After Words

Ever wonder why things cost what they do? Economic expert and author Lindsay Owens argued that technology is used against consumers to determine pricing on everything from rainy Uber rides to concert tickets. She was interviewed by Journalist Jamie McGee at the 2026 Southern Festival of Books in Nashville.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Can we say, 'In a crocodile accident?'" This and many other stories documenting not just how people died, but how they lived - in a book from New York Times obit writer Sam Roberts. He was interviewed by Director of the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute Harold Holzer.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Harvard historian Jill Lepore explores how digital technology is re-shaping society. She was interviewed by WPVI-TV anchor Tamala Edwards at the Free Library of Philadelphia in September. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jon Else explored the lives of the scientists who worked on the atomic bombs, including the health impacts they experienced. He was interviewed by UC Berkeley Journalism Professor, Mark Danner at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco in September.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Neuroscientist Darby Saxbe describes how men's brains change with fatherhood. She was interviewed by journalist, Matthew Yglesias at the Politics and Prose bookstore in Washington, D.C., in June of 2026.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 21st century saga of San Francisco's rise and fall -- paralleled by the arrival of tech entrepreneurs who remade the city's culture, politics, and economy - as told by journalist Jonathan Weber. In 1990, he became the first "Silicon Valley" reporter for the Los Angeles Times and later coordinated Reuters' reporting on West Coast technology. He sat down with former New York Times Technology Reporter, John Markoff, at The Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California in San Francisco in June. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MIT Professor Thomas Levenson describes the history of vaccine skepticism. His book is titled, "A Pox on Fools - True Believers, Grifters, and Cynics Who Convinced Us to Reject Vaccines." He was interviewed by senior writer at Ars Technica, Jennifer Ouellette at the Politics & Prose Bookstore in Washington, D.C.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Pope argued for policies that he believes would improve the current welfare system in the United States. The Competitive Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C., hosted this event.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Longtime ABC News war correspondent Martha Raddatz profiled American military service members and their families who have served in the 25 years since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. She was interviewed by San Francisco ABC7 News Anchor, Dan Ashley, at the Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California in May of 2026.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Technology reporter Joanna Stern describes the year she spent using artificial intelligence and robots in all aspects of her life. The Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California, provided this event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices