Advertise on podcast: After Words

Jon Else explored the lives of the scientists who worked on the atomic bombs, including the health impacts they experienced. He was interviewed by UC Berkeley Journalism Professor, Mark Danner at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco in September.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Neuroscientist Darby Saxbe describes how men's brains change with fatherhood. She was interviewed by journalist, Matthew Yglesias at the Politics and Prose bookstore in Washington, D.C., in June of 2026.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 21st century saga of San Francisco's rise and fall -- paralleled by the arrival of tech entrepreneurs who remade the city's culture, politics, and economy - as told by journalist Jonathan Weber. In 1990, he became the first "Silicon Valley" reporter for the Los Angeles Times and later coordinated Reuters' reporting on West Coast technology. He sat down with former New York Times Technology Reporter, John Markoff, at The Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California in San Francisco in June. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MIT Professor Thomas Levenson describes the history of vaccine skepticism. His book is titled, "A Pox on Fools - True Believers, Grifters, and Cynics Who Convinced Us to Reject Vaccines." He was interviewed by senior writer at Ars Technica, Jennifer Ouellette at the Politics & Prose Bookstore in Washington, D.C.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Pope argued for policies that he believes would improve the current welfare system in the United States. The Competitive Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C., hosted this event.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Longtime ABC News war correspondent Martha Raddatz profiled American military service members and their families who have served in the 25 years since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. She was interviewed by San Francisco ABC7 News Anchor, Dan Ashley, at the Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California in May of 2026.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Smalls told his story of becoming the co-founder of the Amazon Labor Union. He was interviewed by Journalist & Author Karen Attiah at the Politics and Prose bookstore in Washington, D.C.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Technology reporter Joanna Stern describes the year she spent using artificial intelligence and robots in all aspects of her life. The Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California, provided this event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Historian Molly Beer took a woman's-eye view of the revolutionary era through the life of Angelica Schuyler Church, Alexander Hamilton's sister-in-law. Thomas Jefferson's Monticello hosted this event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jean Becker and Tom Collamore, former staffers to President George H.W. Bush and co-authors of Don't Tell the President, discuss the work done by advance teams for presidential events, including foreign trips, state visits, and campaign rallies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matthew Campbell penned a whodunit tale about plundered Cambodian art and antiquities, the international market for stolen goods, the sometimes unwitting participation of prominent museums, and the fight to return objects to their rightful places and owners. Politics and Prose Bookstore in Washington, D.C., hosted this event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maya Kornberg and Former U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA) discussed congressional reform over the past 50 years and the forces that thwart those efforts. This event was hosted by the New York University John Brademas Center in Washington, DC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Neurosurgeon and medical journalist Sanjay Gupta discussed strategies for preventing and managing pain and promoting wellness. This event took place at the 2026 New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The John Locke Institute's Stephen Davies argued that the world is witnessing the emergence a permanent new form of "right-wing" politics. He spoke at the Competitive Enterprise Institute in Washington, DC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reporter Aaron Davis argued the Trump administration has politicized the Justice Department. This was part of Maryland's 2026 Gaithersburg Book Festival. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices