Utterly Moderate Podcast

Utterly Moderate Podcast

Connors Institute

The Utterly Moderate Podcast is the official podcast of Connors Institute for Nonpartisan Research and Civic Engagement at Shippensburg University. The core mission of the Connors Institute is to disseminate high-quality nonpartisan information to the public. Utterly Moderate is hosted by Lawrence Eppard, a researcher, university professor, and director of the Connors Institute. On each episode, Eppard is joined by a guest (or two or three!) who helps listeners understand important topics by focusing on just the weight of the empirical evidence and none of the unneeded opinions or political agendas. We are aggressively nonpartisan in our approach. Be sure...

Red America vs. Blue America: Is This Really What We Want?

Red America vs. Blue America: Is This Really What We Want?

America is separating into two nations with two different experiences of reality itself: Red America and Blue America. As Robert Talisse, Vanderbilt University political theorist and today’s Utterly Moderate podcast guest, writes: “[O]ur everyday social environments are increasingly segregated along partisan lines. It is no exaggeration to say that in the United States today, opposing partisans live in different social worlds. For example, liberals and conservatives live in different kinds of ne

Jan 31, • 45:57

How Luck & Randomness Shape Our Lives (w/Mark Robert Rank)

How Luck & Randomness Shape Our Lives (w/Mark Robert Rank)

From all of us at the Connors Institute at Shippensburg University, we thank you for listening and hope you have a truly Happy Thanksgiving! Wherever you spend the holiday and whoever you spend it with, we hope you have lots to be thankful for and good people to be thankful with. On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast, social scientist Mark Rank is here to discuss his newest book, The Random Factor: How Chance and Luck Profoundly Shape Our Lives and the World around

Nov 25, 2024 • 30:51

Donald Trump, Hunter Biden, Jan. 6, and More. . . How the Pardon Power Is Used (and Abused!) (w/Kimberly Wehle)

Donald Trump, Hunter Biden, Jan. 6, and More. . . How the Pardon Power Is Used (and Abused!) (w/Kimberly Wehle)

Before we begin, don't forget to check out Lawrence Eppard's new book, The Poisoning of the American Mind, and to read the newest piece in the Connors Journal on single parenthood in the U.S. Now on to the podcast. . . Kimberly Wehle, a constitutional law expert at the University of Baltimore's School of Law, joins the Utterly Moderate Podcast to discuss her new book, Pardon Power: How the Pardon Power System Works—and Why

Oct 4, 2024 • 28:03

Single Parenthood and Its Consequences for Children (w/Kay Hymowitz)

Single Parenthood and Its Consequences for Children (w/Kay Hymowitz)

Single parenthood has risen dramatically in the United States over time. Today, 34% of all children live in a single parent household, up from 9% in 1960. There are regrettable negative consequences of these statistics, as The Bulwark’s Mona Charen notes: “[C]hildren in mother-only homes are five times more likely to live in poverty than children with two parents. And children in father-only homes were twice as likely to be poor as those in married-couple homes.

Sep 13, 2024 • 33:04

"The Poisoning" Is Here! (w/Jacob Mackey)

"The Poisoning" Is Here! (w/Jacob Mackey)

On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast, the authors of the brand new book, The Poisoning of the American Mind, talk about the book and its implications for America. So what is their argument? A significant amount of research suggests that most people seek out news and information sources that mirror their worldviews, avoid ones that don’t, and interpret information using cognitive filters that force an alignment with what they already believe. As so

Aug 13, 2024 • 45:32

Celebrating America by Talking About George Washington (w/Denver Brunsman)

Celebrating America by Talking About George Washington (w/Denver Brunsman)

We want to express our deepest sympathies and condolences to the family of Corey Comperatore. He was killed during the attempted assassination of former President Trump. According to NBC Philadelphia, Comperatore raised two daughters with his high school sweetheart and spent his final moments shielding his family that he loved so much from the gunfire. May he rest in peace. His family is in our prayers. We also want to wish a quick recovery to those who were injured i

Jul 18, 2024 • 36:38

Spotting Real Expertise & Examining Your Own Knowledge (w/Jacob Mackey)

Spotting Real Expertise & Examining Your Own Knowledge (w/Jacob Mackey)

On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast, host Lawrence Eppard and Connors Institute co-director Jacob Mackey discuss techniques and shortcuts that you can use to spot real expertise in a world where people with expert credentials are sometimes frauds and where people without expert credentials are often very knowledgeable. They also discuss crucial techniques for examining your personal biases and the limits of your own knowledge. This conversation is based on two re

Jun 28, 2024 • 56:24

Misleading Claims in American Educational Curricula (w/Wilfred Reilly)

Misleading Claims in American Educational Curricula (w/Wilfred Reilly)

Before we talk about this episode, we hope you didn’t miss the latest research from the Connors Institute on the gender pay gap. Check it out now! We talk quite a bit on this podcast about some of the things that many liberal and conservative Americans believe that just ain’t so. In fact, we just released a free online documentary about this titled The Poisoning of the American Mind. On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast we are joined by Wilfred R

May 31, 2024 • 45:38

Space is Littered With Junk (w/Varoujan Gorjian)

Space is Littered With Junk (w/Varoujan Gorjian)

Before we talk about this week’s podcast episode, don’t forget to check out the Connors Institute’s new documentary, The Poisoning of the American Mind, an illuminating film about how conservatives and liberals in America regularly fall for misinformation and disinformation. On this week’s episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast, we are joined by everyone’s favorite astrophysicist, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Dr. Varoujan Gorjian,

May 10, 2024 • 38:17

Saving the Social Sciences (w/Michael Jindra)

Saving the Social Sciences (w/Michael Jindra)

We’ve talked a lot on the Utterly Moderate Podcast about how both liberals and conservatives in America are bombarded with misleading information on a regular basis. On the left, unfortunately, a lot of this bad info comes from an academic research community which is overwhelmingly liberal. A recent study found the least imbalanced discipline to be engineering, which was still 62% liberal professors. Political science was 89%, psychology 94%, and sociology 98%, while s

Apr 19, 2024 • 40:48

How Should Non-Scientists Evaluate the "State of the Science"? (w/Dr. Sallie Baxendale)

How Should Non-Scientists Evaluate the "State of the Science"? (w/Dr. Sallie Baxendale)

It is extremely hard for the average citizen to understand what the “state of the science” is on many issues. We can all type our queries about a particular topic into Google but, when we get the flood of results, most of us are not trained to be able to (a) understand the complicated statistical methodologies employed in many research studies, (b) compare studies and evaluate their strength relative to each other, or (c) assess what the preponderance of the evid

Mar 21, 2024 • 54:15

Gender in the News (w/Jacob Mackey)

Gender in the News (w/Jacob Mackey)

On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast we are joined by Jacob Mackey to discuss two big gender-related stories in the news. The first story is positive, and we have covered it in the Connors Newsletter—a big new research study shows that we have made great progress combatting sex discrimination in the labor market. This is great news! Then there is a difficult and troubling story. According to leaked internal files from WPATH, a leading global organization whi

Mar 7, 2024 • 32:49

Is Ideology Hurting Science? (w/Lisa Selin Davis)

Is Ideology Hurting Science? (w/Lisa Selin Davis)

On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast we are joined again by Lisa Selin Davis, a writer who covers issues related to gender and gender affirming care. Davis joins the program to discuss a recent UnHerd article “Why did three journals reject my puberty-blocker study? Trans children deserve to know the facts,” written by Sallie Baxendale, a clinical neuropsychologist at University College London. Baxendale details an academic article she wrote about the s

Feb 21, 2024 • 29:16

American Colleges Under the Microscope (w/Jacob Mackey)

