What Could Go Right?
Episodes
The Progress Report: Green Steel Revolution
26 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Progress Report, Zachary and Emma delve into the hidden positive stories often overshadowed by mainstream news. They discuss the ground...
The Wild Week with Bret Stephens
24 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What does an assassination attempt mean for the United States in an already emotionally charged presidential campaign? Zachary and Emma speak with Bre...
The Progress Report: The Implications of an Assassination Attempt and A Global News Roundup
19 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Progress Report, Zachary and Emma discuss the recent assassination attempt on Donald Trump and its implications for society. They highl...
Mental Health & the Impact of Therapy Culture with Author Abigail K. Shrier
17 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Does there need to be a change in the way we approach mental health and therapy? Zachary and Emma speak with Abigail Shrier about the evolving landsca...
The Rise and Fall (and Rise) of New Media with Buzzfeed's Founding Editor Ben Smith
10 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Has social media peaked? How is media different now compared to the early days of Twitter and Facebook? Are there too many social media options? Zacha...
Introducing Say More: Beating Burnout with Krista Tippett
03 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week we’re sharing an episode of a podcast we think you’ll really like – The Boston Globe’s Say More. We are living in a time of deep unc...
The Progress Report: Decriminalizion of Marijuana & A Global News Roundup
28 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Progress Report, Zachary and Emma discuss the emotional state of the world, the decriminalization of marijuana in Brazil, and the surpr...
India Rising with Ravi Agrawal
26 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What does the surprising outcome of the Indian elections mean for the state of democracy there? Zachary and Emma delve into the failure of polling pre...
The Progress Report: Repairs to the Ozone & A Global News Roundup
21 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's Progress Report, Zachary and Emma look at a recent study that people are choosing to avoid the news due to its focus on negative storie...
How to Be a Supercommunicator with Journalist & Author Charles Duhigg
19 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How meaningful are our discussions with others? Are we truly listening to the other person? What are supercommunicators? Zachary and Emma speak with C...
The Progress Report: Elections in the EU and A Global News Roundup
14 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the first episode of our new weekly news podcast, Emma and Zachary look into the recent EU elections, school lunches in America, and how a YouTuber...
Progress, Polarization, and Backlash with CNN host Fareed Zakaria
12 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When we hear the word ‘revolution,’ we often think of the bloody conflicts of the past. But what constitutes a modern-day revolution within our cu...
The Social Media Generation with Psychologist Jonathan Haidt
05 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is social media safe for children? How old do kids need to be to have smartphones? Is Gen Z's mental health declining because of TikTok? Zachary and E...
Red, White, and Due: The Polarizing Topic of Taxes with Scholar Vanessa Williamson
29 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why do people hate taxes but seem proud to pay them? When did taxation in the US become such a lightning rod issue? And are American feelings about ta...
The Poll Miner: Elections and Polling with CEO John Gerzema
22 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do we properly mine for public opinion? Can we trust polls again? And is there a "secret Biden voter" out there? Zachary and Emma speak with John ...
Being Jewish Today with Author & Professor Noah Feldman
15 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What does it mean to be a modern Jew? How do Jews in America handle their relationship to Israel, especially after the atrocities of October 7 and ...
America's Next Economy with Natalie Foster
08 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What is the cost of not investing in families in America? How can economic security be guaranteed? Zachary and Emma speak with Natalie Foster, Preside...
Veterans and Invisible War: Lessons from Phil Klay
01 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the modern age of warfare, what does it mean for Americans to enter the armed forces? Zachary and Emma speak with veteran and author Phil Klay a...
The Honesty of Our Economy with Allison Schrager
24 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Many news stories tend to focus on the doom and gloom of our current economy. Zachary and Emma speak with economist and author Allison Schrager, who t...
A Colorblind Nation: A Conversation About Race and Progress With Coleman Hughes
17 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Can the idea of America looking beyond race work in such a divided time? Are there reasons we should still use race as a basis for public policy? Hav...
Introducing The Ongoing Transformation: Finding Collective Advantage in Shared Knowledge
20 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
While we are hard at work on season six of What Could Go Right, we wanted to share another show we think you’ll really enjoy – The Ongoing Transfo...
Progress Check: Season 5 Recap with Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas
21 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are our fears about the future grounded in facts on the ground today? Will conflict and war wax or wane this century? And what global progress can we ...
Lessons From Former Presidents with Jared Cohen
14 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are we defined by our jobs? What happens to ex-presidents after they leave office? And how does that apply to the current political landscape as we he...
Inside Election Administration with Arizona's Secretary of State with Adrian Fontes
07 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How are states like Arizona preparing for the 2024 presidential election in the United States? How do they ensure the public our votes are safe? And w...
Marxism and Modern Society with Freddie deBoer
31 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Will the labor class change with AI? What actually is Marxism? And what, if anything, can we learn from it? Freddie deBoer, author and "Marxist of an ...
