Welcome to the Master of Liberal Arts Podcast at Stanford University, where in each episode we take a deep dive into the heart of intellectual exploration. Along with an impressive roster of guests, we’ll discuss the broad spectrum of ideas, books, and quotes that shape the liberal arts experience. Our journey spans History, Theatre, Art, Science, and beyond, reflecting the rich tapestry that makes up a liberal arts education. Join us as we continue the conversation sparked in our classrooms and uncover new insights along the way.
A wonderful chat with Astrid Schell about Alexander von Humboldt and the invention of isotherms, the lines on a map that transformed how we understand climate and geography. We discuss how Humboldt changed maps from static images into tools that reveal hidden systems in nature, and why his way of seeing the world still matters today.
In this episode, we’re joined by Kelly Harrison to talk about her thesis and the unexpected stories hiding inside historical research. We dig into her favorite characters, what surprised her most along the way, and how scholarship can feel deeply personal. It’s a conversation about curiosity, creativity, and finding yourself inside the work you study.
Fontana, California didn’t become a warehouse empire by accident. Jonathan Garcia joins us to unravel how private industry, policy, and generational survival intertwined to build — and burden — a community. From sacrifice zones to stories of resilience, he brings Fontana to life with urgency and heart.
Amy Harcourt discusses her thesis, "Quilting as Metaphor and Method in Toni Morrison’s Beloved, Jazz, and Paradise". We explore how African American quilting traditions inform Morrison’s layered narratives and themes of love, loss, memory, and repair. Amy reflects on what drew her to Morrison’s work, the connections she found between quilting and storytelling, and the surprising insights her research revealed.
Ann Wilson Green dives into James Joyce’s Ulysses. Ann brings insight and approachability to a famously difficult text, exploring how Joyce reimagines narrative structure, language, and the act of reading itself. Together, we unpack why Ulysses still matters—and how engaging with it can reshape how we think about literature, identity, and the modern world.
Evelyn McMillan opens up about two of her research interests: the medical ethics surrounding David Vetter, the "Boy in the Bubble," and the cultural and political history of Belgian war lace during World War I.John Carlstrom traces the hidden history of Stanford’s water rights in his thesis—a story of power, politics, and the deals that shaped the campus. From legal battles to land negotiations, he reveals how access to water helped build the university we know.
Robin Wander’s thesis on contemporary graffiti explores how street art reshapes public space, identity, and resistance. Listen in as Wander unpacks graffiti’s role as both creative expression and cultural commentary in today’s urban landscapes in the West.
With insights from alumnus Ken Neff, we dive into Russian history and explore why Russia has often appeared to be a century behind in its development. We also discuss Ken's personal experience in the MLA program and how it shaped his understanding of these historical dynamics.
Join us for a conversation with MLA alum Astrid Smith, who explores the concept of "Transmediation in Archival Objects"—how meaning shifts across media forms, particularly within rare and historical materials. Astrid shares how her experience in the MLA program deepened her understanding of both archival theory and artistic practice. This remarkable thesis bridges the worlds of preservation, storytelling, and scholarship.
In this episode, MLA alum Aparna Chandra walks us through her thesis research on yellow fever spot maps from the 1790s—early visual tools that helped communities understand and respond to public health crises. Aparna discusses the intersection of cartography, history, and epidemiology, and reflects on how the MLA program supported her curiosity and interdisciplinary approach.
Gene Slater, a housing policy expert and MLA alum, delves into the California real estate industry's campaign for Proposition 14, an effort that shaped the legal and social landscape of segregation in the state. In this powerful episode, Gene discusses how his thesis came together and how the MLA program offered the space to investigate this pivotal but often overlooked moment in American history.
Amy Allebest’s thesis examines the often fraught and complex relationships between Black and white women during the Civil Rights Movement, offering new insights into allyship, tension, and transformation across racial lines. In our conversation, Amy shares what drew her to the topic and describes how the MLA program gave her the tools to explore difficult questions with both nuance and depth.
Eric Brown takes us into the heart of modern Rwanda with a thesis that investigates models of leadership, recovery, and resilience in the years following the country’s genocide. Through historical analysis and contemporary perspectives, Eric shares how his research evolved during his time in the MLA program and describes the experience that reshaped his understanding of ethical leadership on a global scale.
