Best Deliberative Democracy Podcasts (2025)

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Deliberative Polling® Can Save Democracy: Vision of James Fishkin 51:29

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5d ago51:29

51:29

Dr. Paul Zeitz sits down with Professor James S. Fishkin of Stanford University—the mind behind Deliberative Polling®—to explore whether informed dialogue can heal democracy’s divisions. Fishkin shares how a single “eureka” moment in 1988 led to a global movement transforming how citizens think, talk, and decide together. From Texas to Mongolia, an…

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This is Democracy – Episode 311: US-Latin American Relations 28:20

8d ago28:20

28:20

This week Jeremi and Zachary are joined by Professor Renata Keller from the University of Nevada Reno, whose work focuses on the Cuban Missile Crisis and its enduring impact in Latin America. They explore public reactions in Latin America during the crisis, analyze the diverging opinions within the region, and discuss the long-term consequences. Je…

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This is Democracy – Episode 310: Have we Outgrown the Constitution? 31:24

15d ago31:24

31:24

This week, Zachary and Jeremi discuss the complexities and challenges surrounding the adaptability of the American Constitution with Professor Steven Skowronek. They delve into topics such as constitutional amendments, the role and evolution of the Supreme Court, and the potential need for a new constitutional framework to address contemporary issu…

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Jeannette Rankin Defied All Odds as America’s First Congresswoman 51:01

19d ago51:01

51:01

What can the first woman ever elected to Congress teach us about courage, peace, and the fight for democracy? In this episode, Dr. Paul Zeitz talks with historian and author Lorissa Rinehart about her book, Winning the Earthquake: How Jeannette Rankin Defied All Odds to Become America’s First Congresswoman. Together, they explore how Rankin’s radic…

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#111-AI-Assisted Tools in Education and How AI Might Assist our Critical Thinking-with guest Kyle Falbo 59:15

24d ago59:15

59:15

Our discussion with Kyle Falbo—Math and Computer Science Lecturer and Educational Technology Application Expert at Sonoma State University—focuses on how AI-enhanced teaching and learning tools (ChatGPT, Google NotebookLM, Khanmigo and others) are being explored and implemented at SSU. Our discussion also includes: the possible risks and benefits o…

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Vote with Your Phone: Bradley Tusk’s Bold Plan to Save Democracy 47:37

1M ago47:37

47:37

Venture capitalist, political strategist, and philanthropist Bradley Tusk believes our democracy is running out of time—and that the solution fits in your pocket. In this episode, Bradley shares the story behind his new book, Vote With Your Phone, and how mobile voting could be the “final shot” at saving American democracy. From his early work in p…

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This is Democracy – Episode 309: Government Shutdowns 31:37

1M ago31:37

31:37

This week, Jeremi and Zachary invite John Lawrence, a former senior staff member with extensive experience in the U.S. House of Representatives, to discuss the recent government shutdown. The conversation delves into the causes and impacts of these shutdowns, the role of partisanship, and historical precedents. Jeremi opens the conversation with a …

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This is Democracy – Episode 308: Greenland and the Arctic 31:10

2M ago31:10

31:10

This week, Jeremi and Zachary sit down with Dr. Mikkel Runge Olesen, a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies, to discuss Greenland and its growing significance in global politics. Dr. Olesen offers a comprehensive overview of Greenland's history, its political relationship with Denmark, and its strategic importance to …

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#110-The Role of Emotions in Thinking and Learning-with guest Mary Helen Immordino-Yang 59:06

2M ago59:06

59:06

Emotions are often viewed as interfering with clear, objective, evidence-based reasoning; in fact, "appeal to emotion" is considered to be a logical fallacy. However, our guest, Mary Helen Immordino-Yang—professor of education, psychology, and neuroscience at the University of Southern California and author of: "Emotions, Learning, and the Brain"—a…

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This is Democracy – Episode 307: Deliberative Democracy 36:31

2M ago36:31

36:31

Jeremi and Zachary have a conversation with Gryffin Wilkens-Plumley about his work designing assemblies of independent citizen governance. They have an in-depth discussion of deliberative democracy, a practice that is about citizen's individual participation, reasoning, and sense of duty to vote and make decisions in society, and how it could apply…

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Healing Racism to Strengthen the U.S. Constitution with Susan Sturm 56:42

