About Catalysts for Science Policy's In a Perfect Policy
The In a Perfect Policy is a podcast is created by the students of University of Wisconsin's Catalysts for Science Policy. Listen to our episodes discussing current science policy issues with experts and enthusiasts to understand how policy can shape a better world.
This podcast is funded in part by an Associated Students of Madison viewpoint neutral grant. Contact request@asm.wisc.edu for accommodation information.
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Catalysts for Science Policy's In a Perfect Policy
Episode 17 - The Science Behind Regulating Food and Beverages
This episode we are discussing food and drink regulations. A lawsuit that was recently settled involving Poppi, the pre-biotic soda brand, paid out to consumers on the basis that their claims around gut health were not founded in scientific evidence. Other than using science to help lawyers decide what can scientifically and legally be defined as a pancake, science influences many aspects of policy and laws, generally known as regulations.
Today I talked with Neal Fortin, an attorney, the director of the Institute for Food Laws & Regulations, and a professor in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University, and Jeffery Glazer, who works at the UW Law & Entrepreneurship Clinic with a focus on food and beverage regulation. Both had some great insights into the world of food and drink laws.
This episode was produced by Colin Hemme with music by John Leja. Thank you to Professors Neal Fortin and Jeffery Glazer for the interviews.
This podcast is funded in part by an Associated Students of Madison viewpoint neutral grant. Contact request@asm.wisc.edu for accommodation information.
22 Dec 2025
Episode 16 - Federal Funding of Science
This episode we are discussing federal funding of science. Proposals from the Trump Administration recommended cutting science funding among many other government services which lead to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. Although a continuing resolution was passed until Jan 30th and largely Congress seems opposed to cutting science funding, the new budget for the year still hangs in the balance.
This episode, we talked to Dr. Laura Hernandez, a dairy and women’s health researcher, Katie Barnes and Roma Broadberry, two graduate students at The University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Becky Jacobs, a writer for the Cap Times.
This episode was produced by Colin Hemme and Freyja Moser with music by John Leja. Thank you to Dr. Hernandez, Katie, Roma, and Becky for the interviews. Sources and descriptions for key words for this podcast can be found here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_q1oZTCr8c2L7G3_WGlFcZvwWphnv9zUTGm72KyEws0/edit?usp=sharing
This podcast is funded in part by an Associated Students of Madison viewpoint neutral grant. Contact request@asm.wisc.edu for accommodation information.
9 Aug 2025
Episode 15 - Getting Wisconsin a State Microbe
Today we have three interviews all related to the effort in Wisconsin to make Lactococcus lactis our state microbe. We have Dr. Jo Handlesman, the director of the Wisconsin Institute of Discovery, professor at the Howard Hughes Medical Institution, previous Director for Science at the White House under Obama and a major supporter of the 2009 state microbe efforts. After Jo we have Representative Wittke member of the Wisconsin Assembly and co-author on the state microbe bill in 2023. Finally, we end off with an interview with Mark Johnson who works at the Wisconsin Center for Dairy Research to talk about the importance of cheesemaking and its critical role in Wisconsin’s economy.
This episode was edited by Colin Hemme. Our hosts are Natalie Wieber, Isabella Whitworth (joined by Austin Hall), and Vii Pszczolkowski. Music is by John Leja. Thank you to Jo Handelsman, Representative Wittke, and Mark Johnson for their time and interviews
23 Mar 2022
Episode 14- Health in all Policies
Today we’re going to hear an interview about the need for a “Health in All Policies” approach for UW-Madison. Wisconsin Advocates for Public Health is a grassroots organization who collaborates with community organizations and advocates for public health policy and system changes.
This episode was produced by Emily Tran and Maia Gumnit with music by John Leja. Thank you to Amina Maamouri, Nova Tebbe, and Chris Unterberger for the interview.
15 Feb 2022
Episode 13- Wisconsin's Green Fire
Today we’re talking with Terry Daulton, the board president of Wisconsin’s Green Fire. WGF is a non-partisan, independent nonprofit with a mission to support the conservation legacy of Wisconsin by promoting science-based management of Wisconsin's natural resources.
This episode was produced by Maia Gumnit with music by John Leja. Thank you to Terry Daulton for the interview and Jenny Oren for help with the episode.
18 Oct 2021
Episode 12- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report with Dr. Gregory Nemet
Today we’re talking with Dr. Gregory Nemet, a Professor of Public Affairs at the Wisconsin Energy Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, about the IPCC report.
