Podcasts about James Madison University

It's 2:27 in the morning on a Saturday night in Austin, Texas. The crowd has cleared out. The band has packed up. And Ramsay Midwood and I sit in a dark corner of Sam's Town Point — talking. I'd been listening to Ramsay's music for five or six years before I ever made it down there. Found him on Boot Liquor Radio — part of the Soma FM family of deep-cut internet stations — and I couldn't stop. That voice. Those lyrics. Funny, sharp, sometimes quietly heartbreaking. Beautifully crooked snapshots of America. Five years of telling myself: one day I'm going to Austin to see this guy. What I thought would be a twenty-minute conversation turned into more than an hour. His childhood outside Washington D.C. — raised by a father who went to college on a music scholarship but found his true calling as a novelist and poet, and a mother who was a painter. Theater at James Madison University. The Steppenwolf in Chicago. Los Angeles. A house fire. And a wrong turn on the way to a Super Bowl party that somehow changed everything. Sam's Town Point has been a South Austin institution since 1981. Tucked off Slaughter Lane in a residential corner of the city — you'd never know it's there unless someone brought you. Ramsay stumbled in for open mic night in 2002. By 2017 he owned the place. Not a bar owner. Not a businessman. A musician who took a wrong turn and never left. And somewhere along the way — I think I made a friend.

Finding the right employee often feels like a gamble. A bad choice steals your time, disrupts your culture, and stalls your growth. In this episode of Nurture Small Business, Denise Cagan steps in as your guide to help you move from "gut-feeling" interviews to a predictable, five-piece recruitment system. Drawing from the principles of Geoff Smart's Who: The A Method for Hiring, Denise adapts high-level strategies specifically for solopreneurs and small organizations. You'll walk away with a clear plan to: Ditch the "Brainteasers": Why oddball questions fail and what to ask instead. Define Success: How to shift your focus from knowledge to measurable outcomes. Build Your Scorecard:Standardized evaluation tool to ensure every candidate is viewed through a consistent lens—one that aligns with your required outcomes. Stop guessing and start building a team that actually supports your business. About Your HostDenise Cagan has been working with small businesses for 25 years. She has served on the boards of professional organizations and nonprofits. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Quality Systems Management from James Madison University and is a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program, which is a program for small businesses that links learning to action for growth-oriented entrepreneurs. Recognized as a facilitator, problem solver, and builder, Denise enjoys working with small business owners who want to create a solid foundation. Her past experience includes 10 years in manufacturing with various awards plus inclusion into Marquis Who's Who.   Denise is the CEO of  3 companies: DCA Virtual Business Support, DCA Association Management, and Denise Cagan Business Consulting. In her downtime, she enjoys spending time with her granddaughter, cooking, and cuddling with her dogs. View and listen to Podcasts with Denise Cagan.   Connect on LinkedIn 

Brian Warren was elected to be Judge of the 209th Criminal District Court in Harris County, Houston, Texas in 2018. Originally from New York, he earned his Bachelors of Business Administration from James Madison University in 1997 then his Juris Doctorate from St. Mary's School of Law in 2001. His entire legal career has been dedicated to the practice of criminal law, starting his own criminal defense practice, serving as an Assistant District Attorney in Harris County, and, most recently, being elected to the bench. Brian, his wife, and their three children make their home in Houston, Texas.

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with composer, performer, and educator Casey Cangelosi for a conversation that moves comfortably between teaching, podcasting, composing, and the realities of building a life in the percussion world. Casey teaches at James Madison University, where he directs a busy percussion studio and constantly balances artistic ambition with the practical challenges of giving students meaningful performance opportunities.We talk about how he approaches programming percussion ensemble, often leaning toward smaller-group repertoire that allows more students to develop chamber instincts and real musical ownership. That naturally leads into a larger discussion about education, specifically the gap that can exist between strong performance skills and deep knowledge of repertoire. Casey makes a compelling case for listening, score study, and curiosity as essential parts of becoming a complete musician.A big part of Casey's recent creative life has been the Percussion Podcast, where he hosted more than 300 episodes of conversations with percussionists and composers. He reflects honestly on what that project gave him, as a communicator, teacher, and community builder, as well as the real workload of producing that many episodes and the challenge of keeping conversations fresh over time.We also spend time inside Casey's composing process. He talks about the difference between writing for hands versus writing for humans, and how limitations, instrumentation, skill level, or context can actually unlock more interesting musical ideas. Increasingly, he's thinking about accessibility in repertoire: writing music that still feels compelling but can reach more performers instead of only fitting one ideal player.Toward the end, Casey shares some of the unexpected places his music has recently appeared, including projects connected to theater, dance, and visual art, from a performance context in Mannheim, to an installation tied to Ligeti's 100 Metronomes, to a circus production in Italy using his piece Bad Touch. It's a reminder that percussion music continues to travel in surprising directions.Key TakeawaysTeaching requires balancing artistry and logistics — ensemble programming often means finding ways for more students to perform meaningfully.Listening and score study deepen musicianship — strong playing should be paired with a deep knowledge of repertoire.Podcasting builds community but demands consistency — producing hundreds of episodes requires serious time and energy.Constraints can unlock creativity — limitations often lead to stronger compositional ideas.Writing for performers matters — accessible repertoire can reach more musicians without sacrificing musical depth.Percussion music is expanding beyond traditional venues — Casey's work now appears in theater, visual art, and interdisciplinary projects.Curiosity fuels long careers — staying open to new contexts keeps creative work evolving.Music from the EpisodeScry - Casey CangelosiBlink - Casey CangelosiThe Big Audition - Casey CangelosiLigeti: Symphonic Poem for 100 Metronomes - Casey CangelosiAbout the PodcastThe Bandwich Tapes is a podcast hosted by Brad Williams, featuring conversations with musicians, composers, producers, and creative thinkers about their musical journeys. Each episode explores the influences, decisions, and experiences that shape a life in music—one conversation at a time.Connect with the ShowEmail: contact@thebandwichtapes.com

In this episode, we discuss evidence-based interventions focused on student motivation, persistence, and success.  Our guest is Dave Paunesku.  Dave is Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Project for Educational Research That Scales, or PERTS, which is based at Stanford University.Link to website mentioned in this episode: The Project for Educational Research That Scales (PERTS) https://www.perts.net/ This season of Leading Improvements in Higher Education is sponsored by the Center for Assessment and Research Studies at James Madison University; learn more at jmu.edu/assessment. Episode recorded: January 2026.  Host:  Stephen Hundley.  Producers:  Chad Beckner and Angela Bergman.  Original music:  Caleb Keith.  This award-winning podcast is a service of the Assessment Institute in Indianapolis; learn more go.iu.edu/assessmentinstitute.   

Help us plan season 4. We want to hear from you. Take our survey now! https://forms.gle/doQYx73hoPU2tRdC7  Social connection is critical for our wellbeing – it's as important as shelter and food. Combating loneliness can feel risky sometimes - especially if it means reaching out to a stranger. We might fear awkwardness or even rejection. But it's worth it.  Dr. Natalie Kerr and Dr. Jaime Kurtz are psychologists and professors at James Madison University. Together their work focuses on social connection and how modern life shapes our relationships. Their new book is Our New Social Life: Science-Backed Strategies for Creating Meaningful Connection.  Natalie and Jamie discuss some of the barriers to making connections that we need to watch out for. And they share those all-important practical tools to deepen our relationships and combat loneliness. We also talk about how our spiritual lives can make us feel more connected – even when we're alone.  Resources ​​Seven Barriers to Building More Meaningful Connection Interview with John Cacioppo on loneliness  How to Build Bonds with Others Creating Meaningful Connections With & For is a podcast of the Thrive Center, an applied research center that exists to catalyze a movement of human thriving, with and for others through spiritual health. Learn more at thethrivecenter.org. Follow us on Instagram @thrivecenter Follow us on LinkedIn @thethrivecenter Dr. Pamela Ebstyne King hosts With & For, and is the Executive Director of the Thrive Center and the Peter L. Benson Professor of Applied Developmental Science at the School of Psychology & Marriage and Family Therapy at Fuller Seminary. Follow her @drpamking. About With & For Host: Dr. Pam King Senior Director and Producer: Jill Westbrook Operations Manager: Lauren Kim Social Media & Graphic Designer: Wren Juergensen Senior Producer: Clare Wiley Executive Producer: Jakob Lewis Produced by Great Feeling Studios Special thanks to the team at Fuller Studio and Fuller Seminary's School of Psychology & Marriage and Family Therapy. The podcast was made possible through the support from the John Templeton Foundation. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the host and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation.

