Category Archives: Scholars’ Circle Interviews

Information and recordings from Schloars’ Circle radio show is posted here.

Scholars' Circle Interviews

Scholars’ Circle – Book Author Interview – Exit Wounds : How Americas Guns Fuel Violence Across the Border – January 4, 2026

Beyond asylum seekers heading north, the problems of US/Mexico Border are also about the flow of guns and drugs. How can we understand the totality of problems related to the US southern border? What are the solutions?

Book cover : Exit Wounds, how America's Guns Fuels Violence across the border

We speak with Ieva Jusionyte the author of a new book Exit Wounds: How America’s Guns Fuel Violence Across the Border. [ dur: 58mins. ]

  • Ieva Jusionyte is a legal and medical anthropologist and associate professor at Brown University. She is also the author of award-winning ethnography Threshold: Emergency Responders on the US-Mexico Border. She has been studying borders, violence, and security in Latin America and the United States for over fifteen years.

This interview was recorded May, 2024

This program is produced by Doug Becker, Ankine Aghassian, Maria Armoudian and Sudd Dongre.

Politics and Activism, Arms Trade, Gun Lobby, Militarism, Mexico, United States, Borders 

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Scholars' Circle Interviews

Scholars’ Circle – Story of Christmas Truce during WWI in 1914 ; Science of Compassion, a sense of humanity – December 28, 2025

Why did soldiers on the front line ( in Flanders on 1914 ) of one of the deadliest wars lay down their arms and play soccer with the very men they were supposed to shoot?

Book Cover of Civil War by Other Means has an red X on the title of the book

We’ll revisit the Christmas truce of 1914 with Stanley Weintraub, author of, Silent Night: The Story of the World War I Christmas Truce. [ dur: 23 mins. ]

Then, on the Scholars’ panel, we explore the Science of Compassion. What is it and how does it impact society? Can we learn to be compassionate? [ dur: 35mins. ]

This program was first broadcast on Dec. 2017.

This program is produced with contributions from the following volunteers: Ankine Aghassian, Melissa Chiprin, Anaïs Amin, Tim Page, Mike Hurst and Sudd Dongre.

Arts and Humanities, Spirituality / Religion, Peace / Nonviolence, War / Weapons

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Scholars' Circle Interviews

Scholars’ Circle – Border war between Cambodia and Thailand – December 21, 2025

Although President Trump claimed that he negotiated a peace deal between Thailand and Cambodia, the border wars are continuing. What is causing this conflict?

map of Thailand-Cambodia with marker on Preah Vihear Temple

How does history and national identity impact this war? Why did the war breakout again in 2025? And who might have the greatest influence for bringing the countries to peace? [ dur: 58mins. ]

This program is produced by Ankine Aghassian, Maria Armoudian, Doug Becker and Sudd Dongre.

Politics and Activism, War / Weapons,  Cambodia, Thailand 

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Scholars' Circle Interviews

Scholars’ Circle – What happened at COP30 in Brazil ? – December 14, 2025

The recent UN COP (Conference of Parties) climate summit revealed fissures about how to solve the problem of climate change. What are the divisions? How can states and people help mitigate climate change? [ dur: 58mins. ]

This program is produced by Ankine Aghassian, Maria Armoudian, Doug Becker and Sudd Dongre.

Environment, Politics and Activism, Climate Change, Environmental Activism

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Scholars' Circle Interviews

Scholars’ Circle – Book Author interview : Policing on Drugs – The United States , Mexico and Origins of Modern Drug War, 1996 – 2000 – December 7, 2025

We interview Aileen Teague author of Policing on Drugs – The United States , Mexico and Origins of Modern Drug War, 1996 – 2000 . Why has war on drugs fails to address overdose deaths in the United States. [ dur: 35mins. ]

Book cover has a photo of Mexican police and Military arresting farmers on Drug supply charges..Title of the book is Policing on Drugs- The United States, Mexico, and the Origins of Modern Drug War, 1969 - 2000 by Aileen Teague.

