Lab Coat Optional

Arizona State University
  • 4.5 (11)
  • SCIENCE

Lab Coat Optional is the show where research is made relatable. Each episode, we dive into the research, the people behind it and why it matters. Tune in for smart, accessible conversations on the latest research from Arizona State University, released every other Wednesday. We are a production of Knowledge Enterprise at ASU. Learn more at research.asu.edu.

  1. The power — and limits — of labor action with Michael McQuarrie [BONUS]

    7H AGO · BONUS

    The power — and limits — of labor action with Michael McQuarrie [BONUS]

    Bonus episode! You might’ve heard about a “shutdown” last week on January 30. Organizers urged people in the U.S. not to work, go to school or spend money at all to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement. But what is a shutdown, really? How is it different from a strike, or a protest — and what effect do these actions have? In this bonus episode, sociologist and director of ASU’s Center for Work and Democracy Michael McQuarrie explains the significance of the labor action stemming from Minneapolis, and how it fits into the historical context of the American labor movement. Disclaimer: Opinions expressed on this show reflect the views of the individuals only, not the policy or opinion of Arizona State University. Further reading: Strike! by Jeremy BrecherStreet Rebellion: Resistance Beyond Violence and Nonviolence by Benjamin CasePopular Contention in Great Britain by Charles TillyBreaking the Barrier: The Rise of Solidarity in Poland by Lawrence GoodwinThe last two books are out of print and therefore quite expensive — check your local library! Learn more about the Center for Work and Democracy at Arizona State University. Lab Coat Optional is a production of the Strategic Marketing and Communications team at Arizona State University’s Knowledge Enterprise. Learn more about research and discovery at ASU on Instagram and LinkedIn, or visit us at research.asu.edu. Love the show? Give us a five star review on the podcast app of your choice! Get in touch with us at ke.podcast@asu.edu. Episode credits Executive produced by Kate Howells Produced by Alexander Chapin and Pete Zrioka Hosted and reported by Pete Zrioka Shot by Alexander Chapin Edited by Alexander Chapin and Quinton Kendall Original music from Patrick Cheung Motion graphics by Andy Ramos Art by Andy Keena and Sophia Franz Editorial support from Diane Boudreau Social media management by Lauren Hebing and Kyler Litson

    25 min
  2. Why 2026 will decide the future of water in the West, with Rhett Larson

    2D AGO

    Why 2026 will decide the future of water in the West, with Rhett Larson

    Water law expert Rhett Larson explains why 2026 is a make-or-break year for the 40 million people who depend on the Colorado River for drinking water, power, agriculture and so much more. What happens if states can’t agree on how to share this resource going forward, and what do we have to give up to ensure a sustainable future for us all? Further reading Explore the Kyl Center’s Arizona Water Blueprint to find out the source of your water: azwaterblueprint.asu.edu Read Rhett’s book, Just Add Water: Solving the World's Problems Using its Most Precious Resource. Look out for Rhett’s next book, Day Zero, a comparative legal analysis of the water crises faced in recent years by Cape Town, Chennai, and Mexico City, and draws water policy lessons from those crises for other cities. Learn more about the Kyl Center for Water Policy and the Sandra Day O’Conner College of Law at ASU. Lab Coat Optional is a production of the Strategic Marketing and Communications team at Arizona State University’s Knowledge Enterprise. Learn more about research and discovery at ASU on Instagram and LinkedIn, or visit us at research.asu.edu. Love the show? Give us a five star review on the podcast app of your choice! Get in touch with us at ke.podcast@asu.edu. Episode credits Executive produced by Kate Howells Produced by Alexander Chapin and Pete Zrioka Hosted and reported by Pete Zrioka Shot by Alexander Chapin Edited by Quinton Kendall and Alexander Chapin Original music from Patrick Cheung Motion graphics by Andy Ramos Art by Andy Keena and Sophia Franz Social media management by Lauren Hebing and Kyler Litson Disclaimer: Opinions expressed on this show reflect the views of the individuals only, not the policy or opinion of Arizona State University.

    51 min

  3. TRAILER

    Get ready for another season!

    We're back and bigger than ever! Okay, well, we're exactly the same size, But we are definitely back!!! This time around, we’ll take you on a trip... to explore psychedelics as a form of therapy! Into deep space, to understand the evolution of galaxies. We're digging into our growing energy demand, what happens when the rules governing the Colorado River expire and how music shapes our emotions. All this and more coming soon! New episodes every other Wednesday starting Feb. 4. Follow ASU Research: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/asu-knowledge-enterprise Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asuresearch/ Learn more about our work: https://research.asu.edu Love the show? Give us a five star review on the podcast app of your choice! We are at the mercy of the mighty, fickle algorithms and reviews help new listeners find our show. Do you have thoughts or questions for us? Email us at ke.podcast@asu.edu. We’d love to hear from you! As long as you are nice. Be nice.

