The Gallup Podcast

For a second consecutive year, global employee engagement has fallen — a pattern without precedent in Gallup's trend, and a loss of productivity that carries a $10 trillion price tag. At the center of the decline: managers. In this episode, Chief Scientist for Workplace Management & Wellbeing Jim Harter unpacks the findings of Gallup's 2026 State of the Global Workplace report. Later, Gallup CEO Jon Clifton talks about what the data mean for AI adoption, employee wellbeing and the future of work.

The latest World Happiness Report shows that while the world’s happiest countries remain largely unchanged, deeper shifts are underway beneath the surface. In this episode, Ilana Ron-Levey, managing director at Gallup, and Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, professor at the University of Oxford and  director of its Wellbeing Research Centre, explore how global happiness rankings are evolving, a growing generational divide and what these trends reveal about how people experience their lives today.

The findings of “Black Thriving in America” reveal a complex landscape for the lives and experiences of millions of Black adults in the U.S. This annual report, the product of a partnership between the Dr. N. Joyce Payne Research Center and the Gallup Center on Black Voices, is an in-depth, data-driven examination of Black Americans’ lived experiences, with a focus on wellbeing, equity and opportunity. Camille Lloyd, director of the Gallup Center on Black Voices, and Dr. M.C. Brown II, executive director and research scientist at the Dr. N. Joyce Payne Research Center, discuss the report’s latest findings with:  Delano Squires, director of The Heritage Foundation’s Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Human FlourishingDr. LaToya B. Parker, senior researcher in the Office of the President at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies

There is no shortage of contenders for “the most important problem in the world.” Every day, leaders confront a growing list of complex and overlapping challenges that demand their attention. A new report from Gallup, released at World Governments Summit 2026, focuses on the issues people most want their leaders to solve, based on their responses to a new question added to the Gallup World Poll: “According to you, what is the most important problem your country is facing currently?” Riada Akyol, senior communications consultant at Gallup, and Benedict Vigers, Gallup senior global news writer, discuss the findings from this new research.Read the report, “The World’s Most Important Problem,” here: https://www.gallup.com/analytics/701519/worlds-most-important-problem-report.aspx

In a conversation between Gallup CEO Jon Clifton and Dr. Marlene Tromp, president of the University of Vermont, Tromp shares how her strengths shape the way she leads. Listen in as Tromp discusses how she thinks about building trust and belonging across campus and why clarity and self-awareness are essential in moments of uncertainty. Originally recorded as part of Gallup’s “Leading With Strengths” leadership interview series, this discussion offers timely insight for leaders across education and beyond — especially those guiding the next generation through rapid change.The Gallup Podcast will return with new episodes in 2026.

The Gallup Podcast will return in 2026. As we round out the year, we invite you to explore Leading With Strengths, a special series on global leadership. Through in-depth interviews, we uncover the decisions, mindsets and strengths that define exceptional leadership across industries and cultures.  Juan Carlos Pinzón twice served as Colombia’s ambassador to the U.S., helping commemorate 200 years of diplomatic relations. From 2011 to 2015, he was Colombia’s youngest minister of defense, after serving as chief of staff to the president, vice minister of defense, and adviser at the World Bank, along with senior positions in banking and finance. Pinzón is a visiting professor at Princeton University.  In this conversation, Gallup CEO Jon Clifton speaks with Pinzón regarding what history teaches us about leadership, why great leaders think beyond tomorrow’s headlines, how the emotions of a nation shape its destiny, and why understanding people’s pain is crucial.  Discover more interviews at www.gallup.com/leading-with-strengths

Synopsis: Americans are hesitant and skeptical when it comes to AI — but at the same time, U.S. employees’ use of AI at work has taken off. However, there are bigger-picture questions about AI that linger, on safety and national security, governance, international cooperation, and more.New research with the Special Competitive Studies Project provides insights on how Americans are grappling with the threats and possibilities of these advancing developments. Read up on Gallup’s latest findings on this topic: AI: Major Threat or Just the Next Tech Thing?AI Use at Work Has Nearly Doubled in Two YearsAmericans Prioritize AI Safety and Data SecurityAmerican Views on AI, National Security in 5 Charts

As students file back into classrooms, many are returning to campuses transformed by a strengths-based culture. Gallup’s Camille Lloyd talks with Dr. Cheresa Simpson and Dr. Paquita Yarborough of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund about how historically Black colleges and universities are weaving CliftonStrengths into the student experience.

