They delve into specific instances where these movements have influenced policy changes, discussing the tensions between activism and open inquiry. The conversation highlights recent cases where protests have either stifled or spurred debates about institutional investment ethics and the balance between social justice and academic discourse.Finally, they discuss the politicization of the humanities, examining how political biases can shape curricula and impact scholarly discourse.In This Episode:Politicization in response to humanities' defundingThe challenges in balancing university finance and missionHow universities are inconsistent when handling student protestsThe complexities of university divestment and geopoliticsDiversity and inclusion frameworks in modern academiaFollow Tyler on X here: https://twitter.com/Tyler_A_HarperAbout Tyler:Tyler Austin Harper is a literary scholar working at the intersection of the history of science, philosophy, and environmental studies. His book, “The Paranoid Animal: Human Extinction Before the Bomb,” is under contract with Princeton University Press. It examines how British literary figures, scientists, and social theorists engaged with the concept of human extinction prior to the nuclear age. Specifically, his work argues that the period between 1800 and 1945 witnessed a shift from fatalistic visions of the end of humanity—dominant during the Romantic Era and influenced by theories of geological catastrophism—toward a new, post-Darwinian conception of human extinction in which threats to the species were reimagined as risks that could be mitigated by technological intervention, prefiguring current debates about AI, nuclear war, and climate change. His scholarly work has been published in Modern Language Quarterly, Science Fiction Studies, Syndicate, and Paradoxa.Harper is a contributing writer at The Atlantic. His public writing on politics, culture, race, and technology has appeared in The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, Jacobin, and other outlets. Follow Heterodox Academy on:Twitter: https://bit.ly/3Fax5DyFacebook: https://bit.ly/3PMYxfwLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/48IYeuJInstagram: https://bit.ly/46HKfUgSubstack: https://bit.ly/48IhjNF 🔗 Find out more about Heterodox Academy at: https://linktr.ee/heterodoxoutloud

From Coddling to Crisis. Today, we trace the trajectory of student fragility from playgrounds to classrooms. Welcome to Heterodox Out Loud. In today's episode, our host, John Tomasi, talks with social psychologist and best-selling author Jonathan Haidt about his new book, The Anxious Generation. The book delves into the increasing levels of anxiety and emotional distress experienced by teens today. During their discussion, Haidt emphasizes the significant shift from a play-based childhood to a smartphone-centric upbringing, which has led to a rise in mental health issues, particularly after the adoption of Instagram in 2012.The pair will explore how these changes have affected higher education and campus life. They will discuss the reinforcement of emotional reasoning, fragility, and self-censorship fostered in academic settings. Together, they will examine the critical issues and potential pathways for creating robust, supportive, and intellectually vibrant university communities. Join us to learn more about this critical topic. In This Episode:Exploring the Anxious Generation's college experienceThe impact of technology on mental healthThe role of community in university settingsChallenges of identity and independence in collegeHow to foster viewpoint diversity and respectful discourse Follow Jonathan on X here: https://twitter.com/JonHaidt About Jonathan:Jonathan Haidt is a social psychologist at New York University’s Stern School of Business. He obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1992 and taught for 16 years in the Department of Psychology at the University of Virginia. Haidt's research focuses on exploring the intuitive foundations of morality and how it varies across cultures, including the cultures of progressives, conservatives, and libertarians. His aim is to help people understand, live, and work with each other despite their moral differences. Haidt has co-founded several organizations and collaborations that apply moral and social psychology to achieve this goal, including Heterodox Academy, The Constructive Dialogue Institute, and EthicalSystems.org. Haidt is the author of The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom, as well as The New York Times bestsellers The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion and The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas are Setting Up a Generation for Failure (co-authored with Greg Lukianoff). He has written more than 100 academic articles, which have been cited nearly 100,000 times. In 2019, he was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and was chosen by Prospect magazine as one of the world’s “Top 50 Thinkers.” Haidt has given four TED talks and since 2018, he has been studying the impact of social media on the decline of teen mental health and the rise of political dysfunction. His latest book, The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness, was published by Penguin Press on March 26, 2024. Follow Heterodox Academy on:Twitter: https://bit.ly/3Fax5DyFacebook: https://bit.ly/3PMYxfwLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/48IYeuJInstagram: https://bit.ly/46HKfUgSubstack: https://bit.ly/48IhjNF 🔗 Find out more about Heterodox Academy at: https://linktr.ee/heterodoxoutloud

Distinguished professor Azim Shariff discusses rethinking DEI in academia, exploring the balance between truth-seeking and social justice, challenges of interdisciplinary research diversity, impact of role models on education outcomes, and the values driving DEI initiatives within academic institutions.

