Podcasts

Could Artificial Intelligence ever steer you wrong?

SMU Professor Robert Hunt sees the benefits of Artificial Intelligence when it comes to scientific and medical advances. The discovery of new drugs and potentially new and clean energy sources will be expedited because of AI. But Hunt, the author of the new book “All Brain And No Soul — Real Humanity in an AI Age,” worries about the cost to humanity to accomplish these goals. Hunt feels we should have one eye fixed on the progress AI can bring to the world — but the other focused on the cost it exacts from our collective humanity: “If we treat a computer like a human, we may start treating ourselves like computers.”

SMU Professors Jillson and Wilson grade first 100 days of Trump 47

SMU Political Science Professors Cal Jillson and Matt Wilson routinely field journalist queries from all over the world. So we thought President Donald Trump’s First 100 Days in his second term was an excellent time to pause and reflect upon the Trump 47 Administration to date. This SMU Perspectives Podcast delivers sharp commentary amid the context of Jillson’s and Wilson’s observations of The President’s political career ever since his decent from the ‘Golden Escalator’ at Trump Tower nearly a decade ago.

Tracking the rise of U.S. ‘Presidential Power’

SMU Professor Jeffrey Engel, director of the Center for Presidential History, explains how the powers of the presidency have escalated throughout history — especially at times when the Commander-in-Chief has navigated a crisis.

SMU Poet Greg Brownderville: medium for a multitasking muse

Greg Brownderville, SMU English professor, poet and editor of the quarterly literary magazine Southwest Review. Greg shares how a multipurpose muse influenced him to create three award-winning books of poetry, the “Fire Bones” go-show and his first musical album, Beekeeper Spaceman.

Listening is key to civil conversations — even during a contentious election year.

Jill DeTemple, religious studies professor at SMU Dallas. In this polarized world it's easy to imagine civility is dead during discussions about presidential politics, religion, guns, abortion or Israel-Gaza. But it doesn't have to be that way, says SMU Professor Jill DeTemple. She explains how sharing “stories” can break down barriers in the classroom and the community.

How retail investor 'superpowers' can be sequel to "Dumb Money" film

Christina Sautter, SMU law professor specializing in business and investing. She focused on so-called "retail investors" who mostly rely on online stock purchases and advice from "no fee" or lower fee brokerages.

SMU Dallas law school clinic rescues women classified as 'criminalized survivors'

Natalie Nanasi, SMU law professor and Director of the Judge Elmo B. Hunter Legal Center for Victims of Crimes Against Women. She discussed a program carried out by her legal clinic to expunge crimes against "criminalized survivors": women who are victims of domestic abuse but sometimes charged with bogus crimes (often by their abusers). Also participating in the podcast: Demetrice M. Lopez, an SMU law professor who assisted in the program; Erica Mellon, SMU law student who participated in the program.

Lengthy permitting processes, lack of electric power storage cloud clean energy dreams