Quantum Potential Podcast

What if there was a better option to fighting severe pain than opioids? Hear about breakthrough research on the latest Quantum Potential podcast with assistant professor and nurse scientist Lori Schirle. Read More

The roots of country music are far more multicultural than some think. Hear from hit country songwriter, New York Times-bestselling novelist, and professor of African American and Diaspora Studies Alice Randall about country music’s Black roots. Read More

What’s it like to be at the epicenter of American politics through ten presidents? Hear from Lamar Alexander, former Tennessee senator, governor, and U.S. secretary of education, as he talks about his journey and our current political landscape on Quantum Potential podcast. Read More

What happens when a highly esteemed painter, sculptor and performance artist collaborates in work and life with an award-winning musician and music producer? On this Quantum Potential podcast, experience the magic between artists María Magdalena Campos-Pons and Kamaal Malak as they reimagine the creative process. Read More

LISTEN: New ways to treat chronic pain. Creating a “person-centered” judicial system. Challenging outdated ideas about U.S. security. These and more in a special “Highlights of Season 1” episode of the Quantum Potential podcast. Read More

Looking for new ways to embrace uncertainty and jump into new chapters in your life? Listen to this special summer remix of the Quantum Potential podcast as acclaimed poet Major Jackson explains how poetry can help! Read More

We all love to talk. But is language just a tool we use to communicate—or is it something more powerful? How does it impact democracy, identity and access? In this episode of the Quantum Potential podcast, Akshya Saxena, associate professor of English at Vanderbilt, and Provost C. Cybele Raver dig into the fascinating and layered history—and future—of language. Read More

Lamar Alexander, BA’62, continues a six-decade journey on the path of public service, one that famously began with a thousand-mile trek across Tennessee in his signature red-and-black plaid shirt. However, for the Vanderbilt community, his legacy is rooted even deeper—stretching back to his days as an undergraduate, serving as editor of The Vanderbilt Hustler and a key student voice of support for racial integration at the university. Soon, a variety of activities led by the university will allow the broader community to learn more about his storied history and engage with the former Tennessee governor and U.S. senator. Read More

Are you happy? What defines happiness and how does that impact your pursuit of achievement and purpose? In this special Quantum Potential podcast, hear from bestselling author, scholar and happiness researcher Arthur Brooks. Read More

When Vanderbilt University Provost C. Cybele Raver sits down with faculty to learn something new, her classroom isn’t a lecture hall or research lab—it’s the Quantum Potential podcast studio. Read More

When will you feel like you have enough? From panic-buying to FOMO to the relentless drive for “more,” why does the fear of “running out” sharpen our focus while also dictating some of our most irrational behaviors? Listen to this Quantum Potential podcast for a fascinating conversation with scarcity expert and professor of marketing Kelly Goldsmith. Read More

How can democratic societies endure, and even flourish, amid deep disagreement? Get ready for a fascinating and timely episode of the Quantum Potential podcast with political scientist and philosophy professor Dr. Robert Talisse and Provost C. Cybele Raver. Read More

What makes a true story more compelling than fiction? In this episode of the Quantum Potential podcast, hear from documentary filmmaker and Vanderbilt professor Mariah Kramer as she talks with Provost C. Cybele Raver about the method and magic of showcasing real life on film. Read More

It’s an issue effecting millions of people and their loved ones—hearing loss. In this episode of the Quantum Potential podcast, Provost C. Cybele Raver talks with electrical and computer engineer Jack Noble about advances in technology to help improve hearing. Read More

What songs have a spot on the playlist of your life? In the next episode of the Quantum Potential podcast, explore the meanings of music over time, genre and cultural shifts with Provost C. Cybele Raver and musicologist Melanie Lowe. Read More

In this episode of the Quantum Potential podcast, Provost Cybele Raver and Chancellor Daniel Diermeier take a deep dive into Vanderbilt’s future—across campuses, cities, and partnerships. From West Palm Beach and San Francisco to New York City, Chattanooga, and Nashville, hear how the power of place is shaping a bold, networked vision for Vanderbilt’s next era. Read More

Advances in medicine, society and life-altering innovations are sparked through an environment committed to curiosity and potential. See what’s coming up in the second season of the Quantum Potential podcast as Provost C. Cybele Raver introduces listeners the innovators driving Vanderbilt progress. Read More

How do you expand compassion, joy and faith while also integrating artificial intelligence? Jump into a fascinating dialogue between Vanderbilt Divinity School professor Jaco Hamman and Provost C. Cybele Raver in the Season 2 premiere of the Quantum Potential podcast. Read More

What does the future of AI and robotics look like in our daily lives and as a career field? In a special episode of Quantum Potential, Provost C. Cybele Raver talks with Matthew Johnson-Roberson, the inaugural dean of the College of Connected Computing, about the accelerating evolution of AI and robotics. Read More

In this episode of Quantum Potential, Ganesh Sitaraman, New York Alumni Chancellor’s Chair in Law, professor of law, director of the Program in Law and Government, and director of the Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator for Political Economy and Regulation, joins Provost C. Cybele Raver to explore why businesses that provide essential services—like energy, transportation, communication and banking—should be governed differently than small businesses. Read More