Tell Me More

Latest Episodes:

How to Combat Extremism Jul 24, 2019

Show notes

In this episode of Tell Me More, Farah Pandith—an alumna of Tufts’ Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy—talks with Bhaskar Chakravorti, dean of global business at The Fletcher School, about the fight against extremism—and the role we all must play to ensure a more peaceful future.

The Promise and Problems of Cannabis Jul 10, 2019

Show notes

Recreational cannabis with mind-altering levels of THC is now legal in 10 states. Many more states allow sales of CBD, a chemical from cannabis that won’t get you high, but is claimed to have myriad health benefits. Yet big questions remain: How safe is cannabis? How should it be regulated? And who gets to profit from its sale? In this episode, plant chemist John de la Parra and attorney Ernest Anemone delve into those questions.

Bringing Puffins Back to Maine Jun 26, 2019

Show notes

About 100 years ago, there were less than five puffins left in all of Maine. But now, thanks to the conservationists, the Atlantic puffin is making a comeback on a few islands. And they’re becoming a model for how people can help other species on the brink. Journalist Derrick Jackson, an Environmental Writing Fellow at the Union of Concerned Scientists, has been following the story for decades. Here, he talks about what it takes to bring an animal back from local extinction, the sometimes sticky ethics of conservation, and what it’s like to be an environmental reporter in today’s changing climate.

Can Artificial Intelligence Make Us Smarter? Jun 12, 2019

Show notes

Artificial intelligence has the potential to enrich our lives. But it can also drive people apart and cause tremendous harm. Olaf Groth, a professor at Hult International Business School and CEO of the Cambrian Group, explores how this technology is reshaping societies in his new book, "Solomon's Code: Humanity in a World of Thinking Machines." He co-authored the volume with Mark Nitzberg. In this episode, Groth, an alumnus of Tufts’ Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, talks about artificial intelligence — both its promise and its perils.

New York Times Columnist Nicholas Kristof on How We Treat Immigrants May 29, 2019

Show notes

Nicholas Kristof is a journalist, two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, and longtime columnist for the New York Times. He has written extensively about immigration around the world, critiquing policies but also telling the stories of the families living with their consequences. As the son of an immigrant, Kristof is sympathetic to those looking for a better life in the United States, but also concerned for Americans who have not benefited from immigration. Kristof spoke on campus as part of the Merrin Moral Voices series at Tufts Hillel. Here, Kristof talks about the moral quandaries of immigration, what the world can learn from Canada, and what goes on behind the scenes of some of his most gut-wrenching reporting.

How Deke Sharon Became the ‘Father of Contemporary A Cappella' May 15, 2019

Show notes

Deke Sharon, often called “the father of contemporary a cappella,” has made it his life’s work to bring vocals-only music to the masses. As director of the Tufts ensemble the Beelzebubs in the early 1990s, his experimental take on a Peter Gabriel song—with voices standing in for instruments—inspired a new era in a cappella performance. Sharon has also helped popularize a cappella through movies like "Pitch Perfect," television, and even Broadway. Earlier this year, Sharon was back at Tufts for a residency where he coached nine singing groups, culminating in a first-of-its-kind all-Tufts a cappella concert. In between rehearsals, he sat down to talk about his career and his mission to create harmony through harmony.

Dr. Ellen Ochoa on Her Career in Space, and How Mentoring Is Important in the STEM Disciplines May 01, 2019

Show notes

Space wasn’t always on Dr. Ellen Ochoa’s radar. So how did this high school flute player make her way to outer space? In a conversation with Professor Karen Panetta of the School of Engineering, Ochoa discusses her love of music — she even played her flute in space — and how she navigated her path to NASA. She also gives advice to students and describes her own role models, while sharing her perspectives on the STEM disciplines — that’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Former U.S. Ambassador Michael McFaul on Russian Election Interference and Vladimir Putin’s End Game Apr 17, 2019

Show notes

Michael McFaul, who served as the U.S. Ambassador to Russia from 2012 to 2014 under the Obama administration, shares in a wide-ranging conversation his view on Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election as well as his fears about a new arms race, and what it has meant for him to be banned from returning to Russia. McFaul is the author of "From Cold War to Hot Peace: An American Ambassador In Putin's Russia."

Filmmaker David Sutherland's New Film Shows the Human Cost of U.S. Immigration Policy Apr 03, 2019

Show notes

Documentary filmmaker and 1967 Tufts graduate David Sutherland is known for creating intimate portraits of people living on the margins of society. His most recent film, "Marcos Doesn’t Live Here Anymore," premiering on PBS, shows the human cost of U.S. immigration policy by following Elizabeth Perez and her husband, Marcos, as they fight to reunite their family after Marcos is deported. In this episode, Sutherland talks about how he met Elizabeth and Marcos, why he found them so appealing, and what he hopes viewers will take away from their story.

Who Votes, Who Doesn’t Vote, and Why? Professor Bernard Fraga on Why Minority Voting Turnout Matters Mar 20, 2019

Show notes

As America gets closer to the 2020 presidential election, everyone wants to know, “Who will run?” But there’s another important question to ask: ”Who will turn out to vote?” There’s a gap in voter turnout between white people and people of color -- a gap that has an impact on election outcomes, and on our democracy. So where does this turnout gap come from? Who votes, who doesn’t vote, and why? Indiana University’s Bernard Fraga wrestles with these questions in his new book, "The Turnout Gap: Race, Ethnicity, and Political Inequality in a Diversifying America." Here, Fraga explores the historical roots of these disparities and argues that it’s up to politicians, parties, and us to fix them.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected