What Could Go Right? - podcast cover

What Could Go Right?

The Progress Network with Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucastheprogressnetwork.org
What if instead of being on the brink of disaster, we’re on the cusp of a better world? No one can deny the challenges the world faces, from pandemics to climate change to authoritarianism. But pessimism and despair are too easy a response. Each week, Progress Network Founder Zachary Karabell and Executive Director Emma Varvaloucas convene a diverse panel of experts to discuss the central issues of our era, including sustainability, polarization, work, and the economy, and make the case for a brighter future. They emerge from their conversations with a counterintuitive but informed take: progress is on its way.

Episodes

Space News, Hearing Aids, and a Changing Tomorrow with Jason Feifer

How is NASA propelling us into the future? Who is next to legalize same-sex marriage? Plus, we hear from the editor-in-chief of Entrepreneur magazine, Jason Feifer, about how to embrace change without waiting for a crisis to push us forward. What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and The Podglomerate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 19, 202253 minSeason 1Ep. 39

Pardons, Guaranteed Income, and "Superabundance" with Gale L. Pooley and Marian L. Tupy

Has anything changed since #metoo started? When is Indigenous Peoples Day? What's the deal with guaranteed income? Plus, maybe the world is doing better than we thought. Authors of the book "Superabundance," Gale L. Pooley and Marian L. Tupy, argue that we are capable of more progress the more the world's population grows. What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and The Podglomerate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 12, 202258 minSeason 1Ep. 38

Why Is Violent Crime Rising? with Jennifer Doleac

Is Italy returning to fascism? Are we closer to a cure for cancer? And why is the violent crime rate climbing in the US? Economist Jennifer Doleac talks us though her research on the economics of crime and discrimination. What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and The Podglomerate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 05, 202247 minSeason 1Ep. 37

Legalizing Marijuana, Electric Cars, and What’s Going on with California? with Sen. Robert Hertzberg

How has the experiment to legalize marijuana gone? Do schoolchildren need more sleep? Why is California suddenly doing all the things? Plus, bans to usher in a future of electric cars, bail reform, and tackling homelessness with Senate Majority Leader Emeritus Robert Hertzberg. What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and The Podglomerate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 28, 202253 minSeason 1Ep. 37

Vaccine Equity and Bipartisan Reality with Rep. Eric Swalwell and Gov. Jeff Colyer

What's the impact of the new malaria vaccine with "world-changing" potential? Was there a lack of scrutiny over the worldwide Covid vaccine rollouts? Is there an update on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals? Plus, we talk with Congressman Eric Swalwell and Jeff Colyer, former Governor of Kansas, about the process, practicalities, and hope for a bipartisan future. What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and The Podglomerate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.f...

Sep 21, 20221 hrSeason 1Ep. 36

The New Space Race with Ché Bolden

Will space travel and exploration be left to the 'billionaire boys club'? Executive Director of the Inter Astra group and 26-year Marine Corps veteran Ché Bolden shares with us his views on the future of space. What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and The Podglomerate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 22, 20221 hr 13 minSeason 1Ep. 35

Facing America's Biggest Challenges with Victoria Pratt & Lauren Leader

After a string of heartbreaking news in the United States, are we doomed to fear, anger, and a descent into gridlocked politics? Today, Judge Victoria Pratt, an advocate for reforming the criminal justice system, and Lauren Leader, the cofounder and CEO of All In Together, discuss America's biggest challenges and how each have enacted change in large, complex systems. What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and The Podglomerate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone....

Jun 15, 20221 hr 9 minSeason 1Ep. 34

The Interfaith Imperative with Eboo Patel

How can we live with people who are different from us? Eboo Patel, founder and president of Interfaith America and former faith adviser to President Barack Obama, believes that interfaith living is essential to our collective well-being in an ethnically, racially, and ideologically diverse democracy. And in the United States, we actually do it quite well already. What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and The Podglomerate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/ad...

Jun 08, 20221 hr 6 minSeason 1Ep. 33

Wisdom for Smart Tech with Ayesha Khanna

Web3 is seen by many as the future of the internet. Others understand the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) as the first step to a robot takeover. Where's the balance between these two reactions? This week, AI expert, CEO of ADDO AI, and a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Media, Entertainment, and Culture Ayesha Khanna joins us to wade through the hype around cryptocurrency, decentralized finance, robots, and more and talk through global leadership on new tech rol...

Jun 01, 20221 hr 9 minSeason 1Ep. 32

Race in America, 2 Years After George Floyd with Theodore R. Johnson

How do we grapple with the most challenging issues surrounding race, political division, equality, and more? Theodore R. Johnson, author, senior fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, and retired commander in the US Navy, joins us to make a compelling case for a national solidarity necessary to mitigate racism and fulfill the American Promise. What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and The Podglomerate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.f...

