SOC 119

Hispanic Considerations | Hispanic & Latin American Conversation | 25SU Class #16

28 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the sixteenth class of the Summer 2025 semester of SOC 119. This is the original live stream, which was streamed on Thursday, January 26, 2...

Sam's Experience with a Contra in the 1980s | Big Beautiful Bill | RIP Ozzy | 25SU Office Hours #10

25 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam joins Alijah yet again for another Office Hours. Sam had a list of things he wanted to talk about including Trump's Big Beautiful Bill. However, h...

Soldiers and Cops | Public Narratives | A Deep Conversation | 25SU Class #15

24 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the fifteenth class of the Summer 2025 semester of SOC 119. This is the original live stream, which was streamed on Thursday, November 16, ...

When Things Fall Apart | Leaving Afghanistan | Taliban Takeover | 25SU Class #14

23 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the fourteenth class of the Summer 2025 semester of SOC 119. This is the original live stream, which was streamed on Thursday, February, 20...

A Live Experiment in Empathy | Story of Basim Razzo | Iraqi Victim of War | 25SU Class #13

22 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We highly recommend you watch Sam's Ted Talk: "A Radical Experiment in Empathy" before listening to this episode. Read more about Basim's Story in the...

Unfocusing | Israel and Palestine Conflict | Q&A | 25SU Class #12

21 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to class twelve of the Summer 2025 semester of SOC 119. This is the original live stream, which was streamed on Thursday, October 12, 2023 on ...

Make America Grate Again | The Epstein Files & Tax Cuts | 25SU Office Hours #9

18 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam and Alijah meet up on Wednesday to talk about the current events happening around the U.S. and the world today. The topics generally revolve aroun...

Goes Both Ways | BLM & J6 Protests | 25SU Class #11

16 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to class eleven of the Summer 2025 semester of SOC 119. This is the original live stream, which was streamed on Tuesday, January 23, 2024 on P...

Our Bounded Choices | Conversation with a Former Lifer | 25SU Class #10

15 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to class ten of the Summer 2025 semester of SOC 119. This is the original live stream, which was streamed on Thursday, March 31, 2022 on Penn ...

We're In This Together | Modern Day Slavery | 25SU Class #9

14 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Around two minutes into the lecture, there is a video that is referenced. Go to https://www.soc119.org/video to watch the video.Welcome to class nine ...

Floods in Texas | Trust in Government | Sam the Drummer | 25SU Office Hours #8

11 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week's office hours, Sam and Alijah jump on and talk about: 1. Sam's recent golf trips with his nephew (Laurie has deemed Sam's nephew his brothe...

Because They're Oppressed | Determining Discrimination | 25SU Class #8

10 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This class begins with a conversation continuing from a case study that happened towards the end of 23SP Class 4. Check the YouTube link for more cont...

Checking (Out) Your Privilege | White Privilege Conversation | 25SU Class #7

09 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the seventh class of the Summer 2025 semester of SOC 119. This is the original live stream, which was streamed on Tuesday, January 24, 2023...

Those Black Devils | Alternative American Racial History | 25SU Class #6

08 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the sixth class of the Summer 2025 semester of SOC 119. This video was originally streamed on Thursday, January 25, 2018 on Penn State’s ...

Let's Talk About Skin | Race and Discrimination in America | 25SU Class #5

07 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the fifth class of the Summer 2025 semester of SOC 119. This is the original live stream, which was streamed on Thursday, January 12, 2023 ...

Analysis of Trump's Big Beautiful Bill | Tax Cuts & Government Spending | 25SU Office Hours #7

04 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam and Alijah jump onto the stream and talk about the Trump Administration's "Big Beautiful Bill" and what it could mean for Americans and the Intern...

Choice and Chance | Understanding Basics of Sociology | 25SU Class #4

03 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the fourth class of the Summer 2025 semester of SOC 119. This video was originally streamed on Tuesday, March 19, 2019 on Penn State’s Un...

Who's Getting Offended? | Woke Ideology & Narrative | 25SU Class #3

02 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the third class of the Summer 2025 semester of SOC 119. This is the original live stream, which was streamed on Tuesday, August 30, 2022 on...