Can We Collectively Change the Internet? with Chris Anderson
24 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is there any good left on the Internet? Could we maximize it for generosity instead of conflict? And how do you stay connected in a seemingly ever-pol...
Is Free Speech Dead? with Greg Lukianoff
17 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What's really happening on college campuses? Is free expression on them dead, or have we reached peak cancel culture? And why have younger generations...
Progress Check: 2024's Election Frenzy with Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas
10 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The most people in history will vote in 2024, with 78 countries going to the polls. Is democracy really on the ballot, as some say? What new state law...
Hashtag Trauma with Scott Barry Kaufman
03 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What is vulnerable narcissism? Is #trauma a trend? And what psychological traits define our times? Psychologist and author Scott Barry Kaufman guides ...
A Science of Culture with Michael Muthukrishna
20 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How much are cultures crucial for progress, and can we deliberately create ones that lead to particular outcomes? What is it really about humans that ...
Revisiting The Feminine Mystique with Rachel Shteir
13 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How have gender politics shaped the role of women in our society? How far are we from equality, or are we there? And how has history informed our mode...
Climate Capital and a Green Tech Future with Jigar Shah
06 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Will the green transition happen, and how far do we have to go? Jigar Shah, the director of the Loan Programs Office in the US Department of Energy, s...
Progress Check: Politics and AI, Homeless Vets, and STDs with Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas
29 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How much of a threat is AI to elections with new disclosure rules from big platforms in place? What's going on with infant mortality trends? And why c...
Change Is the Operative Force of History with Drew Gilpin Faust
15 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What are the dangers of not acknowledging what has gotten better? How do we understand the marks history leaves on individuals? And what does a former...
Not Too Late for the Climate with Rebecca Solnit and Thelma Young Lutunatabua
08 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is climate discourse doomerism based on the right facts and frameworks? Are we not giving the potential of change enough credence? And where does the ...
Progress Check: Climate Dads, Cell Phone Bans, and Asteroid Sampling with Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Who is going to work these days and who is staying home? How should schools handle cell phones on their grounds, and what is the UK doing about them i...
Navigating Israel-Palestine with Ian Bremmer
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Will there be peace in the Middle East, or will the current conflict escalate? How can we understand the situation with moral nuance? And how do we pa...
The Great Awokening's Great Mistakes with Yascha Mounk
18 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Are identity politics getting in the way of real progress? How did these marginal academic ideas go mainstream? And is it possible to make progress wi...
A System Under Stress: Lincoln and Today with Steve Inskeep
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take to create great compromise? Can Abraham Lincoln's method of talking to people with opposing views work today? And is it possible to ...
Progress Check: Catching Up on the News with Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas
04 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is mental health worsening across generations? Has criminal justice reform actually worked? And are we ready for the first mass produced humanoid robo...
Introducing What’s Your Problem: Building a Plane to Help Save the World
23 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A new season of What Could Go Right is just around the corner, and in the meantime, we wanted to share an episode of a podcast that we think you’ll ...
Introducing Smart People Podcast: Lessons From the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness
09 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
While we prepare for the launch of What Could Go Right’s fifth season this fall, we wanted to share another show we think listeners will enjoy – S...
Introducing Ones and Tooze: Could Green Hydrogen Revolutionize the Energy Sector?
26 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What Could Go Right returns for season 5 this fall, but in the meantime we’re excited to share an episode of Ones and Tooze this week. Ones and Tooz...
A Look Back and A Look Forward with Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas
21 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is the US economy okay or even positive? Are we making any progress on climate change? What's going on with global inequality? As we close out this se...
Renovating Our House with Danielle Allen
14 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is change possible? Can democracy be renovated to serve the constituency better? And what does this mean for the 2024 election? Political theorist at ...
A Better World with James Pethokoukis
07 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Did anyone "win" the debt ceiling debate? Where is the economy headed, long-term? And what breakthroughs can be used to build a better world? James Pe...
What We Talk About When We Talk About Science with Sara Walker
31 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What's the nature of the universe? What is life? And what do we talk about when we talk about science? We're joined by Professor Sara Walker, an astro...
How to Be Optimistic About America with John Avlon
24 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What road is hyperpartisanship taking us down? Can we learn from our history? And is the current state of American politics worse than ever before? To...
Ukraine's Counteroffensive with Tim Mak
17 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What is the human side of war? Investigative journalist Tim Mak joins us from Kyiv to share an update on Ukraine's spring counteroffensive, what life ...
Demon Drugs and Moral Panics with Maia Szalavitz
10 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is drug use always harmful? How does empathy play a role in addiction? Could it be more beneficial to approach drug use as a public health issue rathe...
Artificial Unintelligence with Baratunde Thurston
03 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is technology moving us forward or backward? What is the human cost of progress? And is artificial intelligence making people more divided, or can it ...
