Higher Education Today

This episode, we talk with the authors of two recent Contexts features on higher education. We speak to Michael Hout about his Winter 2009 “One Thing I Know” column (which you can read online in its entirety here), and then William Beaver tells us about his article, A Matter of Degrees, from our Spring 2009 issue.

Krisin Haltinner drops by again to share a discovery about women rugby players.

Download episode #15 now!

Nonprofits and the Economic Crisis

Everyone knows the private sector is hurting thanks to the economic crisis, but what about non-profit institutions like universities, art museums, and social service & charitable organizations?

Special Guest Co-Host Wes Longhofer and Arturo Baiocchi talk to Woody Powell about the troubled state of non-profits during today’s economic downturn.

Plus, Arturo shares a discovery from Social Psychology Quarterly on the relationship between income, happiness and marriage.

Download episode #14 now!

The Politics of Academia, Health and Marriage

Michèle Lamont visits the Contexts office to discuss two of our current projects, one on the politics of academic fellowships and how they are rewarded, and the other on what makes a “successful society.”

Arturo also shares a discovery on the relationship between health and marriage.

Download episode #13 now!

Genocide in Darfur and White Supremacists in the US

What’s the difference between “genocide” and “crimes against humanity”? Both are terrible crimes, so why does the distinction matter? John Hagan addresses just this question in his new book, Darfur and the Crime of Genocide. While Hagan was on campus at the University of Minnesota for a lecture about the book, we sat down with him to discuss the meaning of genocide, the role of language in creating the conditions for genocide and the politics of numbers.

Also, Kristin Haltinner shares a fascinating discovery about how white power activists manage their identity.

Download episode #12 now!

Global Cities and Women Driving Drunk

Michael Goldman and Wes Longhofer drop by to talk about their Winter 2009 Contexts feature, Making World Cities. Michael and Wes have spent extensive time in Bangalore, India studying the effects of globalization on Indian cities. Listen in as they explain the complications, contradictions and paradoxes of cities in this global age.

Also, Jesse shares a discovery about the narrowing gender gap in drunk driving arrests from Criminology.

Download episode #11 now!