What's the Problem? | 25SU Class #2

01 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the second class of the Summer 2025 semester of SOC 119. This class has moments from two different lectures. The older lecture was live str...

Welcome to SOC 119 | The Goal of the Class | First Case Studies | 25SU Class #1

30 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the first class of the Summer 2025 semester of SOC 119. This class has moments from two different lectures that were live streamed five yea...

Jeff & Sam's Intro to the Summer Course | Episodes Coming Out Monday - Friday | 25SU Class #0

27 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The summer course officially begins next week! Monday-Thursday for the next six weeks, classic SOC 119 classes will be making their way onto the podca...

Trump's Response to Iran | Risk of Nuclear War | Future of AI | 25SU Office Hours #6

26 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam is slowly becoming a full time streamer bro. Jeff had a dentist appointment availability open up and took it -- he missed another episode (or most...

Harms from Political Unrest | Sam's Project in Iran | Distrust in Science | 25SU Office Hours #5

23 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam and Alijah are on their own - Jeff is on vacation this week and did not produce the stream. Sam and Alijah look at the current political climate a...

Stories (and Pictures) from Korea | Guest: Moderator ‪@OpinionatedMatt‬ | 25SU Office Hours #4

12 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam is back from Korea and joins Alijah (almost) right off the plane! Sam shares pictures and videos -- available on the live stream video -- and then...

How Does the Stream Happen? | Get to Know Niesh | 25SU Office Hours #3

30 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam is still in Korea, so it's up to Alijah to hold the conversation space down! Office Hours will continue!!! This episode, Alijah interviews Darnies...

Who REALLY Runs the Class? | Get to Know Yuli | 25SU Office Hours #2

29 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam is in Korea with Laurie and about a dozen Penn State students enjoying their time exploring another culture. While he's gone, the conversation on ...

Stories NEVER TOLD in Class | Sam Story Hour | 25SU Office Hours #1

22 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The summer is officially here, but that doesn't stop the Office Hours Streams. Sam and Alijah talk about a successful end of the semester, which leads...

Finals Week Stream | 25SP Office Hours #24

21 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Spring semester has come and gone, but Office Hours are continuing. Sam talks about the Trump administration, corruption with the Biden administra...

The End (of the Semester) | Open Dialogue Q&A | 25SP Class #30

20 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam and G-Dawg reflected on the past semester. This is G-Dawg's final class of SOC 119 as he is moving to South Korea with his degree. Sam opens the d...

Skepticism and Crisis | 25SP Office Hours #23

19 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On Thursday, April 29, 2025, State College was hit with a major thunderstorm after SOC 119 ended. Sam and Alijah talk about that experience. The conve...

When Will You Know? | Gen Z Information Gathering | 25SP Class #29

17 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam invites four students and he asked them how they felt about specific controversial issues; in addition Sam asking them how they learned about thes...

Situationships | Modern Dating | 25SP Class #28

16 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam invites five students to talk to them about how they handle modern day dating.Learn more about the class: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

LIVE CALL-IN THROUGH DISCORD | 25SP Office Hours #22

15 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This Office Hours, Sam and Alijah invited the community to jump into Discord and have a conversation about whatever. It was a success and Sam will do ...

Winning the 20th Century | Immigration Discussion | 25SP Class #27

14 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam invites three volunteers to the front of the classroom to continue their conversation about Immigration and how the United States became the top e...

Deportations in America | Responding to Chat and Comments | Office Hours #21

13 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam and Jeff do a special Friday Office Hours to continue the conversation about deportations happening in America. Sam answers the questions asked du...

Revoked! | Student Visa Termination Discussion | 25SP Class #26

12 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam invites four students up to talk to them about the Penn State International students that had their student visas revoked and are risking deportat...

Conversation about Conflict and War | Russia and Ukraine | Office Hours #20

11 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam continues the conversation from yesterday's class (Class 25) about conflict and war, focusing specifically on the Russian and Ukrainian War.There ...

Who Are Our Enemies? | Russia and Ukrainian War | 25SP Class #25

10 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam invites two groups of students to talk about who their enemies are. The first volunteer is from Colombia and talks about Colombia and Venezuela's ...