American Colleges Under the Microscope (w/Jacob Mackey)

On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast we discuss recent controversies at and concerns about colleges and universities in the United States—from highly publicized instances of campus unrest to a lack of intellectual diversity among faculty to hypocrisy on free speech. This episode’s guest is Jacob Mackey, associate professor at Occidental College and coeditor with host Lawrence Eppard of The Poisoning of the American Mind, which is due out later this spr

Feb 1, 2024 • 43:20

New George Floyd Documentary (w/Robert VerBruggen)

New George Floyd Documentary (w/Robert VerBruggen)

Before we get to today’s episode, check out this article about the Connors Institute in The Sentinel newspaper! On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast we are joined by Robert VerBruggen from the Manhattan Institute to discuss a new documentary which claims to disprove that George Floyd was killed by Derek Chauvin, as well as a new research study which claims to disprove that income inequality in the U.S. has been rising since the 1960s. The documentary in question,

Jan 11, 2024 • 44:18

The Good Old Days Are Now (w/Johan Norberg and Piper Kull)

The Good Old Days Are Now (w/Johan Norberg and Piper Kull)

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Connors Institute at Shippensburg University! Since this Utterly Moderate episode is both our Christmas program and our 100th PODCAST EPISODE, we thought we would try to be as uplifting as possible. In that spirit, we are being joined by Johan Norberg, author of a number of books including Progress: Ten Reasons to Look Forward to the Future. In that book, Norberg presents extensive data documenting how the world has gotten much be

Dec 21, 2023 • 35:19

Jim Swift on Immigration, Disinformation, Dog Birthdays, and More!

Jim Swift on Immigration, Disinformation, Dog Birthdays, and More!

Jim Swift from The Bulwark joins the Utterly Moderate Podcast to discuss the fraught nature of the immigration debate in the U.S. Both sides in the immigration debate have important points to bring to the table, and good faith discussions and compromises are badly needed. Unfortunately, such efforts often get sidetracked by misinformation and disinformation about this thorny issue. Swift discusses a story of his that had a number of important issues—legal immigration, unauth

Dec 11, 2023 • 34:04

Calculate YOUR Poverty Risk With This Calculator! (w/Mark Robert Rank)

Calculate YOUR Poverty Risk With This Calculator! (w/Mark Robert Rank)

Leading American poverty researcher Mark Robert Rank joins the Utterly Moderate Podcast to discuss his Poverty Risk Calculator, the record-low poverty rates that the U.S. saw in 2021, Dr. Rank’s research on the risk Americans face of experiencing poverty throughout their lives, a new book he has coming out on luck, and more! Rank has spent his career studying poverty, economic inequality, and social policy in America and teaching about these topics at Washington University i

Nov 9, 2023 • 42:35

New Book on Disinformation (w/Lee McIntyre & Tom Nichols)

New Book on Disinformation (w/Lee McIntyre & Tom Nichols)

Friend of the Connors Forum and frequent Utterly Moderate guest, Lee McIntyre, has a new book out titled On Disinformation: How to Fight for Truth and Protect Democracy, a “powerful, pocket-sized citizen’s guide on how to fight back against the disinformation campaigns that are imperiling American democracy, from the bestselling author of Post-Truth and How to Talk to a Science Denier.” McIntyre argues that there is an effort in this country to destroy facts and make America

Oct 12, 2023 • 42:15

The Case for Nuclear Power: An Answer for Climate Change? (w/Robert Zubrin)

The Case for Nuclear Power: An Answer for Climate Change? (w/Robert Zubrin)

On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast we discuss both the pros and cons of nuclear power, especially as it pertains to combatting global climate change. The international community is attempting to keep the world from warming no more than 1.5-2.0 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by the end of this century. While there have been incredible efforts to achieve this—efforts that have likely taken the worst-case warming scenarios off the table—we are still on

Sep 26, 2023 • 26:00

The Replication Crisis in Psychology (w/Lee Jussim)

The Replication Crisis in Psychology (w/Lee Jussim)

On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast we are going to be talking about something called the “replication crisis.” Most people will not be familiar with this since it has been happening in academia but we promise it is not only quite intriguing and full of juicy details but it also has some pretty big implications for the larger society. So what is the replication crisis? In the past 15 years or so it has been discovered that many research findings in major academic

Sep 11, 2023 • 44:00

Race & Police Shootings in America (w/Robert VerBruggen)

Race & Police Shootings in America (w/Robert VerBruggen)

On this Utterly Moderate Podcast episode we tackle a sensitive issue that is hard to find a clear, definitive answer to: does race play a significant role in fatal shootings of civilians by law enforcement in America? Our guest, Robert VerBruggen, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute, has done important work on this topic, including his March 2022 report: “Fatal Police Shootings and Race: A Review of the Evidence and Suggestions for Future Research.” Based on the best availab

Aug 25, 2023 • 42:58

Controversies Surrounding Gender Affirming Care for Minors (w/Lisa Selin Davis & Amber Alt)

Controversies Surrounding Gender Affirming Care for Minors (w/Lisa Selin Davis & Amber Alt)

On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast we are going to tackle a very sensitive topic, the debate and controversies surrounding gender affirming care for minors who display signs of distress at an incongruence between their gender identity and their biological sex. In several countries, including places like Finland, Sweden, Australia, and New Zealand, governments and clinics are either banning or placing new limits on the use of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones,

Aug 2, 2023 • 1:38:07

Anatomy of a Viral Conspiracy Theory (w/Jim Swift)

Anatomy of a Viral Conspiracy Theory (w/Jim Swift)

Did you know that President Joe Biden was bussing unauthorized immigrants to a hotel near Orlando, Florida and giving them pre-loaded credit cards, hotel rooms, and clothing—all on your dime?!? You say you didn’t know? Good, because the story was a complete fabrication. On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast we are joined by good friend of the show Jim Swift from The Bulwark to discuss the mechanics of how a modern conspiracy theory like this goes viral. Swift cover

Jul 17, 2023 • 37:55

Don't Be a Doomer (w/Mona Charen)

Don't Be a Doomer (w/Mona Charen)

Before we get to today’s episode, GREAT NEWS for American democracy! The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected the independent state legislature theory in Moore v. Harper. If they had not ruled this way, it could have opened the door in presidential elections for state legislatures to ignore the votes of their residents and simply decide to give their state’s electoral votes to the legislature’s preferred candidate. This would have been a nightmare, so the SCOTUS decision is a win

Jun 30, 2023 • 36:06

Think Twice Before Messing With Social Security (w/Kathleen Romig)

Think Twice Before Messing With Social Security (w/Kathleen Romig)

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER! On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast we are going to discuss a topic that was back in the news recently with the debt ceiling negotiations: Social Security. A number of politicians and elected representatives have recently suggested that we make major changes to the Social Security program, changes which could have a substantial (and I think likely negative) impact on American seniors. We will all eventually age,

Jun 5, 2023 • 41:41

The Questionable Science of Microaggressions (w/Lee Jussim)

The Questionable Science of Microaggressions (w/Lee Jussim)

On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast we are joined by Lee Jussim, Rutgers University distinguished professor of psychology. He is here to discuss the questionable science behind microaggressions. If you are unfamiliar with the term, microaggressions are claimed to be “acts, often facially innocuous, that convey subtle animus or bias against someone in a traditionally marginalized group.” Our guest, Dr. Jussim, has written multiple excellent articles detailing the

May 21, 2023 • 1:10:01

America CAN Reduce Gun Violence (w/Garen Wintemute)

America CAN Reduce Gun Violence (w/Garen Wintemute)

