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Lab Coat Optional™ podcast
On Lab Coat Optional™, host Pete Zrioka interviews ASU researchers at the forefront of their fields — minus the jargon. Leave your lab coat at the door and tune in to learn about the latest research from ASU.
Lab Coat Optional
Lab Coat Optional is the show where research is made relatable. Each episode, we dive into the research, the people behind it and why it matters. Tune in for smart, accessible conversations on the latest research from Arizona State University, released every other Wednesday.
We are a production of Knowledge Enterprise at ASU. Learn more at research.asu.edu.
The hidden side of national security — and not stealth planes! with Nadya Bliss
Nadya Bliss — executive director of the Advanced Capabilities for National Security Institute — explains how national security is more than tanks and battleships. She breaks down the vital role university research plays behind the scenes to anticipate emerging needs, strengthen infrastructure, accelerate innovation and quietly prevent conflict.
Further reading:
- Listen to Sources & Methods, NPR’s nat sec podcast
- Check out Phantom Orbit: A Thriller, by David Ignatius
Learn more about the Advanced Capabilities for National Security Institute at Arizona State University.
Lab Coat Optional is a production of the Strategic Marketing and Communications team at Arizona State University’s Knowledge Enterprise. Learn more about research and discovery at ASU on Instagram, LinkedIn and Bluesky or visit us at research.asu.edu.
Love the show? Give us a five star review on the podcast app of your choice!
Get in touch with us at [email protected].
Episode credits
Executive produced by Kate Howells
Produced by Alexander Chapin and Pete Zrioka
Hosted and reported by Pete Zrioka
Shot by Alexander Chapin
Edited by Alexander Chapin
Original music from Patrick Cheung
Motion graphics by Andy Ramos
Art by Andy Keena and Sophia Franz
Editorial support from Diane Boudreau
Social media management by Lauren Hebing and Kyler Litson
Disclosure:
Opinions expressed on this show reflect the views of the individuals only, not the policy or opinion of Arizona State University.
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Lab Coat Optional
Lab Coat Optional is the show where research is made relatable. Each episode, we dive into the research, the people behind it and why it matters. Tune in for smart, accessible conversations on the latest research from Arizona State University, released every other Wednesday.
We are a production of Knowledge Enterprise at ASU. Learn more at research.asu.edu.
ASU-Science Prize winners talk transforming messy datasets into solutions [BONUS]
Bonus episode!
Guest host Dr. Lara Ferry, vice president for research at ASU Knowledge Enterprise, talks with Meha Jain, of the University of Michigan and Mayank Kejriwal, of the University of Southern California, the inaugural winners of the ASU-Science Prize for Transformational Impact, presented by ASU and Science.
Further reading:
Learn more about AAAS and follow on LinkedIn, Instagram and Bluesky. Consider becoming a member, too!
Lab Coat Optional is a production of the Strategic Marketing and Communications team at ASU’s Knowledge Enterprise. Learn more about research at ASU on Instagram, LinkedIn and Bluesky or visit us at research.asu.edu.
Get in touch with us at [email protected].
Episode credits
Executive produced by Kate Howells
Produced by Alexander Chapin, Pete Zrioka and Carrie Herrera Niesen
Hosted by Lara Ferry
Shot by Alexander Chapin
Edited by Quinton Kendall and Alexander Chapin
Original music from Patrick Cheung
Motion graphics by Andy Ramos
Art by Andy Keena and Sophia Franz
Social media by Lauren Hebing and Kyler Litson
Special thanks to Sally C. Morton
![ASU-Science Prize winners talk transforming messy datasets into solutions [BONUS]](https://media.rss.com/lab-coat-optional/ep_cover_20260212_090240_1494c18e56a7f82fe42bd06547400eaa.png)
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Lab Coat Optional
Lab Coat Optional is the show where research is made relatable. Each episode, we dive into the research, the people behind it and why it matters. Tune in for smart, accessible conversations on the latest research from Arizona State University, released every other Wednesday.
We are a production of Knowledge Enterprise at ASU. Learn more at research.asu.edu.
The power — and limits — of labor action with Michael McQuarrie [BONUS]
Bonus episode!
You might’ve heard about a “shutdown” last week on January 30. Organizers urged people in the U.S. not to work, go to school or spend money at all to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement. But what is a shutdown, really? How is it different from a strike, or a protest — and what effect do these actions have?
In this bonus episode, sociologist and director of ASU’s Center for Work and Democracy Michael McQuarrie explains the significance of the labor action stemming from Minneapolis, and how it fits into the historical context of the American labor movement.
Disclaimer:
Opinions expressed on this show reflect the views of the individuals only, not the policy or opinion of Arizona State University.
Further reading:
- Strike! by Jeremy Brecher
- Street Rebellion: Resistance Beyond Violence and Nonviolence by Benjamin Case
- Popular Contention in Great Britain by Charles Tilly
- Breaking the Barrier: The Rise of Solidarity in Poland by Lawrence Goodwin
The last two books are out of print and therefore quite expensive — check your local library!
Learn more about the Center for Work and Democracy at Arizona State University.
Lab Coat Optional is a production of the Strategic Marketing and Communications team at Arizona State University’s Knowledge Enterprise. Learn more about research and discovery at ASU on Instagram and LinkedIn, or visit us at research.asu.edu.
Love the show? Give us a five star review on the podcast app of your choice!
Get in touch with us at [email protected].
Episode credits
Executive produced by Kate Howells
Produced by Alexander Chapin and Pete Zrioka
Hosted and reported by Pete Zrioka
Shot by Alexander Chapin
Edited by Alexander Chapin and Quinton Kendall
Original music from Patrick Cheung
Motion graphics by Andy Ramos
Art by Andy Keena and Sophia Franz
Editorial support from Diane Boudreau
Social media management by Lauren Hebing and Kyler Litson
![The power — and limits — of labor action with Michael McQuarrie [BONUS]](https://media.rss.com/lab-coat-optional/ep_cover_20260206_110209_d4402b39237f2fe734cff53aea9bc28b.png)
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Knowledge Enterprise in the news
ASU, Refried Apparel partner to upcycle clothing destined for landfills
ASU and Refried Apparel first announced their partnership just over a year ago, saving and revamping hundreds of pounds of unsold merchandise into new gear to sell on campus.
Read on kold.comASU Unveils 2026 Build Plan
From a next-generation medical school building in downtown Phoenix to large-scale student housing redevelopment and arena renovations, ASU continues to invest in students.
Read on constructionowners.comArizona universities tackle abandoned mine risks with new tools
These developments are providing state environmental officials with unprecedented clarity and insight, enhancing efforts to protect public health and the environment.
Read on kvoa.comLow mortgage rates keep owners in their houses longer
Mark Stapp, Director of Masters in Real Estate Development at the W. P. Carey School of Business at ASU, joins PBS discussing how low mortgage rates affect the economy.
Read on azpbs.orgASU student group brings hands-on science to local elementary classrooms
Run primarily by undergraduate volunteers, the club focuses on inquiry-based experiments designed to make science accessible and engaging for young learners.
Read on statepress.comASU Police Department testing electric patrol trucks in Tempe
The Arizona State University Police Department recently launched a six-month pilot program to determine if EVs meet the demands of modern policing and reduce long term costs.
Read on azfamily.comMedia inquiries
Sandy Keaton Leander
Assistant Director, Media Relations
ASU Knowledge Enterprise
[email protected]
480-727-3396
ASU Media Relations and Strategic Communications
[email protected]
480-965-3502
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