This episode discusses the role program review plays in strengthening higher education quality. Our guest is Marilee Bresciani Ludvik. Marilee currently serves as the Director of Academic Effectiveness at the University of San Diego, and she has written extensively about program review's role in assessment and improvement. Links to publications mentioned during this episode: Outcomes-Based Program Review Closing Achievement Gaps In- and Outside the Classroom With Alignment to Predictive Analytics and Performance Metricshttps://www.routledge.com/Outcomes-Based-Program-Review-Closing-Achievement-Gaps-In--and-Outside-the-Classroom-With-Alignment-to-Predictive-Analytics-and-Performance-Metrics/BrescianiLudvik/p/book/9781620362303 Assessment Update Article, “Rethinking Academic Program Review: A Data-Informed Approach”https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/au.30445 This season of Leading Improvements in Higher Education is sponsored by the Center for Assessment and Research Studies at James Madison University; learn more at jmu.edu/assessment. Episode recorded: January 2026.  Host:  Stephen Hundley.  Producers:  Chad Beckner and Angela Bergman.  Original music:  Caleb Keith.  This award-winning podcast is a service of the Assessment Institute in Indianapolis; learn more go.iu.edu/assessmentinstitute. 

In his debut work, Companionship and Virtue in Classical Sufism: The Contribution of al-Sulami (I.B. Tauris, 2024), Jason Welle sheds a new light on al-Sulami, an influential Sufi master during Sufism's formative era, by examine his work on suhba (companionship). Welle provides a historical reconstruction of Sufi companionship in Khurasan in the period, arguing that al-Sulami's concept of suhba, specifically among and between young disciples, envisioned the transformation of society as whole, not just the master-disciple relationship. Bringing debates in contemporary virtue ethics to bear on al-Sulami's spiritual method, the book offers an original analysis of the latter's thought that will be of interest to scholars of early Islam and classical Sufism as well as moral theologians interested in virtue ethics, character and friendship. Jason Welle is an Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Boston College, where he teach courses on Christian-Muslim Relations and Islamic Mysticism. Saman Nasser holds an MA in history from James Madison University, where he works as an educational staff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In his debut work, Companionship and Virtue in Classical Sufism: The Contribution of al-Sulami (I.B. Tauris, 2024), Jason Welle sheds a new light on al-Sulami, an influential Sufi master during Sufism's formative era, by examine his work on suhba (companionship). Welle provides a historical reconstruction of Sufi companionship in Khurasan in the period, arguing that al-Sulami's concept of suhba, specifically among and between young disciples, envisioned the transformation of society as whole, not just the master-disciple relationship. Bringing debates in contemporary virtue ethics to bear on al-Sulami's spiritual method, the book offers an original analysis of the latter's thought that will be of interest to scholars of early Islam and classical Sufism as well as moral theologians interested in virtue ethics, character and friendship. Jason Welle is an Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Boston College, where he teach courses on Christian-Muslim Relations and Islamic Mysticism. Saman Nasser holds an MA in history from James Madison University, where he works as an educational staff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/islamic-studies

In his debut work, Companionship and Virtue in Classical Sufism: The Contribution of al-Sulami (I.B. Tauris, 2024), Jason Welle sheds a new light on al-Sulami, an influential Sufi master during Sufism's formative era, by examine his work on suhba (companionship). Welle provides a historical reconstruction of Sufi companionship in Khurasan in the period, arguing that al-Sulami's concept of suhba, specifically among and between young disciples, envisioned the transformation of society as whole, not just the master-disciple relationship. Bringing debates in contemporary virtue ethics to bear on al-Sulami's spiritual method, the book offers an original analysis of the latter's thought that will be of interest to scholars of early Islam and classical Sufism as well as moral theologians interested in virtue ethics, character and friendship. Jason Welle is an Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Boston College, where he teach courses on Christian-Muslim Relations and Islamic Mysticism. Saman Nasser holds an MA in history from James Madison University, where he works as an educational staff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/intellectual-history

In his debut work, Companionship and Virtue in Classical Sufism: The Contribution of al-Sulami (I.B. Tauris, 2024), Jason Welle sheds a new light on al-Sulami, an influential Sufi master during Sufism's formative era, by examine his work on suhba (companionship). Welle provides a historical reconstruction of Sufi companionship in Khurasan in the period, arguing that al-Sulami's concept of suhba, specifically among and between young disciples, envisioned the transformation of society as whole, not just the master-disciple relationship. Bringing debates in contemporary virtue ethics to bear on al-Sulami's spiritual method, the book offers an original analysis of the latter's thought that will be of interest to scholars of early Islam and classical Sufism as well as moral theologians interested in virtue ethics, character and friendship. Jason Welle is an Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Boston College, where he teach courses on Christian-Muslim Relations and Islamic Mysticism. Saman Nasser holds an MA in history from James Madison University, where he works as an educational staff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion

It's a rapid-fire mailbag Friday on the JMU Sports News Podcast! Jack Fitzpatrick and Bennett Conlin tackle the biggest questions in James Madison University athletics! From the mysteriously missing spring football roster to the quarterback competition heating up in Harrisonburg, a blunt assessment of Preston Spradlin's transfer portal strategy, and why JMU baseball's midweek upset of UVA has Dukes fans paying attention again. Plus Jack breaks down why JMU men's basketball needs to rethink its recruiting model entirely. And a post-Spring Game live show announcement is coming soon — stay locked to our socials! Have a question for the mailbag? Email us: jmusportsnews@gmail.com Big thank you as well to our sponsor, Sign Pro! Follow us on Twitter Subscribe on Youtube Check out our website!  Like what you hear? Buy us a coffee (or beer...)  Leave us a review! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Guests Cynthia Schneider — CEO, Top of Virginia Regional Chamber; 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient, Laurel Ridge Community College Liv Heggoy — Associate Vice President of Development, Laurel Ridge Community College & Executive Director, Laurel Ridge Educational Foundation Brandy Hawkins Boies — Director of Public Relations & Special Events, Laurel Ridge Community College Episode Summary Host Janet Michael sits down with three guests to celebrate Cynthia Schneider's recognition as Laurel Ridge Community College's 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient. The conversation covers Cynthia's winding career path, the transformative power of community college, and how it's never too late to start a new chapter. Key Topics Covered The Distinguished Alumni Award Awarded for over 40 years to community members who have distinguished themselves in their career and service Recipients are honored each year at the Laurel Ridge Educational Foundation luncheon The luncheon brings together donors and scholarship recipients to celebrate the college's impact Cynthia Schneider's Story Began college at James Madison University before transferring to an unaccredited college in Kansas to pursue her faith Built a 25-year career in specialty food manufacturing, rising from data entry to Director of Operations Found herself jobless at 57, newly empty-nested, facing one of the lowest points of her life Enrolled at Laurel Ridge through a grant opportunity — a turning point that rebuilt her confidence Landed at the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber as Director of Finance & Administration, eventually becoming CEO Reflects on learning to step out of the background and embrace a visible leadership role The Laurel Ridge Difference A nurturing, intergenerational learning environment serving students ages 14–70 Cynthia's memorable classroom moment: learning to take a photo of the board instead of writing notes — sitting next to her son's classmate Cynthia's daughter Sarah went from a 1.9 GPA in high school to the Dean's List at Laurel Ridge, then transferred to JMU via the guaranteed transfer program, earned her degree in Communications, and went on to complete a master's program On Reinvention & Lifelong Learning Cynthia's message: at 69, she feels like she's "just starting" The value of community and mentorship in leadership Encouragement especially for women and those in midlife to embrace new opportunities Quotes to Highlight "Learning is lifelong — and she is such a wonderful example of someone who has just advanced so much in her career." — Liv Heggoy "I would never have thought of myself as a distinguished leader. I'm better, more comfortable in the background." — Cynthia Schneider "No one's path is straight. I've not met one single person here at the college that knew exactly what they were going to do." — Brandy Hawkins Boies Resources & Links Distinguished Alumni nominations: laurelridge.edu/alumni Visit & registration info: laurelridge.edu/visit Fall 2026 credit class registration is now open Workforce & continuing education classes register year-round

A new study shows that AI chatbots often engage in sycophantic behavior. Just like some humans. This hour, we take a look at sycophants in literature and in politics. And we talk about sycophancy and artificial intelligence. GUESTS: Mark Parker: Professor Emeritus of English at James Madison University and co-author of Sucking Up: A Brief Consideration of Sycophancy Virginia Heffernan: Writes a regular column for The New Republic and the Substack “Magic + Loss.” She is co-host of the podcast “Omnishambles” Malihe Alikhani: Assistant Professor at Northeastern University’s Khoury College of Computer Sciences, and a resident Visiting Fellow at the Brookings Institution with a focus on AI policy Music featured (in order): Overture to Rigoletto – Giuseppi Verdi, Herbert von Karajan, Berlin Philharmoniker I Believe in You – Peggy Lee Don’t Cry – Seal You Fascinate Me So – Mabel Mercer What You Want To Hear – Sub-Radio Flattery – Rosemary Clooney, Jose Ferrer Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When heading to James Madison University, Sarabeth Ellis had a plan that changed in a very exciting way when she joined the JMU Dukes production team. She joined Justin and Matt to tell her story, how she worked her way up from a replay operator to a production intern, and more about her experiences behind the production curtain.    

In this episode, we have a conversation with an assessment leader who adapts The Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award to higher education through a framework known as "Champion for Excellence." Our guest is Bridget Dewees, who serves as Senior Officer for Institutional Effectiveness at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Links to resources mentioned in this episode: Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce):https://www.nist.gov/baldrige/baldrige-award HBCU-CEEQA (Collaborative for Excellence in Educational Quality Assurance):https://hbcu-ceeqa.org/ This season of Leading Improvements in Higher Education is sponsored by the Center for Assessment and Research Studies at James Madison University; learn more at jmu.edu/assessment. Episode recorded: March 2026.  Host:  Stephen Hundley.  Producers:  Chad Beckner and Angela Bergman.  Original music:  Caleb Keith.  This award-winning podcast is a service of the Assessment Institute in Indianapolis; learn more go.iu.edu/assessmentinstitute. 

With fasting at an all-time high in popularity, here is an enlightening exploration into the history, science, and philosophy behind the practice—essential to many religions and wellness routines. Whether for philosophical, political, or health-related reasons, fasting marks a departure from daily routine. Based on extensive historical, scientific, and cultural research and reporting, John Oakes The Fast: The History, Science, Philosophy, and the Promise of Doing Without (Avid Reader Press, 2024) illuminates the numerous facets of this act of self-deprivation. John interviews doctors, spiritual leaders, activists, and others who guide him through this practice—and embarks on fasts of his own—to deliver a book that supplies anyone curious about fasting with profound new understanding, appreciation, and inspiration. In recent years, fasting has become increasingly popular for a variety of reasons—from weight loss to detoxing, to the faithful who fast in prayer, to seekers pursuing mindfulness, to activists using hunger strikes as protest. Notable fasters include Moses, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, Gandhi, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Emily Dickinson, Mark Twain, Cesar Chavez, and a long list of others who have drawn on its power over the ages and across borders and cultures. The Fast looks at the complex science behind the jaw-dropping biological changes that occur inside the body when we fast. Metabolic switching can prompt repair and renewal down to the molecular level, providing benefits for those suffering from obesity and diabetes, cancer, epilepsy, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders, and more. Longer fasts can both reinvigorate the immune system and protect it against damage. Beyond the physical experience, fasting can be a great collective unifier, and it has been adopted by religions and political movements all over the world for millennia. Fasting is central to holy seasons and days such as Lent (Christianity), Ramadan (Islam), Yom Kippur (Judaism), Uposatha (Buddhism), and Ekadashi (Hinduism). On an individual level, devout ascetics who master self-deprivation to an extreme are believed to be closer to the divine, ascending to enlightenment or even sainthood. Fasting reminds us of the virtues of holding back, of not consuming all that we can. “Broad in scope and rich in insight” (Publishers Weekly, starred review), this book shows us that fasting is about much more than food: it is about taking control of your life in new and empowering ways and reconsidering your place in the world. John Oakes is the publisher of The Evergreen Review and the editor at large of OR Books. The Fast is his first book. Saman Nasser holds an M.A. in World History from James Madison University, where he currently works as an administrative staff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

With fasting at an all-time high in popularity, here is an enlightening exploration into the history, science, and philosophy behind the practice—essential to many religions and wellness routines. Whether for philosophical, political, or health-related reasons, fasting marks a departure from daily routine. Based on extensive historical, scientific, and cultural research and reporting, John Oakes The Fast: The History, Science, Philosophy, and the Promise of Doing Without (Avid Reader Press, 2024) illuminates the numerous facets of this act of self-deprivation. John interviews doctors, spiritual leaders, activists, and others who guide him through this practice—and embarks on fasts of his own—to deliver a book that supplies anyone curious about fasting with profound new understanding, appreciation, and inspiration. In recent years, fasting has become increasingly popular for a variety of reasons—from weight loss to detoxing, to the faithful who fast in prayer, to seekers pursuing mindfulness, to activists using hunger strikes as protest. Notable fasters include Moses, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, Gandhi, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Emily Dickinson, Mark Twain, Cesar Chavez, and a long list of others who have drawn on its power over the ages and across borders and cultures. The Fast looks at the complex science behind the jaw-dropping biological changes that occur inside the body when we fast. Metabolic switching can prompt repair and renewal down to the molecular level, providing benefits for those suffering from obesity and diabetes, cancer, epilepsy, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders, and more. Longer fasts can both reinvigorate the immune system and protect it against damage. Beyond the physical experience, fasting can be a great collective unifier, and it has been adopted by religions and political movements all over the world for millennia. Fasting is central to holy seasons and days such as Lent (Christianity), Ramadan (Islam), Yom Kippur (Judaism), Uposatha (Buddhism), and Ekadashi (Hinduism). On an individual level, devout ascetics who master self-deprivation to an extreme are believed to be closer to the divine, ascending to enlightenment or even sainthood. Fasting reminds us of the virtues of holding back, of not consuming all that we can. “Broad in scope and rich in insight” (Publishers Weekly, starred review), this book shows us that fasting is about much more than food: it is about taking control of your life in new and empowering ways and reconsidering your place in the world. John Oakes is the publisher of The Evergreen Review and the editor at large of OR Books. The Fast is his first book. Saman Nasser holds an M.A. in World History from James Madison University, where he currently works as an administrative staff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/medicine

With fasting at an all-time high in popularity, here is an enlightening exploration into the history, science, and philosophy behind the practice—essential to many religions and wellness routines. Whether for philosophical, political, or health-related reasons, fasting marks a departure from daily routine. Based on extensive historical, scientific, and cultural research and reporting, John Oakes The Fast: The History, Science, Philosophy, and the Promise of Doing Without (Avid Reader Press, 2024) illuminates the numerous facets of this act of self-deprivation. John interviews doctors, spiritual leaders, activists, and others who guide him through this practice—and embarks on fasts of his own—to deliver a book that supplies anyone curious about fasting with profound new understanding, appreciation, and inspiration. In recent years, fasting has become increasingly popular for a variety of reasons—from weight loss to detoxing, to the faithful who fast in prayer, to seekers pursuing mindfulness, to activists using hunger strikes as protest. Notable fasters include Moses, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, Gandhi, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Emily Dickinson, Mark Twain, Cesar Chavez, and a long list of others who have drawn on its power over the ages and across borders and cultures. The Fast looks at the complex science behind the jaw-dropping biological changes that occur inside the body when we fast. Metabolic switching can prompt repair and renewal down to the molecular level, providing benefits for those suffering from obesity and diabetes, cancer, epilepsy, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders, and more. Longer fasts can both reinvigorate the immune system and protect it against damage. Beyond the physical experience, fasting can be a great collective unifier, and it has been adopted by religions and political movements all over the world for millennia. Fasting is central to holy seasons and days such as Lent (Christianity), Ramadan (Islam), Yom Kippur (Judaism), Uposatha (Buddhism), and Ekadashi (Hinduism). On an individual level, devout ascetics who master self-deprivation to an extreme are believed to be closer to the divine, ascending to enlightenment or even sainthood. Fasting reminds us of the virtues of holding back, of not consuming all that we can. “Broad in scope and rich in insight” (Publishers Weekly, starred review), this book shows us that fasting is about much more than food: it is about taking control of your life in new and empowering ways and reconsidering your place in the world. John Oakes is the publisher of The Evergreen Review and the editor at large of OR Books. The Fast is his first book. Saman Nasser holds an M.A. in World History from James Madison University, where he currently works as an administrative staff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/science

With fasting at an all-time high in popularity, here is an enlightening exploration into the history, science, and philosophy behind the practice—essential to many religions and wellness routines. Whether for philosophical, political, or health-related reasons, fasting marks a departure from daily routine. Based on extensive historical, scientific, and cultural research and reporting, John Oakes The Fast: The History, Science, Philosophy, and the Promise of Doing Without (Avid Reader Press, 2024) illuminates the numerous facets of this act of self-deprivation. John interviews doctors, spiritual leaders, activists, and others who guide him through this practice—and embarks on fasts of his own—to deliver a book that supplies anyone curious about fasting with profound new understanding, appreciation, and inspiration. In recent years, fasting has become increasingly popular for a variety of reasons—from weight loss to detoxing, to the faithful who fast in prayer, to seekers pursuing mindfulness, to activists using hunger strikes as protest. Notable fasters include Moses, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, Gandhi, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Emily Dickinson, Mark Twain, Cesar Chavez, and a long list of others who have drawn on its power over the ages and across borders and cultures. The Fast looks at the complex science behind the jaw-dropping biological changes that occur inside the body when we fast. Metabolic switching can prompt repair and renewal down to the molecular level, providing benefits for those suffering from obesity and diabetes, cancer, epilepsy, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders, and more. Longer fasts can both reinvigorate the immune system and protect it against damage. Beyond the physical experience, fasting can be a great collective unifier, and it has been adopted by religions and political movements all over the world for millennia. Fasting is central to holy seasons and days such as Lent (Christianity), Ramadan (Islam), Yom Kippur (Judaism), Uposatha (Buddhism), and Ekadashi (Hinduism). On an individual level, devout ascetics who master self-deprivation to an extreme are believed to be closer to the divine, ascending to enlightenment or even sainthood. Fasting reminds us of the virtues of holding back, of not consuming all that we can. “Broad in scope and rich in insight” (Publishers Weekly, starred review), this book shows us that fasting is about much more than food: it is about taking control of your life in new and empowering ways and reconsidering your place in the world. John Oakes is the publisher of The Evergreen Review and the editor at large of OR Books. The Fast is his first book. Saman Nasser holds an M.A. in World History from James Madison University, where he currently works as an administrative staff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion

With fasting at an all-time high in popularity, here is an enlightening exploration into the history, science, and philosophy behind the practice—essential to many religions and wellness routines. Whether for philosophical, political, or health-related reasons, fasting marks a departure from daily routine. Based on extensive historical, scientific, and cultural research and reporting, John Oakes The Fast: The History, Science, Philosophy, and the Promise of Doing Without (Avid Reader Press, 2024) illuminates the numerous facets of this act of self-deprivation. John interviews doctors, spiritual leaders, activists, and others who guide him through this practice—and embarks on fasts of his own—to deliver a book that supplies anyone curious about fasting with profound new understanding, appreciation, and inspiration. In recent years, fasting has become increasingly popular for a variety of reasons—from weight loss to detoxing, to the faithful who fast in prayer, to seekers pursuing mindfulness, to activists using hunger strikes as protest. Notable fasters include Moses, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, Gandhi, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Emily Dickinson, Mark Twain, Cesar Chavez, and a long list of others who have drawn on its power over the ages and across borders and cultures. The Fast looks at the complex science behind the jaw-dropping biological changes that occur inside the body when we fast. Metabolic switching can prompt repair and renewal down to the molecular level, providing benefits for those suffering from obesity and diabetes, cancer, epilepsy, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders, and more. Longer fasts can both reinvigorate the immune system and protect it against damage. Beyond the physical experience, fasting can be a great collective unifier, and it has been adopted by religions and political movements all over the world for millennia. Fasting is central to holy seasons and days such as Lent (Christianity), Ramadan (Islam), Yom Kippur (Judaism), Uposatha (Buddhism), and Ekadashi (Hinduism). On an individual level, devout ascetics who master self-deprivation to an extreme are believed to be closer to the divine, ascending to enlightenment or even sainthood. Fasting reminds us of the virtues of holding back, of not consuming all that we can. “Broad in scope and rich in insight” (Publishers Weekly, starred review), this book shows us that fasting is about much more than food: it is about taking control of your life in new and empowering ways and reconsidering your place in the world. John Oakes is the publisher of The Evergreen Review and the editor at large of OR Books. The Fast is his first book. Saman Nasser holds an M.A. in World History from James Madison University, where he currently works as an administrative staff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/spiritual-practice-and-mindfulness

With fasting at an all-time high in popularity, here is an enlightening exploration into the history, science, and philosophy behind the practice—essential to many religions and wellness routines. Whether for philosophical, political, or health-related reasons, fasting marks a departure from daily routine. Based on extensive historical, scientific, and cultural research and reporting, John Oakes The Fast: The History, Science, Philosophy, and the Promise of Doing Without (Avid Reader Press, 2024) illuminates the numerous facets of this act of self-deprivation. John interviews doctors, spiritual leaders, activists, and others who guide him through this practice—and embarks on fasts of his own—to deliver a book that supplies anyone curious about fasting with profound new understanding, appreciation, and inspiration. In recent years, fasting has become increasingly popular for a variety of reasons—from weight loss to detoxing, to the faithful who fast in prayer, to seekers pursuing mindfulness, to activists using hunger strikes as protest. Notable fasters include Moses, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, Gandhi, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Emily Dickinson, Mark Twain, Cesar Chavez, and a long list of others who have drawn on its power over the ages and across borders and cultures. The Fast looks at the complex science behind the jaw-dropping biological changes that occur inside the body when we fast. Metabolic switching can prompt repair and renewal down to the molecular level, providing benefits for those suffering from obesity and diabetes, cancer, epilepsy, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders, and more. Longer fasts can both reinvigorate the immune system and protect it against damage. Beyond the physical experience, fasting can be a great collective unifier, and it has been adopted by religions and political movements all over the world for millennia. Fasting is central to holy seasons and days such as Lent (Christianity), Ramadan (Islam), Yom Kippur (Judaism), Uposatha (Buddhism), and Ekadashi (Hinduism). On an individual level, devout ascetics who master self-deprivation to an extreme are believed to be closer to the divine, ascending to enlightenment or even sainthood. Fasting reminds us of the virtues of holding back, of not consuming all that we can. “Broad in scope and rich in insight” (Publishers Weekly, starred review), this book shows us that fasting is about much more than food: it is about taking control of your life in new and empowering ways and reconsidering your place in the world. John Oakes is the publisher of The Evergreen Review and the editor at large of OR Books. The Fast is his first book. Saman Nasser holds an M.A. in World History from James Madison University, where he currently works as an administrative staff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hiring is often reactive. You have an influx of work or attrition, and bam, you need someone now. This creates a lot of stress on you as a manager and business owner. How are you going to get that role filled and manage the work that needs to be done? The cost of putting the wrong candidate is tremendous. How patient are you in waiting to ensure you have the right candidate in the right seat?  Many interviewers resort to questions that don't really give you the information needed to hire. And, many are not trained to dig beyond the surface answers that candidates give. These are answers that are often practiced showing themselves in the best light.  There is a way to hire much more predictably. Learn more about role development and how to get beyond the surface answers in this podcast.  About Your Host Denise Cagan has been working with small businesses for 25 years. She has served on the boards of professional organizations and nonprofits. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Quality Systems Management from James Madison University and is a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program, which is a program for small businesses that links learning to action for growth-oriented entrepreneurs. Recognized as a facilitator, problem solver, and builder, Denise enjoys working with small business owners who want to create a solid foundation. Her past experience includes 10 years in manufacturing with various awards plus inclusion into Marquis Who's Who. Denise is the CEO of 3 companies: DCA Virtual Business Support, DCA Association Management, and Denise Cagan Business Consulting. In her downtime, she enjoys spending time with her granddaughter, cooking, and cuddling with her dogs. View and listen to Podcasts with Denise Cagan. Connect on LinkedIn

This episode describes an updated higher education assessment framework known by the acronym ACCELERATE, and we will ‘unpack' each letter of this acronym during this podcast episode. Our guests are Divya Bheda, Daniel Kaczmarek, and Constance Tucker, each of whom is an assessment professional in their respective institutional context. Importantly, these three guests are also representing the larger group involved in developing the ACCELERATE framework. Link to an article describing the ACCELERATE framework:https://aalhe.scholasticahq.com/article/145101-accelerate-assessment-principles-for-best-practice  This season of Leading Improvements in Higher Education is sponsored by the Center for Assessment and Research Studies at James Madison University; learn more at jmu.edu/assessment. Episode recorded: December 2025.  Host:  Stephen Hundley.  Producers:  Chad Beckner and Angela Bergman.  Original music:  Caleb Keith.  This award-winning podcast is a service of the Assessment Institute in Indianapolis; learn more go.iu.edu/assessmentinstitute.

