As the president and founder of the Harwood Institute of Public Innovation, Rich Harwood MPA '84, is passionate about seeing communities do their best. The Harwood Institute’s mission is to empower communities with the tools to bridge divides, build capacity, and tackle shared challenges. His newest book, "Unleashed: A Proven Way Communities Can Spread Change and Make Hope Real for All,” focuses on promoting civic culture and creating positive, lasting impacts. In this episode, Rich discusses what makes for an effective leader and how Princeton SPIA influenced his career. #Changemakers is a podcast series featuring the many Princeton SPIA alumni who built up their policy toolkits at Princeton and went on to change their communities. The show is produced, hosted, and edited by B. Rose Huber, communications manager and senior writer at SPIA.

WooCast: Podcasts from the Woodrow Wilson School

Good Leadership is Humble Leadership (Rich Harwood MPA ’84)

As the president and founder of the Harwood Institute of Public Innovation, Rich Harwood MPA '84, is passionate about seeing communities do their best. The Harwood Institute’s mission is to empower communities with the tools to bridge divides, build capacity, and tackle shared challenges. His newest book, "Unleashed: A Proven Way Communities Can Spread Change and Make Hope Real for All,” focuses on promoting civic culture and creating positive, lasting impacts. In this episode, Rich discusses what makes for an effective leader and how Princeton SPIA gave him a "can-do" spirit he's used throughout his life. #Changemakers is a podcast series featuring the many Princeton SPIA alumni who built up their policy toolkits at Princeton and went on to change their communities. The show is produced, hosted, and edited by B. Rose Huber, communications manager and senior writer at SPIA.

The arrest of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. sent the 1960 Kennedy Campaign into overdrive in the last nine days of a historic campaign for the presidency. But what happened during that lead-up to one of the closest elections of the 20th century? Author Paul Kendrick joins Julian Zelizer in this episode to discuss his recent book “Nine Days: The Race to Save Martin Luther King Jr. and Win the 1960 Election.” Paul Kendrick is a writer and speaker whose articles have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Chicago-Sun Times, and many more publications. He’s also an adjunct professor at National Louis University in Chicago. “Nine Days” is the third book that he has written with his father, Stephen Kendrick.

#236: JFK, MLK, and Nine Long Days

Evan Draim '16 is a current student at George Mason University's Antonin Scalia Law School. After graduating from Princeton University in 2016, Evan moved to northern Virginia and accepted a job at Service Source, a nonprofit that provides job employment opportunities to people with disabilities. In this episode, he discusses his journey to law school, his future as a Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG) officer in the United States Navy, and his time at SPIA as an undergraduate student. #Changemakers is a podcast series featuring the many Princeton SPIA alumni who built up their policy toolkits at Princeton and went on to change their communities. The show is produced, hosted, and edited by B. Rose Huber, communications manager and senior writer at SPIA. Show notes: Evan's article on social security: https://www.milkenreview.org/articles/saving-social-security-from-itself

Stepping Up to the Plate (Evan Draim '16)

For Martín E. De Simone MPA ’18, growing up during the Argentinian economic crisis of 2001 shaped his desire to work in public policy. Today, he’s an education specialist for the World Bank in the Western and Central Africa region and credits the Princeton SPIA for preparing him for the role. He discusses his journey from Argentina to the United States and elsewhere in this episode. #Changemakers is a podcast series featuring the many Princeton SPIA alumni who built up their policy toolkits at Princeton and went on to change their communities. The show is produced, hosted, and edited by B. Rose Huber, communications manager and senior writer at SPIA.

