More Human

Does God exist? It's a question no thoughtful person can ignore. For philosophers, it is a topic of perennial discussion and dispute. There are many arguments on both sides of the issue, and perhaps the most famous of them has to do with the reality of evil: Does all the suffering we see in the world make it irrational to believe in God, or can faith be reasonable even in the face of evil? On this episode of More Human, you will hear a debate between two Tri-C philosophers: Matthew Carey Jordan, the dean and chair for the humanities at the college's Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Humanities Center, and Sam LiPuma, a professor of philosophy at our Western Campus in Parma.     If you'd like to view the PowerPoint slides used by Dean Jordan and Professor LiPuma, copy and paste this URL into your web browser: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PG4QQ4ojTjLSCTMngZIMRcEXx-EYoplt   If you'd like to see a videorecording of the debate, go here: https://tri-c.webex.com/recordingservice/sites/tri-c/recording/749ba2aa6628103c98e672d833eb8372/playback

[Note: Technical problems resulted in problems with the audio levels in this recording. We hope you enjoy the conversation nonetheless!]    Carnegie Mellon professor Dr. Nico Slate recently visited Tri-C to talk with students about his new book Brothers: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Race. While in Cleveland, he sat down with Dean Jordan to discuss the book and broader aspects of the work he does as a scholar, educator, and citizen. For more information about Brothers, visit https://tupress.temple.edu/books/brothers

Who is Flannery O'Connor, and why should we care? On this episode of More Human, Dean Jordan talks with philosopher and priest Damian Ference about the great "Southern Grotesque" author's work, including the value of "long, loving looks" at the mundane, race and racism, "offers of grace, usually refused," and more. Anyone interested in American literature, philosophy, or religion will enjoy this conversation.    For more about Fr. Ference's book Understanding the Hillbilly Thomist, visit: https://bookstore.wordonfire.org/products/understanding-the-hillbilly-thomist  

On this episode of More Human, Dean Jordan is joined by Dr. Nathan King, author of The Excellent Mind, who was in Cleveland recently for a series of events with Tri-C students, alumni, faculty, and staff. This conversation continues the theme of those events: what does it mean to be an intellectually virtuous person, why does it matter, and how can we inculcate intellectual virtue in ourselves and others?

Holly Ordway is one of the world's leading J. R. R. Tolkien scholars and a friend of Cuyahoga Community College. Dr. Ordway is the author of the 2023 book Tolkien's Faith: A Spiritual Biography, and on this episode of More Human she joins Dean Jordan for a conversation about some of the ways in which Tolkien's faith informs the world of The Lord of the Rings, why Tolkien is worthy of our attention, and more.

Kari Gunter-Seymour is the poet laureate of the great state of Ohio. On this episode of More Human, she talks with Dean Jordan about her life and career, Appalachian culture, Ohio poets, and why poetry matters. She also offers some practical advice on approaching poetry for people who are unsure how to engage with it.

Is it okay for doctors and nurses to "hasten death"? That is, if a patient is terminally ill and wants to die, should medical professionals be able to help them do so? Tri-C philosophy professor Sam LiPuma has co-authored a book on this topic, and on this episode of More Human, he joins Dean Jordan for a spirited but civil discussion about it. If you're looking to gain a better understanding of the main issues at play in debates over euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide, and MAiD, this conversation is a great place to start!