Discover how Ivy League schools might be shortchanging taxpayers to the tune of billions! Today, we're peeling back the layers of an issue that hits our wallets and our values: the billion-dollar taxpayer support of Ivy League institutions.Host John Tomasi is joined by Adam Andrzejewski, founder and CEO of "Open the Books," an advocate for transparency in public finances. Adam brings to light a staggering reality: Over a recent five-year period, Ivy League schools amassed fortunes at the taxpayers' expense—a whopping $45 billion tab that's got some scratching their heads and policy-makers wielding the legislative pen.Adam is not afraid to discuss how taxpayers are burdened with the cost of what seems more like a federal contractor than an educator. We discuss questions of accountability, such as whether universities should receive federal money without oversight and whether state-level standards boards could improve the management of public funds.Join us on Heterodox Out Loud as we explore the billion-dollar taxpayer tab for Ivy League schools and its implications for the future of higher education, government oversight, and our society's appreciation for knowledge.In This Episode:Elite schools' heavy reliance on taxpayer fundsProposed tax reforms for excessive university endowmentsThe debate over universities' federal funding accountabilityTension in bipartisan university public policyThe Rising costs and transparency in higher education Follow Adam on X here: https://x.com/everydimeonlineFollow OpenTheBooks on X here: https:/x.com/open_the_books About Adam:Adam Andrzejewski is the CEO/founder of OpenTheBooks.com. Before dedicating his life to public service, Adam co-founded HomePages Directories, a $20 million publishing company (1997-2007). His works have been featured on the BBC, Good Morning America, ABC World News Tonight, C-SPAN, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, FOX News, CNN, National Public Radio (NPR), Forbes, Newsweek, and many other national media.Adam founded the transparency website, www.openthebooks.com, and launched it by posting the salaries and pensions of all 1 million Illinois public employees (2011). Today, OpenTheBooks.com is the largest private repository of U.S. public-sector spending. Mission: post "every dime, online, in real time." In 2022, OpenTheBooks.com captured nearly all public expenditures in the country, including nearly all disclosed federal government spending; 50 of 50 state checkbooks; and 25 million public employee salary and pension records from 50,000 public bodies across America.In their oversight report, published in March 2017, titled Ivy League, Inc., OpenTheBooks uncovered $41 billion taxpayer subsidies, tax-breaks and federal payments into the Ivy League colleges (FY2010–2015). Follow Heterodox Academy on:Twitter: https://bit.ly/3Fax5DyFacebook: https://bit.ly/3PMYxfwLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/48IYeuJInstagram: https://bit.ly/46HKfUgSubstack: https://bit.ly/48IhjNF 🔗 Find out more about Heterodox Academy at: https://linktr.ee/heterodoxoutloud

What really happened in 1945? Explore how students grapple with historical events and figures to understand their distinctness and uniqueness. In this episode of Heterodox Out Loud, host John Tomasi interviews Professor Mark Carnes of Barnard College. Professor Carnes talks about his innovative approach to teaching history, which he calls "reacting to the past." He explains how this method challenges traditional teaching by immersing students in historical contexts through Live-Action Role-Playing (LARP).Professor Carnes shares the components of this approach, its impact on students' engagement, the complexity of character roles, and the unique insights it generates. By making history come alive in a way that traditional teaching methods may not achieve, "reacting to the past" provides a unique and engaging way to learn about the past.In This Episode:Teaching history through role-playing gamesEngaging students in historical complexitiesAdoption of live-action role-playing gamesConnecting with historical figures through gameplayThe transformative power of immersive learningFind out more about The Reacting Consortium here: https://reactingconsortium.org/Find out more about Mark here: https://barnard.edu/profiles/mark-c-carnes About Mark Carnes:Mark Carnes received his B.A. from Harvard and Ph.D. from Columbia. For the first half of his career, he was a very conventional historian, General Editor of the 17-million-word American National Biography (Oxford), and author or editor of dozens of books on American history. But around the turn of the century, he pioneered the Reacting to the Past program, where students played complex games set in the past, their roles informed by important texts. He has co-authored six games in the Reacting series, published by the University of North Carolina Press, and is the author of Minds on Fire: How Role-Immersion Games Transform College (Harvard, 2014).  He teaches at Barnard College, Columbia University. Follow Heterodox Academy on:Twitter: https://bit.ly/3Fax5DyFacebook: https://bit.ly/3PMYxfwLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/48IYeuJInstagram: https://bit.ly/46HKfUgSubstack: https://bit.ly/48IhjNF 🔗 Find out more about Heterodox Academy at: https://linktr.ee/heterodoxoutloud

