Podcasts about Central Michigan University

Episode 220: This is the second part of my conversation with Kristen McDermott about the court masque. In this part we discuss two masques and the later history of the art form.Kristen McDermott is professor of English at Central Michigan University and co-author with Ari Berk of ‘William Shakespeare his life and times' and the collection ‘Masques of Difference', as well as numerous papers on Shakespeare and renaissance theatre. I have put a link in the show notes to Kristen's website where you can find further details of her work. Kris is also a listener and supporter of the podcast, so I was particularly happy to welcome her as a contributor on the microphone as well. I spoke to Kris over a zoom call from her home in Michigan. Find more about Kris at: https://kristen-mcdermott.comLinks to ‘Masques of Difference'https://www.amazon.co.uk/Masques-Difference-Revels-Student-Editions/dp/071905754X/ref=sr_1_1?https://www.amazon.com/Masques-Difference-masques-Student-Editions/dp/071905754X/ref=sr_1_1?https://manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9780719057540/ Links to Greer Gilman books: https://smallbeerpress.com/books/2014/09/23/exit-pursued-by-a-bear/Support the podcast at:www.thehistoryofeuropeantheatre.comwww.patreon.com/thoetpwww.ko-fi.com/thoetpYou can find an advertisement free version of the latest podcast episodes by joining on Patreon at the lowest paid tier level – that's for just £1 per month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 138 When One Plus One Equals Three: A Conversation with National Aphasia Synergy               In this episode you will discover: 1.  People with aphasia hold the map. At NAS, people with aphasia don't just have a seat at the table — they built the table. Real peer leadership changes everything about how an organization thinks and acts. 2.  Recovery is about more than speech. The isolation and psychological distress that follow aphasia are just as real as the communication challenges — and just as deserving of attention and support. 3.  Peer-befriending is life participation in action. When people with aphasia support one another through shared experience, that's not a supplement to good care — it is good care. 4.  Sinergia: one plus one equals three. When survivors and professionals work as true equals, something greater emerges than either could create alone. June is National Aphasia Awareness Month, and around here, that means it's time for one of my favorite podcast traditions. For the past few years running, we've spent this month in conversation with people who know aphasia from the inside — those living it every day. Today is no exception, and this one is a conversation I've genuinely been looking forward to.   Welcome to the Aphasia Access Conversations Podcast. I'm Katie Strong from Central Michigan University, where I lead the Strong Story Lab, and I'm a member of the Aphasia Access Podcast Working Group. Aphasia Access is dedicated to transforming services and environments so people with aphasia can participate more fully in life — and today's guests are living proof of exactly what that looks like.         Today I'm speaking with two leaders from National Aphasia Synergy — known as NAS — a peer-led nonprofit founded in 2021 by people with aphasia, for people with aphasia. NAS was built on the belief that those living with aphasia are best positioned to support others on the same journey. Through peer-befriending, technology empowerment, and community building, NAS works to end the isolation that so often follows a stroke — connecting people across the country through a shared sense of what they call Sinergia: the idea that when survivors and professionals work as true equals, one plus one equals three.   Today's conversation feels especially meaningful to me. I've had the privilege of seeing Trish and Amy in action at conferences like Aphasia Access and ASHA — learning from their presentations and watching their advocacy make ripples far beyond those conference walls. As someone who researches friendship and aphasia, I've followed the peer befriending movement closely — it began in the UK, and when I heard that NAS was bringing it to the United States, led by a peer organization, I thought: this is what life participation actually looks like.   Before we get into the conversation, let me tell you a bit more about our guests.   Trish Hambridge is the President and Founder of National Aphasia Synergy. Trish has lived with aphasia since her stroke in 2008, and that experience is the foundation of everything she has built. A former project manager for AppleCare, Trish has become not only a powerful advocate but a published researcher — partnering with research teams to influence the questions being asked and the evidence being built in our field. Her co-authored work spans game-based rehabilitation design, posttraumatic growth in aphasia, and the measurement of motivation and psychological needs in aphasia rehabilitation — all published in leading journals including the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology. She has spoken at conferences including the Aphasia Access Leadership Summit, Aphasia Access Chautauqua and ASHA, serves on the Disability Advisory Committee in Dunedin, Florida, and is a member of Voices of Hope for Aphasia. Her vision brought NAS to life, and her leadership — in the clinic, in the research literature, and in the community — continues to shape it.   Amy Walters is the Vice President of National Aphasia Synergy. Amy has lived with aphasia since her stroke in 2018 — a stroke that, in a striking twist of fate, occurred while she was attending a neurosurgical conference. A Harvard graduate with a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins, Amy spent 30 years as a senior leader in the medical device industry before her stroke, and she has channeled that same expertise and drive into aphasia advocacy. She has presented at neurosurgical conferences to raise awareness, participates in aphasia groups across the country, and brings a remarkable combination of professional knowledge and lived experience to everything NAS does.   So — let's get into the conversation.   Katie Strong: Trish and Amy, welcome. I'm so excited to have you both here today and learn about what's going on in National Aphasia Synergy.   Trish Hambridge: Thank you for the chance to meet.   Amy Walters: We are so pleased to be here with the Aphasia Access Community. Katie Strong: Well, we're delighted that you are sharing your time and expertise with us. I wanted to get started by asking about National Aphasia Synergy. How was it created? Just wondering if you could share the origin story of the organization and how that concept of synergy or working together defines your mission. Trish Hambridge: Long time ago, I had a stroke, major stroke. But I was the same person then as I am now. I remember sitting on the hospital patio in San Jose and Karen, my good friend from college and speech therapist was there, and she was teaching everyone about aphasia. My friends and family were so patient. I remember my Dad talking to me and say, "You are stubborn." and I said, "Thank you!" Because that choice – being subborn - changed everything and gave me the chance to get my identity back. Katie Strong: So, Trish, just to verify, you're saying your stubbornness got you where you are right now. Trish Hambridge: Yes, but yes! Katie Strong: Love it. Trish Hambridge: Sorry to say, I have issues! But going back to the beginning, I had only had five words. Even my 'yes' and 'no' were flipped. Traditional homework is not my cup of tea. Shhh! Quiet, I'm lazy! I needed a better strategy, and I found it with P2Go. It's so much more than an app. It is the tool that gave me my voice back. Katie Strong: I love that, so if I'm understanding correctly, traditional homework is not for you, and that you really needed something that was technology based, which goes back to your expertise in your life, career to be able to really help you communicate, and it was the P2Go. Trish Hambridge: Yeah, yeah, is small, is so, is easy, my opinion. Katie Strong: Well, that's what we're here for today, is your opinion. Trish Hambridge: In 2016, a move to Dunedin, Florida changed everything. I joined Voices of Hope and finally found my community. Then the pandemic hit. But it couldn't stop our connection. We moved to Zoom. I want to be honest, though: some of my friends didn't make it through that storm. Their pain is part of this journey. We build this community in their honor. Katie Strong: Oh, that's really touching, you know. It is. It's hard, so many friends don't stay in our lives for many reasons, but aphasia can really be a challenge for friends sticking around. Trish Hambridge: Yeah, and the technology is not my cup of tea. Katie Strong: Wonderful, wonderful. Thank you for sharing that. Trish Hambridge: In 2021, I stepped up. I moved from a 'Lead Pathfinder' to the Founder of National Aphasia Synergy. I reached out to Debbie Yones, the big cheese of Voices of Hope. She and the Board Director gave me wise advice to help me grow. I didn't do it alone. My sister and my sister-in-law helped me think through the logistics. They helped me build the support for the nonprofit. Because of them, my vision became a reality. Katie Strong: So, your consultation with those important people to your life really helped National Aphasia Synergy become a reality. Trish Hambridge: Yeah. Finally, I asked Amy to join the mission. She became part of the organization. Now, we are moving forward together. Katie Strong: Thanks, Trish. I love that. Amy Walters: Thanks, Trish. Nine years ago, I had my stroke at the neurosurgical conference. Ironic, right? Yeah, the conference was in Colorado Springs. I was in a medically induced coma for 10 days and diagnosed with Global Aphasia. Then I was airlifted to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia, where I had a craniotomy and cranioplasty. On the flight I remembered thinking, "Am I in a simulator? What's happening to me?"   Katie Strong: Wow! That sounds surreal! Amy Walters: My career was in clinical affairs for a medical neurosurgical device company, so I am professionally and personally familiar with neuroplasticity. I know how crucial neuroplasticity is to our physical, mental, and emotional recovery. National Aphasia Synergy was born from a deep need for collaborative survivor-led company. Katie Strong: The advocacy you're doing is really amazing, and I'm so excited for our listeners to be able to hear more about it. Amy Walters: Thank you. When we look at the aphasia community today, we see massive gaps. Most organizations are built for us, but they aren't led by us. The 'medical way' focuses only on the speech deficit, but it leaves a gaping hole in mental health, identity, and social connection. The research is heartbreaking: 40% to 60% of stroke survivors with aphasia experience chronic depression, and in early recovery, a staggering 93% experience high levels of psychological distress. This isn't just about the survivor—46% of our family members also face depression. Our mission is to bridge those gaps. We aren't just here to 'fix' speech; we are here to empower the whole person. We call it Sinergia—the Greek word for Synergy. It means we don't work in silos. We don't have 'experts' on one side and 'patients' on the other. We have a partnership where 1 plus 1 equals 3.   Katie Strong: I love it!   Amy Walters: We are moving away from the isolated patient model and toward a Sinergia where survivors and professionals work as equals to reclaim our lives. We are here to educate and empower our peers to use technology to reclaim their voices. But more importantly, we are here to promote peer-befriending. We reach out to those who are new to this path or struggling to find their way, because no one should walk this road alone. Katie Strong: I know, Amy, I just am so excited. I've been watching this peer befriending happen over in the UK, or reading about it, and hearing about it, and I was just so delighted when I heard that National Aphasia Synergy was taking this up and helping us to, to have a really solid connection. I think one of the things that breaks my heart the most is when I meet someone who has aphasia, who's been living with aphasia for a really long time, and they've never met anyone else who had aphasia. Amy Walters: Heartbreaking. Katie Strong: It really is. It really is. Amy Walters: Our goal is to develop a national community that encourages optimism. We believe a positive outlook isn't just a 'nice feeling'—it is a strategy for recovery. Katie Strong: Heck, yes! Amy Walters: At NAS, we don't just look for what's lost; we build on the strengths that remain. There were gaps in the Aphasia Community. Trish Hambridge: Speech Therapists and care partners are vital to recovery. They have good intentions, but the 'medical way' is often the wrong way. Katie Strong: Yeah, yeah, it's not quite the right way. Trish Hambridge: Many researchers only survey the Speech Therapists and the partners. But what about me? What about us? What am I, chopped liver? Think about the last time someone completely iced us out. It hurts, right? It honestly chips away at our sense of self, leaving us clueless as to where we actually fit in. Katie Strong: Yeah, so Trish, just to recap this for the listeners, you're saying when somebody ices you out, you're asking the listeners to reflect on how that really feels, Trish Hambridge: Yeah, I email [a researcher], and have offered [to be a part of their team] but they are like "Oh no, but sorry." Katie Strong: I hear, I hear you. Yeah and I think what you're bringing up - and you and Amy are bringing up such