El Podcast

Has the college degree become less about knowledge and more about social status? And are America's elite universities still rewarding intelligence and ability, or simply reproducing an increasingly credentialed ruling class? Ben Landau-Taylor joins El Podcast to examine the transformation of higher education, the rise of credentialism, academic fraud, and the growing power of America's professional-managerial class. Drawing on his writing for Palladium Magazine, Ben argues that prestigious degrees have increasingly become symbols of social rank rather than proof of intellectual ability. We explore how Harvard and other elite institutions preserve their influence, why PhDs may no longer signal the expertise they once did, and how the incentives within academia can reward questionable research while discouraging those who challenge it. We also discuss how billionaire philanthropy, political activism, and bureaucratic institutions shape modern society—and whether artificial intelligence could disrupt this system or simply make it larger. Chapters 00:00:00 Degrees as Nobility 00:11:31 Who Is the New Class 00:18:29 Elite Reproduction Machine 00:30:14 Overproduced Elites 00:41:03 AI & Bureaucracy Spiral 00:45:09 Medical Research Fraud 00:59:07 Mass Higher Ed & IQ 01:04:19 Universities as Modern Priesthood 01:08:26 Big Philanthropy Power Games **ABOUT THE GUEST** Ben Landau-Taylor writes about power, society, and industry. He is a contributor to Palladium Magazine and co-host of The Students podcast. Website & Substack:\ [https://www.benlandautaylor.com/] The Students podcast:\ [https://www.thestudentsmedia.com/] X / Twitter:\ [https://x.com/benlandautaylor] **ARTICLES DISCUSSED** Why the New Leisure Class Enjoys Activism and Philanthropy:\ [https://www.palladiummag.com/2025/10/24/why-the-new-leisure-class-enjoys-activism-and-philanthropy/] The Academic Culture of Fraud:\ [https://www.palladiummag.com/2024/08/02/the-academic-culture-of-fraud/] **ABOUT EL PODCAST** El Podcast features long-form conversations exploring economics, politics, culture, technology, and the ideas shaping our world. Subscribe for more conversations with independent thinkers, researchers, and authors. **QUESTION FOR VIEWERS** Do you think a college degree still represents intelligence and competence, or has it become primarily a symbol of social status? Share your thoughts in the comments. #highereducation #CollegeDegrees #AcademicFraud

Evolutionary psychologist and psychology professor Steve Stewart-Williams joins Jesse to discuss sex differences, discrimination against men, and the double standards shaping how we treat men and women. Drawing on his book, A Billion Years of Sex Differences: How Evolution Shaped the Minds of Men and Women, we explore grading bias, hiring preferences, criminal sentencing, male victims of domestic violence, and why some findings receive more attention than others. Where has gender bias reversed..and what would fairness for both sexes look like? CONNECT WITH STEVE Book — A Billion Years of Sex Differences: https://swiftpress.com/book/a-billion-years-of-sex-differences/ Website & Substack — The Nature-Nurture-Nietzsche Newsletter: https://www.stevestewartwilliams.com/ Twitter/X — @SteveStuWill: https://twitter.com/SteveStuWill Chapters 00:00:00 Preview & Intro 00:00:59 Grading Bias & Boys in School 00:08:08 Sex Differences in Medicine 00:11:11 Gender Bias in Criminal Justice 00:21:58 Male Victims of Domestic Abuse 00:28:39 Hiring Bias & Discrimination 00:37:19 Women Becoming the Majority 00:46:49 Which Stereotypes Are True? 00:51:29 Controversy & Academic Freedom 01:04:04 AI, Therapy & Future Careers Stay curious. Think for yourself. #SexDifferences #psychology #SteveStewartWilliams

Is college still worth it? Political science professor Kevin Wallsten examines the gap between what students pay, what universities promise, and what a degree actually delivers. From student debt and graduate underemployment to campus politics and AI, we explore why higher education is losing trust and where it still offers real value. Wallsten explains what college rankings miss, why prestige can be misleading, and what he would tell his own children before they choose a school or major. CHAPTERS Chapters 00:00:00 Preview & Intro 00:00:40 Why College Is Declining 00:04:03 Too Many Graduates? 00:09:36 Why Students Choose Southern Colleges 00:18:13 PhD Oversupply & Grade Inflation 00:26:30 Enrollment Cliff & Money 00:31:36 Rethinking College Rankings 00:42:49 Admin Bloat & Campus Politics 00:50:03 Is College Still Worth It? 00:54:37 Choosing a College Major in AI Era 01:02:21 University Finances & Shift to Online Learning 01:10:20 Why Employers Value Degrees 01:19:50 Alternative Credentials ABOUT KEVIN WALLSTEN Kevin Wallsten is a professor of political science at California State University, Long Beach, and a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. His work focuses on higher education reform and the City Journal College Rankings. He also writes The Missing Data Depot. GUEST LINKS AND RESOURCES Kevin’s articles at City Journal: [https://www.city-journal.org/person/kevin-wallsten](https://www.city-journal.org/person/kevin-wallsten) Article discussed: “The Political Causes of Higher Education’s Decline” [https://www.city-journal.org/article/higher-education-decline-graduate-bachelors-degree](https://www.city-journal.org/article/higher-education-decline-graduate-bachelors-degree) Explore the City Journal College Rankings: [https://collegerankings.city-journal.org/rankings](https://collegerankings.city-journal.org/rankings) Read The Missing Data Depot: [https://themissingdatadepot.substack.com/](https://themissingdatadepot.substack.com/) Follow Kevin on X: [https://x.com/data_depot](https://x.com/data_depot) Knowing what you know now, would you choose the same degree, a different school, or another path? Tell us in the comments. Subscribe for more conversations that challenge assumptions about education, work and society. #HigherEducation #IsCollegeWorthIt #KevinWallsten

