SOC 119
Sociology 119 (SOC 119) is the largest Race and Ethnic Relations class in the United States. Join Dr. Sam Richards and over 700 students in the largest lecture hall at Penn State University in conversations with students and international guests about the world we live, the cultures we're surrounded by, and the ability to question the "invisible strings" of society.
Latest episodes
May 2, 2025 • 1h 9min
25SP Class #18: A Negative Effect | Disenchantment with Higher Education
Sam is back from Korea and comes back swinging with a topic about brainwashing. Sam invites four student volunteers up to the front to talk to them about their experiences with higher education. Are they brainwashed? Do students know anything? Do they think for themselves? We get some perspective on those questions.Learn more about the class: https://www.soc119.org/liveWatch live on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/soc119/live
May 2, 2025 • 28min
25SP Class #17: An Opportunity for Questions | AMA with Basim Razzo
Sam and Laurie are in transit to the United States, so it was a perfect opportunity to have the second exam of the semester. For about 27 minutes, Darniesha, the producer of the SOC 119 Live Stream, talks to "Unlce" Basim in front of the classroom - asking him questions as well as welcoming students to ask questions. Before Spring Break, the students walked his lectures as well as Sam's Ted x PSU Talk that brought the two men together.Learn more about the class: https://www.soc119.org/liveWatch live on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/soc119/live
May 1, 2025 • 1h 38min
Office Hours #15: Building the Future With Our Opponents | Live Interview with Dr. Laurie Mulvey
This is the final episode from Sam and Laurie's three week trip to South Korea. In this episode, Sam interviews Laurie about her experiences talking to groups about conflict, collaboration, and facilitation.Learn more about the class: https://www.soc119.org/liveWatch live on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/soc119/live
May 1, 2025 • 58min
Office Hours #14: The Sweet Spot Interview | Finding Your Own Path, Knowing Yourself, Taking Risks
Sam and Laurie are still in Korea and they do a small group discussion about Sam's book, allowing Konkuk University students to ask more personal questions about Sam's book, "The Sweet Spot."Learn more about the class: https://www.soc119.org/liveWatch live on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/soc119/live
Apr 30, 2025 • 1h 27min
Office Hours #13: What is "The Sweet Spot"? | Live Interview in Seoul, Korea | Starfield Library
This podcast episode was streamed from the Starfield Library from Seoul, South Korea. Sam, Laurie and SOC 119 Moderator OpinionatedMatt are in person today! Sam and Laurie talk on stage at the library about Sam's new book "The Sweet Spot."Before you ask, no, the book is not in English, at all.The speech about the book starts at 22 minutes.Learn more about the class: https://www.soc119.org/liveWatch live on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/soc119/live
Apr 29, 2025 • 1h 13min
25SP Class #16: A Live Experiment in Empathy with Basim Razzo
This lecture was originally recorded in April of 2018. After Sam did a Ted X PSU talk in 2010, an Iraqi reached out to him. That email created a friendship. Tragedy happened. What happens after the death of your family? This class explores that question.Learn more about the class: https://www.soc119.org/liveWatch live on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/soc119/live
Apr 28, 2025 • 1h 11min
25SP Class #15: Punishment, Redemption, Transformation | Criminal Justice Reform
Sam is in Korea, and so his boss, DJ Seballos fills in and talks to Irvin Moore about his life in prison. What lead him to jail? What is he doing now that he's out?Learn more about the class: https://www.soc119.org/liveWatch live on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/soc119/live
Apr 26, 2025 • 1h 28min
25SP Office Hours #12: Impact of Facilitation with @worldinconversation Student Facilitators
Sam is joined by Pedro, a staff member at World in Conversation at Penn State as well as two student facilitators to talk about their experience at the Center as well as the importance of facilitation in the modern world. Learn more about the class: https://www.soc119.org/liveWatch live on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/soc119/live
Apr 25, 2025 • 1h 8min
25SP Class #14: Shaped by the Past | Flipping American History
The first portion of this class Sam invites a student artist to talk about her art exhibit on campus. That volunteer is joined by three other volunteers for a thought experiment. The thought experiment is about flipped American racial history.Learn more about the class: https://www.soc119.org/liveWatch live on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/soc119/live
Apr 24, 2025 • 1h 46min
25SP Office Hours #11: Western Values and Late Bloomers
Sam and Alijah respond to the previous two classes as well discussing Sam's Book and his upcoming trip to Korea.Learn more about the class: https://www.soc119.org/liveWatch live on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/soc119/live
