The Nova Society

Dr. Mark George Bound, Dr. Scott Gerschwer, & Dr. Brooklynn Ann Welden

 We address listener questions about the headlines shaping today’s world and the social and political forces behind them. Our mission is to offer clear, unbiased commentary rooted in critical thinking and analytical rigor. Through thoughtful, in‑depth conversations, we examine current events and the challenges facing society, while still keeping space for engaging, enjoyable dialogue. We hold that facts matter, and that misinformation and disinformation remain among the most serious threats to an informed and healthy civic culture. 

  1. 3d ago

    Has Jon Ossoff found a winning formula? S5E105 09.4.2026

    Do you have a question or comment? Want to suggest a topic for our panel or be a guest on the Nova Society? Send us a message! Tammie, from Atlanta, Georgia, writes,  If you’d asked me six years ago who Jon Ossoff was, I probably wouldn’t have had an answer. Today, he’s become one of the most visible rising figures in the Democratic Party, openly challenging President Trump, calling out his unusual dynamic with Natalie Harp, and hammering the administration’s economic and foreign‑policy missteps.  What’s striking is that Ossoff doesn’t seem intimidated by the traditional Trump backlash. If anything, it appears to energize him. He even took aim at Trump’s attempt to defend Darline Graham’s widely criticized debate performance last week.  So, it raises an interesting question: Has Ossoff found a way to neutralize Trump’s usual political playbook? And if so, should more Democrats adopt his approach? Given how unpopular many of them currently are, it’s hard to see what they have to lose. I’ll admit that politics in Georgia can get rough, and as Dr. Mark has pointed out, the same is true just across the border in South Carolina. So, is this where American politics is headed? And more broadly, does the panel believe that “dirty politics” is simply an unavoidable part of democratic systems?  Support the show The Nova Society Podcast  In season 5, we will transition to 3 episodes per week and expand episode lengths for more in-depth conversations. Stay tuned for more information about our proposed weekly second channel, The Nova Society-Side Projects, where we have conversations with guests about topics important to them and to you, our listeners. Our Buzzsprout Home Landing Page Direct SMS message to the podcast from the “message us” link on our page. Support the Nova Society Email us your Questions Subscribe to the Nova Society Subscribe to our RSS Feed Join Our Facebook Page & YouTube Channel Past episodes & read our blog Here. JCIS Apple Podcasts/ I-Tunes    Spotify  ...

  2. 5d ago

    Turbulence in the political parties and the economy S5E104 09.02.2026

    Do you have a question or comment? Want to suggest a topic for our panel or be a guest on the Nova Society? Send us a message! Raymond from Birmingham, Alabama, writes: Both major parties are experiencing unexpected turbulence in this year’s primaries, revealing deep internal power struggles and competing visions of party identity. We’re seeing Bernie Sanders’ endorsement of Angie Nixon in Florida lead to a surprising upset in a traditionally red state. Freedom Caucus candidates, once dominant in conservative primaries, are now struggling to gain traction. Several long‑time incumbents have lost their House primaries, tying a modern record. And Democrats are wrestling with internal divisions over ICE, immigration enforcement, and border messaging, among other topics. So, the real question becomes: What do these fractures tell us about the future of both parties as we head into the 2026 midterms and beyond? And why are these internal battles intensifying now?  Support the show The Nova Society Podcast  In season 5, we will transition to 3 episodes per week and expand episode lengths for more in-depth conversations. Stay tuned for more information about our proposed weekly second channel, The Nova Society-Side Projects, where we have conversations with guests about topics important to them and to you, our listeners. Our Buzzsprout Home Landing Page Direct SMS message to the podcast from the “message us” link on our page. Support the Nova Society Email us your Questions Subscribe to the Nova Society Subscribe to our RSS Feed Join Our Facebook Page & YouTube Channel Past episodes & read our blog Here. JCIS Apple Podcasts/ I-Tunes    Spotify  ...

