Social Science for Public Good

Oct 28 2024 23 ep. 61 mins 3
Social Science for Public Good Podcast artwork

Across the globe, practitioners are working to craft a more just and thriving world. Meanwhile, researchers are engaging in work fundamentally changing how we understand social dynamics. Unfortunately, there is not as much connection between these two spheres as there could be. The Social Science For Good Podcast aims to connect change agents and leaders to social science theories and research that might be relevant to their work in an accessible manner. Social Science for Public Good is a collaborative project of the Virginia Tech Institute for Policy and Governance and VT Publishing.

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Imagination: Social & Rhetorical w/ Dr. Carolyn Commer

Oct 28 2024 64 mins  
In this episode, we explore how the imagination is used in developing rhetorical strategies. We talk about how rhetoric is based on our values and our ability to think about future possibilities. Our guest scholar in this episode is Dr. Carolyn Commer, Associate Professor in the Department of English at Virginia Tech and Director of the Rhetoric and Writing PhD program. --- Carolyn

Imagination: Social & Revolutionary w/ Dr. Michele Moody-Adams

Oct 21 2024 69 mins  
In this episode, we explore the role of imagination in social movements and the ongoing fight for justice. We investigate both how the imagination helps us think of how the world might be better and identify the problems of the moment. Our guest scholar in this episode is Dr. Michele Moody-Adams, Joseph Straus Professor of Political Philosophy and Legal Theory at Columbia Universit

Imagination: Childhood & Education w/ Dr. Paul Harris

Oct 03 2024 52 mins  
In this episode, we look into how our imagination develops over the course of our lives, starting as children. This includes thinking through how education influences our imaginative capacity. Our guest scholar in this episode is Dr. Paul Harris, Victor S. Thomas Professor of Education at Harvard University. --- Dr. Paul Harris is interested in the early development of cognition, e

Imagination: Moral & Evaluative w/ Dr. Mark Johnson

Sep 26 2024 68 mins  
In this episode, we focus on how our imaginations are essential to moral decision-making and help us evaluate the possible outcomes of our actions. As part of this, we also discuss the shortcomings of rigid moral systems and the necessity of maintaining humility. Our guest scholar in this episode is Dr. Mark Johnson, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and Philip H. Knight Professor o

Imagination: Narrative & Foundational w/ Dr. Richard Kearney

Sep 18 2024 71 mins  
In this episode, we focus on how the narrative imagination helps us make sense of the world. Additionally, we dig into the connection between story and imagination. Our guest scholar in this episode is Dr. Richard Kearney, Charles B. Seelig Chair of Philosophy at Boston College --- Richard Kearney holds the Charles B. Seelig Chair of Philosophy at Boston College and has served as a

Imagination: Intentional & Involuntary w/ Dr. Tamar Gendler

Sep 10 2024 67 mins  
In this episode, we look into how we can learn from intentionally guiding our imagination while also looking into how much of the imagination operates outside of our conscious control. We also continue to explore the limits of imagination and how it can be used for both good and ill. Our guest scholar in this episode is Dr. Tamar Gendler, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, V

Imagination: Uses & Constraints w/ Dr. Amy Kind

Sep 02 2024 68 mins  
As we continue our exploration, we spend some time this week thinking about how we use our imaginations and what limits we might place upon them. We also delve into whether we should think of our imagination as a skill. Our guest scholar in this episode is Dr. Amy Kind, Russell K. Pitzer Professor of Philosophy & Director of the Gould Center for Humanistic Studies at Claremont

Imagination: Introduction & Definition w/ Dr. Anna Abraham

Aug 26 2024 75 mins  
As we embark on our exploration of the imagination, we start by exploring just how we should conceptualize and talk about this phenomenon. We also begin to think through just how useful the imagination is. Our guest scholar this episode is Dr. Anna Abraham, E. Paul Torrance Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Georgia and the Director of the To

Imagination: Introducing A Special Series

Aug 17 2024 2 mins  
Join cohosts Amin Farzaneh and Brad Stephens as they explore the imagination as both a fascinating phenomenon/concept and an absolute necessity for social change. They will talk with some of the leading scholars in the field to explore the nuances of this most human of abilities. --- The Social Science for Public Good Podcast is a project of the ⁠Virginia Tech Institute for Polic

Bonus: Trust & Power in Practice - Dr. Lawrence Susskind

Dec 15 2023 72 mins  
In this special bonus episode, we seek to bring together the subjects of our first two arcs, trust and power, and look at how they might concretely manifest in the bid to create social change. We are guided through this discussion by Dr. Lawrence Susskind, Ford Professor of Urban and Environmental Planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Dr. Susskind shares how