Politicology

Poler Family Professor and chair of the psychology department at Amherst College Dr. Catherine Sanderson joins Ron Steslow to talk about how giving can make you happier.  (02:08) What is happiness and how can we measure it? (08:31) Does giving make you happy or do happy people give more? (10:20) Types of giving and the impact on happiness (14:50) The effect of giving on bad moods (28:58) Gratitude...

To join Politicology+, visit politicology.com/plus or subscribe in Apple Podcasts. The new, darker Donald Trump and his allies have been previewing how he’d use the Oval Office to seek revenge if he gets reelected.  On this weekly roundup, host Ron Steslow and guests Mike Madrid (Lincoln Project cofounder) and Olivier Knox (National Political Correspondent)   discuss Trump’s darker turn and what,...

Over the last 100 years, we have streamlined the process of food production. A hundred years ago, 99% of people were engaged in the agricultural process in some way. Today, that number is 1%. As a result, our relationship with food has become desperately impersonal. But what are the consequences of all that efficiency? Embark on a transformative journey into the heart of our food systems with Jeff...

To join Politicology+, visit politicology.com/plus or subscribe in Apple Podcasts. Over 100 of the hostages taken captive by Hamas have been freed over the last week as part of a ceasefire deal with the Israeli government On this weekly roundup, host Ron Steslow and guests Lucy Caldwell (Board Advisor to the Renew Democracy Initiative  and advisor to the Forward Party) and Liam Donovan (Principal...

 A woman is weeping over a covered body on a street in Gaza. She's surrounded by people. She turns to the camera and screams: “All this is because of the dogs of Hamas.”  And then two men grab her and literally silence her. They hold a hand over her mouth.  What if we could hear real stories from people living in Gaza about how Hamas treats them?  The Center for Peace Communications is helping to...

To join Politicology+, visit politicology.com/plus or subscribe in Apple Podcasts. On Tuesday, Israel approved a short-term ceasefire in exchange for the return of hostages being held captive by Hamas in Gaza.  On this weekly roundup, host Ron Steslow and guests Mike Madrid (Lincoln Project cofounder) and Hagar Chemali (Former spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the UN) discuss the deal, Hamas’s...

Amid the sea of Trump flags outside the Capitol on January 6th, there were signs that read “Jesus is my Savior, Trump is my President.” A group of protestors carried a giant cross as they marched around the Capitol.  Why were these Christian images on prominent display?  What role did Charismatic Christianity play in the buildup to the riot at the capitol?  How is it continuing to shape our politi...

To join Politicology+, visit politicology.com/plus or subscribe in Apple Podcasts. On Wednesday, President Joe Biden met with Chinese Leader Xi Jinping for the first time in a year after months of building tensions between the two countries. On this weekly roundup, host Ron Steslow and guests Molly McKew (writer and lecturer on Russian influence and information warfare) and Zack Czajkowski (former...

Over the last month, a compelling global poster campaign has emerged, gripping cities and towns worldwide with its poignant message. These posters, emblazoned with the word "Kidnapped" in bold letters, feature some of the 240 people abducted from Israel into the Gaza strip by Hamas on October 7.  This campaign, now viral, transcends language barriers, its message echoing through the streets from T...

To join Politicology+, visit politicology.com/plus or subscribe in Apple Podcasts. On Tuesday, Democrats and abortion rights advocates scored election victories in Virginia and Ohio On this weekly roundup, host Ron Steslow and guests Mike Madrid (Lincoln Project cofounder) and Lucy Caldwell (Board Advisor to the Renew Democracy Initiative and advisor to the Forward Party) discuss the results of th...

Amid the sea of Trump flags outside the Capitol on January 6th, there were signs that read “Jesus is my Savior, Trump is my President.” A group of protestors carried a giant cross as they marched around the Capitol.  Why were these Christian images on prominent display?  What role did Charismatic Christianity play in the buildup to the riot at the capitol?  How is it continuing to shape our politi...

To join Politicology+, visit politicology.com/plus or subscribe in Apple Podcasts. Since Hamas launched their horrific terrorist attacks in Israel, violent antisemitism has spiked across the United States and most visibly on college campuses On this weekly roundup, host Ron Steslow and guests Liz Gilbert Cohen (President of the 2020 Democratic National Convention) and Marc Polymeropoulos (Former C...