Learning to teach mathematics better with Dr. Amanda Sawyer, a full professor in the College of Education at James Madison University. She shares about some new resources she has created that provide global perspectives - and different practices - that are supported by universally-true properties of mathematics. Several of these are centered around Mable MATHis Mysteries, and are useful for students and adults, including preservice and practicing teachers. Mable MATHis Mysteries website https://mablemathis.com/ YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MableMATHisMiniMemos Amazon link to Mable MATHis and the Mysterious Aunt SallySpecial Guest: Amanda Sawyer.

This month's podcast continues our collaborative project with James Madison University's Feminist Rhetorics course. This is the final of three podcasts guest-hosted by team of students who are exploring Girl Museum, the Girls. Period. exhibition.On this episode, the team interview Kigere Rose, the founder of the Women's Rights Initiative, and Eleanor Jones, who interned at WORI researching and developing the East African Women's Museum, to find out how WORI works to empower women through menstrual education, and how the East African Women's Museum serves to empower women's contributions to everyday history. Thanks for listening.The JMU Team: Ally de Cardona, Via Chapin, LeeAnne English-Stewart, and Freddie Tavakoli.Girls. Period. exhibitionGirl MuseumWomen's Rights Initiative (WORI)

When Deb Tyson was recruited to play basketball at Louisburg College in 1974, she had no idea she would also play volleyball. Her head coach, Terry Pettit, had no idea he would coach women's volleyball at the same school, a small junior college in North Carolina. That coincidence changed their professional journeys. Pettit became the head women's volleyball coach at Nebraska, and Deb Tyson became the head volleyball coach at a junior college in Columbus, Nebraska, James Madison University, the University of Virginia, and a decorated high school athletics director in Charlottesville. This is a conversation about her remarkable journey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is your "suit" clean or dirty? Imagine walking through the smoke, pulverized concrete, and all the aftermath of 9/11. Darin Kinder was there, Special Agent turned First Responder in a matter of moments. His suit was destroyed because he was on the ground in real time. What about yours? In this episode, you'll discover…  Darin's 9/11 experience  (3:04)  More on Darins Book (18:30) Glorifying God in your service  (26:55)  Is your suit dirty in your marriage?  (29:10)  Key trait to win at home and at work (41:45) Darin's Bio:  Darin Kinder is a former Special Agent of the United States Secret Service, where he spent decades protecting world leaders and navigating high-stakes environments. On September 11, 2001, he was on the ground in New York City when the World Trade Center was attacked—an experience that earned him the Secret Service Medal of Valor and forever shaped his perspective on life and leadership. Beyond his federal service, Darin is a devoted husband, father to four sons, and the founder of Fierce Faith, an organization dedicated to helping people live with courage and purpose. He is passionate about inspiring and equipping the next generation to face challenges head-on and live with bold resolve. A sought-after speaker and podcast guest, Darin shares his insights on leadership, resilience, and what it means to live with clear purpose in an unpredictable world. When he's not challenging audiences to live boldly, you'll find him at home investing in his wife—his partner since 1998—and their four sons.​ Darin is a graduate of James Madison University and spent 25 years as a US Secret Service Special Agent. He loves the mountains, baseball, and any adventure that calls for courage and grit. More about Darin https://www.fierce-faith.com/   What's Next?  NEW!! Join the new RISE community. Check out my newest book, 'Rise and Go', HERE!

Lucille Clifton survived cancer four times. She maintained that her mother would not let her die until she had finished her work on Earth. That work? Writing poetry. A year before she passed away, Lucille Clifton was honored at the Furious Flower Poetry Conference at James Madison University where she spoke to With Good Reason's Sarah McConnell about inheriting her mother's rage and commitment to writing. And: A whole lot can happen in a Southampton County minute. Latorial Faison's Pulitzer Prize nominated poetry collection Nursery Rhymes in Black animates the education of her rural Virginia childhood. Later in the show: In 1941, Remica Bingham Risher's paternal great-great-great grandmother Minnie and maternal grandmother Mary never met— but they had been within one mile of each other under extraordinary circumstances. Minnie was interviewed for the Works Progress Administration's Slave Narratives project on her Petersburg front porch. Just down the road, Mary was taken to the Central Lunatic Asylum for the Colored Insane for “water in the brain” – what we know now as postpartum depression. Nearly a century later, in Remica Bingham-Risher's Room Swept Home, they meet.