If you're interested in hearing what it's like to be a student in Tri-C's Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Scholars Academy, this episode of More Human is for you! Recent graduates Lydia Lax and Derek Yost join Dean Jordan to talk about their experience at Tri-C and the Mandel Scholars Academy's recent trips to Oxford, England, and Rouen and Paris, France.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the summer of 2023, at least from a news media perspective, was that significant numbers of serious, informed, sober-minded people became persuaded that the U.S. government really may have extraterrestrial spacecraft, or even the bodies of intelligent, nonhuman beings, in its possession. In this truly "out there" episode of More Human, Dean Jordan talks with philosopher and UFO-interested layperson Steve Brown about whether we should believe this is true, what it means to be "critically open-minded," and what the existence of intelligent nonhuman beings would mean for our understanding of our place in the universe. The presentation by Dr. Brown that inspired this podcast conversation ("Philosophy Professor Being Critically Open-Minded about Aliens") can be viewed online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LELPrDnuMuE&t=1118s

Dr. Timothy K. Eatman is the inaugural dean of the Honors Living-Learning Community and Professor of Urban Education at Rutgers University—Newark. Among many other leadership and consultancy roles, he serves as a member of the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Humanities Center's National Advisory Board, and he recently joined Dean Jordan for a discussion of his own life and work, the role of the humanities in confronting social challenges, news ways of approaching honors education and the role of higher education in addressing racial issues in America. The episode of PBS Newshour in which Dean Eatman's work at Rutgers—Newark is highlighted can be watched at https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/at-this-college-academic-excellence-requires-passion-for-the-social-good, and the Langston Hughes poem “I Dream a World,” which Dr. Eatman shares during this episode, can be read online at https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/at-this-college-academic-excellence-requires-passion-for-the-social-good.

In this episode of More Human, (a noticeably jet-lagged) Dean Jordan sits down with Oxford scholar Dr. Michael Ward to discuss the significance of the twentieth-century author and thinker C. S. Lewis. The many topics discussed include the relevance of Lewis to those who don't share his religious convictions, the key to understanding The Chronicles of Narnia, and Lewis's insights into the costliness and necessity of love.

On this episode of More Human, Dean Jordan sits down with the executive director of Ohio Humanities, Rebecca Brown Asmo, to discuss the work her organization does to advance the humanities across the state, as well as the relevance of the humanities to career pathways and their significance for anyone who desires to live a life of consequence. She also shares Saeed Jones's poem "If You Had an Off Button, I'd Name You 'Off,'” from his anthology Alive at the End of the World (https://www.readsaeedjones.com/).

Chuck Dull is the dean of Tri-C's Information Technology Center of Excellence. On this episode of More Human, he joins Dean Jordan to discuss his career, the kinds of programs he oversees at the College, and the importance of humanities education to students in career-oriented academic programs.

This episode of More Human is a recording of the Tri-C Philosophy Club event, “East Meets West: Taking Religious Diversity Seriously,” featuring Pranav Ambardekar and Steven Brown of The Ohio State University. You may notice that this is quite a long episode; it includes nearly an hour of Q&A that took place after the formal presentation ended. If you'd like to view the slides the presenters used, you can access them at https://tinyurl.com/yc6432c7

Following up on a March 2023 event at the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Humanities Center featuring the Aspen Institute's Weave: The Social Fabric Project, Frederick J. Riley and Michael Skoler sat down with Dean Jordan for an inspiring conversation about the work they are doing to restore trust and support community-building efforts across the country. For more information, be sure to visit https://weareweavers.org/

In preparation for the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Scholars Academy's annual Roots of Social Justice: Alabama Civil Rights Tour spring break trip, Dean Jordan conducted a remote interview with Reverend Alan Cross, a native Southerner, Baptist pastor, and expert on race and religion in the American South. For more about Cross's work and the topics discussed in this episode, see this NPR story from July 2020: https://www.npr.org/2020/07/01/883115867/white-supremacist-ideas-have-historical-roots-in-u-s-christianity. Cross is a contributor to The Bulwark, and his writing there can be found at https://www.thebulwark.com/author/alan-cross/. In 2019, he published an essay in the New York Times on religious freedom and the death penalty (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/10/opinion/alabama-domineque-ray-death-row.html), and he has also written on the dangers of “Great Replacement Theory” (https://thedispatch.com/article/christians-too-must-oppose-great/) and the role of Black slave preachers in setting the stage for the Civil Rights movement (https://erlc.com/resource-library/articles/why-we-should-be-thankful-for-caesar-blackwell-the-alabama-baptist-slave-preacher/). His book When Heaven and Earth Collide: Racism, Southern Evangelicals, and the Better Way of Jesus, can be purchased at https://www.amazon.com/When-Heaven-Earth-Collide-Evangelicals/dp/1603063501.  

