"Values & Interests" takes a deep dive into the ethical tensions and tradeoffs at the heart of decision-making across geopolitics, tech, philosophy, and business.
Making choices in today’s interconnected world is daunting. When our own values conflict with those of neighbors, employers, or even governments, how can we forge a path forward and find our true north?
Join us as we explore how ethics can serve as a tool for making more reflective and responsible choices. Together, we’ll hear from leaders and experts who have spent their careers reckoning with critical ethical questions across their personal and professional lives.
Whether facing daily decisions or tackling global issues, we’ll uncover new approaches for navigating the complex, and often fraught relationship, between our own values and interests.
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Events
Values & Interests: Post-Liberal American Power
The Trump administration's defunding of soft power, cuts to foreign aid, and transactional diplomacy style raise the question: Has America entered a post-liberal era of power?
Panelists:
- James Ketterer, Senior Fellow, Center for Civic Engagement, Bard College (Moderator)
- Ambassador Cindy Dyer (ret.), Chief Program Officer, McCain Institute
- Hendrik Ohnesorge, Managing Director, Center for Global Studies, University of Bonn
Podcasts
OCT 1, 2025 • Podcast
The Cost of Military Primacy, with Peter Harris
Colorado State's Peter Harris discusses what a less militarized future might look like for the U.S. and the Trump administration's impact on foreign policy.
AUG 26, 2025 • Podcast
The Ethical Abyss: A Tech Ecosystem Reliant on Conflict, with Professor Elke Schwarz
Elke Schwarz joins "Values & Interests" to discuss the new highly militarized tech ecosystem and the resulting dehumanization of civilians in conflict zones around the world.
AUG 14, 2025 • Podcast
Values, Realism, and U.S. Foreign Policy, with Alexander Vindman
Alexander Vindman joins "Values & Interests" to discuss the critical interplay between morality and power in the practice of geopolitics.
AUG 6, 2025 • Podcast
Living a Moral Life in a Catastrophic World, with Philosopher Travis Rieder
Moral philosopher Travis Rieder joins "Values & Interests" to explore how we might pursue ethical lives in an era of global crisis.
JUL 15, 2025 • Podcast
Investing in Your Ethical Infrastructure, with Simon Longstaff
The Ethics Centre's Simon Longstaff discusses the power of moral inquiry, performative vs. good-faith engagement, and how ethics can help to address global challenges.
JUN 17, 2025 • Podcast
Empowerment, Ownership, & Agency: Building an Inclusive AI Future, with Jimena Viveros
Lawyer and AI expert Jimena Viveros explores why bridging the digital divide between the Global South and North is both a moral and economic imperative.
MAY 20, 2025 • Podcast
Character not Compliance, with Edward Brooks
Oxford's Dr. Edward Brooks joins "Values & Interests" to discuss how embracing ethics can unlock better thinking, relationships, and outcomes in our personal and professional lives.
APR 29, 2025 • Podcast
Interrogating Our “Norms” with Professor Tanisha Fazal
University of Minnesota's Professor Tanisha Fazal joins the "Values & Interests" podcast to discuss shifting geopolitical norms in a moment of global transition.
APR 8, 2025 • Podcast
Doubling Down on Values in a Moment of Crisis, with Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling
Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Hertling discusses lessons in leadership, embracing your professional ethos, and the importance of staying true to your values in times of crisis.
MAR 18, 2025 • Podcast
Small States, Mutual Respect, and the Future of the International System, with Ambassador Ali Naseer Mohamed
Ambassador Ali Naseer Mohamed, permanent representative of the Maldives to the UN, discusses the vital role of small states at this critical global moment.