    1 min
  4. A look inside a billion-dollar research engine with Lara Ferry

    12/18/2025

    A look inside a billion-dollar research engine with Lara Ferry

    From grant strategy and infrastructure to indirect costs, university research relies on a complex, fast-moving system to pursue discoveries and deliver real-world impact. Lara Ferry, vice president of research for ASU Knowledge Enterprise and President’s Professor, joins the show to explain how universities balance basic curiosity-driven work with applied goals, the challenges and opportunities of the current federal funding landscape and more. Lab Coat Optional is a production of the Strategic Marketing and Communications team at Arizona State University’s Knowledge Enterprise. Follow ASU Research: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/asu-knowledge-enterprise Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asuresearch/ Learn more about our work: https://research.asu.edu Love the show? Give us a five star review on the podcast app of your choice! We are at the mercy of the mighty, fickle algorithms and reviews help new listeners find our show. Do you have thoughts or questions for us? Email us at ke.podcast@asu.edu. We’d love to hear from you! As long as you are nice. Be nice. Episode credits Executive produced by Kate Howells Produced by Alexander Chapin and Pete Zrioka Hosted and reported by Pete Zrioka Shot by Alexander Chapin and Christian Van Bebber Edited by Alexander Chapin and Quinton Kendall Original music from Patrick Cheung Motion graphics by Andy Ramos Art by Andy Keena and Sophia Franz Editorial support from Diane Boudreau and Sandy Leander Social media management by Lauren Hebing and Kyler Litson

    43 min
  5. The Jane Austen you didn't meet in English class with Devoney Looser

    12/16/2025

    The Jane Austen you didn't meet in English class with Devoney Looser

    Jane Austen’s enduring legacy is a bit like a lace doily: a frilly decoration that covered over the grime of real life in Regency-era Britain. But it turns out Austen was much less mild and more wild than public perception — or her family — ever let on. In this episode we’re joined by Devoney Looser, Regents Professor of English at Arizona State University and one of the world’s most prominent Austen scholars. Her latest book, Wild for Austen, explores how much sharper, funnier and more rebellious the author really was. Get Wild for Austen: A Rebellious, Subversive, and Untamed Jane, from St. Martin’s Press: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250361332/wildforausten/ Explore Devoney’s other books: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/285160.Devoney_Looser More from Devoney: Subscribe to her Substack: https://devoney.substack.com/ Visit her online: https://www.devoneylooser.com/ Lab Coat Optional is a production of the Strategic Marketing and Communications team at Arizona State University’s Knowledge Enterprise. Follow ASU Research: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/asu-knowledge-enterprise Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asuresearch/ Learn more about our work: https://research.asu.edu Love the show? Give us a five star review on the podcast app of your choice! We are at the mercy of the mighty, fickle algorithms and reviews help new listeners find our show. Do you have thoughts or questions for us? Email us at ke.podcast@asu.edu. We’d love to hear from you! As long as you are nice. Be nice. Episode credits Executive produced by Kate Howells Produced by Alexander Chapin and Pete Zrioka Hosted and reported by Pete Zrioka Shot by Alexander Chapin Edited by Alexander Chapin and Quinton Kendall Original music from Patrick Cheung Motion graphics by Andy Ramos Art by Andy Keena and Sophia Franz Research and editorial support from Mikala Kass Social media management by Lauren Hebing and Kyler Litson Disclosure: Opinions expressed on this show reflect the views of the individuals only, not the policy or opinion of Arizona State University.

    36 min
  6. AI in the age of information abundance with Joshua Garland

    12/03/2025

    AI in the age of information abundance with Joshua Garland

    “Seeing is believing” doesn’t ring as true as it once did. With the advent of generative artificial intelligence, the line between what’s real and not online has become blurred. This episode we’re examining generative AI’s impact on the information landscape with researcher Joshua Garland. Joshua leads the Center for Information and Narrative Complexity at the Global Security Initiative at Arizona State University. He’s spent over a decade working with large language models, narrative influence and propaganda campaigns, and researches how to better detect and attribute AI-generated content. Learn more about: Center for Information and Narrative Complexity: https://globalsecurity.asu.edu/the-center-on-information-and-narrative-complexity/Global Security Initiative: https://globalsecurity.asu.edu/Lab Coat Optional is a production of the Strategic Marketing and Communications team at Arizona State University’s Knowledge Enterprise. Follow ASU Research: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/asu-knowledge-enterprise Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asuresearch/ Learn more about our work: https://research.asu.edu Love the show? Give us a five star review on the podcast app of your choice! We are at the mercy of the mighty, fickle algorithms and reviews help new listeners find our show. Do you have thoughts or questions for us? Email us at ke.podcast@asu.edu. We’d love to hear from you! As long as you are nice. Be nice. Episode credits Executive produced by Kate Howells Produced by Alexander Chapin and Pete Zrioka Hosted and reported by Pete Zrioka Shot by Alexander Chapin Edited by Christian Van Bebber Original music from Patrick Cheung Motion graphics by Andy Ramos Art by Andy Keena and Sophia Franz Editorial support from Diane Boudreau and Sandy Leander Social media management by Lauren Hebing and Kyler Litson Disclosure: Opinions expressed on this show reflect the views of the individuals only, not the policy or opinion of Arizona State University.