Our God | Conversation About Religion | 25SP Class #24

09 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam invited six student volunteers to the front of the classroom. Two are Jewish, two are Muslim, and two are Christian. Sam and the students explore ...

AMA with Office Joe Ivankay | 25SP Office Hours #19

08 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Retired LA Police Officer Joe Ivankay joins Sam and Alijah to talk about his experiences in more detail. The conversation starts with Joe answering qu...

Experiences Matter | Personal Experiences with Discrimination | 25SP Class #23

07 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam invites three groups of volunteers to the front of the classroom to talk about their experiences with discrimination. The first guest is Irvin Moo...

One Policeman's Story | Mental Health in Policing | An Open Discussion | 25SP Class #22

06 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam invites Retired LAPD Officer Joe Ivankay to talk about the day that changed his life and his struggles with mental distress following that event.L...

Canceled for Cultural Appropriation | 25SP Office Hours #18

05 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam and Alijah spend this Office Hours answering questions and comments from the live stream chat that happened during the two previous classes.Learn ...

Harmony | Korean, Japanese and Chinese Cultures | 25SP Class #21

05 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam invites a Chinese, Japanese, and Korean student volunteer up to the front of the classroom to talk about cultural harmony in East Asia. How do the...

Watch Your Language | Freedom & Censorship | 25SP Class #20

04 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Trump administration has put together a list of words that are being scrubbed from the U.S. Government's vocabulary. Sam invites two groups of stu...

Conversation about the Military with ROTC Students | 25SP Office Hours #17

04 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam and Alijah welcome two ROTC students to continue the conversation from the previous class. The topic revolves heavily around DEI and merit, but do...

Achievement Through Merit | U.S. Military Culture | 25SP Class #19

03 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam welcomes three students who were in the military or are part of Penn State's ROTC program, as well as an instructor for the Military, Lt. Col. Mar...

Sam's Return from Korea | 25SP Office Hours #16

03 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam does a special Friday Office Hours Live Stream where he talks to the community about his trip to Korea. For the photos and videos, go to the video...

A Negative Effect | Disenchantment with Higher Education | 25SP Class #18

02 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam is back from Korea and comes back swinging with a topic about brainwashing. Sam invites four student volunteers up to the front to talk to them ab...

An Opportunity for Questions | AMA with Basim Razzo | 25SP Class #17

02 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam and Laurie are in transit to the United States, so it was a perfect opportunity to have the second exam of the semester. For about 27 minutes, Dar...

Building the Future With Our Opponents | Live Interview with Dr. Laurie Mulvey | Office Hours #15

01 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This is the final episode from Sam and Laurie's three week trip to South Korea. In this episode, Sam interviews Laurie about her experiences talking t...

The Sweet Spot Interview | Finding Your Own Path, Knowing Yourself, Taking Risks | Office Hours #14

01 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam and Laurie are still in Korea and they do a small group discussion about Sam's book, allowing Konkuk University students to ask more personal ques...

What is "The Sweet Spot"? | Live Interview in Seoul, Korea | Starfield Library | Office Hours #13

30 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This podcast episode was streamed from the Starfield Library from Seoul, South Korea. Sam, Laurie and SOC 119 Moderator OpinionatedMatt are in person ...

A Live Experiment in Empathy with Basim Razzo | 25SP Class #16

29 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This lecture was originally recorded in April of 2018. After Sam did a Ted X PSU talk in 2010, an Iraqi reached out to him. That email created a frien...

Punishment, Redemption, Transformation | Criminal Justice Reform | 25SP Class #15

28 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam is in Korea, and so his boss, DJ Seballos fills in and talks to Irvin Moore about his life in prison. What lead him to jail? What is he doing now ...

Impact of Facilitation with ‪@worldinconversation‬ Student Facilitators | 25SP Office Hours #12

26 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam is joined by Pedro, a staff member at World in Conversation at Penn State as well as two student facilitators to talk about their experience at th...

Shaped by the Past | Flipping American History | 25SP Class #14

25 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The first portion of this class Sam invites a student artist to talk about her art exhibit on campus. That volunteer is joined by three other voluntee...

