Progress Report: Vatican City Runs on Pure Sunshine

Progress Report: Vatican City Runs on Pure Sunshine

Author: The Progress Network with Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas June 6, 2025 Duration: 15:30
On this week's Progress Report, Zachary and Emma explore news stories that highlight human progress, from a university student’s discovery of a fungus related to LSD to a breakthrough in HIV research that could lead to a cure. Also, there’s more power and less murder, as Vatican City is running completely on solar energy while Brazil has reported a drop in recorded homicides.

It’s easy to feel that everything is falling apart, but what if the dominant narrative of decline is missing a crucial piece of the story? What Could Go Right? asks that question directly, offering a necessary counterpoint to the daily drumbeat of crises. Hosted by The Progress Network’s Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas, this podcast operates from a simple but radical premise: while the problems are real, so is the human capacity for ingenuity and constructive change. Each episode brings together a diverse group of thinkers, from scientists and activists to policymakers and cultural commentators, for conversations that go beyond diagnosing issues to exploring tangible solutions and underreported advances. You’ll hear nuanced discussions on everything from climate technology and economic innovation to the reshaping of governance and culture, all grounded in a realistic sense of possibility. This isn’t about blind optimism; it’s about engaged, evidence-based hope. Tuning in means joining a community that believes understanding what’s working is just as important as understanding what’s broken. If you’re weary of doomscrolling and looking for substantive dialogue that charts a path forward, this is the podcast for you.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

What Could Go Right?
Podcast Episodes
The Progress Report: Child Labor Drops by 100 Million [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:31
On this week’s Progress Report, Emma is going solo with the news. Discover how global child labor has nearly halved since 2000, why alarming disaster statistics might be more about better data than a world in crisis, and…
The Capitalism Conundrum with John Cassidy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:14
Does capitalism deserve its bad rap? Zachary and Emma speak with John Cassidy, longtime staff writer at The New Yorker and author of several acclaimed books on economics, including his recent work, Capitalism and Its Cri…
The Progress Report: With or Without the U.S. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:17
This week on The Progress Report, Zachary and Emma cut through the noise of a turbulent news week to spotlight stories of real progress. From the historic UN ocean treaty poised to protect international waters, to shifti…
Judicial vs. Executive: Preventing a King with Jeffrey Rosen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:13
How is the Constitution interpreted today? Zachary and Emma speak with Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center and host of its “We the People” podcast. Jeffrey is also a law professor at Geor…
Democrats: What the Heck Happened? with Jaime Harrison [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:05
What do Democrats do next? Zachary and Emma speak with Jaime Harrison, lawyer and former chair of the Democratic National Committee. Jaime discusses Joe Biden’s 2024 candidacy and Kamala Harris’ nomination, the roles and…
The Progress Report: The US Says 'I Don't' to Child Marriage [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:23
In this week’s Progress Report, Emma brings you the inspiring good news stories you might have missed. Discover how states across the U.S. are raising the minimum age for marriage, with Maine’s new law creating a “New En…
Introducing: The Ongoing Transformation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:47
Today we’re sharing an episode of a podcast called The Ongoing Transformation. It’s a biweekly podcast featuring conversations about science, technology, policy, and society. They speak with interesting thinkers—leading…
The Progress Report: Crime Plummets in 2025! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:17
On this week's Progress Report, Zachary and Emma serve up a fresh batch of good news you probably missed: U.S. crime rates are dropping to record lows, a bold new law is aimed at taking down revenge porn and AI deepfakes…
The View from Canada with David Frum [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:00
What does Canada think about Donald Trump’s America? Zachary and Emma speak with David Frum, author, staff writer at The Atlantic, political commentator, and former speechwriter for President George W. Bush. A Canadian A…
The Progress Report: Would You Let Snakes Bite You for Science? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:49
On this week's Progress Report, Zachary and Emma break down some surprising stories of progress, from China’s clean energy boom finally driving down emissions, to Hungary’s unexpected rise as a solar power leader, to a d…