5 Columbia University Podcasts You Need to Listen to This Winter
Brrrr-ing on fantastic long-form audio accompaniment for the winter months, straight from Columbia University minds.
Podcasts are portals into ideas and conversations that deepen our understanding of the world. They also make great accompaniment for the long, dark winter months when New-Year's-resolution energy needs a jump start.
From student-led explorations of classic texts to incisive interrogations of public health systems, the Columbia University podcast ecosystem invites listeners to connect across disciplines.
Whether you’re interested in the art of reading and interpretation, the craft and ethics of journalism, or unpacking how health policy influences everyday life, there’s a voice from Columbia helping lead that conversation.
Below, discover standout shows (with starter episode recs!) that offer a unique perspective on culture, inquiry, and questions that matter most.
Core Connections
The Core Curriculum is an incredible Columbia tradition, and Literature Humanities ("Lit Hum," as it is commonly known) is an important part of it. Live (or relive) some of the magic of it through this student-led podcast, produced by Tamara A. Hache, a teaching fellow in the department of Latin American and Iberian Cultures. The podcast brings Columbia’s Lit Hum syllabus to life, pairing canonical texts with contemporary art, film, and performance to uncover fresh dialogues between past and present.
To get started, take a listen to this episode, which begs the question "Is love really blind?" Yes, as in the Netflix reality hit "Love is Blind." Students Mia and Clara bring it together with Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice to explore how we connect (and miscommunicate!) across centuries of romance.
On Assignment
Produced and hosted by Columbia Journalism School's Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards, "On Assignment" showcases rigorous reporting and in-depth interviews, revealing how today’s major stories are investigated and told.
Dive in with this conversation between Dean Jelani Cobb and CNN's chief political anchor Jake Tapper, which explores the urgency of reporting on major political stories and the role of journalism in democracy.
SOF/Heyman Bookshelf
We've talked about the "SOF/Heyman Bookshelf" podcast before, but recent episodes really stand out. Professors speak about their recent work, publications, and novels.
A great episode to start with is this conversation with Ying Qian, associate professor of East Asian Languages and Cultures, East Asian Languages & Cultures, whose book "Revolutionary Becomings: Documentary Media in Twentieth-Century China" traces how modern Chinese literature and visual culture grapple with political transformation, subjectivity, and aesthetic experimentation.
That Can't Be True with Chelsea Clinton
There couldn't be a more salient time for a podcast about public health misinformation. Chelsea Clinton (MPH'10), adjunct assistant professor of health policy and management at Mailman School of Public Health, is the host of "That Can't Be True," where she applies a public-health lens to widely circulated health myths and misinformation.
Get started with this highly relevant episode, where Clinton dissects how GLP-1 medications intersect with eating disorder trends, drawing on expert insights about public health, misinformation, and well-being.
Who the Health Cares?
Hosted by Michael Sparer, director of the Center for Public Health Systems and chair of the department of Health Policy and Management at Mailman School of Public Health, this podcast is a strong example of Columbia University’s public health scholarship directly applied to understanding and critiquing the U.S. system. It is the perfect listen for those interested in actionable public health insight.
Start with this episode, which compellingly explains why the U.S. spends vast sums on medical care but relatively little on the public health infrastructure that supports community-level health outcomes. It weaves U.S. health-system history with policy critique.
Bonus: Eagerly awaiting the return of Morningside Hoops!
This podcast from Columbia Athletics takes us inside the minds of Columbia's Men's and Women's Basketball players. When the season starts up again in January, we'll have this in our weekly podcast rotation.