a great point that as the aphasia research community has not always included people with aphasia. Or they're only including people with mild aphasia versus more severe types of aphasia, so I love that you're calling this out and shining light on it. It's, it's time. Trish Hambridge Here's what the research tells us. Therapists and partners see the journey from the outside. But those of us living it? We know the honest truth. Katie Strong: Yeah, yeah, so as the clinicians, the therapists, and the care partners see that journey from the outside, and you all are living it for sure. Trish Hambridge: It is the 'Chicken and the Egg' problem: Does the partner change first? Or does the people with aphasia change? The answer is: The Environment. We must change the environment to find true recovery. We need to move from being 'patients' to being Lead Pathfinders. Katie Strong: Yes, so I love it. You're, you're flipping the script there and reclaiming your identity, or renegotiating it from that patient role to being a lead pathfinder. I love that terminology. Thank you. Thank you. One of you said this earlier that organizations are for people with aphasia, but National Aphasia Synergy is led by people with aphasia. Why is this distinction critical for the community to understand, and how does it change the way an organization is run? Amy Walters: Right, Katie. In the past, organizations were built for us, like a charity. But National Aphasia Synergy is different. We are led by people with aphasia. We are moving from 'being helped' to leading. This is more than an organization. It is a revolution of identity. At National Aphasia Synergy, we are flipping the script on leadership. Our Board makes decisions with one clear priority: putting voices with aphasia at the forefront. That means leaders like Trish, Bruce, and me are the ones making the big calls. We collaborate with wonderful professionals, like Kait, our SLP, Helen, our Financial and Secretarial support and Will Evans, our Volunteer Consultant. They are essential to our success. They ensure our communication is accessible and our business stays strong. I always think of our board meetings being like a United Nations meeting with "international representatives" (i.e., China, France, Japan, etc.) each of us is coming to the table with a different lived experience, different aphasia types, etc. We work together to "translate" and work through our differing communication styles. But make no mistake: The people with aphasia are the primary drivers of the vision. The professionals provide the tools, but we hold the maps.   Katie Strong: Such a great analogy. I love it and it also sounds like your work is fun too.   Amy Walters: Driving you crazy, but you mean you mean you mean, yeah. Hold the phone!   Katie Strong: Oh, that's great. I love it. Well, what does National Aphasia Synergy offer that others should know about? Trish Hambridge: Look at what we have built together: First, our Peer Befriending Program. A team of four SLPs and four people with aphasia worked as equals to create our training. Today, we have 15 volunteer Allies trained and ready to support the community. Katie Strong: I love it. So, 15 people with aphasia, volunteer Allies, have been trained as peer befrienders to go out and connect with other people who newly have aphasia. Trish Hambridge: Right, but anything like… Katie Strong: Or rather, anybody who has aphasia that they're wanting to connect with. Trish Hambridge: Come! Come! But we meet on Zoom.    Katie Strong: On Zoom, right? Yeah, absolutely. This is all virtual, which is amazing, you know, because you get a good reach, a really, a really great reach. What else is going on? Amy Walters: Second, our Aphasia & Mental Health Video. We have four excellent SLPs sharing the research, stats, resources and the power of neuroplasticity. And we also surveyed 10 people with aphasia to capture the honest truth of our emotional journeys and provide 10 essential tips for recovery. Trish Hambridge: I always start with a roadmap. But originally, we were filming something completely different. But three weeks before the shoot, I went to Debbie and asked: 'What do you think?' She said, 'There are enough basic videos out there... why doesn't NAS focus on Mental Health?' Katie Strong: Yeah, okay. So, you were doing all this planning, and then three weeks before the shoot, you went and talked to Debbie and said, "What do you think?" And she said, "There's already enough videos out there on basic aphasia, but not on mental health. I love it! Trish Hambridge: Yeah and so I agree!!! We agreed right away. We made a right turn...  And changed the plan on the fly! I ran a preview for my friends at Voices of Hope. They loved it, but they asked the killer question: 'Where is the actual resource? Where do we go for help?' Katie Strong: Trish, you are speaking to my heart here, and I know I'm one of those "outsider perspectives" as a clinician. But we just don't have great resources for mental health. It's really challenging. So, I love that your friends at Voices of Hope called you out on that. What happened after that? Amy Walters: That was the lightbulb moment, right? Trish Hambridge: Yeah, a video wasn't enough—we needed a map. So, we built the Aphasia and Mental Health Resources paper. The researchers and I had some serious back-and-forth debate, but that's how you get a solid plan. We ended up with something really cool: real tools for real people. Katie Strong: Love, love it! Trish Hambridge: Third, our Adaptive Growth Culture paper. This provides a brand-new map for recovery that the whole world can use to look past the 'broken parts.' Katie Strong: Yeah, Trish, I've heard you speak on this. That talk you gave it, ASHA. I'm going to say listeners, particularly clinicians, you should check this out, because we need to get our clients with aphasia, our lead pathfinders with aphasia to be able to  think in this sort of way, so yeah, Trish Hambridge: But like I have like the speech therapist and the caregiver, and people with aphasia -  it like, look right -- is the good plan. Katie Strong: Love it, fantastic, Amy Walters: Kait and I shared five powerful aphasia stories on video to show our diversity, our strength, our inhumanity, frankly. All of this lives on our National Synergy website. These aren't just projects, they are the proof that when people with aphasia lead, we create world that actually works for us. Katie Strong: Oh, this is fantastic. And we'll have links to your website in the show notes, but you can certainly Google National Aphasia Synergy, and the website pops right up. I've been exploring it for a little bit, but I was looking at it again this morning, and there's just such great, great stuff on there. So please go and check it out. Well, I'm curious, Amy and Trish, what's on the horizon for National Aphasia Synergy, and how can our listeners, whether they're Aphasia Access members or people living with aphasia get involved or support your work. Amy Walters: We are so proud of what we have built, but we are just getting started. This is our Call to Action. Trish Hambridge: We want the world to get excited about Mental Health!  Katie Strong: And I think get excited about your Adaptive Growth Culture too. Trish Hambridge: Yeah! We recently presented a poster at the Chautauqua virtual conference, and the feedback from Aphasia Access members was powerful. The keynote speaker, Dr. Nina Simmons-Mackie, spoke about moving from 'managing a condition' to 'owning a life.' That is exactly what we do! We focus on the strengths, the emotions, and the identity that the old medical model ignores. Katie Strong: Yeah, so okay. So, Trish, you, you were, I think you presented you National Aphasia Synergy presented a poster at the Chautauqua, the Aphasia Access Chautauqua recently. Trish Hambridge: First time presenting a poster! Katie Strong: I love it, I love it. Yep, and the feedback that you got from the Chautauqua attendees was spectacular, right? And that's when, and, and, and Dr. Simmons-Mackie or Nina Simmons Mackey took that idea and we wove it into her keynote at the end, right, and talked about how it's important for us to support people and people with aphasia and care partners move from managing a condition to owning a life. I mean, that that's powerful stuff. I love it! Trish Hambridge: I'm so honored. Katie Strong: Well, you are out there making an impact. Amy Walters: Thank you. We are building something historic, and we want you to be part of it. Here is how you can join the revolution: Trish Hambridge: To the speech therapists and researchers, Help us build our evidence base. We want the test that adapted growth culture map to prove how it improves mental health and builds confidence. Don't just watch from the sidelines—come test this with us! Soon, I'm taking the Adaptive Growth Culture to the global stage. I'll be at the International Aphasia  Rehabilitation Conference in Athens. Katie Strong: You'll be at the International Aphasia Rehabilitation Conference, or IARC, in… Trish Hambridge: Athens!! I am presenting our Adaptive Growth Culture Poster to the top minds in the field. Katie Strong: Fantastic. Trish Hambridge: We have built the roadmap. Now, the researchers will provide the data-driven proof. It is time to see the Adaptive Growth Culture in action. We are moving from lived experience to clinical evidence. Katie Strong: I love it, moving from lived experience to clinical evidence. Amy Walters: That's right, that's right, Trish. If you run a community group, a local program, or a support network, we want to connect with you. Help us build this referral network so that no one is left behind in isolation. We aren't just looking for 'places to go' to pass the time. We are looking for places where we can belong and grow. We are looking for communities that see our potential, not just our deficits. To my peers with Aphasia: Your voice is our power. Share your story or send us a shout-out with your favorite tips and tricks. We also need Buddies for our Peer Befriending program. Help us show the world that we are truly 'owning our lives.' To the Volunteers: We are looking for passionate people to join our Board of Directors. We specifically need one more person with aphasia, as well as SLPs, care partners, and friends. The only requirement? You must believe in the Adaptive Growth Culture. Whether you have the tools or you hold the map, there is a seat at the table for you. Visit us and let's grow together! Katie Strong: Amazing. I hope that our listeners will take you up on the offers that you just laid out there, and that they'll also go out there and share with others that they need to hook everybody up with National Aphasia Synergy. It's a great organization. I enjoyed learning about it more today. And Amy and Trish, I so appreciate you both being here with us and sharing your stories and the amazing work that's going on in National Aphasia Synergy. Trish Hambridge: Thank you. Aphasia Access is fantastic! Katie Strong: I'm glad that you're enjoying Aphasia Access, too. It's a great network, and it's great that we're having lots of communities continue to grow and blossom to support people living successfully with aphasia.   Amy Walters: Hear, Hear! Katie Strong: Thanks. You too. Amy Walters: Thank you. Katie Strong: Have fun in Greece. Trish Hambridge: Yay! Amy Walters: Jealous! Katie Strong: Me too, me too. Amy Walters: Bye, bye. Trish Hambridge: See you. Bye.   On behalf of Aphasia Access, thank you for listening. For references and resources mentioned in today's show, please see our show notes, available on our website at www.aphasiaaccess.org. There you can also become a member of our organization, browse our growing library of materials, and find out about the Aphasia Access Academy. If you have an idea for a future podcast episode, email us at info@aphasiaaccess.org. For Aphasia Access Conversations, here at Central Michigan University in the Strong Story Lab, I'm Katie Strong.     Resources   Below is a list of links to the National Aphasia Synergy (NAS) resources and other organizations as discussed:  NAS Website:  https://nationalaphasiasynergy.org NAS email:  info@nationalaphasiasynergy.org   NAS Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/WeRSynergy (to keep up with what's going on at NAS and for inspirational, adaptive growth mindset content) NAS YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@nationalaphasiasynergy1410 (to watch our Aphasia Stories series, learn about resources, and tune into our quarterly video newsletter, "The Synergy Turf" to hear real people with aphasia) NAS Adaptive Growth Culture paper: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VIq0juI4FTPKqF0Cev8qZAI5I5po5ouO/view?usp=share_link NAS "You Have Options!" Paper:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PBgvb1mDrjnFASaK_dpGL2gnZND_CjaU/view?usp=share_link NAS Aphasia & Mental Health video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GThkxrKbQTI NAS Aphasia & Mental Health Resource paper:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pXbFLtZJ8KZ9Pxpg3HVZHBEd_D7BnsED/view?usp=share_link NAS Aphasia Stories video series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLk1GJP6QGrPDOapMhQlmAUBHfVb5-Mnfi&si=BIuoNmeu-TM-ab65NAS  Peer Befriending: To get involved with NAS Peer Befriending, contact  info@nationalaphasiasynergy.org o Flyer:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dCETc1pZck59mw6OgaEjZGnXWOcdSlCh/view?usp=sharing o Video:  https://youtu.be/0RNvCeh0BKM   Referenced resources and organizations: Proloquo2Go AAC App mentioned (what Trish uses):  https://www.assistiveware.com/products/proloquo2go Voices of Hope for Aphasia: https://www.vohaphasia.org/    

