ROLLINS SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH

Judaism represents a culture and a civilization. With 4,000 years of history, Jews have always thought about cultural transmission, keeping the language, customs, and values alive. Miriam Udel, associate professor and director of the Tam Institute of Jewish Studies, examines how the ideas that have connected generations with the past can also find a way into the future.

Episode 2

The Future of Faith with Rev. Joel LeMon

THEOLOGY

“Are you a believer?” The answer to that question, says Joel LeMon, is always yes. The Rev. Dr. Donald Allen Harp, Jr. Distinguished Associate Professor of Biblical Studies says everyone believes in something, no matter our religious practice. Beliefs shape our lives, and they change over time. He wants us to think about what we believe in—and why.

Episode 3

The Future of Politics with Joe Crespino

American History Professor Joe Crespino believes President Jimmy Carter should be remembered as someone who made human rights the chief priority of his foreign policy, as well as for the optimism, honesty, and hopefulness that he brought to American politics. Crespino reflects on what we can learn from the Carter era to help shape the future of politics.

Episode 4

The Future of Politics with Bernard Fraga

An effective democracy depends on a strong voter turnout. While the 2020 election had one of the highest turnout rates, many young and non-white citizens chose not to vote. Emory political scientist Bernard Fraga says it’s time to build a new democracy—one that reaches across location, age, and race. By welcoming new voices and varying viewpoints, our democracy will be better.

Episode 5

The Future of Work with Marina Cooley

BUSINESS

Despite technology and automation, many workers feel busier than ever. Goizueta Business School Professor Marina Cooley looks at how leaders can make systemic changes—like four-day work weeks, flexible schedules, and childcare stipends—that replace busyness with balance. And how walking a turtle can remind us to slow down.

Episode 6

The Future of Work with Barbara Krauthamer

At Emory, we know the value of a liberal arts education. In and out of the classroom, students are encouraged to see multiple viewpoints and continually challenge their own. And these skills shape Emory alumni to become problem solvers, critical thinkers, and communicators at every stage of their careers. Barbara Krauthamer, dean of Emory College, looks at how a liberal arts education can prepare everyone—students and alumni—for the future workplace.

Episode 7

The Future of Health with James Dahlman

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the effectiveness of targeted therapies like mRNA vaccines. And Emory helped lead the way on COVID-19 therapeutic research, discovering and launching molnupiravir—an effective drug to treat the virus. How can nanotechnology in medicine like those used during the pandemic be used to treat other diseases like heart disease and cancer? Emory expert James Dahlman explores exciting innovations in health, including gene editing, barcoded nanoparticles, and more.

Episode 8

The Future of Creativity with Jericho Brown

Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Jericho Brown, who directs Emory’s Creative Writing Program, says poetry and music inspire imagination—making creativity uniquely human. The power of language as a tool to evoke emotion cannot be replicated by technology. As he shares his own poem and those who inspired him, he shows that the future of creativity lies within our desire to imagine.

Episode 9

The Future of Entrepreneurship with Andrea Hershatter

BUSINESS

Andrea Hershatter, senior associate dean at Goizueta Business School, believes that with each technological advancement comes opportunities for new businesses. Entrepreneurs who see through the chaos can leverage technology in new and exciting ways. But it also takes an entrepreneur who leads with empathy to solve some of the biggest societal problems.

Episode 10

The Future of Entrepreneurship with Brian Cayce

BUSINESS

Brian Cayce’s career journey has been unconventional. After all, not many venture capitalists can say they were once Peace Corps volunteers. Inspired by the idea that companies should work to make the world a better place, he now directs The Roberto C. Goizueta Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Emory. He says Goizueta students and alumni are putting their degrees to work for the greater good.

Episode 11

The Future of Media with Hank Klibanoff

As a veteran journalist, Pulitzer Prize-winning author, and Peabody Award podcaster, Hank Klibanoff has experienced firsthand the ever-changing landscape of news media. He believes that media is at a precipice. As Americans’ attitudes toward news media are more divided than ever, can media return to being the mediators of information and seekers of truth?