What makes a leader worth following? At Gallup, this question has long guided both our research and our conversations with those shaping the course of society. As The Gallup Podcast pauses for the summer, we invite you to explore Leading With Strengths, a special series on global leadership. This collection of stories profiles real leaders confronting real challenges and shows how impact is shaped by each leader's unique strengths. 

Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace report captures the voice of global employees in an evolving workplace. While the annual report has found a generally upward trajectory for global employee engagement, this year is an exception. Gallup’s Jim Harter, Claire DeCarteret and Benedict Vigers join the conversation to explore what the report finds about how employees are feeling around the world – and why it matters.    Read the latest State of the Global Workplace report:https://on.gallup.com/45DhNWc

Gallup research with the Equity Research Action Coalition at the University of North Carolina explores how Black parents bond with their children and navigate through challenges, from transportation to conversations about race. Camille Lloyd, director of the Gallup Center on Black Voices, talks with Dr. Iheoma Iruka, the coalition’s founding director, about the findings.Read up on Gallup’s latest findings on this topic:Discrimination Takes Less Toll on Socially Connected Black Parents: https://news.gallup.com/poll/648344/discrimination-takes-less-toll-socially-connected-black-parents.aspx  Most Black Parents Discuss Racial Challenges With Children: https://news.gallup.com/poll/648410/black-parents-discuss-racial-challenges-children.aspx  25% of Black Parents Agree: Transportation a Childcare Barrier: https://news.gallup.com/poll/649631/black-parents-agree-transportation-childcare-barrier.aspxTogetherness: Shared Activities Within Black Families: https://news.gallup.com/poll/654335/togetherness-shared-activities-within-black-families.aspx  

A surge in liberal identity among U.S. young women reveals itself in various Gallup trends, creating new gender divides not previously seen. Gallup Director of U.S. Social Research Lydia Saad speaks with Daniel Cox, Director of the Survey Center on American Life and Senior Fellow in Polling and Public Opinion, about emerging differences between men and women -- and what will be important for public opinion researchers to track in the coming years.Read up on Gallup’s latest findings on this topic:  U.S. Women Have Become More Liberal; Men Mostly Stable: https://news.gallup.com/poll/609914/women-become-liberal-men-mostly-stable.aspx  Exploring Young Women's Leftward Expansion: https://news.gallup.com/poll/649826/exploring-young-women-leftward-expansion.aspx

A new administration has already made significant changes to the government’s approach to public health in the U.S., with more changes likely on the way. But where do Americans stand on key health issues? The Rollins-Gallup Public Health Priorities Survey from Gallup and Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health provides some early insights into Americans’ priorities for the Trump administration in terms of public health.

There’s a large contrast between how Americans view small business versus big business in Gallup’s annual “confidence in institutions” list. But there is more to Americans’ attitudes toward and expectations of business, research with Bentley University finds. At the local level, businesses are crucial. Gallup’s partnership with the Detroit Regional Chamber sheds light on the role business can play in supporting cities and localities across the U.S. This week’s guests include:Kristjan Archer, senior communications consultant at GallupCynthia Clark, Poduska Professor of Governance at Bentley UniversityJustin Lall, principal at GallupSandy Baruah, president and chief executive officer of the Detroit Regional Chamber

Gallup’s 2024 Global Safety Report finds that people’s trust in their local police is one of the keys to their overall perceptions of safety. In the U.S., police were the only institution that saw an increase in public confidence in 2024. But racial gaps on this measure persist -- and research from the Gallup Center on Black Voices provides greater context to Black Americans’ relationship with the police. This week’s guests include:Lydia Saad, Gallup director of U.S. Social ResearchCamille Lloyd, director of the Gallup Center on Black VoicesDr. Rashawn Ray, senior fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings InstitutionJulie Ray, Gallup managing editor for World NewsBenedict Vigers, Gallup senior global news writer

Generation Z has a unique way of looking at the world, but also U.S. institutions. Gallup’s research with the Walton Family Foundation yields new insights into the young adults and children who are nearing adulthood -- about their confidence in institutions and their desires and needs as they come of age.