LSU’s athletics department released data a few weeks ago showing that Louisiana’s flagship public university raked-in more than $200 million in sports revenues over the past year.  The athletics department also spent all but $3 million of the money.  It turned a profit of $3 million. About 40 miles west of Baton Rouge, the athletics program at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette is currently fighting for survival.  The school’s athletics department recently cut 35 staff positions to trim its budget from $46 million to $42.7 million per year. Why is UL-Lafayette’s athletics program losing money? The Ragin’ Cajuns’ athletics programs have lost upwards of $5 million in each of the past few years.  Much of the shortfall can be attributed to the school’s football program. The UL-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns have fielded winning teams in four of the past six football seasons.  Local fans are quite aware that their local team had become a top competitor within the Sunbelt Conference. UL-Lafayette (like so many mid-major and smaller universities) is having trouble keeping pace with the rising costs in college athletics.  Fan support at home athletic events has not significantly increased as costs have skyrocketed. Big money support from the school’s alumni and corporate base has also failed to move the revenue needle enough to cover the increasing costs. In fact, the Ragin’ Cajuns have a lot of company in dealing with a growing phenomenon called “donor fatigue.”  It is the economic reality that most mid-major athletics programs simply cannot expect to compete for national titles with the giants of major universities. UL-Lafayette’s annual athletics budget is 25% of nearby LSU LSU’s rabid fan base fills-up 102,000 seat Tiger Stadium for most football games.  A seemingly never-ending demand exceeds the annual supply for prime seating in Baton Rouge.  LSU athletic donors are effectively bidding against themselves for better accommodations by donating more and more money into the school’s athletic funds. A quest for national championships by LSU in football, basketball (well, at least the women’s team), baseball and gymnastics has driven sports fanaticism.  LSU’s athletic supporters have (thus far) been willing to dole out incredible amounts of cash to support that drive for success.  Of course, those same donors get to retain prime seating accommodations at the school’s athletic events. The incredibly deep pockets of key athletics donors agreed to cover LSU’s massive $54 million buy-out of football coach Brian Kelly last fall. That same huge war chest of funding helped to guarantee the hiring of new coach Lane Kiffin at a price of $90 million over the next seven years. Louisiana’s second-largest public university is struggling to pay the bills UL-Lafayette has nearly 20,000 students.  It is the second largest public university in Louisiana behind only LSU (34,000 undergrads plus 7,000 graduate students). The football team for UL-Lafayette plays in the $65 million recently-renovated 30,000 seat Cajun Field. This ambitious stadium upgrade took nearly two years to complete and was put into service last fall.  The football stadium was originally constructed in 1971. The revamped Cajun Field offers better outdoor seating options, luxury boxes, and other improved aesthetics to provide a better fan experience.  Funding for this upgrade came from the school’s largest donor groups and a few key corporate sponsors. Donors were provided the opportunity to spend money for naming rights within the upgraded stadium. You could have placed your name on the stadium’s new scoreboard for $3 million. The “SwampSwamiSports.com” concession stand would have cost me a cool $250,000 to have my name on it (ha ha – good luck with that one!). You could even place your name on the stadium’s four oak trees for a pledge of $50,000. Last fall’s initial season in the Cajuns’ upgraded football stadium produced an average home attendance of 19,981 per game.  That is 2/3 of capacity.  UL-Lafayette’s game against nearby McNeese State produced the season’s largest crowd of 26,067. Ten years earlier, UL-Lafayette’s 2015 average home football attendance was 21,596 per game. In other words, the athletic support from the school’s home market seems to have remained relatively flat from year-to-year. The Ragin’ Cajuns $40 million annual athletics budget is near the bottom of the Sunbelt Conference UL-Lafayette has been a member of the Sunbelt Conference since 1991.  The league was comprised of 14 members last fall for the 2025 football season. Last year’s Ragin’ Cajuns athletics budget of more than $40 million placed it ahead of only Arkansas State, Georgia Southern, Southern Miss, and in-state rival UL-Monroe ($20.9 million). The Sunbelt expanded in the year 2022 to include James Madison University and Old Dominion University in Virginia plus Marshall University in West Virginia. A road trip from Lafayette, Louisiana to each those schools requires more than 1,000 miles each way.  That means that air travel is needed for not just football but basketball, baseball, softball, and other team sports playing on the road at those destinations. One source estimated that the increase in travel costs to play the recently-added Sunbelt members added a few million dollars in transportation expenses (mostly via air) for the Ragin’ Cajuns. Should UL-Lafayette try to increase athletics revenues, cut costs, or both? Playing in the Sunbelt Conference brings both UL-Lafayette and in-state rival UL-Monroe more than $2 million apiece in media revenues from ESPN and other sources.  A departure out of the Sunbelt Conference to drop back into the FCS level would mean an immediate loss of media revenue for athletics. A very significant near-term problem for Louisiana’s mid-major football programs is the SEC’s decision to play nine conference football games beginning this fall.  Going from eight to nine SEC games leaves just three non-conference opportunities available in the football schedule for LSU and other regional SEC teams. The LSU Tigers have been quite generous in scheduling Louisiana-based teams to come play at Tiger Stadium for non-conference games in recent decades.  Those road teams generally pocket more than $1 million to become “Tiger Bait” for their three hour fall visit to Baton Rouge playing in a non-conference football game against LSU. UL-Lafayette’s Ragin’ Cajuns played only one big “money game” last fall at the SEC’s University of Missouri. In-state Sunbelt rival UL-Monroe played two payday road games in 2025 – at SEC powerhouse Alabama and at the Big Ten’s Northwestern University.  The Warhawks’ athletics war chest (half the size of UL-Lafayette) depends heavily on at least two money games per year to keep the school’s athletics budget adequately funded. SEC football teams will now have one less spot to fill in their football schedule.  That means increased competition among today’s mid-major football programs seeking for the chance to land one or two payday games every season. This will likely to drive the monetary guarantees for these games down in the years to come. LSU Director of Athletics Verge Ausberry will have even more football teams knocking on his door to fill future non-conference games in Baton Rouge.  Those paydays are likely to decrease for Louisiana’s current Sunbelt Conference members such as UL-Lafayette and UL-Monroe. Do students want to pay additional fees to help cover the growing costs of athletics? UL-Lafayette’s last increase in annual student fees dedicated to cover athletics came about 20 years ago.  It added just $10 per semester per student. Sunbelt member James Madison University (21,000 students) is similar in size to UL-Lafayette.  The Virginia-based school charges students a whopping $2,456 (correct) per academic year to pay for college athletics. This provides JMU with $50 million directly from students – whether they attend sporting events or not. Even UL-Monroe passed an increase in student fees dedicated to athletics from $20 to $75 per year beginning in 2025.  It will add about $600,000 annually to the Warhawks athletics budget. Getting UL-Lafayette’s students to kick-in additional cash for athletics may be a hard sell.  Don’t go looking-up many of the school’s primary athletics donors, either.  They are proudly pointing at the Ragin’ Cajuns’ $65 million renovated football stadium as proof of their recent philanthropy. What is happening at UL-Lafayette is not unique.  It is occurring all across the country as many universities struggle to determine if they should remain playing in the upper tier of college athletics. The rising costs necessary to sustain expensive college athletic programs are causing university administrators to (finally) take a much harder look at the economic realities. Many college athletics programs are currently on life-support. Who’s next? The post UL-Lafayette cuts 25% of Athletics Staff after Revenue Shortfalls appeared first on SwampSwamiSports.com.

Matthew Patrick is a senior manager on CAPTRUST's Defined Contribution team. Matt joined CAPTRUST in 2014 and serves as a senior manager on the defined contribution team. His role encompasses the strategic planning and leadership of the team that manages CAPTRUST's discretionary services for defined contribution plans. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in finance from James Madison University and is a member of DCIIA. Matt holds the designation of Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist℠ (CRPS®).In this episode, Eric and Matthew Patrick discuss:Personalizing investing effectivelyMeasuring success by outcomes, not benchmarksApplying a documented fiduciary frameworkPrioritizing transparency in provider selectionKey Takeaways:Managed accounts tailor portfolios using plan and participant data, often combining core and non-core funds. Their true value comes from thoughtfully aligning the portfolio design with participant needs and plan demographics.Traditional benchmarking struggles when each participant has a unique portfolio. Committees should evaluate fees, engagement, and behavioral changes like savings rates and retirement readiness to gauge meaningful impact.DOL target-date guidance provides a practical model for evaluation. Committees should review methodology, underlying investments, fees versus value, fiduciary roles, and plan fit, while thoroughly documenting their rationale and process.Managed accounts can be offered by third parties, recordkeepers, or advisor-managed structures. Committees must clearly understand payments, fiduciary responsibilities, and ensure the sponsor actively engages and oversees participant outcomes.“You've got to start with best fit. You've got to start with appropriateness.” - Matthew PatrickConnect with Matthew Patrick:Website: https://www.captrust.com/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-patrick-39759555 Connect with Eric Dyson: Website: https://90northllc.com/Phone: 940-248-4800Email: contact@90northllc.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/401kguy/ The information and content of this podcast are general in nature and are provided solely for educational and informational purposes. It is believed to be accurate and reliable as of the posting date, but may be subject to change.It is not intended to provide a specific recommendation for any type of product or service discussed in this presentation or to provide any warranties, investment advice, financial advice, tax, plan design, or legal advice (unless otherwise specifically indicated). Please consult your own independent advisor as to any investment, tax, or legal statements made.The specific facts and circumstances of all qualified plans can vary, and the information contained in this podcast may or may not apply to your individual circumstances or to your plan or client plan-specific circumstances.The opinions expressed by guests are not necessarily agreed by, or the same opinions of 90 North Consulting or of Eric Dyson.

In this episode, we discuss the concepts of program theory and implementation fidelity, including their influences on teaching, learning, assessment, and improvement.  Our guest is Sara Finney.  Sara is Professor of Graduate Psychology at James Madison University, where she also serves as Associate Director for Student Affairs Assessment in the Center for Assessment and Research Studies.This season of Leading Improvements in Higher Education is sponsored by the Center for Assessment and Research Studies at James Madison University; learn more at jmu.edu/assessment. Episode recorded: November 2025.  Host:  Stephen Hundley.  Producers:  Chad Beckner and Angela Bergman.  Original music:  Caleb Keith.  This award-winning podcast is a service of the Assessment Institute in Indianapolis; learn more go.iu.edu/assessmentinstitute. 