This episode of More Human, the third of three recorded on the campus of The Ohio State University, features a conversation with Dr. Donald C. Hubin, emeritus professor of philosophy and the founding director of OSU's Center for Ethics and Human Values, as well as a member of the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Humanities Center's National Advisory Board. Topics discussed include Dr. Hubin's career and writing on ethical issues pertaining to fatherhood, the moral philosophy of David Hume, how to approach moral disputes, and challenges facing colleges and universities moving forward. For more information on Dr. Hubin's professional work, visit his OSU faculty webpage at https://philosophy.osu.edu/people/hubin.1. And do be sure to check out Monty Python's “The Argument Clinic” at https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2hwqn9.

This episode is the second of three conversations Dean Jordan recorded while on a recent visit to The Ohio State University: it features Dr. Jennifer Frey of the University of South Carolina on the links between happiness, virtue, and wisdom; her own religious conversion and the experience of being a woman and a Catholic in an academic field dominated by atheists and men; and the value of a liberal arts education. For more about Dr. Frey's writing and professional activities, see her faculty webpage at https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/artsandsciences/philosophy/our_people/directory/frey_jennifer.php. Her Sacred & Profane Love podcast can be found at https://sacredandprofanelove.com/, and the essay mentioned in this interview (“The Universe and the University”) is available at https://thepointmag.com/examined-life/the-universe-and-the-university/.

Dr. Piers Turner is an associate professor of philosophy at The Ohio State University, where he directs OSU's Center for Ethics and Human Values. On this episode of More Human, he sits down with Dean Jordan for a wide-ranging discussion of an interdisciplinary major at OSU for students interested in becoming more civically engaged, the challenges of identifying shared values and promoting civil discourse in a divided society, and the work of the nineteenth-century philosopher John Stuart Mill.

One of the most unique aspects of Tri-C's Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Scholars Academy is its capstone course, HUM 2020: Community Engagement. In this episode of the More Human podcast, Professor Matt Laferty and Mandel Scholars Hannah Fuller and Emily Penner join Dean Jordan to discuss the work they did in Fall 2022 with EDWINS Leadership and Restaurant Institute.

One of the most unique aspects of Tri-C's Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Scholars Academy is its capstone course, HUM 2020: Community Engagement. In this episode of the More Human podcast, Professor Theresa Gromek and Mandel Scholar Dillon Forsythe join Dean Jordan to discuss the work they did in Fall 2022 with the Cleveland Orchestra.

Speaking at the 2022 conference of the National Collegiate Honors Council, administrators from three very different colleges discuss challenges and strategies relevant to cultivating genuine community in an academic context.

On this episode of More Human, Cuyahoga Community College president Dr. Michael A. Baston joins the podcast to discuss his career, the importance of the humanities in higher ed, and the urgency of making connections between the humanities and other disciplines.

Tri-C Humanities professor Dr. Brian Johnson joins Dean Jordan to discuss his journey from computer science to the humanities, his scholarly work on the evils of Nazism, connections between the humanities and pop culture, and the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Scholars Academy's foundational course, "The Individual in Society."

