APU Intellectible

Is your life real? Or are we all living and dying on the whim of some unknown entity that is pulling the strings in the universe's biggest supercomputer video game? In this episode, APU's Dr. Gary Deel talks to Dr. Steve Wyre about simulation theory. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Successfully landing the Perseverance rover on Mars and the first space flight by private companies has created some public excitement about space exploration. Can these achievements translate to renewed interest and support in manned space exploration? In this episode, APU professor Dr. Gary Deel talks to astrobiologist and planetary scientist Dr. Ramses Ramirez about his scientific modeling work aimed at better understanding the climate and habitability of Mars, Venus and other planets and exoplanets. Learn about the many challenges of planetary colonization, the role of private and public sector organizations to get there, and the continued need to build public excitement about the potential of space exploration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Do people have control over their own actions? In this episode, APU's Dr. Gary Deel talks to Dr. Bjorn Mercer about the existence of free will, free judgment, determinism, fatalism, and more. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Immigration stirs a lot of mixed feelings, even among those who emigrated from war-torn countries. In this episode, Dr. Gary Deel talks to APU business professor Irvin Varkonyi about his experience as a young boy fleeing Hungary with his family after World War II. Learn how his parents were Jews who survived being imprisoned in a Holocaust concentration camp, but upon returning to their Hungarian village experienced antisemitic threats. They escaped to Austria and eventually to the United States where they were able to build a life. Despite firsthand experience, hear the mixed feelings Irvin's father had regarding current immigration policies and what steps need to occur to help people better understand the complexities surrounding immigration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Identifying human trafficking in the hospitality industry can be difficult because of the constant influx of guests. However, 80% of sex trafficking victims are recovered from hotels and motels so it's critical that hospitality staff are vigilant and highly trained to identify trafficking. In this episode, APU's Dr. Gary Deel talks to Jessica Wickey about her efforts to educate hospitality students to recognize indicators of sex trafficking and labor trafficking. While sex trafficking gets more attention, labor trafficking actually involves a greater number of enslaved people working as housekeepers, cleaners, landscapers, cooks—often for third-party vendors that provide labor services to hotels and motels. Learn the key indicators of sex and labor trafficking and what to do if you suspect illicit activity. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Infrastructure may not seem like the most exciting topic, but the innovation and technical advancements involved in improving our nation's transportation and logistics sector is revolutionary. In this podcast, Dr. Gary Deel talks to APU transportation and logistics professor Dr. Kandis Wyatt about the vast scope of what's considered “infrastructure,” which is much more than roads and bridges. Learn about innovative technologies that could change the way we think of transportation like space flight, drones, artificial intelligence, electric vehicle infrastructure, wide-spread broadband internet, and much more. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The automation revolution is upon us and may be accelerated by the current state of the economy, where there are more jobs in the market than humans to work them. In this episode, Dr. Gary Deel talks to APU business professor Dr. Eugene Kaufman about the robotics revolution and the integration of technology and artificial intelligence in the workforce. Learn why it's increasingly important for young professionals to focus on developing skills throughout their working lives so they're able to be flexible and adaptable to inevitable technological changes in the workplace. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

All artificial intelligence systems have bias because a human being programmed it. In this episode, Dr. Gary Deel talks to APU professor Dr. Oliver Hedgepeth about his 40+ years of experience working with AI systems and smart computers. Learn about the impressive advancements of this technology and the endless benefits for humans as well as the risks and threats of this technology. Also learn about the limitations of intelligence and why aiming for superhuman computer systems may not be in the best of humans. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Children with autism or other behavioral disorders can make incredible progress through intensive behavioral intervention services. In this episode, APU's Dr. Gary Deel talks to Mary Strittman, a certified behavior analyst, about her work providing applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy. Learn about this type of evidence-based therapy, how it's used for children of all different abilities, and why it's so important for everyone to know more about behavioral disorders to better understand the challenges and abilities of children. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

If the purpose of the U.S. criminal justice system is to rehabilitate offenders, why are recidivism rates so high? In this episode, Dr. Gary Deel talks to Criminal Justice professor Dr. Michael Pittaro about what's not working in the corrections system and what needs to change to help offenders reintegrate successfully into society. Learn about criminal justice reform efforts, the social and political issues that prevent systematic changes, discussion about capital punishment, and what other countries are doing to improve their correctional system. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Starting a graduate program is a big step for students and there is a significant difference between undergraduate and graduate programs. In this episode, APU business professors Dr. Gary Deel and Dr. Ronald Johnson discuss strategies about how to provide support and mentorship to help graduate students succeed. Learn how they help build students' confidence, use tools and technology in the classroom to improve engagement, and address the different needs of individual students. Also learn about opportunities that graduate students may not know about like authoring research papers with faculty members and joining professional organizations. