The Nova Society

Dr. Mark George Bound, Dr. Scott Gerschwer, & Dr. Brooklynn Ann Welden
  • 2.0 (4)
  • Social Sciences
  • Updated Daily

 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. 2d ago

    Max Miller and the Ohio 7th S5E96 08.14.2026

    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!  Henry from Toledo, Ohio writes:   Representative Max Miller says he intends to stay in his House race despite being accused of sexual abuse by his ex‑wife and despite Republicans publicly calling for him to step down.  But the filing deadline has passed, and the party is now effectively stuck with him on the ballot.  Most people would assume Miller is headed for a rough election, even in a ruby‑red district.   So, my question to the panel is this: If Miller actually wins, what does that say about Ohio’s 7th District and the electorate more broadly? What do voters overlook, tolerate, or rationalize in moments like this?  And second, why do you think Miller chose to stay in the race? Did he calculate that in a party willing to nominate Trump, the boundaries of what is politically disqualifying have shifted so dramatically that almost anything goes 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  ...

  2. 4d ago

    A suggestion from Australia for the Iran Crisis S5E95 08.12.2026

    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! Robby, from Melbourne, Australia writes,   You all must be getting dizzy over there in America. Every day feels like Groundhog Day, the same cycle repeating itself.   The war is supposedly won. Their capabilities are destroyed. Then suddenly we’re bombing again. More service members are hurt. We’re talking. We have a deal. Then we don’t have a deal.  One minute it’s “We’ll respond forcefully,” the next it’s “Never mind, we’re stepping back.” At this point, does anyone actually know what’s going on?   Here in Australia, it’s almost become a running joke. You can’t walk into a pub without someone shaking their head at the sheer dysfunction in Washington. And I’m not talking about one person, I mean the government as a whole. The executive branch lurches from one position to another, and Congress seems unable to assert any coherent strategy. People here genuinely wonder how American public confidence in its leadership remains as high as it does. Meanwhile, Australia has stayed almost entirely silent throughout this conflict. Our priority is economic stability. We favor diplomacy, we avoid escalation, and we have no intention of sending troops.   You’ve talked a lot about diplomacy on past episodes, but I want to float an idea. If Middle Eastern partners aren’t making progress, is it time to look beyond the usual mediators? What if China, Japan, and Australia took the lead in negotiations? Could a coalition of major Asia‑Pacific powers produce better results? Would the United States even accept that kind of arrangement? And if it did, given the volatility of American decision‑making right now, would it make any difference? You often say the U.S. needs an exit strategy, but from the outside it looks like every potential off‑ramp gets burned the moment it appears. So is Washington actually trying to get out of this conflict, or is it stuck in a cycle it no longer knows how to break? 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. 6d ago

    The Fauci Hearings and COVID S5E94 08.10.2026

    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! Rachel from Monterey, California writes: Last week, Senator Rand Paul held a hearing aimed squarely at attacking Dr. Anthony Fauci, essentially a physician with a long record of controversial claims going after one of the world’s foremost experts on infectious diseases. Senator Hawley jumped in as well, trying to score points while Dr. Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment in response to nearly every question. At one point they even removed Fauci’s attorney from the room, which struck me as completely outrageous. The core issue, of course, is whether the NIH funded research in China that could have contributed to the COVID outbreak. But what stood out just as much was how intensely politicized the entire hearing became. It raises the question: are Republicans planning to use this spectacle as a campaign tool in November? If so, what talking points might they lean on? And if they do weaponize this, how should Democrats respond?  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 7

    The Reflecting Pool Case and the fate of Pirro S5E93 08.07.2026

    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!  Tammy from Bethpage, New York writes:   So, it turns out Senators Tillis and Cornyn blocked the Blanche nomination for Attorney General because of the anti‑weaponization fund, a rare moment of backbone from Republicans.   But now it appears the DOJ is moving to rescind that fund entirely. If that happens, those two senators may end up supporting Blanche after all, even though he is uniquely unqualified to serve as the nation’s top law‑enforcement official.   So, the real question is this: is the anti‑weaponization fund truly dead, or is this just political lip service meant to smooth the path for Blanche’s confirmation? And if the fund is gone, should Tillis and Cornyn continue opposing the nomination on the simple grounds that Blanche is not competent or qualified to be Attorney General? Finally, if confirmed what would stop Blanche and Trump from coming up with a new grift scheme?   And when is Pirro’s head going to be on the chopping block? Nice job on that reflecting pool case “Judge Jeanine”. 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  ...

