Key Conversations with Phi Beta Kappa

How We Actively Shape a “Well-Grounded Brain” with Kelly Lambert

How much control do we truly have over our brain health? In this episode, Professor Kelly Lambert, a pioneer in the field of behaviorceuticals, discusses how environmental enrichment and positive anticipation physically reshape the brain.  Drawing on her celebrated research—including the world-famous "rat driving" studies—Professor Lambert discusses what we can learn about brain health from wild animals, the dangers of living in what she calls “brain bubbles,” and examines the critical role of authentic experience in building emotional resilience. She also offers a unique perspective on how small behavioral shifts can serve as powerful alternatives to traditional pharmaceuticals for improving mood and cognitive function. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

2025 Phi Beta Kappa Book Awards

The Phi Beta Kappa Book Awards are presented annually to three outstanding scholarly books published in the United States.  The 2025 winners are Charles King for his book Every Valley: The Desperate Lives and Troubled Times That Made Handel's Messiah; Stefanos Geroulanos for his book The Invention of Prehistory: Empire, Violence, and Our Obsession with Human Origins; and Ayana Elizabeth Johnson for her book What If We Get It Right? Visions of Climate Futures.  This year, the Book Awards Dinner was held in person in Williamsburg, VA in December 2025, where two of the three scholars discussed the impetus behind their books and the motives that keep them sleepless—and engaged—in liberal arts and sciences. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Understanding the History and Political Identity of Latinos with Geraldo Cadava

In this episode, Fred Lawrence speaks with Geraldo Cadava, Professor of History at Northwestern University and author of The Hispanic Republican. Cadava takes us from the childhood experiences that shaped his interest in complex identities—moving between the affluent suburbs of Irvine and the borderlands of Tucson—to his scholarly work on the contradictory nature of Latino identity. He shares the compelling story of his Panamanian-born grandfather, a veteran and copper miner whose partisan evolution from a Ronald Reagan voter to a staunch Republican demonstrates how individual political reasons can lead to deep ideological shifts. Cadava also previews his upcoming, ambitious project of writing a book encompassing the past 500-year history of Latinos, A Thousand Bridges, which argues that Latinos have historically been both victims and agents of empire. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How Mathematics can Solve Real-World Mysteries with Ingrid Daubechies

In this episode, Fred Lawrence speaks with Ingrid Daubechies, James B. Duke Distinguished Professor Emerita of Mathematics at Duke University and a National Medal of Science recipient. Daubechies takes us from her childhood fascination with calculating multiples to her groundbreaking work on wavelets—mathematical building blocks that have revolutionized image and signal analysis. She talks about how her research helped the FBI compress millions of fingerprints, analyze seismograms, and even distinguish authentic Van Gogh paintings from forgeries. She also tells the story behind the whimsical Mathemalchemy Project, a collaborative art installation that celebrates the pure joy and creativity of mathematics. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Discovering How Generosity Impacts Economy with Daniel Hungerman

In this episode, Fred Lawrence speaks with Professor Daniel Hungerman, a professor of economics at the University of Notre Dame. Hungerman discusses his unique academic journey, which led him to specialize in the economics of religious and charitable organizations. He explains his research on how tax policies have a measurable impact on charitable giving in the United States, also delving into the field of "generosity in economics” and how charitable donations directly impact the economy as we know it. Hungerman also touches on the long-term impact of the first Earth Day, using weather data to show how a single event can have a lasting positive influence on environmental attitudes and health. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.