7 Oct 2026 · 28 min
Constructive Political Discourse
Constructive Dialogue Institute executive director Caroline Mehl discusses strategies to inform effective political discourse
Podcast · News
The Open Mind, Hosted by Alexander Heffner
The Open Mind is a thoughtful excursion into the world of ideas across media, politics, technology, the arts and all realms of civic life.
- New episodes
- Weekly
- Typical length
- 28 min
- Latest
- 7 Oct 2026
- Language
- English
Latest episode
Earlier episodes 29 most recent
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25 Sep 2026 · 28 min
Mayors of the World: New York City — Mamdani and Heffner at FDR Four Freedoms Park
At Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park, host Alexander Heffner interviews Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. In the ongoing special "Mayors of the World," Mayor Mamdani and Heffner discuss the civic and cultural life of New York, his administration's major initiatives, the legacy of FDR and future of the Democratic Party, and what the cost of rent — and a Bacon, Egg, and Cheese — should be.
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17 Sep 2026 · 31 min
Michelle Bachelet at the Museum of Memory and Human Rights
At the Museum of Memory and Human Rights, host Alexander Heffner interviews two-time Chile President and U.N. Secretary General candidate Michelle Bachelet.
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8 Sep 2026 · 28 min
Wiesel and Heffner: The Conversation Continues
At the Museum of Jewish Heritage, host Alexander Heffner interviews Elijah Wiesel, Yale University student, columnist, and grandson of Elie Wiesel.
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3 Aug 2026 · 29 min
Mayors of the World: Cologne
On the "Mayors of the World" special, host Alexander Heffner visits with Mayor Henriette Reker.
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27 Jul 2026 · 28 min
Mayors of the World: Düsseldorf
On the "Mayors of the World" special, host Alexander Heffner visits with Mayor Stephan Keller
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17 Jul 2026 · 28 min
Mayors of the World: Midland
In Texas host Alexander Heffner interviews Mayor Patrick Payton.
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9 Jul 2026 · 28 min
The Open Mind at 70: Part II
MS NOW host and “The West Wing” executive producer Lawrence O'Donnell interviews Alexander Heffner about the history of "The Open Mind."
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3 Jul 2026 · 27 min
The Open Mind at 70
PBS correspondent and anchor emerita Judy Woodruff interviews Alexander Heffner about the history of "The Open Mind."
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25 Jun 2026 · 28 min
Mayors of the World: Detroit
On the “Mayors of the World" special, host Alexander Heffner visits with Mayor Mike Duggan.
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18 Jun 2026 · 29 min
Mayors of the World: Miami
On the “Mayors of the World" special, host Alexander Heffner visits with Mayor Francis Suarez.
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10 Jun 2026 · 28 min
Mayors of the World: Santiago
On the “Mayors of the World" special, host Alexander Heffner visits with Mayor Mario Desbordes.
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3 Jun 2026 · 28 min
Mayors of the World: Toronto
On the “Mayors of the World" special, host Alexander Heffner visits with Mayor Olivia Chow.
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27 May 2026 · 29 min
Mayors of the World: Atlanta
On the “Mayors of the World" special, host Alexander Heffner visits with Mayor Andre Dickens.
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19 May 2026 · 29 min
Mayors of the World: Athens
On the “Mayors of the World" special, host Alexander Heffner visits with Mayor Haris Doukas.
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14 May 2026 · 29 min
Mayors of the World: Lisbon
In the premiere of “Mayors of the World,” a 70th anniversary Open Mind special, host Alexander Heffner visits with Mayor Carlos Moedas of Lisbon, Portugal.
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24 Apr 2026 · 28 min
Why Whales Matter
Behavioral neuroscientist Eduardo Mercado discusses his discovery of whale songs and their social implications.
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10 Apr 2026 · 28 min
Wild Wild Cities
Geographer Chris Fitch discusses his exploration of nature across global metropolises.
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1 Apr 2026 · 28 min
A World Without Politicians
Yale University political scientist Hélène Landemore discusses her groundbreaking new book "Politics Without Politicians."
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1 Apr 2026 · 27 min
Art in 2026
Taos's Harwood Museum executive director Juniper Leherissey discusses the legacy and future of art.
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20 Mar 2026 · 28 min
When We Care About Climate—and Not
Climate experts Ellen Prager and Dave Jones discuss perceptions and realities about the weather.
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13 Mar 2026 · 28 min
Discovering Dinosaur Extinction and the Atom Bomb
"Collisions" author Alec Nevala-Lee discusses his landmark biography of physicist Luis Alvarez.
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6 Mar 2026 · 29 min
Freedom, Inflation, and Deflation
MIT scholar Yasheng Huang discusses the inflation landscape in China versus the United States and the Needham Question.
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27 Feb 2026 · 29 min
Which Sex Is Stronger?
"The Stronger Sex" author Starre Vartan discusses the latest research on women's mental and physical capacities.
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12 Feb 2026 · 28 min
From Russia With...
In a special series recorded at the One Young World conference in Munich, Germany, financier and human rights advocate Bill Browder discusses the future of Russia and Putin. One Young World is a global community of young leaders whose annual summit maps solutions to the world’s most pressing issues.
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4 Feb 2026 · 29 min
Democracy in the Global South
In a special series recorded at the One Young World conference in Munich, Germany, South Africa Public Protector Thuli Madonsela discusses the nation's constitution and economy. One Young World is a global community of young leaders whose annual summit maps solutions to the world’s most pressing issues.
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28 Jan 2026 · 28 min
Social Media as Insidious and Predatory Manipulation
In a special series recorded at the One Young World conference in Munich, Germany, Nobel Prize laureate Maria Ressa discusses digital disinformation networks. One Young World is a global community of young leaders whose annual summit maps solutions to the world’s most pressing issues.
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21 Jan 2026 · 28 min
Classroom 4
"A Wall Is Just a Wall" author Reiko Hillyer discusses an innovative teaching model.
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16 Jan 2026 · 29 min
Counsel on the Law
Attorney Mark Zauderer discusses key legal and constitutional issues.
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8 Jan 2026 · 28 min
The Clerk of the Court
"The Jailhouse Lawyer" coauthors Sophie Cull and Calvin Duncan discuss the campaign for justice reform.
About The Open Mind, Hosted by Alexander Heffner
The Open Mind is a thoughtful excursion into the world of ideas across media, politics, technology, the arts and all realms of civic life.
The Open Mind, Hosted by Alexander Heffner is a English news podcast from WNET. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.
- Publisher
- WNET
- Language
- English
- Category
- News
- New episodes
- Weekly
- Typical length
- 28 min
- Latest episode
- 7 Oct 2026
- Feed
- RSS — paste into any podcast app
- Apple Podcasts
- podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id418140622
- Rights
- ©2023 WNET, All Rights Reserved.
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