How can sociology reclaim its commitment to rigorous inquiry and viewpoint diversity? Today, John Tomasi sits with Jukka Savolainen, Ph.D., Sociology professor at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, and the moderator of the Heterodox Academy’s Sociology community. They discuss the discipline's current challenges, including ideological bias and lack of viewpoint diversity, and explore potential paths toward reform. Jukka shares his journey into sociology and his decision to leave Finland...
May 06, 2025•44 min•Season 2Ep. 35
How did America’s universities lose the trust of the public, and what will it take to restore faith in higher education? In this episode, we are joined by Benjamin and Jenna Storey, renowned scholars, co-authors, and directors at the American Enterprise Institute’s Program on the Future of the American University. Together with host John Tomasi, they undertake a searching examination of the forces eroding confidence in universities and offer a roadmap for rebuilding their legitimacy and civic pu...
Apr 22, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Season 2Ep. 34
Where should the line be drawn between the government's role in stopping discrimination and a university's right to run itself? Today on Heterodox Out Loud, John Tomasi sits down with Joe Cohn, Policy Director at Heterodox Academy, to discuss the complexities of federal intervention in higher education. Cohn, a First Amendment expert, delves into the implications of recent federal actions, including those by the Trump administration, to combat anti-Semitism and enforce Title VI of the Civil Righ...
Apr 08, 2025•58 min•Season 2Ep. 33
What does it mean for a university to become a battleground against deep-seated prejudices and historical tensions? In today’s episode, we dive into these challenging questions with our distinguished guest, Cary Nelson, a celebrated scholar and ardent advocate for academic freedom. Nelson shares his insights on the intersection of anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism in academia, a topic explored in his new book, " Mindless: What Happened to Universities? " The conversation examines how the lines betw...
Mar 18, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 32
How is Trump's executive order redefining the language permissible in scientific research, and what does it mean for academic freedom? Today, we examine the complexities surrounding scientific research under shifting political landscapes with Ivan Oransky, a seasoned medical journalist and co-founder of Retraction Watch. Oransky discusses the implications of President Trump's executive orders and how it has sent ripples throughout the scientific community, causing researchers to reconsider their...
Mar 04, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 31
What happens when mental health care becomes intertwined with prevailing political ideologies and biases? Today on Heterodox Out Loud, we’re joined by Andrew Hartz, president and founder of the Open Therapy Institute and a long-term member of Heterodox Academy. Andrew joins John Tomasi to explore the increasing prevalence of sociopolitical bias within the realm of mental health therapy. Andrew shares his motivations for founding the Open Therapy Institute, highlighting the concerning shifts in t...
Feb 18, 2025•48 min•Season 2Ep. 30
Can meaningful conversations bridge the divide in a polarized world? In today's episode, we explore the transformative power of radical curiosity with Shira Hoffer, a senior at Harvard University and founder of the Institute for Multipartisan Education . Join host John Tomasi, as they delve into the potential of dialogue in reducing societal hate and fostering understanding. Shira Hoffer shares her inspirational journey from idealistic student to social entrepreneur, recounting the pivotal exper...
Feb 04, 2025•51 min•Season 2Ep. 29
What happens when the principles of law clash with evolving ideologies in academia? Join us today as we delve into the transformative journey of legal education with Rebecca Roiphe, a lawyer, visiting fellow at the Siegel Center for Academic Pluralism, and author of the upcoming book, " The Devil's Advocate: How Law Schools Abandoned the Law ." In this compelling episode, Rebecca Roiphe outlines the transformative shifts within legal education over the past fifty years, moving from a focus on ri...
Jan 21, 2025•50 min•Season 2Ep. 28
Can the ideological emphasis on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) slow down the progress of science? Our guest today is Anna Krylov, professor of chemistry at the University of Southern California and an advocate for maintaining meritocracy in scientific funding and evaluation. She joins John Tomasi to discuss critical tensions in today's scientific landscape. Krylov addresses the potential social costs of slower scientific progress due to ideological influences, particularly DEI, which she...
Jan 07, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 27
How do schools navigate the complexities of inclusion, polarization, and freedom of expression while fostering a vibrant learning environment? Today, John Austin, Head of School at Deerfield Academy, joins Heterodox Out Loud to explore these questions and share insights from the groundbreaking report, Thriving in a World of Pluralistic Contention: A Framework for Schools. John reflects on his unique journey from aspiring surfer to educational leader, shaping student experiences across continents...
