We Mean Business

In this episode, Ananya Bhargava interviews Lauren Auverset , Assistant Professor of Strategic Communication at the University of Louisiana. The discussion explores the historical context and evolution of parasocial relationships, the rise of influencer culture across new media platforms, and influencer responsibility and ethical standards in an online world.

In this episode, Ananya Bhargava interviews Jacob Teeny , Associate Professor of Marketing at Northwestern University. The discussion explores personalized persuasion, the difference between persuasion and manipulation, AI’s role in automating advertising, and the ethical and societal implications of these changes.

In this episode, Quỳnh Lê interviews Marianne Jennings , an emeritus professor of legal and ethical studies in business at Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business. The discussion looks at business ethics, corporate responsibility and how to spot the signs of ethical trouble before things fall apart.   Source note: The introduction includes brief archival audio about Boeing, Wells...

In this episode, Ananya Bhargava interviews Daniel Mochon , Associate Professor of Marketing at Tulane University. The discussion explores the confrontation effect in consumer behavior, why content that sparks outrage is so effective at driving engagement, and whether a healthier online environment is possible in the future.

In this episode, Ananya Bhargava interviews Evan Weingarten , Assistant Professor of Marketing at USC Marshall School of Business. The discussion explores why nostalgia strikes a chord wxith consumers, how it influences buying decisions and brand perception, and what behavioral research reveals about its psychological pull.

In this episode, Ananya Bhargava interviews Benjamin Klopack , an Assistant Professor of Economics at Texas A&M University. The discussion tackles how subscription models shape consumer behavior and how proposed regulations may affect consumer protection going forward.

In this edition of We Mean Business: “How They Did It,” Ananya Bhargava talks to Brontë Wittpenn about her recent award-winning coverage on the systemic use of a flawed estimator tool, 360Value, that leaves homeowners drastically underinsured. “ Burned ” won the 2025 Gold prize in the Barlett and Steele Awards Regional/Local category. Visit the San Francisco Chronicle to read their investigation o...

In this episode of How They Did It, Quỳnh Lê talks with Alexa York, winner of the 2025 Barlett & Steele Award for Outstanding Young Journalist. York shares how her investigation at The Blade revealed radioactive groundwater contamination in Luckey, Ohio, a discovery that led to state and federal action. Now a graduate student at Columbia University, she reflects on what it took to report the s...

In this edition of We Mean Business: “How They Did It,” Ananya Bhargava interviews Megan Fan Munce and Susie Neilson about their recent award-winning investigation “ Burned .” This investigation highlights the systemic use of a flawed estimator tool, 360Value, that leaves homeowners drastically underinsured. The reporters showed that 360Value relies on outdated and incomplete data that consistentl...

Since 2021, college athletes have been able to profit off their name, image and likeness (NIL) through brand deals and endorsements. However, starting July 1, 2025, due to a legal settlement with the NCAA, athletes will be able to be paid directly through their universities. This brings up a lot of new questions about the business of college sports.  In this episode, George Headley speaks with jou...

According to Veterans Affairs, there are nearly 32,882 veterans who were deemed homeless in January 2024. Nonprofits across the nation seeking to assist veterans face similar issues, especially in how they receive funding, and have developed their own unique business models to assist this population. In this episode, George Headley speaks with two nonprofit organizations that were established to r...

The vast majority of drugs prescribed in the United States, including antidepressants, antibiotics, and sedatives, are generic drugs, many of which are manufactured in overseas factories. While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is tasked with enforcing drug safety standards and regulations, a ProPublica investigation found that many drugs still made it to the U.S. despite not meeting those st...

Congressional stock trading has been the topic of many pieces of legislation this past decade, but the U.S. is entering a new era with the Trump administration. After tariff movements that led to Democratic lawmakers proposing a ban on congressional stock trading, one journalist says it is a rare occasion where both sides are on the same page at the same time. In this episode, George Headley speak...

While Substack may be a departure from the traditional news formula, its platform has benefited many journalists, including Joseph Politano, the data journalist behind Apricitas Economics . In this episode of We Mean Business, George Headley interviews Politano about what drove him to start his Substack newsletter and what drives him to continue publishing it today. While the initial venture may h...

In this episode, Ananya Bhargava interviews Lance Gharavi , an experimental artist and scholar, professor in the School of Music, Dance and Theatre, and Associate Director of ASU's Interplanetary Initiative. The discussion tackles the complexity of defining creativity in the age of AI, the metaphors we use to make sense of intelligent machines, and how artists and storytellers can respond to this...

In this episode, Ananya Bhargava interviews Ed Finn , founding director of the Center for Science and the Imagination at Arizona State University. The discussion explores imagination in the context of technology, the potential for AI-generated marketing to connect with audiences, and the complex issues of copyright and ownership.

In this episode, Ananya Bhargava interviews Chris Peña, a graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University with 10 years of experience in social media. Focusing on the rise of meme marketing, the discussion explores how internet culture and social media platforms have evolved, what makes certain brand campaigns go viral while others fall flat,...

In this episode, Ananya Bhargava interviews Dr. Jacob Bethem , a professor at the School of Sustainability at Arizona State University. Focusing on the issue of greenwashing, the discussion explores how companies make sustainability claims, the challenges in distinguishing genuine efforts from marketing tactics, and the role of third-party certifications and regulations in promoting transparency.

In this episode, Ananya Bhargava interviews Crystal Alvarez , an instructor at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at ASU. Focusing on the role of authenticity in social media, the discussion explores the distinction between organic and paid content, the psychology of social proof and reciprocity in building brand loyalty, and the impact of social media on consumer deci...

In this episode, Ananya Bhargava interviews Dean Batson , an instructor at Arizona State University who specializes in analyzing consumerism through the lens of communication. Diving into the intersection of capitalism, branding, and corporate messaging tactics, the discussion examines how powerful forces shape our purchasing decisions and the illusion of choice in the marketplace.

In this special edition of We Mean Business, Ananya Bhargava interviews KFF Health News’ David Hilzenrath. He is a member of the 2024 Barlett and Steele Gold Award-winning team in the Regional/Local Category. Their investigative series, “Overpayment Outrage,” a collaboration of eight local TV news stations and KFF Health News, helped uncover the immense toll Social Security repayment demands have...

In this edition of We Mean Business: “How They Did It,” Ananya Bhargava interviews Ames Alexander and David Raynor about their recent award-winning investigative series “Hopes Foreclosed.” This investigation uncovered how often HOAs in North Carolina are foreclosing on homeowners. It revealed not only a troubling trend of HOA foreclosures in the region but how many of those foreclosures were due t...

In this special edition of “How They Did It,” Ananya Bhargava interviews Chicago Tribune reporters Lisa Schencker and Emily Hoerner about their recent award-winning investigative series “Medical Misconduct.” The two reporters demonstrate the great investigative work that can be done when an investigative reporter teams up with a beat reporter to dive deeper into their realm of expertise. Schencker...

In this special edition of We Mean Business, Ananya Bhargava interviews Jodie Fleischer , the managing editor of investigative content and collaboration for Cox Media Group. She is a member of the 2024 Barlett and Steele Gold Award-winning team in the Regional/Local Category. Their investigative series, “Overpayment Outrage,” is a collaboration of eight local TV news stations across seven states....

Jeffrey Timmermans , Director of the Reynolds Center, sits down for an interview with award-winning journalist James B. Steele, half of the namesake for the Barlett and Steele Awards. Steele shares how he got started in business journalism, how his long-term partnership with Donald Barlett began, and the value of having a "document state of mind." He also gives young journalists tips on how to fin...