The traditional college-to-career path hasn’t worked for many Americans -- and it has limited U.S. economic growth. Gallup CEO Jim Clifton joins the podcast to discuss the “straight to business” concept -- a nontraditional path to employment that identifies young Americans who are driven to build. Later, we talk with Dashon Ridley, a strategic partnerships consultant at Gallup, who discusses his straight-to-business career path.

How do researchers gather diverse perceptions of wellbeing across various cultures of the world? Gallup's continued work with the Wellbeing for Planet Earth Foundation supports research that aims to establish more inclusive concepts of global wellbeing - and creating new metrics that can be tracked across collective and individualistic cultures alike. This week's guests include:

•Dr. Tim Lomas, senior lecturer in positive psychology at the University of East London
•Dr. Louise Lambert, assistant professor at the United Arab Emirates University
•Dr. Jim Harter, Gallup's Chief Scientist, Workplace Management and Wellbeing

How pivotal is this moment in time for U.S. race relations and how the media cover and talk about racism? Michel Martin, weekend host of NPR’s “All Things Considered,” joins the podcast to discuss this and more. What was Martin’s career path like, and what does she make of Americans’ confidence in the media as a veteran reporter? What reporting does she admire and what are her concerns for the industry?

What is Philip Bump, The Washington Post's national correspondent, watching in the final weeks before the presidential election? How can traditional metrics like presidential approval ratings inform us about President Donald Trump's reelection prospects? And how much will this election play into conversations about the electoral college versus the popular vote?

Ronald Brownstein, a senior political analyst at CNN and senior editor at The Atlantic, rejoins the podcast to look back at the spot-on 2020 Democratic ticket prediction he made two years ago. How does this seasoned analyst assess the U.S. political landscape in the 10th presidential election he has covered?

How does this election year compare with past elections? What do Gallup's historical measures suggest about today's political landscape -- and what does this mean for President Donald Trump's reelection prospects? Gallup's Director of U.S. Social Research Lydia Saad and Senior Editor Jeff Jones join the podcast to discuss presidential approval ratings, satisfaction with the direction of the U.S. and more.

Gallup has made a 100-year commitment to report on the Black experience in America. Camille Lloyd, director of the Gallup Center on Black Voices, joins the podcast to talk about the Center’s current work and future research, and how they align with Gallup’s mission since 1935.

The U.S. GDP suffered its worst decline in history in Q2 of this year. Gallup Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jim Clifton joins the podcast to offer his assessment of the state of the U.S. economy -- and how it can be saved. What creates organic economic growth? And how can startups and small businesses play a role in an economic rebound for the U.S.?

Where in the world has democracy been hurt the most? What does global leadership look like in the future -- and what does the future of U.S. partnership with Europe look like? Anne Applebaum, Pulitzer-prize winning historian and author of “Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism,” joins the podcast to discuss her book and more.

Getting the U.S. economy “back to normal” largely hinges on citizens’ own attitudes and behaviors, which the Franklin Templeton-Gallup Economics of Recovery Study will capture in its research on Americans’ readiness to resume pre-COVID-19 activities. Sonal Desai, chief investment officer, Franklin Templeton Fixed Income, and Jonathan Rothwell, Gallup principal economist, join the podcast to discuss this new research.