Sandra Day O'Connor Institute
This is the official podcast of the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute. Our mission is to continue the distinguished legacy and lifetime work of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor to advance American democracy through multigenerational civics education, civil discourse and civic engagement.
Episodes
32 episodes
Emancipation's Complicated History, with Kris Manjapra
Emancipation in America is often presented as a single and singular undertaking. But Professor Kris Manjapra's new book, Black Ghost of Empire, complicates that story by situating America's national emancipation in a long line of globa...
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44:43
The Future of the Court
Civics for Life and the O'Connor Institute welcome Professor Cristina Rodríguez and Mr. Adam White as they join host Liam Julian, director of Public Policy, for an online conversation and share diverse perspectives on the Future of the Court. R...
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55:14
Public Square: When and Why Did America Stop Teaching Civics?
On Thursday, Oct. 17, we welcomed participants from 36 states to our Public Square online discussion on the decline of civics education being taught today. The research is clear: study after study shows that we Americans don't know civics. ...
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49:32
Why Rural America Is Thriving, with Elizabeth Currid-Halkett
The story often told is that rural America is in decline, and that rural Americans are resentful of their suburban and urban counterparts. But Elizabeth Currid-Halkett argues in her new book The Overlooked Americans: The Resilience of Our R...
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41:41
The Museum as Civic Space, with Dr. Anthea Hartig
What is the museum’s role in society? How does – and can – the museum function as a civic space? Dr. Anthea Hartig, the first woman director of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History, sat down with Civics for Life to ...
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15:44
A Conversation on the Economy With Dr. Art Laffer
Economist Dr. Art Laffer—creator of the famous Laffer Curve and advisor to U.S. presidents including Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton—joins the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute for American Democracy for a wide-ranging conversation about the America...
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59:57
Gerrymandering in America, with Nick Seabrook
Gerrymandering, according to Webster, is "to divide or arrange (an area) into political units to give special advantages to one group when voting districts are designed to achieve specific political outcomes."Nick Seabrook, an authority...
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58:36
From Bowling Alone to Join or Die: How Clubs Can Strengthen Community and Democracy
"This is a film about why you should join a club." So begins the documentary Join or Die, available to stream on Netflix, that follows the work of sociologist Robert Putnam, who famo...
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50:43
The Economy: Tariffs, Inflation, and American Competitiveness
From trade wars to rising prices, America’s economic landscape is being reshaped by powerful forces. How do tariffs affect U.S. industry and global standing? With inflation cooling but uncertainty lingering, where are things headed next—and wha...
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47:12
Civic Education and the Future of American Democracy, with Jeffrey Sikkenga
At a time when civic knowledge is in decline, political scientist Jeffrey Sikkenga makes the case that the health of our democracy depends on how—and whether—we teach American principles.Sikkenga, executive director of the Ashbrook Cente...
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28:28
How to Save Democracy, with Josiah Ober
Is democracy in trouble? Many Americans believe so: recent polls consistently rank "threats to democracy" as one of respondents' top concerns. In the new book The Civic Bargain, authors Brook Manville and Josiah Ober look to history for example...
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46:21
Women, Caregiving, and America's Social Safety Net, with Jessica Calarco
At a time when many Americans struggle with economic insecurity, sociologist Jessica Calarco offers an exploration of how women have become America’s default social safety net.Calarco joined the O’Connor Institute to discuss her latest b...
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41:41
Heroes of Abolition and Suffrage
As we transition from Black History Month into Women's History Month, we share "Heroes of Abolition and Suffrage" from our podcast library. This powerful conversation brings together descendants of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Frederick Douglass, an...
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59:09
The Constitution and American Unity, with Yuval Levin
At a time when Americans seem more divided than ever, Yuval Levin offers a compelling argument for how we can rebuild a shared national identity. Levin, the director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies at the American Enterprise Ins...
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38:57
Library of Congress with Dr. Carla Hayden
We are pleased to share this conversation with Dr. Carla Hayden of the Library of Congress led by moderator Chevy Humphrey, CEO of the Museum of Science and Industry, originally recorded in 2021. In it, she discusses the Library of Congress's s...
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53:34
Rediscovering Political Leadership, with John A. Burtka IV
The story is the same in many places: citizens aren't currently wild about their leaders. As John A. Burtka IV writes in the introduction to Gateway to Statesmanship, the "examples of elite failures are so ubiquitous that there is no r...
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25:47
Paradox of Liberty: Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello
December 6 marks the anniversary of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery in America in 1865. In this podcast, we look at the paradox of enslavement and our forefathers' emphasis on liberty and equality. In this unique conversation, hear ...
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58:58
The Art of Diplomacy, with Ambassador Stuart E. Eizenstat
Ambassador Eizenstat joined the O'Connor Institute to discuss his latest book, The Art of Diplomacy, which in one readable volume covers every major contemporary international agreement, from the treaty to end the Vietnam War to the Ky...
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58:15
How Stereotypes Affect Us and What We Can Do
Today, we share a conversation that looks at the impact of stereotypes, how they affect us, and what we can do to limit their adverse effects. This discussion is led by Stanford Professor Dr. Claude M. Steele, an expert on social psychology, an...
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59:23
A Landmark Case - Brown v. Board of Education
As students return to classrooms across the country this fall, we are resharing important conversations on landmark cases related to education. Today, we look at one of the most important Supreme Court decisions of the 20th Century - Brown v. B...
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59:28
How Are Secretaries of State Preparing for the November Election?
As preparations for the 2024 General Election approach, the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute for American Democracy sat down with the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) President Secretary Steve Simon (D-MN), President-elect Micha...
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41:01
Equality and Justice for All, with Dr. Spencer Crew
We are pleased to take a new look at this conversation with Dr. Spencer Crew, in which he discusses the importance of making African American history accessible to the public. Art and documents in a museum can be an important way to experience ...
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1:00:24
The Future of Urban America
Empty office buildings. Workforce changes allow for more remote work. American downtowns are struggling. The pandemic-led changes in where and how we work and live have weakened and withered many urban cores. The office vacancy rate in Houston ...
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40:37
"A More or Less Perfect Union" with Judge Douglas Ginsburg
We are excited to revisit this fascinating discussion with Judge Douglas Ginsburg as he delves into past, present, and future struggles for liberty through the lens of the US Constitution - just in time for the 4th of July and the celebration o...
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57:08
John Locke: The 17th Century Philosopher who Shaped American Thought
The Sandra Day O’Connor Institute for American Democracy presents a conversation with author and historian Claire Rydell Arcenas and Liam Julian, director of Public Policy at the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute. In her book America's...
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58:21