Episode 12

The Future of Aging with Carolyn Clevenger

Carolyn Clevenger believes we shouldn’t look at aging as negative. She says older people, in fact, are more adaptable and emotionally stable. As a professor of nursing and director of Emory’s Integrated Memory Care Clinic, Clevenger explores how people can age in ways that align with their values and goals.

In 10 minutes or less, learn from and be inspired by influential Emory University faculty, students, and alumni who share their expertise and insights on timely topics—health, technology, business, philosophy, culture, and education. If you want to find out how thought leaders from the Emory community are serving humanity and radically reshaping the future, this series is for you. THE FUTURE STARTS NOW.

episode 1

A Talk with Cat Dymond

NURSING

Cat Dymond’s journey as a nurse-midwife began when she was a sophomore at Harvard. Her mother had passed away, and she wanted to honor her memory. Dymond began her first career in social services, shifted to reproductive health, served as a pro bono doula for more than 20 years, raised two sons, and eventually came to the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. Through Emory’s innovation lab, The Hatchery, she received a grant to develop a mobile midwifery service to reach underserved communities. In this deeply personal talk, Cat describes her life’s work and how she’s reimagining what nursing can be.

episode 2

A Talk with Roger Nam

THEOLOGY

To escape poverty and political unrest, Roger Nam’s parents emigrated from South Korea to the United States in 1967. As a professor of biblical studies and ancient Near Eastern studies at Emory University, his experience as a Korean American inspired him to study groups of people who also were dispersed from their homelands—and the identities they formed as a result of migration. In this talk, Nam explores questions of identity and how, by understanding the past, we can develop greater empathy for each other today.

episode 3

A Talk with Dakshitha Anandakumar

LANEY

During a school field trip to a science museum, Dakshitha Anandakumar saw an exhibit on sensory perception that sparked her curiosity about how we perceive the world around us. As a graduate student in the biomedical engineering program at Georgia Tech and Emory University, she explores how the brain processes sound and understands speech. In this talk, Anandakumar shares exciting research that could lead to improved assessments and therapies for people with communication disorders like autism.

episode 4

A Talk with Tayari Jones

Can creativity be taught? Novelist and Emory University professor Tayari Jones answers this question, and she firmly believes creative writing can contribute to success in a variety of careers. That’s why she encourages her writing students at Emory to be brave, think critically, and learn from their own stories. In this uplifting talk, Jones explores what it means to be creative and how she is making space for the next generation of storytellers.

episode 5

A Talk with Jen Heemstra

As a chemistry professor at Emory University, Jen Heemstra is passionate about conducting research. But she believes her most important work is mentoring other researchers—her students. In this talk, Heemstra shares how a breakthrough discovery by a student in her lab could help improve the detection and diagnosis of cancer. It’s just one example of student flourishing at Emory that is shaping the future.

episode 6

A Talk with Kristin Johnson

LAW

In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has played an increasingly significant role in our lives, from driving our cars to assisting with contact tracing during the pandemic. Integrating AI technology into our society has many benefits, but AI algorithms may not take into account inequities that disproportionately affect marginalized people. In this talk, Emory law professor Kristin Johnson shares insight about the applications of AI and raises important questions about the values and biases embedded within.

episode 7

A Talk with Pushkar Shinde

Pushkar Shinde, a Woodruff Scholar and student-athlete at Emory University, is on a double mission: to discover truth and to heal others. Through his interdisciplinary studies and attending the Emory Tibetan Mind/Body Sciences Summer Abroad Program, he learned that his quests are interconnected. In this talk, Shinde describes how his Emory experience led him to the intersection of mind and matter and his vision to empower people to live healthier lives.

episode 8

A Talk with Jordyn Turner

As a child, Jordyn Turner wanted to be a superhero when she grew up. Now a graduate of Emory University, she believes every young person should have the resources and the opportunity to realize their greatest dreams. As a mentor and serial entrepreneur, she encourages students to explore their interests and unlock their own potential as entrepreneurs. In this inspirational talk, Turner describes how she’s reimagining the future of education.

episode 9

A Talk with Ravi Bellamkonda