The "Values & Interests" podcast and event series takes a deep dive into the ethical tensions and tradeoffs at the heart of decision-making across geopolitics, tech, philosophy, and business.
Explore how ethics can serve as a tool for making more reflective and responsible choices. Hear from leaders and experts who have spent their careers reckoning with critical ethical questions across their personal and professional lives. Whether facing daily decisions or tackling global issues, you’ll uncover new approaches for navigating the complex and often fraught relationship between our own values and interests.
Latest Episode
How is the information landscape contributing to democratic backsliding around the world? Kenyan journalist and researcher Odanga Madung joins the podcast to discuss the corrosive effects of misinformation and disinformation on open societies, the rise of manosphere influencers in Kenya and the U.S., and the power of narrative in shaping our collective future.
Upcoming Event
As policymakers and diplomats increasingly leverage AI agents and non-state tech companies grow in power and influence in the push toward AGI, significant questions must be addressed regarding the impact of these technologies on geopolitics. On November 19 at 5:30pm ET, join us virtually for the latest panel in the Values & Interests series.
Past Event
The Trump administration's defunding of soft power, cuts to foreign aid, and transactional diplomacy style raise the question: Has the United States entered a post-liberal era of power? In the first Values & Interest event, an expert panel discusses how long-held assumptions about American values and its interests on the world stage have been shattered in 2025.
Full Episodes
OCT 30, 2025 • Podcast
Misinformation and the Global Manosphere, with Odanga Madung
Kenyan journalist and researcher Odanga Madung discusses the corrosive effects of misinformation, the global rise of the manosphere, and the power of collective narratives.
OCT 1, 2025 • Podcast
The Cost of Military Primacy, with Peter Harris
Colorado State's Peter Harris discusses what a less militarized future might look like for the U.S. and the Trump administration's impact on foreign policy.
AUG 26, 2025 • Podcast
The Ethical Abyss: A Tech Ecosystem Reliant on Conflict, with Professor Elke Schwarz
Elke Schwarz joins "Values & Interests" to discuss the new highly militarized tech ecosystem and the resulting dehumanization of civilians in conflict zones around the world.
AUG 14, 2025 • Podcast
Values, Realism, and U.S. Foreign Policy, with Alexander Vindman
Alexander Vindman joins "Values & Interests" to discuss the critical interplay between morality and power in the practice of geopolitics.
AUG 6, 2025 • Podcast
Living a Moral Life in a Catastrophic World, with Philosopher Travis Rieder
Moral philosopher Travis Rieder joins "Values & Interests" to explore how we might pursue ethical lives in an era of global crisis.
JUL 15, 2025 • Podcast
Investing in Your Ethical Infrastructure, with Simon Longstaff
The Ethics Centre's Simon Longstaff discusses the power of moral inquiry, performative vs. good-faith engagement, and how ethics can help to address global challenges.
JUN 17, 2025 • Podcast
Empowerment, Ownership, & Agency: Building an Inclusive AI Future, with Jimena Viveros
Lawyer and AI expert Jimena Viveros explores why bridging the digital divide between the Global South and North is both a moral and economic imperative.
MAY 20, 2025 • Podcast
Character not Compliance, with Edward Brooks
Oxford's Dr. Edward Brooks joins "Values & Interests" to discuss how embracing ethics can unlock better thinking, relationships, and outcomes in our personal and professional lives.
APR 29, 2025 • Podcast
Interrogating Our “Norms” with Professor Tanisha Fazal
University of Minnesota's Professor Tanisha Fazal joins the "Values & Interests" podcast to discuss shifting geopolitical norms in a moment of global transition.
APR 8, 2025 • Podcast
Doubling Down on Values in a Moment of Crisis, with Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling
Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Hertling discusses lessons in leadership, embracing your professional ethos, and the importance of staying true to your values in times of crisis.