Episode 25 Shira Shafir

Episode 25

May 14, 2020

Shira Shafir ’99

The coronavirus has caused more than 80,000 deaths in the United States in just four months. Shira Shafir ’99, professor of epidemiology, warns that as in the 1918–19 influenza epidemic a second wave of infections in the COVID-19 crisis could cause more deaths than the first.

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June 12, 2026

Allan Deck, S.J. on Pope Leo’s A.I. Encyclical

Pope Leo, in his encyclical about artificial intelligence, says advancing technology must serve people, not profit. Allan Deck, S.J., LMU professor of theology, explains that Leo’s message about A.I. is rooted in concern for human dignity, the value of work, and the common good.

Episode 60 • March 4, 2026

Edel Rodriguez on Art and Politics

Artist and illustrator Edel Rodriguez, who began drawing as a child, came to America from Cuba in the 1980 Mariel boatlift. Today, his political illustrations appear on magazine covers around the world. He discusses art, censorship, and freedom of expression at the intersection of politics and visual media. 

Episode 59 • November 11, 2025

Dana Gioia on Poetry and His L.A. Roots

Poet Dana Gioia, former chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, talks about his L.A. roots and his Catholicism, and he reads two poems from his latest collection, “Meet Me at the Lighthouse.”