Western Values and Late Bloomers | 25SP Office Hours #11

24 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam and Alijah respond to the previous two classes as well discussing Sam's Book and his upcoming trip to Korea.Learn more about the class: ⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Who Do I Want to Be? | Culture and Ethnicity Conversation | 25SP Class #13

23 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam opens the class talking about his new book, The Sweet Spot, a book only available in Korea. Then Sam invites two groups of students up to talk abu...

Truth Finding with Dr. Dan O'Connell | 25SP Office Hours #10

22 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam is joined by his wife, the great Doctor of Dialogue and a long friend, Dr. Dan O'Connell from the University of Delaware. The three of them talk a...

Everyone is Welcome | Belonging in this World | 25SP Class #12

21 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam invites a student volunteer to the front of the room to talk about the previous class, and then to talk about black wealth in America. Following t...

The Truth with @ProfessorDaveExplains | 25SP Office Hours #9

19 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam begins this stream talking to Professor Dave, a Science Communicator on YouTube. The two of them talk about how to find truth. They also talk abou...

We Won! | The End of USAID | 25SP Class #11

18 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam brings four student volunteers up to talk to them about USAID and the Trump Administration's decision to end the program. How much money is being ...

I Would Speak Up! | Sexism Conversation | 25SP Class #10

17 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam invites two male and three female volunteers to the front of the classroom to talk about sexism in the modern world. Is it happened? What does it ...

Being Pushed Into Narratives | 25SP Office Hours #8

16 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam and Alijah start Office Hours talking about being pushed into narratives. Some breaking news happens in the war between Russia and Ukraine. The la...

What Are We Thinking? | Professor AMA | 25SP Class #9

15 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This is a shortened class because the students had their first Exam that day. Sam opens the conversation up to the students allowing them to ask Sam a...

Thinking Together with Dr. Laurie Mulvey | 25SP Office Hours #7

14 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam hosts a live stream by himself for the first time. So he decided to do an in-person interview with his wife, the great Doctor of Dialogue, Dr. Lau...

Mourning Together | Individual and the Collective | 25SP Class #8

12 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This episode starts with an interview Sam did with Kim Soomin, a producer at a Korean English TV Channel, ArirangTV. Sam asks Soomin about the recent ...

How Will We Survive? | Trump, DEI, and Current Events | 25SP Office Hours #6

11 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam and Alijah talk about the last few classes about DEI. However, the conversation will turn towards the Collective, Tribalism, Empathy, and the War ...

What About Discrimination? | DEI's Original Purpose | 25SP Class #7

10 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam invites two student volunteers to talk about discrimination, how do we measure it, what does it mean, and how do we overcome it?Then Sam invites u...

The Rebirth of DEI | What's the Purpose? | 25SP Class #6

09 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam invites four student volunteers to the front of the room to talk about the "rebirth" of DEI. What was the purpose? Why did the American government...

More Discussions about DEI and Discrimination | 25SP Office Hours #5

07 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam and Alijah continue the conversation about DEI in Trump's America.Learn more about the class: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Death of DEI? | Diversity, Equity, Inclusion in Trump's America | 25SP Class #5

05 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam invited four students volunteers to talk about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. They explore questions like, "What is the problem with Diversity ...

Podcast Update - April 2025

04 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I want to personally apologize for the episodes not uploading regularly. I just didn't have time to edit. So, to make it up to you... We are uploa...

Is SOC 119 an Echo Chamber? | 25SP Office Hours #3

30 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam and Alijah meet after the first class of the semester and Alijah came prepared with some questions that leads into a conversation about understand...

The Art of the Switch | Conversation about Language | 25SP Class #4

29 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam invites students up to the front to talk to them about code-switching. Do they do it, if so, when? What is the purpose of code-switching? How do y...

Who's Responsible for Social Problems? | 25SP Office Hours #4

28 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam and Alijah go through all the questions that have been asked on the channel for classes 2 & 3. And of course they answered questions that were...

You’re Canceled | Cancel Culture Conversation | 25SP Class #3

27 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam invites students to the front of the room to ask them about Cancel Culture. How are young people thinking about it? Do they self-censor more now b...

