Deep Dive with Shawn
Welcome to Deep Dive, the podcast where politics, history, and queer lives intersect in engaging, in-depth conversations. I'm Dr. Shawn C. Fettig, a political scientist, and I've crafted this show to go beyond the headlines, diving into the heart of critical issues with authors, researchers, activists, and politicians. Forget surface-level analysis; we're here for the real stories, the hidden layers, and the nuanced discussions that matter.
Join me as we explore the intricate world of governance, democracy, and global stability. Expect empathy, unique perspectives, and thought-provoking dialogue—no punditry, just genuine insights.
Ready to dive in? Catch us on your favorite podcast platform, and don't forget to follow the conversation:
- Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/deepdivewithshawn.bsky.social
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjZ9grY02HMCUR34qaWhNmQ
Got thoughts? Questions? We'd love to hear from you! Drop us a line at deepdivewithshawn@gmail.com.
"Deep Dive" - Because the most important conversations happen below the surface.
Episodes
127 episodes
Leaving America Trailer
Have you ever considered leaving the United States - for more affordable healthcare, a lower cost of living, less political chaos? If so, our limited podcast series "Leaving America" will be your guide to answering all of the questi...
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1:30
Did Bill Clinton’s Presidency Create Trump? The Progressive Betrayal (Featuring Dr. Nelson Lichtenstein)
Is Bill Clinton responsible for this Trump Era? In this episode, Dr. Nelson Lichtenstein, professor of History at UC Santa Barbara, and co-author of the book
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1:00:59
Burn It Down and Rule the Ashes: Trump’s Ungoverning Agenda (Featuring Dr. Russell Muirhead)
One month into Trump's second term and his actions, thus far, have been described as chaotic, anarchic, cruel, mercurial, authoritarianian, etc. At minimum, it's clear that Trump is single-mindedly focused on systematically dismantling the very...
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57:13
Unnatural Disasters: Climate Change in the Trump Era (Featuring Jonathan Mingle)
Can rising insurance premiums finally make climate change a reality for everyone? And, what does it mean for the world that climate change denier Donald Trump has returned to the American presidency?
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1:05:25
American Divorce: How the States Can Quit Each Other (Featuring Dr. Jason Sorens)
What if the United States could peacefully resolve its deep political rifts through secession? Dr. Jason Sorens, a leading expert on secessionism and author of the book
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56:37
The Wellness Gap: How Politics Shapes Public Health (Featuring Dr. Sandro Galea)
In this episode, Dr. Sandro Galea - physician, epidemiologist, and author of numerous books including The Turning Point: Re...
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48:16
The Murderer is Inside the House: Trump, Militias, and the End of Democracy (Featuring David Neiwert)
Donald Trump's second presidential term is less than a week old and everything already seems to be coming undone. American democracy might be at a breaking point. How did the far-right militia groups like the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers gain in...
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1:00:32
Dark Inauguration Day - Rebuilding America After Authoritarianism
In this special episode of Deep Dive on this Trump Inauguration Day, we revisit the final episode of our limited series "After America" and ask - how does a nation rebuild itself after falling under authoritarian rule? In the series finale of A...
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49:04
Degrees of Division: Higher Education and Political Sorting in America (Featuring Dr. David Hopkins)
In this episode of Deep Dive, we examine the growing educational divide driving polarization in American politics and its implications for democracy.
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59:46
Blue Collar, Red Lines: How Union Decline Has Reshaped American Democracy (Featuring Lainey Newman)
Lainey Newman, co-author of Rust Belt Union Blu...
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1:03:42
Living Liberalism: A Way of Life Under Threat (w/ Dr. Alexandre Lefebvre)
We all, conservatives and progressives, are liberals. And, we are living liberal lives. Dr. Alexandre Lefebvre, a renowned professor of politics and philosophy, and author of the book
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55:27
State of the Union: 2024 (w/ Drs. Sara Benesh, Edward Watts, & James Hawdon)
It's the end of the year, and that means our annual State of the Union episode is here! In this episode, I'm joined by judicial scholar Dr. Sara Benesh, historian and expert on the fall of Rome,
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53:35
A Few of Our Favorite Things 2024 (And a Special Message from the North Pole)
The second annual Few of Our Favorite Things episode has arrived! Friend of the Pod Justin Hentges returns, and we share personal stories and reflections on our cherished books, movies, music, and experiences from the past year. We aren't just ...
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1:04:08
Deep Dive Revisits After America E5: Altar-ing the Constitution - Christian Nationalism's Rewrite
Deep Dive is on vacation this week, so we are re-running our most listened to After America episode. We'll be back next week with an all new holiday episode of Deep Dive.----Can Christian nationalism coexist with American democracy, or ...
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1:01:05
The MAGA Coup: Trump’s Takeover of the GOP (w/ Dr. Rachel Blum)
Dr. Rachel Blum, an expert on political parties and factions, and author of the book
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59:55
Trump Country: Are Democrats Cosplaying Rural America? (w/ Dr. Nicholas Jacobs)
What drives the deepening political divide in rural America? In this episode, Dr. Nicholas Jacobs from Colby College, and co-author of the book
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1:09:11
Did Polls Do Harris Dirty? (w/ Dr. W. Joseph Campbell)
If some of the last 2024 presidential election polls were pointing to a decisive Kamala Harris win, then why did it become clear so early in the evening that Harris would, in fact, lose? Were the polls wrong...again? In this episode,
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51:44
The Unchecked Presidency: When One Branch Rules Them All (w/ Professor Daniel Farber)
Could the American system of checks and balances crumble under a second Trump presidency? In this episode Berkeley Law Professor Daniel Farber, c...
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46:55
No Place Like Home: Immigration Under Another Trump Presidency (w/ Dr. Maria Cristina Garcia)
Trump has won. He has plans. Dr. Maria Cristina Garcia joins me for a deep dive into the intricacies of immigration policy and its far-reaching effects on American society....
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58:28
Divide and Conquer: Presidential Election Law (w/ Dr. Norman Williams)
What if state legislatures could override the popular vote, revolutionizing the American electoral system? What if Donald Trump contests each state election in bad faith? What if Trump demands Congress refuse to certify an election he lost? Wha...
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1:02:00
America Alone: The Costs of Isolationism (w/ Dr. Charles Kupchan)
Could America’s political polarization be paving the way for a return to a multipolar world? Dr. Charles Kupchan, Professor of International Affairs ...
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57:48
The XX Factor: How Women Are Reshaping American Politics (w/ Dr. Sara Chatfield)
Dr. Sara Chatfield, a leading voice in gender politics from the University of Denver, and author of the book
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48:06
Stability or Chaos: Can the US Keep Leading the World? (w/ Professor Edward Goldberg)
In this episode, we question the future of American leadership and its crucial role in maintaining the liberal world order. Could a second Donald Trump presidency shift the balance of power, allowing authoritarian regimes like China and Russia ...
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54:28
MAGA Knows Best: The Way We Never Were (with Stephanie Coontz)
What if the family values we've been taught to cherish are nothing more than myths and, in fact, are dangerous? In this episode, historian and author of the book The Way We Never Were<...
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59:46
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Talk Isn’t Cheap: The High Cost of Lies and Gossip in Political Discourse (w/ Dr. Christopher Elias)
What if the very tools meant to inform and unify us are actually tearing our democracy apart? In this episode, we explore how gossip, rumor, and disinformation are used as tools in American politics, especially in the Trump era, to distort trut...
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1:08:52