Nothing fancy.  No high school superstars.  Just play hard every down.  Execute your plays better than the other guys.  Run each play with incredible attention to detail at your position. Indiana did just that in a season-opening win over Old Dominion on August 30.  The methodical Hoosiers left some big tractor trailer tire imprints on one football opponent after another this season. So it was eastbound and down, loaded up and truckin’ for the Indiana Hoosiers all the way to Miami, Florida for the 12-team College Football Playoffs season finale. Indiana delivered once again in Game #16 against a very talented group of Miami Hurricanes in the national championship game on Monday night. The unbeaten Indiana Hoosiers were matched against a physically larger and very resilient Miami Hurricanes team.  IU finally applied its patented sleeper hold with a late pass interception in the final minute to secure a 27-21 victory and the school’s first college football national title in 139 years. Indiana finished with the first 16-0 record in FBS history.  The Hoosiers subdued their three College Football Playoff match-ups by a cumulative score of 121-46. IU returned to Bloomington, Indiana with a championship trophy in hand to show to the school’s jubilant fans who – like so many – still can’t believe this just happened. If you liked exceptional defense, this game was definitely for you! By early in the fourth quarter, Indiana and Miami (which finished 13-3) each had been able to muster only 220 yards in total offense.  This often-times brutal defensive battle was anything but boring, though. The final quarter would produce the same number of points by both teams (24) as the amount scored in all three of the previous quarters.  Indiana led 17-7 as the final period began. The Hoosiers and their Heisman Trophy quarterback Fernando Mendoza were pushed around all night by a burly NFL-quality Miami defensive front. The Dolphins would be wise to sign a few of these college football warriors for their pro team this spring in the NFL draft. The Hurricanes marching band kept their relentless defense fired-up all night by playing the Star Wars’ “Darth Vader March” over and over. I almost expected to see a TV camera shot revealing Emperor Palpatine as Miami’s defensive coordinator.  The Canes put up a tremendous defensive effort against Indiana. But Indiana’s defense was up to the task in this championship game as well.  They swarmed to every tackle and shut-out Miami for the entire first half as Indiana took a 10-0 halftime advantage. The Hurricanes’ running game was nearly invisible for much of the night.  However, Miami’s Mark Fletcher, Jr. finally broke through the stubborn IU defensive line during the third quarter for a 57-yard score. That put the Canes on the scoreboard and narrowed Indiana’s lead to 10-7. The Hoosiers defense came to the rescue minutes later by blocking a Miami punt for a touchdown to restore a ten-point IU advantage at 17-7. Both teams’ offenses finally came alive in the final quarter Former Georgia quarterback Carson Beck finally located a few open receivers and quickly moved the Hurricanes down the field. A second Mark Fletcher, Jr. touchdown run cut Indiana’s lead to 17-14 on the very first play of the fourth quarter. The Hoosiers would answer that rally.  Indiana made this game even more exciting during a tense fourth quarter as they successfully completed two gutty fourth down calls. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza surprised the Canes’ defense with a fourth down quarterback draw play.  He bounced off two different Miami tacklers en route to a 13-yard touchdown score. That gave IU a 24-14 lead with nine minutes to play. This game had become much like a very tense tennis match.  Back and forth they went during the final period.  Neither team gave up after the other team scored. Miami’s passing game responded once again.  Elusive running back Malachi Toney came alive with a couple of key pass receptions during the drive.  He raced through and around several IU defenders for a 22-yard score to cut Indiana’s lead to 24-21 with a little more than six minutes left. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza then connected on a couple of clutch third down pass completions to move the Hoosiers down the field one more time. A well-conceived series of runs and passes for first downs helped IU eat-up precious minutes from the fourth quarter game clock. The Hoosiers opted to kick a 35-yard field goal to extend their lead to 27-21 with less than two minutes to go in the game.  Miami now had one final chance to win this game. The Hurricanes’ last offensive possession quickly advanced the ball all the way to midfield with under a minute to play.  A long pass downfield from quarterback Carson Beck was then intercepted by Indiana inside its ten yard line to seal the victory for the Hoosiers and sink Miami’s title hopes. That last minute pass interception by Indiana was the only turnover committed by either team in this year’s championship game. By the way, did someone steal the referees’ whistles at this football game? Millions of fans (like me) watching on television yelled, “Pass Interference!” or “Late hit – throw a flag!” at various points of this football game. Did the referees swallow their whistles during Monday’s game? Miami’s defensive backs were grabbing the uniforms, shoulder pads, arms, and hands of Indiana’s receivers all night long with only a few of the most obvious infractions penalized.  IU’s defense responded in kind by grabbing a few Miami receivers on some pass plays, too. At least two different Miami players should have been whistled for delivering late hits out-of-bounds in this game.  Another quite obvious targeting head shot was delivered by a Miami defensive player to Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Nary a tweet was heard. Miami (one of the most penalized teams in college football this season) was whistled for only seven penalties and 60 yards.  Indiana chalked-up just five penalties for 38 yards. Perhaps the title game’s referees may have carpooled to a local “Vision for Less” optometrist to be fitted for new glasses and forgot that this game was underway. Let’s give the officials credit for being consistent, though.  They allowed both teams get away with far too much in the title game.  Thankfully, no one appeared to be seriously injured during any of those plays. Regardless of the sport, games should be officiated in the same way as contests are called during the regular season.  This officiating crew stunk it up on Monday night. “Hoosiers II – The Football Edition” is likely going to be filmed soon That fantastic 1986 sports movie about a small Indiana high school basketball team winning the state championship may have been topped by the 16-0 national champion University of Indiana Hoosiers’ football team. Long-time assistant coach Curt Cignetti finally received his first head coaching job in 2011 at a Division II college in western Pennsylvania. He was age 50 at the time.  He quickly transformed that football team into a winner.  A move to North Carolina produced similar results for FCS member Elon University outside of Greensboro. Curt Cignetti then took over at James Madison University in northwestern Virginia.  He led the Dukes to a 52-9 record over his five seasons as the team’s head coach. Perennial football wallflower Indiana then picked this late-blooming coach-turned-miracle-worker in 2024.  In two seasons, IU has grown into a college football monster. Coach Curt Cignetti’s two seasons in Bloomington have produced a record of 27-2 with two College Football Playoff appearances. This was topped-off by Monday night’s well-deserved national championship earned by Indiana’s 16-0 team. What is 64-year old Curt Cignetti’s secret formula? Indiana had only eight players who were considered 4-star or 5-star athletes in high school.  Quarterback Fernando Mendoza was labeled as a “2-star” prospect coming out of a high school just a few miles from the University of Miami campus.  He wasn’t offered a scholarship by “The U” so he headed west to accept his only big-time offer to play at Cal. Mendoza would transfer to Indiana this season to team-up with his younger brother Alberto (also a quarterback).  The rest is now history. Coach Curt Cignetti assembled a group of talented underdogs who were willing to work harder and longer than players on most other teams. More importantly, the Hoosiers followed the directions of the Indiana coaching staff and became a model of precision execution on offense, defense, and special teams. This year’s Indiana squad performed together in unison like a championship basketball team.  Every player knew his role and executed flawlessly during most games.  The coaches smartly exploited the weaknesses seen in each week’s opponents.  The preparation and execution of the players and coaches helped this team to operate like a finely-tuned machine from week to week. Indiana’s offense played keep-away from the opposing defenses.  The Hoosiers dominated time of possession (including 36 minutes to 24 for Miami on Monday night). This team’s devastating blocking, power running game, and pinpoint short-to-intermediate passing game wore down opponents every week.  Winning the time of possession without committing turnovers helped lead Indiana to a national championship. Indiana won 16 straight games by repeating the same formula over and over again There was nothing fancy about Indiana’s football game plan.  They won every game by executing their plays better than the opposing team did. Coach Nick Saban won seven college football national championships (six at Alabama and his first at LSU).  Curt Cignetti had been a very successful assistant coach at Alabama under Coach Saban from 2007 through 2010.  Cignetti’s recruiting class of 2008 at Alabama would result in six NFL first round draft choices. Now that Indiana and its head coach have climbed to the top of the college football mountain, will the Hoosiers be able to remain there? Coach Saban (now a commentator for ESPN) said Monday before the title game that it will now become harder for Coach Cignetti to find new players with the same hunger to win as this year’s team. “Now everybody wants to come because of what your program can do for them (the top players),” said Saban.  “That dynamic changes everything dramatically – in terms of how you’ve got to motivate your players and how you put together your team.” Another factor in Indiana’s championship season was the character of the players.   Some of today’s NIL transfer “stars” may not fit-in with the selfless, team-oriented demands being made by Coach Curt Cignetti and his impressive coaching staff. Indiana’s precision style of football execution should keep the Hoosiers near the top for years to come. The team’s now-champion head football coach has often said, “If you keep your nose down and keep working, anything is possible!” Congratulations, Indiana!  The best team won. The post Indiana’s 18-wheeler Football team made one final Delivery appeared first on SwampSwamiSports.com.