With the changing 'diploma divide,' what does the new correlation between education and party affiliation tell us about American politics? Today, we're joined by the insightful Diana Mutz as we explore the intriguing shifts within the ideological landscape of higher education and its broader implications for American politics.Universities, once beacons of diverse thought, appear now as battlegrounds of ideological conformity. In this episode of Heterodox Out Loud, we explore the complexities surrounding political tolerance and the evolving correlation between education and party affiliation, known as the "diploma divide." Join us as we seek to understand the consequences of democratic dialogue and free speech.In This Episode:The Ideological Shift in University FacultiesThe Impact of Academic Environments on StudentsWorkplace Politics and Social HomogeneityPolitical Polarization and the Public SphereEducation's Role in Political Tolerance and ExpressionChanging Support for Free Expression Among Political GroupsThe Relationship Between Higher Education and Political Leadership"The Diploma Divide" and Its Implications About Diana:Diana C. Mutz, Ph.D. holds the Samuel A. Stouffer Chair in Political Science and Communication at the University of Pennsylvania, where she also serves as Director of the Institute for the Study of Citizens and Politics. She is also a Faculty Fellow at the HxA Center for Academic Pluralism (2023-24). Mutz has published many books and articles on public opinion, political psychology, and the media, focusing on how people are exposed to differing political perspectives. In 2021, she was inducted to the National Academy of Sciences. Research Topic: Hearing the Other Side in an Era of Mass PolarizationReach out to Diana here: https://live-sas-www-polisci.pantheon.sas.upenn.edu/people/standing-faculty/diana-mutz Follow Heterodox Academy on:Twitter: https://bit.ly/3Fax5DyFacebook: https://bit.ly/3PMYxfwLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/48IYeuJInstagram: https://bit.ly/46HKfUgSubstack: https://bit.ly/48IhjNF 🔗 Find out more about Heterodox Academy at: https://linktr.ee/heterodoxoutloud

Can we restore the fractured trust in science and steer public health back to its noble roots? Welcome to Heterodox Out Loud. Today, we are joined by Sandro Galea, M.D., M.P.H., Dr.P.H, who provides insights that challenge us to confront the post-pandemic skepticism clouding the scientific community. In this episode, we will delve into a conversation that dissects how the clamor of political bias and social media frenzy has overshadowed the value of nuanced scientific discourse during COVID-19. Dr. Galea, through his book "Within Reason: A Liberal Public Health for an Illiberal Time," calls for a return to empirical rigor and liberal principles in public health, principles that are currently at odds with our polarized world. As we unravel the tense interplay between public health mandates and individual liberties, Dr. Galea advocates for radical transparency that acknowledges the trade-offs and complexities inherent in our decisions. Today, we challenge you to reevaluate what it means to trust science and ask: how do we rebuild a foundation of credibility in the face of fear and division? IN THIS EPISODE:• Language and Ideology in Dialogue• Public Health's Role and Influence• Challenges of the COVID-19 Pandemic• Liberalism and Public Health Philosophy• Crisis of Trust and Communication• Public Health Reformation ABOUT DR. SANDRO GALEA:Dr. Sandro Galea is a renowned physician and epidemiologist who currently serves as the Dean of the Boston University School of Public Health. Dr. Galea has made significant contributions to social sciences with over a thousand scientific publications, 24 books, and numerous awards. He is highly respected for his pioneering work on social determinants of health, mental health, and the impact of mass traumas, including September 11th and Hurricane Katrina. His research, often featured in top media outlets, continues to shape global public health conversations. Follow Sandro on:X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/sandrogaleaLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandrogalea/ Follow Heterodox Academy on:Twitter: https://bit.ly/3Fax5DyFacebook: https://bit.ly/3PMYxfwLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/48IYeuJInstagram: https://bit.ly/46HKfUgSubstack: https://bit.ly/48IhjNF Listen to the podcast on:Apple - https://apple.co/3PZzplDSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3S51ueeAmazon: https://amzn.to/3ZXQnFLi-Heart - https://bit.ly/3M69qYATune-In - https://bit.ly/3S5oBVRPandora - https://bit.ly/46AaLze 🔗 Find out more about Heterodox Academy at: https://linktr.ee/heterodoxoutloud Follow Heterodox Academy on:Twitter: https://bit.ly/3Fax5DyFacebook: https://bit.ly/3PMYxfwLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/48IYeuJInstagram: https://bit.ly/46HKfUgSubstack: https://bit.ly/48IhjNF 🔗 Find out more about Heterodox Academy at: https://linktr.ee/heterodoxoutloud

