Hardly Working with Brent Orrell

America’s workforce development and anti-poverty programs are rife with complexity and bureaucracy. Looking for work is hard enough but the way we organize our welfare and workforce systems makes it even more difficult. To address this challenge and create a welfare system that works for people seeking self-sufficiency rather than against them, the State of Utah has developed a unique approach that consolidates services rather than fragmenting them which saves time, energy, and money while helping families make the most of the resources and opportunities they have to build a better future. Brent is joined by Mason Bishop, an Adjunct Fellow at AEI to discuss his recent report: “Utah Department of Workforce Services: A System Integration Model”.

We live in times marked by the omnipresence of the internet and instantaneous access to the accumulated knowledge of humanity. This leads us into relying on quick, narrow answers to large, complex questions. Are we going too far in our reliance on experts and, in the process, forgetting how to think for ourselves?Brent talks to Vikram Mansharamani, a lecturer at Harvard University and the author of “Think for Yourself: Restoring Common Sense in An Age of Experts and Artificial Intelligence”. They discuss the need to reduce our reliance on experts living in the silos of their own professional fields, the importance of a liberal arts education, and the importance of staying focused on your mission.  

Most people know that the human brain is divided into two hemispheres: the left brain and the right brain. But what purpose does this division serve, and how does it influence perception, behavior, economics, and culture? In this rebroadcasted episode of “Hardly Working,” host Brent Orrell is joined by Dr. Iain McGilchrist, author of “The Master and His Emissary,” […] The post The Divided Brain: Perception, Social Life, and Interpersonal Neurobiology [REBROADCAST] appeared first on American Enterprise Institute - AEI.

Recent research from the American Enterprise Institute found that women and racial and ethnic minorities feel unwelcome in STEM fields, unlike their white male counterparts. It is clear that more work needs to be done to ensure that STEM careers continue to attract and retain a diverse workforce. To discuss this and other findings of […] The post Building a more inclusive STEM workforce appeared first on American Enterprise Institute - AEI.

While statistical models and probability scores can be useful for helping diagnose problems, they are not reliable information for predicting the future. Brent is joined in this episode by two eminent economists, John Kay, a fellow at St. Johns College, Oxford and the first dean of Oxford’s Said Business School, and Mervyn King, former Governor […] The post How statistical modeling can make it harder to understand the world appeared first on American Enterprise Institute - AEI.

Brent talks with Tamar Jacoby on the valuable and often overlooked role community colleges play for both four-year universities and local employeers The post Tamar Jacoby on the future of community colleges appeared first on American Enterprise Institute - AEI.

Can thinking through the arch of history assist modern thinkers in planning for the future? Or is the future uncertain and separate from the happenings of the past? Brent cohosts today’s episode with Albert Zambone, an Oxford University-trained historian of colonial America and the host of the Historically Thinking podcast. Together, Brent and Al interview […] The post Future history: looking behind to shape what’s ahead appeared first on American Enterprise Institute - AEI.

Contrary to the popular assumption that people who engage in criminal activity at some point in their life will always be dangerous and criminally-oriented, the data show that the majority of people who leave prison will never become re-incarcerated. Brent talks to Shawn Bushway, a criminologist at the University of Albany and a Senior Policy […] The post Once a criminal, not always a criminal: What we know about desistance appeared first on American Enterprise Institute - AEI.

Hundreds of thousands of workers are no longer working standard office hours in a corporate setting, but instead work freelance and gig jobs that allow for greater flexibility in hours, job type, and location. Is the future of the American labor market in gig work, and how are workers faring in the new, gig economy? […] The post Worker without a boss: The new American gig economy appeared first on American Enterprise Institute - AEI.

Technology has been rapidly advancing, and along with it has come an increased reliance on artificial intelligence, algorithms, and other forms of computer programming. Can we trust these programs to uphold our values of inclusion, diversity, and fairness? Brent talks to Robert Elliot Smith, an artificial intelligence expert and author of “Rage Inside the Machine: […] The post How computers and the algorithms that drive them influence our life, work, and future appeared first on American Enterprise Institute - AEI.

Nowhere was the economic shutdown caused by the spread of the coronavirus more apparent than in the nation’s the major cities that became the early epicenters of the pandemic. When cities reopen, will the people and businesses who left come back? This episode of Hardly Working is an interview Brent Orrell did with Bob Zadek […] The post What does COVID-19 mean for the future of American cities? appeared first on American Enterprise Institute - AEI.

Policymakers and parents alike have been encouraging young people for decades to pursue STEM degrees and careers so they could become financially and socially successful. Does the data support the assumption that going into STEM fields leads to a good career? Brent talks to Dan Cox, a Research Fellow at AEI, and Kadeem Noray, a […] The post Is STEM education and training working? And for whom? appeared first on American Enterprise Institute - AEI.

In the wake of George Floyd’s death at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer, people across the nation have been urgently calling for meaningful police reform and better treatment of minority groups by law enforcement. Brent talks to Harry Holzer, the LaFarge SJ Professor at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University […] The post Harry Holzer on racial disparities, crime, policing, and the COVID economy appeared first on American Enterprise Institute - AEI.

The nation’s prison systems have many demands on their limited resources. To use those resources effectively, we need to connect individuals with the right intervention for their needs and risks. Automated risk-need-responsivity (RNR) assessments help take the guess-work out of prisoner transitions, improve efficiency, and increase the chances for success. Brent talks to Grant Duwe, Research […] The post Can computers improve reentry outcomes? How automated risk assessments save money and help offenders. appeared first on American Enterprise Institute - AEI.

What started as working from home for a few weeks to flatten the curve of COVID-19, has instead turned into months of telecommuting with no end in sight. While working remotely has presented both benefits and challenges, many workers and employers are asking themselves, is this a permanent change in how we work? Brent talks […] The post Dilbert’s revenge: Did COVID-19 kill cubicle culture? appeared first on American Enterprise Institute - AEI.

