Us & Them - Escaping the Human Condition | Dean of Public Policy, Brandeis, Maria Madison

Meyerside Chats: Government, Policy & Civility

Maria Madison is the interim Dean of Brandeis University.
A trained global public health researcher, Madison holds a Doctorate in population and international health from Harvard. She joined Brandeis with over two decades of international experience, designing, implementing and managing various projects and studies including clinical drug trials and registries, where she oversaw large, complex, multinational teams, with an abundance of her work in Africa. She is also president and founder of The Robbins House, a historic building and nonprofit organization focused on preserving Concord, Massachusetts’ Black history. She is also a trustee of Tufts University, from which she holds bachelor's and master’s degrees, and is an associate editor of the journal Health Equity.
Podcast Summary
The innate human propensity for hierarchy and "us and them." | 6:00
Paying for the sins of our grandparents | 8:00
Challenging your echo Chambers with opposing views | 10:00
Quality of life in America and it's barriers | 14:00
Exercise & nutrition information during COVID vis a vis social drivers | 17:00
Obesity in America and how to start fixing it | 22:00
The balance of responsibility | 24:00
The responsibility of universities | 26:00
Adaptive capacity | 32:00
Private interest vs social responsibility | 35:00
Venture capitalism & social businesses | 39:00
Replacement theory | 42:00
Greater exposure means greater respect | 44:00
How to deal with information and/or people you disagree with & recast theory | 45:00
How to accept new information that conflicts with your previous knowledge | 49:00
Everyone has a migration story | 55:00
Support the show

About Evan Meyer

Evan is the Founder of BeautifyEarth.com, a tech platform and marketplace that speed tracks the urban beautification process through art, as well as the original 501(c)3 sister organization and public charity that beautifies schools in the communities that need it most. Beautify has now facilitated thousands of murals around the planet, working with hundreds of communities, community organizations, cities and national brands.

He is also the Founder of RideAmigos.com, a tech platform that optimizes commuter travel and behavior through intelligent programs and analytics for governments, large enterprises, and universities, serving many regions across the US.

As a civic leader in the City of Santa Monica, he is the past Chairman of his neighborhood (Ocean Park), giving residents a voice in the public process, as well as helping the City of Santa Monica with innovative, actionable ways of civic engagement. He gives seminars on building corporate cultures and the importance of community and civic engagement.
He loves the outdoors, is a master of creative projects, is an avid muralist and musician, and finds the world fascinating in every regard.