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Artwork for Democracy Works
Democracy
Polarization
Disengagement
January 6 Hearings
Populism
Political Loss
Republican Party
Cassidy Hutchinson
Racial Justice
Political Engagement
Media Representation
American Politics
Grief
Political Grievance
Donald Trump
Liberal Democracy
Civil Rights Movement
Voter Turnout
Civic Education
Building Civic Bridges Act

The 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

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes680Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GovernmentEducation

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Artwork for Democracy Works

Latest Episodes

We end this season where we started — a conversation about higher education and democracy. This time, Michael Berkman, McCourtney Institute for Democracy director and professor of political science at Penn State, sits down with Brad Vivian, professor... more

It's easy to blame algorithms and AI for corroding our information ecosystem, but our guest this week argues that we have just as much, if not more of a role to play in creating the environment we want to see. 

Ray Block Jr. is the Brown-McCourtney ... more

Paul Martin was fired from his role as USAID Inspector General after he published a report warning that the Trump administration’s plans to dismantle USAID placed more than $480 million in food and other commodities in danger of spoilage or theft. Ma... more

We bring you a special crossover episode with Disorder, a show that explores the fundamental principles lurking behind today's most pressing global issues. Jenna Spinelle talks with Disorder host Jason Pack, an associate fellow at the Royal United Se... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Ray Block
Brown-McCourtney Career Professor of Political Science at Penn State and Michael D. Rich Chair in Countering Truth Decay at RAND Corporation
RAND Corporation
Episode: Fixing the information ecosystem starts with us
Paul Martin
Former Inspector General of NASA and USAID
Episode: The dismantling of USAID and the death of government oversight
Jason Pack
Host of Disorder Podcast
Disorder Podcast
Episode: Disorder: Democracy lessons from Europe and beyond
Judge Marjorie Rendell
Co-founder of the Rendell Center for Civics and Civic Engagement, federal judge
Rendell Center for Civics and Civic Engagement
Episode: A Republic, if you can teach it
Carol Kuniholm
Advocate for independent redistricting in Pennsylvania with Fair Districts PA
Fair Districts Pennsylvania
Episode: The new gerrymandering battles
Emma Addams
Leader at Mormon Women for Ethical Government, involved in redistricting efforts in Utah
Mormon Women for Ethical Government
Episode: The new gerrymandering battles
Cynthia Miller-Idriss
Professor at American University and author of "Man Up! The New Misogyny and the Rise of Violent Extremism"
American University
Episode: How misogyny fuels political violence
Kathy Roberts Forde
Faculty member at UMass Amherst and leader of Stand Together for Higher Ed
UMass Amherst
Episode: Standing up for higher education
Mark Pachucki
Faculty member at UMass Amherst and leader of Stand Together for Higher Ed
UMass Amherst
Episode: Standing up for higher education

Hosts

Janice Benelli
Host with a focus on democratic principles and civic engagement.
Chris Beam
Co-host with expertise in political science and democratic studies.
Cyan Loyle
Co-host who contributes insights on civic engagement and democratic processes.
Jenna Spinelle
Host and producer focusing on civic engagement and democratic issues.
Candace Watt-Smith
Co-host with a focus on civic engagement and education advocacy.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 95 ratings
  • 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 Podcasts
    5
    IvyVirginia
    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 Podcasts
    5
    justin kempf
    United 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 Podcasts
    5
    MimiWuj
    United 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 Addict
    2
    phetus
    5 years ago
  • 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 Podcasts
    5
    mizsimone
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Insightful analysis on democratic topics informed by expert guests.
Timely commentary on pressing issues regarding democracy and governance.
A well-structured show that promotes healthy discussion and civic engagement.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#110
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#175
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#213
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#114
Germany/Government
Apple Podcasts
#10
Argentina/Government
Apple Podcasts
#13
Russia/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Fixing the information ecosystem starts with us
Q: How can communities strengthen their information ecosystem?
Communities can strengthen their information ecosystem through mindful information exchange, supporting local journalism, and engaging in community activities.
Fixing the information ecosystem starts with us
Q: What role do you see content creators playing in the information ecosystem?
Content creators serve as opinion leaders and play a significant role in shaping public discourse, highlighting the need for research on their practices and impacts.
Fixing the information ecosystem starts with us
Q: How would you assess the overall health of the information ecosystem?
The health of the information ecosystem is concerning due to many threats, but improving local community dynamics and engagement can help address these challenges.
Fixing the information ecosystem starts with us
Q: What is truth decay and why is RAND interested in it?
Truth decay refers to the decline of the quality of information in society, which impacts democracy. RAND is interested in studying it to develop strategies for improving the information ecosystem and civic engagement.
How mental health shapes democratic engagement [rebroadcast]
Q: What motivated you to study the connection between politics and depression?
Ojeda became interested in how politics shapes emotions due to personal observations following significant political events like the 2016 election, leading to a focus on how political conditions contribute to mental health challenges.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Democracy Works

What is Democracy Works about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Content focuses on various aspects of democratic life, offering insight into topics like voting, criminal justice, and the free press. The discussions feature interviews with experts in democratic studies and individuals actively engaged in democratic initiatives. Noteworthy is the podcast's emphasis on community involvement and its mission to ensure listeners understand their role in fostering a healthy democracy. The interviews provide a blend of academic insights and real-world implications, making the show a valuable resource for those interested in civic engagement and democratic issues.

Where can I find podcast stats for Democracy Works?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Democracy Works. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Democracy Works and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Democracy Works get?

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What are the audience demographics for Democracy Works?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Democracy Works, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Democracy Works have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Democracy Works has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Democracy Works?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Democracy Works:

1. The Gray Area with Sean Illing
2. The Ezra Klein Show
3. Today, Explained
4. Stay Tuned with Preet
5. The Daily

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?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Democracy Works?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Democracy Works from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Democracy Works?

Recent guests on Democracy Works include:

1. Ray Block
2. Paul Martin
3. Jason Pack
4. Judge Marjorie Rendell
5. Carol Kuniholm
6. Emma Addams
7. Cynthia Miller-Idriss
8. Kathy Roberts Forde

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.

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