PricePod - Public Policy Conversations

About PricePod - Public Policy Conversations

Each month, the PricePod bridges the gap between theory and practice, offering new perspectives on how public policy impacts our lives and communities. Our conversations with USC Price School faculty range far and wide, from issues like traffic gridlock and the homelessness crisis to the spiraling cost of healthcare and corruption in politics. Whether you're a policy wonk, a student, or simply curious about how research can change our world, the PricePod is your source for informed, engaging, and thought-provoking discussions. Join us on the first Wednesday of each month as we explore the world of public policy, one episode at a time.

Publisher

USC Sol Price School of Public Policy

Category

education · news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

10 Jan 2024

Latest episode

9 Mar 2026

Latest episodes

24 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   9 Mar 2026

   How the U.S. Tax Code Made an American Aristocracy

   Robert Price interviews tax professor Ray Madoff about how the tax code has been manipulated to benefit the ultra-wealthy -- and how it could be revised to create a healthier economy and a more just system of taxation.

2. 

   1 Oct 2025

   The Changing Nature of the Opioid Crisis

   The opioid epidemic has killed roughly 900,000 Americans since the year 1999. The crisis, though, looks much different today. Initially fueled by prescription painkillers, the epidemic was later shaped by heroin and, more recently, illicit fentanyl. Meanwhile, the epicenter of the crisis has moved from largely white, rural communities of the United States to communities of color. USC Price School Professor Rosalie Pacula joins the show to discuss this evolution of the opioid epidemic and her new research on the role that geography plays in shaping the crisis.

3. 

   10 Sept 2025

   The Pros and Cons of California's Direct Democracy

   As Democrats and Republicans battle over redrawing congressional maps, California's system of direct democracy is once again in the spotlight. For over a century, California has allowed citizens to directly pass or reject laws on high profile issues, from marijuana and gay marriage to homelessness and sports betting. But the state's direct democracy system has come under scrutiny in recent years, with critics saying special interests have gained too much influence. To discuss the pros, cons and history of California's direct democracy, we are joined by Mark Baldassare, senior fellow at the USC Price School's Bedrosian Center on Governance.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.9 / 5

8 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 28 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

33

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

60