2M ago56:42

56:42

What does it take to confront racism without falling into despair and instead transform our institutions for equity and justice? In this episode, Dr. Zeitz speaks with Professor Susan Sturm of Columbia Law School, a leading scholar and changemaker whose work bridges law, education, and community action. Drawing from her new book, What Might Be: Con…

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This is Democracy – Episode 306: Federal Science Funding 26:07

2M ago26:07

26:07

This week, we have Prof. John Beckett Wallingford to discuss the current landscape of federal science funding, and the importance of science in American industry and society. We set the scene with a reading of The Polio Vaccine, Chatham, Virginia, 1964, by Claudia Emerson. John Beckett Wallingford is a developmental biologist with three decades of …

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Action Alert: Join Emergency Mobilization to Renew Democracy 15:23

3M ago15:23

15:23

Trust in our democracy is collapsing, but history shows that when ordinary people rise up, real change becomes inevitable. In this episode, Dr. Paul Zeitz issues a bold call to action: join a nationwide movement to refresh and renew American democracy before it’s too late. From the Freedom Charter to the vision of a National Citizens Assembly, Dr. …

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#109-The Moves that Matter in Crafting Persuasive Arguments and Communicating them Effectively-with guests Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein-Graff 59:10

3M ago59:10

59:10

Coauthors of the widely acclaimed book, They Say/I Say-The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing, explore how to craft persuasive arguments and communicate them effectively. Topics discussed include: the connection between thinking and writing; the nature of academic writing; the concept of "entering the conversation"; specific templates to improve…

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This is Democracy – Episode 305: New School Year 44:36

3M ago44:36

44:36

This week, Jeremi and Zachary sit down with Dr. Jack Loveridge, Vice President of the El Paso Independent School District (ISD) Board of Trustees, to discuss the start of the new school year, with a particular focus on American schools' challenges and opportunities at this moment. Dr. Loveridge shares insights into the primary issues facing his dis…

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The Right of the People: Is it Time for a Constitutional and Economic Revolution? with Osita Nwanevu 1:02:55

3M ago1:02:55

1:02:55

Journalist and author Osita Nwanevu joins Dr. Paul Zeitz to unpack a hard truth: the United States was never designed to be an authentic democracy. Drawing from his book The Right of the People: Democracy and the Case for a New American Founding, Osita explains why our system fails the tests of equality, responsiveness, and majority rule—and how we…

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Amit Ron and Abraham Singer on What Companies Owe Democracy 1:37:13

3M ago1:37:13

1:37:13

On this episode of Virtual Sentiments, host Kristen Collins speaks with Amit Ron and Abraham Singer, co-authors of Everyone’s Business:What Companies Owe Society (The University of Chicago Press, 2024). Together, Ron and Singer argue that businesses should move beyond profit and stakeholder models to actively protect democratic practices such as in…

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This is Democracy – Episode 304: Russia-Ukraine War Update 41:25

4M ago41:25

41:25

This week, Jeremi and Zachary speak with returning guest Michael Kimmage, about the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and the evolution of the conflict over the past three and a half years. Zachary sets the tone by re-reading the poem from the first episode about the conflict in Ukraine, entitled "Our Ukrainian Love Story" to reflect on the initi…

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This is Democracy — Episode 303: U.S. Military 38:26

4M ago38:26

38:26

This week, Jeremi and Zachary speak with Colonel Nathaniel Lauterbach about the significant changes in the US military over the past 20 years, and their implications for US foreign policy and civil-military relations. Jeremi sets the scene with some words from a lecture from George Kennan, an influential American diplomat and historian. Colonel Nat…

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#108-Teaching Critical Thinking to Kids-with guest Stephanie Simoes 58:46

4M ago58:46

58:46

With a Bachelor's Degree in Biology, a Master's Degree in Philosophy, and experience as a teacher, our guest for this episode, Stephanie Simoes, developed Critikid, a website for kids, teens, teachers and others. Critikid offers instruction in: emotional intelligence (Learning to recognize, understand, and manage your emotions), safe and effective …

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Deliberative Democracy and AI with Claudia Chwalisz 1:08:49

4M ago1:08:49

1:08:49

DemocracyNext founder and CEO Claudia Chwalisz returns to the Denizen podcast to explore the intersection of deliberative democracy and artificial intelligence. Here we are particularly interested in how we might crease democratic resilience by leveraging AI to scale deliberative processes. Governance innovation is the AI application we're most ent…

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Susan Brison on the Aftermath of Sexual Violence and the Remaking of the Self 1:30:48