This week on the pod, Dr. Shelly Jones drops by to discuss their work as a scholar who incorporates games and RPGs into their work--and their career as an author who has written a series of cozy mysteries set at a game store. https://shellyjonesauthor.com/Check out The Blue Way: https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/790bcea3-7482-4f7c-91cf-dc12da16cfeb/landing?ref=home-pageBeyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulationsCheck out CMU's game offerings here: https://cmichpress.com/shop/All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.comEnjoy my work? Consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondsolitaire or getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaireContact Me: Email: beyondsolitaire at gmail.comBluesky: @beyondsolitaire.bsky.socialInstagram: @beyondsolitaireFacebook: www.facebook.com/beyondsolitaireWebsite: www.beyondsolitaire.net

Episode 219:In this episode I take a look at the court masques of the Jacobean period. To do this I'm very lucky to have the guidance of Kristen McDermott who edited and wrote an extensive introduction to a collection of Jonson's Masques called Masques of Difference. It is a volume that has been in print for an impressive twenty years and one that I found immensely useful in aiding my understanding of the court masque, an art form that can seem very obscure to us now. In the first part of the conversation Kristen describes the development of the masque from it's very early days through to its flowering in the court of James 1st largely under the care of Ben Jonson and Inigo Jones. Next time Kris and I continue the conversation and discuss some of those ‘masques of difference' and the later years of the court masque.Kristen McDermott is professor of English at Central Michigan University and co-author with Ari Berk of ‘William Shakespeare His Life and Times' and the collection ‘Masques of Difference', as well as numerous papers on Shakespeare and renaissance theatre. Find more about Kris at: https://kristen-mcdermott.comLinks to ‘Masques of Difference'https://www.amazon.co.uk/Masques-Difference-Revels-Student-Editions/dp/071905754X/ref=sr_1_1?https://www.amazon.com/Masques-Difference-masques-Student-Editions/dp/071905754X/ref=sr_1_1?https://manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9780719057540/Support the podcast at:www.thehistoryofeuropeantheatre.comwww.patreon.com/thoetpwww.ko-fi.com/thoetpYou can find an advertisement free version of the latest podcast episodes by joining on Patreon at the lowest paid tier level – that's for just £1 per month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the VIC 4 VETS, Weekly Honored Veterans. SUBMITTED BY: The honoree himself _____________________________________________________________ Colonel (Ret) Michael R. Morrow Mayor, Grafton, Illinois Mayor: Colonel (Ret) Michael R. Morrow is currently serving as the mayor of Grafton , Illinois. He was elected as mayor in May 2021. Military Career: Mike began his military career in July 1971 and retired from active duty on 31 March 2004 after faithfully serving his country for over 32 years. He served in numerous stateside and overseas military posts and deployed to Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He was promoted to Colonel and served as the District Engineer of the St Louis District, in St Louis, Missouri. After 911 he was selected to serve as the CENTCOM Engineer and deployed to Afghanistan, Qatar, and Iraq. Civilian Career: Mike retired from the Army in 2004 and started his own company, Morrow Group USA, Inc. which was an Illinois based Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business consulting firm designed and staffed to assist clients in strategic business development. On 1 March 2010 Mike joined Triumph Group as the president of Triumph Fabrications, which was a multi-state aerospace manufacturing company with two locations, one in Illinois and the other in South Carolina with a combined annual budget of over $25 million dollars. National Memorial of Military Ascent: Mike is currently the President of the Board of Directors of the National Memorial of Military Ascent, a 501 (c) (3) Non-Profit dedicated to establishing a Military Campus and Memorial to honor our nation’s veterans in Grafton Illinois. Education: Mike is a graduate of the Officer Candidate School, the Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced courses, Atomic Demolitions Munitions course, and the Airborne, Ranger and Recondo schools. He is a graduate of the Combined Arms Staff School, the Command and General Staff College and the Air War College. He received an Associated Degree in Mechanical Design Technology from Mott Community College, Michigan, a Bachelor of Arts in business from Columbia College, Missouri, and his Master of Science in Administration degree from Central Michigan University. Awards: His military awards and decorations include the Joint Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Joint Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters (6 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (1 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (2 OLC), Good Conduct, Humanitarian Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, numerous Campaign and Service ribbons and the Parachutists and Ranger badges. COL (Ret.) Michael R. Morrow President NMMA (National Memorial of Military Ascent Mayor, Grafton ________________________________________________________________ This Week’s VIC 4 VETS, Honored Veteran on NewsTalkSTL.With support from our friends at:Alamo Military Collectables, Gemini Wealth Group H.E.R.O.E.S. CARE, Inc. Michel's Funeral Home and Freddie's Market See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the VIC 4 VETS, Weekly Honored Veterans. SUBMITTED BY: The honoree himself _____________________________________________________________ Colonel (Ret) Michael R. Morrow Mayor, Grafton, Illinois Mayor: Colonel (Ret) Michael R. Morrow is currently serving as the mayor of Grafton , Illinois. He was elected as mayor in May 2021. Military Career: Mike began his military career in July 1971 and retired from active duty on 31 March 2004 after faithfully serving his country for over 32 years. He served in numerous stateside and overseas military posts and deployed to Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He was promoted to Colonel and served as the District Engineer of the St Louis District, in St Louis, Missouri. After 911 he was selected to serve as the CENTCOM Engineer and deployed to Afghanistan, Qatar, and Iraq. Civilian Career: Mike retired from the Army in 2004 and started his own company, Morrow Group USA, Inc. which was an Illinois based Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business consulting firm designed and staffed to assist clients in strategic business development. On 1 March 2010 Mike joined Triumph Group as the president of Triumph Fabrications, which was a multi-state aerospace manufacturing company with two locations, one in Illinois and the other in South Carolina with a combined annual budget of over $25 million dollars. National Memorial of Military Ascent: Mike is currently the President of the Board of Directors of the National Memorial of Military Ascent, a 501 (c) (3) Non-Profit dedicated to establishing a Military Campus and Memorial to honor our nation’s veterans in Grafton Illinois. Education: Mike is a graduate of the Officer Candidate School, the Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced courses, Atomic Demolitions Munitions course, and the Airborne, Ranger and Recondo schools. He is a graduate of the Combined Arms Staff School, the Command and General Staff College and the Air War College. He received an Associated Degree in Mechanical Design Technology from Mott Community College, Michigan, a Bachelor of Arts in business from Columbia College, Missouri, and his Master of Science in Administration degree from Central Michigan University. Awards: His military awards and decorations include the Joint Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Joint Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters (6 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (1 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (2 OLC), Good Conduct, Humanitarian Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, numerous Campaign and Service ribbons and the Parachutists and Ranger badges. COL (Ret.) Michael R. Morrow President NMMA (National Memorial of Military Ascent Mayor, Grafton ________________________________________________________________ This Week’s VIC 4 VETS, Honored Veteran on NewsTalkSTL.With support from our friends at:Alamo Military Collectables, Gemini Wealth Group H.E.R.O.E.S. CARE, Inc. Michel's Funeral Home and Freddie's Market See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the pod, Denver Walker comes by to discuss her life as a co-owner and CEO of a wargame company, as well as her own game designs. https://flyingpiggames.com/Check out The Blue Way: https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/790bcea3-7482-4f7c-91cf-dc12da16cfeb/landing?ref=home-pageBeyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulationsCheck out CMU's game offerings here: https://cmichpress.com/shop/All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.comEnjoy my work? Consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondsolitaire or getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaireContact Me: Email: beyondsolitaire at gmail.comTwitter: @beyondsolitaireInstagram: @beyondsolitaireFacebook: www.facebook.com/beyondsolitaireWebsite: www.beyondsolitaire.net

May 28, 2026 ~ Neil MacKinnon, President Central Michigan University joins Paul W. Smith live from the Mackinac Policy Conference. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on the pod, Amabel Holland comes by to discuss her upcoming game--if it can be so called--and the mysteries that it holds. I am very excited to play it. https://hollandspiele.com/Check out The Blue Way: https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/790bcea3-7482-4f7c-91cf-dc12da16cfeb/landing?ref=home-pageBeyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulationsCheck out CMU's game offerings here: https://cmichpress.com/shop/All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.comEnjoy my work? Consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondsolitaire or getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaireContact Me: Email: beyondsolitaire at gmail.comTwitter: @beyondsolitaireInstagram: @beyondsolitaireFacebook: www.facebook.com/beyondsolitaireWebsite: www.beyondsolitaire.net

Women's basketball recruiting is evolving fast — and college coaches are adjusting in real time.In this episode of It's Just Different, Ashley Roberts sits down with Tennessee women's basketball assistant coach Bill Ferrara to discuss how NIL, social media, transfer rules, and roster changes are reshaping the recruiting landscape for athletes and families.Coach Ferrara shares insights from more than 20 years in Division I basketball, including what coaches actually look for in recruits, why highlight tapes matter more than ever, and how Tennessee rebuilt its roster and culture in just weeks.The conversation also dives into the realities of recruiting today, the importance of adaptability, and why finding the right fit matters more than chasing status or rankings.About Coach Bill FerraraCoach Bill Ferrara is an assistant coach for the University of Tennessee women's basketball program and brings more than two decades of Division I coaching experience. Throughout his career, Ferrara has coached at programs including St. John's University, University of New Mexico, Central Michigan University, University of Florida, and Florida State University.Known for his high-energy coaching style and recruiting expertise, Ferrara has helped develop winning programs and standout athletes across women's college basketball.Key Takeaways- NIL and new eligibility rules are changing the recruiting process for athletes and families- Highlight tapes and social media now play a major role in exposure- Coaches value fit, work ethic, and adaptability more than ever- Tennessee's fast-paced system requires toughness, urgency, and resilience- Parents and athletes should focus on long-term fit, development, and opportunity.Resources for Basketball ParentsJoin the Basketball Parent Community:https://www.ashleynroberts.com/communityDownload the FREE Guide (Save Time, Money & Stress):https://ashleyroberts.kit.com/subscribeGet the Basketball Parent Toolkit:https://www.ashleynroberts.com/product-page/basketball-parent-toolkitShop DIFFERENT merch (Use code Podcast for 15% off):https://itsjustdifferentapparel.comKeep in Touch Bill: https://www.instagram.com/coachferrara?igsh=MWIzd3JkcXB0ODAwOQ%3D%3DTennessee WBB: https://www.instagram.com/ladyvol_hoops?igsh=MTY1NmdxeHFjY2EzeQ%3D%3DAshley: https://www.instagram.com/_thisisashleyr?igsh=bXFrcTliMHBoajg5&utm_source=qr

This week on the pod, David Thompson drops in for our seasonal check-in! We discuss the progress of our games together, check in on David's work with several other co-designers, and discuss the status of our design philosophies in general. Check out The Blue Way: https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/790bcea3-7482-4f7c-91cf-dc12da16cfeb/landing?ref=home-pageBeyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulationsCheck out CMU's game offerings here: https://cmichpress.com/shop/All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.comEnjoy my work? Consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondsolitaire or getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaireContact Me: Email: beyondsolitaire at gmail.comTwitter: @beyondsolitaireInstagram: @beyondsolitaireFacebook: www.facebook.com/beyondsolitaireWebsite: www.beyondsolitaire.net

This week on the pod, Tilak Vyas drops by to talk about his poetry game, Line by Line, that is forthcoming from Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations. Check out The Blue Way: https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/790bcea3-7482-4f7c-91cf-dc12da16cfeb/landing?ref=home-pageBeyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulationsCheck out CMU's game offerings here: https://cmichpress.com/shop/All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.comEnjoy my work? Consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondsolitaire or getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaireContact Me: Email: beyondsolitaire at gmail.comTwitter: @beyondsolitaireInstagram: @beyondsolitaireFacebook: www.facebook.com/beyondsolitaireWebsite: www.beyondsolitaire.net

We recently weighed the costs and benefits of Michigan's bottle bill. Today, a listener shares just how much the 10-cent bottle deposit meant to Central Michigan University students in the 70s. GUESTS: Andrea Haupt, listener Michael Lehnert, listener Want to submit a question to On Hand? Do it here: Online Submission Form Call us: 734-764-7840 Email us: onhand@michiganpublic.org If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganpublic.org/podfundSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the pod, I chat with Alyssa and Ari, who coordinate gaming programs for teens in my local county library system. Some of them even include me! Check out The Blue Way: https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/790bcea3-7482-4f7c-91cf-dc12da16cfeb/landing?ref=home-pageBeyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulationsCheck out CMU's game offerings here: https://cmichpress.com/shop/All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.comEnjoy my work? Consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondsolitaire or getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaireContact Me: Email: beyondsolitaire at gmail.comTwitter: @beyondsolitaireInstagram: @beyondsolitaireFacebook: www.facebook.com/beyondsolitaireWebsite: www.beyondsolitaire.net

Half of today's students are the first in their families to attend college. But at a time when college is more expensive than ever, how do these students succeed?On this show, a first-generation student who works 30 hours a week to support her family while balancing classes shares her experience with us; and we sit down with Mary Henley, Director of Pathways to Academic Student Success at Central Michigan University, and one of the administrators who helped the student on her journey.Join J.R. and Kelsey as they discuss First But Never Alone. Stories• 47,000 Things: An anonymous story from Facing College at Central Michigan University. Performed by Amanda Hummer.Music Used in This Episode• "Rondo" by Pierce Murphy. Released under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License. From the Free Music Archive. Chapters[00:00] Announcing weekly podcast encores![00:51] Introduction[05:23] 47,000 Things: An anonymous story from Facing College at Central Michigan University. Performed by Amanda Hummer.[10:43] Interview with Mary Henley, Director of Pathways to Academic Student Success at Central Michigan University.Original air date: May 30, 2020

This week on the pod, Paul Wright and I discuss Foxes & Lions, how it has developed over the past year or so, and what we're excited about next. Also, it's on P500! Go support it here: https://www.gmtgames.com/p-1229-foxes-and-lions-renaissance-city-states-in-the-age-of-machiavelli.aspxCheck out The Blue Way: https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/790bcea3-7482-4f7c-91cf-dc12da16cfeb/landing?ref=home-pageBeyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulationsCheck out CMU's game offerings here: https://cmichpress.com/shop/All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.comEnjoy my work? Consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondsolitaire or getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaireContact Me: Email: beyondsolitaire at gmail.comTwitter: @beyondsolitaireInstagram: @beyondsolitaireFacebook: www.facebook.com/beyondsolitaireWebsite: www.beyondsolitaire.net

