Democracy Works
Penn State McCourtney Institute for DemocracyThe Democracy Works podcast seeks to answer that question by examining a different aspect of democratic life each week — from voting to criminal justice to the free press and everything in between. We interview experts who study democracy, as well as people who are out there doing the hard work of democracy day in and day out. The show’s name comes from Pennsylvania’s long tradition of iron and st... more
| Publishes | Twice monthly | Episodes | 680 | Founded | 8 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | EducationGovernment | |||
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Latest Episodes
What is the role of higher education in a democracy? To what extent should American universities respond to the demands of those in power? Are we meeting this moment? As a former governor, cabinet secretary, and university president, Secretary Janet ... more
Ayesha Rascoe, host of NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday and Weekend Up First, joins us to discuss what it's like being a political reporter in a polarized country and what the "public" in public media looks like amid the loss federal funding.
Rascoe joi... more
Democracy is often framed as a battle between political candidates or parties that have opposing viewpoints and are trying to win over voters to join their side. However, there’s another way to think about democracy as a system of self governance tha... more
AI is changing many aspects of our lives, so it's reasonable to expect that it will impact democracy, too. The question is how? Two experts in technology and politics join us to discuss how we can harness AI's power to strengthen democracy. Yes, ther... more
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- Food for thought
This show approaches each topic from a thoughtful POV and offers up perspectives from people who have expert knowledge. They don’t hammer a point or yell and rant, but instead discuss and deliberate. A perfect example of how democracy works by Democracy Works!
Apple Podcasts5IvyVirginia
United States5 years ago - Leader in Podcasts on Democracy
Jenna has been a large help for my own podcast, Democracy Paradox. Her leadership of the Democracy Group has influenced many democracy podcasts. Eternal thanks to her contours work!
Apple Podcasts5justin kempfUnited States5 years ago - Deep Analysis; Better Than Anything on Mainstream
I appreciate this group’s analysis, as it seeks to understand our political culture dispassionately and not to fan the outrage we see in shoddy and “clickbait” journalism.
Apple Podcasts5MimiWujUnited States5 years ago While the podcast purportedly is about democracy as an institution, it really is nothing other than a exercise in reducing all of political science to Trump. Considering these are acedemics at Penn, it makes me worry about political science if this presestism is the whole of the field now. being that most of the analysis isn't even based is history more than the last news cycle, it is really just a pundit pod. That's fine, it's just not about 'Democracy'.
Podcast Addict26 years agophetus- More than just politics!
The Democracy Works podcast is a great snapshot of our country and how the workings of the government influences each of us as Americans. Jenna Spinelle is always on point bringing thought provoking content to her listeners with every episode.
Apple Podcasts5mizsimoneUnited States6 years ago
Listeners Say
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Chart Rankings
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Apple Podcasts | #232 | United States/Government |
Apple Podcasts | #111 |  Germany/Government |
Apple Podcasts | #47 |  Indonesia/Government |
Apple Podcasts | #49 |  Argentina/Government |
Apple Podcasts | #121 |  Ireland/Government |
Apple Podcasts | #148 |  Israel/Government |
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Frequently Asked Questions About Democracy Works
What is Democracy Works about and what kind of topics does it cover?
This program consistently explores how democratic life functions in practice, from media and information ecosystems to civic education, policy, and how institutions shape everyday participation. Guests range from journalists and scholars to policymakers, activists, and technologists, yielding thoughtful conversations about sustaining democracy, countering polarization, and empowering citizens to engage. Episodes frequently center on concrete actions—redistricting reform, media literacy, civic education, and community organizing—while unpacking complex topics like AI's impact on governance, higher education, and international democracy trends. A notable strength is its ability to translate academic insights into accessible takeaways for a br... more
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How many listeners does Democracy Works get?
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What are the audience demographics for Democracy Works?
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How many subscribers and views does Democracy Works have?
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Which podcasts are similar to Democracy Works?
These podcasts share a similar audience with Democracy Works:
1. The Ezra Klein Show
2. Stay Tuned with Preet
3. The Opinions
4. Radio Atlantic
5. The Political Scene | The New Yorker
How many episodes of Democracy Works are there?
Democracy Works launched 8 years ago and published 680 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
How do I contact Democracy Works?
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What guests have appeared on Democracy Works?
Recent guests on Democracy Works include:
1. Ayesha Rascoe
2. Jeremy Engels
3. Bruce Schneier
4. Nathan Sanders
5. Rachel Myrick
6. Steven Levitsky
7. Ece Temelkuran
8. Deva Woodly
To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.