Another massacre in America. It feels like we are living in a nightmare—and we should refuse to become numb to it. Instead, we should use our anger and sorrow and demand that our leaders do the things that most Americans support to stop the carnage. I include links to some *extremely* graphic images of Emmett Till’s corpse as well as the corpses of the recent mass shooting victims in Allen, Texas below. If you believe that you will not be able to handle seeing these images,

May 7, 2023 • 1:09:54

Conspiracy Theories in America (w/Michael Shermer from Skeptic Magazine)

Conspiracy Theories in America (w/Michael Shermer from Skeptic Magazine)

On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast we are joined by Michael Shermer from Skeptic Magazine to discuss the rise of conspiracy theories in America.  Make sure to check out Shermer's new book on the subject, Conspiracy: Why the Rational Believe the Irrational.  The Connors Forum is an independent entity from the institutions that we partner with. The views expressed in our newsletters and podcasts are those of the individual contributors alone and not of our partne

Apr 17, 2023 • 41:20

Reducing Extremism & Radicalization (w/Jay Jackson & Pasha Dashtgard)

Reducing Extremism & Radicalization (w/Jay Jackson & Pasha Dashtgard)

On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast we discuss the difficult tasks of reducing extremism and radicalization in the U.S. as well as improving our political discourse. In segment one we are joined by Pasha Dashtgard, Director of Research for American University’s Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab (PERIL). In segment two we are joined by friend of the show Jay Jackson to discuss his book, Decent Discourse, as well as his website of the same name

Mar 27, 2023 • 1:05:45

The Woke Wars (w/Jacob Mackey)

The Woke Wars (w/Jacob Mackey)

Longtime Connors Newsletter subscribers and Utterly Moderate Podcast listeners know how concerned we are about post-truth America—that is, the fact that we now live in a time where objective facts are becoming less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief. We’ve spent a lot of time talking about how American conservatives are regularly lied to by Fox News, Newsmax, and OAN about a variety of issues, whether it is supposedly stolen ele

Mar 13, 2023 • 54:59

Going Back to the Moon and Then to Mars (w/Varoujan Gorjian)

Going Back to the Moon and Then to Mars (w/Varoujan Gorjian)

On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast we are joined by friend of the show, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory astrophysicist Varoujan Gorjian, to discuss NASA’s plans for taking humans back to the Moon, setting up a Moon base, and then going to Mars. We also discuss other exciting developments in the world of science, including breakthroughs in nuclear fusion and artificial intelligence. And of course, as always, there is the obligatory discussion of ALIENS. Subscribe

Feb 23, 2023 • 38:00

CRT, Abortion, & Other Mailbag Questions! (w/Madison Laughman)

CRT, Abortion, & Other Mailbag Questions! (w/Madison Laughman)

On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast, we answer your mailbag questions! Our podcast listeners and newsletter subscribers (subscribe for free instantly!) have been sending their questions to our website and today is the day that we answer them on the air! Visit us any time at ConnorsForum.org and subscribe to our FREE email newsletter in one click while you are there! The Connors Forum is an independent entity from the institutions that we partner with. The views

Feb 6, 2023 • 32:05

Women in STEM (w/Brighid Cantwell)

Women in STEM (w/Brighid Cantwell)

On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast we are discussing women in fields related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in the U.S. According to the AAUW: "Women make up only 28% of the workforce in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), and men vastly outnumber women majoring in most STEM fields in college. The gender gaps are particularly high in some of the fastest-growing and highest-paid jobs of the future, like computer science

Jan 23, 2023 • 26:50

What Does It Mean To Be a Conservative Today? (w/Bill Kristol)

What Does It Mean To Be a Conservative Today? (w/Bill Kristol)

In the fall of 2022 the Connors Forum invited our newsletter subscribers to a free live taping of this show where we talked to conservative heavyweight Bill Kristol about a variety of topics, including the meaning of conservatism today, the state of the Republican Party and its future, the health of American democracy, and more.  Because it was a live show, listeners were able to pose questions to Kristol during the show. Subscribe for free in just one click to make sure you

Jan 8, 2023 • 1:13:51

Let's Get Outraged!! (w/David Beckemeyer)

Let's Get Outraged!! (w/David Beckemeyer)

The Connors Forum would like to extend both Christmas and holiday greetings to all our podcast listeners and newsletter subscribers. We hope you have a very meaningful celebration with family and friends! On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast, host Lawrence Eppard is joined by David Beckemeyer, host of the brand new Connors Forum podcast Outrage Overload. David joins the show to talk about all of the media commentators and politicians who make up the outrage indus

Dec 22, 2022 • 54:06

Cartooning the News (w/Phil Hands and Adam Zyglis)

Cartooning the News (w/Phil Hands and Adam Zyglis)

We're back with another episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast! But first things first—if you missed it, on November 29th our Connors Newsletter subscribers got to take part in an exclusive live podcast taping with heavyweight political commentator Bill Kristol from The Bulwark. Our subscribers were able to pose their questions to Mr. Kristol live and be a part of the show! Don't miss out in the future—subscribe for free in one click to join our community! On this podcast e

Dec 1, 2022 • 40:28

Thanksgiving Message to YOU!

Thanksgiving Message to YOU!

Thank you for being a valued member of our wonderful Utterly Moderate community of reasonable Americans. We hope you have a joyous Thanksgiving celebration with those closest to you! Happy Thanksgiving :) The Connors Forum is an independent entity from the institutions that we partner with. The views expressed in our newsletters and podcasts are those of the individual contributors alone and not of our partner institutions. Episode Music: “Draw the Sky” by Paul Keane (lic

Nov 24, 2022 • 2:12

Thanksgiving's Complicated History (w/David Silverman)

Thanksgiving's Complicated History (w/David Silverman)

While you listen, don’t forget to subscribe to our free email newsletter! It takes only seconds! This is our Thanksgiving episode! Here at the Connors Forum we are deeply grateful for YOU, our wonderful community of subscribers we have built over the last few years with our podcast and newsletter. We care deeply about doing our small part to bring Americans back together again, and we are overjoyed that so many people agree with this mission and have joined us in it. We hope

Nov 18, 2022 • 45:53

Election Preview! (w/Lonce Bailey)

Election Preview! (w/Lonce Bailey)

On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast, Shippensburg University political scientist Lonce Bailey joins the show to discuss the midterm elections: Which party will likely control the House of Representatives? Which party will likely control the Senate? Which issues do voters say are most important in this election? Lonce is a friend of the show and works at Shippensburg University with podcast host Lawrence Eppard. As you will no doubt be able to tell by listening

Nov 1, 2022 • 26:06

The Failures of Reconstruction & Rise of Jim Crow (w/Jeremi Suri)

The Failures of Reconstruction & Rise of Jim Crow (w/Jeremi Suri)

On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast, host Lawrence Eppard is joined by University of Texas historian Jeremi Suri to discuss his new book, Civil War by Other Means: America’s Long and Unfinished Fight for Democracy. In addition to helping listeners understand the failures of reconstruction, their discussion focused on topics such as: How Nazi Germany used Jim Crow as a model for their own policies The important ties between the election of 1876 and today Just ho

Oct 20, 2022 • 53:51

George Washington: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (w/Denver Brunsman & True Tamplin)

George Washington: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (w/Denver Brunsman & True Tamplin)

On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast. . . Segment One: The Life and Times of George Washington George Washington University historian Denver Brunsman joins the show to share his insights on the life and career of George Washington, as well as his general reflections on the study of history and its place in the modern university. Segment Two: The Importance of Teaching Kids Financial Literacy True Tamplin, who runs the digital marketing agency UpDigital and

Oct 6, 2022 • 1:03:06

Ukraine Momentum Shift? And How Neighborhoods Impact Children (w/Paul Poast)

