Trojan Talks

President Kim sits down with Assal Habibi, USC associate research professor of psychology and director of the USC Center for Music, Brain, and Society, to discuss how music — something deeply woven into society and the human experience — helps shape the brain. They explore how music affects brain function, childhood development, and well-being as well as interdisciplinary research emerging from the USC Brain and Creativity Institute.

President Kim sits down with Prem Natarajan, Executive Vice President, Head of Enterprise AI, and Chief Scientist at Capital One, and USC Research Professor of Computer Science with Distinction, to discuss how AI is reshaping organizations and what it means for universities and the future of talent. Recorded at USC's 2026 Corporate Engagement Symposium, their conversation covers enterprise AI, the evolving workforce, and how USC can strengthen partnerships with industry.

President Beong-Soo Kim sits down with Distinguished Professor Peter Mancall, one of the nation's leading scholars of early North America, to discuss his forthcoming book Contested Continent, the deeper forces that shaped the nation's founding, and the lasting value of studying history. With USC serving as the only university host of the National Archives' traveling exhibition of founding-era documents, they explore deep scholarship, public memory, and the role higher education plays in connecting the past to the present.

President Beong-Soo Kim sits down with Richard K. Green, director of the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate, to discuss how cities can survive, adapt, and remain affordable in an era of volatility and transformation. From rebuilding after catastrophic wildfires to confronting the nation's housing shortage and reimagining the future of American cities, they explore the intersection of markets, public policy, and education — and how universities like USC can help support more resilient communities.

President Kim and Eileen Crimmins, one of the world's leading scholars in aging and population health, discuss how scientists measure aging and longevity — and why living longer does not always mean living healthier. They explore biomarkers, life-course influences on health, and what demographic trends suggest about the future of aging.

President Kim speaks with Dr. Inderbir (Indy) Gill — USC's Chair of Urology and a global leader in robotic surgery — about the world's first in-human bladder transplant and the innovation behind it. They discuss what this breakthrough could mean for patients, the future of AI and robotics in medicine, and USC's expanding role in advancing care globally.

President Kim and Eric Schmidt (Former CEO and Chairman, Google; Chair and CEO, Relativity Space) discuss the rapid evolution of AI and what it means for higher ed. Recorded at USC's first AI Summit, their conversation covers the future of work, the global race for talent, the importance of computing power, and the immense opportunities for students and researchers today.

President Kim and social psychologist and thought leader Jonathan Haidt explore what it means to nurture wellbeing and personal development in a generation shaped by technology and how universities can lead with purpose and empathy.

In the launch episode, President Kim and Dean Bay discuss USC's present and future, ranging from student success and open dialogue to responsible AI and more.