State of Resistance

by Bedrosian CenterApril 15, 2019

Another bonus episode! Host Lisa discusses Professor Manuel Pastor’s latest book, State of Resistance. The book looks at the last several decades of economic, social, and environmental transformations in California. Pastor then looks to the future to ask what these transformations can predict for the larger United States.

To listen to the Bedrosian Book Club discussion of State of Resistance click the arrow in the player on this post. Or you can download it and subscribe through ApplePodcasts, Soundcloud, Google Play, Stitcher or your favorite podcasting app!

“You can hold someone accountable and hold them at the same time.”

by Bedrosian CenterMay 24, 2018

Ashlee Marie Preston, civil rights activist, writer, speaker, and host of the excellent podcast SHOOK with Ashlee Marie Preston. Ashlee Marie has many talents, but she is, above all, a communicator. She conceived her podcast as a “platform that is intentional about unpacking the accurate narrative of not just LGBTQ people or trans people, but being intentional about creating the world in which you wish to live in.” Listen to her activism and how you can be an ally.

Stream the interview on this page, or you can download it and subscribe through ApplePodcasts, Soundcloud, or GooglePlay.

LA-Más: “Our proposal is going to be so radical because it’s going to be possible”

by Bedrosian CenterMarch 29, 2018

LA-Más is changing the way we understand and experience Los Angeles communities. Listen to this great conversation to learn how Elizabeth and Helen achieve this. Spoiler alert: they collaborate and, as Elizabeth says, they seek out radical solutions within the possible approaches.

Stream the interview on this page, or you can download it and subscribe through ApplePodcasts, Soundcloud, or GooglePlay.

Lisa Schweitzer on flourishing as the central human value of urban planning

by Bedrosian CenterMarch 15, 2018

This season is about amplifying the important work that incredible women do in and for this city of Los Angeles, and I can think of no one better to open our current series than Professor of Urban Planning at USC, Dr. Lisa Schweitzer.

LA#Herself is produced by Aubrey Hicks, Jonathan Schwartz, and myself and mixed by Corey Hedden. Stream the interview on this page, or you can download it and subscribe through ApplePodcasts, Soundcloud, or Google Play.

The Post

by Bedrosian Center, Jonathan SchwartzFebruary 21, 2018

Chronicling The Washington Post’s publishing of the Pentagon Papers during the tail end of the Vietnam War and starring Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep – does The Post accurately portray this important time in American History where the very nature of the First Amendment and National Security seemed in direct contrast?

To listen to the Price Projection Room discussion of The Post click the arrow in the player at the top of this post. Or download and subscribe through Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, or Google Play.

What’s Lost in the Transition from Refugee to American Citizen

by Bedrosian CenterOctober 3, 2017

What becomes of a refugee when they’re no longer a refugee? We spend so much time talking about migration caps and vetting that we seem to ignore all the Americans living amongst us, trying to acclimate to their new country after the harrowing journey from their former homeland. Would it surprise you to learn that they start their new life in substantial debt? Or that they don’t have many of the basic items they need to live, let alone feel like a human being? Wouldn’t you like to know how you can help?

In this episode, Miry Whitehill tells us the inspirational story of how she started helping these former refugee families—and how she created an easy way for you to help them too. She created MirysList.org.

To listen to this episode of Our American Discourse, click the arrow in the player here. Or download it and subscribe through ApplePodcasts, Soundcloud, or Google Play, Stitcher, or your favorite podcasting app – click the links or search “usc bedrosian.”

Metatheatre: reflections & civic life

by Bedrosian CenterSeptember 28, 2017

In this episode, Aubrey Hicks, Oliver Mayer, Christopher Shaw, and John Sonego examine “how, over time, the rituals that we enact color, reflect, refract back upon who we are, at any time – politically, culturally,” as Oliver points out so poetically. These two plays feature characters whose creative work reflects back onto their civic and personal lives. Will these plays, theatre in general, help a polarized country learn to spend time with each other, and listen? Can theatre help us make order from chaos? What can they reflect about America today?

To listen to the Policy at the Playhouse click the arrow here, or download and subscribe through Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Google Play, or your favorite podcasting app!

The High Cost of Low Voter Turnout

by Bedrosian CenterSeptember 12, 2017

In Matt’s second piece on mandatory voting, he asks about the cost of low voter turnout.

Our society is made up of a wide range of groups with very different needs and aspirations, and therefore have different requirements of their candidates at election time. Thus, who actually participates has real material consequences in our community. So out of those who do choose to vote, who specifically is turning out?

Frustrated About Life? Put Your Contracting Skills to Use

by Bedrosian CenterSeptember 5, 2017

When you think about your rent increasing and how ridiculous paying $1000+ for 400 square feet of space is when others pay less for an entire mortgage, I bet all you want to do is punch your greedy landlord in the face. In many cases, the parents of other young professionals are frustrated too because like in Failure to Launch, they want their “naked room,” but their kids just won’t move out. With a parent’s age and wisdom, they recognize that landlords are just pawns; it’s the developers that are cheating us.

The Death of Expertise

by Bedrosian CenterAugust 29, 2017

Tom Nichols’ The Death of Expertise is a broad look at the antipathy toward “experts” and “expertise” among the citizenry of contemporary United States. Nichols contends that this antipathy is dangerous for our democracy, that this distrust not only makes for unhealthy conversation but damages both political and public relationships with the very experts’ guidance. Spoiler alert – we do assume you’ve read it!

Featuring Richard Green (@keynesianr), Aubrey Hicks (@AubreyHi), Pamela Clouser McCann, Anthony Orlando (@AnthonyWOrlando), and Jan Perry (@JanPerry)

To listen to the Bedrosian Book Club discussion of The Death of Expertise click the orange arrow in the Soundcloud player on this post. Or you can download it and subscribe through ApplePodcasts, Soundcloud, or Google Play

University of Southern California

Bedrosian Center

An applied research center at the USC Price School of Public Policy

Civics