Ukraine Momentum Shift? And How Neighborhoods Impact Children (w/Paul Poast)

On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast. . . Segment 1: Ukraine Momentum Shift? Paul Poast, an international relations expert at the University of Chicago, joins the program to assess the current state of the war in Ukraine. Segment 2: How Do Neighborhoods Impact Children? Utterly Moderate host and Shippensburg University scholar Lawrence Eppard is interviewed on the Bold Dominion Podcast about his research concerning the powerful ways that neighborhoods influ

Sep 22, 2022 • 44:22

Can U.S. Gun Violence Be Reduced? (w/Garen Wintemute)

Can U.S. Gun Violence Be Reduced? (w/Garen Wintemute)

On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast, host Lawrence Eppard is joined by Garen Wintemute for a nonpartisan explanation of the research on reducing gun violence in the U.S. Wintemute is the director of the Violence Prevention Research Program at the University of California, Davis. He is a renowned expert on gun violence and a pioneer in the field of injury epidemiology and prevention of firearm violence. He has testified before Congress and served as a consultant f

Sep 8, 2022 • 1:06:30

The Disappearing Great Salt Lake (w/Bonnie Baxter, Robert Gillies, & Chloe Fender)

The Disappearing Great Salt Lake (w/Bonnie Baxter, Robert Gillies, & Chloe Fender)

On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast, after a brief discussion of President Joe Biden's plan to forgive some student loans, host Lawrence Eppard and his guests discuss the drying up of the Great Salt Lake in Utah. You’ll remember from our previous article in our free email newsletter on the subject that satellite photos show the Great Salt Lake is much smaller than it was only a few decades ago—in fact, it has now reached its lowest point on record since measureme

Aug 31, 2022 • 48:05

Political Violence, Autocracy & Other Threats (w/Rachel Kleinfeld & Ken White)

Political Violence, Autocracy & Other Threats (w/Rachel Kleinfeld & Ken White)

Join the Connors Crew by subscribing to our free email newsletter TODAY! On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast, host Lawrence Eppard discusses the threat of political violence, America’s slide toward autocracy, and more with guests Rachel Kleinfeld and Ken White. Articles/other stuff referenced in this episode: “The New Era of Political Violence is Here” from Tom Nichols at The Atlantic “Trump Supporters’ Threats to Judge Spur Democracy Concerns” from Fields &amp

Aug 19, 2022 • 1:25:56

Hitler and the Pope (w/David Kertzer)

Hitler and the Pope (w/David Kertzer)

Join the Connors Crew and subscribe to our email newsletter today! On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast, host Lawrence Eppard is joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning Brown University scholar David Kertzer to discuss his newest book, The Pope at War: The Secret History of Pius XII, Mussolini, and Hitler. Kertzer’s book is based upon his work with the newly opened Vatican Archives documents on Pope Pius XII. He provides groundbreaking insight into the Pope’s actions du

Aug 12, 2022 • 33:58

Join Our Crew! And It's Mailbag Time Again!

Join Our Crew! And It's Mailbag Time Again!

Subscribe to the free Connors Newsletter instantly at ConnorsForum.org. What do you get in return? Super informative original newsletter articles and podcasts about the important issues of the day sent directly to you. Everything is vetted by our experienced nonpartisan researchers—we don’t have time or patience for spin or political agendas, and we know you don’t either. Also, it's mailbag time again! Go to the Connors Forum contact page and send in your questions for us to

Aug 4, 2022 • 3:13

R.I.P. American Democracy? (w/Jonathan Last & Tom Nichols)

R.I.P. American Democracy? (w/Jonathan Last & Tom Nichols)

Join the Connors Crew now by subscribing to our newsletter in just one click! American democracy is in serious trouble. We may be on the verge of the “greatest political and constitutional crisis since the Civil War” and quite possibly the “suspension of American democracy as we have known it,” in the words of Robert Kagan. Michael Gerson laments that recent developments in the U.S. are “revealing the frightening fragility of the American experiment.” And Jonathan Last warn

Jul 29, 2022 • 45:40

Noam Chomsky Reflects on Democracy, Inequality, His Career, & More

Noam Chomsky Reflects on Democracy, Inequality, His Career, & More

On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast, host Lawrence Eppard is joined by longtime MIT professor and current University of Arizona scholar Noam Chomsky. Chomsky is known around the world for his academic career as a linguist as well as his work as a social commentator and activist. He is the author of many books and you can find his numerous talks and interviews all over the internet. Eppard and Chomsky cover a variety of topics, including the health of American dem

Jul 20, 2022 • 36:20

1st Webb Telescope Pics Are Here. . . and Gorgeous! (w/Varoujan Gorjian)

1st Webb Telescope Pics Are Here. . . and Gorgeous! (w/Varoujan Gorjian)

On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast, host Lawrence Eppard is joined by NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory research astronomer Varoujan Gorjian to discuss the amazing pictures just released by NASA from the James Webb Space Telescope. See the pics here—and have our favorite research astronomer explain them to you as you listen to this episode! And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to our NEWSLETTER! The Connors Forum is an independent entity from the institutions that we par

Jul 14, 2022 • 44:51

We Should Have Paid Attention in Math Class (w/James Zimring & Arjun Moorthy)

We Should Have Paid Attention in Math Class (w/James Zimring & Arjun Moorthy)

Click here to join the Connors Crew and get our cool newsletter—it takes only a few seconds! This week's newsletter article: “Communities Impact Children’s Lives in Powerful Ways.” Happy Independence Day everyone! We know times are tough right now in this country. Mass shootings have rocked us once again. Inflation is high and economic troubles loom. A series of Supreme Court decisions have left you either elated or saddened depending upon your point of view. American democ

Jul 3, 2022 • 1:25:20

Bridges Won't Stop Tornadoes (w/Lee Enterprises Weather Team)

Bridges Won't Stop Tornadoes (w/Lee Enterprises Weather Team)

Click here to join the Connors Crew and get our cool newsletter -- it takes only a few seconds! This week's article: What is Causing Inflation? On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast, host Lawrence Eppard is joined by three meteorologists from the Lee Enterprises Weather Team: Matt Holiner, Joe Martucci, and Sean Sublette.   They discuss a number of weather-related subjects that people often get wrong, including tornadoes, humidity, heat lightning, interpreting a we

Jun 23, 2022 • 47:36

Mona Charen Reflects on Guns, Poverty, Jan. 6, & More

Mona Charen Reflects on Guns, Poverty, Jan. 6, & More

On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast host Lawrence Eppard is joined by Mona Charen, a nationally syndicated columnist, policy editor at the right-leaning The Bulwark, and host of their Beg to Differ podcast. Charen joins our show to offer a conservative's perspective on gun control, reducing poverty, the January 6 hearings, decency in American culture, and more. Read Charen's writing at The Bulwark here. Listen to Charen's podcast Be

Jun 8, 2022 • 34:15

When Presidents Clash with the Press (with Jon Marshall)

When Presidents Clash with the Press (with Jon Marshall)

Subscribe to our Connors Newsletter today! On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast host Lawrence Eppard is joined by Jon Marshall, a professor in Northwestern University’s school of journalism and author of the new book, Clash: Presidents and the Press in Times of Crisis. They discuss the role of the press and historical examples of its relationship with different administrations. Episode Music: “Please Listen Carefully” by Jahzzar (

Jun 1, 2022 • 47:06

The Conger Ice Shelf Collapse: Canary in the Coal Mine? (with Richard Alley & Zach Stein)

The Conger Ice Shelf Collapse: Canary in the Coal Mine? (with Richard Alley & Zach Stein)

