DISCOVERY presented by UW Law

University of Washington School of Law
  • 4.8 (11)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Bimonthly

DISCOVERY is a podcast presented by the University of Washington School of Law in Seattle, WA, featuring distinguished guests discussing today's biggest social, political and legal issues. Episodes focus on a diverse mix of legal and legal-adjacent topics through intimate conversations with experts, speakers and leaders from around the globe. For more, visit law.uw.edu/podcast.

  1. Jun 16

    Human Rights and the Beautiful Game | Anita Ramasastry, Professor of Law, University of Washington School of Law

    Seattle takes center stage this summer as a host city for the FIFA World Cup 2026, one of the largest global sporting events ever held in the Pacific Northwest. While most fans are focused on the excitement on the field, an equally important effort is taking place behind the scenes: ensuring that the World Cup is conducted in a way that respects and protects human rights.  On this episode, we're joined by UW Law professor Anita Ramasastry, one of the world's leading experts on the intersection of business and human rights. She has served as an advisor to the United Nations Human Rights Council and currently serves as an independent human rights advisor to FIFA's Human Rights subcommittee.  Professor Ramasastry played a key role in developing Seattle's Human Rights Action Plan for the FIFA World Cup 2026, which identifies and addresses potential human rights risks associated with a major global sporting event — from labor protections and discrimination to public safety and the treatment of vulnerable communities.  In our conversation, we discuss why human rights have become an essential part of hosting the World Cup, what lessons FIFA and host cities learned from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and how Seattle identified its own unique challenges and opportunities. We also talk about the broader legacy of this work and the role UW alumni, students, faculty and staff have played in helping shape this groundbreaking effort.

    23 min

  2. May 8

    Prosecuting the Parents | Shirin Bakhshay, Assistant Professor of Law, UCLA School of Law

    Should parents face criminal charges for the violent acts of their children? On this episode of the Discovery podcast, we feature a thought-provoking conversation with assistant professor of law Shirin Bakhshay from UCLA Law. Centering on the landmark People v. Crumbley case, Bakhshay explains why the convictions of the parents of school shooter Ethan Crumbley represent a major — and potentially dangerous — expansion of criminal liability. Bakhshay unpacks the legal theory behind involuntary manslaughter charges against parents and why she believes the prosecution misunderstood both criminal law doctrine and modern parenting realities. Drawing on her psychology expertise, she also explores why parents are often poorly positioned to predict adolescent violence, especially amid rising youth mental health struggles, social isolation and widespread access to guns. Bakhshay also advocates for prevention-focused responses rooted in schools, mental health resources and community support rather than punitive prosecution after tragedy strikes.

    22 min

  3. Apr 6

    A Towing Dispute Goes to Hollywood | Kevin Eggers, University of Washington School of Law Alumnus

    Imagine that you are living in your car. One day, it's stolen for a joyride, abandoned and eventually towed away. You get a court order for the return of your car, but then discover that your very home, your 1991 Camry, has been sold for $175. Later, you find out that the towing company has the car back in their possession and holds it hostage for over a year, accruing $21,684 in storage fees.  Amanda Ogle didn't have to imagine it because this happened to her in 2017. To help navigate the bureaucratic nightmare, she enlisted the help of Kevin Eggers, J.D. '17, who had just graduated from UW Law and was providing legal aid through the Northwest Consumer Law Center. Ogle's case was Eggers' very first out of law school.  After a Seattle Times reporter wrote about the situation, Ogle was contacted by screenwriters who wanted to make her story into a movie. "Tow" premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and opened in theaters nationwide on March 20, 2026. Directed by Stephanie Laing, it stars Rose Byrne and features an ensemble cast including Octavia Spencer, Demi Lovato, Dominic Sessa, Ariana Debose and Corbin Bernsen. In this episode of Discovery, we talk with Eggers and Ogle about the towing dispute and their experiences with the real-life case turning into a movie.

    26 min

  4. Mar 19

    AI, Privacy Law and Machine Unlearning | Jevan Hutson, Director of the Technology Law & Public Policy Clinic, University of Washington School of Law

    In this episode of the Discovery podcast, Jevan Hutson, J.D. '20, incoming assistant professor of law and director of the Technology Law & Public Policy Clinic, discusses the article "Forget Me Not? Machine Unlearning's Implications for Privacy Law," which he co-authored in The Columbia Science & Technology Law Review. The article explores the intersection of generative AI, privacy and data protection law and focuses on "machine unlearning," an emerging tool designed to address privacy concerns. As generative AI systems increasingly process vast amounts of personal and sensitive data, the challenges they pose to privacy regulations are intensifying. Machine unlearning allows for the selective removal or suppression of specific data — such as personal information that individuals request be deleted — from AI models. This process aims to help organizations comply with legal obligations and policy goals, particularly in response to data subject requests for data deletion. Hutson assesses whether the legal and remedial aims of privacy laws can be reconciled with the technical capabilities of machine unlearning. Listeners are invited to consider the future of privacy law in an AI-driven world and the role of machine unlearning in preserving privacy rights.