  3. Aug 31

    What are we trying to do with Canada? S5E103 08.31.2026

    Do you have a question or comment? Want to suggest a topic for our panel or be a guest on the Nova Society? Send us a message! Jennifer from Detroit, Michigan, writes:  Well, here we go, a trade war with one of our closest allies is apparently ready to begin.  President Trump’s announcement of 50% tariffs on Canadian goods landed with a thud, and when Prime Minister Carney pushed back, Trump quickly backed off. (TACO). Does anyone in this administration understand how dependent we are on Canadian imports? Anything made with wood, including paper products, will rise in price. And you can already imagine the MAGA crowd clearing out store shelves of toilet paper. Alcohol prices will climb as well, especially since Canada has sharply reduced its consumption of American alcoholic beverages in favor of domestic brands. Nearly all dairy products will increase, given Canada’s role as a major supplier to the U.S. Meanwhile, Bessent is promoting a “D‑Day Economic Sanction Package” on Iran, claiming it will devastate Iran’s economy into submission.  So, here’s the real question: With all the supposed economic expertise in this administration, how do they keep producing policies that are so consistently counterproductive?  Support the show The Nova Society Podcast  In season 5, we will transition to 3 episodes per week and expand episode lengths for more in-depth conversations. Stay tuned for more information about our proposed weekly second channel, The Nova Society-Side Projects, where we have conversations with guests about topics important to them and to you, our listeners. Our Buzzsprout Home Landing Page Direct SMS message to the podcast from the “message us” link on our page. Support the Nova Society Email us your Questions Subscribe to the Nova Society Subscribe to our RSS Feed Join Our Facebook Page & YouTube Channel Past episodes & read our blog Here. JCIS Apple Podcasts/ I-Tunes    Spotify  ...

  4. Aug 21

    A Journey to the Authentic Self with Jen Thompson S5E99 08.20.20265

    Do you have a question or comment? Want to suggest a topic for our panel or be a guest on the Nova Society? Send us a message! Today, we are pleased to speak with our guest, Jen Thompson. Jen Thompson is a former high-powered Republican strategist and congressional lawyer who famously walked away from Washington at the peak of her career. She managed the nationally watched 2002 campaign that tipped the divided U.S. Senate back to Republican control, overcoming a massive campaign deficit by orchestrating high-profile events with the President of the United States. Alongside her political work, she served as a lawyer-lobbyist at top international law firms and spent eight years as a chief political commentator for NBC and ABC news affiliates in Richmond, Virginia.  However, a near-fatal car accident on the campaign trail served as the ultimate catalyst for change, forcing her to reckon with the heavy toll of her fabricated political identity. Turning down highly coveted job offers in the White House and the U.S. Senate, Thompson walked away from her political power to accept a visiting professorship at the University of Melbourne in Australia.  This radical physical pivot sparked an even deeper ideological transformation. Once a champion of conservative platforms, Thompson underwent a complete political shift in the years that followed. Confronting her own white privilege and the realities of systemic racism, she embraced anti-racist work following the 2014 protests in Ferguson, Missouri. She also fundamentally changed her stance on reproductive rights after a life-threatening pregnancy required her to have an abortion to save her own life. Today, she openly acknowledges her departure from the party she once helped build, noting that she has not voted for a Republican candidate since 2015.  Thompson now serves as a Chief of Staff at the University of Redlands in California and writes a popular Substack newsletter about authenticity, grace, and navigating major life transitions. She has been widely quoted in major media outlets, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Chicago Tribune. Her debut memoir, Wild Pivot: Notes from a Political Life Rewritten, will be released and distributed by Simon & Schuster in September 2026.  Support the show The Nova Society Podcast  In season 5, we will transition to 3 episodes per week and expand episode lengths for more in-depth conversations. Stay tuned for more information about our proposed weekly second channel, The Nova Society-Side Projects, where we have conversations with guests about topics important to them and to you, our listeners. Our Buzzsprout Home Landing Page Direct SMS message to the podcast from the “message us” link on our page. Support the Nova Society Email us your Questions Subscribe to the Nova Society Subscribe to our RSS Feed Join Our Facebook Page & YouTube Channel Past episodes & read our blog Here. JCIS Apple Podcasts/ I-Tunes    Spotify  ...

Ratings & Reviews

2
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

 We address listener questions about the headlines shaping today’s world and the social and political forces behind them. Our mission is to offer clear, unbiased commentary rooted in critical thinking and analytical rigor. Through thoughtful, in‑depth conversations, we examine current events and the challenges facing society, while still keeping space for engaging, enjoyable dialogue. We hold that facts matter, and that misinformation and disinformation remain among the most serious threats to an informed and healthy civic culture.