To unlock Politicology+, visit politicology.com/plus Journalist, Public Speaker and Author Celeste Headlee (@CelesteHeadlee) joins host Ron Steslow (@RonSteslow) to reveal the science and history behind human communication, share keys to unlock deeper conversations, and explain how critical empathy is for our ability to listen and connect. For more information, to contact us, or to contribute to P...

To join Politicology+, visit politicology.com/plus or subscribe in Apple Podcasts. After more than three weeks of chaos, the House of Representatives has elected a new Speaker. On this weekly roundup, host Ron Steslow and guests Katty Kay (veteran reporter and NYT bestselling author) and Susan Del Percio (MSNBC political analyst and crisis communications expert) discuss Speaker Mike Johnson’s rise...

Join Politicology+ now for exclusive content - https://politicology.com/plus Dr. Catherine Sanderson, Poler Family Professor, Chair of Psychology at Amherst College and the author of Why We Act: Turning Bystanders Into Moral Rebels joins host Ron Steslow to analyze why Trump was able to exert control on the Republican party, how to recognize leaders who will stand up for what’s right—and what we c...

In the two weeks since Hamas began their terrorist attacks in Israel, many people around the globe have, stunningly, taken to the streets to cheer on the assault. Ron Steslow calls Yascha Mounk (Author of The Identity Trap: A Story of Ideas and Power in Our Time), to explain the people cheering Hamas on, the identity synthesis that is driving their action, the failure of major news organizations p...

To join Politicology+, visit politicology.com/plus or subscribe in Apple Podcasts. Against a backdrop of American and Israeli flags, President Joe Biden told Israel that as long as the United States stands, Israel will never be alone.  On this weekly roundup, host Ron Steslow and guests Mike Madrid (Lincoln Project cofounder) and Matt Bennett (Executive Vice President for Public Affairs at Third W...

Hamas’s attack on Israel has heightened concerns about safety and security for Jewish people around the globe.  Ron Steslow calls Michael Masters, National Director and CEO of the Secure Community Network, to discuss the threats to Jewish communities in the United States and what organizations and individuals can do to increase their safety We’re learning more and more about the atrocities Hamas h...

The Internet is awash in horrifying images and videos coming from inside Israel and Gaza.  Ron Steslow calls Catherine Sanderson, Ph. D. (Poler Family Professor and chair of the psychology department at Amherst College), to discuss what you can do to mind your mental health when consuming disturbing media. Note: We’re learning more and more about the atrocities Hamas has committed and about the ev...

During Hamas’s rampage in Israel last weekend, they kidnapped an estimated 150 people, including women, children, and the elderly.  Ron Steslow calls Danielle Gilbert, Ph. D. and Assistant Professor of Political Science at Northwestern University (and Liz Gilbert Cohen’s sister), to discuss the Gaza hostage crisis, how hostage taking tactics developed and why this situation is different.  They dis...

To join Politicology+, visit politicology.com/plus or subscribe in Apple Podcasts. Israel is still reeling from an unprecedented and gruesome terrorist attack by Hamas last weekend. Over a thousand Israelis, including babies, children and the elderly, have been brutally massacred. On this weekly roundup, guest host Lucy Caldwell (Board Advisor to the Renew Democracy Initiative and advisor to the F...

Ron Steslow calls Hagar Chemali to discuss the brutal terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas in Israel, the massive intelligence failure, how the U.S. and Israel have responded, the reports Iran helped to organize and green light the attack, and why more leaders at  home should be condemning the attacks.  We’re learning more and more about the atrocities Hamas has committed every hour, including d...

For the first time in American history, the Speaker of the House of Representatives was ousted in a vote of no confidence.  On this weekly roundup, host Ron Steslow and guests Mike Madrid (Lincoln Project cofounder) and Scott Tranter (Investor and Advisor to Decision Desk HQ) discuss the Republican infighting, the reforms Matt Gaetz asked for, what it means, and where we go from here .  Then they...

Claire Wardle (co-founder and co-director of the Information Futures Lab, and Professor of the Practice at the Brown School of Public Health) joins Ron Steslow to discuss the challenges( and failures) in improving our information landscape (02:12) Claire’s background and how it led to her research (05:52) Why terms like “misinformation,” “disinformation,” and “malinformation” have become less and...

Can Donald Trump use the UAW strike to win over voters in Michigan? Did anyone need to hear Mike Pence tell a sex joke? Has a key member of the Senate been compromised by Egypt? On this weekly roundup, guest host Hagar Chemali (Former spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the UN) and guests Susan Del Percio (MSNBC political analyst and crisis communications expert) and Marc Polymeropoulos (Former C...