Capita In Conversation

Joe Waters and Nils Gilman talk about a framework for understanding today’s geopolitical and ecological disruptions, and why a “planetary subsidiarity” might be a pragmatic way to govern transnational challenges while preserving democratic agency.

Joe Waters and Joseph Asunka, CEO of Afrobarometer, talk about how Africa’s rapid urbanization, migration, and emerging technologies are shaping the future of cities and families in the continent, and the opportunities that exist for Africa’s youth in the global workforce.

Joe Waters and Marshall Kosloff, host of The Realignment, talk about how today’s political realignment is reshaping the right, challenging the center-left, and transforming how families experience economic pressures, community life, and democratic institutions.

In this episode, Jay Chaudhary, a Visiting Fellow at Capita and Senior Fellow at the Sagamore Institute, interviews Capita Co-Founder + CEO Joe Waters, Daniel Williams, CEO of the Steelcase Foundation, and Jesús Gerena, CEO of UpTogether, during the Aspen VisionXChange in Aspen, Colorado. They explore recent coverage of the Baby’s First Years evaluation, the role of two-parent households in addressing poverty, a more thoughtful definition of abundance, the influence of elite preferences on social policymaking, and the importance of centering the voices and aspirations of parents and families in shaping policy.We are grateful to the Aspen Institute for allowing us to use the podcast studio on the Aspen Meadows campus to record this conversation on July 29, 2025. www.capita.org

In this episode, Capita CEO Joe Waters talks with Isabelle Hau, the author of "Love to Learn." They discuss the importance of relationships and connections in early education. Hau argues that there is a relational crisis in society and that we need a relational revolution to support children's learning and overall development. She emphasizes the role of love and relationships in brain development and highlights examples of communities and organizations that prioritize relationships in education. The episode also touches on the potential impact of artificial intelligence on relationships and the need for ethical considerations in its development.

In this episode, CEO Joe Waters speaks with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Dele Olojede, who was in Pretoria on May 10, 1994, covering Nelson Mandela's inauguration and the formal transition to democracy in South Africa. The following day, he flew to Kigali to cover the early days of the Rwandan genocide. In just a matter of days, Dele witnessed both the best of humanity and its greatest depravities. As South Africa marks the 30th anniversary of democracy, Dele shares his insights and wisdom. The conversation also delves into current challenges in the U.S., the critical role of leadership in navigating today's societal transformations, and the importance of a long-term perspective. This episode, introduced by Capita Board Chair Nicole Biondi, was recorded in November 2024 at a Capita Salon in Charlotte, North Carolina.

In this episode, Joe Waters talks to Jon Baron, President of the Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy, to discuss the evolution and impact of evidence-based policymaking in the U.S. Jon shares his journey and insights on how government funding can prioritize programs proven to work, tackling social issues through a rigorous, data-driven approach. The conversation explores some of the challenges and the potential of this approach to address core issues fueling public frustration, paving the way for a more effective and accountable policy landscape.

In this episode, Capita Co-founder & CEO Joe Waters interviews Dr. Erin M. Cline, Tagliabue Distinguished Professor in Interfaith Studies & Dialogue at Georgetown University and Senior Research Fellow, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs. They discuss Cline’s book “Families of Virtue” which compares Confucian and Western views on childhood development and moral education. Cline describes how the Confucian tradition places a special emphasis on filial piety - the deep respect, reverence, and gratitude that children have for their parents. Cline explains how the Confucian view of rituals are central to moral cultivation. Finally, Cline and Waters discuss how the Confucian emphasis on the importance of early childhood development and the role of family and ritual aligns with modern developmental psychology, and how these insights could inform policy and public discourse around families.

In this Capita in Conversation episode, Senior Fellow Elliot Haspel talks to Abby Jitendra from the UK’s Joseph Rowntree Foundation about financialization threats, particularly from private equity firms, facing both the UK and US child care systems. They discuss Jitendra’s proposal for a new social licensing model that treats child care more as a public good and aims to improve quality and supply by linking high standards with public money, ensuring government investments benefit families equitably and effectively.

Capita Senior Fellow Ian Marcus Corbin speaks with author Jennifer Banks about her book "Natality: Toward a Philosophy of Birth."

Capita Co-Founder + CEO Joe Waters talks with UpTogether CEO and Aspen Ascend Fellow Jesús Gerena on wealth inequality and the work UpTogether is doing to help low-income people.

Capita Chief Strategy Officer interviews Play Africa's Managing Director Rongedzayi Fambasayi about the role of cities in protecting child rights, creativity in tackling the climate crisis, governance for child-centered climate action across Africa, and more.