    27 min

  5. Mar 11

    The Yellow Brick Road of Copyright Law | Peter Nicolas, William L. Dwyer Chair in Law, University of Washington School of Law

    In this episode of Discovery, we speak with Professor Peter Nicolas from the University of Washington School of Law about his new copyright law class, a case study of "The Wizard of Oz." The class debuted in winter quarter and included a mandatory group outing to "The Wiz" musical at Paramount Theatre. Since The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was published in 1900, eventually entering the public domain, each new rendition raises fascinating copyright questions. The 1939 MGM film, "The Wizard of Oz," was separately copyrighted and introduced new expressive elements, along with reinterpretations like "The Wiz," a book and its corresponding Broadway musical which reimagined the story through an African American cultural lens. Nowadays we have spinoffs from the book Wicked which tells the backstory of the Wicked Witch followed by the Broadway musical and now a two-part film adaptation, beginning with "Wicked." Professor Nicolas explains how copyright law goes beyond technical doctrine to be a framework that determines who can tell stories — and how.

    29 min

  6. Feb 13

    Making Youth Matter | Kim Ambrose, Teaching Professor, University of Washington School of Law

    What does justice look like for children caught in the gun violence epidemic? And why do courts struggle to treat kids like kids when sentencing them for serious crimes?  In this episode of Discovery, we examine these issues with UW Law teaching professor Kimberly Ambrose and community member Aaron Faletogo who was incarcerated at the age of 16. In 2021, the Tools for Social Change: Race and Justice Clinic, directed by Professor Ambrose, helped Faletogo obtain release after over 25 years of incarceration.  Ambrose and Faletogo discuss findings in the groundbreaking article "Making Youth Matter" in the Washington Law Review. We also explore why young people carry guns, why adult courts often fail to understand adolescence, and how we have a shared societal responsibility for keeping children safe.  Join us for a powerful, essential conversation at the intersection of law, race and public health.

    30 min

  7. Jan 23

    A Baked-In Constitutional Conundrum | Hugh Spitzer, Associate Dean Emeritus, University of Washington School of Law

    In this episode of Discovery, we speak with retired professor and Associate Dean Emeritus Hugh Spitzer, a distinguished scholar of constitutional and comparative law, about his recent Seattle Times op-ed, "This Baked-In Constitutional Conundrum Will Take Some Time to Repair."  Professor Spitzer examines how foundational features of the U.S. Constitution — particularly the disproportionate power of small-population states in the U.S. Senate and the Electoral College, along with the Constitution's rigid amendment process — have contributed to political polarization and democratic imbalance.  The conversation explores why these structures made sense at the nation's founding, why they pose challenges in today's vastly different political and demographic landscape, and what history suggests about the possibility of reform. He also reflects on the importance of civil engagement in protecting democratic institutions.  This episode offers a thoughtful, historically grounded examination of voting power, representation, and the long-term prospects for constitutional reform in the United States — inviting listeners to consider what it means to sustain a functioning democracy in the 21st century.

    24 min

  8. 11/21/2025

    Expressive Association at Work | Elizabeth Sepper, Professor, University of Texas School of Law

    Courts are increasingly allowing employers to invoke the First Amendment's expressive association doctrine — originally crafted for civic and membership organizations — to avoid antidiscrimination laws in the workplace.  In this episode, we speak with our Toni Rembe Lecture speaker, Professor Elizabeth Sepper, who is known for her work on religious liberty, health law, equality and emerging questions about how public and private institutions are asserting religious or expressive identities. She recently visited UW Law to unpack her forthcoming article in the Michigan Law Review, "Expressive Association at Work," which she co-authored with James Nelson and Charlotte Garden.     Professor Sepper explores how courts are beginning to treat the workplace like a membership organization — sometimes without acknowledging the profound differences between civil associations and hierarchical employment structures. Her work shows why this shift matters for workers, for employers and for the future of antidiscrimination law.

    27 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

DISCOVERY is a podcast presented by the University of Washington School of Law in Seattle, WA, featuring distinguished guests discussing today's biggest social, political and legal issues. Episodes focus on a diverse mix of legal and legal-adjacent topics through intimate conversations with experts, speakers and leaders from around the globe. For more, visit law.uw.edu/podcast.

Information

  • Creator
    University of Washington School of Law
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    76
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2019, All Rights Reserved University of Washington School of Law
  • Show Website
    DISCOVERY presented by UW Law

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