Are you a reasonable person? If so, subscribe to the Connors Newsletter! On This Episode of Utterly Moderate. . . Segment 1: The Conger Ice Shelf Has Collapsed Richard Alley, a professor of geosciences at Penn State University, joins host Lawrence Eppard to help us understand the collapse of the Conger Ice Shelf in East Antarctica and its implications. Read about the Conger Ice Shelf collapse here. Segment 2: All About Climate Investing Zach Stein from the

May 11, 2022 • 50:19

How to Think Like a Lawyer and Why (with Kimberly Wehle)

How to Think Like a Lawyer and Why (with Kimberly Wehle)

Hate all the bitterness and polarization? JOIN NOW! Become a member of our community of reasonable Americans! On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast, host Lawrence Eppard is joined by University of Baltimore law professor Kimberly Wehle to discuss her new book, How to Think Like a Lawyer and Why: A Common-Sense Guide to Everyday Dilemmas. Also, check out the song featured at the end of this episode, “Turning Into You,” by Shippensburg University student

Apr 28, 2022 • 38:40

Immigration and Crime (with Michael Light)

Immigration and Crime (with Michael Light)

Become a Connors Forum Community Member! Become a member of our community of reasonable people devoted to facts, honesty, and civility by subscribing HERE! It takes 15 seconds or less! On this Episode: Virtually every week on television you can hear politicians and political commentators claiming that immigrants, and unauthorized immigrants in particular, commit a lot of crime. Are these claims true? The weight of the best available evidence suggests they are not. Ther

Apr 13, 2022 • 42:27

The Devil Never Sleeps (with Juliette Kayyem)

The Devil Never Sleeps (with Juliette Kayyem)

We are building a big COMMUNITY of people like yourself who value nonpartisan information and civil discussions about important topics. Absolutely no Democratic or Republican Party talking points, just the weight of the evidence. Please join our growing community by subscribing to our newsletter. On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast we are joined by Juliette Kayyem to talk about her newest book, The Devil Never Sleeps: Learning to Live in an Age of Disasters. Be

Apr 5, 2022 • 32:09

The Aging of America (with Mark Sachleben)

The Aging of America (with Mark Sachleben)

Please consider SUBSCRIBING to our newsletter! It takes only a few seconds and you can help us build a big community of Americans devoted to nonpartisan information and civil discourse. We hope you subscribe! On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast we are discussing a phenomenon occurring in the United States and a number of countries around the world: the median age of our population is rising. Here to discuss this with us is political scientist Mark Sachleben. Epi

Mar 24, 2022 • 35:48

American Kids Get a Fact Checker (with James Warren)

American Kids Get a Fact Checker (with James Warren)

Subscribe Now for High-Quality Nonpartisan Information: Please SUBSCRIBE to our nonpartisan Connors Newsletter! Get all of our Connors Forum for a Healthy Democracy publications and Utterly Moderate podcasts instantly! On This Utterly Moderate Episode: On this episode of Utterly Moderate we are joined by James Warren, executive editor at NewsGuard, a nonpartisan company that rates news organizations. Warren previously worked as managing editor at the Chicago Tribun

Mar 16, 2022 • 35:02

What's Next in Ukraine? (with Paul Poast, Allyson Ritchey, & Madison Laughman)

What's Next in Ukraine? (with Paul Poast, Allyson Ritchey, & Madison Laughman)

First things first. . . SUBSCRIBE! Subscribe to our free newsletter HERE! Get non-partisan analyses, along with all of our podcast episodes, directly to your email inbox each week! Read such newsletter articles as: Do Unauthorized Immigrants Commit a Lot of Crime? Understanding the Gender Pay Gap Our Media Report Card And much more! Segment One: Ukraine Paul Poast, faculty member in the Department of Political Science at the University of Chicago and expert on internation

Mar 10, 2022 • 53:24

Economic Sanctions Against Russia and More (with Alan Cole & Erik Nelson)

Economic Sanctions Against Russia and More (with Alan Cole & Erik Nelson)

Given the atrocities being committed in Ukraine by Vladimir Putin and his military, our thoughts and prayers and support as always are firmly with the people of Ukraine. We also stand with those Russians who oppose their leader’s actions. On this episode of Utterly Moderate we are talking about economic sanctions and how they might impact Russia in segment one with Alan Cole, the founder of Full Stack Economics. Check out Full Stack Economics, including such articles a

Mar 2, 2022 • 1:07:37

Wormholes, Aliens, Exoplanets, & More Science Fun! (with Varoujan Gorjian)

Wormholes, Aliens, Exoplanets, & More Science Fun! (with Varoujan Gorjian)

Prayers for Ukraine Despite the lighthearted topics on today’s show, we know these are not lighthearted times. Please keep the people of Ukraine in your thoughts and prayers. Let us encourage world leaders to work to end this aggression and bring it to a close as quickly and as peacefully as possible. Axios: “U.S. Official Says a Russian Invasion of Ukraine has Started” Subscribe to Our Free Newsletter If you care about big societal issues, conside

Feb 23, 2022 • 45:23

All About America's Supply Chain (with Steven Melnyk)

All About America's Supply Chain (with Steven Melnyk)

WE HAVE BIG NEWS! Before we talk about this episode, first let us share some big news. . . We have a new free online newsletter that goes straight to your email inbox! If you care about big societal issues and the health of our democracy, and want analyses from a nonpartisan perspective, we hope you will consider subscribing! Here are the first two articles: "First Media Report Card of 2022" "A Five-Alarm Fire for American Democracy" All newsletter articles by our network

Feb 16, 2022 • 44:44

Threats to Democracy in the U.S. and Abroad (with Jim Swift)

Threats to Democracy in the U.S. and Abroad (with Jim Swift)

A FIVE-ALARM FIRE for AMERICAN DEMOCRACY The warning signs of serious decline for many democracies worldwide are “flashing red.” In the U.S., we may be on the verge of the “greatest political and constitutional crisis since the Civil War” and quite possibly the “suspension of American democracy as we have known it,” in the words of Robert Kagan. The problems facing American democracy are numerous, including (but not limited to) misinformat

Feb 10, 2022 • 53:10

The Doomsday Glacier. . . is Collapsing?!? (with Richard Alley)

The Doomsday Glacier. . . is Collapsing?!? (with Richard Alley)

In segment one of this Utterly Moderate episode we are joined by Dr. Richard Alley (professor of geosciences at Penn State University) to discuss climate change's impact on the Doomsday Glacier (the nickname given to the Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica) and the potentially catastrophic consequences that this could have for sea level rise and coastal cities across the globe. Some research suggests that in as little as five years the glacier could suffer a massive collapse

Feb 2, 2022 • 59:00

Exploring the World of Pro Wrestling (with Nyla Rose & Jimmy Z)

Exploring the World of Pro Wrestling (with Nyla Rose & Jimmy Z)

On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast we are joined by Nyla Rose, who wrestles weekly on TNT and TBS for All Elite Wrestling (AEW), and independent wrestler/promoter Jimmy Z. We discuss all things professional wrestling! Make sure to check us out at ConnorsForum.org! Episode Music: “Please Listen Carefully” by Jahzzar (creative commons) “Draw the Sky” by Paul Keane (licensed through TakeTones) “Reading by Lamplight” b

Jan 27, 2022 • 1:05:45

Bill Kristol & Kim Wehle on Fixing the Electoral Count Act

Bill Kristol & Kim Wehle on Fixing the Electoral Count Act

On this episode of Utterly Moderate we are joined by editor-at-large of the Bulwark Bill Kristol and University of Baltimore law professor Kimberly Wehle. Both Kristol and Wehle help host Lawrence Eppard sort through a bizarre story about elector fraud in the 2020 presidential election as well as how to fix the Electoral Count Act. Most Americans are probably aware that we use the Electoral College to elect presidents. When this happens, state government officials sign &ldqu

Jan 21, 2022 • 49:46

Conservative Approaches to Tackling Climate Change (with Bob Inglis)

Conservative Approaches to Tackling Climate Change (with Bob Inglis)

On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast, host Lawrence Eppard is joined by former Republican South Carolina Congressman and current executive director of RepublicEN.org Bob Inglis. On their website, RepublicEN asserts that, “We are the EcoRight. . . We stand together because we believe in the power of American free enterprise and innovation to solve climate change. Together, we encourage, embolden, and applaud conservative climate leadership. . . The age of con

Jan 13, 2022 • 51:51

Talkin' Politics: Joe Manchin, the Electoral Count Act, the Future of the Parties, and More!