Invest Not Just in Knowledge — But Skills, Too (Martín E. De Simone MPA ’18)

Yasmin Elhady MPP ’15 is an attorney, public policy specialist, and stand-up comedian. She’s performed all over Washington, D.C., including at The Kennedy Center and The DC Improv, and she’s toured nationally and internationally in the United Kingdom. Her alter ego is “Yasguru,” a hyperactive relationship advisor with silly videos on YouTube and Instagram. In this episode, she discusses how September 11 and being a Muslim immigrant shaped her career path to public service, and how a talent show at SPIA helped her start her stand-up career. #Changemakers is a podcast series featuring the many Princeton SPIA alumni who built up their policy toolkits at Princeton and went on to change their communities. The show is produced, hosted, and edited by B. Rose Huber, communications manager and senior writer at SPIA. Check out her website: https://www.yasguru.com/ Her Instagram: https://instagram.com/yasguru Her YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCURpYI86UnAFDzoEAJ4FjXQ

Big Risks, Big Opportunities (Yasmin Elhady MPP ‘15)

While on the campaign trail in 2015, President Donald Trump referred to Mexicans as “criminals” and “rapists,” inciting disdain from Hispanics, Latinos, and other racial groups. The rhetoric wove itself not only into the campaign but Trump’s entire tenure as president, marking a sharp turn from racially coded dog-whistle politics to more explicit white xenophobia. A volume of essays edited by sociologist Doug Massey explores how America arrived at its current crossroads in politics and charts a way forward. This includes putting undocumented citizens on the path to citizenship and dismantling the dysfunctional “crimmigation” politics and practices implemented by both Republicans and Democrats alike. In this episode, Doug unpacks all that’s in the volume, which was published in the 2021 spring issue of Daedalus by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. It’s available free online: https://www.amacad.org/daedalus/immigration-nativism-race-united-states.

Immigration & White Xenophobia in the United States (Doug Massey)

Tackling today's biggest challenges — from the COVID-19 pandemic to climate change — will require innovative solutions from energized leaders. And among them is Annamie Paul MPA '01, leader of the Green Party of Canada. In this episode, Annamie lays out her policy priorities for Canada and reflects on how Princeton SPIA influenced her varied career. Annamie is a strong believer in living life fearlessly, a quality she honed as a master’s student. She says if you live life on your own terms, it’s not so hard to be bold. #Changemakers is a podcast series featuring the many Princeton SPIA alumni who built up their policy toolkits at Princeton and went on to change their communities. The show is produced, hosted, and edited by B. Rose Huber, communications

Living Fearlessly (Annamie Paul MPA '01)

Between 1966 and 1996, the French government conducted 193 nuclear weapon tests in the islands of the South Pacific. These explosions profoundly altered the health, wellbeing, and environment of the people living in this region, who spent decades amid radioactive polluted air, water, and soil. A new book, "Toxique," by Sebastian Philippe of the Program on Science and Global Security (SGS) at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs explores the consequences of this nuclear testing and the continued struggle of local communities and veterans to seek justice and compensation. Many of the documents, interviews, and simulations are on a dedicated new website (moruroa-files.org) in French and English. Philippe is an associate research scholar at SGS and a lecturer at SPIA. He has a Ph.D. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Princeton. His research focuses on technical and policy analysis to assess, manage, and reduce the risks associated with nuclear weapons and emerging technologies to international peace and security. He also looks at the reconstruction of past nuclear weapon activities, an area we explore today.

Toxique: The Aftermath of French Nuclear Testing in the South Pacific (Sebastien Philippe)

A zip code can define one’s destiny and, for many, this means a lifetime of poverty. To move people out of poverty, governments will need to make policy choices that tackle barriers to economic opportunity, while emboldening people to be agents of change in their own communities. Today, we’re in a political moment ripe for change, which makes it crucial for leaders and policymakers to work together to seize the moment. This drives the work of James Ladi Williams MPA ’18, a research analyst in the Metropolitan Housing and Communities Policy Center at the Urban Institute. At an early age, Ladi became keenly aware of how breakdowns in the provision of public services made life difficult for children and families in his home city of Lagos, Nigeria. In this episode of #Changemakers, Ladi discusses how a crisis of leadership holds back progress on addressing global problems. He reflects on his time at Princeton SPIA and how the SPIA community remains a source of insight, inspiration, and support. #Changemakers is a podcast series featuring the many Princeton SPIA alumni who built up their policy toolkits at Princeton and went on to change their communities. The show is produced, hosted, and edited by B. Rose Huber, communications manager and senior writer at SPIA.