    39 min
  7. Bridging addiction research with practice and policy with Lani Shiota

    11/19/2025

    Bridging addiction research with practice and policy with Lani Shiota

    Addiction and substance use disorder isn’t simply the result of “bad choices” — it’s caused by brain chemistry, relationships and the environments we live in. In this episode, Professor of psychology Lani Shiota delves into what really drives addiction and how to prevent and treat it. From Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No” campaign to medication-assisted treatment, she shares what science says does and doesn’t work — and why compassion may be our most powerful tool. Shiota also talks about SATRN, ASU’s statewide network connecting researchers, practitioners and policymakers to turn cutting-edge research into real-world impact. Learn more about The Substance Use and Addiction Translational Research Network (SATRN) at ASU: https://satrn.asu.edu/ Lab Coat Optional is a production of the Strategic Marketing and Communications team at Arizona State University’s Knowledge Enterprise. Find more stories of research and discovery at ASU: http://research.asu.edu LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/asu-knowledge-enterprise Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asuresearch/ Love the show? Give us a five star review on the podcast app of your choice! We are at the mercy of the mighty, fickle algorithms and reviews help new listeners find our show. Do you have thoughts or questions for us? Email us at ke.podcast@asu.edu. We’d love to hear from you! As long as you are nice. Be nice. Episode credits Executive produced by Kate Howells Produced by Alexander Chapin and Pete Zrioka Hosted and reported by Pete Zrioka Shot by Alexander Chapin and Christian Van Bebber Edited by Alexander Chapin Original music from Patrick Cheung Motion graphics by Andy Ramos Art by Andy Keena Editorial support from Diane Boudreau and Sandy Leander Research and reporting by Richard Harth Social media management by Lauren Hebing and Kyler Litson Keyword research by Aditi Patel Disclosure: Lab Coat Optional is intended for general knowledge and informational purposes only, and does not constitute medical advice. This show does not create a doctor-patient relationship, and the information provided is not a substitute for professional medical diagnosis or treatment. Consult with a qualified healthcare professional for any health concerns or before making any decisions related to your health. In case of a medical emergency, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Opinions expressed on this show reflect the views of the individuals only, not the policy or opinion of Arizona State University.

    41 min
  8. Tracing China’s narrative influence across Southeast Asia with P.J. Allin

    11/05/2025

    Tracing China’s narrative influence across Southeast Asia with P.J. Allin

    In this episode, we examine how stories and narratives can influence global affairs. P.J. Allin explains how China is using narratives to shift the balance of power in Southeast Asia. P.J. is a research analyst at the Center on Information and Narrative Complexity in the Global Security Initiative and a PhD candidate in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Arizona State University. Follow her work on LinkedIn. Explore her publications: “China’s Columbus” Was an Imperialist Too: Contesting the Myth of Zheng HeChina's Double Zigzag Strategy for International RelationsHow China Conducts Influence Operations by Leveraging Culturally Nuanced Narratives in Three Southeast Asian CountriesLearn more about: What is Sharp Power?China’s claims on the South China Sea: The Nine-Dash-LineThe Philippines Is Ever More Focused on TaiwanThe Uphill Battle to Safeguard RightsPentagon abruptly ends all funding for social science researchLab Coat Optional is a production of the Strategic Marketing and Communications team at ASU's Knowledge Enterprise. Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn, or visit us at research.asu.edu. Episode credits Executive produced by Kate Howells Produced by Alexander Chapin and Pete Zrioka Hosted by Pete Zrioka Shot and edited by Alexander Chapin Original music from Patrick Cheung Art by Andy Keena and Sophia Franz Social media management by Lauren Hebing and Kyler Litson Keyword research by Aditi Patel Disclosure: Opinions expressed on this show reflect the views of the individuals only, not the policy or opinion of Arizona State University.

    31 min
See All (13)

Trailer

4.5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Lab Coat Optional is the show where research is made relatable. Each episode, we dive into the research, the people behind it and why it matters. Tune in for smart, accessible conversations on the latest research from Arizona State University, released every other Wednesday. We are a production of Knowledge Enterprise at ASU. Learn more at research.asu.edu.

Information

  • Creator
    Arizona State University
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Arizona State University
  • Show Website
    Lab Coat Optional