Coup de'Pod

Cohost Mason sits down with Professor David Walsh to discuss the history of far-right conservatism and other themes from Walsh's new book, 'Taking America Back', in this episode.

In this episode, Gianna and Jaden dig into prison reform by discussing what’s broken, what’s working, and what real accountability could look like in the U.S. From mass incarceration to rehabilitation and reentry, they cut through tough rhetoric to ask who the system actually serves and what meaningful change demands. Bold, honest, and grounded in reality—this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

Mason and Gianna recap the recent odd year election results, including the VA gov race, Mamdani’s campaign tactics, and the future Prop 50 promises, all while (mostly) managing to stay on topic!

In this week's episode, Cohosts Lily Bass and Jacob Rabin discuss the implications that AI will have in classrooms all throughout the educational world. They also discuss the broader scope: what does the future of AI mean for society, for our humanity? They bring on Professor Cara Ong Whaley, nationally recognized expert on democracy and elections, as well as current lecturer on a class solely focused on AI in politics. WIth her expertise, they dive into the big questions, how should AI be used in the classrooms? Should it be used at all? Will it be the downfall of the world as we know it, or is it exactly what we need to thrive?https://gradual-disempowerment.ai/

In its hallmark episode of the semester, CDP on Grounds speaks to Dean Nicole Hall about the career center and the ever-daunting task of securing employment after college. From Career Fairs to Nepotism, this episode wastes no time discussing what is on nearly every UVA’s student’s mind regarding the job hunt.

The Coup de Pod international team returns for a discussion on the decision to drop the atomic bomb in World War II. Joined by Professor Robert Stolz, Jacob Rabin and Juan Salazar look at what the historical record says as well as how American perceptions have changed in the last 80 years. Were the bombs necessary to end the war? Listen in to learn more. Thank you to our researchers David Samy and Max Morrish.

In its first episode ever, the new Coup de Pod International team makes a poignant comparison between Nazi Germany and modern day Russia. Led by Jacob Rabin and Juan Salazar, the team talks to Professor William Hitchcock, an expert on both World Wars and the Cold War. What does he think about the similarities and differences between the two countries? Listen in to find out! Thank you to our researchers Michelle Nguyen, David Samy, and Max Morrish.

In its first episode of the 2024-2025 school year, the Coup de Pod On Grounds segment tackles the tough question of how politically biased a professor should be in the classroom. Led by Alex Friedlander and new co-host Owen Brown, the team addresses student’s concern with hearing politics in the classroom and proposes a solution going forward. In a polarized nation, how can educators continue to be genuine while keeping their students informed? Listen in to find out!

In this episode, Juls and Lily (CDP National Team) bring on Professor Wendte to talk about the language and culture behind political polarization in the United States. They discuss the utility of hateful rhetoric, first drafts of morality, male isolation, and much more. Professor Wendte provides thoughtful insight on how language shapes our perceptions of the “other,” an increasingly important topic in today’s polarized political landscape.

In their first episode since its rebrand to "Coup de'Pod", Alex and Kristin discuss the ongoing student-led "Divest" Movement and its implications for how the UVA endowment should be spent. Recently, the group has protested the University endowment's investment in companies that have supported Israel's actions against Palestine. The co-hosts interview an anonymous student from the Apartheid-Divest coalition who answers some of the questions and confusions that surround the situation. From staring contests with the eclipse to a controversial conversation within the University, this episode is packed with hot topics and interesting issues.

Jered and Juls tackle one of the most polarizing topics in America today: Universal Healthcare. Engaging in a spirited debate, they examine the ethical considerations, the contentious compromises involved, and gain valuable perspectives from Batten professor Sebastian Tello-Trillo, an expert in health economics and policy. His research focuses on the economic impacts of healthcare policies, providing a deep dive into the consequences and outcomes of universal healthcare.

Pop-culture hosts Lily Bass and Rebe Wahl discuss the Barbie movie, having the final conversation on the film and waving it goodbye. They ask questions like, was the movie even good? And did it do a good job of representing feminism? With harsh critiques and unlikely mutual understanding, the hosts flesh out the history of Barbie and the effects the movie had on the movie industry, and society.

Alex and Kristin sit down to discuss the state of the higher education system in the U.S. They hash out the implications of tuition increases, administrative bloat, curriculum choices, and think through what it might take to chart a better path forward for higher ed. Is the key to happiness taking an astronomy class and petitioning your local representative to provide funding for state schools?

National co-hosts Jered and Juls talk about the complicated topic of illegal immigration into the United States; particularly from the southern border. The pair dive into both the right and left takes on this ever important issue. Then, co-hosts Lily and Jered expand by interviewing Professor Amanda Frost, who is the director of the immigration law program at the University of Virginia School of Law. Frost has been published in The Atlantic, The New Republic, The Washington Post, and The New York Times.