A Leadership Crisis (James Ladi Williams MPA ’18)

For more than two decades, Jeremy Barnicle MPA ’04 has been working at the intersection of policy, philanthropy, and social change. At Mercy Corps, he helped guide the organization’s global strategy, positioning the nonprofit as one of the most respected humanitarian organizations in the world. Today, he serves as executive director of Ecotrust, which works to advance social equity, economic opportunity, and environmental well-being for all. In this episode of #Changemakers, Jeremy reflects on how his time at Princeton SPIA — both as a student and later as a lecturer — shaped his approach to leadership. He also stresses the importance of showing up “ego free” in a job and putting in good, hard work with “great spirit,” while also demonstrating an ability to think big-picture. #Changemakers is a podcast series featuring the many Princeton SPIA alumni who built up their policy toolkits at Princeton and went on to change their communities. The show is produced, hosted, and edited by B. Rose Huber, communications manager and senior writer at SPIA.

Showing Up, Ego Free (Jeremy Barnicle MPA ’04)

No day is the same for Larry Handerhan MPA ‘12 who serves as chief of staff for the D.C. Department of Human Services. In his current role, he manages external affairs and supports day-to-day operations for the Department’s $600 million budget and 1,100-person workforce. In this episode, Larry discusses how he learned to see across silos and connect work across departments so everyone can be more successful. Leaning on the SPIA alumni network, he often calls former colleagues when challenging or new situations arise. Finally, he encourages those entering the workforce to shed the idea of a perfect job, as there is a lot to be learned from a job that’s not everything one envisioned. #Changemakers is a podcast series featuring the many Princeton SPIA alumni who built up their policy toolkits at Princeton and went on to change their communities. The show is produced, hosted, and edited by B. Rose Huber, communications manager and senior writer at SPIA.

No Such Thing as a Perfect Job (Larry Handerhan MPA ‘12)

Using new technologies like AI to improve humanity is at the core of Robert L. Gordon’s work. As chief growth officer of SBG Technology Solutions, Rob is using a multi-sector approach to bring technology to the masses. Throughout his career, he’s also learned how to be a thoughtful and strategic leader. He boils it down to three main tenets: know who is around the table (and their stakes and stands), be inclusive and transparent, and give people a voice. Finally - when in charge, take charge. #Changemakers is a podcast series featuring the many Princeton SPIA alumni who built up their policy toolkits at Princeton and went on to change their communities. The show is produced, hosted, and edited by B. Rose Huber, communications manager and senior writer at SPIA.

When in Charge, Take Charge (Robert L. Gordon III MPA '89)

Nathan Eckstein '16 MPA '20 most recently was the political and outreach director for a U.S. Congresswoman in Western Illinois who sought re-election to a fifth term. He fought with a small team to build support, turn out voters and ultimately secure a win in the most competitive environment the Congresswoman had ever faced. In this episode, he discusses life on the campaign trail (especially in unprecedented times) and what lies ahead for his career. He credits Princeton SPIA and the Scholars in the Nation’s Service Initiative for providing him with support along the way. #Changemakers is a podcast series featuring the many Princeton SPIA alumni who built up their policy toolkits at Princeton and went on to change their communities. The show is produced, hosted, and edited by B. Rose Huber, communications manager and senior writer at SPIA.

Grist for the Mill (Nathan Eckstein '16 MPA '20)

Dalia Katan '15 is the CEO and founder of Presently (www.getpresently.com), a social commerce startup that's helping people celebrate special occasions more meaningfully while also empowering conscious consumerism. In this episode, she gets into what motivated her to create Presently and how she uses her Princeton SPIA training to be an effective leader in today's changing world. #Changemakers is a podcast series featuring the many Princeton SPIA alumni who built up their policy toolkits at Princeton and went on to change their communities. The show is produced, hosted, and edited by B. Rose Huber, communications manager and senior writer at SPIA.

Becoming a Problem Finder (Dalia Katan '15)

WooCast is the podcast enterprise of Princeton's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.