Talkin' Politics: Joe Manchin, the Electoral Count Act, the Future of the Parties, and More!

On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast, host Lawrence Eppard is joined by a number of political scientists to discuss a variety of topics, from Joe Manchin to the Electoral Count Act to the future of American political parties and much more! Be sure to visit ConnorsForum.org for more about us! Segment 1: James White, political scientist at Concord University. Segment 2: Lawrence Becker, political scientist at California State University, Northridge Alison Dagn

Jan 5, 2022 • 1:53:58

Christmas Eve Bonus Mini-Episode

Christmas Eve Bonus Mini-Episode

On this bonus mini-episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast we speak with Jim Helms, who every year delights children in the Richmond, Virginia area by playing Santa Claus. We hope all of our listeners have a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and wonderful 2022! See you in the new year with many more episodes! Episode music: “Please Listen Carefully” by Jahzzar (creative commons license) “Silent Night” by Maya Solovéy (creative commons license)

Dec 24, 2021 • 27:19

Interview with Rachel Dratch about A Clüsterfünke Christmas!

Interview with Rachel Dratch about A Clüsterfünke Christmas!

This is part one of our Christmas episode! We are joined on this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast by SNL legend Rachel Dratch to discuss her funny new movie A Clüsterfünke Christmas, which she co-wrote and co-starred in with Ana Gasteyer. You can watch A Clüsterfünke Christmas on Comedy Central, Hulu Live, or iTunes! Throughout this episode we also feature beautiful Christmas music from the Shippensburg University Choir! Make sure to tune in to the

Dec 20, 2021 • 58:43

Promoting Dignity & Civility (with Rosalind Wiseman)

Promoting Dignity & Civility (with Rosalind Wiseman)

Rosalind Wiseman joins the Utterly Moderate Podcast to discuss her work promoting dignity and civility among young Americans. Wiseman is the author of a number of books, including Defending Ourselves, Queen Bees & Wannabees, and Masterminds & Wingmen. The movie Mean Girls, which starred Lindsay Lohan and Rachal McAdams, was actually based on Queen Bees & Wannabees. Wiseman is the co-founder and chief content officer of the organization Cultures of Dignity, which

Dec 5, 2021 • 1:11:37

Understanding Recent Climate Change News (with James Gerber)

Understanding Recent Climate Change News (with James Gerber)

In America, we talk so much about freedom as it is a central part of our identity. When it comes to what freedom entails, most Americans would agree that there are political, social, and economic dimensions. Most agree that in a free society there is a need for order, justice, security, opportunity, and fairness. There is a shared sense that freedom requires the absence of harm and undue interference. Most believe that freedom requires a variety of rights, including those re

Nov 22, 2021 • 53:03

A Celebration of Books! (with Heather Lennon)

A Celebration of Books! (with Heather Lennon)

October was National Book Month, and to celebrate we were joined on the Utterly Moderate Podcast by children's book publishing expert Heather Lennon to talk about the industry she loves and the joys of reading. Episode music: “Please Listen Carefully” by Jahzzar (creative commons) “Make Your Dreams Reality” by Scott Holmes Music (creative commons) “Steppin’ In” by Podington Bear (creative commons) “Happy Trails (T

Nov 16, 2021 • 1:10:44

Journalism & Democracy (with Jason Adrians, Lolly Bowean, & Michael Deas)

Journalism & Democracy (with Jason Adrians, Lolly Bowean, & Michael Deas)

American democracy is facing very serious challenges, as we have noted in much of our work (see just a few examples here and here and here). One of the greatest threats is that posed by misinformation and disinformation, as many Americans turn away from credible news and information sources and instead rely on low-quality outlets. With this in mind, on November 2, 2021, we hosted a panel to discuss the importance of journalism in restoring our democracy. Our panel inclu

Nov 8, 2021 • 1:13:39

All About Weddings (with Amy Thunell & Ann Fortin)

All About Weddings (with Amy Thunell & Ann Fortin)

Wedding and event planner/coordinator Amy Thunell and Kalero Vineyard owner Ann Fortin join the Utterly Moderate Podcast to discuss the ins and outs of the wedding industry. Episode music/audio clips: “Please Listen Carefully” by Jahzzar (creative commons) “Make Your Dreams Reality” by Scott Holmes Music (creative commons) "Canon in D Major” by Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (creative commons) “Happy Trails (To You)”

Oct 25, 2021 • 2:21:25

Is American Democracy in Decline? (with Kimberly Wehle)

Is American Democracy in Decline? (with Kimberly Wehle)

University of Baltimore law professor Kimberly Wehle joins the Utterly Moderate Podcast to discuss the various ways in which American democracy is under serious strain as well as actions we can take to turn things around. Read more from Wehle here. Episode music/audio clips: “Please Listen Carefully” by Jahzzar (creative commons) “Make Your Dreams Reality” by Scott Holmes Music (creative commons) "Cloudbank" by Podington Bear (creative commons) Bruc

Oct 11, 2021 • 59:20

It's Football Season! (with Mickey Thompson & Tina Hill)

It's Football Season! (with Mickey Thompson & Tina Hill)

It's fall and football season is in full swing, so what better time than now to talk sports on the Utterly Moderate Podcast? On this episode we are first joined by Mickey Thompson, head football coach at Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn, VA, where he has won a whopping 83% of his games, 16 district championships, 13 region championships, and 2 state titles! He gives great insight into running a football program and leading young men. Then we are joined by Tina Hill, athle

Sep 27, 2021 • 1:47:39

Wildfires and Air Quality. . . and Cats?!? (with Sarah Coefield)

Wildfires and Air Quality. . . and Cats?!? (with Sarah Coefield)

Sarah Coefield -- who is an air quality specialist at the Missoula City-County Health Department in Missoula, Montana -- joins the Utterly Moderate Podcast to talk about wildfires, air quality, and public health. We also talk about her cat, and it gets weird. Episode music: “Please Listen Carefully” by Jahzzar (creative commons) “Make Your Dreams Reality” by Scott Holmes Music (creative commons) "Steppin' In" by Podington Bear (creative commons) &

Sep 22, 2021 • 1:29:49

Declining Trust in Government in America (with Amy Fried & Douglas Harris)

Declining Trust in Government in America (with Amy Fried & Douglas Harris)

Amy Fried and Douglas Harris join the show to discuss their book, At War with Government: How Conservatives Weaponized Distrust from Goldwater to Trump. Episode music: “Please Listen Carefully” by Jahzzar (creative commons) “Make Your Dreams Reality” by Scott Holmes Music (creative commons) "Reading by Lamplight" by Maarten Schellekens (creative commons) “Happy Trails (To You)” by the Riders in the Sky (used with artist’s

Sep 13, 2021 • 1:27:33

Labor Day Episode (with Emily Guendelsberger & Chad Stone)

Labor Day Episode (with Emily Guendelsberger & Chad Stone)

Happy Labor Day everyone! On this holiday we are celebrating American workers here on the Utterly Moderate Podcast! We are joined today by Chad Stone, the chief economist at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, and Emily Guendelsberger, author of On the Clock: What Low-Wage Work Did to Me and How it Drives America Insane. We discuss the plight of American workers today with a specific focus on the working class. Episode music: “Please Listen Carefull

Sep 6, 2021 • 1:09:49

Our Mystery Guest Today Is. . . . . .

