MIT Compass

How has the exercise of power changed over time?

For a transcript of this episode, click here [https://sites.mit.edu/compass/files/2025/06/Power-podcast-transcript.pdf] (https://sites.mit.edu/compass/files/2025/06/Power-podcast-transcript.pdf). In this episode, we’ll get into exercises of power and how they have changed through the ages with MIT professors from sociology and history (classical Roman history, medieval northern Europe, and early modern Atlantic capitalism). Featuring: Susan Silbey, Professor of Sociology (host); Will Broadhead, Professor of History; Anne McCants, Professor of History; and Malick Ghachem, Professor of History.  This podcast was created as part of the MIT Compass Initiative, "21.01: Love, Death, and Taxes.” For more information about Compass, check out compass.mit.edu⁠⁠ [https://compass.mit.edu/]. This podcast was recorded at the MIT AV Studios and produced by Adina Karp.

What are truth & knowledge?

For a transcript of this episode, click here [https://sites.mit.edu/compass/files/2025/06/Truth-and-Knowledge-Transcript-1.pdf] (https://sites.mit.edu/compass/files/2025/06/Truth-and-Knowledge-Transcript-1.pdf). This episode explores the question “What are truth and knowledge?” with MIT professors from philosophy, history, mechanical engineering, and brain and cognitive sciences.  Featuring: Alex Byrne, Professor of Philosophy (host); Jim DiCarlo, Professor of Brain and Cognitive Sciences; Anette (Peko) Hosoi, Professor of Mechanical Engineering; and Anne McCants, Professor of History.  This podcast was created as part of the MIT Compass Initiative, "21.01: Love, Death, and Taxes.” For more information about Compass, check out compass.mit.edu⁠⁠ [https://compass.mit.edu/]. This podcast was recorded at the MIT AV Studios and produced by Adina Karp.

What is value?

For a transcript of this episode, click here [https://sites.mit.edu/compass/files/2025/06/Value-Podcast-Transcript.pdf] (https://sites.mit.edu/compass/files/2025/06/Value-Podcast-Transcript.pdf). This episode explores the question “What is value?” with MIT professors from philosophy, science, technology and society (STS), history, electrical engineering and computer science.  Featuring: Sally Haslanger, Professor of Philosophy (host); Munther Dahleh, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; William Deringer, Program in Science, Technology, and Society; and, Caroline A Jones, Professor of History, Theory, Criticism section of the Department of Architecture at MIT. This podcast was created as part of the MIT Compass Initiative, 21.01: “Love, Death, and Taxes.” For more information about Compass check out⁠compass.mit.edu⁠⁠ [https://compass.mit.edu/]. This podcast was recorded at the MIT AV Studios, and produced by Adina Karp.

What is genius?

For a transcript of this episode, click here [https://sites.mit.edu/compass/files/2025/06/Genius-Podcast-Transcript.pdf] (https://sites.mit.edu/compass/files/2025/06/Genius-Podcast-Transcript.pdf). This episode explores the question ”What makes a genius and why does it matter?” with insights from MIT professors of music, math, physics, and history of science.  Featuring: Emily Richmond Pollock, Professor of Music (host); Larry Guth, Professor of Mathematics; and, David Kaiser, Professor of Physics and History of Science (STS).  This podcast was created as part of the MIT Compass Initiative, 21.01: “Love, Death, and Taxes.” For more information about Compass check out ⁠compass.mit.edu⁠ [https://compass.mit.edu/].  This podcast was recorded at the MIT AV Studios, and produced by Adina Karp.