We Mean Business

Parasocial relationships in the age of social media

In this episode, Ananya Bhargava interviews Lauren Auverset, Assistant Professor of Strategic Communication at the University of Louisiana. The discussion explores the historical context and evolution of parasocial relationships, the rise of influencer culture across new media platforms, and influencer responsibility and ethical standards in an online world.

Personalized persuasion and the role of AI

In this episode, Ananya Bhargava interviews Jacob Teeny, Associate Professor of Marketing at Northwestern University. The discussion explores personalized persuasion, the difference between persuasion and manipulation, AI’s role in automating advertising, and the ethical and societal implications of these changes.

How corporate pressure and silence lead to ethical collapse

In this episode, Quỳnh Lê interviews Marianne Jennings, an emeritus professor of legal and ethical studies in business at Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business. The discussion looks at business ethics, corporate responsibility and how to spot the signs of ethical trouble before things fall apart.
 
Source note: The introduction includes brief archival audio about Boeing, Wells Fargo and FTX, from public YouTube recordings.

This has to be rage bait: Outrage-driven engagement on social media

In this episode, Ananya Bhargava interviews Daniel Mochon, Associate Professor of Marketing at Tulane University. The discussion explores the confrontation effect in consumer behavior, why content that sparks outrage is so effective at driving engagement, and whether a healthier online environment is possible in the future.

Nostalgia marketing: When the past becomes a strategy

In this episode, Ananya Bhargava interviews Evan Weingarten, Assistant Professor of Marketing at USC Marshall School of Business. The discussion explores why nostalgia strikes a chord wxith consumers, how it influences buying decisions and brand perception, and what behavioral research reveals about its psychological pull.

The subscription trap and the cost of consumer inertia

In this episode, Ananya Bhargava interviews Benjamin Klopack, an Assistant Professor of Economics at Texas A&M University. The discussion tackles how subscription models shape consumer behavior and how proposed regulations may affect consumer protection going forward.

Capturing the reality of underinsurance: The visual work behind “Burned”

In this edition of We Mean Business: “How They Did It,” Ananya Bhargava talks to Brontë Wittpenn about her recent award-winning coverage on the systemic use of a flawed estimator tool, 360Value, that leaves homeowners drastically underinsured. “Burned” won the 2025 Gold prize in the Barlett and Steele Awards Regional/Local category. Visit the San Francisco Chronicle to read their investigation or businessjournalism.org/awards to view all the 2025 winners.

Alexa York’s debut investigation uncovers radioactive contamination in Luckey, Ohio

In this episode of How They Did It, Quỳnh Lê talks with Alexa York, winner of the 2025 Barlett & Steele Award for Outstanding Young Journalist. York shares how her investigation at The Blade revealed radioactive groundwater contamination in Luckey, Ohio, a discovery that led to state and federal action. Now a graduate student at Columbia University, she reflects on what it took to report the story and what she’s still working to uncover.

Faulty estimates, widespread losses: Inside San Francisco Chronicle reporters’ investigation of underinsurance and its impact

In this edition of We Mean Business: “How They Did It,” Ananya Bhargava interviews Megan Fan Munce and Susie Neilson about their recent award-winning investigation “Burned.” This investigation highlights the systemic use of a flawed estimator tool, 360Value, that leaves homeowners drastically underinsured. The reporters showed that 360Value relies on outdated and incomplete data that consistently understates the actual cost of rebuilding homes, often by hundreds of thousands of dollars. 
Their series won the 2025 Gold prize in the Barlett and Steele Awards Regional/Local category. Visit the San Francisco Chronicle to read their investigation or businessjournalism.org/awards to view all the 2025 winners.

Student athletes or university employees? The shifting status – and compensation – of college athletes

Since 2021, college athletes have been able to profit off their name, image and likeness (NIL) through brand deals and endorsements. However, starting July 1, 2025, due to a legal settlement with the NCAA, athletes will be able to be paid directly through their universities. This brings up a lot of new questions about the business of college sports. 
In this episode, George Headley speaks with journalist Laine Higgins about the future of college sports as she sees it. Higgins has been covering the NIL era of college sports for the Wall Street Journal for the past few years and has closely watched the myriad of changes in real time. Here is what she has to say about her experience and what other reporters can expect to see moving forward.