  In this episode you will discover: Identity Is Shaped in Interaction — Narrative identity forms and reforms through relationships and stories shared with others — making connection a core ingredient of recovery, not a bonus Visual Methods Unlock What Words Cannot — Collage-making, photos, and art give people with aphasia a pathway into identity work that talk alone can't always reach. Identity Reconstruction Is a Long Game — People continue navigating complex, shifting identities for years after stroke. Our systems need to follow them farther into that journey, not stop too soon. Sit on Your Hands and Truly Listen — The most powerful thing you can offer is unhurried, attentive presence. Learning to wait and watch — rather than fill the silence — is a skill worth deliberately practicing. If you've ever felt like there's more to aphasia care than the therapy protocol in front of you, or wondered what identity-centered practice actually looks like in the real world, this conversation will give you both the framework and the practical insights you need. Welcome to the Aphasia Access Aphasia Conversations Podcast. I'm Katie Strong from Central Michigan University and a member of the Aphasia Access Podcast Working Group — a community dedicated to supporting better aphasia care. Rianne Brinkman is a speech-language pathologist and linguist from the Netherlands whose PhD project "Who Am I Now?" explores identity changes in people with aphasia through storytelling and creative arts-based approaches. Before her doctoral work — supported by the Dutch NWO Teacher Research Grant — she spent years as a clinician in rehabilitation and aphasia centers, and that deep clinical foundation shapes everything she brings to her research. She teaches in the Speech and Language Therapy program at Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen and conducts her research at the University of Humanistic Studies in Utrecht. Today's conversation feels especially personal to me. Like Rianne, I came to doctoral work after years of established clinical practice, and my own research centers on narrative identity and aphasia through the My Story Project and the PULSE framework. So, when she sought me out at a conference in 2019, I recognized immediately that we were kindred spirits working toward the same questions from different corners of the world.   So, let's get into the conversation. Katie Strong: Well, before we dive into your work, I wanted to share something with our listeners. One of the things that drew me to this conversation is that we have a parallel story. We both came to do our PhDs after established clinical careers, and you're in the thick of that journey. I'd love to start with what made you decide to go back, and how did your clinical work shape what you wanted to pursue? Rianne Brinkman: I used to work in rehabilitation for a long time, and then I moved from one part of the Netherlands to another part, and there was not much work for me. So, I got the opportunity to help establish an aphasia center. And of course, if you look at the rehabilitation phase, that's far more deficit oriented, so that's very different than in the chronic phase, where an aphasia center comes into place. So, I really had to change my view of therapy. I had to establish a few groups on identity. I started reading on identity, on communicative participation, on how to do that in groups. So that's really where the interest came from. Katie Strong: I love hearing that. Sometimes as we go into a different phase or area of work, and it really re-shapes our thinking and how we engage with our clients or patients. Rianne Brinkman: Yeah, it does. And in those groups, I worked together a lot with creative therapists, and I learned so much from them, because then I realized that if you use narrative approaches, and you combine them with visual arts or arts therapy, that it can mean so much for somebody. They can get so many more means of expression. So, yeah, I learned a lot from that. Katie Strong: I love that! It is powerful. And I'm really looking forward to talking more about this. I was curious, you know, what the experience has been like from a clinician turned researcher, what you know, what's that actually been like for you? And has there been anything that surprised you most about the transition? Rianne Brinkman: I did not realize that much how much you yourself as a person influences the conversation with somebody with aphasia, you know that co-construction part. So that your identity aspects really influence how the conversation takes place and what somebody chooses to tell you or not. So that is really momentary, and so it's just a snapshot, really, when you do this. So, I became really aware of that. But also, your own norms and values and the way you listen and all those sorts of things. It's just a different way of doing therapy. And then you're doing it as research which is different. I think that's one thing, sometimes I'm a little bit too much the therapist, so I really have to be a researcher again, you know? So, you change between those roles.   Katie Strong: Yes, it is a shift, right? Rianne Brinkman: Yeah, exactly, exactly. Katie Strong: Yeah. And thinking about how those two roles are different or powerful, sometimes combined. Well, let's talk a little bit about the work that you're doing. And I want to acknowledge that what we're talking about today really all comes out of your doctoral journey, which is really remarkable. I thought we could first talk about your 2025 scoping review that really mapped the landscape of what we know about identity changes in aphasia, and it also laid the groundwork for everything that followed. Could you walk us through that narrative identity model that came out of the review?   Rianne Brinkman: Yeah. That was quite complex, because there's so much written about identity, and everybody defines it slightly in a different way, or uses different words. So, what we tried to do is really get a grip on that literature to see what was written on identity changes in aphasia, and what kind of theory was used. And what we saw was that everything is from a social constructionist perspective, really. But then there are many different philosophers and different authors that write about identity. So, what we tried to do was because, of course, Barbara Shadden, she's very foundational in this work. With her colleagues, she created the four domain interdisciplinary framework. So, we tried to use that in the model as one of the foundations. And then, of course, the work of Paul Ricoeur, who's a French philosopher who writes about that you only shape your identity through interaction with other people which gives meaning to the stories you share with other people. And the work of Bamberg, and he talks about dilemmatic spaces. So what it means, really, is that I think identity, you only shape in interaction, and we tried to visualize that in the model. So, there's an "I" part, and that's about you, the personal domains, and there's the "we" part, and that's about the social domains. We tried to visualize how those domains interact, including temporality, because you shape your identity in the here and now, but also through time. And then in the middle of the model, there's a head with interconnected gears, and that's where it all comes together. That's you at your identity, your narrative identity, a specific point in time. So that's the model in a nutshell. And then you've got, of course, all those personal domains, like your biography, agency and power, communicative abilities, your roles you fulfill in life. And then the social domains are, like your social situation, your cultural background, society and all of that works together, informing, shaping your identity. Katie Strong: It's powerful work, and it is complex. I appreciate the work that you led to be able to assimilate and give us this model for us to be really thinking about narrative identity in a way that takes all of those big thought leaders and helps it become more approachable to those of us that are interested in narrative identity as researchers, but also as clinicians. Rianne Brinkman: That's great. Thank you. Katie Strong: Thank you for that work. And then you have another recent paper. Congratulations, by the way! That paper just came out earlier this year in 2026 and I guess I should say to the listeners, we'll have both articles linked in the show notes, as well as some other resources that will be interesting to explore if you're into this topic. This 2026, article is really the first of its kind to look at identity in this early stage, six to eight weeks after admission to rehabilitation. So, I was hoping you could talk with us about who were these people and what were you doing together in these sessions? Rianne Brinkman: Yeah. So, it's the first session of a longitudinal study, so I'm following those people over two years. And so, there are 22 people with aphasia. Unfortunately, two of them couldn't continue as one of them, I couldn't organize the reflection session, and one of them, I just couldn't reach anyone. But the other 20 people are still in the study, which is really amazing! Katie Strong: That is really amazing! Rianne Brinkman : Yeah, that's really nice. They're all middle aged people who range in age from their 30s to their 60s until 67. They also have different severities of aphasia. Some people were still clinical inpatient, some of them already were outpatient. And then I tried to elicit their story with visual participatory methods in combination with the narrative approach. So those sessions are quite long, sometimes two and a half to three hours, so it's a lot of time. It's really nice to just sit with them and connect. During the first session I did collage making. I just took a lot of magazines with me and scissors and glue and everything, and then we just sat down. And then I just let them start leafing through those magazines and see what appealed to them, what kind of images, what kind of words, what it's reflected about them. And then they created their collage. And then, of course, you look at what kind of images do they choose, but also, how do they position them? How do they create their collage. Is there some kind of reason behind things? You discuss that, but also how do they get across what they do? You know, some people think for a long time and are hesitant to act. Some people start straight away. Some people tear the images. Some people cut them really neatly. So, everybody behaves in a different way, and that reflects something on your identity also. So, I always ask questions about that. And then when we finish the work, a proxy comes in and we reflect on the work of the person with the face yet together to get perspective. Katie Strong: That's really fantastic. So, you're, you're coming into either the hospital room or their home, is that where the work is done? Rianne Brinkman: Yeah, so usually the speech therapist, who's in charge books a room for me in the rehabilitation center. Or I just go to the homes of the people. Katie Strong: Well, I'm excited to talk about what you found out, but, but before we get into that, I just have to ask about the tattoo, because it's an integral part of this work. And it stopped me when I read it. And the title from the paper comes from the tattoo on one of your participants. So, could you talk to us about that?   Rianne Brinkman: Of course. There's one lady, and I was analyzing the session, because, of course, she will need to transcribe them. And then I saw her doing her hair in a ponytail, and I saw her arm, and I thought, "Oh, she's got a really nice tattoo there." So, I sent her a text, and I said, "What does that tattoo mean to you? What is it? "And then she told me that it was a tattoo that said, leave the thorn, enjoy the rose. And that's from a music play from Handel. And her father really enjoyed that. But her father passed away, so that tattoo was a memory tribute to her father, but also it reflects how she sees life, that you have to try to stay optimistic whatever happens. And I think that voice of positivity is a very important voice in all the stories of all the participants. Everybody said that. So, I thought, oh yeah. Even when something really bad happens, bad happens, people try to stay positive. So, it reflected a very important, yeah, result of the data, really. So, I thought, I'm going to make that the title. Katie Strong: It really is beautiful. So, so the rose bush. You develop this beautiful rose bush image to represent what you found across the participants. Walk us through that. And what does the rose bush capture about what identity looks like at that early stage of recovery? Rianne Brinkman: So, we used different methodology of analysis. So we listened to the voices that were reflected in the stories of people with aphasia, and then we realized that there are many contrapuntal voices, so it's very ambiguous. Really, very complex. So, we thought, we cannot just do a thematic analysis. We have to show that one experience can be both positive or negative or whatever. And that's why we came to those tensions and in that rose bush, so at the stem you see, for example, where you see the branches, and at the stem it's, for example, the tension between disconnection and connection. And connection is at the rose and disconnection at the stem, another tension is agency and disempowerment, and another one is living loss and personal growth. And then what we found was that people had coping voices and affirmative voices, but also challenging voices. And what we did was we put the challenging voices at the thorns and the coping and affirmative voices at the roses to reflect that they used that both to make sense of aphasia and of their identity, really. And so, they were moving along those branches, really. Sometimes they felt connected. Sometimes disconnected. Sometimes they grieved. Sometimes they cope by staying positive or focusing on the present. So that's how we tried to show that it's very complex that people move along those tensions, that it's never static. And those three existential tensions were really very tangible in the data. Katie Strong: It's just such powerful work. When I was reading it and I. I was talking with one of my students, she was saying she actually became pretty emotional when she was reading about all of that as well. It's really, really powerful work. And what I find so interesting, and you mentioned it earlier, but this role of the visual methods, the collage making, images as a way into identity. Could you paint a picture of what that actually looked like to sit with a participant in those sessions? Rianne Brinkman: Yeah. Well you really have to sit on your hands. And I learned a lot from my colleagues, creative therapists, because when I first did this…because sometimes people feel a bit awkward. You know that they all of a sudden have to draw something, or that they have to cut images from a magazine. And then you want to do something to help them feel less awkward. You shouldn't really. You should just let that happen and let that session develop. That's very important. So, I really learned to just tell them, "you are looking the magazines and you see what appeals to you. And I'll just give you some time to get into that" and then you just wait. And while you're waiting, you can just see, for example, if somebody finds it really hard, and then you can also see how long they look at an image, for example, if it means something to them. Or they stop on a certain page all the time. And then you can help them a little bit and say, "Oh, you're looking a long time at this image. Maybe, is this something that appeals to you for some reason?" And then you can help them. But also, very often, people just know what to do. I don't know. It's very intuitive. So first, they don't know what they will choose, or they don't know what kind of collage it will be. But it comes to them for some reason.   Katie Strong: Yeah, it's interesting. I think we had talked about this previously, but a person with aphasia and research collaborator that I worked with, Todd Berreth, and I did some, we called it. We the "cut-up" style using images to be able create a story about yourself and integrate those pieces. And it was so interesting to watch people who came to our workshop, and just as you're saying, like how they chose and what they did. Some people were very, "I know what I'm doing", and others were hesitant, or wanted to take their work home before finalizing it and everything in between.   Rianne Brinkman: Yeah, that's very that's very nice. You really get that extra layer, I think. And also, when people really can't talk very well, you know, they can maybe say yes or no and sometimes a word, you know, then it's very hard to talk about your identity. Using images then that really helps. So, I remember one lady, she couldn't talk very well, but she was very creative. And she started, you know, with those magazines, and then straight away, there was that butterfly symbolizing her mom, connection to her mother. And maybe, I think we would never have reached that trying to do this in words. So, yeah, very powerful.   