Podcast
Story in the Public Square
Hosted by The Pell Center at Salve Regina University · EN
Story in the Public Square is a weekly, 30-minute series that brings audiences to the intersection of storytelling and public affairs. Hosted by Jim Ludes and G. Wayne Miller, Story in the Public Square offers a spirited but respectful dialogue. Often funny, always provocative, each episode of Story in the Public Square
moves beyond traditional public affairs programming to consider the impact of narrative and storytelling on public life today.
38episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The future of the Voice of America with Patsy Widakuswara
Feb 300:27:57Tap to summarizeFrom World War II through the Cold War, and into this century, the Voice of America and its journalists demonstrated the strength and power of a free society and the weakness of America’s enemies. Now, Patsy Widakuswara—a seasoned veteran of VOA—finds herself at the heart of a legal battle over the future existence of the Voice of America. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Michael McFaul on the enduring strength of American democracy
Jan 2700:29:02Tap to summarizeSome are concerned that the advantages autocracies like Russia and China have over democracies like the United States are insurmountable. But Ambassador Michael McFaul argues that it’s just the opposite—that it’s the very messiness of American democracy that is the source of our greatest strength. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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A closer look at immigration policy today with Caitlin Dickerson
Jan 2000:28:31Tap to summarizeAs a candidate in 2016 and 2024, Donald Trump promised to crack down on undocumented immigrants—and after one year in office, the president has moved fast. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Caitlin Dickerson says that the policies and their implementation come with a very high price—for the immigrants and even for U.S. officials. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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The Case for American Power with Shadi Hamid
Jan 1300:27:19Tap to summarizeIt’s easy to be skeptical of idealistic notions of American power, the indispensable nation that some have talked about, when the history of the last 25 years is of misguided conflicts in the Middle East and a democratic backsliding at home. But through it all, Washington Post columnist Shadi Hamid takes readers through a compelling case for American power. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Navigating challnges posed for foreign-born doctors in underserved American communities with Eram Alam
Jan 500:27:59Tap to summarizeNearly one in four doctors in the U.S. is foreign-born—many from South Asia—and they often serve in rural and underserved urban communities where American physicians are scarce. Harvard medical historian Eram Alam describes the public health challenges posed when immigrants are frequently met with suspicion in the communities they serve.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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The 2025 Story of the Year with Evelyn Farkas
Jan 500:28:14Tap to summarizeAs 2025 draws to a close, we look back on the major stories that shaped public life in the last year with Evelyn Farkas of the McCain Institute at Arizona State University.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Advocating for the arts with Erin Harkey
Dec 1600:28:35Tap to summarizeDuring the Renaissance, ruling families like the Medicis funded the creation of great works of art that dazzle us to this day. In the modern era, the ability of democracies to fund the arts is often contentious and even controversial. Arts advocate Erin Harkey discusses the value of art in public life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Unpacking political conspiracy theories with Stephen Clermont
Dec 900:27:44Tap to summarizeAn alarming number of Americans are receptive to the lure of conspiracy thinking. Pollster Stephen Clermont unpacks the most popular conspiracy theories and what they tell us about current American politics.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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An Immigration Story in the Midst of a Changing World with Padma Venkatraman
Feb 6, 202500:27:39Tap to summarizeChildren’s and young-adult authors often explore the pain and loneliness of growing up. Padma Venkatraman does it in an elegantly told story that also explores immigration, environmental change, and the power of friends to make everything better. Venkatraman is an award-winning author who was born in Chennai, India. Before becoming a novelist, earned a Ph.D. in oceanography from The College of William and Mary. She conducted postdoctoral research in Environmental Engineering at Johns Hopkins University and later worked in Germany. She also served as head of Inwoods Small School, and taught oceanography and directed diversity efforts at the University of Rhode Island. Venkatraman is the author of five novels including “Climbing the Stairs,” “Island’s End,” “A Time to Dance,” and “The Bridge Home.” She has written several other books, including: “Double Stars: The Story of Caroline Herschel (Profiles in Science),” “Women Mathematicians (Profiles in Mathematics),” and the illustrated “Growing Gold,” “Born Behind Bars” and “Cleverest Thief.” Her latest book is “Safe Harbor,” was published this month. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Richard J. Evans Offers Lessons for Today from His Study of the Third Reich
Jan 14, 202500:28:10Tap to summarizeThe world will mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II later this year. Richard J. Evans helps us understand the murderous leaders of Nazi Germany, and the people at every level of German society who did their bidding. Evans is an historian of modern Germany and modern Europe and is the preeminent historian of the Third Reich today. He has published over 20 books in the field, including his trilogy on the Third Reich. He is a Fellow of the British Academy, the Royal Historical Society, the Royal Society of Literature and the Learned Society of Wales, and an Honorary Fellow of Gonville and Caius College Cambridge, Birkbeck, University of London, and Jesus College Oxford. In 2022, he was made an Honorary Member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. He has been Vice-Master and Acting Master of Birkbeck, University of London, Chairman of the History Faculty in the University of Cambridge. He currently serves as Provost of Gresham College in London and a visiting Professor of History at Birkbeck University of London.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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