May 25, 20221 hr 2 minSeason 1Ep. 31

The Philanthropic Moment with Rachel Pritzker and David Callahan

Is philanthropy helpful? Looking at the giving data during the pandemic as well as the billionaire class philanthropy trends and small-dollar individual political donations, what are the pros and cons of philanthropy? Joining us in this conversation are Rachel Pritzker, founder and president of the Pritzker Innovation Fund, and David Callahan, founder and editor of Inside Philanthropy, to talk through some of the advantages and disadvantages we see in today's giving economy. What Could Go Right?...

May 18, 20221 hr 13 minSeason 1Ep. 30

Global Trade: The Race to the Top with Gregg Easterbrook

Are we in an unprecedented era of military peace on the seas? Gregg Easterbrook, a prolific author and a writer and editor at The Atlantic for over 40 years, shares how the Navy, innovation, space travel, and prosperity go hand in hand. What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and The Podglomerate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 11, 20221 hr 3 minSeason 1Ep. 29

Pandemic "Retrospective" with Nicholas Christakis and Ezekiel Emanuel

Are we moving "out of the pandemic phase" of COVID-19? Today we talk with the Director of the Human Nature Lab at Yale University, Nicholas Christakis, and Special Advisor to the Director General of the World Health Organization, Ezekiel Emanuel, about what we've learned over the past two years and where we can go from here. What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and The Podglomerate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 04, 20221 hr 10 minSeason 1Ep. 28

The Information Horizon with Tyler Cowen

What's coming next? We sit down with a modern renaissance man, economist, and podcaster Tyler Cowen to participate in what he calls his greatest pleasure: information extraction. We pick his brain on everything from mRNA to housing bubbles to literature. "The world," he tells us, "has never been more optimistic than it is now." What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and The Podglomerate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 27, 20221 hr 5 minSeason 1Ep. 27

The World Post-Putin with Anne-Marie Slaughter

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has been framed as a global inflection point. It may or may not be in actuality, but it is certainly a moment that challenges our assumptions of how we view the current world order and opens questions about what the next one would best look like. Anne-Marie Slaughter, CEO of New America and a Professor Emerita of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University, joins us to discuss what is happening now in Ukraine and where the future of defense is going...

Apr 20, 20221 hr 9 minSeason 1Ep. 26

The Happiness Rebellion with Arthur C. Brooks

What is happiness, and why does it feel so difficult to find? The path to purpose, meaning, love, and contentment is actually no mystery, says Harvard University social scientist Arthur C. Brooks. He shares the research for how to invest in a thriving “happiness 401k.” What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and The Podglomerate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 13, 20221 hr 6 minSeason 1Ep. 25

Does Work Work Anymore? with Roy Bahat

Work ain’t what it used to be—just ask the millions of Americans who are part of the “Great Resignation.” Venture capitalist and head of Bloomberg Beta, Roy Bahat, is looking to shape work for the better, from new forms of labor organizing to remote-friendly tech. What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and The Podglomerate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 06, 20221 hr 9 minSeason 1Ep. 24

The Progress Movement with Jason Crawford

Is progress still possible? We believe so, and we're not alone. Jason Crawford, founder of The Roots of Progress, sits down with us to talk about the possibilities of the future and makes a case for optimism in the face of pessimistic predictions about tomorrow. What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and The Podglomerate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 30, 202252 minSeason 1Ep. 23

The Plague Cycle (Bonus)

It might seem counterintuitive to ask in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, but is humanity winning the fight against infectious disease? Charles Kenny, Senior Fellow at the Center for Global Development, says we are. But we must continue availing ourselves of the solutions that have led to this progress if that answer is to stay. In this interview, Kenny speaks with The Progress Network Executive Director Emma Varvaloucas about his new book, The Plague Cycle, outlining the immense headway hum...

Feb 23, 202243 minSeason 1Ep. 22

Bridging Our Divides (Bonus)

The United States is a country divided, characterized by collapsing levels of trust in our institutions, in our politics, and in each other. How did we get into this mess, and how do we get out? Join The Progress Network for a conversation with TPN Members David Brooks and Theodore R. Johnson, hosted by our founder, Zachary Karabell, centered around this question. They examine ideas for how to bridge our divides at both an individual and collective level. This conversation was recorded on Decemb...

Feb 16, 20221 hr 6 minSeason 1Ep. 21

The Population Explosion (Bonus)

Are we on the brink of a population explosion with untold global consequences? On the contrary, a growing number of experts argue that we are headed for a worldwide decline. Hear from Empty Planet authors John Ibbitson and Darrell Bricker on how this could bring with it many benefits as well as surprising disruptions. This recording was first released on March 5th, 2019. What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and The Podglomerate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megapho...

