Key Conversations with Phi Beta Kappa

In this episode, Fred Lawrence sits down with UCLA Professor of American Politics and Public Policy Lynn Vavreck to explore the evolving landscape of American elections. Drawing from her childhood experiences and decades of research, Vavreck examines how modern data analytics have transformed the study of political campaigns, why traditional television advertising still matters in a digital age, and how a shrinking "movable middle" continues to decide pivotal races. From pervasive public discontent and declining faith in the “American Dream”, she addresses where she finds hope for political revitalization and the critical role imaginative leadership can play in moving the country forward.

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This special episode of Key Conversations is joined by Dominic McIver Lopes, Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and University Killam Professor at the University of British Columbia, and Samantha Matherne, Professor of Philosophy at Harvard University. Each year, the Lebowitz Prize is presented to a pair of philosophers who hold contrasting views of an important philosophical question that is of current interest both to the field and to an educated public audience. The professors discuss the topic for the 2025 Lebowitz Prize, which is "What Beauty Promises"

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In this episode, Fred Lawrence speaks with Geraldo Cadava, Professor of History at Northwestern University and author of The Hispanic Republican. Cadava takes us from the childhood experiences that shaped his interest in complex identities—moving between the affluent suburbs of Irvine and the borderlands of Tucson—to his scholarly work on the contradictory nature of Latino identity. He shares the compelling story of his Panamanian-born grandfather, a veteran and copper miner whose partisan evolution from a Ronald Reagan voter to a staunch Republican demonstrates how individual political reasons can lead to deep ideological shifts. Cadava also previews his upcoming, ambitious project of writing a book encompassing the past 500-year history of Latinos, A Thousand Bridges, which argues that Latinos have historically been both victims and agents of empire.

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In this episode, Fred Lawrence speaks with Ingrid Daubechies, James B. Duke Distinguished Professor Emerita of Mathematics at Duke University and a National Medal of Science recipient. Daubechies takes us from her childhood fascination with calculating multiples to her groundbreaking work on wavelets—mathematical building blocks that have revolutionized image and signal analysis. She talks about how her research helped the FBI compress millions of fingerprints, analyze seismograms, and even distinguish authentic Van Gogh paintings from forgeries. She also tells the story behind the whimsical Mathemalchemy Project, a collaborative art installation that celebrates the pure joy and creativity of mathematics.

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In this episode, Fred Lawrence speaks with Tammy L. Kernodle, University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Music at Miami University, whose work explores African American music, gender, and race in American popular culture. Kernodle shares how her working-class upbringing in Danville, Virginia, and a home filled with music led her to Virginia State University, graduate studies at The Ohio State University, and a career dedicated to expanding the narratives taught in music history. She discusses her mission to change classroom conversations, create scholarships for underrepresented musicians, and broaden what audiences hear in the concert hall. She also reflects on her roles as curator of the New World Symphony’s I Dream a World Festival and her work on the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.

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How do frogs communicate in a world full of hungry predators and noisy cities? In this episode, Professor Ximena Bernal joins us to discuss the sensory pollutants of urban life, the impact of the environment on communication among species, and the fascinating phenomenon of inter-species “eavesdropping.” From her Colombian childhood guiding her to the research of frogs to groundbreaking research on mosquito hearing, we explore the vibrant, noisy, and often dangerous world of behavioral ecology. We also discuss Bernal’s passionate advocacy for Latin American women in the sciences, proving that a career in science is as much about curiosity and patience as it is about data.

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Geography is often thought of as the study of physical entities, but for Dr. Mark Palmer, it is defined by relationships. A member of the Kiowa Tribe and a professor at the University of Missouri, Dr. Palmer joins Key Conversations to discuss Indigenous Geographies and the power dynamics inherent in cartography. From the Eurocentric origins of UNESCO World Heritage nominations to the "intangible" spiritual heritage of sacred sites, this conversation explores how diverse cultural perspectives challenge Western scientific classifications and offer a more holistic view of our world.

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In this episode, Fred Lawrence sits down with Professor Margo Schlanger, a leading civil rights expert and the founder of the Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse. Schlanger reflects on her journey from a "generalist" undergraduate at Yale to a powerhouse advocate for underrepresented communities. She shares the origin story of her first major legal victory—a student-led project that secured childcare for high school students—and discusses her high-impact work within the federal government. From the history of prison uprisings to the digital preservation of modern civil rights cases, Schlanger offers a masterclass on how the law can be leveraged to create a more equitable society.

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How much control do we truly have over our brain health? In this episode, Professor Kelly Lambert, a pioneer in the field of behaviorceuticals, discusses how environmental enrichment and positive anticipation physically reshape the brain.  Drawing on her celebrated research—including the world-famous "rat driving" studies—Professor Lambert discusses what we can learn about brain health from wild animals, the dangers of living in what she calls “brain bubbles,” and examines the critical role of authentic experience in building emotional resilience. She also offers a unique perspective on how small behavioral shifts can serve as powerful alternatives to traditional pharmaceuticals for improving mood and cognitive function.

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The Phi Beta Kappa Book Awards are presented annually to three outstanding scholarly books published in the United States.  The 2025 winners are Charles King for his book Every Valley: The Desperate Lives and Troubled Times That Made Handel's Messiah; Stefanos Geroulanos for his book The Invention of Prehistory: Empire, Violence, and Our Obsession with Human Origins; and Ayana Elizabeth Johnson for her book What If We Get It Right? Visions of Climate Futures.  This year, the Book Awards Dinner was held in person in Williamsburg, VA in December 2025, where two of the three scholars discussed the impetus behind their books and the motives that keep them sleepless—and engaged—in liberal arts and sciences.

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