We had the absolute privilege of speaking with Professor Wendy Schiller, Alison S. Ressler Professor of Political Science at Brown University and one of the most prominent voices in American politics. You have likely seen her across major outlets including MSNBC, NPR, CNN, and Bloomberg News, among countless others. Our conversation explored her work on the Senate, beginning with Electing the Senate: Indirect Democracy before the Seventeenth Amendment, where we discussed the original system of indirect elections and the new challenges introduced by direct statewide campaigns. We then turned to the modern dual representation system and how it creates both opportunities and tensions in accountability. We next shifted to polarization, drawing on her work Dynamics of American Democracy: Partisan Polarization, Political Competition, and Government Performance, where we examined the line between healthy competition that strengthens democracy and destructive competition that rewards obstruction. We talked about its roots dating back to Jefferson and Hamilton, the role of digital media in accelerating division, and how voters can still meaningfully hold governments to account even in periods of gridlock and policy oscillation. To conclude, we turned to her current scholarship on domestic violence, drawing on Inequality Across State Lines to explore how structural gaps and uneven state enforcement allow key protections to erode, particularly in preventing firearm access and limiting the conditions that allow violence to persist. We also challenged the misconception that the digital age has simply improved help-seeking, since technology often strengthens abusers’ control rather than weakening it. Stay until the end to hear who Professor Schiller would choose to have dinner with in all of history and why. Check it out!

We had the honor of sitting down with Professor Paul Starr, the Stuart Chair in Communications and Public Affairs at Princeton and recipient of the Pulitzer Prize. So it comes as no surprise that he is a leading scholar across countless fields, including democracy, healthcare, and media. We began our conversation discussing his new work, American Contradiction: Revolution and Revenge from the 1950s to Now, which can be purchased now! We chatted about what drove Professor Starr to this project, the oscillating clash between the politics of revolution and the politics of revenge, and how these historical forces continue to shape our democracy today. We also chatted about the ongoing tariff wars and the implications for Canada and U.S. relations, before transitioning to universal healthcare. Drawing on his experience as senior health policy advisor to President Clinton during the Health Security Act push, we spoke about the forces that have prevented the United States from adopting such a system and the future of healthcare reform in the Trump era. Lastly, we spoke about media, a subject in which Professor Starr has plenty of experience, having co-founded The American Prospect, one of the most prominent public-policy magazines. We spoke about the degradation of the media landscape, the growing vulnerability of democracies to disinformation, and how to preserve trust while advancing genuine pluralistic debates on public policy. To wrap things up, we also got to learn about the Renaissance man side of Professor Starr and why he is truly a “trespasser” across disciplines! Check it out!

We had the honor of sitting down with Professor Paul Starr, the Stuart Chair in Communications and Public Affairs at Princeton and recipient of the Pulitzer Prize. So it comes as no surprise that he is a leading scholar across countless fields, including democracy, healthcare, and media. We began our conversation discussing his new work, American Contradiction: Revolution and Revenge from the 1950s to Now, which can be purchased now! We chatted about what drove Professor Starr to this project, the oscillating clash between the politics of revolution and the politics of revenge, and how these historical forces continue to shape our democracy today. We also chatted about the ongoing tariff wars and the implications for Canada and U.S. relations, before transitioning to universal healthcare. Drawing on his experience as senior health policy advisor to President Clinton during the Health Security Act push, we spoke about the forces that have prevented the United States from adopting such a system and the future of healthcare reform in the Trump era. Lastly, we spoke about media, a subject in which Professor Starr has plenty of experience, having co-founded The American Prospect, one of the most prominent public-policy magazines. We spoke about the degradation of the media landscape, the growing vulnerability of democracies to disinformation, and how to preserve trust while advancing genuine pluralistic debates on public policy. To wrap things up, we also got to learn about the Renaissance man side of Professor Starr and why he is truly a “trespasser” across disciplines! Check it out!

What a wonderful conversation we had with Minister Jessie Sunner, the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Surrey-Newton and the Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, whom we first had the pleasure of meeting in person at the Special Committee on Democratic and Electoral Reforms this summer.​​ We discussed the affordability crisis, mental health, and the K to 12 Anti-Racism Action Plan before shifting to post secondary issues. We addressed the province’s commitment to making education more accessible and affordable through programs such as the B.C. Access Grants and StudentAid BC, and we also explored how curriculum change can better prepare students with the skills needed for the future as AI and automation advance at an unprecedented pace. Lastly, we ended our conversation by discussing how to strengthen youth engagement in democracy. Stay until the end to hear Minister Sunner’s recommendations for must-visit destinations in Surrey!