Challenging the Consensus on China with Jessica Chen Weiss
26 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is China the US's perennial enemy? How do the complexities of China's political landscape affect global affairs? And is conflict over Taiwan inevitabl...
Demanding More: Politics in Sub-Saharan Africa with Ebenezer Obadare
19 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Are the tides shifting in Africa? What direction is the continent's progress toward good governance headed? And how should we understand competing int...
The Boys Are Not All Right with Richard Reeves
12 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is the struggle of boys and men a partisan issue? And how have recent economic and social changes influenced the classroom, the workplace, and the fam...
The Globalization Myth with Shannon O'Neil
05 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How have regional dynamics shifted in an increasingly globalizing world? And what is going on in Latin America and Mexico, and how will it affect the ...
How to Create Positive Change with Danielle Moodie and Wajahat Ali
29 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How does change actually occur? And what are the best tactics for bringing large coalitions together? Hosts of Democracy-ish, Danielle Moodie and Waja...
Entangled with Isaac Saul
22 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Are we as divided as we think we are? Is it possible to move out of our political and news silos? And is there a way to re-establish trust in the medi...
Bootstrapping the American Dream with Alissa Quart
15 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Has the American Dream changed? Is a side hustle the answer to income inequality? And is self-reliance the all-important north star we have been led t...
Government Secrecy with Matthew J. Connelly
08 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What's with Biden's, Trump's, and Pence's classified documents? Why is everything secret in the first place? And what is this costing democracy? Matth...
Living Up to America's Promises with Peniel E. Joseph
01 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Are we actually a "United" States? Has the US lived up to the promise of inclusivity, freedom, equality, and opportunity for everyone? And where can w...
Moral Ambition with Rutger Bregman
22 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What incentivizes human behavior? How many of our problems come from a lack of cash? And how does shame work as a motivator? Join us and Rutger Bregma...
Good Indicators: A Bird's Eye View of 2023 with Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas
15 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What's going on with "the economy"? Is now the best time to be in love in all of human history? Should we be worried about the global state of democra...
Misinformation, Climate Momentum, and Negative Headlines with Bina Venkataraman
14 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Is there a shift in momentum around the climate crisis? Will we ever hit our environmental goals? How has gatekeeping and bias informed our news? Plus...
The Modern Muslim World, Social Media's Positive Effects, and Gay Marriage in America with Mustafa Akyol
07 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Are we in an ebb of liberalism worldwide, or are recent events like the protests in Iran a sign of pushback? What would a "John Locke" movement for Is...
The Fix for Crypto, Healthcare, and Equal Opportunity with Avik Roy
30 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What does crypto mean for the future of banking? Why isn’t there an “Uber” for healthcare? Is negative economic growth necessarily bad? Today we...
Moving Away from Toxicity: Recapping the Midterms with Steve Clemons
16 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Are Americans truly done with "angertainment" and toxic politicians? Is democracy safe? Where does the United States go from here? Founding Editor at ...
Democracy on the Ballot, Climate Change, and Salary Transparency
09 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Will the COP27 conference strengthen action against global warming? Is democracy really on the ballot? And as crime remains a concern for many America...
World Energy, Student Loans, and Iran with Reza Aslan
02 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Is the world’s energy situation as bad as we think? What’s going on with student debt relief? And why aren’t we paying more attention to Iran? W...
Midterms, Gerrymandering, Bias, and Conspiracy with Sharon McMahon
26 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Social media sensation and former high school government and law teacher Sharon McMahon joins us to discuss the need for a better understanding of how...
Space News, Hearing Aids, and a Changing Tomorrow with Jason Feifer
19 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How is NASA propelling us into the future? Who is next to legalize same-sex marriage? Plus, we hear from the editor-in-chief of Entrepreneur magazine,...
Pardons, Guaranteed Income, and "Superabundance" with Gale L. Pooley and Marian L. Tupy
12 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Has anything changed since #metoo started? When is Indigenous Peoples Day? What's the deal with guaranteed income? Plus, maybe the world is doing bett...
Why Is Violent Crime Rising? with Jennifer Doleac
05 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Is Italy returning to fascism? Are we closer to a cure for cancer? And why is the violent crime rate climbing in the US? Economist Jennifer Doleac tal...
Legalizing Marijuana, Electric Cars, and What’s Going on with California? with Sen. Robert Hertzberg
28 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How has the experiment to legalize marijuana gone? Do schoolchildren need more sleep? Why is California suddenly doing all the things? Plus, bans to u...
Vaccine Equity and Bipartisan Reality with Rep. Eric Swalwell and Gov. Jeff Colyer
21 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What's the impact of the new malaria vaccine with "world-changing" potential? Was there a lack of scrutiny over the worldwide Covid vaccine rollouts? ...
