Hosted by WashU’s Sandro Galea, the Ideas Matter podcast is a space for thoughtful, informed conversations about the forces shaping our lives and institutions. In a time when public debate often generates more heat than light, Ideas Matter provides expert perspectives that deepen understanding and inform a better conversation about what matters most in the moment. We hope you find the dialogue responsive to topics of the day and yet evergreen in its focus on the issues that shape our world. From immigration, global trade, and public health to AI, creativity, and the future of democracy, we hope you will join the conversation.
About the host: Sandro Galea is a physician, epidemiologist, and author, and serves as dean of the Bursky School of Public Health and vice provost for interdisciplinary initiatives at WashU. He was named one of Time magazine’s epidemiology innovators and has been listed as one of the “World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds.”
Should medicine be more broadly defined? Can an emphasis on our shared humanity lead to better treatments? And what about joy?
In this episode of Ideas Matter, WashU’s Sandro Galea, dean of the Bursky School of Public Health, and the University of Chicago’s Geeta Maker-Clark, a physician and expert on integrative nutrition, explore how a more holistic approach to medicine can benefit us all.
15 Sept 2026
E14: Rural America Beyond the Caricature
When Americans talk about rural America, what do they often get wrong? How do our perceptions of rural America differ from the reality of these communities? And should commonalities, rather than differences, be driving the conversation?
In this episode of Ideas Matter, WashU’s Sandro Galea, dean of the Bursky School of Public Health, and USC’s Elizabeth Currid-Halkett, an expert on geographic and class divides, go beyond the caricature to explore the many commonalities transcending America’s urban–rural divide.
2 Sept 2026
E13: The Future of Foreign Assistance and Global Health
After the dismantling of USAID, and with millions of lives at stake, what does the future of global health
look like now? And what compelled a USAID civil servant of over a decade to risk his job by exposing the
current administration’s choices to restrict foreign aid?
In this episode of Ideas Matter, WashU’s Sandro Galea, dean of the Bursky School of Public Health, and
former USAID civil servant Nicholas Enrich discuss how assisting other countries in maintaining public
health protects safety and stability across the globe—including here in America.
18 Aug 2026
E12: Why Global Health Research Matters for U.S. Health
Why does global health matter for Americans? What kind of return can investing in global health yield? And will a more globalized approach help us meet the challenges of this moment?
In this episode of Ideas Matter, WashU’s Sandro Galea, dean of the Bursky School of Public Health, and the University of Michigan’s Josh Ehrlich explore how being more open to innovations from beyond our borders could benefit U.S. health.
30 Jun 2026
E11: Inequality and Opportunity in America
What drives inequality in America, and how can we level the playing field?
In this episode of Ideas Matter, WashU’s Sandro Galea, dean of the Bursky School of Public Health, and Stanford University’s Lukas Althoff discuss socioeconomic inequality in the United States, and what efforts have the best return on increasing opportunity for all. Spoiler alert: enhancing the quality and accessibility of education is key.
16 Jun 2026
E10: Caste: A Global Story
How can India’s caste system inform our efforts to address racism and injustice globally?
In this episode of Ideas Matter WashU’s Sandro Galea, dean of the Bursky School of Public Health, and the University of Pennsylvania’s Suraj Yengde explore the historical foundations of caste and the ways in which it mirrors the social dynamics of our world today.
2 Jun 2026
E9: The Future of Journalism
Journalism’s role in our daily lives has shifted dramatically in recent decades, so how can it best engage the public in this moment?
For this episode of Ideas Matter, WashU’s Sandro Galea, dean of the Bursky School of Public Health and vice provost for interdisciplinary studies, and Lisa Gibbs, president and CEO of the Pulitzer Center, discuss what it takes for a news outlet to maintain public trust and adapt to new reporting methods.
26 May 2026
E8: The Future of Higher Education
As AI ushers in a fourth industrial revolution and universities face the onset of the demographic cliff, what does the future of higher education look like?
In this episode of Ideas Matter, WashU’s Sandro Galea, dean of the Bursky School of Public Health, and Stanford University’s Mitchell Stevens discuss how higher education reached this crossroads and what kinds of institutional changes need to take place in order to create a more equitable society.
19 May 2026
E7: The Future of Science and the Replication Crisis
In a post-pandemic era and with AI on the rise, restoring the public’s trust in science is critical—but what will it take to do so?
In this episode of Ideas Matter, Sandro Galea, dean of WashU’s Bursky School of Public Health, joins Stanford Medicine’s John Ioannidis to discuss his famous paper, “Why Most Published Research Findings Are False,” and to explore how science can do better.
12 May 2026
E6: Political Polarization and the Future of Democracy
As a country, are we too far gone to heal our political divides, or is it still possible to change course?
Professor Lilliana Mason of Johns Hopkins University joins WashU’s Sandro Galea to discuss why politics have become so personal and what polarization means for the future.
5 May 2026
E5: Cross-Border Commerce
How is e-commerce shaping our global economy? And what role will it play in the future of U.S.-China relations?
Professor Lizhi (Liz) Liu, of Georgetown University, joins WashU’s Sandro Galea to discuss the booming political economy surrounding e-commerce in China.
28 Apr 2026
E4: Power, Knowledge, and COVID-19
Did the scientific community’s response to the pandemic fall short of the reasoned pursuit of truth?
Alex Broadbent of Durham University and Pieter Streicher of the University of Johannesburg—authors of a new book on science during the COVID moment—join WashU’s Sandro Galea to discuss what is still to be learned from the pandemic.
16 Apr 2026
E3: AI and Creativity
What does AI mean for the future of human creativity? Janet Rafner of the University of Southern Denmark in Odense, an expert in hybrid intelligence and human–AI co-creativity, joins Sandro Galea to discuss AI’s role in the creative space.
16 Apr 2026
E2: Trade, Tariffs, and Globalization
What role do tariffs play in today’s global economy and how could tariffs shape the future of international trade? The University of Chicago’s Robert Gulotty, an expert in international relations and political economy, joins WashU’s Sandro Galea to discuss how systems of trade could contribute to global cooperation in the 21st century.
16 Apr 2026
E1: Immigration in a Changing World
In the hotly contested debate surrounding U.S. immigration policy, what does it take to find common ground? Alexander Kustov, an expert in public opinion and democratic governance and a professor of global affairs at the University of Notre Dame, joins host Sandro Galea to discuss the factors driving this debate.
16 Apr 2026
Trailer: Introducing Ideas Matter: A WashU Podcast
In a time when public debate often generates more heat than light, Ideas Matter is designed to inform a better conversation about what matters most. This biweekly podcast, hosted by Sandro Galea, explores topics ranging from immigration, global trade, and public health to AI, creativity, and the future of democracy. We hope you will join the conversation.
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