Is sociology becoming too political to function as a serious academic discipline? Professor Ashley T. Rubin discusses her new report for the Vanderbilt–WashU Commission on Scholarly Standards, which examines the growing politicization of sociology and whether political commitments are influencing what researchers study, what questions they avoid, and how scholarship is evaluated. We discuss sociology’s increasing focus on inequality, taboo research questions, resistance to biological explanations, declining political neutrality in top journals, reproducibility problems, activism versus objective scholarship, the decline of sociology majors, and what universities should teach students in the age of AI. Dr. Rubin also explains why she believes sociology still produces valuable work—but faces serious problems if the field is unwilling to confront its own blind spots. Special thanks to Professor Ashley T. Rubin for joining us and for her work on this important report. 📄 Read Ashley Rubin’s full sociology report: The Status of Scholarly Standards in Sociology — Vanderbilt University https://www.vanderbilt.edu/principles/state-of-scholarship-report/sociology/ashley-rubin/ (https://www.vanderbilt.edu/principles/state-of-scholarship-report/sociology/ashley-rubin/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ✍️ Ashley Rubin’s Substack: https://ashleytrubin.substack.com/ (https://ashleytrubin.substack.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) About the guest: Ashley T. Rubin is a sociologist at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa whose research examines punishment, prisons, law and society, and academic scholarship. About El Podcast: In El Podcast, anything and everything is up for discussion. Grab a drink and join us in this epic virtual happy hour! We sit down with authors, researchers, scientists, academics, and independent thinkers to explore the ideas shaping our world—from science, health, and technology to economics, education, culture, politics, and society. Come curious. Leave with something to think about. #Sociology #HigherEducation #AcademicFreedom

Darrell Bricker explains why Canada is approaching a potential breaking point as soaring housing costs, immigration pressures, generational divides, regional tensions, demographic decline, and a changing relationship with the United States challenge the country’s future. Guest Bio Dr. Darrell Bricker is Global CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs and co-author, with John Ibbitson, of Breaking Point: The New Big Shifts Putting Canada at Risk. He is a leading Canadian public-opinion researcher and has written extensively on demographics, politics, and social change. Topics Discussed Why Canada may be approaching a national “breaking point” Canada’s housing affordability crisis Falling fertility and an aging population Immigration and the breakdown of Canada’s traditional immigration consensus The “Laurentian elite” and Canada’s political establishment Alberta, Saskatchewan, equalization payments, and Western alienation The widening divide between younger and older Canadians Canada’s brain drain to the United States Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) Canada’s military decline and renewed defense spending Arctic sovereignty and competition with Russia, China, and the U.S. The changing Canada–U.S. relationship The decline of the U.S.-led global order Trudeau, Carney, Canadian identity, and national pride Whether Canada can remain unified over the coming decade Main Points Canada’s problems are deeper than its current tensions with the United States; Bricker argues that longstanding internal divisions are being exposed. Housing is central: younger Canadians increasingly struggle to achieve the homeownership and financial security enjoyed by earlier generations, with Bricker citing polling in which 74% say owning a home is now only for the rich. Immigration, historically a source of broad Canadian consensus, became politically contentious as temporary workers, international students, and other newcomers increased rapidly while housing and public services struggled to keep pace. At the same time, Canada’s fertility rate has fallen sharply, making immigration increasingly important to population growth. Regional tensions remain another major fault line. Alberta and Saskatchewan generate substantial resource wealth while many Western Canadians believe federal policy has constrained their energy industries, contributing to resentment toward Ottawa and the equalization system. Bricker also argues that Canada must adapt to a world in which it can no longer assume the old U.S.-led international order will return after Trump. Canada is increasing defense spending, focusing more heavily on Arctic sovereignty, and attempting to diversify its relationships with Europe, Asia, India, and China. Despite these problems, Bricker does not portray Canada as a failed country. Canada and the United States remain highly desirable destinations for immigrants, but Canada faces a serious challenge if younger, highly skilled Canadians increasingly believe they can find greater opportunity south of the border. Top 3 Quotes “The idea that the Canadian dream paid off for one group of the population and it’s not paying off in the same way for another group of the population is absolutely valid in the data.” “We need to start building a lot more housing stock that looks like what people want rather than what planners want them to endure.” “We’re going to have to carve a new path.” Misc. Podcast Info Guest: Dr. Darrell Bricker Book: Breaking Point: The New Big Shifts Putting Canada at Risk Co-author: John Ibbitson Role: Global CEO, Ipsos Public Affairs Core themes: Canada, housing, immigration, demographics, generational inequality, Western alienation, U.S.–Canada relations, defense, Arctic sovereignty, MAID, national identity Overall framing: Is Canada’s traditional economic, political, and national model reaching a breaking point? Closing takeaway: Bricker expects late 2026 and 2027 to be an especially consequential period for Canada, with major political and regional tensions potentially coming to the forefront. 🎙 The Pod is hosted by Jesse Wright 💬 For guest suggestions, questions, or media inquiries, reach out at https://elpodcast.media/ 📬 Never miss an episode – subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts. ⭐️ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show. It helps others find us. Thanks for listening!