#AcademicRunPlaylist - 4/22/25

I finally started to feel better this afternoon, and while taking it easy I listened to some talks for my #AcademicRunPlaylist!

First was an engaging conversation with Chris Hughes on "marketcraft" and how governments have historically influenced market creation and dynamics on the Lawfare Institute podcast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqKaCGKNU7A

Next was a fascinating talk by Ryan Moran on the early history of Japanese life insurance at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sdBZys_OiA

Next was a great talk by Eric Verhoogen on social learning in the Dhakar leather goods industry at CEPR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WO1VrcKR0E

Next was a fantastic talk by Karrie Karahalios on AI audits and individual autonomy at Stanford University. Karahalios details how to uncover typically opaque algorithmic governance structures, what real control means, and why highlighting unfairly ignored groups leads to better outcomes for all. Highly recommend https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDMuUsSkvao

Last was "White Malice" by Susan Williams. This book pulls double duty, detailing the history of African independence movements and their subsequent trajectories as well as uncovering the systematic undermining of these movements and countries by the CIA and other European powers. It's an incredibly sad history, with the optimism of early leaders eventually crushed through US-led/supported assassinations and coups since they were perceived to be aligned with communists. Williams gives vital clarity to the factors leading to the current African political environments and how the US has always resisted grappling with its legacy in the region. Highly recommend https://www.hurstpublishers.com/book/white-malice/