Disagree with a Professor
What happens when students who’ve done their homework sit down with the people who literally wrote the textbook — and disagree?
Disagree With a Professor is a podcast from the University of Virginia where student hosts do exactly that. Every episode, they sit down with an academic expert who has spent their career on one of the hardest questions in politics, psychology, law, history, or culture. The hosts come prepared, come curious, and come ready to push back.
Not to be provocative. Not to score points. Because they genuinely believe that’s how you actually learn something.
We’ve been told since grade school that disagreeing with an expert is rude. Maybe even arrogant. This show is built on the belief that it’s actually the opposite, that asking hard questions is a form of respect, and that changing your mind in public is a sign of intellectual courage, not weakness.
Episodes have covered:
• Terrorism law and the line between ideology and crime (former NYPD special counsel)
• Whether American isolationism is an economic and political dead end (political economist)
• Military conscription — and a former Green Beret who spent 25 years arguing for the draft, then changed his mind
• The psychology of your defining decade — and why life actually gets better with every decade, even if that’s incomprehensible to anyone in their 20s
The hosts don’t always walk away agreeing with the professor. Sometimes they don’t even agree with each other. But they always walk away with a new perspective.
Disagree With a Professor is created by Think Again, with production support from Awkward Sage Media.
New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.
Find us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thinkagain.uva/
Listen on:
Episodes
8 hours ago
8 hours ago
What separates murder from terrorism? When does surveillance technology protect us versus invade our privacy?
In this episode, UVA students Peter McHugh, Lidia Zur Muhlen, and Makayla Castle sit down with Professor Ashley Waters-Gundersen. Gundersen, a UVA School of Law lecturer and former special counsel for Intelligence Affairs with the New York City Police Department, to tackle two of the most controversial legal questions of our time.
Part 1: The Luigi Mangione CaseProfessor Waters-Gundersen explains why she believes Luigi Mangione's alleged murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson constitutes terrorism under New York state law—even though a judge dismissed those charges. The conversation explores:
What legally qualifies as "terrorism" vs. murder
How ideology and intent shape criminal prosecution
The three legal bases for terrorism charges (you only need one)
Why this statute is rarely invoked and what that means for precedent
Whether violent protestors with political aims could face similar charges
Part 2: Facial Recognition in Law Enforcement Drawing from her NYPD experience, Professor Waters-Gundersen makes a surprising argument: properly regulated facial recognition technology can enhance civil liberties rather than erode them. Topics include:
Why eyewitness testimony is notoriously unreliable
The guardrails needed to prevent surveillance technology abuse
How private companies already use facial recognition (and why that matters)
When it's justified to monitor someone who hasn't committed a crime
Comparing U.S. law enforcement practices to mass surveillance models abroad
Key Moments:
The judge's decision to dismiss terrorism charges—and why Professor Waters-Gundersen disagrees
"If you have a violent criminal act motivated by ideology, that's textbook terrorism"
Why limiting facial recognition to mugshot databases might actually be less fair
The students push back: "Don't you think the line gets blurry with ideology?"
A rare moment of minds changing: when students reconsider their surveillance stance
About Our Guest: Professor Ashley Waters-Gundersen is a lecturer at UVA School of Law, teaching courses on balancing public safety and civil liberties. Before joining UVA, she served as special counsel for Intelligence Affairs with the New York City Police Department and later as counsel to the NYPD Police Commissioner.
This episode demonstrates what civil discourse looks like—students engaging respectfully with expertise while maintaining critical thinking, admitting when they've changed their minds, and proving that "no legal expertise" doesn't mean you can't participate in important conversations.
TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Introduction and Guest Introduction 01:00 - Luigi Mangione Case Discussion Begins 02:00 - Legal Definitions: Second vs First Degree Murder 04:00 - The Terrorism Enhancement Explained 05:00 - Debate on Terrorism Charges and Intent 07:00 - The Role of Manifesto and Evidence 08:00 - Political Motive vs Personal Vendetta 12:00 - Precedent Concerns: What Counts as Terrorism? 15:00 - Case Studies: Terrorism Charges Success & Failure 18:00 - The Judge's Decision and What It Means 20:00 - Facial Recognition Technology in Law Enforcement 22:00 - Ethical and Privacy Concerns 25:00 - Guardrails and Policy Implementation 28:00 - Mass Surveillance vs Targeted Investigation 31:00 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts
ABOUT DISAGREE WITH A PROFESSOR: The podcast where UVA students overcome academic intimidation by having lunch-table conversations with professors and experts. Each episode tackles controversial topics through civil discourse and respectful disagreement.
Hosted by Peter McHugh, Lidia Zur Muhlen, and Makayla Castle.
SUPPORT THE SHOW: ⭐ Rate and review on Apple Podcasts 🔔 Subscribe for new episodes 📤 Share with someone who loves a good debate
Music: "Dispersion Relation" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 LicenseDisagree With a Professor is created by Think Again at the University of Virginia, with production support from Awkward Sage Media.Connect with us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinkagain.uva/
Monday Apr 06, 2026
Monday Apr 06, 2026
In this thought-provoking episode of Disagree With A Professor, UVA students Peter McHugh, Lidia Zur Muhlen, and Makayla Castle sit down with Professor David Leblang to tackle one of the most contentious debates in American politics: isolationism versus globalization.
Professor Leblang, the Miller Center's Randolph P. Compton Professor and Director of Policy Research, brings decades of expertise in political economy to challenge the growing isolationist sentiment in American politics. His opening statement is bold: "Isolationism leads to political and economic failure."
But the conversation quickly moves beyond simple talking points. The hosts push back with real concerns about globalization's losers—the steel workers in Pennsylvania, the communities left behind by outsourcing, and the domestic workers competing with foreign labor. They explore whether America's government has a duty to prioritize domestic winners over international ones, even if it means lower aggregate prosperity.
Key Topics Explored:
The economic case for and against isolationism
Trump's tariff policies and "Liberation Day"
Winners and losers in global trade
International students and H-1B visas
The hidden costs of in-state vs. out-of-state tuition
Why UVA relies on international student tuition
Automation, AI, and the future of white-collar jobs
Whether professors will become obsolete
The irreplaceable value of place-based education
The conversation takes unexpected turns—from debating whether we should "staple H-1B visas to diplomas" to discussing why coding jobs might disappear faster than construction jobs. Professor Leblang makes a surprising prediction: white-collar and blue-collar workers will soon have more aligned political preferences due to technology, not trade.
In a particularly timely segment, they dissect the Trump administration's attempted ban on international students and its practical consequences for universities already struggling with state funding cuts. Leblang reveals how foreign students effectively subsidize in-state tuition—a fact most students don't know.
The episode concludes on a surprisingly hopeful note about education's future, with Leblang arguing that while many of his teaching methods may become obsolete, the residential university experience offers something AI can never replicate: human connection, critical discourse, and the humility that comes from engaging with diverse perspectives.
This is civil discourse at its best—respectful disagreement, nuanced arguments, and genuine curiosity about complex policy questions that affect all of us.
Guest: Professor David Leblang, Miller Center's Randolph P. Compton Professor and Director of Policy Research; Ambassador Henry J. Taylor and Mrs. Marion R. Taylor Endowed Professor of Politics; Professor of Public Policy at UVA's Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy
Hosts: Peter McHugh, Lidia Zur Muhlen, Makayla Castle
Music: "Dispersion Relation" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 LicenseDisagree With a Professor is created by Think Again at the University of Virginia, with production support from Awkward Sage Media.Connect with us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinkagain.uva/
Monday Apr 06, 2026
Monday Apr 06, 2026
Could mandatory military service unite a divided America—or make things worse?