Though confidence in organized labor is stable, U.S. approval of labor unions -- one of Gallup’s oldest trends -- has seen a major rebound over the past 15 years. More recently, Gallup research has yielded new insights about the experiences of union members themselves amid this eventful period for the labor movement.     This week’s guests include: Megan Brenan, Gallup Senior EditorDr. Ben Wigert, Director of Research and Strategy, Workplace Management at GallupMike Ritz, Executive Director for Gallup's Federal Government InitiativePatrick Crowley, Secretary-Treasurer and incoming President for the Rhode Island AFL-CIO 

The media are among the institutions in which Gallup has documented the greatest loss in public confidence. The trend -- which predates the Watergate scandal -- paints a picture of an institution that was once highly revered and is now hardly trusted.Is this crisis in confidence unique to the U.S.? What role is technology playing in the decline in confidence in the media? And could local media provide a glimmer of hope for the industry?Read Gallup’s latest update on confidence in mass media: Media Confidence in U.S. Matches 2016 Record Low  This week’s guests include:Dr. Sarah Fioroni, Senior Researcher at GallupDelano Massey, Managing Editor of Axios LocalAmy Mitchell, founding Executive Director of the Center for News, Technology & Innovation

It’s arguable that, of all the items in Gallup’s annual Confidence in Institutions survey, higher education is the institution on the list that has endured the greatest number of destabilizing shocks in recent years.As a new school year has begun, confidence in higher education is at a low point -- but new data from Gallup and Lumina Foundation paint a more detailed picture of why this is. And what are experts in the field doing to restore confidence?Read Gallup’s latest update on confidence in higher education: U.S. Confidence in Higher Education Now Closely DividedLearn more about Gallup’s research with Lumina Foundation: ​Gallup-Lumina State of Higher EducationThis week’s guests include:Stephanie Marken, Senior Partner, Education Division at GallupCourtney Brown, Vice President of Impact and Planning at Lumina FoundationZach Hrynowski, Senior Research Consultant at GallupLee Strang, Director of The University of Toledo Institute of Constitutional Thought and Leadership

The top 10 happiest countries in the world are largely the same as the top 10 recorded before the pandemic, but key shifts are taking place -- including Germany and the U.S. dropping out of the top 20 for the first time. The latest World Happiness Report sheds new light on how people’s life satisfaction ratings vary substantially between the world’s young and old. John Helliwell, professor emeritus of economics at the University of British Columbia, and Lara Aknin, professor of social psychology at Simon Fraser University, join the podcast to discuss key changes in India, a growing global inequality of happiness and how wellbeing can serve as a protective factor against dementia.

How do residents of member states of NATO view the alliance’s leadership? And what factors drive these views? Zacc Ritter, project director and advanced data analyst at Gallup, joins the podcast to discuss soft power, the crossroads NATO finds itself at, and a new analysis of attitudes of NATO member states.

The Gallup Center on Black Voices has collected more than 130,000 survey responses since it launched in 2020. Camille Lloyd, director of the Center, joins the podcast to discuss its recent findings across the Center’s six pillars of research. With the Black History Month 2024 theme of “African Americans and the Arts,” how many Americans are knowledgeable about Black cultural influences?

What makes for a flourishing life? A five-year longitudinal data collection and research collaboration measures global human flourishing across six areas: happiness and life satisfaction, mental and physical health, meaning and purpose, character and virtue, close social relationships, and material and financial stability. Dr. Tyler J. VanderWeele, professor of epidemiology at Harvard University and director of the Human Flourishing Program, and Byron Johnson, director of the Institute for Studies of Religion and distinguished professor of the social sciences at Baylor University, join the podcast to discuss The Global Flourishing Study.

Historically, incumbent presidents with approval ratings of 50% or higher have won reelection, and presidents with approval ratings much lower than 50% have lost. What does this mean for Joe Biden -- and how does his rating stack up against previous incumbents who have run for reelection? Lydia Saad, Gallup’s director of U.S. social research, joins the podcast to discuss Americans’ views on whether Biden’s deserves to be reelected, as well as the favorable ratings of Biden and Donald Trump. She also offers a sneak peek at upcoming data on the reasons Americans give behind their approval and disapproval of Biden’s performance.

The challenges posed by climate change will fall disproportionately on the world’s youth -- but how well do they understand the challenges they face? What are their perspectives on climate change, and where are they getting their information? Moira Herbst, special projects editor at UNICEF Innocenti, and Nahjae Nunes, a UNICEF Youth Foresight Fellow, join the podcast to discuss the latest findings from the UNICEF-Gallup Changing Childhood survey.

The Hologic Global Women’s Health Index is one of the most comprehensive initiatives measuring the state of health for 97% of the world’s women and girls. Though the pandemic may be over, the Index reveals that women’s health is no better now than it was at the height of it -- and in some cases, women’s health is now worse. Laura Gillespie, vice president for Women's Health Initiatives at Hologic, joins the podcast to discuss women’s testing for deadly diseases, their emotional health and their experiences across the world. “The Index findings make it exceedingly clear that it’s time for world leaders to take a bolder stand for women and girls,” Gillespie says. “Women are the backbone of families, the backbone of communities and economies -- and investing in women’s health benefits all of us.”