More Human is pleased to share a recording of Dr. Anika Prather's plenary address from the 2022 CCHA conference, held at Cuyahoga Community College's Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Humanities Center, as a special podcast episode. The first speaker is Dr. Mike Jacobs of Monroe Community College; he is followed by Dr. Janine Utell of the Modern Language Association, who introduces Dr. Prather

There are a number of controversies surrounding the humanities and the classics, including concerns about their usefulness (why should anyone bother to read old books?) and racial dynamics (doesn't studying the classics simply reinforce and perpetuate a white, Eurocentric perspective?). In this episode of More Human, Dr. Anika Prather of Howard University and Johns Hopkins University joins Dean Jordan for a wide-ranging conversation about the nature and value of studying the classics.  Dr. Prather's book Living in the Constellation of the Canon: The Lived Experiences of African-American Students Reading Great Books Literature can be found on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Living-Constellation-Canon-Experiences-African-American/dp/172493337X. Other resources discussed or recommended include The Norton Anthology of African American Literature (https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393911558), Antigone (https://www.amazon.com/Sophocles-Antigone-Translation-Diane-Rayor/dp/0521134781), The Souls of Black Folk (https://www.amazon.com/Souls-Black-Folk-B-Bois/dp/1505223377) and the Touchstones Discussion Project (https://touchstones.org/).

Dr. David Busch oversees Tri-C's Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Youth Humanities Academy, a summer initiative that gives high school students from northeast Ohio an opportunity to earn money while engaging with the humanities; Harry Anderson and Desire Goodwin are alumni of the first cohort of MYHA students. In this episode of More Human, they discuss the purpose and vision for MYHA and what it was like to experience it in the summer of 2022. The book mentioned several times in this episode is Nathan King's The Excellent Mind(https://global.oup.com/ushe/product/the-excellent-mind-9780190096267) and the inaugaral MYHA journal can be viewed at https://myha-journal.com/issue-1/.

Dr. Tyler Olson is the program manager of Tri-C's Conflict Resolution and Peace Studies program. He joins Dean Jordan for a wide-ranging conversation on the research he conducted as a doctoral candidate, the work he does at Tri-C, and, of course, his swashbuckling adventures as a teacher in Central America.

Dr. Elizabeth Lehfeldt teaches history at Cleveland State University. Her scholarly work focuses on the lives of nuns in late medieval and early modern Spain. In this episode of More Human, she talks with Dean Jordan about the kind of work her research requires and shares some surprising insights about the lives of the women she studies

Tri-C professor Casandra Sweeney has done some fascinating work integrating themes of environmentalism and environmental justice into her English courses. In this episode of More Human, Professor Sweeney speaks candidly about the challenges and joys of majoring in English, what political advocacy has to do with first-year composition courses, and why students should be excited rather than frightened by 10-page research paper assignments.

Mandel Faculty Fellow and Tri-C professor John Kerezy is an expert on journalism, public relations, and disinformation campaigns. In this episode, he joins Dean Jordan for a conversation on the importance and dangers of disinformation, as well as what kinds of things we can do to protect ourselves from it.

What are the liberal arts? What does studying English have to do with getting a job? And what does a college president actually do, anyway? In this episode of the More Human podcast, Hiram College president and erstwhile professional bluegrass musician Dr. David P. Haney joins Dean Jordan for a thought-provoking discussion of these and other topics.

The Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence at Case Western Reserve University is dedicated to exploring ethical issues from a global perspective, to nurturing international awareness and understanding of our common humanity through the study, teaching and practice of ethics, and to the pursuit of excellence in all human endeavors. In this episode of More Human, Inamori Center Acting Director Beth Trecasa sits down with Dean Jordan to discuss her career and the Inamori Center's work.

Muskingum University professor and literature scholar Amanda Adams joins the More Human podcast for a brief discussion of the glories of walking and her research on 19th-century British literature.

Tri-C professor and professional photographer Daniel Levin joins Dean Jordan on this episode of More Human to discuss his career, the challenges and opportunities associated with pursuing a career in the arts, and the amazing story behind his award-winning book Violins and Hope: From the Holocaust to Symphony Hall.

The inimitable Dr. Derrick Williams, "the blue-collar scholar," is the featured guest on this episode. Topics discussed include the Stokes brothers, racism and critical race theory, mentorship, and healthy masculinity.