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Across the country, law enforcement agencies are seeing an exodus of officers leaving the profession. Agencies are also receiving fewer, high-quality candidates applying to fill those positions. In this episode, APU's Dr. Gary Deel talks to Criminal Justice program director Dr. Chuck Russo about the current state of law enforcement. Learn how agencies need to do a better job accurately representing the work of police officers to attract new and diverse recruits who have the right skillsets for the profession. Also hear discussion about topics like qualified immunity, body camera policies, training improvements, and more. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread changes for businesses across every industry. Did these rapid changes lead to more or new forms of fraud? In this episode, APU business professor Dr. Gary Deel talks to accountant and compliance expert Dr. Liz Yost about fraud cases and mitigation efforts. Learn about the fraud triangle, which identifies the need, opportunity and rationale that leads to fraud. Also learn how business leaders can prevent fraud through organizational culture, commitment to ethics, firm policies and procedures, and more. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What would it take to reinvent American politics and create a new government model? In this episode, Dr. Gary Deel talks to APU political science professor Dr. Rob Mellen about the prospect of government reformation and what's involved with holding a constitutional convention to institute change. Learn about the dangers of a constitutional convention that essentially has no rules, and understand the true fragility of America's democracy as seen after the January 6 insurrection on the Capitol. Also learn how direct democracy can take place at the local level and why it's so important for citizens to get involved in their local government to bring about true and impactful change to their communities. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When the barcode was introduced, it marked an incredible technological advancement for retailers. In this episode, Dr. Gary Deel talks to retail management professor Dr. Kevin Forehand about his 20 years of experience working in retail and entertainment. Learn about the adoption of technology including the growth of self-checkout lines and the testing of shopping carts equipped with technology that automatically calculates a customer's purchase. Also learn how COVID-19 has accelerated the adoption of many of these technologies into the retail environment. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected all of us to varying degrees. Will it have lasting impacts on our collective psyches, mental health, psychological development, and socialization behavior? In this episode, Dr. Gary Deel talks to APU psychology professor Brendi Schramm about the fears and insecurity caused by COVID and how it has affected adults and children differently. Learn how adults and children have adapted to a virtual world of work, school, and daily tasks, but have been greatly impacted by the loss of in-person social connections and social interactions. Also learn tips about how to help children cope by understanding their love language, focusing on attachment styles, and finding ways to connect deeper with them. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When the COVID-19 vaccine became available, there was concern it wouldn't adequately reach underserved communities. In this episode, APU professor Linda Ashar talks to nurse and healthcare advocate, Dr. Anne Harty, about how providers came together to quickly mobilize volunteer-based vaccination centers in underserved areas in Sacramento County, California. Learn about partnering with local community-based organizations to ensure people who didn't have access to the internet or were undocumented could register for the vaccine, how the pop-up vaccination centers were developed to be scalable so anyone across the country could replicate it, and why the all-volunteer program was an ideal model for delivering the COVID-19 vaccine. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Corporate social responsibility, or CSR, is a way for companies to take a stance on social, environmental and political issues. In this episode, Dr. Gary Deel talks to APU business professor and lawyer Linda Ashar about what drives businesses to engage in corporate citizenship, the benefits, and the risks. Also, learn how businesses have increasingly taken public stances on political issues, including the insurrection and riots at the Capitol Building on January 6, and the effect such action can have on a company’s reputation and bottom line. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Healing divisions and finding the common good that unites us is challenging for individuals and institutions. In this episode, APU Dean Dr. Marie Gould Harper talks to Edgardo Colón-Emeric, Director of the Center for Reconciliation at Duke Divinity School, about strategies to build equity, diversity and inclusion and how to counter resistance with patience and openness. Learn how supporting all forms of diversity, whether it’s diversity of backgrounds or diversity of thought, can provide a new perspective and bring hope for a better future of unity. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Getting divorced is a life-changing event that can be extremely emotional and confusing for adults and children. In this episode, APU professor Dr. Kandis Wyatt talks to Danica Joan about the benefits of having a divorce coach, especially in child custody cases. Learn about the support role of a custody coach in helping parents navigate the difficult waters of custody battles and court proceedings to help the family come up with the best resolution possible. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Motocross has become an increasingly competitive and technical sport in the last 10 years. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Gary Deel talks to professional supercross racer AJ Catanzaro about turning pro when he was just 16 years old and how the sport has changed during his 10-year career. Learn about the evolution of course layouts with increasingly dangerous elements, technological changes to motorcycles and protective gear, and why he hopes electric motorcycles will soon be an option in professional racing. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What are the psychological principles contributing to today’s divisive political and social environments? In this episode, Dr. Gary Deel talks to Joe Reish, who has spent more than 40 years teaching psychology, about some of the cognitive processing systems that affect the way people form belief systems. Learn about confirmation bias, dichotomous thinking, and simplistic bias that can prevent people from understanding opposing viewpoints, being empathetic, and being critical thinkers. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The 2020 election displayed divisiveness among the American public. In this episode, Dr. Gary Deel talks to APU Political Science Program Director Dr. Tom Kelly about Trump’s presidency and the current state of American politics. Learn about the need for government transparency, the benefits of instituting Congressional term limits, and where the nation goes from here. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Is a degree still necessary for today’s working professional? In this episode, Dr. Gary Deel talks to Dr. Marie Gould Harper, Dean of the School of Business at American Public University, about what institutions of higher learning can do to ensure their degree programs are successfully preparing students with the skills and knowledge necessary to help businesses adapt to the new economy. Learn about the importance of colleges and universities developing partnerships with organizations in order to keep a pulse on industry changes and to use that information to update curriculum that focuses on upskilling and reskilling. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Cruise lines across the world stopped sailing during the pandemic. In this episode, Dr. Gary Deel talks to APU business professor Dr. Robert Gordon about the safety measures cruise lines are implementing to keep passengers and crews healthy as well as the short- and long-term impacts COVID-19 will have on the industry. Learn about the experience of European cruise lines that have returned to service and when US cruises may start sailing again. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Why did the Founding Fathers choose to create the Electoral College? In this episode, Dr. Gary Deel talks to APU political science professor Dr. Rob Mellen about the history of the election process. Learn the origin of the Electoral College, its original intention as a check on the popular vote, and whether or not the Electoral College works successfully in modern times. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What brings people together and what pushes them apart? In this episode, Dr. Gary Deel talks to APU professor Dr. Bjorn Mercer about the “narcissism of small differences,” the idea that minor and often insignificant differences often lead to major conflicts and even warfare. Learn how today’s charged and divisive political climate originates from minor differences in opinions and beliefs and what can be done to find common ground and repair the growing divisiveness. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly accelerated the development and application of automation throughout the supply chain. In this episode, Dr. Gary Deel talks to Dr. Larry D. Parker Jr., APU's Program Director of Transportation and Logistics Management and Supply Chain Management, about technological advancements like driverless semi-trucks and robotics. Learn how organizations are prioritizing automation deployment to lessen person-to-person contact during the pandemic and discussion about the pros and cons of such a fast deployment. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

One of the biggest challenges for veterans is transitioning from the military to the civilian workforce. In this episode, Dr. Gary Deel talks to Joel Beam about his career as a Navy SEAL and the challenges he faced when applying his unique skillset to the corporate world. Learn about the challenges he faced adapting his military experience to match his new corporate environment; how he coped with the shocking differences in leadership style; and how he had to change his own mindset from taking orders in the military to now having open conversations with leadership to share his ideas and recommendations. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Casinos, like all industries reliant on tourism and travel, have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, Dr. Gary Deel talks to Dr. Bo Bernhard, Executive Director at the International Gaming Institute for the University of Nevada Las Vegas, about the current state of the gaming industry. Learn about some of the changes happening in casinos including a shift towards automation and other technological advancements. Also hear about the rampant growth of online betting and other mobile gambling platforms. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How has employment law recently evolved in the federal courts? In this episode, APU Business Faculty Director Dr. Gary Deel interviews law professor Rhonda Reaves about the history of employment law and recent updates that affect protections under the Civil Rights Act and other key employment statutes. Hear details about three landmark employment law cases and what the future may hold for decisions regarding protected characteristics. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Are you thinking about going to law school? What's the difference between law school and graduate school? In this episode, APU professor Dr. Gary Deel talks to Dr. John Duncan, a law professor with a distinguished career as a JAG in the Air Force, about what students can expect from law school. Learn how to prepare for law school, how it will transform your critical thinking skills, and teach you how to constantly learn. Also hear about the frustrations and challenges you are likely to encounter in law school and how to overcome them. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What is it like to be a professional stunt person? In this episode, Dr. Gary Deel talks to Ray Eddy about his career as a stunt man, the physical training and techniques required to execute certain stunts, and how he maintains focus and control to avoid injury. He also discusses the pros and cons of actors doing their own stunts in films and the role of CGI technology. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What's the long-term impact from COVID-19 on hospitality and tourism? In this episode, Dr. Gary Deel talks to Dr. Alay Fyall about the unprecedented crisis that continues to devastate hospitality and tourism across the world. Learn about the impacts on the workforce, projections about how and when the industry will bounce back, and what’s needed for people to feel safe traveling again. Also learn about some of the silver linings from the pandemic including technological adoption and environmental benefits. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Will future space exploration be led by the government or the private sector? In this episode, Dr. Gary Deel talks to Dr. Dan Britt about the evolving role of private-sector companies like SpaceX in space exploration and space commerce. Learn about Dr. Britt's work at the Exolith Lab, in partnership with NASA, simulating the mineralogy of asteroids, Mars, and other unexplored surfaces to share with the scientific exploration community. Also learn about the viability of space mining, space tourism industry, and other potential business opportunities in space. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.