Today, John Tomasi and award-winning journalist Jamie Kalven explore the complexities surrounding the idea of institutional neutrality within universities and its implications for promoting intellectual freedom and robust argument. They delve into the Kalven Report of 1967 from the University of Chicago. This landmark report sought to balance the preservation of academic freedom with the responsibility to uphold the university's mission and values. The report's nuanced approach is examined in the context of Harry Kalven’s legacy, a key figure in First Amendment jurisprudence. They also analyze the report's implications for addressing contentious political issues within academia.Additionally, they discuss the gray areas and exceptions within the Kalven Report, which are brought about by the proactive engagement of students seeking to understand and promote the principles of academic inquiry. Emphasizing the importance of contextual application and disciplined discourse, they examine the university as a space for dangerous thinking and mutual engagement, aiming to promote deeper understanding amidst diverse perspectives.Follow Jamie on:X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/jamiekalven Follow Heterodox Academy on:Twitter: https://bit.ly/3Fax5DyFacebook: https://bit.ly/3PMYxfwLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/48IYeuJInstagram: https://bit.ly/46HKfUgSubstack: https://bit.ly/48IhjNFListen to the podcast on:Apple - https://apple.co/3PZzplDSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3S51ueeAmazon: https://amzn.to/3ZXQnFLi-Heart - https://bit.ly/3M69qYATune-In - https://bit.ly/3S5oBVRPandora - https://bit.ly/46AaLze🔗 Find out more about Heterodox Academy at: https://linktr.ee/heterodoxoutloud GUEST BIO:Jamie Kalven is an American journalist, author, human rights activist, and community organizer based in Chicago, Illinois. He is the founder of the Invisible Institute, a non-profit journalism organization based in Chicago. Jamie Kalven is the son of 1967 Kalven Report Committee Chairman Harry Kalven. Follow Heterodox Academy on:Twitter: https://bit.ly/3Fax5DyFacebook: https://bit.ly/3PMYxfwLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/48IYeuJInstagram: https://bit.ly/46HKfUgSubstack: https://bit.ly/48IhjNF 🔗 Find out more about Heterodox Academy at: https://linktr.ee/heterodoxoutloud

Steven Pinker, a cognitive scientist at Harvard, discusses the challenges to academic freedom in the era of cancel culture and the suppression of dissenting opinions in universities. They explore the decrease in trust in universities and the impact of punishment for truthful statements. The importance of defending defendants in the criminal justice system and the significance of free speech in universities are also highlighted. The podcast delves into the corporatization of universities, the role of cultural norms in open inquiry, and the manipulation of common knowledge. Finally, they discuss the importance of changing the culture in universities, focusing on Harvard.

In this episode of Heterodox Out Loud, John Tomasi speaks with Alexandra Lysova. Alexandra Lysova, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the School of Criminology at Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Vancouver/Burnaby, Canada. Her research career, spanning more than 20 years, focuses on intimate partner violence, including violence against men, women and children. Having experienced limitations on freedoms in Russia, where Alexandra grew up, she has developed a heightened appreciation for democratic values and, at the same time, has become sensitive to limitations on academic freedom and freedom of expression in countries, such as Canada and the US. Lysova has received the 2023 Leadership Award from Heterodox Academy for her persistent efforts to protect academic freedom, and she was also the recipient of the 2022 Sterling Prize in Support of Controversy.Heterodox Out Loud Heterodox Out Loud with John Tomasi is a biweekly podcast featuring conversations with people across the academy and beyond. Listen to insightful, thought-provoking episodes from the HxA community by adding our podcast to your lineup.Follow Alexandra on:Twitter: https://twitter.com/lysovaalexandra?lang=enFollow Heterodox Academy on:Twitter: https://bit.ly/3Fax5DyFacebook: https://bit.ly/3PMYxfwLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/48IYeuJInstagram: https://bit.ly/46HKfUgSubstack: https://bit.ly/48IhjNFListen to the podcast on:Apple - https://apple.co/3PZzplDSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3S51ueeAmazon: https://amzn.to/3ZXQnFLGoogle: https://bit.ly/46oaT4Ai-Heart - https://bit.ly/3M69qYATune-In - https://bit.ly/3S5oBVRPandora - https://bit.ly/46AaLzeLinktree link: https://linktr.ee/heterodoxoutloud Follow Heterodox Academy on:Twitter: https://bit.ly/3Fax5DyFacebook: https://bit.ly/3PMYxfwLinkedIn: https://bit.ly/48IYeuJInstagram: https://bit.ly/46HKfUgSubstack: https://bit.ly/48IhjNF 🔗 Find out more about Heterodox Academy at: https://linktr.ee/heterodoxoutloud