Mandel Scholars Destiny Jackson and Kevin Wieder, along with Tri-C professor Matt Laferty, join Dean Jordan to discuss their work with the Neighborhood Media Foundation in the Spring 2022 semester. Topics discussed include the importance of local journalism, lessons learned in the Mandel Scholars Academy and talking to strangers.

Video games have become a huge part of American culture. This conversation features scholar, Tri-C professor and Tri-C alumnus Dr. Mike Piero discussing his work and how we can approach video games as objects of study in the humanities.

Ricardo Rodriguez is the Museum Director at Cleveland's Baseball Heritage Museum. He joined Mandel Scholar Chris Oley and Dean Jordan to discuss the work he does, the significance of baseball in Cleveland history, and a recent partnership between his museum and Tri-C's Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Scholars Academy.

Nathan Richardson is a Frederick Douglass scholar and interpreter. He joined the More Human podcast to discuss Douglass's significance as well as his own work as a published poet and the world of competitive poetry-reading.

The capstone course of Tri-C's Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Scholars Academy, HUM 2020, pairs teams of students with community partners. In this episode, Mandel Scholars Aaron Hayes and Liz Ward, along with Professor Kim Hill, sit down with Dean Jordan to explain the work they've been doing in partnership with City Fresh, an organization that exists to create and promote a more healthy, vibrant, and equitable foods system in northeast Ohio.

Dr. Ben Vinson III is the provost and executive vice president of Case Western Reserve University, as well as a prominent advocate for the humanities. But... what are "the humanities," anyway, and why do they matter? Along the way to answering this question, Dr. Vinson discusses his passion for Latin American history, what college administrators do for a living, why we need to integrate rather than divide the sundry areas of human inquiry, and, of course, Venezuelan soap operas.

Finnish-Canadian theologian and erstwhile television personality Jason Lepojarvi ("Dr. Love") recorded this conversation with Dean Jordan while he was in town to speak to the Tri-C Philosophy Club on the subject of loving one's enemies. This problem is especially vexing in the context of war... is it even possible to attempt to love someone against whom you are fighting in a war? Along the way, he discusses the difference between theology and religious studies, argues for theology as an important area of study even in secular colleges and universities, and gives a philosophical account of what love really is.

Greg Deegan is the executive director of Teaching Cleveland. In this episode, he sits down with Dean Jordan to discuss the city's history and how it shapes our present moment. This wide-ranging conversation covers everything from Cleveland as a center for innovation in the early 20th century to the impact of the Great Depression, the ongoing legacy of redlining, hot dogs with Froot Loops, and a little-known fact about the history of rock & roll.

If you've ever wondered what students actually do in an art history course, or walked into an art museum and realized you don't really know how to look at art, this is the conversation for you! Key Jo Lee, of Yale University and the Cleveland Museum of Art, and Tri-C's own Christine Wolken join Dean Jordan for a wide-ranging discussion of these and other topics, including careers in the art world, how race impacts art, and Director Lee's "Currents and Constellations" exhibit at CMA.

Professor Daniel Goldmark of Case Western Reserve University is a scholar of popular music and the interim director of the Baker-Nord Center for the Humanities. In this conversation, he offers insight into the ways music is used in animated films, tips for growing our appreciation of music, and introduces listeners to the work of Rufus Harley, the bagpipe-playing jazz musician. Dr. Goldmark also gives an overview of the Cleveland Humanities Festival: what it is, where it came from, and some highlights of the 2022 festival.

Professor Gayle Williamson of Cuyahoga Community College is a scholar and teacher with particular interests in literature and storytelling. She's been working with The Great Questions Foundation's Transformative Texts project, designed to enrich humanities education at community colleges across the country. In this conversation, she discusses her love of books, how great literature helps us see the human experience from multiple points of view and reminds us that the point of learning is not merely to be able to ace a pop quiz.

A sneak peak at what's to come on More Human...