This episode was produced by Emily Tran, Maia Gumnit, and Isabella Whitworth, with music by John Leja. Thank you to Dr. Gregory Nemet for answering our questions.
29 Sept 2021
Episode 11- Green Gentrification in Wisconsin
Today's episode will focus on Green Gentrification and the unintended consequences of expanding sustainable infrastructure options in Wisconsin.
This episode is based on a policy memo written by CaSP members Julie Davis, Brittany Baur, Sarah Alexander, and Ben Bachman. You can read the full memo here: https://www.sciencepolicyjournal.org/article_1038126_jspg180409.html
This episode was produced by Chris Unterberger and Maia Gumnit. Thank you to Julie Davis and Brittany Baur for the interview.
12 Aug 2021
Episode 10- Paid Sick Leave During Pandemics with WI Rep. Sondy Pope
Today we’re talking about the importance of expanding paid sick leave in Wisconsin, from both a public health and racial equity perspective. This episode features an interview on the topic with Wisconsin Rep. Sondy Pope.
This episode was produced by Maia Gumnit, Lauren Schrader, and Chris Unterberger, with help from Katie Pereira. Thank you to Representative Sondy Pope for answering our questions.
15 Feb 2021
Episode 9- COVID-19 Testing
Today we’re talking about the early development of COVID-19 tests, and how a major university started its own testing program to reopen their campus in the Fall of 2020.
This episode was produced by Maia Gumnit and Lauren Schrader, with help from Sebastian Manzo, Chris Unterberger, Kevin Lauterjung, and Robbie Frank. Thank you to Dr. Keith Poulsen and Dr. David O’Connor for answering our questions.
14 Jan 2021
Episode 8-Green Infrastructure in Madison, WI
In a recent policy memo, four CaSP members provide recommendations for the City of Madison to create incentive programs for residents to implement green infrastructure. These actions will help the city prepare and adapt to changing climate conditions. In this episode, we will hear from the authors of this CaSP policy memo about their recommendations and the memo writing process in general.
This episode was produced by Maia Gumnit and Sarah Alexander. Thank you to Marie Fiori, Laura Borth, and Sarah Alexander for answering our questions today and sharing their recommendations.
23 Nov 2020
Episode 7-Police Reform Policy
In today’s episode of A Perfect Policy, we explore the state of policing in the United States with Seth Stoughton, Professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law and expert in policing and how it is regulated. He served as a police officer with the Tallahassee Police Department and spent three years as an Investigator in the Florida Department of Education's Office of Inspector General. Additionally, he has written multiple book chapters on policing issues and his research has appeared in many top law journals. We discuss some of the obstacles facing police reform like lack of data collection and internal resistance to evidence-based policing. We also comment on the different roles of the federal, state and local government in resolving the problem of police brutality and misconduct.
Sources:
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/06/america-police-violence-germany-georgia-britain/612820/
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0002716219887372
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/many-americans-are-convinced-crime-is-rising-in-the-u-s-theyre-wrong/
https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/12/police-gun-shooting-training-ferguson/383681/
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/06/how-actually-fix-americas-police/612520/
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/police-are-killing-fewer-people-in-big-cities-but-more-in-suburban-and-rural-america/
https://fatalencounters.org/
29 Aug 2020
Episode 6-Evidence based policy on controversial issues
Episode 6-Evidence based policy on controversial issues by Catalysts for Science Policy's In a Perfect Policy
29 Aug 2020
Episode 5-Prisons and Policies in a Pandemic
Episode 5-Prisons and Policies in a Pandemic by Catalysts for Science Policy's In a Perfect Policy
29 Aug 2020
Episode 4-Keeping Up with Coronavirus
Episode 4-Keeping Up with Coronavirus by Catalysts for Science Policy's In a Perfect Policy
29 Aug 2020
Episode 3-Electing Scientists
Episode 3-Electing Scientists by Catalysts for Science Policy's In a Perfect Policy
29 Aug 2020
Episode 2: Ideas Across the National Science Policy Network.
Episode 2: Ideas Across the National Science Policy Network. by Catalysts for Science Policy's In a Perfect Policy
29 Aug 2020
Episode 1-Diversity in STEM
Episode 1-Diversity in STEM by Catalysts for Science Policy's In a Perfect Policy
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