Democracy Works | Podcast on Podbay

Democracy Works

Penn State McCourtney Institute for Democracy

The Democracy Works podcast seeks to answer that question by examining a different aspect of democratic life each week — from voting to criminal justice to the free press and everything in between. We interview experts who study democracy, as well as people who are out there doing the hard work of democracy day in and day out. The show’s name comes from Pennsylvania’s long tradition of iron and steel works — people coming together to build things greater than the sum of their parts. We believe that democracy is the same way. Each of us has a role to play in building and sustaining a healthy democracy and our show is all about helping people understand what that means. Democracy Works is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

Federalism and power in Trump 2.0

This episode explores how the relationship between national and state politics changed from the first Trump administration to the second one, and how the administration is using its levers of power differently this time around to target companies, law firms, universities, and more.

Oct 19

47 min

How identity fuels political divides

From Brexit to the 2020 election, the United States and the United Kingdom seem more divided than ever as media, political polarization, and other factors combine to form what Mitchell Smith describes as "The Great Perceptual Divide."

Oct 5

41 min

Who pays for American democracy?

Our guest this week argues that you can't talk about the history of democracy in America without talking about the history of taxation in America. After listening to this interview, we agree and we think you will, too.

Sep 21

52 min

Political status and the DSA summer

For our first episode of the fall season, we talk with a social movement scholar about whether the DSA's policies can win over enough votes to win in a general election and why political coalitions don't always align with the structure of America's two-party system.

Aug 31

48 min

How to create social change that sticks

For our final episode of the season, we explore how individual actions and structural reform can work together to create lasting social change on a range of issues, including democracy.

May 18

38 min

Talk Nerdy: Black Evidence with Candis Watts Smith

Democracy Works host Candis Watts Smith joins Cara Santa Maria on the Talk Nerdy podcast to discuss her new book, Black Evidence: A History and a Warning.

May 4

1 hr 4 min

When politics enters the doctor's office

Democracy Works host Chris Beem talks with University of Iowa political scientist Julianna Pacheco about how the politicization of health issues is impacting physicians across the country.

Apr 20

31 min

The Declaration of Independence and democracy renovation

Danielle Allen returns to the show to discuss America's Semiquincentennial and what lessons the Declaration of Independence can offer to modern-day democracy advocates and reformers.

Apr 6

46 min

Janet Napolitano on higher education and democracy

What is the role of higher education in a democracy? To what extent should American universities respond to the demands of those in power? Are we meeting this moment? As a former governor, cabinet secretary, and university president, Secretary Janet Napolitano is uniquely positioned to address these questions.

Mar 16

34 min

Is public media still public?

Ayesha Rascoe, host of NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday and Weekend Up First, joins us to discuss what it's like being a political reporter in a polarized country and what the "public" in public media looks like amid the loss federal funding.

Mar 2

20 min