Our Mystery Guest Today Is. . . . . .

Utterly Moderate listeners have been submitting their guesses to UtterlyModerate@gmail.com for weeks and the day has finally arrived! Who is today's mystery guest?!? A guest that Lawrence booked specifically for Ali? Tune in to find out! Thank you to Melissa Folds, Mario Zangla, and Neil Connelly for their help producing this episode. Episode music: “Please Listen Carefully” by Jahzzar (creative commons) “Make Your Dreams Reality” by Scott Holmes Mus

Aug 30, 2021 • 1:06:38

All About Funerals (with Eric Trimble)

All About Funerals (with Eric Trimble)

Eric Trimble joins the show to explain all things funeral to Utterly Moderate listeners. Eric is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in Illinois and Iowa, heads the Trimble Funeral Home & Crematory in Coal Valley, Illinois, and has over 50 years of experience in the industry. Eric says that, “I truly find meaning in helping people at a time when no one else can help them. My father taught me that being a funeral director is a sacred calling because we are entr

Aug 23, 2021 • 1:04:09

MYSTERY GUEST HINT!

MYSTERY GUEST HINT!

If you guess who the mystery guest is for our August 30th "Mystery Guest" episode we will send you an Amazon gift card! Send your guess to UtterlyModerate@gmail.com or go to our website and send it in through the contact page. We will read the guesses on air! Make sure to send your guess in before August 29! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 21, 2021 • 0:52

Extra! Extra! Read All About It! (with Judy Kurtz & Jason Adrians)

Extra! Extra! Read All About It! (with Judy Kurtz & Jason Adrians)

Judy Kurtz and Jason Adrians join the Utterly Moderate Podcast to discuss the ins and outs of journalism. Judy Kurtz has worked as a newspaper columnist and television commentator and is currently an entertainment reporter for the Hill. She has worked at and/or contributed to a number of outlets during her career, including HLN, Sky News, E! News, Canada's Sun Network, SiriusXM satellite radio, Washington's Fox 5, Fox 45 in Baltimore, and People Magazine. Jason Adrians is th

Aug 16, 2021 • 1:23:10

SEND YOUR GUESS!

SEND YOUR GUESS!

If you guess who the mystery guest is for our late August/early September "Mystery Guest" episode we will send you an Amazon gift card! Send your guess to UtterlyModerate@gmail.com or go to our website and send it in through the contact page. We will read the guesses on air! Make sure to send your guess in before August 29! HINT: Lawrence booked this guest just for Ali! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 13, 2021 • 0:49

Interview with the Bulwark's Mona Charen

Interview with the Bulwark's Mona Charen

On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast, Lawrence and Ali interview conservative political commentator, nationally syndicated columnist, and Bulwark policy editor and podcaster Mona Charen. Their discussion covers the work of the Bulwark, the problems of misinformation and disinformation, the meaning of conservatism, the decline in decency, extreme partisanship, the “Big Lie” and its disastrous consequences, the health of American democracy, Charen’

Aug 9, 2021 • 1:10:24

The Future of Social Security (with Kathleen Romig)

The Future of Social Security (with Kathleen Romig)

Kathleen Romig joins the Utterly Moderate Podcast to discuss the future of the Social Security program. Romig is a senior policy analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Her research focuses on Social Security, SSI, paid leave, and other government budget issues. Romig has previously worked at the Social Security Administration, Social Security Advisory Board, Congressional Research Service, and Office of Management and Budget. Episode music: &ldqu

Aug 2, 2021 • 52:52

Think You Know U.S. Government? (w/guest Lonce Bailey)

Think You Know U.S. Government? (w/guest Lonce Bailey)

Play along at home and see how well you score (and if you beat the hosts!) as political scientist Lonce Bailey quizzes Utterly Moderate hosts Ali and Lawrence about their U.S. government knowledge! Episode music: “Please Listen Carefully” by Jahzzar (creative commons) “Make Your Dreams Reality” by Scott Holmes Music (creative commons) “By Grace” by Podington Bear (creative commons) “Happy Trails (To You)” by the Ri

Jul 26, 2021 • 54:54

Understanding the Gender Pay Gap (w/guests Heidi Hartmann & Ariane Hegewisch)

Understanding the Gender Pay Gap (w/guests Heidi Hartmann & Ariane Hegewisch)

On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast we are joined by economists Heidi Hartmann and Ariane Hegewisch to discuss the gender pay gap in the U.S., including its definition, size, causes, and possible solutions. Episode music: “Please Listen Carefully” by Jahzzar (creative commons) “Make Your Dreams Reality” by Scott Holmes Music (creative commons) “Reading by Lamplight” by Maarten Schellekens (creative commons) &ldquo

Jul 19, 2021 • 1:02:37

NASA & Nimoy & Nukes, Oh My! (w/guests Varoujan Gorjian & Carl Zimmer)

NASA & Nimoy & Nukes, Oh My! (w/guests Varoujan Gorjian & Carl Zimmer)

On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast we are joined by NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory researcher Varoujan Gorjian and New York Times columnist and science author Carl Zimmer. We discuss black holes, the value of science, the importance of good teachers, the work of the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the nuclear age, duck and cover drills, the Castle Bravo nuclear bomb test and its aftermath, the world of viruses, the COVID-19 pandemic, the Carl Zimmer tapeworm, an

Jul 12, 2021 • 1:22:16

Interview with Hilarie Burton Morgan

Interview with Hilarie Burton Morgan

On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast we are joined by actress and best-selling author Hilarie Burton Morgan to discuss her childhood, breaking into Hollywood, MTV, One Tree Hill, The Walking Dead, her new podcast Drama Queens, Mischief Farm, Samuel's Sweet Shop, and much more! P.S. Always consume credible information - our democracy depends on it! Episode music: “Please Listen Carefully” by Jahzzar (creative commons) “The Washington P

Jul 5, 2021 • 1:13:56

The Earth is Round! (w/guest Lee McIntyre)

The Earth is Round! (w/guest Lee McIntyre)

On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast, the hosts are joined by Lee McIntyre, author of the forthcoming book How to Talk to a Science Denier, to discuss the process of doing science, the importance of scientific and information literacy, how conservatives AND liberals deny facts, flat-Earth conventions, the debunked vaccine-autism link, the problems of misinformation and disinformation in our current post-truth era, and more! Episode music: "Please Listen Car

Jun 28, 2021 • 1:41:20

Race in America (w/guest Rodney Coates)

Race in America (w/guest Rodney Coates)

On this special Juneteenth 2021 episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast we are joined by Dr. Rodney Coates (Miami University of Ohio) to discuss the Juneteenth holiday, racial inequality in America, prospects for future progress toward equality, and much more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 19, 2021 • 1:03:49

The Irrational Human Brain (w/guests Steven Sloman & Philip Fernbach)

The Irrational Human Brain (w/guests Steven Sloman & Philip Fernbach)

On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast we are joined by cognitive scientists Steven Sloman (Brown University) and Philip Fernbach (University of Colorado) to discuss the cognitive biases that we all have that get in the way of rational thinking -- and the implications of this for our post-truth era in the U.S.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 14, 2021 • 1:20:26

Coffee with an Economist (w/guest Alka Gandhi)

Coffee with an Economist (w/guest Alka Gandhi)