Mixing it Up | Mixed Race Relationships | 25SP Class #2

19 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam invites six students to the front of the room to talk about mixed raced relationships. Three of the students have parents who are mixed raced, and...

Another Beginning | Who's American? Who's International? | 25SP Class #1

17 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam starts this podcast with introducing himself and giving students a little background of who he is and how he came to teaching SOC 119. Sam then in...

Semester Brainstorming | 25SP Office Hours #2

14 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Before the Spring 2025 semester starts, Sam is joined at his home office by Jeff - the post production producer of SOC 119. They talk about important ...

A New Year | 25SP Office Hours #1

03 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sam joins the live stream chat to talk about the New Year. Sam explores what he thinks about social media, political violence, and he answers some har...

Fall 2024 Semester Wrapped | 24FA Class #30

31 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For the final class of the Fall 2024 semester, Sam opens up to the students through a Q&A. Sam answers a variety of questions relating to current ...

My "Truth" | 24FA Class #29

30 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Four students, Alina, Logan, Marcus, and Dean answer a question relating to the "truth". Sam asks questions to make the students reconsider what is an...

The Lost Generation | 24FA Class #28

28 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sam starts class with inviting Colin up to talk about religious beliefs, the LGBT community and hatred. Afterwards, Sam invites three student voluntee...

Rainbow Life | 24FA Class #27

27 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sam invites three sets of volunteers to talk about different aspects of life around the queer community. Callie talks about her experience growing up ...

Checking (Out) Your Privilege | 24FA Class #26

26 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This lecture took place on Tuesday, January 24, 2023 and has quickly become one of the most popular SOC 119 Lectures ever. Sam invites two student vol...

A Live Experiment in Empathy with Basim Razzo | 24FA Class #25

25 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

During a lecture in the Fall 2017 semester, SOC 119 students were moved by Basim's story of tragedy and overcoming hate with empathy. They asked if SO...

Defining Cool | 24FA Class #24

24 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The first half of the class Sam talks to Maureen and Chris, two black students and asks them about the American cultural phenomenon of parts of black ...

Understanding Cool | 24FA Class #23

23 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sam along with two students volunteers listen as three groups of two students explain what is and isn't "cool" in their communities. The communities i...

Under the Watchful Eye | 24FA Class #22

21 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sam invites five international students -- Yusuf from Kuwait, Dela from Iran, Dima from Saudi Arabia, Ziad from Egypt, and Zuling from China -- and in...

Some Thoughts on the 2024 US Election | 24FA Class #21

20 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sam invites students to ask him questions about the 2024 Presidential Election the day of the Election. This was live streamed a few hours before poll...

Losing Our Country | 24FA Class #20

19 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sam invites three students from different parts of the world that all practice Islam. They have a conversation about Islam, radicalism, and misconcept...

The Most Important Issue | 24FA Class #19

01 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sam invites students to talk about one of the most important issues facing American voters going into the 2024 Presidential Election - Immigration. Le...

Connected to My Nation | 24FA Class #18

31 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Class 17 was an exam and the students watched an interview Sam and Laurie did in Korea this summer.This class, Sam invites students to come up and tal...

How Much is Enough? | 24FA Class #16

22 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

While Sam is in Korea, Laurie and Irv take over the classroom. This is a continuation of the previous semester. If you didn't listen, we highly recomm...

Victims and Offenders | 24FA Class #15

17 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sam is joined by Irvin Moore, an old friend of Sam and Laurie who was in prison in Pennsylvania for most of his life. He's out and tells his story to ...

November 5th | 24FA Class #14

16 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sam and Laurie are joined by Frank from the Turkish English News Channel TRT to talk to students about the 2024 Presidential Election. Student volunte...

Are We Doing The Best We Can? | 24FA Class #13

15 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sam and a few student volunteers have a conversation about the climate. Are students thinking about? What is the most important issues that connect (a...

An Everyday Moral Crisis | 24FA Class #12

14 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sam invites Indian and Indian American students to the front of the class to talk about poverty, wealth, and the Caste System in India.Learn more abou...