Key Conversations with Phi Beta Kappa

The Phi Beta Kappa Society

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Key Conversations with Phi Beta Kappa is a podcast from The Phi Beta Kappa Society's Visiting Scholars program, featuring leading scholars across multiple disciplines in conversation with Fred Lawrence, PBK's Secretary and CEO.

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How Dr. Mark Palmer Sustains Indigenous Stories Through Geography

Geography is often thought of as the study of physical entities, but for Dr. Mark Palmer, it is defined by relationships. A member of the Kiowa Tribe and a professor at the University of Missouri, Dr. Palmer joins Key Conversations to discuss Indigenous Geographies and the power dynamics inherent in cartography. From the Eurocentric origins of UNESCO World Heritage nominations to the "intangible" spiritual heritage of sacred sites, this conversation explores how diverse cultural perspectives challenge Western scientific classifications and offer a more holistic view of our world. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

21 phút
9 THG 3

Fighting for Civil Rights Using the Power of Law With Margo Schlanger

In this episode, Fred Lawrence sits down with Professor Margo Schlanger, a leading civil rights expert and the founder of the Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse. Schlanger reflects on her journey from a "generalist" undergraduate at Yale to a powerhouse advocate for underrepresented communities. She shares the origin story of her first major legal victory—a student-led project that secured childcare for high school students—and discusses her high-impact work within the federal government. From the history of prison uprisings to the digital preservation of modern civil rights cases, Schlanger offers a masterclass on how the law can be leveraged to create a more equitable society. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

21 phút
2 THG 2

How We Actively Shape a “Well-Grounded Brain” with Kelly Lambert

How much control do we truly have over our brain health? In this episode, Professor Kelly Lambert, a pioneer in the field of behaviorceuticals, discusses how environmental enrichment and positive anticipation physically reshape the brain. Drawing on her celebrated research—including the world-famous "rat driving" studies—Professor Lambert discusses what we can learn about brain health from wild animals, the dangers of living in what she calls “brain bubbles,” and examines the critical role of authentic experience in building emotional resilience. She also offers a unique perspective on how small behavioral shifts can serve as powerful alternatives to traditional pharmaceuticals for improving mood and cognitive function. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

26 phút
5 THG 1

2025 Phi Beta Kappa Book Awards

The Phi Beta Kappa Book Awards are presented annually to three outstanding scholarly books published in the United States. The 2025 winners are Charles King for his book Every Valley: The Desperate Lives and Troubled Times That Made Handel's Messiah; Stefanos Geroulanos for his book The Invention of Prehistory: Empire, Violence, and Our Obsession with Human Origins; and Ayana Elizabeth Johnson for her book What If We Get It Right? Visions of Climate Futures. This year, the Book Awards Dinner was held in person in Williamsburg, VA in December 2025, where two of the three scholars discussed the impetus behind their books and the motives that keep them sleepless—and engaged—in liberal arts and sciences. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

45 phút
08/12/2025

Understanding the History and Political Identity of Latinos with Geraldo Cadava

In this episode, Fred Lawrence speaks with Geraldo Cadava, Professor of History at Northwestern University and author of The Hispanic Republican. Cadava takes us from the childhood experiences that shaped his interest in complex identities—moving between the affluent suburbs of Irvine and the borderlands of Tucson—to his scholarly work on the contradictory nature of Latino identity. He shares the compelling story of his Panamanian-born grandfather, a veteran and copper miner whose partisan evolution from a Ronald Reagan voter to a staunch Republican demonstrates how individual political reasons can lead to deep ideological shifts. Cadava also previews his upcoming, ambitious project of writing a book encompassing the past 500-year history of Latinos, A Thousand Bridges, which argues that Latinos have historically been both victims and agents of empire. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