Despite a substantial need within the U.S. foster care system, most Americans are unaware of whether they are eligible to adopt. And while Black Americans are the most likely to already know they are eligible and are more likely to indicate interest in foster care and adoption, they are also more critical of specific aspects of the system. A report from Gallup and Kidsave highlights the perspectives and experiences of Black Americans with foster care, gaps in public knowledge about the foster care system and the barriers that prevent many from providing care. Shantay Armstrong -- Strategic Communications Manager for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion -- joins the podcast to discuss Kidsave’s EMBRACE Project and the many ways in which Americans can support foster children.

How have Israeli perspectives changed since the attacks on Oct. 7? Jay Loschky, Gallup’s regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, joins the podcast to discuss how Gallup has recently collected public opinion data in the country and how attitudes have shifted in recent months.

Parents often rely on a small subset of measures to gauge their children’s progress, but there is a more holistic way of evaluating student performance. Cindi Williams, cofounder and senior adviser at Learning Heroes, joins the podcast to discuss the latest report, B-flation: How Good Grades Can Sideline Parents.

The world is a bit more confident in its local police, according to Gallup's latest update on its annual Law and Order Index. But that’s not to say it feels any safer. Julie Ray, managing editor for world news, joins the podcast to discuss the latest developments in perceptions of global law and order. Later, Jesus Rios, Gallup’s regional director for Latin America, breaks down the findings in Ecuador, Venezuela, Brazil and the larger Latin American region.

People who enjoy cooking and dine frequently with friends or family may receive a boost in their wellbeing, according to new research from the Ajinomoto Group and Gallup. The new report, Wellbeing Through Cooking: Global Insights Into Cooking Enjoyment and Eating Together, explores how people’s relationships with cooking and dining vary across the world. The report also examines those in high-income countries who habitually eat alone -- and the implications for their wellbeing. Gallup Research Director Andrew Dugan joins the podcast to discuss the latest findings.

How big of a problem is food waste in the United States, and how much are we wasting? What causes us to waste food? Are we taking the wrong messages from expiration dates? And could waste have broader consequences than many are aware of? MITRE’s Dr. Laura Leets, senior principal social scientist, and Dr. Jay Schnitzer, senior vice president, corporate chief engineer and chief medical officer, join the podcast to discuss the latest report from MITRE and Gallup, The State of Food Waste in America.

Countries around the world have tried to combat a growing global mental health crisis. And while many strategies have been examined, the relationship between mental health and spirituality, religion or faith has been largely underexplored. Aaron Sherinian, CEO of Radiant Foundation, and Ilana Ron-Levey, managing director at Gallup, join the podcast to discuss a new report from Gallup and Radiant Foundation, Faith & Wellness: The Worldwide Connection Between Spirituality & Wellbeing.

Social needs are universal. While most people feel socially connected, the experience of social connection varies greatly across the world. The Meta-Gallup State of Social Connections report sheds new light on global connectedness and loneliness -- and its impact on people’s wellbeing. Dr. Anya Drabkin, senior researcher for social impact at Meta, and Dr. Telli Davoodi, Gallup senior consultant and analyst, join the podcast to discuss the new findings on whom people form social relationships with, their experiences with loneliness and how the world’s youth are faring in their social connections.

The Israel-Hamas war has upended life for millions in the Mideast. Gallup’s surveys in Gaza right before the war shed light on a population whose vulnerability predates the recent conflict. Jay Loschky, Gallup’s regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, joins the podcast to discuss what Gallup learned in interviews that concluded the week before Hamas launched an attack on Israel.

Americans believe that businesses possess the power to influence people’s lives -- but they don’t necessarily trust businesses to wield this power responsibly. So how should businesses navigate the many hot-button, highly politicized issues in U.S. society? And what implications does this have on organizations’ ability to recruit and retain talent? Zach Hrynowski, Gallup research consultant, joins the podcast to discuss these findings and more from the Bentley-Gallup Business in Society study.

This week, as labor unions continue to enjoy high support in the U.S., we return to a conversation we had last year with two labor experts on the "exciting and interesting moment" organized labor is experiencing. Dr. Thomas A. Kochan, George Maverick Bunker Professor of Management at the MIT Sloan School of Management, and Dr. Harry C. Katz, Jack Sheinkman Professor of Collective Bargaining at the ILR School at Cornell University, join the podcast to offer their expert insights.