Is humanity the most damaging predator on earth? Our guests say yes, and that its predatory practices may be disrupting evolution.[ dur: 23 mins. ]

For a transcript of this interview, please visit: TheBigQ

  • Chris Darimont, is a Professor at the Department of Geography at University of Victoria, Victoria, BC. He has a PhD in Evolution and Ecology from the Biology Department at the University of Victoria.
  • Dr. Tom Reimchen, is a Professor at the Department of Geography at University of Victoria, Victoria, BC. Canada. Please visit the Evolutionary Studies Lab at University of Victoria, Victoria BC, Canada where you will find additional studies on this subject.
  • Heather Bryan, is a postdoctoral fellow in the Applied Conservation Science lab exploring the physiological mechanisms by which wildlife responds to environmental change at University of Victoria BC, Canada.

This program is produced by Ankine Aghassian, Maria Armoudian, Doug Becker and Sudd Dongre.

Politics and Activism, Science / Technology, Governance / Law, Drugs, government policy

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Scholars' Circle Interviews

Scholars’ Circle – Book Author interview : Policing on Drugs – The United States , Mexico and Origins of Modern Drug War, 1996 – 2000 – December 7, 2025

We interview Aileen Teague author of Policing on Drugs – The United States , Mexico and Origins of Modern Drug War, 1996 – 2000 . Why has war on drugs fails to address overdose deaths in the United States. [ dur: 35mins. ]

Book cover has a photo of Mexican police and Military arresting farmers on Drug supply charges..Title of the book is Policing on Drugs- The United States, Mexico, and the Origins of Modern Drug War, 1969 - 2000 by Aileen Teague.

Is humanity the most damaging predator on earth? Our guests say yes, and that its predatory practices may be disrupting evolution.[ dur: 23 mins. ]

For a transcript of this interview, please visit: TheBigQ

  • Chris Darimont, is a Professor at the Department of Geography at University of Victoria, Victoria, BC. He has a PhD in Evolution and Ecology from the Biology Department at the University of Victoria.
  • Dr. Tom Reimchen, is a Professor at the Department of Geography at University of Victoria, Victoria, BC. Canada. Please visit the Evolutionary Studies Lab at University of Victoria, Victoria BC, Canada where you will find additional studies on this subject.
  • Heather Bryan, is a postdoctoral fellow in the Applied Conservation Science lab exploring the physiological mechanisms by which wildlife responds to environmental change at University of Victoria BC, Canada.

This program is produced by Ankine Aghassian, Maria Armoudian, Doug Becker and Sudd Dongre.

Politics and Activism, Science / Technology, Governance / Law, Drugs, government policy, Drugs, Evolution, Human society

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Scholars' Circle Interviews

Scholars’ Circle – A Promise Kept: The Muscogee (Creek) Nation and McGirt v Oklahoma – November 30, 2025

In 2020, the Supreme Court surprised many observers by holding up the rights of the Muscogee (Creek) nation. In McGirt v Oklahoma, the Court held that the Creek Nation retained its sovereign rights over a very large part of Eastern Oklahoma. The decision began with a poetic line: “At the end of the Trail of Tears is a promise.” The case raises further interest in issues of Indian law, which includes a very important case on the docket this year on the issue of the adoption of Indian children without the consent of the tribe.

bookcover - shows bust of an American Indian with book title

Robert Miller and Robbie Ethridge have written a new book on the McGirt case, on the history of the Muscogee nation’s relations with the United States, and the details of the case itself. And the title of the book references that first line of the decision. It is called A Promise Kept: The Muscogee (Creek) Nation and McGirt v Oklahoma. Our guests are the authors of the book. [ dur: 58mins. ]

This program is produced by Ankine Aghassian, Doug Becker, Melissa Chiprin and Sudd Dongre.