4M ago1:30:48

1:30:48

**Content Warning** This episode includes discussions of sexual assault and attempted murder, which may be distressing for some listeners. Please listen with care. On this episode of Virtual Sentiments, host Kristen Collins speaks with Susan Brison, author of Aftermath: Violence and the Remaking of a Self (Princeton University Press, 2002; 20th Ann…

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This is Democracy — Episode 302: Freedom Season 1963 41:32

4M ago41:32

41:32

This week, Zachary hosts a conversation with Jeremi and Dr. Peniel Joseph about his new book, Freedom Season, which describes the pivotal significance of 1963 in the Civil Rights Movement, highlighting key events such as the Birmingham protests, the March on Washington, the Birmingham church bombing, and the assassination of JFK. This week, instead…

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This is Democracy — Episode 301: War in Iran 41:18

5M ago41:18

41:18

This week, Jeremi and Zachary speak with Steven Simon about the renewed tensions over Iran's nuclear program, recent military actions by Israel and the U.S., and their implications for global politics. Simon provides historical context and strategic analysis, touching on the complexities of diplomacy and regional power dynamics. Zachary sets the sc…

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#107-How Institutionalizing Deliberative Political Processes Can Lead to Deliberative Democracy and Reduce Polarization-with guest Jim Fishkin 58:54

5M ago58:54

58:54

James Fishkin, Stanford University Professor (and Director of the Stanford Deliberative Democracy Lab) discusses his extensive research and development focused on the process of "Deliberative Polling" and clarifies its relationship to Deliberative Democracy—a form of democracy in which deliberation is central to decision-making. Professor Fishkin s…

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This is Democracy — 300th Episode! 34:08

5M ago34:08

34:08

In the 300th episode of This Is Democracy, Jeremi and Zachary look back on seven years of podcasting, reflecting on their conversations with scholars, activists, and students about democracy, human rights, and civic engagement. Zachary reads from his first poem for the podcast, "In A Quieter Time", and reflects on how his writing has evolved over t…

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Deva Woodly on Civil Society and the Politics of Care 1:32:07

5M ago1:32:07

1:32:07

On this episode of Virtual Sentiments, host Kristen Collins chats with Deva Woodly on her book, Reckoning: Black Lives Matter and the Democratic Necessity of Social Movements (Oxford University Press, 2021), which draw from on-the-ground interviews with leaders in the Black Lives Matter Movement to comment on social movements and their role in demo…

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Collaboration with Robert Gilman 50:02

5M ago50:02

50:02

In this final episode of a three-part series on essential capabilities for a regenerative future with Robert Gilman, founder and president of The Context Institute. Robert and Jenny tie the first two episodes of the series together to bring you this conversation on collaboration. We’ve all heard the term “omni-win” and talked about needed paradigms…

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Modes of Cognition with Robert Gilman 50:06

5M ago50:06

50:06

This episode explores the importance of understanding and integrating various modes of cognition. It is the second in a three-part series with Robert Gilman, founder and president of The Context Institute, covering essential competencies for the regenerative era. Jenny and Robert discusses the limitations of object perception and categorical thinki…

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Psychodynamics with Robert Gilman 59:10

6M ago59:10

59:10

This episode on psychodynamics is part one of a three part series on essential skills for a regenerative future, in honor of Rober Gilman's 80th birthday. Robert is the founder and president of The Context Institute and a pioneer in the sustainability movement. The conversation dives deep into psychodynamics and the importance of understanding our …

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This is Democracy – Episode 299: Southern Politics: Past and Present 43:29

6M ago43:29

43:29

This week, Jeremi and Zachary are speaking with Professor Bryan D. Jones to explore the history and evolution of southern politics. They delve into the persistent divisions and conflicts within southern politics over the last century and a half, and analyze how these dynamics shape contemporary issues of democracy, race, justice, and power. Zachary…

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#106- The Role of Logic in Acquiring Knowledge and Forming Beliefs-with guest Patrick Hurley 59:16

6M ago59:16

59:16

Patrick Hurley, Philosophy Professor Emeritus at University of San Diego and author of the widely acclaimed textbook: A Concise Introduction to Logic, joins us to discuss: the role of logic in acquiring knowledge and forming beliefs; the most important aspects of logic for critical thinkers to master; what can be done to encourage better practices …

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Roadmap for How We Can Reclaim Our Democracy 59:00

