Heterodox Out Loud

What's actually wrong with the modern university?

Today on Heterodox Out Loud, renowned legal scholar and public intellectual Cass Sunstein joins John Tomasi to examine one of the most important, and contentious, questions in higher education today.

Drawing on his decades of experience at institutions including the University of Chicago and Harvard, Sunstein reflects on what universities get right, where they fall short, and why ...

Is the very field that studies groupthink falling victim to it?

Today on Heterodox Out Loud, Smriti Mehta, researcher at UC Berkeley and co-founder of the Heterodox Academy campus community, joins John Tomasi to examine a striking paradox at the heart of modern academia: the disciplines designed to study bias and conformity may themselves be shaped by it.

Drawing on her experience as a graduate student navigating pressure to confo...

Is higher education losing public trust, and what can universities do about it?

Today on Heterodox Out Loud, Sian Beilock, President of Dartmouth College, joins John Tomasi to confront one of the most urgent challenges facing universities today: a growing crisis of confidence among the American public.

Drawing on her background in cognitive science and leadership under pressure, Beilock explains why trust is declining and what univ...

At a moment when public trust in higher education is faltering and “diversity” has become a politically charged word, University of Wyoming President Ed Seidel argues that universities must return to first principles: truth-seeking, intellectual humility, and viewpoint diversity.

Today on Heterodox Out Loud, host John Tomasi speaks with Ed Seidel about how a public land-grant university can defend free speech, uphold in...

At a moment when higher education faces accelerating technological disruption and intensifying public scrutiny, Cornell Provost Kavita Bala argues that universities must do two things at once: defend their truth-seeking mission with renewed clarity, and reimagine how they teach, research, and engage society in an era shaped by AI, polarization, and declining trust.

Today, John Tomasi welcomes Kavita Bala to discuss Cornell’s a...

How can universities rekindle public trust and foster genuine viewpoint diversity, without relying on government mandates? Today’s guest is Mary Kate Cary, adjunct professor at the University of Virginia (UVA), seasoned presidential speechwriter, and co-chair of Heterodox Academy’s campus community at UVA. John Tomasi and Mary Kate examine the urgent need to move beyond top-down reforms and build cultures of open inquir...

What does it take to build a university where open inquiry is not just protected, but actively practiced? In this wide-ranging episode, University of Denver Chancellor Jeremy Haefner offers a rare, candid look at the challenges and opportunities of transforming campus culture in a polarized era. From institutional neutrality to civil discourse, from pluralism to DEI reform, Haefner shares how the University of Denver is attempting ...

Can colleges be engines of rigorous civil debate, or are self-censorship and fear stifling the next generation of thinkers? Today, we welcome Chancellor Andrew Martin of Washington University in St. Louis, a leading scholar and administrator recognized for reshaping institutional culture at the highest levels of academia.

Chancellor Martin discusses his strategic initiatives to foster a climate of rigorous, principled debate and con...

Why does a self-described “gay, atheistic Jewish guy” argue that America needs more Christianity right now? In this thought-provoking episode, Jonathan Rauch, author, Brookings Institution senior fellow, and newly appointed board member of Heterodox Academy, joins host John Tomasi for an insightful discussion recorded in Washington, D.C.

Jonathan reflects on his new book, Cross Purposes, a contrarian apology for the Chri...

Trust in universities has cratered, ideological divisions are deepening, and the future of higher education is hotly contested. How do we repair our academic institutions without tearing them down entirely? Today on Heterodox Out Loud, host John Tomasi welcomes Michael Roth, President of Wesleyan University, historian, and esteemed thought leader on liberal education, for a frank and probing dialogue.

Drawing on recent Gallup pollin...

Can artificial intelligence transform how we navigate the most challenging dialogues on campus? Join us for a thought-provoking episode featuring philosopher and educator Simon Cullen, as he unveils his pioneering work at the intersection of education, technology, and constructive disagreement.

In conversation with John Tomasi, Simon explores how open inquiry is both advanced and imperiled by disagreement, and describes his academic...

How can sociology reclaim its commitment to rigorous inquiry and viewpoint diversity? Today, John Tomasi sits with Jukka Savolainen, Ph.D., Sociology professor at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, and the moderator of the Heterodox Academy’s Sociology community. They discuss the discipline's current challenges, including ideological bias and lack of viewpoint diversity, and explore potential paths toward reform.&nb...

How did America’s universities lose the trust of the public, and what will it take to restore faith in higher education? In this episode, we are joined by Benjamin and Jenna Storey, renowned scholars, co-authors, and directors at the American Enterprise Institute’s Program on the Future of the American University. Together with host John Tomasi, they undertake a searching examination of the forces eroding confidence in ...

Where should the line be drawn between the government's role in stopping discrimination and a university's right to run itself? Today on Heterodox Out Loud, John Tomasi sits down with Joe Cohn, Policy Director at Heterodox Academy, to discuss the complexities of federal intervention in higher education.

Cohn, a First Amendment expert, delves into the implications of recent federal actions, including those by the Trump administration...

What does it mean for a university to become a battleground against deep-seated prejudices and historical tensions? In today’s episode, we dive into these challenging questions with our distinguished guest, Cary Nelson, a celebrated scholar and ardent advocate for academic freedom.

Nelson shares his insights on the intersection of anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism in academia, a topic explored in his new book, "Mindless: What Hap...

How is Trump's executive order redefining the language permissible in scientific research, and what does it mean for academic freedom? Today, we examine the complexities surrounding scientific research under shifting political landscapes with Ivan Oransky, a seasoned medical journalist and co-founder of Retraction Watch. Oransky discusses the implications of President Trump's executive orders and how it has sent ripples throughout ...

What happens when mental health care becomes intertwined with prevailing political ideologies and biases? Today on Heterodox Out Loud, we’re joined by Andrew Hartz, president and founder of the Open Therapy Institute and a long-term member of Heterodox Academy. Andrew joins John Tomasi to explore the increasing prevalence of sociopolitical bias within the realm of mental health therapy.

Andrew shares his motivations for foundi...

Can meaningful conversations bridge the divide in a polarized world? In today's episode, we explore the transformative power of radical curiosity with Shira Hoffer, a senior at Harvard University and founder of the Institute for Multipartisan Education. Join host John Tomasi, as they delve into the potential of dialogue in reducing societal hate and fostering understanding.

Shira Hoffer shares her inspirational journey from idealist...

What happens when the principles of law clash with evolving ideologies in academia? Join us today as we delve into the transformative journey of legal education with Rebecca Roiphe, a lawyer, visiting fellow at the Siegel Center for Academic Pluralism, and author of the upcoming book, "The Devil's Advocate: How Law Schools Abandoned the Law."

In this compelling episode, Rebecca Roiphe outlines the transformative shifts within legal ...