A large majority of Americans don’t have confidence in business to use AI responsibly. What can businesses do to build trust with customers and educate the public about AI as a force for good? Dr. Noah Giansiracusa, associate professor of mathematical sciences at Bentley University, joins the podcast to discuss how transparency can be key to businesses responsibly adopting AI, and how young Americans’ greater optimism about AI presents an opportunity for the future.

New research from the Wellbeing for Planet Earth (WPE) Foundation in collaboration with Gallup suggests people can feel at peace, even if the world around them is not. Tim Lomas, a senior researcher for the WPE Foundation, and Telli Davoodi, a senior consultant and social scientist at Gallup, join the podcast to discuss a new, expansive view of wellbeing.

Gen Z reports greater levels of anxiety, stress, sadness and loneliness than older generations of Americans do, according to the latest report from Gallup and Walton Family Foundation (WFF), “Voices of Gen Z: Perspectives on U.S. Education, Wellbeing and the Future.” In fact, Gen Z is struggling with mental wellbeing today at much higher rates than U.S. millennials did at the same ages. The findings show this can negatively impact Gen Z’s engagement in the classroom. How can school become a place that unlocks students’ purpose? And how can educators create better systems and structures to support students? Romy Drucker, director of the Education Program at WFF, joins the podcast to discuss the findings from the new report.

Kristen Lipton, managing director at Gallup and host of “Thriving,” joins to discuss Gallup’s new podcast on the state of the global workplace. Lipton unpacks Gallup’s decades-long research on engagement, culture, remote work and more. Subscribe to “Thriving” wherever you get your podcasts.

Gallup’s annual Consumption Habits survey takes stock of what Americans are eating, drinking and smoking -- and their attitudes and beliefs about substances, diets, behaviors and more. Some trends, like alcohol consumption, are historically stable; while others, like marijuana use, are steadily on the rise. Do Americans have concerns about consumption habits? Gallup analyst Justin McCarthy joins the podcast to discuss.

Democrats and Republicans have become increasingly polarized on a wide range of social and policy issues. “The more meaningful increases in partisan polarization have occurred on policy issues, and the biggest of these are on global warming, public education and abortion,” says Lydia Saad, Gallup’s director of U.S. social research. “All of these issues are very much at the forefront of partisan conflict.”

A lot is changing in the workplace right now. Gallup has been tracking key workplace trends on engagement, burnout, employee wellbeing, culture and remote work for decades -- and can tell you how we got here and where we’re heading now. Tune in to “Thriving: A Gallup Podcast on the State of the Global Workplace” with Kristen Lipton. This new podcast is for employees and employers alike, and welcomes you into the world of Gallup’s research on our lives at work.Subscribe to “Thriving” wherever you get your podcasts.

Gallup has recorded declines in church attendance, belief that the Bible is the literal word of God, belief in various spiritual entities and more. What can we glean from our larger body of research about Americans’ relationship with faith and religion? Gallup Senior Scientist Dr. Frank Newport rejoins the podcast to opine on Gallup’s trends.

Confidence in higher education has fallen sharply. How much of the decline can be attributed to the larger loss of confidence in institutions? What role is student debt playing? And what is holding back thousands of Americans from achieving their higher education aspirations? Stephanie Marken, partner of Gallup’s Education Division, joins the podcast to discuss.

Michael Smerconish joins the podcast to discuss the record-low confidence Americans have in U.S. institutions. Is distrust an American norm? “We’re about to enter a period of the greatest stress test in my life of our most important institution,” says Smerconish.

Confidence in the media to report the news accurately has fallen over the past several decades. Mosheh Oinounou, founder of Mo News, and Jill Wagner, managing editor at Mo News, join the podcast to discuss how the currents of social media and politics have shaped the media climate, and the challenges the industry now faces to regain public trust.

How the world is feeling? Julie Ray, managing editor for world news at Gallup, joins the podcast to discuss the latest findings from Gallup’s 2023 Global Emotions Report. Where are people feeling the most positive -- and the most negative? “These metrics tell us about life’s intangibles that you can’t get from looking at hard numbers like GDP or income,” says Ray. “This gives a really good indicator of how people are living their lives.”

Where do Americans stand on Gallup’s long-standing abortion measures one year after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization? Gallup’s Director of U.S. Social Research Lydia Saad joins the podcast to discuss the “new landscape on abortion” in the U.S.