman also co-hosts “Two Guys on Your Head,” a radio show and podcast on KUT public radio, where he and Dr. Bob Duke explore the human mind with a unique mix of research, humor and everyday relevance. 

On this episode of This Is Democracy, Jeremi and Zachary are joined by Milan Vaishnav to discuss the scale and future impact of India's 2024 general election. Zachary sets the scene with his poem entitled, "A Democratic Quest" Milan Vaishnav is a senior fellow and director of the South Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Dr. Vaishnav is the author of: When Crime Pays: Money and Muscle in Indian Politics (2017),  which was awarded the Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay New India Foundation book prize for the best non-fiction book on contemporary India published in 2017.  Dr. Vaishnav is also the host of “Grand Tamasha” -- a weekly podcast on Indian politics and policy co-produced by Carnegie and the Hindustan Times.

On this episode of This is Democracy, Jeremi and Zachary are joined by documentary filmmaker Paul Stekler to discuss media and politics in the modern age. Zachary sets the scene with his poem entitled, "An Appeal for Clarity" Paul Stekler taught at the University of Texas at Austin for many years. He is a nationally recognized documentary filmmaker whose critically praised and award-winning work includes: George Wallace: Settin’ the Woods on Fire; Last Man Standing: Politics, Texas Style; Vote for Me: Politics in America; two segments of the Eyes on the Prize II series on the history of civil rights; Last Stand at Little Big Horn; and Postcards from the Great Divide. His films have won two George Foster Peabody Awards, three Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia University Journalism Awards, three national Emmy Awards, and a special jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival. https://www.paulstekler.com/

Exploring the emotional and human aspects of war through poetry and personal reflections. Reflecting on Navalny's impact on Russian politics and Zelensky's challenges in Ukraine. Delving into the importance of history and classical literature in understanding global struggles

In this week's episode, Jeremi and Zachary are joined by guest Ellen McCarthy to discuss the problems of disinformation in the world today. Zachary sets this scene with his poem entitled, "Like a Ball of String" Ellen McCarthy is the ChairWoman and CEO of the Truth in Media Cooperative and Noodle Labs. Ms. McCarthy has over three decades of national security service, in a variety of leadership roles. She has served in many high-level government positions, including: Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Intelligence and Research; Chief Operating Officer of the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency; and Director of the Human Capital Management Office and the Acting Director of Security and Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence.

In this week's episode, Jeremi and Zachary are joined by Dr. Julia F. Irwin to discuss American Humanitarian Assistance in the 20th and 21st century. Zachary sets the scene with his poem entitled, "The Old Colossus." Dr. Julia F. Irwin is the T. Harry Williams Professor of History at Louisiana State University.  She is a leading scholar of humanitarian assistance in US foreign policy and international history. Professor Irwin is the author of: Making the World Safe: The American Red Cross and a Nation’s Humanitarian Awakening (2013) and, most recently, Catastrophic Diplomacy: US Foreign Disaster Assistance in the American Century (2023).Professor Irwin is also the Co-Editor of the Journal of Disaster Studies.

In this week's episode, Jeremi and Zachary are joined by Stephen Sonnenberg, MD, to discuss how collective trauma can affect people, groups and societies. Steve Sonnenberg, MD, is a psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, and medical humanities and ethics scholar. At The University of Texas at Austin’s Dell Medical School he serves as professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences. He is also fellow in the Paul Woodruff Professorship for Excellence in Undergraduate Studies and chair of the faculty panel of the Bridging Disciplines Program “Patients, Practitioners, and Cultures of Care,” both in the University’s Undergraduate College. The Bridging Disciplines Program is designed to prepare healthcare undergraduates with the tools they will need later, as providers, to create a healthcare system where health is a human right and structural disparities in care are eliminated.

In this week's episode, Jeremi and Zachary are joined by Dr. Daniel Hummel about the history of American Evangelicalism and its connection to both policy and theology. Zachary sets the scene with his poem entitled, "If Your God is a God of Truth" Dr. Daniel Hummel is the Director for University Engagement at Upper House, a Christian study center serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Daniel is the author of The Rise and Fall of Dispensationalism: How the Evangelical Battle Over the End Times Shaped a Nation and Covenant Brothers: Evangelicals, Jews, and U.S.-Israeli Relations. Daniel has written about religion, politics, and foreign policy for the Washington Post, Christianity Today, and Religion News Service. His academic research has been published in Religion & American Culture and Church History.