We had the privilege of speaking with Professor Eric Patashnik, Julis-Rabinowitz Professor of Public Policy and Professor of Political Science at Brown University, described by The New York Times as a leading scholar on why policies succeed or fail. Our conversation explored his work “Countermobilization: Policy Feedback and Backlash in a Polarized Age,” examining how policymakers navigate backlash strategies, the evolution of backlash from a consequence of reform to a weapon in partisan politics, and how it simultaneously functions as a form of policy feedback. We also delved into one of the most interesting political science works out there, “Unhealthy Politics: The Battle over Evidence-Based Medicine.” We discussed how limited political incentives and slow adoption rates within medical society hinder reform, and what solutions might drive effective progress. To conclude, we examined the structural factors that enable policies to endure by satisfying diverse stakeholders, fostering reconfiguration through new coalitions, interest groups, and sustained investment, and how social media can now shape or undermine this process. To wrap things up, we talked about the new era of tennis and who Professor Patashnik predicts will have the upper hand in the Sinner–Alcaraz rivalry! Check it out!

What an insightful conversation we had with Professor Ian Shapiro, Sterling Professor of Political Science at Yale University. Even before our episode, we had long been his students through the Devane lectures, so it was our immense privilege to speak with him! We began with his book “Politics Against Domination,” discussing the idea that domination is the central problem politics must confront, then moved to exploring democracy as a conditioning good and how this understanding informs both the protection and promotion of democracy, as well as the lessons drawn from its successes and failures abroad. Then we turned to his acclaimed work “The Wolf at the Door: The Menace of Economic Insecurity and How to Fight It,” exploring ideas such as the role of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) in reducing political insecurity and creating a race-to-the-top effect, the potential of a bottom up expansion in healthcare starting with a public Medicare option for younger adults, and the importance of building strong coalitions. We then turned to the topic of elections, discussing how polarization often arises from structural factors like safe seats and ideologically extreme primaries that distort representation. Finally, we explored voting reforms to better include marginalized communities and how political parties can reconnect with voters in an era where political branding often overshadows party platforms. In the end, we had the chance to learn what still surprises Professor Shapiro, even after his long and distinguished teaching career. Check it out!

We had the ultimate privilege of speaking with Professor Donald Green, Burgess Professor of Political Science at Columbia University, and widely considered the father of randomized field experiments in political science. His work has been the backbone for so much of our campaign work, so it was surreal speaking to him directly! Our conversation spanned a wide range of topics: from the structural shift in campaigns from persuasion to mobilization, to strategies for reducing polarization, alongside the paradox of scaling to more voters while still preserving quality and personal warmth. We also had the chance to discuss Get Out the Vote, an area where Professor Green is the leading expert, exploring mobilization tactics with a special focus on youth, before turning to randomized field experiments, their history, and their current place within the discipline of political science. To top it off, we talked about Octi, a renowned board game Professor Green created! We’ve actually just challenged him to a match, so fingers crossed we will at least make it a close game! Check it out!

We had the privilege of speaking with MLA Anderson, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Nanaimo–Lantzville and Parliamentary Secretary for Transit. Our conversation covered his leadership in environmental and transit policy, from Nanaimo’s first Transportation Master Plan to his vision for a resilient port strategy that strengthens BC’s economy. We also explored his trailblazing role as one of only four Black MLAs in the province's history and his remarkable path as a young leader in government, beginning with his election to Nanaimo City Council at just 20 and continuing to the legislature today. Stay tuned until the end to hear which of the five instruments he has mastered he would choose to play for the rest of his life! 

We had the privilege of an incredible conversation with MP Elizabeth May, Member of Parliament for Saanich–Gulf Islands and Leader of the Federal Green Party. Our discussion spanned a wide range of topics, including the progress Bill C-226 has made in dismantling environmental racism to her thoughts on the recent passing of C-5 and how Parliament should balance efficiency with accountability. Beyond environmental issues, we explored the Green Party’s broader priorities, including Motion M-11 on housing and her vision for a strategy that defines affordability by individual income rather than market rent, alongside her continued support for Vote16 and Bill S-222. To wrap up, MP May recounts her craziest commuting story, reaffirming her commitment to staying environmentally friendly even in the most unpredictable circumstances!

We had the honour of speaking with MP Niki Ashton, Member of Parliament for Churchill—Keewatinook Aski! In this episode, we delve into a wide range of topics, ranging from fairness and transparency in Canada’s tax system, to tackling offshore tax havens and capital gains taxation. We also discuss her private member’s Bill C-245, which proposes redirecting the Canadian Infrastructure Bank’s $35 billion toward public-interest projects while ensuring Indigenous communities have a direct voice in its leadership! Stay tuned until the end to hear MP Ashton’s story of meeting Yao Ming at the 2004 Athens Olympics, where her fluency in English, French, Greek, and Spanish helped her coordinate for both Team Canada and China!