Growing up next to a church, Jill Hamilton, professor at Emory’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, understands the importance of Bible verses and hymns when facing difficult situations. That’s why she is researching the power of scripture and music in the healing process, particularly for Black patients. Hamilton sits down with Ken Carter, director of Emory’s Center for Public Scholarship and Engagement, to discuss how health care can incorporate spirituality as part of holistic treatment.

Eri Saikawa, professor and environmental scientist at Emory, is researching soil and air quality in communities around the world to better understand the impacts of climate change. Saikawa looks at the relationship between climate change and health, particularly in vulnerable communities that are disproportionately affected by severe weather events. She believes that community awareness and everyday actions can spur positive action and create a healthier planet.

Judges are seen as impartial arbiters of the law, but they are elected officials with different legal backgrounds. Joanna Shepherd, Thomas Simmons Professor of Law at Emory, studies the intersection of law and economics. Her research looks at judicial behavior to see whether factors like campaign contributions, tenure, and personal experiences influence judicial decisions. In some recent legal cases, she says, judges have acted more like politicians.

The race to develop an effective COVID-19 vaccine showed the world just how powerful the immune system can be to prevent serious illness. Rafi Ahmed discusses how understanding the immune system is key to developing lifesaving vaccines. Ahmed, the Charles Howard Candler Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Emory School of Medicine, directs the Emory Vaccine Center and is co-leader of the Cancer Immunology Research Program at Emory’s Winship Cancer Institute.

For David Frank, practicing medicine involves more than just the art and science. Throughout his career, he has been inspired by deeply personal connections. One connection is particularly meaningful. He holds the Christopher Brett Wolf Chair in Hematology and Medical Oncology, named for the beloved son of John and Cammie Rice. Frank keeps a photo of Chris on his desk as a reminder of the personal stories behind every research study or patient interaction.

Libraries and museums don’t just preserve history. Clint Fluker, Emory’s inaugural senior director of culture, community, and engagement for the Carlos Museum and Emory Libraries, wants them to highlight new ideas and create space for important conversations. With exhibitions celebrating 50 years of hip-hop and the groundbreaking work of Black comic book artists, Emory is changing how communities interact with and think about museums and libraries.

James T. Laney, former president of Emory University, reflects on his close friendship with President Jimmy Carter and the founding of The Carter Center at Emory. He shares memories of their work to establish the center, Carter’s inspiring leadership, and the lasting impact of Carter’s lectures and Town Halls on the Emory community. Laney also offers unique insights from his time as the U.S. Ambassador to South Korea and discusses Carter’s humanitarian legacy.

What if, rather than fearing failure, we recognize that growth only happens when we make mistakes? In this extended director’s cut of Season 2 Episode 9: A Future Without Stigma, Emory Alumni Board President Munir Meghjani and James Raper, a longtime mental health counselor, have a thoughtful discussion about seeing success in failure, the myth of happiness, and finding the right therapist.

Contact the Emory Office of Respect at 470.270.5360 to speak to an on-call advocate or email respect@emory.edu for resources pertaining to sexual violence. 
 
For other on campus mental health resources, contact CAPS at 404.727.7450 or visit counseling.emory.edu.

In this episode, Kimberly Jacob Arriola, dean of Emory’s Laney Graduate School, speaks with Ayanna Jones, an Emory PhD student working with NASA to understand Earth’s complex atmosphere. Arriola and Jones envision a scientific community where all students, especially students of color, can thrive. Plus, Jones, a co-founder of #BlackInChem, takes on a million-dollar question—literally.

How can we create artificial intelligence technologies that build a better world? When Lauren Klein, Emory professor and author of Data Feminism, imagines the future of computational analysis, she envisions an ethical approach with justice at the center. Kimberly Jacob Arriola, dean of Emory’s Laney Graduate School, sits down with Klein to discuss how to make that future a reality.

What if artificial intelligence could predict and prevent invisible diseases? In this episode, Kimberly Jacob Arriola, dean of Emory’s Laney Graduate School, speaks with Anant Madabhushi, Emory professor and global leader in developing artificial intelligence to improve health outcomes. They explore the wide-ranging potential of these technologies to save lives, mitigate health disparities, and alleviate the financial and physical toll of diseases.

Human flourishing depends on connecting and belonging. How do we carve out space in our lives to ensure connection for ourselves and others? Listen as Emory Alumni Board President Munir Meghjani and Enku Gelaye, dean of campus life, imagine a more inclusive future for higher education, with space for everyone to thrive.

Is pickleball the secret to resiliency? In this episode, Emory Alumni Board President Munir Meghjani sits down with Keiko Price, Emory’s athletics director, to sketch out a holistic vision for health and well-being. They also discuss the surprising benefits of staying in motion—whatever that looks like for you. (Bring your own paddle.)

Anderson and Meghjani open their conversation by examining the transformative power of listening—to facts, the historical record, and others—to create a more equitable society.

In the final installment, Anderson and Meghjani explore how to have meaningful conversations across political divides, and Anderson lays out her blueprint for a better democracy.

Will it ever be possible to prevent or cure Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders? Allan Levey of the Emory Goizueta Brain Health Institute says there’s reason to think so. In this episode, Emory neuroscience student Calen MacDonald talks with Levey about his research and the work Emory is doing to make brain diseases a thing of the past.

What role does the community play in reducing health disparities? How are institutions like Emory University working to bridge the gaps? In this episode, Briana Woods-Jaeger of the Rollins School of Public Health and Everett Moss, an Emory nursing student, speak with Emory Alumni Board President Munir Meghjani about the progress they are making to reduce health disparities in communities of color.

When you talk to your computer, does it actually talk back? As part of the team that won Amazon’s 2020 Alexa Prize SocialBot Grand Challenge, Emory University’s Jinho Choi and computer science doctoral students Sarah and James Finch are pushing the boundaries of technology and communication. In this episode, they speak with Emory Alumni Board President Munir Meghjani about the future of artificial intelligence and how conversations with computers are becoming more human.

Finding your path as a first-year college student can be challenging for anyone. But without guidance from family members who have been there before, first-generation students often have an even harder time navigating higher education. In this episode, Emory University graduate Anna Dix and first-generation student Xiomara Fernandez talk with Emory Alumni Board President Munir Meghjani about the unique challenges first-gen students face and how, through the 1915 Scholars Program, Emory’s alumni community is coming together to provide support.