Katie Strong: Thank you. Another thing I wanted to talk about is that you use something called the Listening Guide as part of your analysis. And I'm thinking that a lot of our listeners may not have come across this before. Could you give a sense of what it really means to listen in the way that that approach demands?   Rianne Brinkman: Yes. So, what you do is, first you well, you listen to the plot of the story. So, you listen to, what does this story contain? What's the big line of the story? And you write that down. And then you look again at the data, and then you look at all the "I" positions and I also look at the "me" positions. So, everything that's "I" and "me". You get that out and you create "I-poems". We created all those "I-poems" about certain experiences. I could give maybe an example of one. This one is a bit connected to, on the one hand, feeling very sad that somebody suffered from stroke and aphasia, and on the other hand, tried to stay positive. So, I've got one here. I was crying last weekend. I realized, Oh no, this happened to me. I have to deal with this. I have changed. I also stayed positive that I will be okay. I just say it will be okay and I won't think negatively. So, then you get an "I-poem" that reflects different voices, like, in this case, the voice of grief and positivity. Then you look at those voices. In the next step, you look at the contrapuntal voices, and like grief and positivity are very contrapuntal. So very often, I think also we as human beings do the same, you know, you talk to yourself in your head, you know. And you've got all those different positions towards an experience. And those are the contrapuntal voices. And what we tried to do, so we adapted this approach by Gilligan and Eddy, and we tried to incorporate the visuals, the visual data, and also embodiment, because sometimes people with aphasia do very interesting things. They give a lot of information, non-verbally. Also you want to be sure that you really understood the person, so checking if you're on the same page is very important also. Sometimes you have to interpret what somebody means, or you have to give words to what somebody says as a researcher, which is the ethical part, of course, which is hard sometimes, but you can't avoid that. So, yeah, so that's how we integrated all the data. And tried to get those stories out and get the depth of the depth of the story.   Katie Strong: I love it. That's really fascinating. And the "I-poems" are really powerful. And I think we'll put a link to the Listening Guide reference in the show notes if people are interested in learning more about that technique. You mentioned earlier that this is a longitudinal study that you're undertaking for your dissertation work, which is pretty amazing. I mean, very amazing. And you're, you're two years into this longitudinal study, and this paper we've been talking about is the six to eight week snapshot. What are you most curious about as you continue following those participants over time? And also, what do you want clinicians who are listening today to take away from what you've already found?   Rianne Brinkman: Tomorrow, I'm doing another two sessions. One of them is the last session with somebody with P5 and with another person, P4. I think I am about I'm halfway through. Well, I'm almost, I think I've got another year to go to have collected all the data. And what I see really is that it's very clear that identity formation and reconstructing, renegotiating your identity, is a very long and complex process, and that at different points in time, different things happen. You see different patterns also along those moments in time that I'm doing the sessions. What I also realize, I'm not sure how that is in states, but in the Netherlands, I think communicative access, for example, if you want to start working again, you know, to understand what all the letters you get the process, and that it's very hard. Also in health care. And people are really struggling with that, and get really a lot of stress from this, and that it's very unclear often, and that people feel very uncertain. And I think we've got to realize that we should take a longer role in this. You know, not stop too soon, or just at least keep, well, the finger on the pulse, like we say in Netherlands, just keep following people. I think that's very important. And I also realized that the combination of a narrative approach with visual participatory methods really gives you a lot of information. And I also think the listening skills, to really listen to that story and try to get that story out, that gives you such a powerful connection with somebody. So, every time I see them again, I'm really curious, and they're really happy to share their story again and to show me where they are at that point in time. Yeah, and then I'm working together with colleagues with aphasia also, which is really great because they learn from each other. You know, that's nice.   Katie Strong: I love all of that. And I think maybe one of the things I'd like to reiterate, or we could talk about a little bit more, is that what I think I hear you're saying is we know aphasia is a chronic change to their life and the way they communicate and how they can connect with others, and ultimately how that impacts who they are, as people, or their identity. And our health care systems, I know in the US, we're set up for lots of intervention, or maybe the most that they're going to get, even if it's just a little, early in that phase, and then having them have to navigate that process on their own, as they become farther from having the stroke. And this work showcases their journey along the way. But I just wonder is there something that a clinician who's listening could implement or do with their client, wherever they're seeing them, in the journey? Rianne Brinkman:  I think using creative arts is always a good idea. You could keep it really simple. You could just ask them to bring a special object or to show a photo that they're proud of, or make a collage, or use Legos to build with. So, I think that's a good possibility. And also, I think a peer contact is very important. So do that together with a little group or people that are interested in exploring and sharing their stories. And I think we should realize that it's important to check in. So even if you finish therapy with somebody, then it's a good thing after a few months, to ask how they how they are, and stand still with the process. That's something very important also. Katie Strong: And sometimes harder to do than it would seem, but I think, as you're talking it seems like connecting people with peers and following up. I know here in the states, making  sure they're a part of a support group so that they can have a community to be able to connect with. Rianne Brinkman: Yes, because what I've seen a lot is that after a while, there's that phase of uncertainty, really. You don't know if you can get your work back, maybe in a different form, maybe not. And then there's no therapy anymore. And then how are you going to navigate all that uncertainty? And I think that usually speech therapy has stopped. I think then it's hard, of course, because it's not always doable, but I think it would be a very good moment. So, after eight months to really start up something again and then really discuss the identity of somebody. Really use narrative approaches to help them renegotiate all those dilemmas that they're experiencing. Katie Strong: Yeah, and certainly, I guess you know, advocacy work on big levels to recognize that people should be able to access therapy whenever they feel like they need it. Rianne Brinkman: Yeah, definitely. Katie Strong:  We've got some work to do. I appreciate this conversation, and I just wanted to let the listeners know that Rianne and I have been in conversation since we met at the International Aphasia Rehabilitation Conference in Philadelphia in 2019 and what started as a conversation in a parking lot I might add, has grown into some real research and educational collaboration. And Rianne, together with Sabine Corsten and Bianca Spelker, we have been developing and studying training programs for future SLPs in life storytelling approaches across three countries, so the US, Germany and the Netherlands and Rianne, I was hoping you could tell our listeners a bit about what we're actually building together and what you're learning from that work about what students need most before they walk into the room and try to do this identity centered practice, style of work. Rianne Brinkman: Well, we based it a lot on your work, of course, and the My Story project and Narraktiv from Sabine. So, Katie you started this in the US, and then we thought, "oh, this would be great in the Netherlands and in Germany also." The students first of course, need to be trained in supportive communication techniques, because that's very important for them. I think in the Netherlands, it's maybe a little bit different than in the States and in Germany, because I work with students that are still in their bachelors. So they've had only one year of theory, and they haven't done their training or internship yet. Although some of them have. And then you see a very different student. So, but I've got the students that are really for the first time meeting someone with aphasia, for example. And they're very scared, because they think, "Oh, am I able to adapt my communication and what if somebody's going to cry, or what if that story is really going to touch me?" So, you really need to prepare them with a lot of information about what narrative identity is and also what identity work entails. We also must train on how you can really, truly listen. Active listening skills from that nice paper you wrote with Barbara Shadden on the power of story and taking the PULSE of people with aphasia. Appreciating their uniqueness, And also what we do in the Netherlands is practicing with them how they use visual methods, creative methods, to use in their sessions with the people with aphasia. And then once they start, I always say to them, "Well, at least the first session maybe is very exciting, but you're there, you're listening, you're engaged. That's already means so much to somebody if you do that, if you truly listen." And then after one session, they realize that, and then it goes really nicely.   Katie Strong: There's this that feeling very uncomfortable and not sure where to go. And then being able to let that person with aphasia kind of take you on that journey. Rianne Brinkman: Yeah. That's so nice because it contributes to both, to the person with aphasia who participates, and also to the students and their development. Katie Strong: I strongly believe you can't do identity, story based work without being influenced yourself, by the work   Rianne Brinkman: Yeah, definitely. Katie Strong: Well, before we wrap up, I would be remiss if we didn't talk about some tips or strategies, resources or readings for clinicians who are interested in implementing identity, focused story work into their practice. So, can you share a few things with us? Rianne Brinkman: Definitely. Yeah. When I started this work, I really liked the work of Carol Pound and her colleagues, and that's a book called Beyond Aphasia. It's very interesting theoretically, but also very practical. It really helped me to develop methods for my aphasia group to talk about identity. I really think that's a very good book. And then also the book of Barbara Shadden and her colleagues on Neurogenic Communication Disorders. There are some really practical cases in there, and it's very broad. It's not only about aphasia, but also a different neurogenic disorders. And I what I really like is it's such a nuanced theoretical perspective; they gather lots of theory, but they do that in such a good way. It's a very book. Katie Strong: Yeah, I agree, both Carol Pound and Barbara Shadden's work. It's approachable, but it does have the meat of the theory in it.   Rianne Brinkman: Yeah. So that's helped me a lot. And what I said earlier, the paper you wrote with Barbara on the power of story, I think that's very helpful to better understand what happens when you use narrative interventions, and what kind of interventions there are. And then, of course, the different interventions, like the work of Sabine Corsten on Narraktiv in your work, on My Story. And I have a book but it's only in Dutch. I attempted to share all those methods I created for the group, and it's very practice based. So that's why I started later on my PhD. But those practice-based methods are combined in a book, but it's only in Dutch. Katie Strong: It looks fabulous. I'm not able to access it with my limited language skills, but we'll make sure to have all of those references listed in the show notes so people can explore and take a look around it. And I think you know your book that you're talking about, Rianne even though it is all in Dutch, so maybe not accessible to everyone, but it's got beautiful graphics and photos and things like that you can get an essence of what it is that you're expressing. Rianne Brinkman: It's all, it's all painted or drawn by Reno Hubers. He's a Dutch person with aphasia, and he was in one of my groups. And then every time I was reading about something, he was just drawing it or painting it. And I thought, "Oh, I really need to ask him help me make the images for this book." So, it was together with him that we created this. Katie Strong: Beautiful. And what a great story. Thank you for being here with me today. And I don't know if you have anything else you want to add before we wrap up our conversation. Rianne Brinkman: Well, thank you for inviting me. But also, I want to say thank you to my team, because they really stimulate me to think differently about identity. I've got a very interprofessional team, and that's really helpful. And also, of course, our identity group meetings with you and Sabine and Bianca and Barbara. That's very helpful to shape my thinking on identity. And, of course, the participants of my research who are so open and vulnerable and want to share their stories. I would like to acknowledge that that's very important.   Katie Strong: For sure! We sure appreciate you sharing your experiences with us and look forward to what's to come from the longitudinal study. We wish you well in your studies as well. Thanks Rianne. What strikes me most about this conversation is how Rianne's work reminds us that identity reconstruction isn't a detour from aphasia care — it is aphasia care. And the tools she brings, the collage, the listening guide, the willingness to simply sit and wait, are more accessible than we might think. What began as a chance conversation in a parking lot in Philadelphia in 2019 has grown into something neither of us anticipated. Rianne, together with colleagues Sabine Corsten and Bianca Spelker, and alongside my own work through the Strong Story Lab, we have been developing and studying training programs for future clinicians in life storytelling approaches — across the US, Germany, and the Netherlands. It is the kind of international collaboration that only happens when people are genuinely working toward the same thing. On behalf of Aphasia Access, thank you for listening. For references and resources mentioned in today's show, please see our show notes, available on our website at www.aphasiaaccess.org. There you can also become a member of our organization, browse our growing library of materials, and find out about the Aphasia Access Academy. If you have an idea for a future podcast episode, email us at info@aphasiaaccess.org. For Aphasia Access Conversations, here at Central Michigan University in the Strong Story Lab, I'm Katie Strong.   Resources Brinkman, R. (2018). Bouwen aan identiteit. behandeling van afasie – met 25 werkvormen [Building identity. Breindok. Treatment of aphasia – with 25 methods]. http://refhub.elsevier.com/S0021-9924(26)00012-2/sbref0006  Brinkman, R., Cardol, M., Neijenhuis, K., Luinge, M., & Leget, C. (2026). "Leave the thorn, enjoy the rose" identity formation of people with aphasia in the early rehabilitation phase. Journal of Communication Disorders, 120, 106627. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcomdis.2026.106627  Brinkman, R., Neijenhuis, K., Cardol, M., & Leget, C. (2024). Who am I now? A scoping review on identity changes in post-stroke aphasia. Disability and Rehabilitation, 47(5), 1081-1099. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2024.2367606  Gilligan C., & Eddy J. (2017). Listening as a path to psychological discovery: An introduction to the Listening Guide. Perspectives on Medical Education, 6(2),76-81. https://doi.org/10.1007/S40037-017-0335-3  Pound, C., Parr, S., Lindsay, J., & Woolf, C. (2000). Beyond aphasia: Therapies for living with communication disability. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315169057  Shadden, B. B., Hagstrom, F., & Koski, P. R. (2008). Neurogenic communication disorders: Life stories and the narrative self. Plural Publishing. https://www.pluralpublishing.com/publications/neurogenic-communication-disorders-life-stories-and-the-narrative-self  Strong, K. A., & Shadden, B. B. (2020). The power of story in identity renegotiation: Clinical approaches to supporting persons living with aphasia. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, 5(2), 371-383. https://doi.org/10.1044/2019_PERSP-19-00145   

