The third season of “You Might Be Right,” a podcast from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs hosted by former Tennessee Governors Phil Bredesen and Bill Haslam, wrapped up Nov. 7.
The podcast, launched in 2022, follows Bredesen, a Democrat, and Haslam, a Republican, as they host civil conversations about tough topics. It takes its name from one of Senator Howard Baker’s most frequently cited pieces of advice: always keep in mind that the other person might be right.
“We are fortunate to have these thoughtful leaders taking on tough and pressing issues that divide Americans most deeply and modeling what meaningful civil discourse looks like,” said Marianne Wanamaker, dean of the Baker School. “We hope the podcast will continue to inspire the next generation of leaders in government, public policy and public service in the spirit of Senator Baker. We are thankful to our Producers Circle members and the Boyd Fund for Leadership and Civil Discourse, established by Randy and Jenny Boyd, for their continued support.”
Since launching last fall, “You Might Be Right” has had more than 115,000 downloads and ranked among the top 10 podcasts in the categories of U.S. government and U.S. politics. It has garnered national acclaim, including discussion on CNN and “PBS NewsHour.”
This Season’s Episodes
In each episode, Bredesen and Haslam welcome guests who are interviewed individually on the episode’s topic. The hosts call on their own background, political experiences and careers as well as the expertise of their guests to discuss difficult topics with the civility for which Baker was known.
Here’s a summary of the third season’s episodes:
Secretaries of State Brad Raffensperger (R) of Georgia and Jocelyn Benson (D) of Michigan discuss their efforts to safeguard elections and combat misinformation.
Sarah Kreps, a political scientist and director of the Cornell Tech Policy Institute, and Bruce Schneier, a technologist and Harvard Kennedy School lecturer, dig into the good, the bad and the unknown about how artificial intelligence will impact democracy.
Affirmative Action and College Admissions: What’s Next?
Legal analyst Sarah Isgur and former college admissions official Marie Bigham discuss the Supreme Court ruling banning race-conscious admission policies in higher education, responses to the ruling and what comes next.
Entrepreneurship: What It Takes to Be Successful, and Should Government Have a Role?
Brad Smith, founder and CEO of Russell Street Ventures, and Sarah Bellos, founder and CEO of Stony Creek Colors, discuss the highs and lows of starting a business, what they consider the most important elements to ensure startup success, and if there is a role for government to play in supporting entrepreneurs and startups.
Our Kids Are Struggling—Who Can Help Them?
Melissa Kearney, an economist and the author of “The Two-Parent Privilege: How Americans Stopped Getting Married and Started Falling Behind,” and Richard Reeves, president of the American Institute for Boys and Men and author of “Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male is Struggling, Why it Matters, and What to Do About It,” discuss the challenges facing America’s youth today.
Carly Fiorina: On Running for President and Staying Engaged in Our Democracy
Carly Fiorina, former CEO of Hewlett-Packard and a presidential candidate in 2016, shares what it takes to be a leader in divisive times and how civic education can create a more informed and engaged electorate.
Listeners can tune into “You Might Be Right” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or their favorite podcast platform. Sign up for the podcast newsletter to receive new episodes by email.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Maggie Palmer (865-974-3993, mpalme19@utk.edu)
Amy Smotherman Burgess (865-405-3955, aburges8@utk.edu)