The American spirit of competition can be counterproductive for some industries.

In this episode of Quantum Potential, Ganesh Sitaraman, New York Alumni Chancellor’s Chair in Law, professor of law, director of the Program in Law and Government, and director of the Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator for Political Economy and Regulation, joins Provost C. Cybele Raver to explore why businesses that provide essential services—like energy, transportation, communication and banking—should be governed differently than small businesses.

Drawing from his research and recent book, Why Flying Is Miserable and How to Fix It, Sitaraman unpacks how policies meant to boost competition have eroded the consumer experience—and how a governing framework known as NPU law (the law of networks, platforms and utilities) might offer solutions for industries disrupted by deregulation.

The Quantum Potential podcast is produced by Vanderbilt University. The leadership team includes Metanoya Z. Webb, director of content and editorial strategy for this episode, and Sydney Jones-Wright, director of academic affairs communications. Patrick Sams is the senior social media specialist, and Maisie Wilson is the senior creative project manager. Mike Todd is the university visual media manager.

Special thanks to Jad Abumrad, Vanderbilt University Distinguished Research Professor of Communication of Science and Technology and the executive producer of the Quantum Potential podcast and video series. We also want to thank Major Jackson, Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Professor of English, for lending his voice to the end credits for this episode.

For more information about Quantum Potential, go to vanderbilt.edu/quantumpotential/podcast.

The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or Vanderbilt University.

Copyright 2025, Vanderbilt University.

Follow Vanderbilt on Social Media: http://social.vanderbilt.edu/

Retired four-star general Paul M. Nakasone is challenging outdated ideas about what keeps a country safe.

In this episode of Quantum Potential, Gen. Nakasone, former NSA director, founding director of the Vanderbilt Institute of National Security, Distinguished Research Professor of Engineering Science and Management, and special advisor to the chancellor, joins Provost C. Cybele Raver to discuss the challenges of national security in the 21st century and academia’s role in training the next generation of multifaceted national security professionals.

After nearly 40 years in the U.S. military leading efforts to dismantle ISIS online, counter Iranian cyber threats, and protect allies like Ukraine from Russian malware, Nakasone brought his talent and expertise to Vanderbilt University to shape tomorrow’s national security leaders.

During his chat with Provost Raver, Nakasone shares why he chose to come to Vanderbilt to lead the Institute of National Security and how he’s collaborating with Vanderbilt researchers to find pragmatic solutions to today’s national security challenges.

The Quantum Potential podcast is produced by Vanderbilt University. The leadership team includes Metanoya Z. Webb, director of content and editorial strategy for this episode, and Sydney Jones-Wright, director of academic affairs communications. Patrick Sams is the senior social media specialist, and Maisie Wilson is the senior creative project manager. Mike Todd is the university visual media manager.

Special thanks to Jad Abumrad, Vanderbilt University Distinguished Research Professor of Communication of Science and Technology and the executive producer of the Quantum Potential podcast and video series. We also want to thank Major Jackson, Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Professor of English, for lending his voice to the end credits for this episode.

For more information about Quantum Potential, go to vanderbilt.edu/quantumpotential/podcast.

The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or Vanderbilt University.

Copyright 2025, Vanderbilt University.

Follow Vanderbilt on Social Media: http://social.vanderbilt.edu/

In this episode of Quantum Potential, Amanda Little, writer-in-residence at Vanderbilt’s College of Arts and Science, joins Provost C. Cybele Raver to discuss how journalism can highlight the tipping points humanity faces and how people-first storytelling can move us from observation to action. Little shares how she uncovers the stories behind the science, making potentially polarizing topics digestible for broad audiences, and how the next generation of social media savvy journalists can leverage their knack for digital storytelling to help rebuild public trust in local journalism.

Listen and subscribe to the Quantum Potential podcast, available now wherever you get your podcasts.

The Quantum Potential podcast is produced by Vanderbilt University. The leadership team includes Metanoya Z. Webb, director of content and editorial strategy for this episode, and Sydney Jones-Wright, director of academic affairs communications. Patrick Sams is the senior social media specialist, and Maisie Wilson is the senior creative project manager. Mike Todd is the university visual media manager.

Special thanks to Jad Abumrad, Vanderbilt University Distinguished Research Professor of Communication of Science and Technology and the executive producer of the Quantum Potential podcast and video series. We also want to thank Major Jackson, Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Professor of English, for lending his voice to the end credits for this episode.

For more information about Quantum Potential, go to vanderbilt.edu/quantumpotential/podcast.

The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or Vanderbilt University.

Copyright 2025, Vanderbilt University.

Follow Vanderbilt on Social Media: http://social.vanderbilt.edu/