The New Space Race with Ché Bolden
22 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Will space travel and exploration be left to the 'billionaire boys club'? Executive Director of the Inter Astra group and 26-year Marine Corps veteran...
Facing America's Biggest Challenges with Victoria Pratt & Lauren Leader
15 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
After a string of heartbreaking news in the United States, are we doomed to fear, anger, and a descent into gridlocked politics? Today, Judge Victoria...
The Interfaith Imperative with Eboo Patel
08 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How can we live with people who are different from us? Eboo Patel, founder and president of Interfaith America and former faith adviser to President B...
Wisdom for Smart Tech with Ayesha Khanna
01 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Web3 is seen by many as the future of the internet. Others understand the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) as the first step to a robot takeover. ...
Race in America, 2 Years After George Floyd with Theodore R. Johnson
25 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How do we grapple with the most challenging issues surrounding race, political division, equality, and more? Theodore R. Johnson, author, senior fello...
The Philanthropic Moment with Rachel Pritzker and David Callahan
18 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Is philanthropy helpful? Looking at the giving data during the pandemic as well as the billionaire class philanthropy trends and small-dollar individu...
Global Trade: The Race to the Top with Gregg Easterbrook
11 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Are we in an unprecedented era of military peace on the seas? Gregg Easterbrook, a prolific author and a writer and editor at The Atlantic for over 40...
Pandemic "Retrospective" with Nicholas Christakis and Ezekiel Emanuel
04 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Are we moving "out of the pandemic phase" of COVID-19? Today we talk with the Director of the Human Nature Lab at Yale University, Nicholas Christakis...
The Information Horizon with Tyler Cowen
27 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What's coming next? We sit down with a modern renaissance man, economist, and podcaster Tyler Cowen to participate in what he calls his greatest pleas...
The World Post-Putin with Anne-Marie Slaughter
20 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has been framed as a global inflection point. It may or may not be in actuality, but it is certainly a moment that cha...
The Happiness Rebellion with Arthur C. Brooks
13 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What is happiness, and why does it feel so difficult to find? The path to purpose, meaning, love, and contentment is actually no mystery, says Harvard...
Does Work Work Anymore? with Roy Bahat
06 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Work ain’t what it used to be—just ask the millions of Americans who are part of the “Great Resignation.” Venture capitalist and head of Bloom...
The Progress Movement with Jason Crawford
30 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Is progress still possible? We believe so, and we're not alone. Jason Crawford, founder of The Roots of Progress, sits down with us to talk about the ...
The Plague Cycle (Bonus)
23 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It might seem counterintuitive to ask in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, but is humanity winning the fight against infectious disease? Charles Ke...
Bridging Our Divides (Bonus)
16 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The United States is a country divided, characterized by collapsing levels of trust in our institutions, in our politics, and in each other. How did w...
The Population Explosion (Bonus)
09 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Are we on the brink of a population explosion with untold global consequences? On the contrary, a growing number of experts argue that we are headed f...
Our Lonely Century (Bonus)
02 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What do university students in Britain and Trump voters in the United States have in common? They're lonely. In fact, Noreena Hertz says, loneliness i...
We Are the Outrage Machine (Bonus)
26 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's no secret that social media is politically divisive. What we may not be as aware of is how our own behavior feeds into a positive feedback loop t...
The Crypto Dream (Bonus)
19 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What are we to make of the social and financial phenomenon of cryptocurrency? Will it spell the democratization of money free from government control,...
This Changes Everything: The World-Turning Power of Ideas (Bonus)
12 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ideas start wars and movements, undergird societies and governments, and shape the daily experiences of our personal lives. We ignore or underestimate...
Rethinking Today's Capitalism (Bonus)
22 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
At its worst, today’s capitalism is risky, reckless, and rapacious, unmindful of its impact on society and addicted to the motto that more is always...
The Next Wave of Higher Education (Bonus)
15 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Is higher education due for a makeover? The pandemic has only accelerated the trends disrupting the traditional model of higher ed. So it’s an oppor...
Maybe We're Not F*cked: Moving the Climate Conversation Forward (Bonus)
08 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When we think about our environmental future, it's no wonder that many of us feel an overwhelm bordering on defeat. We've been hearing for years about...
Live from Web Summit: An Affordable Internet & Pharmaceutical Psychedelics (Bonus)
01 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We're back with part 2 of our Web Summit episode, bringing you conversations with people who are trying to make the world a better place. Today we tal...
Live from Web Summit: Drone Delivery & Turning Buildings into Teslas (Bonus)
24 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We recently attended Web Summit, a conference that brought together more than 30,000 people and over a thousand startups of all sizes. While we were t...
A Future We Want with Yancey Strickler
27 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We all want a more generous world, but how do we design the future we want? In our Season 1 finale, Yancey Strickler, co-founder of Kickstarter and fo...