Politics and Activism, Governance / Law, Courts, indigenous rights

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Scholars' Circle Interviews

Scholars’ Circle – Book Author interview – North : Future of Post climate America – November 23, 2025

Climate change will lead to climate migration. There has been a renewed interest in adaptation strategies. Mitigation efforts seek to limit the amount of greenhouse gases in the environment to slow climate change. But adaptation recognizes that the climate has changed and we as a society and as a planet must adapt to these rising temperatures and the changing ecosystem. We will explore some of the challenges for adaptation.

We Interview Jesse M.Keenan author of the book North: Future of Post Climate America. He surveys places which are vulnerable to climate change effects and what are the state and regional implication of migration North in America. [ dur: 26mins. ]

bookcover - sketch of elevated home
  • Jesse M. Keenan is Favrot II Associate Professor of Sustainable Real Estate and Urban Planning at the School of Architecture and the Built Environment. His research advances the interdisciplinary fields of sustainable real estate and infrastructure finance and development. He is the author of the book North: Future of Post Climate America.

How is climate change affecting place, where we live, who can move off the coasts, and who is immobile despite living in climate-threatened zones? And what does it mean for the well-being, the economy, politics and for the regions themselves? [ dur: 32mins. ]

  • Jesse M. Keenan is Favrot II Associate Professor of Sustainable Real Estate and Urban Planning at the School of Architecture and the Built Environment. His research advances the interdisciplinary fields of sustainable real estate and infrastructure finance and development. He is the author of the book North: Future of Post Climate America.
  • Matt Hauer is Charles B. Nam Associate Professor, Department of Sociology – Center for Demography and Population Health at Florida State University. He is the author of Sea-level rise and human migration.

This program is produced by Doug Becker, Ankine Aghassian, Maria Armoudian, Sudd Dongre and Anna Lapin .

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Scholars' Circle Interviews

Scholars’ Circle – Nuclear war an imminent threat to humanity persists – November 16, 2025

What is Donald Trump trying to accomplish by resuming nuclear testing? And what impact will this decision have on nuclear non-proliferation? It seems that Trump doesn’t understand either nuclear testing or the basics about nuclear weapons. Does this undermine US policy for non-proliferation? Also, the US is unique in that a single person controls the decision to use nuclear weapons? Could the international response to the US announcement of resuming nuclear testing change this command structure? [ dur: 58mins. ]

  • Ira Helfand, MD is a member of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)s International Steering Committee. He is a co-founder and past president of Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR), IPPNWs US affiliate. He has co-authored PSRs report Nuclear Famine: 2 billion at Risk?
  • Wayne Glass is Professor Emeritus in the School of International Relations at the University of Southern California. He is the former Senior Defense Policy Advisor to Senator Jeff Bingaman on the Senate Armed Services Committee. He has worked extensively with nuclear weapons policies.
  • Joe Cirincione is a national security analyst and author with over 40 years of experience. He is the author of the books Nuclear Nightmares: Securing the World Before It Is Too Late and co-author of Deadly Arsenals: Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Threats.

Active Campaign by Back from the Brink to prevent nuclear war.

This program is produced by Doug Becker, Ankine Aghassian, Maria Armoudian and Sudd Dongre.

Politics and Activism, War / Weapons, Nuclear Weapons

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Scholars' Circle Interviews

Scholars’ Circle – Brazil’s militarized police & disappearances ; Insights on innovative technologies to address climate change factors – November 9, 2025

Violent policing and “disappearing” people is continuing in Brazil, even today in 2025. How is Brazilian civil society responding? [ dur: 33mins. ]

People around the world have developed innovative new technologies to mitigate or adapt to climate change. In many cases, adoption has proved difficult as governments and some large corporations have been reluctant to support them. Who are developing these technological solutions? What are some of these technologies? Can they help protect us from the worst of climate change? [ dur: 25mins. ]

Transcript of this interview can be found here : link.

  • Holly Beals, a strategic director & Senior Innovation Specialist, Aurora Climate Lab Lead at Creative HQ;
  • Michael Fielding is Chief Executive at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) Ventures and Co-Founder of Dot Ingredients.

This program is produced by Doug Becker, Ankine Aghassian, Maria Armoudian and Sudd Dongre.

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