The past few months have brought an onslaught of new policies attempting to curb the spread of COVID-19, but were they the right decisions based upon the data we have about the virus? And what comes next? Brent talks to Lyman Stone, an adjunct fellow at AEI and a research fellow at the Institute for […] The post What’s the next move on COVID? appeared first on American Enterprise Institute - AEI.

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and machine learning in recent decades has had a ripple effect throughout the economy. As the economic landscape continues to change, we are once again asking ourselves about what the future of work looks like, and, when it comes to computers exactly who will be working for whom. Brent […] The post Meet Your New Colleague: Artificial Intelligence appeared first on American Enterprise Institute - AEI.

Brent talks with a panel of workforce experts about how Austin, TX has found success in getting people back to work where so many cities have struggled. The post Building workforce and prosperity from the ground up appeared first on American Enterprise Institute - AEI.

Millions of youth are neither in school nor working, falling through the cracks of the various systems put in place to help them transition into adulthood. The spread of COVID-19 will become another barrier in these young people’s lives as they pursue economic independence. On this episode, Brent talks to Anne Kim, author of “Abandoned: […] The post It will take a village to help youth navigate life post-COVID appeared first on American Enterprise Institute - AEI.

Brent and Michael Blastland discuss the advantages and risks of our scientific and technological dependance in the COVID-19 age The post The limits of science: How our obsession with data interferes with our pursuit of knowledge appeared first on American Enterprise Institute - AEI.

Brent talks to Mauricio Miller about the success working with low-income families to develop generational change has in lifting people out of poverty The post Is There a Better Way to Solve Poverty? appeared first on American Enterprise Institute - AEI.

AEI's Brent Orrell and Mason Bishop discuss the value of many government workforce development programs and how to find a more effective solution The post The building blocks of the federal workforce system appeared first on American Enterprise Institute - AEI.

Goodwill CEO and former HUD Secretary Steve Preston talks with Brent about how to provide disadvantaged workers with the skills needed in the modern economy The post COVID-19: Another barrier to employment for low-skilled workers? appeared first on American Enterprise Institute - AEI.

Chris Wilson joins Brent to discuss how goal-setting gave his life purpose in prison, and how those same goals allowed him to give back once out of prison. The post Finding purpose behind bars (with Chris Wilson) appeared first on American Enterprise Institute - AEI.

Computer technology and robotics are transforming the global economy in ways still not fully known. What implications does this have for the US workforce? The post Will technological advances transform work? appeared first on American Enterprise Institute - AEI.

Every year, 600,000 Americans are released from prison, and nearly two-thirds of them will be rearrested for new crimes within three years. Many attempts at reducing criminal recidivism have yielded disappointing results, leading researchers and policymakers to ask “what works” in improving the odds of a successful return to society? Brent Orrell is joined by […] The post What, if anything, works in prisoner reentry? appeared first on American Enterprise Institute - AEI.

Can the writings of an 18th century philosopher help the modern person find meaning and purpose? Before he wrote the Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith wrote another book, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, which helps us understand how a good life, one marked by both prosperity and personal happiness, is achieved.Join Brent Orrell and Ryan Hanley, a professor of political science at Boston College, for a discussion of his latest book “Our Great Purpose: Adam Smith on Living a Better Life (Princeton University Press, 2019)”. 

Babies begin learning from the moment they are born, absorbing and processing the world around them. However, their ability to process and understand large quantities of information diminishes over time. Research shows that if a child enters kindergarten behind, they are unlikely to catch up to their peers. Because of this, the early years of life are crucial to human capital development and our nation’s ability to maintain an efficient and productive workforce.In this episode, AEI Scholar Katharine Stevens and Brent discuss how quality child care is a form of workforce preparation.

Family is the seedbed of skill development for young children: relationships within the family influence a child’s development in all areas of their life. Furthermore, as family structure has morphed and shifted over the past few decades, so have the economic outcomes for children.In this episode, Brent Orrell hosts Alan Hawkins of Brigham Young University and W. Bradford Wilcox of AEI to discuss marriage, family life, and the economics of family formation. Join us as they discuss the impact of family structure on long-term outcomes for kids.

The success sequence shows that people who finish high school, work full-time, and marry before having children have a low chance of experiencing poverty. Yet fostering and developing those behaviors is complex and affected by countless external factors.In this episode, host Brent Orrell joins Isabell Sawhill of the Brookings Institution and Ian Rowe, a visiting fellow at AEI and Fordham Institute and cohost of AEI's "Are You Kidding Me?" podcast. Together, they discuss ways to help young people find and maintain pathways to success as they enter adulthood. 

Most people know that the human brain is divided into two hemispheres: the left brain and the right brain. But what purpose does this division serve, and how does it influence perception, behavior, economics, and culture?In this episode of "Hardly Working," host Brent Orrell is joined by Dr. Iain McGilchrist, author of "The Master and His Emissary," to discuss how the makeup of our brain influences our work and social lives. Dr. McGilchrist is a psychiatrist and professor of literature residing on the Isle of Skye in North West Scotland.

We know... do we really need another podcast in this world? How will this actually help us in our careers and lives?Host Brent Orrell explains what drove him to create Hardly Working, what this podcast provides, the experience he brings, and how he believes this podcast will make you a better worker, a better citizen, and a better person.

Whether you are working hard or hardly working, join AEI Resident Fellow Brent Orrell as he explores national trends and public policies affecting the vitality of the American workforce and how to prepare yourself for success in our rapidly-changing economy. And whatever else happens, we promise it will take your mind off of your job.Join Brent as he introduces the newest addition to the AEI Podcast Network: "Hardly Working."