“Somebody Should Do Something: How Anyone Can Help Create Social Change” with Professor Alex Madva

Achieving meaningful and sustainable social change is a complex task and a demanding challenge. Many of the most urgent problems, such as climate change, racism, and poverty are structural. They arise from collective practices, including laws, economies, history, culture and social norms. Yet structural change still depends on individuals making different choices—choices that confront existing structures and challenge established norms.

In their recent book “Somebody Should Do Something: How Anyone Can Help Create Social Change” Michael Brownstein, Alex Madva, and Daniel Kelly present a novel and scientific account of how personal choices can contribute to transformative social change. The authors argue that individual action matters most when it connects people to collective efforts. Meaningful change happens when individuals work with others to challenge and reshape existing structures. In this episode of Bridging the Gaps I speak with Professor Alex Madva.

Alex Madva is Professor of Philosophy, Director of the California Center for Ethics and Policy, and Co-Director of the Digital Humanities Consortium at Cal Poly Pomona.

We begin our discussion by unpacking a key point made in the book: many people feel trapped in “either/or thinking” about personal choices and structural change, as though they must choose between the two. The authors describe the book as a way to help readers “get unstuck,” and we explore what this means in practice.

We then examine the book’s two central themes: the climate crisis and racism. We discuss why the authors focus on these issues rather than others. We also discuss the book’s writing style, including its use of humour, and consider the value of humour when addressing serious and complex topics.

The discussion then turns to pluralistic ignorance, particularly the problem of people not knowing how much others care about social issues. We examine this concept in depth. We also consider several real-world examples, including Chris Smalls’s unionization campaign at Amazon.

Finally, we discuss the differences between face-to-face and online activism. We reflect on whether activists should observe certain limits when their actions affect the daily lives of ordinary people. We also touch on research showing how small actions can create wider social effects, and how movements that appear to fail in the short term may still lay the groundwork for future victories.

Overall, this has been an enlightening discussion.

Complement this discussion with “The Painful Truth about Hunger in America” with Professor Mariana Chilton and then listen to “A Passion for Ignorance” and for Denials and Negations with Professor Renata Salecl.

By |May 27th, 2026|Philosophy, Podcasts, Research, Social Science|
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“Geniuses, Heroes, and Saints: The Nobel Prize and the Public Image of Science” with Professor Massimiano Bucchi

In a world where scientific work often feels distant and difficult to grasp, the Nobel Prize makes science visible and understandable in a unique way. It is the most recognized and prestigious award for individual scientific achievement, giving a human face to great discoveries and turning them into powerful stories. The winners could be global figures like Albert Einstein or little-known doctors working in remote towns. Some prizes went to breakthroughs later proven wrong, and many names have faded from memory. Yet, as Massimiano Bucchi shows, the Nobel Prize shaped how people saw science throughout the twentieth century—an image that continues to influence us in surprising ways today.

In his book Geniuses, Heroes, and Saints: The Nobel Prize and the Public Image of Science, Professor Bucchi tells the story of how the Nobel Prize transformed science into something more than a technical field. It became an epic human pursuit, shaped by history and shared with the public. In this episode of Bridging the Gaps, I speak with Professor Massimaino Bucchi.

Professor Massimiano Bucchi is a leading scholar in the field of science communication and Professor of Science and Technology in Society at the University of Trento. He is the former editor of Public Understanding of Science and the author of books, including Newton’s Chicken and the co-edited Handbook of Public Communication of Science and Technology.

We begin the conversation with the three main narratives outlined in the book that define the Nobel Prize. First, the scientist as genius—a creative visionary, a brilliant intellect, often portrayed as a solitary figure with a romantic aura. Second, the scientist as national hero—a symbol of international rivalry played out in a peaceful, rational contest. Third, the scientist as saint—a moral exemplar celebrated for humility, modesty, and complete devotion to science.

From there, we trace the history of the Nobel, its origins, and its early role in European society. We examine the first laureates, notable controversies, and famous recipients—including the story of Einstein’s long-delayed award and the “interesting” aspects of the work that finally earned him the prize.
We also explore the Nobel’s impact on public perceptions of science, the ceremonial “royal touch” that surrounds it, and how the prize might evolve in the twenty-first century. We then discuss science communication more broadly.
Overall, it has been a rich and fascinating discussion.

Complement this discussion with “Sharing Our Science: How to Write and Speak STEM” with Professor Brandon Brown and then listen to On Public Communication of Science and Technology with Professor Bruce Lewenstein

By |August 24th, 2025|History, Podcasts, Research, Social Science|
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“The Human Journey From Ape to Agriculture” with Professor Peter Bellwood

Over a span of five million years, humankind rose from modest origins to become the planet’s most dominant species. Along the way, people changed a lot in how they looked, spoke, and lived. But how did all this happen? The variety we see in humans today is the result of evolution—which began shaping the Homo group about 2.5 million years ago—and migration, as humans moved into new places. In his book “The Five-Million-Year Odyssey: The Human Journey from Ape to Agriculture” Professor Peter Bellwood brings together research from archaeology, biology, anthropology, and language studies to tell the story of human history. He takes us from the earliest hominins in Africa, through the spread of humans across the continents, to the start of farming and rapid population growth. He introduces early human relatives like the australopithecines, Homo erectus, and Neanderthals, then focuses on the rise of Homo sapiens about 300,000 years ago and their journey into Eurasia, Australia, and the Americas. Bellwood also looks at how farming, which began around 10,000 years ago, helped people move to new lands and share their languages and cultures. In this episode of Bridging the Gaps, I speak with Professor Peter Bellwood.

Peter Bellwood is professor emeritus at the Australian National University. He specialises in the human population prehistory from archaeological, linguistic and biological perspectives. His many books include “First Migrants: Ancient Migration in Global Perspective” and “First Farmers: The Origins of Agricultural Societies. He is the winner of the 2021 International Cosmos Prize.

We begin by discussing how studying languages uncovers our past and tells the story of humans. Language families act like maps, pointing to early journeys of people. Shared words that appear in many tongues offer strong clues about those first moves. Next we look at what ancient DNA and proteins can say about our past. I first ask about the hard job of finding and testing old genetic samples. After that we turn to classic archaeology, and I ask Peter about digging at historic sites. We dive into how a creature unlike any other animal arose, and we touch upon the blank spots that still puzzle us. The book’s idea of “man the tool maker” comes up: does making tools really set us apart? We talk about that in depth.

We then explore the rise and later disappearance of Neanderthals and other early human groups. Our focus shifts to the cultural growth of Homo sapiens, tracing the path from hunting and gathering to more organised farming. We look closely at the first waves of people who moved in search of richer soil and safer homes. The Fertile Crescent in the Middle East gets special attention, as we track the birth of stable villages and maybe the first cities. We also discuss the boats, paths, and simple gear that helped early travellers to travel long distances.

Shifting dates and fresh finds force us to keep revising the human timeline. We talk about lively cultures that either vanished overnight or slowly faded away. From start to end, the talk has been rich, clear, and full of insights.

Complement this discussion with How Cooking Made Us Human with Professor Richard Wrangham and then listen to “From Sensing to Sentience: How Feeling Emerges from the Brain” with Professor Todd Feinberg

By |June 21st, 2025|History, Knowledge, Podcasts, Research|
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