Dec 10, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Season 2Ep. 26
How did a classicist's journey through Greco-Roman literature and Arabic studies shape his unique approach to academia? Today's episode features Elisha Russ-Fishbane, associate professor at NYU and research director at the Center for the Study of Antisemitism. In this engaging conversation, Elisha recounts his academic journey that began with a love for Greco-Roman literature and took him through the high intellectual demands set by mentors like Vatican Latinist Reginald Foster. He shares how th...
Nov 26, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 25
What new vision can pluralism bring to today’s universities? Today, founder of Interfaith America Eboo Patel, joins John to discuss how pluralism can be a guiding principle in transforming higher education away from rigid ideological confines towards a more inclusive and dynamic intellectual space. Eboo shares his journey to understanding pluralism. He views pluralism as a way to embrace one’s identity while valuing others and notes that the approach to anti-racism in some universities is shifti...
Nov 12, 2024•59 min•Season 2Ep. 24
How does political intervention shape the landscape of higher education? Today, our guest is Keith Whittington, Ph.D, David Boies Professor of Law at Yale Law School and director of the Center for Academic Freedom. In this episode, host John Tomasi and Keith Whittington discuss the increasingly contentious legislative interventions in higher education, beginning with Florida's "Stop Woke Act." Whittington compares today's interventions to past efforts, discussing implications for academic freedo...
Oct 22, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Season 2Ep. 23
What happens when the guardians of cultural narratives and societal norms become inseparable from the very hierarchies they critique? Today, we explore the concept of "symbolic capitalists" with Musa al-Gharbi, author of We Have Never Been Woke: The Cultural Contradictions of a New Elite and assistant professor at the School of Communication and Journalism at Stony Brook University. In this conversation, Musa discusses the role of symbolic capitalists in perpetuating societal inequalities and ho...
Oct 08, 2024•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 22
Is the principle of free speech being weaponized to legitimize harmful ideologies like racism, sexism, and transphobia? What happens when the sanctity of free speech collides with the complexities of societal power dynamics? In today's episode, we navigate this intricate terrain with Anthony Leaker, a senior lecturer in culture and critical theory at the University of Brighton, and the author of " Against Free Speech ." John Tomasi and Anthony’s conversation revolves around the contentious and o...
Sep 19, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Season 2Ep. 21
What is the real purpose of a university—truth-seeking or molding active citizens? Are university campuses becoming echo chambers, leading to self-censorship among not just conservatives but liberals too? Today's guest is Amna Khalid, an esteemed Associate Professor of History at Carleton College and a prominent voice within the Heterodox Academy (HxA) community. Together, John Tomasi and Amna explore this multifaceted question. They discuss the evolving role of universities, the interplay of cr...
Sep 05, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Season 2Ep. 20
What happens when public policy meets the complex world of modern gender identity? Our guest today is Kathleen Stock, a former professor of philosophy at the University of Sussex, author of the critically-acclaimed " Material Girls ", and an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) awardee. Kathleen joins host John Tomasi to navigate the often-tense intersection of trans rights, gender identity, and academic freedom. Despite facing protests, security threats, and professional challenges,...
Jun 27, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Season 2Ep. 19
What happens when foundational scientific concepts clash with modern identity politics? Today, our guest is Elizabeth Weiss, professor emeritus of anthropology at San José State University, Segal Center research fellow, and a renowned author. Her latest book, " On the War Path: My Battles with Indians, Pretendians, and Woke Warriors ", is now available. Weiss recounts her tumultuous journey through academia and the underlying conflicts within anthropology. These conflicts range from the debate b...
Jun 13, 2024•1 hr 23 min•Season 2Ep. 18
Can emotional connections to our identities justify restrictions on free speech? This provocative episode of Heterodox Out Loud explores the deep tension between personal relationships and public discussions. Host John Tomasi sits down with Jilian Lederman, a graduate of Brown University and a strong advocate for free speech. Together, they examine the complex landscape of free expression on university campuses, focusing on the oppressor-oppressed dynamic and its impact on intellectual diversity...
May 30, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 17
They delve into specific instances where these movements have influenced policy changes, discussing the tensions between activism and open inquiry. The conversation highlights recent cases where protests have either stifled or spurred debates about institutional investment ethics and the balance between social justice and academic discourse. Finally, they discuss the politicization of the humanities, examining how political biases can shape curricula and impact scholarly discourse. In This Episo...
