Episodes

Sunday Jul 10, 2022
Michael Ford on the Pracademic, Regional Schools, and MPAC
Sunday Jul 10, 2022
Sunday Jul 10, 2022
Josie talks with Dr. Michael Ford from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. In this episode, Dr. Ford talks about his path to academia and his experience as a locally elected leader. He also talks about the Midwest Public Affairs Conference, the opportunities of teaching and researching at a regional school, and the value of applied research.
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Follow the podcast on Facebook and Twitter: @AcademicsofPA
Follow the hosts on Twitter:
Bruce McDonald: @academicpiracy
Josie Schafer: @SchaferJosie

Thursday Mar 26, 2020
Thursday Mar 26, 2020
On this episode, join Bruce for an interview with Drs. Pamela Herd and Donald Moynihan from Georgetown University. Drs. Herd and Moynihan talk about their experience working together and finding collaborations for research. They also discuss the the importance of a research agenda that is both exploitative and exploratory in nature, as well as the challenge of the publishing timeline and the difficulty of work-life balance.
References from the Episode:
- Julian Christensen, Lene Aaroe, Martin Baekgaard, Pamela Herd, Donald P. Moynihan. (2019). Human Capital and Administrative Burden: The Role of Cognitive Resources in Citizen-State Interactions.
- Mark S. Granovetter. (1977). The Strength of Weak Ties.
- Pamela Herd, et al. (2019). Genes, Gender Inequality, and Educational Attainment.
Subscribe to Academics of PA today! New episodes drop every other Thursday.
Follow the podcast on Facebook and Twitter: @AcademicsofPA
Follow the hosts on Twitter:
Bruce McDonald: @academicpiracy
William Hatcher: @ProfHat
Josie Schafer: @SchaferJosie

Thursday Dec 05, 2019
Irene Rubin on Being a Woman in Academia, Managing a Research Agenda, and Finding PA
Thursday Dec 05, 2019
Thursday Dec 05, 2019
On this episode, join Josie for an interview with Dr. Irene Rubin from Northern Illinois University. Dr. Rubin talks about her experience as a woman in academia and the pressure to exceed others that was placed upon her, as well as her approach to working on a research agenda and finding meaningful questions and research. She also discusses her journey to finding public administration as a discipline and her experience as the only female editor for Public Administration Review.
References from the Episode:
- Herbert J. Rubin and Irene S. Rubin. (2011). Qualitative Interviewing: The Art of Hearing Data.
Subscribe to Academics of PA today! New episodes drop every other Thursday.
Follow the podcast on Facebook and Twitter: @AcademicsofPA
Follow the hosts on Twitter:
Bruce McDonald: @academicpiracy
William Hatcher: @ProfHat
Josie Schafer: @SchaferJosie

Thursday Oct 31, 2019
Hannah Lebovits and Donta Council on The PhD Experience
Thursday Oct 31, 2019
Thursday Oct 31, 2019
On this episode, join Josie and Will for a conversation with Hannah Lebovits from Cleveland State University and Donta Council from Old Dominion University and American University. Hannah and Donta will talk about their experience as Ph.D. students in public administration, their efforts to engage the field, and the needs that Ph.D. students in today's society face.
Subscribe to Academics of PA today! New episodes drop every other Thursday.
Follow the podcast on Facebook and Twitter: @AcademicsofPA
Follow the hosts on Twitter:
Bruce McDonald: @academicpiracy
William Hatcher: @ProfHat
Josie Schafer: @SchaferJosie

Thursday Jun 13, 2019
John Mikesell on Taxation, Government Coercion, and Being an Actor
Thursday Jun 13, 2019
Thursday Jun 13, 2019
Join Bruce and Josie for an interview with Dr. John Mikesell from Indiana University. Dr. Mikesell talks about the importance of teach skills to MPA students and the dictating of his book, Fiscal Administration. He also talks about the role of thinking about the importance of research questions and the underlying understanding of data that we use to address those questions.
References from the Show:
- John Mikesell (2017). Fiscal Administration.
- Aaron Wildavsky and Naomi Caiden (2003). The New Politics of the Budgetary Process.
Subscribe to Academics of PA today! New episodes drop every other Thursday.
Follow the podcast on Facebook and Twitter: @AcademicsofPA
Follow the hosts on Twitter:
Bruce McDonald: @academicpiracy
William Hatcher: @ProfHat
Josie Schafer: @SchaferJosie