UVA students debate Professor Allan Stam, former Green Beret and distinguished political scientist, on military conscription, national service, and whether forcing young Americans into uniform would build character or destroy creativity.
In This Episode:
Professor Stam's journey from college dropout to Special Forces to Yale PhD
Should every American serve for 2 years?
How national service could combat political polarization
The reality for women in the military
Why 90% of people join the military (it's not patriotism)
Can forced service create genuine patriotism?
Economic feasibility of mandatory service in America
Why the professor completely changed his mind over 25 years
About Our Guest: Dr. Alllan Stam is Distinguished University Professor at UVA's Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. Before his academic career, he served as a Green Beret in Special Forces. He holds a PhD from Yale and has published five books on war and international conflict.
Keywords: military conscription, mandatory service, national service, draft debate, political polarization, veterans, Green Beret, civic engagement, UVA
Follow Disagree with a Professor: Instagram: @thinkagain.uva Twitter: @thinkagain.uva Website: thinkagainuva.com
Email: sarah@thinkagainuva.com
Disagree with a Professor is a student-led podcast from the University of Virginia demonstrating how to have intellectual conversations across differences.
Music: "Dispersion Relation" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 LicenseDisagree With a Professor is created by Think Again at the University of Virginia, with production support from Awkward Sage Media.Connect with us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinkagain.uva/
Monday Apr 06, 2026
Monday Apr 06, 2026
Are the college years truly the best of your life, or are you being sold an expensive bill of goods? In this thought-provoking episode, UVA students Peter, Lydia, and McKayla sit down with Dr. Meg Jay—developmental clinical psychologist, bestselling author of The Defining Decade, and UVA faculty member—to wrestle with two competing cultural narratives about college.
Dr. Jay challenges the hosts to think critically about what they're really getting from their $250,000 education. The conversation explores everything from the pressure to pick "profitable" majors to the sink-or-swim advising culture at major universities. They debate whether college should be transactional (get degree → get job) or transformational (become a better thinker and person).
The students get refreshingly honest about their experiences: the privilege of independence without responsibility, the anxiety about whether their degrees will actually pay off, and the reality that nobody talks to their advisors. Dr. Jay pushes back with data showing life actually gets better with each decade (despite what that drunk restaurant worker told Peter), and argues that "durable skills" matter more than your major.
Key topics include:
Why college advising systems are fundamentally broken
The difference between return on investment and personal transformation
Whether humanity majors are "wasting" their tuition
How colleges could better help students avoid wasting their money
The "your life is your fault" philosophy vs. institutional responsibility
This episode is essential listening for any college student questioning their path, any parent wondering if they're throwing money away, and anyone who wants to understand what this generation is really experiencing on campus.
Music: "Dispersion Relation" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 LicenseDisagree With a Professor is created by Think Again at the University of Virginia, with production support from Awkward Sage Media.Connect with us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinkagain.uva/
Saturday Mar 28, 2026
Saturday Mar 28, 2026
What do terrorism law, American isolationism, the military draft, and the psychology of your 20s have in common?
They’re all things a University of Virginia professor has spent their career on — and three UVA students were brave enough to disagree with them, respectfully, on microphone.
Welcome to Disagree With a Professor. Hosts Peter McHugh, Lidia Zur Muhlen, and Makayla Castle sit down each episode with a leading academic and push back on their ideas. Not to be difficult. Because they’ve done their homework, and they believe that’s how you actually learn.
In this trailer, you’ll hear from:
• A former NYPD special counsel on what makes something terrorism
• A political economist on why isolationism is America’s biggest economic risk
• A former Green Beret who changed his mind about the military draft
• A psychologist who will change how you think about your 20s
Subscribe now. New episodes coming soon.
Music: "Dispersion Relation" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 LicenseDisagree With a Professor is created by Think Again at the University of Virginia, with production support from Awkward Sage Media.Connect with us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinkagain.uva/