  5. Aug 5

    Are we seeing a change in Trump support for Ukraine? S5E92 08.05.2026

    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! Orin, from Boise, Idaho writes,   President Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this week, and according to Zelenskyy, the talks were constructive. Meanwhile, Russia has continued its attacks on Ukraine, and just yesterday an errant missile, believed to be Russian, struck Poland.   With the conflict escalating and NATO countries now finding themselves in the line of fire, the question becomes whether Trump is beginning to distance himself from Vladimir Putin and showing a new willingness to support Ukraine.  There’s also the issue of cost and capacity. Pete Hegseth is requesting billions more to sustain the Iran conflict, which increasingly resembles a long-term, open-ended engagement.  That raises a critical strategic question: can the United States meaningfully influence the trajectory of the Russia–Ukraine war while simultaneously funding a major conflict in Iran. Or is the future of the Ukraine conflict going to fall primarily to the European Union and NATO partners.   So, for the panel, did this meeting signal a shift in U.S. posture toward Ukraine; and second, does the United States has the bandwidth, financially, militarily, and politically, to shape outcomes in both conflicts at once.   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  ...

  6. Aug 3

    A Nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia S5E91 08.03.2026

    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! Tam from Buffalo, NY writes:   It appears that the Trump administration and Saudi Arabia have reached an agreement that would allow the Saudis to begin enriching uranium. The announcement frames the program as strictly civil and commercial, but the reality is that shifting from civilian enrichment to weapons‑grade capability is well within Saudi technical reach.   That raises a fundamental question: why would the United States support the emergence of another potential nuclear actor in an already unstable region?  This decision has clear implications. It risks emboldening Iran to accelerate its own nuclear ambitions, and it introduces new strategic pressure points in a part of the world already defined by volatility. Israel has signaled discomfort with the agreement, even as the administration insists that the deal is contingent on Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords, a late addition that may itself become a sticking point for Riyadh.   So, for this panel, I want to focus on accountability and strategic intent. What is the rationale for enabling Saudi enrichment at this moment? Why announce this now, and what does the administration believe it gains by introducing another nuclear‑capable state into the regional equation? And more broadly, does this reflect a miscalculation, or is it part of a larger strategic plan to reshape, or potentially destabilize, the Middle East? If so, what does the panel see as the ultimate objective behind this move.   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  ...

  7. Jul 31

    A Change in Casualty Numbers S5E90 07.31.2026

    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! Mike from San Diego, California writes: The Department of Defense has now acknowledged that roughly 600 U.S. service members have been injured or killed in the ongoing conflict in Iran. This is a stark shift from earlier statements that placed the number below twenty. As a veteran, I understand that in times of war, transparency is often limited to avoid discouraging the public or undermining morale.  But this conflict has never enjoyed broad support. American approval for the Iran war has been consistently low, and withholding information in an already unpopular war raises serious questions about trust and responsibility. So, the first issue I want to put on the table for this panel is accountability. Why announce these numbers now? What changed, strategically, politically, or ethically, that made the Department of Defense decide to release a casualty count of this magnitude?  And second, what impact will this revelation have on public trust, especially when we consider the confidence Americans currently have in Pete Hegseth’s leadership and in the Department of Defense more broadly? 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  ...

  8. Jul 29

    Trump Addresses the Nation S5E89 07.29.2026

    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!  David, from Charleston South Carolina writes,  I’m not sure if anyone on the panel listened to President Trump’s national address the other day, but it was another rambling speech that drifted from complaints about the 2020 election to promoting the SAVE America Act,  which, if you actually read it, doesn’t seem to “save” much of anything beyond Republican political interests.  He appeared to be reading off a teleprompter, and that’s notable considering his usual teleprompter operator is reportedly under investigation for placing bets on a gambling site. At this point, even the teleprompter guy seems embroiled in controversy.   Still, Trump did stick to the script more than usual, and that raises a question: Why would his staff allow him to deliver an address that was so disjointed and embarrassing? Even the major networks declined to air it live. Now those networks are being accused of “stifling free speech,” and Trump is threatening their broadcast licenses. It’s hard not to wonder whether we’re sliding into something more Orwellian, a political environment where unhinged comments are normalized, where institutions are attacked for not amplifying them, and where the President blames everything from election results to U.S. air quality on whoever is convenient, including Canada.   He even tweeted that he’s heading to California to “open the spigot,” whatever that means. All of this leaves me genuinely worried about whether the country can withstand another two years of this level of instability.   But I want to come back to one specific point: Trump’s renewed claims about the 2020 election and the release of those so‑called “classified documents” he says prove his case. From what I’ve read, and again, listeners should verify this with trusted sources, the documents actually reaffirmed that Russia interfered on Trump’s behalf, not Biden’s. If that’s accurate, shouldn’t this be investigated? And what does the panel make of the fact that this narrative keeps resurfacing despite what the evidence appears to show? 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  ...

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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. 

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Mark George Bound, Dr. Scott Gerschwer, & Dr. Brooklynn Ann Welden
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    663
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Nova Society
  • Show Website
    The Nova Society