May 16, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Season 2Ep. 16
From Coddling to Crisis. Today, we trace the trajectory of student fragility from playgrounds to classrooms. Welcome to Heterodox Out Loud. In today's episode, our host, John Tomasi, talks with social psychologist and best-selling author Jonathan Haidt about his new book, The Anxious Generation. The book delves into the increasing levels of anxiety and emotional distress experienced by teens today. During their discussion, Haidt emphasizes the significant shift from a play-based childhood to a s...
May 09, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 15
Is diversity simply a box-checking exercise, or does it hold a deeper significance in academia? Today we're joined by Azim Shariff, Ph.D, a distinguished professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia, to explore the complex landscape of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in higher education. In this conversation, John Tomasi and Azim delve deep into the multifaceted approach to DEI, discussing the pressing need to rethink and clarify the rationale behind diversity in faculty ...
Apr 24, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 14
Discover how Ivy League schools might be shortchanging taxpayers to the tune of billions! Today, we're peeling back the layers of an issue that hits our wallets and our values: the billion-dollar taxpayer support of Ivy League institutions. Host John Tomasi is joined by Adam Andrzejewski, founder and CEO of "Open the Books," an advocate for transparency in public finances. Adam brings to light a staggering reality: Over a recent five-year period, Ivy League schools amassed fortunes at the taxpay...
Apr 10, 2024•48 min•Season 2Ep. 13
What really happened in 1945? Explore how students grapple with historical events and figures to understand their distinctness and uniqueness. In this episode of Heterodox Out Loud, host John Tomasi interviews Professor Mark Carnes of Barnard College. Professor Carnes talks about his innovative approach to teaching history, which he calls "reacting to the past." He explains how this method challenges traditional teaching by immersing students in historical contexts through Live-Action Role-Playi...
Mar 27, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 12
With the changing 'diploma divide,' what does the new correlation between education and party affiliation tell us about American politics? Today, we're joined by the insightful Diana Mutz as we explore the intriguing shifts within the ideological landscape of higher education and its broader implications for American politics. Universities, once beacons of diverse thought, appear now as battlegrounds of ideological conformity. In this episode of Heterodox Out Loud, we explore the complexities su...
Mar 13, 2024•57 min•Season 2Ep. 11
Can we restore the fractured trust in science and steer public health back to its noble roots? Welcome to Heterodox Out Loud. Today, we are joined by Sandro Galea, M.D., M.P.H., Dr.P.H, who provides insights that challenge us to confront the post-pandemic skepticism clouding the scientific community. In this episode, we will delve into a conversation that dissects how the clamor of political bias and social media frenzy has overshadowed the value of nuanced scientific discourse during COVID-19. ...
Feb 28, 2024•53 min•Season 2Ep. 10
Today, John Tomasi and award-winning journalist Jamie Kalven explore the complexities surrounding the idea of institutional neutrality within universities and its implications for promoting intellectual freedom and robust argument. They delve into the Kalven Report of 1967 from the University of Chicago. This landmark report sought to balance the preservation of academic freedom with the responsibility to uphold the university's mission and values. The report's nuanced approach is examined in th...
Feb 14, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Season 2Ep. 9
Are our higher education institutions still nurturing true intellectual diversity? Our guest today is Steven Pinker, a cognitive scientist at Harvard, and today, we'll be exploring the growing concerns within higher ed that institutions are turning into echo chambers, stifling dissent and censoring certain perspectives. In this thought-provoking episode, we'll be discovering the challenges to academic freedom in the era of cancel culture. We'll explore how questioning a consensus can now come at...
Jan 31, 2024•58 min•Season 2Ep. 8
In this episode of Heterodox Out Loud, John Tomasi speaks with Alexandra Lysova. Alexandra Lysova, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the School of Criminology at Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Vancouver/Burnaby, Canada. Her research career, spanning more than 20 years, focuses on intimate partner violence, including violence against men, women and children. Having experienced limitations on freedoms in Russia, where Alexandra grew up, she has developed a heightened appreciation for democratic...
Jan 17, 2024•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 7
In this episode of Heterodox Out Loud, John Tomasi speaks with Musa Al-Gharbi. Musa is a Paul F. Lazarsfeld Fellow in Sociology. His research explores how we think about, talk about, and produce knowledge about social phenomena including race, inequality, social movements, extremism, policing, national security, foreign policy and domestic U.S. political contests. In this episode of Heterodox Out Loud, we talk about ideological differences in society, bridging the ideological divide in America. ...
Jan 03, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 6