Feb 09, 202247 minSeason 1Ep. 20

Our Lonely Century (Bonus)

What do university students in Britain and Trump voters in the United States have in common? They're lonely. In fact, Noreena Hertz says, loneliness is the defining feature of this century, thanks to a host of drivers ranging from the technological to the economic. The Progress Network founder Zachary Karabell joins Noreena, an economist and author of The Lonely Century, as she elucidates whether we're really more lonely than we used to be, what has led, pandemic aside, to our current state of h...

Feb 02, 202243 minSeason 1Ep. 19

We Are the Outrage Machine (Bonus)

It's no secret that social media is politically divisive. What we may not be as aware of is how our own behavior feeds into a positive feedback loop that leaves both sides progressively more outraged and more extreme in their beliefs. What should we be aware of before we like, share, and react to politically inflammatory content online? What techniques do we have at our disposal to improve our online behavior? The Progress Network Member Robert Wright, president of the Nonzero Foundation and a l...

Jan 26, 202236 minSeason 1Ep. 18

The Crypto Dream (Bonus)

What are we to make of the social and financial phenomenon of cryptocurrency? Will it spell the democratization of money free from government control, or is it simply a bubble that is going to pop? The Progress Network founder Zachary Karabell sits down with Wences Casares, a technology entrepreneur and one of the early advocates of Bitcoin, who believes that it will prove to be bigger than the Internet. This recording was first released on January 23rd, 2018. What Could Go Right? is produced by...

Jan 19, 202246 minSeason 1Ep. 17

This Changes Everything: The World-Turning Power of Ideas (Bonus)

Ideas start wars and movements, undergird societies and governments, and shape the daily experiences of our personal lives. We ignore or underestimate the power of ideas to our detriment. And yet they can feel slippery to reckon with; difficult to see, tougher still to understand their complex movement through the world. Join The Progress Network for a wide-ranging discussion on ideas—which ones are significant now, which may be significant in the future, and how we can participate in ideas' pow...

Jan 12, 20221 hr 6 minSeason 1Ep. 16

Rethinking Today's Capitalism (Bonus)

At its worst, today’s capitalism is risky, reckless, and rapacious, unmindful of its impact on society and addicted to the motto that more is always more. Surrounded by these conditions, we might forget that it doesn’t have to be this way—today’s capitalism is just one of many capitalisms, and we can choose to swim in new waters instead. Editor-at-large for the Financial Times (US) Gillian Tett and The Progress Network Founder Zachary Karabell discuss. This conversation was recorded on June 10, ...

Dec 22, 20211 hr 6 minSeason 1Ep. 15

The Next Wave of Higher Education (Bonus)

Is higher education due for a makeover? The pandemic has only accelerated the trends disrupting the traditional model of higher ed. So it’s an opportune time to look ahead and discuss what's coming next, from closing the gap that has opened between elite schools and the rest to the waning of standardized admissions tests to the rise of online and hybrid learning from the fringe to the center. Along the way, of course, we'll be answering the ever-acute question of what it is all supposed to be fo...

Dec 15, 20211 hr 9 minSeason 1Ep. 14

Maybe We're Not F*cked: Moving the Climate Conversation Forward (Bonus)

When we think about our environmental future, it's no wonder that many of us feel an overwhelm bordering on defeat. We've been hearing for years about the damage humanity has done to our world and the coming climate apocalypse, which if you listen to some is now impossible to avert. There's no denying that climate change is a real and significant issue. But is the narrative of climate catastrophism accurate, and is it doing us any good? Join The Progress Network for a conversation with Ted Nordh...

Dec 08, 20211 hr 6 minSeason 1Ep. 13

Live from Web Summit: An Affordable Internet & Pharmaceutical Psychedelics (Bonus)

We're back with part 2 of our Web Summit episode, bringing you conversations with people who are trying to make the world a better place. Today we talk with Sonia Jorge, Executive Director for Alliance for Affordable Internet and Head of Digital Inclusion Program at Web Foundation, to hear how they are creating the conditions for affordable Internet in countries worldwide and what they have learned along the way. Next, we sit down with Robert Barrow, the CEO of MindMed, a company that researches...

Dec 01, 202126 minSeason 1Ep. 12

Live from Web Summit: Drone Delivery & Turning Buildings into Teslas (Bonus)

We recently attended Web Summit, a conference that brought together more than 30,000 people and over a thousand startups of all sizes. While we were there, we sat down to talk with a few people whose companies aim to make the future brighter. Our first conversation is with Donnel Baird, the founder of BlocPower, an NYC-based company that "turns buildings into Teslas." BlockPower retrofits residential buildings to wean them off dirty energy and make them green. The second is with Bobby Healy, the...

Nov 24, 202132 minSeason 1Ep. 11