The "Values & Interests" podcast and event series takes a deep dive into the ethical tensions and tradeoffs at the heart of decision-making across geopolitics, tech, philosophy, and business.
Explore how ethics can serve as a tool for making more reflective and responsible choices. Hear from leaders and experts who have spent their careers reckoning with critical ethical questions across their personal and professional lives. Whether facing daily decisions or tackling global issues, you’ll uncover new approaches for navigating the complex and often fraught relationship between our own values and interests.
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Soft Power in an Era of Nationalism
Latest Podcast Episode
Artificial intelligence is increasingly framed as an unstoppable force that will reshape economies, societies, and human life. But what if that narrative is part of the problem?
In this episode of Values & Interests, Virginia Dignum, professor of responsible artificial intelligence at Umeå University and author of The AI Paradox, examines the forces shaping today’s AI race, from the economic incentives driving development to the moral questions raised by recent debates over AI governance.
Dignum challenges the idea that AI is inevitable, arguing that technology does not simply happen to us. It reflects deliberate human decisions about what we build, who benefits, and what kind of future we want to create.
Access Recent Events
Nuclear Ethics
We are walking a fraying nuclear tightrope in a challenging and unpredictable geopolitical environment. This expert panel and Q&A, discussing the PBS documentary "Bombhsell," was moderated by acclaimed journalist Ann Curry
U.S. Power and Principle
America’s post–World War II calculus guiding the relationship between power and principle has shifted dramatically. James Story, former U.S. ambassador to Venezuela, and Carnegie Council President Joel Rosenthal discuss this new dynamic.
Geopolitics in an Era of AGI
As policymakers and diplomats increasingly leverage AI agents and non-state tech companies grow in power and influence in the push toward AGI, Carnegie Council assembled an expert panel to discuss the geopolitical impact of these technologies.
Post-Liberal American Power
Has Trump 2.0 ushered in an era of post-liberal American power? Access the full discussion on the defunding of U.S. soft power institutions, cuts to foreign aid, and the embrace of an aggressive transactional style of diplomacy in the first months of 2025.
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Full Podcast Episodes
DEC 18, 2025 • Podcast
Embracing Empathy and Responsible Power, with Dr. Claire Yorke
Dr. Claire Yorke joins "Values & Interests" to discuss how empathy can be used to build inclusive power structures, while avoiding the trap of blind idealism.
NOV 20, 2025 • Podcast
The Principle of Pragmatic Idealism, with Björn Holmberg
Björn Holmberg, executive director of the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation, joins "Values & Interests" to discuss the power of pragmatic idealism across international relations.
OCT 30, 2025 • Podcast
Misinformation and the Global Manosphere, with Odanga Madung
Kenyan journalist and researcher Odanga Madung discusses the corrosive effects of misinformation, the global rise of the manosphere, and the power of collective narratives.
OCT 1, 2025 • Podcast
The Cost of Military Primacy, with Peter Harris
Colorado State's Peter Harris discusses what a less militarized future might look like for the U.S. and the Trump administration's impact on foreign policy.
AUG 26, 2025 • Podcast
The Ethical Abyss: A Tech Ecosystem Reliant on Conflict, with Professor Elke Schwarz
Elke Schwarz joins "Values & Interests" to discuss the new highly militarized tech ecosystem and the resulting dehumanization of civilians in conflict zones around the world.
AUG 14, 2025 • Podcast
Values, Realism, and U.S. Foreign Policy, with Alexander Vindman
Alexander Vindman joins "Values & Interests" to discuss the critical interplay between morality and power in the practice of geopolitics.
AUG 6, 2025 • Podcast
Living a Moral Life in a Catastrophic World, with Philosopher Travis Rieder
Moral philosopher Travis Rieder joins "Values & Interests" to explore how we might pursue ethical lives in an era of global crisis.
JUL 15, 2025 • Podcast
Investing in Your Ethical Infrastructure, with Simon Longstaff
The Ethics Centre's Simon Longstaff discusses the power of moral inquiry, performative vs. good-faith engagement, and how ethics can help to address global challenges.
JUN 17, 2025 • Podcast
Empowerment, Ownership, & Agency: Building an Inclusive AI Future, with Jimena Viveros
Lawyer and AI expert Jimena Viveros explores why bridging the digital divide between the Global South and North is both a moral and economic imperative.
MAY 20, 2025 • Podcast
Character not Compliance, with Edward Brooks
Oxford's Dr. Edward Brooks joins "Values & Interests" to discuss how embracing ethics can unlock better thinking, relationships, and outcomes in our personal and professional lives.