In this episode of Owl Talk, we welcome back Dr. Matt Johnson (Saginaw Valley State '00), professor of educational leadership at Central Michigan University, for a deep dive into the latest trends shaping higher education. Building on his previous appearance, this conversation focuses on what has changed in the past year and what it means for today's undergraduate experience. Dr. Johnson breaks down national enrollment data, including modest post-COVID growth driven by community colleges and the continued shift away from traditional four-year pathways. He explores the rise of dual enrollment, credential stacking, and the growing number of men choosing alternative routes like trades or delayed college entry. The discussion also examines the widening gender gap in higher education and what it signals for fraternity recruitment and retention. The episode also tackles the rapid integration of AI on college campuses, from how students are using it to how it is already influencing academic choices and career paths. Finally, Dr. Johnson offers direct, actionable insight for chapters, challenging them to evaluate whether they are truly improving member outcomes in areas like academic success, financial support, and mental health.

This week on the pod, Waleed Ma'arouf, a designer at Studio Big, discusses their work in education, how they joined the Arkham Horror LCG design team, and their current design work for a fresh crop of games. Check out The Blue Way: https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/790bcea3-7482-4f7c-91cf-dc12da16cfeb/landing?ref=home-pageBeyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulationsCheck out CMU's game offerings here: https://cmichpress.com/shop/All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.comEnjoy my work? Consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondsolitaire or getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaireContact Me: Email: beyondsolitaire at gmail.comTwitter: @beyondsolitaireInstagram: @beyondsolitaireFacebook: www.facebook.com/beyondsolitaireWebsite: www.beyondsolitaire.net

Show NotesToday we are fortunate to be talking with, John Lenneman and Josh Domeyer from Toyota's Collaborative Safety Research Center.John Lenneman is a Senior Principal Research Scientist at Toyota's Collaborative Safety Research Center and has over 25 years of human factors experience. He has worked in automotive, consumer products, and health and wellness. Before Toyota, he worked at General Motors R&D, and Newell Brands. John holds a Ph.D. in Applied Experimental Psychology from Central Michigan University and a Master's in Industrial Engineering from the University of Michigan  He has authored numerous publications and book chapters and holds over 20 patents. His work spans driver behavior, vehicle automation, advanced driver assistance systems, human-centered design, and health and wellness program development Josh Domeyer is a Principal Scientist and has worked at Toyota for 14 years. Before that, he conducted research in both academic and industrial settings. Josh has Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master's in Experimental Psychology from Central Michigan University. He has over 50 peer reviewed publications and conference proceedings and over 20 patents. His work applies advanced computational techniques to risky driving behavior and naturalistic use of driving automation. Learn more about John + JoshConnect with John on LinkedInConnect with Josh on LinkedInSee more of their workWhere to find the hosts:Brian MoonBrian's websiteBrian's LinkedInBrian's TwitterLaura MilitelloLaura's websiteLaura's LinkedInLaura's Twitter

This week on the pod, Dr. Esther Wright (@enwright.bsky.social), a lecturer at the University of Cardiff, speaks about her work on Rockstar Games, the way they represent American history, and what we can learn from the stories they tell about America and themselves. Check out The Blue Way: https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/790bcea3-7482-4f7c-91cf-dc12da16cfeb/landing?ref=home-pageBeyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulationsCheck out CMU's game offerings here: https://cmichpress.com/shop/All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.comEnjoy my work? Consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondsolitaire or getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaireContact Me: Email: beyondsolitaire at gmail.comTwitter: @beyondsolitaireInstagram: @beyondsolitaireFacebook: www.facebook.com/beyondsolitaireWebsite: www.beyondsolitaire.net

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Lee Trucks—a longtime Manistee businessman whose impact on this community spans more than 50 years. While many people know Lee through Jackpine Business Center, that chapter represents just a portion of a much larger and more meaningful story.Lee's journey began in Baldwin, Michigan, and took him through Central Michigan University and ultimately to the University of Michigan. Along the way, he taught English to students in Nigeria and played a role in early childhood education through Head Start programs—experiences that helped shape the perspective and values he would later bring back home to Manistee.In 1977, alongside his two brothers, Lee helped build what would become Jackpine Business Center. But what stands out most isn't just the business itself—it's the decades of relationships, community involvement, and steady presence that Lee has brought to this area.Conversations like this are exactly why I love producing this show. They go beyond business or resumes—they capture the stories, experiences, and wisdom of people who have helped shape our community. To me, episodes like this become a kind of time capsule for Manistee—preserving voices and perspectives that deserve to be heard for years to come.

Welcome to Monsters on the Edge, a show exploring creatures at the edge of our reality in forests, cities, skies, and waters. We examine these creatures and talk to the researchers studying them.Joining us on this week's show:Val Zavala has a diverse and extensive professional background, beginning as a state-licensed private investigator. In addition to working in investigative roles, he has also taught police officers at two community colleges, sharing their -knowledge and experience with future law enforcement professionals. Education & Training - A graduate of Central Michigan University, Val has completed the basic police academy at MaDonna University. This solid educational foundation contributed to his success across various law enforcement positions. Law Enforcement and Military Service - Throughout 25 ½ years of his career, He has served in federal, state, county, and suburban agencies, gaining broad experience in the field. He rounded out his career by successfully recovering missing homicide victim and retired in good stead after 25 ½ years. My commitment to public service extended to the military, where he completed two tours and honorably discharged. Published Works and Media Appearances- He authored a published article for the MAGLOCEN intelligence group and has been featured on the A&E History Channel as a subject matter expert (SME) specializing in gangs and organized crime and held association with government sponsored international intelligence group.Michigan Bigfoot Report and Data: Gumshoguy's Cornerhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/202167254236442Click that play button, and let's unravel the mysteries of the UNTOLD! Remember to like, share, and subscribe to our channel to stay updated on all the latest discoveries and adventures. See you there!Join Barnaby Jones each Monday on the Untold Radio Network Live at 12pm Central – 10am Pacific and 1pm Eastern. Come and Join the live discussion next week. Please subscribe.We have ten different Professional Podcasts on all the things you like. New favorite shows drop each day only on the UNTOLD RADIO NETWORKTo find out more about Barnaby Jones and his team, (Cryptids, Anomalies, and the Paranormal Society) visit their website www.WisconsinCAPS.comMake sure you share and Subscribe to the CAPS YouTube Channel as wellhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs7ifB9Ur7x2C3VqTzVmjNQ

This week on the pod, Brooks Barber (rollplusfun@bsky.social) drops by to discuss his new venture, Hawk & Dove. He's starting a new historical games publishing business, moving his family to the Netherlands, and still designing games! https://www.hawkanddovegames.com/Check out The Blue Way: https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/790bcea3-7482-4f7c-91cf-dc12da16cfeb/landing?ref=home-pageBeyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulationsCheck out CMU's game offerings here: https://cmichpress.com/shop/All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.comEnjoy my work? Consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondsolitaire or getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaireContact Me: Email: beyondsolitaire at gmail.comTwitter: @beyondsolitaireInstagram: @beyondsolitaireFacebook: www.facebook.com/beyondsolitaireWebsite: www.beyondsolitaire.net

This week on the pod, Danielle Reynolds (@tokengaymer.bsky.social) stops by to discuss her game design career, her current work at Relatable, and her dedication to paying it forward. Check out The Blue Way: https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/790bcea3-7482-4f7c-91cf-dc12da16cfeb/landing?ref=home-pageBeyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulationsCheck out CMU's game offerings here: https://cmichpress.com/shop/All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.comEnjoy my work? Consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondsolitaire or getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaireContact Me: Email: beyondsolitaire at gmail.comTwitter: @beyondsolitaireInstagram: @beyondsolitaireFacebook: www.facebook.com/beyondsolitaireWebsite: www.beyondsolitaire.net

This week on the pod, Taylor Shuss drops by to discuss his new game, Walkable City, which is all about urban planning. We also catch upon his historical designs and talk about design in general! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fowers/walkable-city-the-urban-planning-boardgameCheck out The Blue Way: https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/790bcea3-7482-4f7c-91cf-dc12da16cfeb/landing?ref=home-pageBeyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulationsCheck out CMU's game offerings here: https://cmichpress.com/shop/All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.comEnjoy my work? Consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondsolitaire or getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaireContact Me: Email: beyondsolitaire at gmail.comTwitter: @beyondsolitaireInstagram: @beyondsolitaireFacebook: www.facebook.com/beyondsolitaireWebsite: www.beyondsolitaire.net

On this weekend's show, Gonzo and Amy learn more about the 37th annual Celebrating Life Powwow at Central Michigan University (March 21-22), and get opening date information for a new season on Mackinac Island.Segment 1- Steph Castelein, managing director, Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau.A soft opeing is planned April 24, and the official opening (complete with ribbon cutting) is May 1. More details at https://www.mackinacisland.org/season-updates/Segments - 2 & 3 - CMU's Annual "Celebrating Life" Powwow, March 21-22 at John G. Kulhavi Events Center | McGuirk Arena on the campus of Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant.More details at cmich.edu.We talk to Cassandra Chippeway, content and communications coordinator, Mt. Pleasant Area Convention & Visitors Bureau - http://www.meetmtp.com/And Shay Hale of CMU's Office of Indigenous Affairs, which sponsors the Powwow each year.Segment 4 - Amy and Gonzo.

This week on the pod, Joe Dewhurst discusses his upcoming game, The Pure Land, as well as his continued work as a game developer and COIN solo mode expert. Check out The Blue Way: https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/790bcea3-7482-4f7c-91cf-dc12da16cfeb/landing?ref=home-pageBeyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulationsCheck out CMU's game offerings here: https://cmichpress.com/shop/All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.comEnjoy my work? Consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondsolitaire or getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaireContact Me: Email: beyondsolitaire at gmail.comTwitter: @beyondsolitaireInstagram: @beyondsolitaireFacebook: www.facebook.com/beyondsolitaireWebsite: www.beyondsolitaire.net

Dr. Sharon Elefant, Founder & CEO of The Nonprofit Plug, shares her journey from healthcare administration to nonprofit leadership, emphasizing the importance of management skills for nonprofit success. She discusses the complexities of addressing homelessness and mental health issues. Dr. Elefant also highlights her favorite nonprofit causes and offers valuable resources for those looking to make a difference in their communities.Nonprofit Strategist • Educator • Community AdvocateDr. Sharon R. Elefant is a nationally recognized nonprofit strategist, educator, and community advocate dedicated to helping mission-driven leaders turn bold ideas into sustainable, fundable organizations.As the Founder and CEO of The Nonprofit Plug, Dr. Elefant has supported more than 1,000 nonprofit leaders, helped launch and scale over 500 nonprofit organizations, maintained a 100%IRS approval rate, stewarded over $5 million in nonprofit assets, and supported organizations that have collectively secured more than $15 million in funding. At the core of her work is a simple belief: good intentions deserve strong infrastructure.What The Nonprofit Plug DoesUnder Dr. Elefant's leadership, The Nonprofit Plug provides end-to-end nonprofit support, including:● Nonprofit formation & IRS compliance (501(c)(3), 501(c)(6), and beyond)● Grant strategy, grant writing, and funding pipelines● Donor cultivation, contribution tracking, and fundraising systems● Financial management, bookkeeping, and compliance readiness● Strategic planning, program design, and impact measurement● Board development, governance training, and leadership coaching● Fiscal sponsorship education and alternative impact modelsA Global Perspective on Social ImpactDr. Elefant serves as an international advisor to nonprofits across sectors including housing and homelessness prevention, youth development, mental health access, animal welfare, veteran services, workforce development, financial literacy, and community wellness. Her work spans local grassroots startups to established organizations preparing for multi-year funding and national growth. She is widely respected for her ability to build bridges between nonprofits, funders, and community partners, aligning mission with measurable outcomes and long-term financial health.Educator, Speaker, and MentorIn addition to her consulting work, Dr. Elefant is an adjunct faculty member teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in nonprofit management, health administration, financial management, and program planning. She has facilitated workshops, bootcamps, and training events for hundreds of nonprofit founders and leaders, breaking down complex topics like grants, compliance, and finances into practical, empowering guidance.She is a frequent podcast guest, keynote speaker, and panelist, known for her candid, accessible style and her ability to demystify the nonprofit world while challenging outdated narratives about funding, sustainability, and leadership.Veteran Advocacy & LeadershipPreviously serving as Director of Veteran Outreach & Community Development with Team AMVETS, Dr. Elefant led major partnership and fundraising initiatives, helping double annual donations to nearly $1 million and expand veteran support programming nationwide.Academic & Global ExperienceDr. Elefant holds a Doctorate from Central Michigan University, with academic training in health management and public policy. Her global experience includes setting up rural health clinics in Belize, participating in international public health conferences, and engaging in United Nations seminars abroad. Her doctoral research focused on innovation theory and global systems change, further shaping her strategic lens.Get In Touch With Dr. Sharon Elefant:WEBSITE / SOCIAL :http://www.thenonprofitplug.com/ @thenonprofitplug on most Social platforms.‍ ‍

Shadi Torbey, designer of the legendary Oniverse series, talks solo game design, running his own company, and being an opera singer. https://inpatience.com/Check out The Blue Way: https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/790bcea3-7482-4f7c-91cf-dc12da16cfeb/landing?ref=home-pageBeyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulationsCheck out CMU's game offerings here: https://cmichpress.com/shop/All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.comEnjoy my work? Consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondsolitaire or getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaireContact Me: Email: beyondsolitaire at gmail.comTwitter: @beyondsolitaireInstagram: @beyondsolitaireFacebook: www.facebook.com/beyondsolitaireWebsite: www.beyondsolitaire.net

This week on the pod, Bree Woodward of Asmodee's Studio Big drops by to discuss her current work as a creative director, how she got her start in video games, and her commitment to Women in Toys. Check out The Blue Way: https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/790bcea3-7482-4f7c-91cf-dc12da16cfeb/landing?ref=home-pageBeyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulationsCheck out CMU's game offerings here: https://cmichpress.com/shop/All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.comEnjoy my work? Consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondsolitaire or getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaireContact Me: Email: beyondsolitaire at gmail.comTwitter: @beyondsolitaireInstagram: @beyondsolitaireFacebook: www.facebook.com/beyondsolitaireWebsite: www.beyondsolitaire.net

Dr. Betsey Hermanson Boughton is originally from Michigan and now resides in Sebring, FL. She graduated with a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Central Michigan University and earned her PhD from the University of Central Florida in Conservation Biology. Her roots run deep at Archbold Biological Station and Buck Island Ranch (BIR). She first started as an intern and she now serves as the Director of Science. Her research at BIR is focused on the quantification of multiple ecosystem services provided by working ranches, understanding how ranch management practices affect multiple ecosystem services and disservices, and the drivers and threats to ecosystem services, such as invasive species and climate change. Dr. Boughton serves as an integral part of the scientific community, helping to bridge the gap between science, conversation, and ranching.

