Chautauqua Podcasts / Interviews

Rev. Richard Mouw

Yehezekel Landau

Daisy Khan

Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf

Rev. Otis Moss III, senior pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, served as Chautauqua Institution's Week Eight Chaplain-in-Residence. In this podcast, Moss is interviewed by Joan Brown Campbell, Director of the Department of Religion at Chautauqua. The two discuss the Institution's 2012 week on digital identity, focusing on both the positives and negatives of the Internet age. The podcast concludes with Campbell lobbying Moss to return to the Institution in 2012 as an afternoon lecturer.

In this podcast - Joan Brown Campbell, the Institution's Director of the Department of Religion, interviews Dev Patnaik, CEO of Jump Associates. Patnaik discusses the combination of business and creative skills Jump Associates uses to help companies make "big leaps." Campbell asks Patnaik about life before Jump, including his experiences living in India. Patnaik, author of "Wired to Care," looks at how empathy can help businesses and its relation to Chautauqua's 2012 week "Inspire. Commit. Act." Campbell and Patnaik discuss the mindsets of young Americans and the roles they will play in the 2012 presidential election.

In this podcast, Joan Brown Campbell – the Institution’s Director of the Department of Religion – interviews two experienced business professionals, George Murphy and Bethany McLean. Murphy serves as Chief Marketing Officer for Chautauqua. Murphy, who says he enjoys the competitive nature of business, has worked for GE, Coca-Cola and DaimlerChrysler. McLean is an editor at Vanity Fair and the author of “All the Devils are Here: The Hidden History of the Financial Crisis.” She became a business journalist after majoring in math and English in college. Campbell asks Murphy and McLean about their views on cheating, the theme of the Institution’s Week Seven in 2012. “It’s getting an unfair advantage,” says Murphy. “It’s more prevalent in human nature than we may think.” “It’s trying to get an advantage that happens in secret. Cheating is what happens behind closed doors,” says McLean, adding that cheating only becomes apparent after-the-fact in the business world. McLean then discusses the experiences she had in helping to expose the Enron scandal, giving her opinions on whistleblowers. Campbell provides her thoughts on cheating from a religious perspective. The podcast concludes with their views on whether or not cheating is ever right and how exactly a person becomes a cheater.

Author Karen Armstrong delivered afternoon lectures in Chautauqua's Hall of Philosophy Monday, Aug. 1 and Friday, Aug. 5 as a part of the week's theme "Religion in Iran: The Many Faces." Armstrong formerly served as a professor at London University and London's Leo Baeck College. She received the 2008 TED Prize for her potential to change the world. Armstrong spoke with the Institution's Director of the Department of Religion, Joan Brown Campbell, speaking on Chautauqua's 2012 week on Pakistan.

Dan Brown, one of the world’s most famous and successful authors, gave an evening lecture in Chautauqua Institution’s Amphitheater Monday, Aug. 1. Brown, the writer of several No. 1 bestsellers, brought the creativity and imagination that spawned novels like “The Da Vinci Code” and “Angels and Demons” to southwestern New York for a one-night only show. Over 200 million copies of Brown’s books have been printed worldwide, including an astounding 80 million of “The Da Vinci Code,” which has been adapted as a motion picture along with “Angels and Demons.” In this podcast, Brown speaks with Sherra Babcock – the director of the Department of Education at Chautauqua – on a number of topics. Brown and Babcock look back at his lecture, speaking on his integration of science and religion. Brown describes the experiences he and his family had at the Institution, mentioning all of the lectures and performances he attended. Brown speaks on the literary arts at Chautauqua and throughout the world. He later gives away where he draws his inspiration from and describes his writing process in general. As the podcast comes to a close, Brown looks ahead to the Institution’s 2012 week on radicalism and hints at a return visit to Chautauqua.

In this podcast, Chautauqua Institution's Director of the Department of Religion Joan Brown Campbell interviews the Friday, July 29 morning lecturer, Donna Brazile. Brazile, the vice chair of voter registration and participation at the Democratic National Committee, looks ahead to the 2012 presidential election and how voters can become engaged. She speaks on the impact of social media on the election and the negative consequences of divided government.

Author, journalist and human rights activist Kati Marton sat down with Chautauqua's Joan Brown Campbell to discuss a number of issues, including the Institution's 2012 week called "Inspire. Commit. Act." Marton, a board member of Human Rights Watch, discusses the importance of the U.N. and interfaith alliances. A former employee of NPR and ABC News, Marton is the author of "Enemies of the People," a 2010 Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle selection.

Daisy Kahn served as Chautauqua Institution’s afternoon lecturer Tuesday, July 26. The executive director of the American Society for Muslim Advancement – Kahn lectures internationally and has appeared on ABC, PBS, BBC World, CNN, Fox News, National Geographic and Al Jazeerah. In this podcast, Joan Brown Campbell – the Institution’s Director of Religion – interviews Kahn on women transcending boundaries. Kahn describes her ability to break barriers in gender, religion and social justice. She looks ahead to the Institution’s 2012 weeks on Pakistan and radicalism.

In this podcast, Rev. Dr. Welton Gaddy sits down with Joan Brown Campbell, Chautauqua’s Director of Religion, to discuss a variety of topics. Gaddy, who returns to the Institution after previously serving as a chaplain, says that it’s an important time for interfaith relations in the U.S., adding that religion could be an important issue in the 2012 election. “It is time for patriots to step up and for biased, partisan politicians to shut up,” says Gaddy. He calls for politicians to break away from the ties of their parties and to work together to improve our nation. Gaddy asks voters to engage in conversations with people of different political backgrounds and to expose themselves to multiple viewpoints. From there, he believes voters should reach their own conclusions based on what is important to them. He calls Americans to respect and encourage an interfaith commitment. Finally, Gaddy analyzes the lecture topic of Chautauqua’s Week Three in 2012: “Inspire. Commit. Act.” He shares how religion can lead to change.

James Woolsey – former United States Director of Central Intelligence – delivered the final morning lecture during Chautauqua’s week on “American Intelligence: Technology, Espionage and Alliances.” Woolsey served in the U.S. government in several capacities. He held presidentially appointed positions in two Republican and two Democratic administrations. In this podcast, Woolsey speaks with Chautauqua’s Joan Brown Campbell, who serves as Director of the Department of Religion. Woolsey describes the roles U.S. presidents play in national security and foreign policy. He provides insight on the nation’s mission to protect democracies around the world. Woolsey discusses his experiences working with both Republican and Democratic governments and issues presented by bipartisanship. He gives his opinions on Pakistan; the nation he believes is the most dangerous in the world.

Washington Post columnist and associate editor David Ignatius gave the morning lecture Thursday, July 14. Ignatius' 10:45 a.m. Amphitheater lecture was titled "Spy Fact, Spy Fiction." Ignatius served as the fourth of five lecturers on the topic: "American Intelligence: Technology, Espionage and Alliances." In this podcast, Ignatius sits down with Joan Brown Campbell, Director of Religion at Chautauqua. The two discuss Ignatius' views on religion today, the negative consequences of political polarization and the ethics of spying. Ignatius looks ahead to the Institution's 2012 week on "Digital Identity."