Good to Know: The Saint Joseph's University Experts Podcast

Streaming is one of the biggest players in the way that we consume media, and the competition for eyeballs and eardrums is fierce. We welcomed a panel of experts to discuss the current climate and future landscape of streaming media.

The way we think about food is changing, and as consumers demand more local goods in their shopping, grocers and big box stores are adjusting their buying practices. Meanwhile, technology is allowing large regional growers to produce quality food year-round. We talked to three experts about the local food movement, how we got here, and where we're going.

The end of the semester brings with it many reasons to celebrate, including several religious and cultural holidays. Phillip Cunningham, Ph.D., and Adam Gregerman, Ph.D., of SJU's Institute for Jewish-Catholic Relations, join the podcast to teach us about one of those holidays. They share the historical meaning of Hanukkah and why it's important in this season to teach each other about our differing faith traditions.

SJU President Mark C. Reed, Ed.D., joins to the show to talk about the evolving world of higher education, the tangible and intangible metrics of success, teaching classes and how he made his own college decision.

John Stanton, Ph.D., professor of food marketing, joins the show to talk about seasonal products like Pumpkin Spice Everything. Why do companies keep rolling them out and why do we rush to them?

Katie Sibley, Ph.D., joins us for a fascinating chat about some of the famous and not-so-famous First Ladies of American history. Dr. SIbley is author of "First Lady Florence Harding: Behind the Tragedy and Controversy" and editor of the collection "A Companion to First Ladies." She shares how the role has evolved over time and what we might expect from future first ladies — and gentlemen.

The opioid crisis has no boundaries, but in SJU's hometown of Philadelphia, it's reached epidemic levels. Bioethicist Peter Clark, S.J., director of SJU's Institute for Clinical Bioethics, shares one way that he and his colleagues have explored to address the problem.

Fairness is a concept that we apply to sports from our earliest backyard competitions. But, when it comes to a billion-dollar industry like the NCAA, what constitutes fair? Jill Bodensteiner, a respected voice in college sports and Saint Joseph's new director of athletics, sits down to talk about amateurism, competitive equity, and some of the strange things we do in the name of fairness.

In the season one finale of “Good to Know,” we tackle the phrase that’s on the lips of every Twitter user, commentator and politician: “fake news.” Chair of Theology and Religious Studies Jim Caccamo, Ph.D., examines the growing landscape of digital media through the lens of Catholic ethics and posits a few solutions to this growing technological, cultural and journalistic problem.

A discussion of climate change would be incomplete without considering CO2 emissions. Yet, often we overlook the financial stability, or lack thereof, associated with carbon usage. Following last week's discussion of the effect CO2 has on flowering plants, Carolin Schellhorn, Ph.D., assistant professor of finance, discusses the risk of financial damage business face if they don't adjust their environmental practices.

Coming off of this weekend's Earth Day celebrations, we are reminded to look at our impact on the earth and what we can do, as a greater community, to reduce environmental stress. In this episode, Clint Springer, Ph.D., associate professor of biology, discusses how carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the air affect flowering of specific species of plants. He gives insight into the climate and atmospheric variations that can affect plants' reproductive cycles and — in turn — the entire planet.

In a special episode recorded live as part of OneDaySJU, Sean Sanford '97 discusses the importance of faith in education. Sanford, the founder of the Center for FaithJustice, talks about incorporating spirituality and Ignatian mindfulness into everyday life.

For many Americans, our island neighbor Cuba — just 90 miles off the Florida coast — calls to mind images of classic cars, forbidden cigars and bearded revolutionaries — namely, Fidel Castro. As his brother Raúl prepares to step down as president, many wonder: How will Cuban politics and society change? Richard Gioioso ’98, Ph.D., assistant professor of political science and director of Latin American studies, tackles this transition and life in Havana in this episode.

As the nation grapples with the opioid epidemic, experts are looking for effective ways to support addicts in recovery. Virginia Miori, Ph.D., associate professor of decision and system sciences, tackles the issue — with data — in her recent project, “Forecasting Treatment Outcomes for the Futures Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Center.” Along with Kathleen Campbell Garwood, Ph.D., and Catherine Cardamone ’18, she uses the data from one rehabilitation center to learn how to best support those in r

Among the avalanche of awards shows that squeeze into the calendar during the first quarter of each year, one stands above the rest: the Oscars. In this episode, Deron Albright, M.F.A., associate professor of film, discusses his experience making a feature film in Ghana and helping that country earn recognition from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He also lends his expert opinion to this year's Oscar class, discussing what kinds of films often earn nominations and predicting the big winner.

In the midst of non-stop advertisements for new romantic comedies, over-spending on flowers and chocolates, and potential heartbreak this Valentine's Day, one may wonder, "Who can I blame for this fuss?" The answer might surprise you. Spend the holiday with medieval poet Geoffrey Chaucer and Associate Professor of English Paul Patterson. Patterson takes us through the medieval roots of today's celebration of love — with a little Middle English.

No matter which team you root for, one of Super Bowl Sunday’s big winners will undoubtedly be the advertisers. Commercials have become a big part of the day, and some of the most memorable ads have been paired with equally memorable songs. In this episode, David Allan, Ph.D., professor of marketing, talks about popular music in advertising and how the combination can help or harm bands and brands. He also discusses his experience with the halftime show and what to expect from Justin Timberlake’s return.

How important is it to get the right amount of sleep? We'll answer with another question: how important is it to have a functioning memory? In the debut episode of Good to Know, SJU neuroscientist and assistant professor of biology Jennifer Choi Tudor, Ph.D., discusses her research on the effect sleep deprivation has on the protein synthesis necessary for proper memory formation, and why getting the right eight hours of slumber - sleep when it's dark, work and play when it's light - is critical.