Thursday May 30, 2019
Mary Guy on Knowing Who You Are, Having a Balance, and Showing Dogs
Thursday May 30, 2019
Thursday May 30, 2019
On this episode, join Bruce and Josie for an interview with Dr. Mary Guy from the University of Colorado Denver. Dr. Guy talks about the importance of work experience as a way of understanding the pressures faced in public service and how, in the absence of new ideas, we need to take the ideas that we have and package them for today and tomorrows problems. She also talks about the importance of work-life balance and the necessity to maintain hobbies in order to have an escape and to keep active from burning out.
References from the Show:
- Richard C. Kearney and Jerrell Coggburn (2015). Public Human Resource Management: Problems and Prospects.
Subscribe to Academics of PA today! New episodes drop every other Thursday.
Follow the podcast on Facebook and Twitter: @AcademicsofPA
Follow the hosts on Twitter:
Bruce McDonald: @academicpiracy
William Hatcher: @ProfHat
Josie Schafer: @SchaferJosie

Thursday Apr 18, 2019
Camilla Stivers on the Right Answers, Paradigms, and Having an Impact
Thursday Apr 18, 2019
Thursday Apr 18, 2019
On this episode, join Bruce and Josie for an interview with Dr. Camilla Stivers from Cleveland State University. Dr. Stivers talks about her experience working with community health organizations and decision to pursue a PhD and an academic career. She also talks about the importance of asking the big questions and finding the right answers, having an impact on the field of public administration, and her decision to become a theorist.
References from the Show:
- Gibson Burrell and Gareth Morgan. (1979). Sociological Paradigms and Organizational Analysis.
- Camilla Stivers. (2000). Bureau Men, Settlement Women.
- Camilla Stivers. (2002). Gender Images in Public Administration.
- Dwight Waldo. (2006). The Administrative State.
Subscribe to Academics of PA today! New episodes drop every other Thursday.
Follow the podcast on Facebook and Twitter: @AcademicsofPA
Follow the hosts on Twitter:
Bruce McDonald: @academicpiracy
William Hatcher: @ProfHat
Josie Schafer: @SchaferJosie

Wednesday Mar 20, 2019
Donald Kettl on Trust in Government, Lice, and Having No Plan
Wednesday Mar 20, 2019
Wednesday Mar 20, 2019
Join Bruce and Will in this episode as they talk with Dr. Donald Kettl from the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Kettl talks about his writing process and having no academic career plan, instead choosing projects that are both fun for him and useful for practitioners. He also talks about issues of trust in government and how the issue of trust may be one of perspective.
References from the Show:
- Donald Kettl (2013). System Under Stress: The Challenge to the 21st Century Governance.
- Donald Kettl (1986). Leadership at the Fed.
Subscribe to Academics of PA today! New episodes drop every other Thursday.
Follow the podcast on Twitter: @AcademicsofPA
Follow the hosts on Twitter:
Bruce McDonald: @academicpiracy
William Hatcher: @ProfHat
Josie Schafer: @SchaferJosie

Thursday Mar 07, 2019
James Perry on Twins, Taking Risks, and Work-Life Balance
Thursday Mar 07, 2019
Thursday Mar 07, 2019
On this episode, join Bruce and Josie for an interview with Dr. James Perry from Indiana University. Dr. Perry talks about the public service motivation instilled in him by his parents and how his twin brother provided a connection to the practice of public administration that informed his research. He also talks about the difficulty of maintaining work-life balance and the importance of taking risks in careers and research.
References from the Show:
- John Perry, (2010). Blueprint for Building Community: Leadership Insights for Good Government.
- James L. Perry and Lois Recascino Wise (1990). The Motivational Bases of Public Service.
- James L. Perry, Trent A. Engbers, and So Yun Jun. (2009). Back to the Future? Performance-Related Pay, Empirical Research, and the Perils of Persistence.
- James L. Perry. (2019). The Journal of Public Affairs Education at 25: An Agenda for the Future.
Subscribe to Academics of PA today! New episodes drop every other Thursday.
Follow the podcast on Twitter: @AcademicsofPA
Follow the hosts on Twitter:
Bruce McDonald: @academicpiracy
William Hatcher: @ProfHat
Josie Schafer: @SchaferJosie