Arizona PBS presents 'The Futures of Democracy' podcast

Arizona PBS presents "The Futures of Democracy" podcast, launching on March 30 and produced and hosted by Nicole Anderson, director of the Institute for Humanities Research at Arizona State University, and Julian Knowles, professor of media and music, and chair of media and communications at Macquarie University, Australia.

In this bi-weekly podcast series, world-renowned experts will examine the emerging challenges of possible futures for democracy in the 21st century. The project reflects upon the health and operation of our democracy as a common good in an environment that has profoundly shifted over the past 20 years. 

"Futures of Democracy" will launch an introduction on March 30, followed by an interview with ASU President Michael Crow on April 6.

The episodes will air bi-weekly with guests including USC scholar Kate Crawford and ASU experts such as Vice President and Vice Provost Peter Schlosser, Dean Patrick Kenney, Dean Jeffrey Cohen, and professors Adam Nocek, Nina Berman, Evan Berry, Ron Broglio, Richard Amesbury and Judit Kroo, discussing the recent challenges democracy faces in the 21st century.

The comparatively recent rise of social media, concentrations of communication infrastructure and media ownership, questions of internet governance, rights to privacy and access to data are issues that impact all citizens. Uncertainties about truth and evidence, increased racial and gender divisions and the overarching challenges to the environmental commons will also be explored in this new podcast.

In seeking the common good in democracy, the podcast is asking, is democracy in crisis or are we just at a turning point?

"The Futures of Democracy" is available on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and other popular hosting platforms. Project supporters include the Institute for Humanities Research and Arizona PBS Public Broadcasting Service.