This week on the pod, Dan Bullock drops into talk about Penitent, a new release from Lock Horns, his game press. We also discuss game developers and our mutual hatred of dice. If you want Penitent, there are only 200 copies and you can preorder one here: http://lockhornsgames.com/products/penitentCheck out The Blue Way: https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/790bcea3-7482-4f7c-91cf-dc12da16cfeb/landing?ref=home-pageBeyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulationsCheck out CMU's game offerings here: https://cmichpress.com/shop/All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.comEnjoy my work? Consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondsolitaire or getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaireContact Me: Email: beyondsolitaire at gmail.comTwitter: @beyondsolitaireInstagram: @beyondsolitaireFacebook: www.facebook.com/beyondsolitaireWebsite: www.beyondsolitaire.net

What does it really take to transition from professional sports to building successful businesses?In this episode, Jeremy Mercer sits down with former NFL safety Kavon Frazier to unpack the real story behind the highlight reel — the adversity, the mindset shifts, and the discipline required to build a second career after football.Hailing from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Kavon's journey started with just one Division I offer from Central Michigan University — and he took it. What followed wasn't a straight path. After early success as a freshman, he faced conflict with his coaching staff and was benched midway through his sophomore year. Instead of transferring or quitting, he stayed committed.That decision changed everything.Kavon fought his way back, finished strong his senior year, and launched himself into the NFL — ultimately playing for the Dallas Cowboys, one of the most recognized brands in sports. He shares what it's like to compete at the highest level, handle pressure inside a global franchise, and leverage that experience into life after football.Now an entrepreneur, Kavon reflects on:Navigating adversity without losing directionWhy loyalty and resilience matter more than instant gratificationThe pressure of performing under the Cowboys brandBuilding businesses with the same discipline required in the NFLThis conversation is about more than football — it's about identity, reinvention, and staying committed when the path gets hard.If you're building something — a business, a career, or a second act — this episode is for you.

Every step a dairy cow takes counts. There is a new tool available for farmers to detect lameness before it's visible. Dairy Stream host, Joanna Guza, and guest Tera Baker discuss the following topics:  Basics of hoof health care Automating hoof care Accuracy of artificial intelligence (AI) findings Materials needed on farm How it fits into a hoof care plan ROI Lifespan of equipment Advice to a farmer who is hesitant about adding AI on the farm Future of hoof health care About the guest Tera Baker is the North American Marketing Manager for the NedapDairy Business, bringing a lifelong passion for agriculture and a career spanning multiple segments of the dairy industry. Originally from Three Oaks, Michigan, she holds a B.S. in Agribusiness Management from Michigan State University and an MBA from Central Michigan University. Tera's career includes roles in pharmaceutical sales and leading the precision livestock sales unit at Topcon, and has spent time living and working with farms in Texas, Wisconsin, and Michigan in addition to national and international roles. She is especially energized by Nedap's commitment to technology creation and its role as a key connector among leading brands serving progressive dairy farmers. Beyond her work at Nedap, Tera remains deeply rooted in agriculture. She farms cash crops with her family, co-owns a precision ag dealership with her husband, and operates a U-Pick flower farm experience. Tera brings a grounded yet forward-looking perspective on dairy technology, innovation, and the future of livestock management.  Resources: SmartSight with Nedap Article on Nedap ignites the era of AI-powered vision technology with SmartSight Compeer Financial is proud partner of Dairy Stream.  Learn more about Dairy Stream sponsorship. This podcast is produced by the Voice of Milk, a collaboration of individual dairy organizations working to improve the future of dairy farm families. Become a sponsor, share an idea or feedback by emailing podcast@dairyforward.com. 

In this episode of A Couple Takes on MS, we sit down with our pastor, Pastor Dana Hendershot, to talk about one of the biggest questions that can rise up after a diagnosis like MS (or cancer): Why did God let this happen? Dan reflects on 26 years since his MS diagnosis and how faith can change over time, not always through easy answers, but through presence, perspective, and community. Pastor Dana shares the moment her theology of suffering shifted, what she learned during her own cancer journey, and why it's okay to bring every emotion to God. Including anger. We talk about prayer as breath, the difference between “God caused this” and “God is with you in this,” why joy only exists in the present moment, and how hope sometimes looks like being carried by others when you can't carry yourself. In this episode, we get real with Pastor Dana about: • Where God is in diagnosis and suffering • Why it's OK to be angry with God (and why God can handle it) • Prayer as presence and the Spirit as the promise • Theology of the cross vs. theology of glory • Hope, community, and being carried when you're worn down • Finding joy right now and why singing can help shift your mind An open invitation for you, our listeners Where have you felt God's presence during a difficult season in your life? We'd love to hear from you at acoupletakesonms@gmail.com. About our guest: Pastor Dana Hendershot is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and has served as Senior Pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, since 2011. Dana holds a degree in psychology with a focus in neuropsychology and a Master of Divinity from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, where her studies explored the intersection of science and faith. In addition to her congregational ministry, Dana serves as Chair of the Lutheran Alliance for Faith, Science, and Technology, helping lead national conversations about how theology, scientific discovery, and human curiosity connect. Her writing has appeared in Working Preacher, The Lutheran, and Lutheran Partners, where she brings thoughtful theology into everyday lived experience. In 2023, Dana was diagnosed with Large Cell B Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and underwent extensive treatment. That experience deepened her understanding of the body, vulnerability, and what it means to show up for others with compassion and presence. Dana has also been deeply involved in community advocacy. She helped establish Mount Pleasant's first rotating homeless shelter—Isabella County Restoration House—serves on Central Michigan University's Institutional Review Board, and previously served on the Interfaith Action of Southwest Florida Board of Directors while advocating for farmworker justice alongside the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. *** Remember to rate, review and subscribe to A Couple Takes on MS Podcast for two insightful perspectives on this one multifaceted disease.

This week on the pod, Jason Morningstar joins me to talk about good RPG design and about his new edition of The Blue Way, forthcoming from Central Michigan University. Check out The Blue Way: https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/790bcea3-7482-4f7c-91cf-dc12da16cfeb/landing?ref=home-pageBeyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulationsCheck out CMU's game offerings here: https://cmichpress.com/shop/All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.comEnjoy my work? Consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondsolitaire or getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaireContact Me: Email: beyondsolitaire at gmail.comTwitter: @beyondsolitaireInstagram: @beyondsolitaireFacebook: www.facebook.com/beyondsolitaireWebsite: www.beyondsolitaire.net

The Dairy Streamlet is a condensed version of a long Dairy Stream episode and covers the high-level points of the conversation. If this topic interest you, then listen to the full episode on Feb. 18. Dairy Stream host, Joanna Guza, and guest Tera Baker of Nedap discuss the basics of hoof health, automating hoof care, working with your hoof trimmer, artificial intelligence, ROI and the future of hoof health care. This episode is sponsored by Nedap. About the guest Tera Baker is the North American Marketing Manager for the NedapDairy Business, bringing a lifelong passion for agriculture and a career spanning multiple segments of the dairy industry. Originally from Three Oaks, Michigan, she holds a B.S. in Agribusiness Management from Michigan State University and an MBA from Central Michigan University. Tera's career includes roles in pharmaceutical sales and leading the precision livestock sales unit at Topcon, and has spent time living and working with farms in Texas, Wisconsin, and Michigan in addition to national and international roles. She is especially energized by Nedap's commitment to technology creation and its role as a key connector among leading brands serving progressive dairy farmers. Beyond her work at Nedap, Tera remains deeply rooted in agriculture. She farms cash crops with her family, co-owns a precision ag dealership with her husband, and operates a U-Pick flower farm experience. Tera brings a grounded yet forward-looking perspective on dairy technology, innovation, and the future of livestock management.    Compeer Financial is proud partner of Dairy Stream.  Learn more about Dairy Stream sponsorship. This podcast is produced by the Voice of Milk, a collaboration of individual dairy organizations working to improve the future of dairy farm families. Become a sponsor, share an idea or feedback by emailing podcast@dairyforward.com. 

In this episode, we look at the origins of smallpox inoculation in the colonies, discuss the experiences of the Adams family, and consider how the disease entered into debates about a general inoculation of the troops in the Continental Army. We call on the talents of MHS staff to bring John and Abigail Adams to life. Reference Librarian Daniel Hinchen portrays John Adams and Sarah Hume, an Editorial Assistant in the Adams Papers Project, portrays Abigail Adams. We also speak with Andrew M. Wehrman, a professor of history at Central Michigan University, an expert on the topic and author of The Contagion of Liberty: The Politics of Smallpox in the American Revolution. Learn more about episode objects here: https://www.masshist.org/podcast/season-5-episode-2-king-of-terrors  Email us at podcast@masshist.org. Episode Special Guests: Daniel Hinchen is a Reference Librarian at the Massachusetts Historical Society. Sarah Hume is an Editorial Assistant in the Adams Papers Project at the MHS. Andrew Wehrman is a professor of history at Central Michigan University and author of The Contagion of Liberty: The Politics of Smallpox in the American Revolution which won the Peter J. Gomes Memorial Book Prize from the Massachusetts Historical Society. This episode uses materials from: Cloudbank by Podington Bear (Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported) Psychic by Dominic Giam of Ketsa Music (licensed under a commercial non-exclusive license by the Massachusetts Historical Society through Ketsa.uk) Curious Nature by Dominic Giam of Ketsa Music (licensed under a commercial non-exclusive license by the Massachusetts Historical Society through Ketsa.uk)

Michael Ramos is passionate about the human side of leadership, helping others understand both the science and the art behind leading well. While leadership principles may be universal, he believes the expression of leadership is deeply personal—and most powerful when rooted in servant-hearted influence.Raised by parents who modeled servant leadership and shaped by nine years in the Army National Guard—including service in a Ranger and LRRP unit—Michael developed a lifelong commitment to building strong teams and resilient leaders. He holds a degree in Communications and Marketing from Central Michigan University and a Master's in Theological Studies from the International School of Theology. With additional experience in crisis management and security training for organizations and houses of worship, Michael brings both practical insight and spiritual depth to leadership conversations.

Dr. Sharon Elefant, Founder and CEO of The Nonprofit Plug, consults with various individuals to form and incorporate 501c3 tax exempt nonprofit organizations. Dr. Elefant specializes in supporting nonprofits to develop their organizational and administrative infrastructure, strategic vision, implementation plans, fund and growth development, and relationship cultivation. Additionally, she is adjunct faculty for Central Michigan University, Florida International University, and Pacific Oaks College specializing in health care business curriculum, supporting academic excellence in student advising, mentoring and internship programs at the undergraduate and graduate level. Living by the concept of Tikkun Olam, to repair the world, Dr. Sharon Elefant is an inclusive social justice advocate, educator, and nonprofit leader with a proven track record of building, growing, and enhancing organizational and fund development efforts on both a national and global level. Her innovative approaches and excellent communication skills have allowed her to successfully align community programs with specific community needs through various program partnerships and collaborations. In episode 642 of the Fraternity Foodie Podcast, we find out what real belonging look like in a student organization, where she sees strong alignment with nonprofit values and fraternity/sorority values, how Tikkun Olam shows up when she advises organizations, what cultural warning signs suggests that an organization may unintentionally be excluding certain voices, what's usually happening when organizations resist policies or oversight, how student leaders shift from a "one-year term mindset" to a legacy mindset, what values-aligned leadership looks like when tough decisions need to be made, how chapters can partner more intentionally with nonprofits or community organizations, which misconceptions about social justice or inclusion work she wants to challenge for fraternity and sorority leaders, and what gives her hope about the future of campus communities. Enjoy!

