Knowledge at Wharton

Wharton’s Philip Nichols explains why AI isn’t useful for combatting corruption, at least not yet. This Ripple Effect episode is part of the “Research Roundup” series.

Rob DiGisi, Lecturer in Legal Studies and Business Ethics at the Wharton School, joins the show to discuss how recent gambling indictments involving NBA figures reveal the complex intersection of legality, ethics, and integrity in professional sports—and why issues like prop bets, player vulnerability, and federal cooperation continue to shape the future of regulated sports wagering.

Sean Bruich, Senior Vice President of AI, Engineering and Data Science at Amgen, joins Barbara Kahn and Dr. Americus Reed, II to discuss how AI’s rapid evolution is transforming industries—not by replacing humans, but by creating new opportunities that blend human expertise with advanced technology to drive innovation and efficiency.

Wharton's Eric Bradlow, Shane Jensen, and Adi Wyner debate Bill Belichick’s legacy in the post-Brady era, explore how analytics have reshaped baseball strategy, and speak with Dan Szymborski—Senior Writer at FanGraphs and creator of the ZiPS projection system—about forecasting player performance and team success in today’s evolving sports landscape. They also analyze the remarkable victory of 204th-ranked tennis player Valentin Vacherot in a Masters 1000 tournament, using insights from sports analytics and probability theory to uncover what his unexpected win reveals about talent, randomness, and ranking systems.

Wharton’s Corinne Low talks about her new book, Having It All: What Data Tells Us About Women’s Lives and Getting the Most Out of Yours. This Ripple Effect episode is part of the “Meet the Authors” series.

Cait Lamberton, Wharton School Vice Dean and Professor of Marketing, explains how businesses can balance enthusiasm for new technologies, such as AI, with historical lessons, market fundamentals, and strategic analysis to identify sustainable innovation and avoid costly missteps.

Shannon Shae Montoya, Global Head of B2B Marketing, Sponsorships, and Events at Yahoo, joins Barbara Kahn to explore how Yahoo leverages data, creativity, and nostalgia to craft experiential marketing campaigns that leave lasting impressions—revitalizing the brand for new generations and reinforcing its relevance across digital and physical spaces.

Brian Burke, Sports Data Scientist at ESPN, joins Cade Massey, Eric Bradlow, and Shane Jensen to share insights on building advanced football power ranking systems, the role of Bayesian models in balancing priors and new data, and how analytics informs game-day decisions like fourth-down calls and playoff predictions. Cade, Eric, and Shane also analyze standout performances and key narratives from NFL Week One, preview pivotal college football games, examine the growing dominance of Carlos Alcaraz over Jannik Sinner in men’s tennis, and highlight major offensive trends across Major League Baseball.

Wharton's Barbara Kahn, author of The Shopping Revolution: How Retailers Succeed in an Era of Endless Disruption, explains the latest trends in retail, how AI fits into the customer experience, and what's to come for brick-and-mortar. This Ripple Effect episode is part of the “Future of Retail” series.