Dornsife Dialogues
Dornsife Dialogues, hosted by the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, are conversations among leading scholars and distinguished alumni regarding a wide range of topics relevant to our world today.
Episodes
23 episodes
How Underrepresented Voters Could Shape the 2024 Election
The presidency may be determined by razor-thin margins in swing states this November. Voters from groups traditionally less likely to turn out – such as non-college-educated individuals, low-income Americans and voters of color – could play a p...
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59:46
Gut Feelings: How Your Diet Shapes Your Brain
A healthy brain is crucial for a long, enjoyable life, and growing evidence suggests that the gut plays a significant role in cognitive function. Beyond that, your gut microbiome influences diverse aspects of health, including mood, nutrition, ...
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57:46
Climate Solutions: Engineering Earth’s Future
As climate change intensifies across the planet, attention is turning toward technologies that offer novel ways to decarbonize our economy and our atmosphere. These include options for capturing, storing, and reusing carbon, and geoengineering ...
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59:21
NATO at 75: Future of the Alliance
Marking the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) 75th anniversary, USC Dornsife scholars examine the transatlantic alliance’s evolution from a Cold War bulwark to its current role. Is it time to strengthen, transform, or even retire it?<...
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59:27
The Bard Unbound: Shakespeare Revisited
Join us for a compelling discussion on the enduringly popular playwright, William Shakespeare. Four centuries after his final curtain call, his influence still resonates deeply in our culture, our language, and our understanding of human nature...
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59:37
Digital Detox: Strategies for Social Media Sanity
In this age of constant connectivity, social media has become more than just a means of expressing ourselves and connecting with others. The powerful algorithms that underpin these platforms are shaping how we communicate with others, what info...
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58:27
The Independent Voter Surge
In a groundbreaking shift, more voters now identify as independent than with any specific political party. This evolution is predominantly driven by millennials and Gen Z voters, who often prioritize issues over party allegiance. Many people al...
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1:02:33
Unmasking Horror Movies
Dive deep into the shadows of cinema with us as we explore the captivating world of horror films. Originating from the haunting tales of the late 1800s, the horror genre has not only stood the test of time but has flourished, spawning billion-d...
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59:44
Automation, AI, and our Human Future
We hear a lot about how automation will reshape human life in the age of artificial intelligence. From revolutionary new techniques in health care to job losses in creative industries, our world may look radically different in the near future. ...
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57:49
Fighting Cancer with Breakthrough Technology
Peter Kuhn, a founding member of the USC Michelson Center for Convergent Biosciences, discusses breakthrough technology in the fight against cancer in the latest Dornsife Dialogues. Kuhn serves on President Biden's "cancer moonshot" initiative ...
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57:49
How to Sustainably Cool a Warming World
As Earth's temperature rises due to the effects of climate change, cooling the air in our lived environments is increasingly crucial. It’s not just about comfort, it’s about health, productivity, and survival.Dependence on conventional ...
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59:35
Exploring the Enigma of Consciousness
Considering AI tools can now effectively mimic human communication, robots can ace the Turing test, and lobsters and crabs have been classified by some nations as sentient, the topic of consciousness has never been more timely or interesting.
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58:49
Stand-Up Comedy: Its Historic Influence on Society
For nearly 200 years, stand-up comedians haven’t just been reflecting society, they’ve been influencing it through pointed social commentary. Join us for a discussion about the evolution of the art form, some of the most influential comedians, ...
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1:00:36
Eating Right for a Better, Longer Life
For many, the start of a new year signals a renewed interest in healthier eating. But what does that mean today? The research regarding what — and when — we should eat has evolved quite a bit. Learn from our experts about how people of all ages...
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59:13
Are There Still Good Germs?
The COVID-19 pandemic made us all much more concerned about eradicating germs. Hand sanitizer is now a household staple and HEPA air filters have become the norm in offices and other indoor spaces. But many microscopic organisms we call “germs,...
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59:55
Nuclear Energy: Should it Power Our Cities?
Nuclear energy is hot again. After decades of activism to close nuclear reactors and shift to other forms of energy, a growing number of political leaders and environmentalists support a renewed investment in nuclear power. Concerns around ener...
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59:01
Witches: Beyond Myth and Magic
At times revered and at other times persecuted, witches and the phenomenon of witchcraft span global cultures and centuries of history, remaining popular even today. But what exactly is a witch and what do they practice? Were those famously per...
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58:50
Los Angeles' Troubled History with Water
To become the major metropolis it is today, Los Angeles periodically engaged in less than reputable means to secure the water it desperately needed -- particularly for a city built on a semi-arid coastal plain, surrounded by desert on three sid...
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58:06
Dinosaurs: From Fiction to Fact
Though it’s been 66 million years since dinosaurs have walked the Earth, they’ve never been more popular. What do film and TV shows get right about dinosaurs and what’s often wrong about the way they’re depicted? Could there ever actually be a ...
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58:43
How Working Remotely May Improve Lives and Cities
If the trend of remote work persists, how is it likely to affect workers’ quality of life, the profitability of firms, and the economic geography of cities and suburbs?Urban economist Matthew Kahn argues that remote work presents especi...
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59:53
How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times
If you’re ready to overcome the confusion, heartbreak and madness of our dangerously divided times, whether you're left, right, center, or not a fan of labels, this video is for you. You'll learn tools and fresh, surprising insights to help you...
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59:36
Exploring the Big Bang, Black Holes and the Extremes of the Universe
The birth of the universe and two of the most spectacular gravitational extremes, the Big Bang and black holes, are the focus of this fascinating discussion between two of USC Dornsife's leading scholars. They also answered viewer quest...
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1:05:28