6M ago59:00

59:00

In this episode, Dr. Zeitz is joined by Vinay Orekondy, an Australian-born attorney, mediator, and democracy innovator now working at the heart of America’s civic renewal movement. Vinay wears multiple hats as he serves as the Partnerships Director, Better Together America; Co-Chair, Braver Network (Braver Angels); and the Director of Programs and …

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Alice Siu on Deliberative Polling and the Future of Democratic Dialogue 1:22:12

6M ago1:22:12

1:22:12

On this episode of Virtual Sentiments, host Kristen Collins chats with Alice Siu on how deliberative polling fosters informed, respectful public dialogue. They discuss the method’s use in both in-person and on AI-assisted virtual forums, its role in shaping policy, and its potential to reduce polarization. Alice highlights the importance of teachin…

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This is Democracy – Episode 298: Iran-Contra and its Legacies 41:23

6M ago41:23

41:23

In this episode, Jeremi and Zachary Suri are joined by Professor Alan McPherson, an expert on US foreign relations who introduces his new book 'The Breach: Iran-Contra and the Assault on American Democracy.' Together, they discuss how this Iran-Contra scandal altered public trust in the American government and set troubling precedents for future ad…

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Professor Lawrence Lessig on Healing Our Broken Democracy 58:07

6M ago58:07

58:07

Can we rescue American democracy before it’s too late? In this episode, Dr. Paul Zeitz sits down with renowned legal scholar and democracy innovation entrepreneur and leader, Professor Lawrence Lessig of Constitutional Law at Harvard University, to explore a bold path forward. From unraveling the corrupting influence of Super PACs and dark money to…

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This is Democracy – Episode 297: Free Speech and Repression in Turkey 58:27

7M ago58:27

58:27

Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of political imprisonment, torture, threats of r*pe, and human rights abuses. Viewer discretion is advised. Jeremi and Zachary speak with Kurdish journalist Nedim Türfent, who spent over 2,400 days in a Turkish prison after releasing footage of state forces mistreating Kurdish workers. He was denie…

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White Work with Julia Rhodes Davis 1:02:49

7M ago1:02:49

1:02:49

In this episode of the Denizen podcast, host Jenny Stefanotti and activist Julia Rhodes Davis delve into the concept of 'white work,' which goes beyond confronting and dismantling racialized identities. They discuss the importance of understanding personal legacy, taking accountability for ancestors' actions, and taking actions individually to repa…

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This is Democracy – Episode 296: Israel-Palestine 37:21

7M ago37:21

37:21

This week, the discussion delves into the complex and deeply rooted suffering in the Middle East, focusing on the history of conflict, memory, trauma, and grief between Israelis and Palestinians. Jeremi and Zachary Suri are joined by acclaimed author Lawrence Wright, who has spent decades studying and documenting the region. Wright discusses his la…

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Hannah Gais on the Far-Right Rallies and Social Media Presence 1:20:34

7M ago1:20:34

1:20:34

On this episode of Virtual Sentiments, host Kristen Collins chats with Hannah Gais on the far-right rallies and social media presence on platforms like Telegram and X. Hannah explores the events of the Unite the Right rally, the storming of the capital on January 6th, the far-right in the wake of the first and second Trump presidencies, and the dan…

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#105-The Epidemic of Political Lying and the Importance of Fact-checking-with guest Bill Adair 58:42

7M ago58:42

58:42

Early in his career our guest, Bill Adair, worked as a journalist, author, and later founded the fact-checking organization Politifact. And in 2013 he accepted a position at Duke University as the Knight Professor of the Practice of Journalism and Public Policy, where he now teaches journalism in the Sanford School of Public Policy and directs the …

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You Only Get What You’re Organized to Take: A Kairos Moment with Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis 47:33

7M ago47:33

47:33

Is America at a breaking point—or at the cusp of a breakthrough? In this episode, Dr. Zeitz sits down with Reverend Dr. Liz Theoharis, co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign and director of the Kairos Center for Religions, Rights, and Social Justice. A lifelong theologian and anti-poverty organizer, Rev. Dr. Liz shares why we are living in a Kairos…

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White Supremacy Culture with Tema Okun 55:48

8M ago55:48

55:48

We are incredibly fortunate to welcome Tema Okun to the Denizen podcast for this important conversation. Tema is the author of the influential 1999 paper "White Supremacy Culture" and has been a leader in the racial justice movement for over 35 years. In this insightful episode, Jenny and Tema explore the pervasive influence of white supremacy cult…