Sree Sreenivasan and Neil Parekh spoke with Columbia University professor Neeraj Kaushal about her book “When Africa Comes to America: How the Next Wave of Immigrants Will Transform the United States.”

They discussed the growth and future of African immigration, misconceptions about African immigrants, “brain circulation,” race relations in the United States and how increased immigration from Africa could affect Black identity.

They also turned to the Sunday New York Times for a conversation about AI, including its use in education, the importance of retaining human judgment and questions about regulation and environmental impact.

More details about the episode and Neeraj Kaushal’s book are available on the Digimentors website.

Neil Parekh and Guest Co-Host Steffen A. Kaplan reflected on September 11, 2001, 25 years later. Steffen shared his experience photographing the attacks from across the Hudson River, making his way into Manhattan and working as a photo editor at The New York Times that day.

Neil discussed experiencing the attacks as a New Yorker living in Seattle at the time, and the backlash against Muslims, Arabs, South Asians and other immigrants that followed.

Viewers contributed their own memories throughout the show, and Neil and Steffen reviewed The New York Times’ 25th-anniversary special section and reflected on memory, journalism, trauma and grief.

Find the special 9/11 PDF, gift links and other episode resources on the Digimentors episode page.

Neil Parekh and Guest Co-Host Mary C. Curtis remembered Dolly Parton, including her philanthropy, cultural reach and candor about mental health; discussed Meta’s $17.1 billion settlement and concerns about social media’s impact on teenagers; and examined the March on Washington in both 1963 and 2026.

Curtis shared her family’s firsthand connection to the 1963 March and reflected on John Lewis and the civil rights movement.

The conversation later returned to the 2026 March for an extended look at media coverage: which major outlets covered it, which did not, and how terms such as “protesters,” “demonstrators,” “activists” and “attendees” can frame an event.

They also reviewed the Sunday New York Times and incorporated viewer perspectives, including comments from people with personal connections to the 1963 March and journalism.

Visit the episode page for gift links to relevant articles.

Sree Sreenivasan and Neil Parekh were joined by Ingvill Bryn Rambøl, Head of Information for the Nobel Peace Center, for a conversation about the Nobel Peace Conference, “Democracy on the Brink.” They discussed threats to democracy around the world, Gen Z activism, the role of AI and big tech, the Nobel Peace Prize process, and the importance of creating space for dialogue across political divides.

They also reviewed the print edition of the Sunday New York Times, including a story about a politically divided family that used a podcast to keep talking across their differences.

Visit the episode page for more details and information about the Nobel Peace Conference.

Register to watch the Nobel Peace Conference (Sept. 3 at 7am ET).

Sree Sreenivasan and Neil Parekh discussed President Trump’s secretive departure from Turkey, including Neil’s firsthand recollection of the security measures used during President Bill Clinton’s 2000 trip to India and Pakistan; The New York Times’ “How a Nation of Immigrants Traces Its Roots,” its visual journalism and historical parallels in U.S. immigration policy; and the debate over age in politics and other fields, including social media.

Visit the episode page for gift links to articles discussed on the show and a PDF of “How a Nation of Immigrants Traces Its Roots."

Guest Co-Host Walter D. Greason (Gray Sage) and Neil Parekh discussed the Voting Rights Act on its 61st anniversary, including ongoing challenges to voting rights and Greason’s argument for making voting more celebratory.

They also examined the latest AI developments, including AI-created viruses, the massive infrastructure buildout behind AI and the debate over using AI in writing. The show closed with a look at local news in Minnesota, including the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder and the Minnesota Star Tribune, and the importance of supporting local and independent journalism.

Visit the episode page on the Digimentors website and find gift links to several articles discussed during the show.

Sree Sreenivasan and Neil Parekh discussed the connection between climate change and the wildfires in Europe; critiques of Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey, including Emily Wilson’s response to the film; and recent AI coverage, including Anthropic and OpenAI tests showing how AI systems could break into computer networks.

A viewer’s criticism of The New York Times prompted a broader conversation about perceived media bias, the distinction between news and opinion, the importance of supporting journalism and how credible news organizations respond when they make mistakes.

Visit the episode page on the Digimentors website for several New York Times gift links related to the topics discussed.

Sree Sreenivasan and Neil Parekh discussed India’s “Cockroach” protests, the intense pressure surrounding competitive exams and the role of Gen Z and social media in the movement. They also looked back at the World Cup, including its economic impact, Argentina’s lopsided loss to Spain and the tournament’s winners and losers.

Other topics included the debate over girls joining what is now Scouting America, the continuing role of the Girl Scouts, Gen Z attitudes toward work, American electric vehicles and food-safety concerns.

Find more details and three New York Times gift links on the episode page on the Digimentors website.

Sree Sreenivasan and Neil Parekh discussed the Spain vs. Argentina World Cup final, wildfire smoke affecting air quality, the latest news from Iran and New York Times coverage of ICE and immigration enforcement.

They also reviewed the Sunday paper, shared viewer comments from around the world and continued a broader conversation about voting, political violence, language, facts and dialogue across disagreement. More details are available on the episode page on the Digimentors website.

Sree Sreenivasan and Neil Parekh marked Fourth of July weekend with an America250 edition of The Sunday #NYTReadalong. They reviewed two special sections from The New York Times: “Six Sentences That Have Shaped the American Story” and “Visions of America: The American Revolution Through the Eyes of Seven Everyday Founders.”

They also shared viewer comments on what America250 means, including reflections on the country’s founding ideals, its unfinished promises and the work still needed to build a more perfect union.

Visit the episode page on the Digimentors website for a pdf of “Six Sentences That Have Shaped the American Story” and a gift link to “Visions of America.”