Right now in our country, political polarization and divisive anger between parties make some feel that our democracy is breaking. How can democratic societies endure—and even flourish—amid deep and persistent disagreement? On this episode of the Quantum Potential podcast, Provost C. Cybele Raver talks with Robert B. Talisse, W. Alton Jones Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt. Talisse is one of the country’s leading scholars of democracy, pluralism and political polarization. In this episode, he challenges listeners to rethink how we communicate through political disagreement and gives practical suggestions on how to reconnect our divided democracy.

Listen and subscribe to the Quantum Potential podcast, available now wherever you get your podcasts. For more information about Quantum Potential, go to vanderbilt.edu/quantumpotential.

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This episode was produced by Vanderbilt University and created through the collaboration of Randolph Infinger, Sydney Jones-Wright, Amber Palmer-Halma, Patrick Sams, Jennifer Stevens, Maisie Wilson, and Amy Wolf, with original music by Steven Matthew Carter.

This episode was edited and mixed by the team at Sound On // Sound Off. You can learn more about their work at SoundOnSoundOff.com.

Special thanks to Jad Abumrad, Vanderbilt University Distinguished Research Professor of Communication of Science and Technology and the executive producer of the Quantum Potential podcast and video series.

Copyright 2026, Vanderbilt University.

The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or Vanderbilt University.

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What makes a true story more compelling than fiction? Documentary films have the ability to shine a light on real-life experiences, issues and people in unique and creative ways. They pull viewers in by showing a slice of life through a specific perspective. In this episode of the Quantum Potential podcast, Provost C. Cybele Raver talks with Mariah Kramer, documentary filmmaker, senior lecturer and director of undergraduate studies in cinema and media arts, about how filmmakers take a spark of an idea and turn it into an engaging film. Kramer is also the adviser to Vanderbilt’s Point of VU Student Film Festival.

Listen and subscribe to the Quantum Potential podcast, available now wherever you get your podcasts. For more information about Quantum Potential, go to vanderbilt.edu/quantumpotential.

• Sign up for the Vanderbilt Research newsletter
• Read Research Sparks stories about Vanderbilt innovators

This episode was produced by Vanderbilt University and created through the collaboration of Randolph Infinger, Sydney Jones-Wright, Amber Palmer-Halma, Patrick Sams, Jennifer Stevens, Maisie Wilson, and Amy Wolf, with original music by Steven Matthew Carter.

This episode was edited and mixed by the team at Sound On // Sound Off. You can learn more about their work at SoundOnSoundOff.com.

Special thanks to Jad Abumrad, Vanderbilt University Distinguished Research Professor of Communication of Science and Technology and the executive producer of the Quantum Potential podcast and video series.

Copyright 2026, Vanderbilt University.

The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or Vanderbilt University.

Follow Vanderbilt on Social Media

More than 50 million people in the United States have some form of hearing loss. The intricate science around improving hearing is advancing at a rapid pace with the help of innovative researchers like Jack Noble, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering. On this episode of the Quantum Potential podcast, Provost C. Cybele Raver talks with Noble about his groundbreaking research on ways to restore hearing for people with profound hearing loss, including designing personalized approaches to “tuning” the technology of cochlear implants.

For more information about Quantum Potential, go to vanderbilt.edu/quantumpotential.

• Sign up for the Vanderbilt Research newsletter
• Read the stories and motivations behind the innovators and problem-solvers making waves across disciplines.

This episode was produced by Vanderbilt University and created through the collaboration of Randolph Infinger, Sydney Jones-Wright, Amber Palmer-Halma, Patrick Sams, Jennifer Stevens, Maisie Wilson, and Amy Wolf, with original music by Steven Matthew Carter.

This episode was edited and mixed by the team at Sound On // Sound Off. You can learn more about their work at SoundOnSoundOff.com.

Special thanks to Jad Abumrad, Vanderbilt University Distinguished Research Professor of Communication of Science and Technology and the executive producer of the Quantum Potential podcast and video series.

Copyright 2026, Vanderbilt University.

The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or Vanderbilt University.

Follow Vanderbilt on Social Media