The sense of hearing is a finely tuned collaboration between physics and biology, transforming invisible sound waves into meaning, memory, and emotion. From the delicate mechanics of the middle ear to the neural pathways that help us localize danger, recognize voices, and enjoy music, hearing quietly shapes how we connect with the world. Yet it's also one of our most vulnerable senses—affected by aging, noise exposure, infection, and even cardiovascular health. How benign are ear pain and ringing? Is there a limit to how loud we should listen to music? And what can we do to protect this sense before silence becomes noticeable?In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Stacey Lim, AuD, PhD, CCC-A, an American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)-certified audiologist and Professor of Audiology.Dr. Lim received her BA in Communication Sciences and Disorders and German Language and Literature from Wooster College, her AuD (Doctor of Audiology) from the Northeast Ohio Au.D. Consortium at the University of Akron, and her PhD in Audiology from Kent State University. Currently, Dr. Lim is a Professor of Audiology at Central Michigan University, holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A) from ASHA, and is a researcher focused on cochlear implants and aural rehabilitation, informed by her personal experience of bilateral, profound sensorineural hearing loss since birth. Previously, Dr. Lim was a Fulbright Scholar at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, studying hearing loss in Germany, a co-Principal Investigator in March of Dimes research on cognitive and linguistic skills related to hearing loss, and the Chapter President at the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.Dr. Lim is also a co-curator of (dis)ABLED BEAUTY, a museum exhibition featuring creatively designed adaptive devices, assistive devices, and apparel for people with disabilities.Follow Friends of Franz Podcast: Website, Instagram, FacebookFollow Christian Franz (Host): Instagram, YouTube

This week on the pod, I speak with  @PamWallsGameDesign about game design, making life work as a full-time independent game designer, and that time she made a game for Bush's chili. Check out The Blue Way: https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/790bcea3-7482-4f7c-91cf-dc12da16cfeb/landing?ref=home-pageBeyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulationsCheck out CMU's game offerings here: https://cmichpress.com/shop/All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.comEnjoy my work? Consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondsolitaire or getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaireContact Me: Email: beyondsolitaire at gmail.comTwitter: @beyondsolitaireInstagram: @beyondsolitaireFacebook: www.facebook.com/beyondsolitaireWebsite: www.beyondsolitaire.net

This week on the pod, Jeremiah McCall returns to talk about the publication of his book, Designing History Games for Class. We also chat about his current educational designs, and about how he assigns game design projects to his students so that they learn more about history. https://gamingthepast.net/about/Register for Kathleen Mercury's course, Deep Dive by Doing: https://cmichpress.com/product/course-registration-for-deep-dive-by-doing/Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulationsCheck out CMU's game offerings here: https://cmichpress.com/shop/All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.comEnjoy my work? Consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondsolitaire or getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaireContact Me: Email: beyondsolitaire at gmail.comTwitter: @beyondsolitaireInstagram: @beyondsolitaireFacebook: www.facebook.com/beyondsolitaireWebsite: www.beyondsolitaire.net

Darrin Doyle was born in Saginaw, Michigan. He has worked as a paperboy, a janitor, a mover, a telemarketer, a door-to-door salesman, a Kinko's Copy Consultant, a porn store clerk, a pizza delivery guy, a prep cook, a magazine store clerk, a technical writer, a freelance newspaper writer, an English teacher in Japan, and finally, a professor and an author.​Darrin has a brown belt in Tae Kwon Do and wishes he had stuck with it a little longer to get the danged black belt.Darrin hoards and plays lots of musical instruments: guitar, piano, drums, mandolin, banjo, bass, ukelele, and a diatonic 4-string stick dulcimer.He lives in Mount Pleasant, Michigan and teaches at Central Michigan University.He knows what skeletons do.This is something rather than nothing

Welcome to Season 12 of the Beyond Solitaire podcast! To kick things off, Diana Toma from Meeple Foundry is here to talk about translation, graphic design, and building an international team to work on games. Register for Kathleen Mercury's course, Deep Dive by Doing: https://cmichpress.com/product/course-registration-for-deep-dive-by-doing/Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulationsCheck out CMU's game offerings here: https://cmichpress.com/shop/All episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.comEnjoy my work? Consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondsolitaire or getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaireContact Me: Email: beyondsolitaire at gmail.comTwitter: @beyondsolitaireInstagram: @beyondsolitaireFacebook: www.facebook.com/beyondsolitaireWebsite: www.beyondsolitaire.net

In this episode of the Elevate Care podcast, Nishan Sivathasan sits down with Eric Wallis, Senior Vice President and System Chief Nursing Officer at Henry Ford Health, to discuss the changes happening in acute care. Henry Ford Health is leading the way by reimagining how care is delivered.Eric dives into the successful implementation of a virtual care model designed to support bedside nurses, reduce burnout, and improve patient outcomes. He shares insights on navigating the change management process, the vital role of listening to frontline staff, and the exciting future of AI in healthcare.About Eric WallisEric Wallis, DNP, MSA, RN, NE-BC, FACHE, was appointed Senior Vice President and System Chief Nursing Officer in December 2021, bringing over 20 years of nursing and healthcare leadership experience. His career began as a bedside nurse and progressed through roles of increasing responsibility in both large academic medical centers and community hospitals, including serving as the President of Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital. A transformational leader passionate about improving healthcare delivery, Eric holds degrees from Bowling Green State University, Central Michigan University, and Texas Christian University. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, is certified as a Nurse Executive, and serves on the Michigan Hospital Association Legislative Policy Panel and the Oakland University School of Nursing Board of Visitors.Chapters00:00 – Introduction00:20 – From Bedside to Boardroom03:13 – The Need for a Virtual Care Model06:16 – Designing the Workflow10:22 – Selecting the Right Technology Partner12:11 – Leading Through Change15:07 – Measuring Success18:56 – The Role of AI in HealthcareHenry Ford Health: Henry Ford Health | Henry Ford Health - Detroit, MIAMN Healthcare: amnhealthcare.com Sponsors: We're proudly sponsored by AMN Healthcare, the leader in healthcare staffing and workforce solutions. Explore their services at AMN Healthcare. Learn how AMN Healthcare's workforce flexibility technology helps health systems cut costs and improve efficiency. Click here to explore the case study and discover smarter ways to manage your resources!Discover how WorkWise is redefining workforce management for healthcare. Visit workwise.amnhealthcare.com to learn more.About The Show: Elevate Care delves into the latest trends, thinking, and best practices shaping the landscape of healthcare. From total talent management to solutions and strategies to expand the reach of care, we discuss methods to enable high quality, flexible workforce and care delivery. We will discuss the latest advancements in technology, the impact of emerging models and settings, physical and virtual, and address strategies to identify and obtain an optimal workforce mix. Tune in to gain valuable insights from thought leaders focused on improving healthcare quality, workforce well-being, and patient outcomes. Learn more about the show here. Connect with Our Hosts:Kerry on LinkedInNishan on LinkedInLiz on LinkedIn Find Us On:WebsiteYouTubeSpotifyAppleInstagramLinkedInXFacebook Powered by AMN Healthcare Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Patrick was born and raised in Saginaw, Michigan.  He grew up hanging out with his dad at work on Saturdays and has spent 30 years working here at Fullerton. As a kid, he'd caddy for his dad and Dick Terry during Fullerton's golf league. In 1989, Patrick started working at Fullerton in the steel department doing piece work and eventually moved to engineering (where there may still be a few of Patrick's auto cad tool drawings in the system). Throughout time, Patrick moved to the estimating department, became the office manager, and in 2002 moved into sales and became Vice President for Fullerton. In 2006, he became involved in international sales, and in 2008 he became President. Patrick truly loves this industry and manufacturing; he serves on several State and National boards that focus on manufacturing and local economic development. Patrick went to Central Michigan University, graduating in 1993 with a BSBA in Industrial Engineering. While there, he met the love of his life Jenny in a business fraternity and the two have been married for the past 26 years. They have three children, Greyson (24), Aidan (22), and Isabella (13). They also have a silver lab named River and a tabby cat named Royal. They attend St. Peter Lutheran Church in Hemlock, Michigan. Patrick also enjoys attending a men's Bible study group with a few co-workers and local business associates. Patrick also is a major sports fanatic thanks to his dad's influence and is a huge outdoorsman absolutely loving to fish, hunt, golf - especially with family and friends.

With increased AI Adoption, is the most valuable skill for a modern marketer empathy with customers, or is it successfully prompting?Contentful, in partnership with Atlantic Insights, The Atlantic's marketing research division, recently conducted a study of over 425 marketing decision makers including 103 CMOs. This study, “When Machines Make Marketers More Human,” challenges the notion that AI will replace many marketing functions and instead demonstrates how AI can amplify marketers' effectiveness, creativity and impact. Today, we're going to talk about how AI is reshaping the very definition of a modern marketer. We'll explore the shift from simply automating tasks to augmenting human creativity, the rise of the ‘full stack' marketer, and what skills are becoming non-negotiable in an AI-driven world.To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Elizabeth Maxson, CMO at Contentful. About Elizabeth Maxson Elizabeth Maxson is the Chief Marketing Officer of Contentful, a content management platform trusted by more than 4,200 companies around the world. Elizabeth brings nearly two decades of integrated marketing leadership to the role and is focused on driving marketing strategies that leverage AI and personalization to help brands deliver personalized and scalable content to their audiences. Prior to Contentful, Elizabeth served as the Chief Marketing Officer at Tableau, a Salesforce company, where she led go-to-market strategy, drove end-to-end marketing initiatives, and spearheaded strategic technology partnerships, launching critical relationships with industry giants such as AWS, Google, Alibaba, Apple, and many others. In addition to her role at Tableau, Elizabeth has also served as the Head of Marketing at Quip, another Salesforce acquisition. She holds a BAA in Facility Management and Marketing from Central Michigan University. Elizabeth Maxson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emaxson/ Resources Contentful: https://www.contentful.comRead the report: What Happens When Machines Make Marketers More Human? The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Palm Springs, Feb 23-26 in Palm Springs, CA. Go here for more details: https://etailwest.wbresearch.com/ Contentful, in partnership with Atlantic Insights, The Atlantic's marketing research division, conducted a new study, When Machines Make Marketers More Human, challenging the notion that AI will replace many marketing functions and instead demonstrates how AI can amplify marketers' effectiveness, creativity and impact. They surveyed 425 marketing decision makers, including 103 CMOs, across industries, company sizes, and regions to show how forward-thinking marketing leaders are incorporating AI into their critical infrastructure. Get the report hereConnect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.showCheck out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com  The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With increased AI Adoption, is the most valuable skill for a modern marketer empathy with customers, or is it successfully prompting? Contentful, in partnership with Atlantic Insights, The Atlantic's marketing research division, recently conducted a study of over 425 marketing decision makers including 103 CMOs. This study, “When Machines Make Marketers More Human,” challenges the notion that AI will replace many marketing functions and instead demonstrates how AI can amplify marketers' effectiveness, creativity and impact. Today, we're going to talk about how AI is reshaping the very definition of a modern marketer. We'll explore the shift from simply automating tasks to augmenting human creativity, the rise of the ‘full stack' marketer, and what skills are becoming non-negotiable in an AI-driven world.To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Elizabeth Maxson, CMO at Contentful. About Elizabeth Maxson Elizabeth Maxson is the Chief Marketing Officer of Contentful, a content management platform trusted by more than 4,200 companies around the world. Elizabeth brings nearly two decades of integrated marketing leadership to the role and is focused on driving marketing strategies that leverage AI and personalization to help brands deliver personalized and scalable content to their audiences. Prior to Contentful, Elizabeth served as the Chief Marketing Officer at Tableau, a Salesforce company, where she led go-to-market strategy, drove end-to-end marketing initiatives, and spearheaded strategic technology partnerships, launching critical relationships with industry giants such as AWS, Google, Alibaba, Apple, and many others. In addition to her role at Tableau, Elizabeth has also served as the Head of Marketing at Quip, another Salesforce acquisition. She holds a BAA in Facility Management and Marketing from Central Michigan University. ,Yes,This will be completed shortly Elizabeth Maxson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emaxson/ Resources Contentful: contentful.com The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Palm Springs, Feb 23-26 in Palm Springs, CA. Go here for more details: https://etailwest.wbresearch.com/ Contentful, in partnership with Atlantic Insights, The Atlantic's marketing research division, conducted a new study, When Machines Make Marketers More Human, challenging the notion that AI will replace many marketing functions and instead demonstrates how AI can amplify marketers' effectiveness, creativity and impact. They surveyed 425 marketing decision makers, including 103 CMOs, across industries, company sizes, and regions to show how forward-thinking marketing leaders are incorporating AI into their critical infrastructure. Get the report hereConnect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.showCheck out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com  The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company