Recorded in front of a live audience at Northwestern University, Sepehr and Mike welcome renowned stand-up, actress and podcaster, Zainab Johnson, and esteemed professor of African American Studies, kihana maraya ross. The group discusses Trump's continued attacks on universities like Northwestern, balancing resistance and joy, and maintaining self-awareness in comedy.

Originally recorded on April 3rd, 2025.

Tap the link in bio to listen now on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you pod. #PCWBpodcast

Sepehr & Mike have an impromptu convo to catch up on the recent grant terminations by the Trump administration, and how they are affecting their work, Northwestern, and academia at-large.

Tap the link in bio to listen now on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you pod. #PCWBpodcast

This week on PCWB, we’re diving into the state of journalism today and if artificial intelligence has a place, segregation versus self-selection, and everyone's current fave hot topic, the cost of eggs, with Senior Lecturer & Director of Audio Journalism Programming at Northwestern, Natalie Y. Moore - @southsideloislane.

Tap the link in bio to listen now on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you pod. #PCWBpodcast

It's Women's History month, and Sepehr & Mike talk with statistician Elizabeth Tipton on why finding your people and building community is a necessity when working in STEM as a woman. Plus, they explore America's volatile engineering pool in the new Trump administration, and exploring the idea of Intelligent vs Smart in academic spaces.

Listen to A Professor and a Comedian Walk into a Bar wherever you get your podcasts and watch new episodes on YouTube.

Follow us on Instagram: pcwbchicago

Hosts: Mike Knight & Sepehr Vakil

Guest: Elizabeth Tipton

Producer: Raphael Nash

A Professor and a Comedian Walk into a Bar

✅ TUNE IN ✅ 🚀 In Episode 7: Is America still appealing to immigrants? Is Trump undoing history? What does black conservatism look like these days?

In our 7th episode Mike and Sepehr chat with Professor Saida Grundy and comedian Clark Jones about racism and the black perspective under the current administration. Tune in!

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Thank you for supporting our channel, Please share this video on your social media to spread awareness. We appreciate the support!

LINKS

https://open.spotify.com/show/3f90N4O6Ffnf0OwFnT2oaA?si=d9d88c0bcdf047b6 (https://open.spotify.com/show/3f90N4O6Ffnf0OwFnT2oaA?si=d9d88c0bcdf047b6)(https://open.spotify.com/show/3f90N4O6Ffnf0OwFnT2oaA?si=d9d88c0bcdf047b6 (https://open.spotify.com/show/3f90N4O6Ffnf0OwFnT2oaA?si=d9d88c0bcdf047b6))

MIKE'S WEBSITE:

👉 https://www.mikeknightcomedy.com/ (https://www.mikeknightcomedy.com/)

(

https://www.mikeknightcomedy.com/ (https://www.mikeknightcomedy.com/)

)

LINK TO SEPEHR'S FACULTY PROFILE:

👉 (

https://sites.northwestern.edu/sepehrvakil/ (https://sites.northwestern.edu/sepehrvakil/)

(

https://sites.northwestern.edu/sepehrvakil/ (https://sites.northwestern.edu/sepehrvakil/)

)

)

A Professor and a Comedian Walk into a Bar

This episode was recorded before the 2024 election

✅ TUNE IN ✅ 🚀 In Episode 6: How much do you know about our current carceral system? Is the privatization of prisons helping or hurting the actual prisoners? What does real prison reform look like?

In our 6th episode Mike and Sepehr chat with Professor Julissa Muniz and comedians Kathryn Gongaware and Kyrie Da Comic about prison, policies and politics. Tune in!

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✅ 🚀 Stay Up To Date with all of our content and upcoming guests

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Thank you for supporting our channel, Please share this video on your social media to spread awareness. We appreciate the support!

LINKS

https://open.spotify.com/show/3f90N4O6Ffnf0OwFnT2oaA?si=d9d88c0bcdf047b6 (https://open.spotify.com/show/3f90N4O6Ffnf0OwFnT2oaA?si=d9d88c0bcdf047b6)

MIKE'S WEBSITE:

👉 https://www.mikeknightcomedy.com/ (https://www.mikeknightcomedy.com/)

LINK TO SEPEHR'S FACULTY PROFILE:

👉 (

https://sites.northwestern.edu/sepehrvakil/ (https://sites.northwestern.edu/sepehrvakil/)

)

A Professor and a Comedian Walk into a Bar

✅ TUNE IN ✅ 🚀 In Episode 5: How is AI affecting education? What are Trump’s contributions to the border crisis? How different is Institutionalism vs Gentrification?

In our 5th episode Mike and Sepehr chat with Professor Alex Hannah and comedian David Donnick about election predictions and what’s best for America. Tune in!

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✅ 🚀 Stay Up To Date with all of our content and upcoming guests

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╠╗║╚╝║║╠╗║╚╣║║║║║═╣

╚═╩══╩═╩═╩═╩╝╚╩═╩═╝

Thank you for supporting our channel, Please share this video on your social media to spread awareness. We appreciate the support!

LINKS

https://open.spotify.com/show/3f90N4O6Ffnf0OwFnT2oaA?si=d9d88c0bcdf047b6

MIKE'S WEBSITE:

👉 https://www.mikeknightcomedy.com/

LINK TO SEPEHR'S FACULTY PROFILE:

👉 (https://sites.northwestern.edu/sepehrvakil/)

A Professor and a Comedian Walk into a Bar

✅ 🔥 ► 🎓 A Professor and a Comedian Walk Into a Bar, PCWB, is a podcast co-hosted by Chicago comedian and comedy producer Mike Knight, and Sepehr Vakil, an Associate Professor in the School of Education and Social Policy at Northwestern University. PCWB is co-produced by a phenomenal group of undergraduate students from Northwestern University, and executive-produced by filmmaker and DePaul Professor Raphael Nash, MFA. PCWB is a highly original project born out of a desire to merge the worlds of academia and comedy, and have honest, informed, and engaging conversations about the complex cultural, political, and scientific issues that impact all of our lives. Tune in, subscribe, and share!

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✅ TUNE IN ✅ 🚀 In Episode 4: What were people really hoping to see from each candidate? How were hispanic men feeling before, during and after the election? In our 4th episode Mike and Sepehr chat with Professor Juan Carrillo and comedian Anthony Fuentes to get their heartfelt thoughts on the election. Tune in!

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✅ 🚀 Stay Up To Date with all of our content and upcoming guests

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║╚╣║║║╚╣╚╣╔╣╔╣║╚╣═╣

╠╗║╚╝║║╠╗║╚╣║║║║║═╣

╚═╩══╩═╩═╩═╩╝╚╩═╩═╝

Thank you for supporting our channel, Please share this video on your social media to spread awareness. We appreciate the support!

LINKS

https://open.spotify.com/show/3f90N4O6Ffnf0OwFnT2oaA?si=d9d88c0bcdf047b6

MIKE'S WEBSITE:

👉 https://www.mikeknightcomedy.com/

LINK TO SEPEHR'S FACULTY PROFILE:

👉 (https://sites.northwestern.edu/sepehrvakil/)