27 phút
03/11/2025

How Mathematics can Solve Real-World Mysteries with Ingrid Daubechies

In this episode, Fred Lawrence speaks with Ingrid Daubechies, James B. Duke Distinguished Professor Emerita of Mathematics at Duke University and a National Medal of Science recipient. Daubechies takes us from her childhood fascination with calculating multiples to her groundbreaking work on wavelets—mathematical building blocks that have revolutionized image and signal analysis. She talks about how her research helped the FBI compress millions of fingerprints, analyze seismograms, and even distinguish authentic Van Gogh paintings from forgeries. She also tells the story behind the whimsical Mathemalchemy Project, a collaborative art installation that celebrates the pure joy and creativity of mathematics. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

28 phút
06/10/2025

Discovering How Generosity Impacts Economy with Daniel Hungerman

In this episode, Fred Lawrence speaks with Professor Daniel Hungerman, a professor of economics at the University of Notre Dame. Hungerman discusses his unique academic journey, which led him to specialize in the economics of religious and charitable organizations. He explains his research on how tax policies have a measurable impact on charitable giving in the United States, also delving into the field of "generosity in economics” and how charitable donations directly impact the economy as we know it. Hungerman also touches on the long-term impact of the first Earth Day, using weather data to show how a single event can have a lasting positive influence on environmental attitudes and health. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

26 phút
08/09/2025

Changing the Conversation in Music Education with Tammy L. Kernodle

In this episode, Fred Lawrence speaks with Tammy L. Kernodle, University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Music at Miami University, whose work explores African American music, gender, and race in American popular culture. Kernodle shares how her working-class upbringing in Danville, Virginia, and a home filled with music led her to Virginia State University, graduate studies at The Ohio State University, and a career dedicated to expanding the narratives taught in music history. She discusses her mission to change classroom conversations, create scholarships for underrepresented musicians, and broaden what audiences hear in the concert hall. She also reflects on her roles as curator of the New World Symphony’s I Dream a World Festival and her work on the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.

30 phút

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TRAILER

Key Conversations with Phi Beta Kappa Trailer

A podcast that features intimate and in-depth conversations with scholars and experts across many fields, including international law, Shakespeare, microbiology, economics of science, and astronautics. Listeners get a seat at the table to learn about the featured scholar’s background, research, and how their respective paths have led them to where they are today. The Phi Beta Kappa Society presents Key Conversations with Phi Beta Kappa, a podcast that features intimate and in-depth conversations with scholars and experts across many fields, including international law, Shakespeare, microbiology, economics of science, and astronautics. Listeners get a seat at the table to learn about the featured scholar’s background, research, and how their respective paths have led them to where they are today. Produced by Lantigua Williams & Co. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

30/08/2018

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3 phút

4,5

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Key Conversations Proponent

10/07/2019

S. Bogema

As a Phi Beta Kappa graduate I have found this series to be fascinating and quite enlightening. I look forward to hearing future episodes. Thank you to the Society and featured guests for your time and insights.
This podcast, like PBK, owes its existence to capitalism

03/02/2025

zwansong76

I listened to about half of my last ever episode of this podcast, and when I heard the scholar being interviewed mention “Racial Capitalism” I knew that my time would be more productively spent on other pursuits - like watching paint dry, or digging holes then filling them up. Capitalism, and the economic growth it fosters, has lifted more actual human beings out of abject poverty than every do-gooder intervention ever devised in the hallowed halls of academia, combined. The only reason this “scholar” and her ilk actually make a living spewing this claptrap, is that the productive classes in a capitalist system (even one as watered-down by government meddling as the US) create so much excess wealth that we can afford to support a whole ecosystem of unproductive, or even openly destructive, do-nothings. If she’s tired of being oppressed by capitalism, then I’m sure Cuba or North Korea have jobs available at one of their esteemed institutes of higher learning. Bon voyage! If believing nonsense like this is what it means to be a PBK member, then I may as well shred my certificate & start using my key as a bottle opener, because they’re both worthless.

Key Conversations with Phi Beta Kappa is a podcast from The Phi Beta Kappa Society's Visiting Scholars program, featuring leading scholars across multiple disciplines in conversation with Fred Lawrence, PBK's Secretary and CEO.