Peoples & Things

Guru Madhavan discusses 'Wicked Problems' and engineering a better world by intertwining humanities and social sciences with engineering. He emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach to problem-solving and addresses the interconnectedness of societal and technical challenges. The podcast explores the complexities of wicked problems, advocating for innovative solutions and valuing maintenance and innovation in engineering projects.

On this podcast, John Warner discusses the impact of generative AI tools on writing education, emphasizing the need for a shift towards authentic engagement and critical thinking. They explore the challenges of traditional writing education, the purpose of schooling, and the integration of AI in teaching practices. The conversation delves into the importance of meaningful assessment methods, reducing student loads, and evolving teaching practices in higher education.

Discover the history of food labeling in the US, from FDA regulations to controversies like GMO labeling. Learn about future projects on the Mediterranean Diet and food packaging. Explore topics like kombucha, nutrition labels, food fraud, and the evolution of food standards post-World War II.

Are you into the end of the world? Well, have we got the guest for you. In this episode, Peoples & Things host Lee Vinsel interviews Zachary Loeb, assistant professor of history at Purdue University, about his work. On his faculty page, Loeb describes himself as “interested in the idea that humanity’s romance with technology has the species (and the planet) on a course that may lead to catastrophe.” Vinsel and Loeb talk about this idea and its history before turning to a discussion of Loeb’s dissertation and forthcoming book, a history of Y2K. The pair also discuss potential future directions of Loeb’s research. Peoples & Things has a new newsletter, where you can learn behind the scenes details about the podcast and much more. Check it out here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The podcast covers Bob Charette's research method for technology, business, and public policy, specifically focusing on EV chargers. They discuss finding accurate data, challenges of EV adoption, political number manipulation, and complexities in transitioning to electric vehicles.

Join Lee Vinsel and Christy Spackman as they discuss the flavor of industrialized water, the sensory perception of water, and the historical efforts to make processed water taste appealing. They also touch on topics like food studies, mentorship, terroir, and water quality impact on food corporations. Dive into this intriguing conversation!

Christina Dunbar-Hester, professor at USC, talks about her book 'Oil Beach' examining how petroleum and port infrastructure harms life. They discuss overlooked topics in Los Angeles, the juxtaposition of industrialism and wildlife, multi-species perspective, and infrastructural vitalism.

Economic journalist and broadcaster Doug Henwood revisits his 2003 book, After the New Economy (New Press), with Peoples & Things host, Lee Vinsel. “The New Economy” was a catchphrase that became extremely popular with economists, politicians, pundits, and many others during Bill Clinton’s presidency. The phrase was thought to describe a new economic reality rooted in information and computing technologies that would give rise to an extended period of abundance and prosperity that Clinton compared to the industrial revolution. But the phrase became unpopular after the dot com bust of 2000-2002, which also marked the end of the 1990s economic expansion. Henwood and Vinsel discuss Henwood’s long career as an economic journalist and how he came to write the book as well as how studying “the New Economy” makes the technology bubbles of the 2010s feel like deja vu.Lee Vinsel is an associate professor in the Department of Science, Technology and Society at Virginia Tech. He studies human life with technology, with particular focus on the relationship between government, business, and technological change. His first book, Moving Violations: Automobiles, Experts, and Regulations in the United States, was published by Johns Hopkins University Press in July 2019. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Barley, professor emeritus at both Stanford University and the University of California, Santa Barbara, talks about the long arc of his forty-year career studying organizations and technologies with Peoples & Things host, Lee Vinsel. Barley describes how he came to study the sociology of technology when that topic area really didn’t exist and how he came to write classic works, such as his 1986 article, “Technology as an occasion for structuring.” Barley and Vinsel also talk about institution building and how one creates research teams capable of doing strong and interesting work. This is the second of what will hopefully be a series of episodes featuring scholars who, in the 1980s, began studying how organizations adopted information and communications technologies. The first was our earlier episode with JoAnne Yates.Lee Vinsel is an associate professor in the Department of Science, Technology and Society at Virginia Tech. He studies human life with technology, with particular focus on the relationship between government, business, and technological change. His first book, Moving Violations: Automobiles, Experts, and Regulations in the United States, was published by Johns Hopkins University Press in July 2019. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Conor Harrison, Associate Professor of Geography and the School of Earth, Ocean, and Environment at the University of South Carolina, talks about his research into the racist development of electrical systems in the Jim Crow South with Peoples & Things host, Lee Vinsel. The pair discuss how Harrison’s research fits within larger trends in the academic discipline of geography and the kinds of empirical research Harrison did to support his articles on the racial dimensions of electricity infrastructure. They also discuss how Harrison’s research has shifted in recent years to focus on the financial structures of the electricity industry.Lee Vinsel is an associate professor in the Department of Science, Technology and Society at Virginia Tech. He studies human life with technology, with particular focus on the relationship between government, business, and technological change. His first book, Moving Violations: Automobiles, Experts, and Regulations in the United States, was published by Johns Hopkins University Press in July 2019. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices