Democracy Works

Penn State McCourtney Institute for Democracy

The Democracy Works podcast seeks to answer that question by examining a different aspect of democratic life each week — from voting to criminal justice to the free press and everything in between. We interview experts who study democracy, as well as people who are out there doing the hard work of democracy day in and day out.

The show’s name comes from Pennsylvania’s long tradition of iron and steel works — people coming together to build things greater than the sum of their parts. We believe that democracy is the same way. Each of us has a role to play in building and sustaining a healthy democracy and our show is all about helping people understand what that means.

Democracy Works is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

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20 episodes
Avg 44 min
English

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#303
May 18 · 38 min
How to create social change that sticks
For our final episode of the season, we explore how individual actions and structural reform can work together to create lasting social change on a range of issues, including democracy.
#302
May 4 · 1 hr 4 min
Talk Nerdy: Black Evidence with Candis Watts Smith
Democracy Works host Candis Watts Smith joins Cara Santa Maria on the Talk Nerdy podcast to discuss her new book, Black Evidence: A History and a Warning.
#301
April 20 · 31 min
When politics enters the doctor's office
Democracy Works host Chris Beem talks with University of Iowa political scientist Julianna Pacheco about how the politicization of health issues is impacting physicians across the country.
#300
April 6 · 46 min
The Declaration of Independence and democracy renovation
Danielle Allen returns to the show to discuss America's Semiquincentennial and what lessons the Declaration of Independence can offer to modern-day democracy advocates and reformers.
#299
March 16 · 34 min
Janet Napolitano on higher education and democracy
What is the role of higher education in a democracy? To what extent should American universities respond to the demands of those in power? Are we meeting this moment? As a former governor, cabinet secretary, and university president, Secretary Janet Napolitano is uniquely positioned to address these questions.
#298
March 2 · 20 min
Is public media still public?
Ayesha Rascoe, host of NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday and Weekend Up First, joins us to discuss what it's like being a political reporter in a polarized country and what the "public" in public media looks like amid the loss federal funding.
#297
February 16 · 38 min
Embracing mindful democracy
Democracy is often framed as a battle between political candidates or parties that have opposing viewpoints and are trying to win over voters to join their side. However, there’s another way to think about democracy as a system of self governance that everyone shares and has a stake in preserving and protecting. Jeremy David Engels articulates the latter point of view in the book, On Mindful Democracy: A Declaration of Interdependence to Mend a Fractured World. The book blends Engels’s prior work studying democratic theory and history with his experience in yoga, meditation and Buddhism. Engels joined us to discuss the concept of mindful democracy and why it’s important to consider during the 250th anniversary of America’s founding. He describes how we can — and should — consider a "declaration of interdependence" in addition to the Declaration of Independence the country is celebrating this year. We also talk about the different conceptions of democracy outlined by John Dewey and Walter Lippmann Engels is Liberal Arts Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences at Penn State and a mindfulness and yoga teacher. You can find him in the classroom, lecture hall, on a meditation cushion, or a yoga mat, sharing his insights on how to become capable, compassionate, and engaged democratic citizens. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
#296
February 2 · 46 min
How AI is changing democracy
AI is changing many aspects of our lives, so it's reasonable to expect that it will impact democracy, too. The question is how? Two experts in technology and politics join us to discuss how we can harness AI's power to strengthen democracy.
#295
January 19 · 49 min
How America's political divides affect foreign policy
In the aftermath of the U.S. intervention in Venezuela, we explore how rising political divides are leading to bigger swings in America's foreign policy — and what that means for our future in the liberal international order.
#294
Dec 29, 2025 · 32 min
The Context: Seven ways anyone can fight authoritarianism
While Democracy Works is on winter break, we're bringing you an episode from our colleagues at The Context, a podcast from the Charles F. Kettering Foundation.
#293
Dec 15, 2025 · 52 min
Troubling times for higher education and democracy
We end this season where we started — a conversation about higher education and democracy.
#292
Dec 1, 2025 · 38 min
Fixing the information ecosystem starts with us
It's easy to blame algorithms and AI for corroding our information ecosystem, but our guest this week argues that we have a just as much, if not more of a role to play in creating the environment we want to see.
#291
Nov 17, 2025 · 52 min
The dismantling of USAID and the death of government oversight
Former NASA and USAID Inspector General Paul Martin joins us to recount the chaotic end to his decades-long career in public service and discuss the role that oversight plays in American democracy.
Nov 10, 2025 · 49 min
Disorder: Democracy lessons from Europe and beyond
We bring you a special crossover episode with Disorder, a show that explores the fundamental principles lurking behind today's most pressing global issues.
#290
Nov 3, 2025 · 39 min
How AI is shaping the news
In collaboration with the News Over Noise podcast, we discuss how AI is changing news literacy with experts from the Poynter Institute, News Literacy Project, and National Association of Media Literacy Educators.
#289
Oct 20, 2025 · 46 min
A Republic, if you can teach it
Judge Marjorie Rendell join us to discuss how the Rendell Center for Civics and Civic engagement is using innovative activities to make civic education something students look forward to in school and teachers are excited to have their students participate in.
#288
Oct 6, 2025 · 49 min
The new gerrymandering battles
We examine the state of nonpartisan redistricting reform with Carol Kuniholm of Fair District PA and Emma Addams of Mormon Women for Ethical Government.
#287
Sep 22, 2025 · 46 min
How misogyny fuels political violence
Cynthia Miller-Idriss returns to the show to discuss her latest book, "Man Up: The New Misogyny and the Rise of Violent Extremism."
#286
Sep 8, 2025 · 45 min
Standing up for higher education
We begin a new season with a look at a new organization helping college faculty and staff push back against threats from the Trump administration.
#285
Jun 9, 2025 · 1 hr 3 min
Ben Rhodes on America's changing role in a changed world
For our final episode of the season, we present a conversation with Ben Rhodes recorded at in Washington, D.C. at the end of May. Democracy Works is going on summer break. We'll be back with new episodes in September!

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