On this episode the hosts are joined by Alka Gandhi, an economist from the University of Maryland, to discuss the field of economics, worries about inflation, the future of the minimum wage, GameStop, income inequality, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 8, 2021 • 1:27:00

Saluting the U.S. Armed Forces

Saluting the U.S. Armed Forces

On this episode Ali and Lawrence salute the U.S. Armed Forces by remembering those who have fallen, celebrating veterans and those currently in the armed forces, and discussing the U.S. Special Operations Forces with retired SOF member Bill Fleser. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 31, 2021 • 1:37:25

Economic Inequality (w/guest Richard Wilkinson)

Economic Inequality (w/guest Richard Wilkinson)

On this episode we are joined by internationally-acclaimed inequality scholar Richard Wilkinson. Wilkinson studied at the London School of Economics before training in epidemiology.  He has published a number of peer-reviewed articles as well as multiple books, including the best-selling The Spirit Level, which explores economic inequality and its consequences. Wilkinson is Professor Emeritus of social epidemiology at the University of Nottingham Medical School, Honorary Pro

May 24, 2021 • 1:16:25

Talkin' God (w/guest Rev. Dr. Andy Hart)

Talkin' God (w/guest Rev. Dr. Andy Hart)

On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast, Pastor Andy of the Presbyterian Church of Falling Spring joins the show to talk about various topics related to Christianity in America today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 18, 2021 • 1:12:52

Grading the News - Part II (w/guest James Warren from NewsGuard)

Grading the News - Part II (w/guest James Warren from NewsGuard)

On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast, James Warren joins the show to discuss the work that he does as executive editor at NewsGuard.NewsGuard is an organization that rates the credibility and transparency of over 6,000 news and information websites. NewsGuard’s rigorous methodology allows news consumers to have confidence in their ability to determine which sites are reliable and which ones are not. Before joining NewsGuard, Warren’s long and distinguished journal

May 10, 2021 • 57:52

Grading the News - Part I (w/guest Vanessa Otero from Ad Fontes Media)

Grading the News - Part I (w/guest Vanessa Otero from Ad Fontes Media)

In part one of the “Grading the News” episode, Ali and Lawrence sit down with the founder of Ad Fontes Media, Vanessa Otero. You are probably familiar with the “Media Bias Chart,” which is produced by Otero’s company. The mission of Ad Fontes Media is “to make news consumers smarter and news media better.” They do this by rating the news for reliability and bias to help people navigate the news landscape. In this episode we discuss the work that Ad Fontes Media does and why

May 4, 2021 • 1:07:57

Interview with the Riders in the Sky

Interview with the Riders in the Sky

America’s favorite cowboys, the Riders in the Sky, join the show to discuss their almost 44-year career as a musical act, yodeling, the "Cowboy Way," their two Grammy wins for their work on Toy Story 2 and Monsters, Inc., their Grand Ole Opry membership, their big role in the “Paul is Dead” hoax, fine fashion (black tie versus cac-tie), their SiriusXM show, finding true love, and more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 27, 2021 • 56:58

We've Got Mail!

We've Got Mail!

On this episode of Utterly Moderate, hosts Ali and Lawrence answer questions submitted by their wonderful listeners!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 19, 2021 • 59:21

American Poverty Myths (w/guest Mark Robert Rank)

American Poverty Myths (w/guest Mark Robert Rank)

In this episode of Utterly Moderate, Ali interviews Mark Robert Rank and Lawrence Eppard, who have written a new book from Oxford University Press titled, Poorly Understood: What America Gets Wrong about Poverty. Their discussion focuses on the myths and realities of American poverty. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 12, 2021 • 57:58

Short Message from Hosts - April 9

Short Message from Hosts - April 9

We are reaching out to YOU our WONDERFUL listeners for your questions for our mailbag episode on April 13! Visit the contact page at utterlymoderate.com to send us your questions for us to answer on the episode, or email us as utterlymoderate@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you!

Apr 9, 2021 • 2:51

Do Facts Matter Anymore? (w/guests Tom Nichols & Lee McIntyre)

Do Facts Matter Anymore? (w/guests Tom Nichols & Lee McIntyre)

On this episode of Utterly Moderate, the authors of The Death of Expertise and Post-Truth join the show to discuss how we got to the point in the U.S. where facts seem to matter less than feelings and millions of Americans deny reality. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 5, 2021 • 1:12:18

Interview with the Bulwark's Charlie Sykes

Interview with the Bulwark's Charlie Sykes

Charlie Sykes joins the show to discuss the future of the GOP. Sykes is a founder and editor-at-large of The Bulwark and host of The Bulwark Podcast. He has written nine books, including How the Right Lost Its Mind. Sykes has written for The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Weekly Standard, The Washington Post, Commentary, The Wall Street Journal, Politico, The Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, Time.com, USA Today, National Review, The New York Review of Books, the New York Dail

Mar 30, 2021 • 1:07:24

Life as a Musician (w/guests Brian Kilgore and Kim Blake-Kilgore)

Life as a Musician (w/guests Brian Kilgore and Kim Blake-Kilgore)

Brian Kilgore and Kim Blake-Kilgore join the show to discuss their lives as musicians in LA. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 25, 2021 • 1:20:51

America Viewed from Afar (w/guests Georges Masse & Matt Killingsworth)

America Viewed from Afar (w/guests Georges Masse & Matt Killingsworth)

International affairs scholars Georges Masse (American University of Science and Technology) and Matt Killingsworth (University of Tasmania) join the show to discuss how the United States is viewed from their respective vantage points in Lebanon and Australia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 15, 2021 • 1:29:39

Interview with The Bulwark's Jim Swift

Interview with The Bulwark's Jim Swift

In this episode we interview Jim Swift, who is a senior editor at The Bulwark. We talk to him about the work that the Bulwark does, his thoughts on the future of the GOP, and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 10, 2021 • 1:08:41

Identifying Good Journalism (w/guest Michael Anthony Deas)

Identifying Good Journalism (w/guest Michael Anthony Deas)

On this episode of UM the hosts are joined by former Chicago Tribune editor and current Northwestern University journalism professor Michael Anthony Deas to discuss the importance of good journalism and how to identify it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 4, 2021 • 54:09

COVID Update & Reflections from an MD (w/guest Dr. Ida Bergstrom, MD)

COVID Update & Reflections from an MD (w/guest Dr. Ida Bergstrom, MD)

A discussion of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic with Ida Bergstrom, a doctor of internal medicine who practices in the nation's capital, including her personal reflections from when the pandemic first hit the U.S.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 23, 2021 • 1:12:51

Universal Healthcare: Pros & Cons (w/guests Cynthia Cox and T.R. Reid)

Universal Healthcare: Pros & Cons (w/guests Cynthia Cox and T.R. Reid)

A discussion of the pros and cons of universal healthcare with Kaiser Family Foundation vice president Cynthia Cox and author T.R. Reid.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 15, 2021 • 1:19:47

Free Speech and Cancel Culture (w/guest Stephanie Jirard)

Free Speech and Cancel Culture (w/guest Stephanie Jirard)

A discussion of free speech and cancel culture with legal scholar Stephanie Jirard See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 11, 2021 • 47:35

Immigration: Facts vs Fictions (w/guest Alex Nowrasteh)

Immigration: Facts vs Fictions (w/guest Alex Nowrasteh)

A discussion of the public and political discourse around immigration in the U.S.: what is fact, and what is fiction? We are joined on this episode by Alex Nowrasteh from the Cato Institute. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 3, 2021 • 59:37

Climate Change (w/guest Emily Cloyd)

Climate Change (w/guest Emily Cloyd)

A discussion of climate change with Emily Cloyd from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 21, 2021 • 55:16

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