I saw the power of storytelling and the responsibility we have to share stories to educate and change lives.Dr. Terésa Dowell-Vest is an Associate Professor of Communication at Prairie View A&M University and President of the University Film and Video Association (UFVA), an organization that supports film, television, and media studies in higher education.In this conversation Terésa and I discuss:* The music of Janet Jackson, Prince, and Jimmy Jam/Terry Lewis* Teaching media in a post-truth world* What UFVA is, why it matters, and how professional associations can sharpen teaching and creative practice* What filmmaking trends she sees with her students at Prairie View A&M* The short documentary her students did in collaboration with students from USC (link here)* “The Death of Cliff Huxtable” and the process of separating art from a problematic artistThanks for reading The Creativity, Education, and Leadership Newsletter! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Here is an AI generated transcript. Don't come for me.BEN: Hi everyone—Ben Guest here. Welcome to The Creativity, Education, and Leadership Podcast. Today my guest is Professor Terésa Dowell-Vest, an associate professor of Communication and Media at Prairie View A&M University and the President of the University Film and Video Association (UFVA).In this conversation we talk Janet Jackson, the media landscape for young people interested in production, what UFVA does, and more. Enjoy.Professor, thanks so much for joining me today.TERÉSA: Thank you. Thank you for having me. It's my pleasure to be here.BEN: I always like to start with a fun question. Senior year of high school—what music were you listening to?TERÉSA: Senior year of high school—1989. 1990 was a great year to be a Janet Jackson fan. *Rhythm Nation* was probably worn out in my car's tape deck. I was a huge fan.BEN: Did you do the choreography?TERÉSA: Oh yes. I can do the hands and all that—the “A‑5‑4.” I would do it, for real.And Janet Jackson was the big one, even though Prince's *Purple Rain* came out a few years earlier. That album was still in regular rotation for me in high school.And then in 1988 New Edition put out *Heart Break*—produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. That was such a good time. So yeah: Janet, Prince, New Edition—Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis were the soundtrack.BEN: '88 was when Bobby Brown's *Don't Be Cruel* came out, right?TERÉSA: Listen, lemme tell you, the eighties to be a teenager in the eighties, to be in your twenties in the nineties. What a time to be alive.BEN: Yeah. I love it. Okay, second fun question. What's your pick for best picture this year?TERÉSA: I'd say *Sinners*. There are a few this year, but funny enough I actually focused more on television—I was obsessed with *Stranger Things* and *Severance* (and one other show I'm blanking on), so I didn't get to the movies as much. But I did see *Sinners* and it really stuck with me. I should preface that by saying I'm not as familiar with the entire pool, but I'm almost confident it'll be a strong contender.BEN: So good. I saw that your MFA thesis was titled *The African American Producer Is the American Griot*. Can you talk about that—maybe even in relation to *Sinners*?TERÉSA: I've always been fascinated by the power of storytelling. My bachelor's degree and my MFA are both in theater because I love live engagement. That also shaped me as a professor—I love being in front of students and engaging in a transactional, interactive way, not just a linear one. Theater and education give me that kind of exchange with an audience.For my graduate thesis I came to know Dr. Maulana Karenga—best known for creating Kwanzaa. He was chair of the Black Studies program at California State University, Long Beach. During my years there (1994–1997), I was the only Black student in the program, and in 1997 I became the first Black person to graduate with my particular degree from that program. Even in the '90s I was thinking: why are we still talking about “firsts” and “onlys”?I wanted to bridge storytelling with the legacy of slavery and survival—my own ancestors were from Virginia, where I was born and raised. Dr. Karenga taught me the concept of the *griot*—the storyteller—and the responsibility that comes with that. In the U.S., storytelling often gets treated as frivolous—an extracurricular, “nice to have.” A lot of Black parents, especially, don't want their kids studying film, theater, or the liberal arts because it doesn't seem like a stable livelihood. I started undergrad as an accounting major and didn't tell my dad I'd switched to theater until graduation day—he found out when they called my name under the College of Arts instead of the College of Business. That's the mindset I came from: my family wanted us to succeed, and the arts read as struggle, not a viable career.But there's honor in being a storyteller. That idea changed how I saw theater.And it was the '90s—*Rent* was happening, and I was in Los Angeles, flying back and forth to the East Coast to see Broadway shows that weren't just entertaining; they were educating and changing lives. I remember *The Life*—not a massive hit, but it told the story of Black and Brown women working as call girls in New York City. You'd think, “Is that a Broadway story?” But the music was outstanding.And there were so many others—*Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk* with Savion Glover, looking at African American history through tap and music. During that period I really saw the power of storytelling—and the responsibility we have to tell stories that educate and change lives.BEN: That's so powerful. The responsibility of storytelling to educate and change lives.TERÉSA: Yeah.BEN: It's one of the things I've often thought as a teacher: I'm a storyteller. How do you construct a lesson so students are receptive? It's like you're telling a story over a unit, a curriculum, or even a single lesson.TERÉSA: When you engage with students and give them permission to share their stories, you're not really “teaching” in the traditional sense anymore. It becomes more like peer engagement than “I'm the teacher, I know the things, and I'm telling you the things.”Students receive it differently when they feel you're invested in who they are—not just their grade.BEN: There's a great quote, I think it's Roger Ebert films, but really stories are empathy machines.TERÉSA: Yeah.BEN: It allows us to walk in someone else's shoes for a moment. There was a reconciliation group in Mississippi whose motto was: “Enemies are people whose stories we haven't heard.”TERÉSA: Incredibly profound. When we think about fear, it's often a lack of understanding—no connection to the thing you're afraid of. Hearing stories can build that connection.BEN: Can you talk about the importance of media education? I'm a documentary filmmaker, documentary filmmaking in today's world where so much of where we are in a post-truth society.TERÉSA: There are mechanics to telling the truth, and mechanics to telling a lie. In fiction you see this a lot—shows like *The Mentalist* or *Law & Order* where someone reads body language, eye movement, and so on to figure out whether someone is lying.What matters for media education is helping students understand the “tells” in information—how to challenge and debunk claims instead of assuming, “Someone told me a thing, so it must be true.”I didn't fully appreciate how urgent that was until the pandemic, when early reporting was all over the place and a lot of it conflicted. Being able to sort honest, vetted information from dishonest or speculative claims mattered in a very concrete way—like realizing you probably shouldn't drink bleach.Coming out of that period, teaching media studies has meant teaching reporting with integrity. You can't just assume something is true—not because people are “bad,” but because people absorb information differently based on what they've experienced.I do a lecture with my senior capstone students on the difference between **knowledge** and **information**. Knowledge is shaped by culture, character, race, gender, where you grew up, what language you speak, what faith you practice—so it can carry bias. Information, on the other hand, is verifiable and can be vetted. 2 + 2 = 4 no matter who you are.Good storytelling—and good journalism—knows how to bridge knowledge and information with integrity. When I have journalism students who lean into opinion-driven news—whether it's Fox, MSNBC, whatever—I tell them: that's playing to an audience's sensibilities. It can be entertaining, but it isn't the same as straight reporting. Then there's reporting that aims to be more information-based—“Here's what happened today.” That also needs to be taught. We're in a moment where students need tools to tell the truth, recognize lies, pick them apart, and trust their internal compass about what's important to share.And Ben—my answers get long. You might have to cut me off.BEN: I'm going to cut you off when what you're saying stops being interesting—so I doubt I'm going to cut you off.You're the President of the University Film and Video Association. For listeners: what is UFVA?TERÉSA: UFVA is a nationally recognized organization of university and college educators and institutions focused on film, television, and media studies—both practice and theory. We're a collective of makers and scholars. Our members hold a range of degrees—MAs, MFAs, MS degrees, PhDs, EdDs.As an organization, we examine how film and television are used—and we keep digging into how the field is evolving through innovation and emerging technology. Each year we host a conference (typically in July) where we share classroom best practices and research, and we analyze how film sparks conversation.You asked me earlier about a front-runner for Best Picture. I think about *Sinners* as a kind of textbook in a lot of ways. One of my students gave an informative speech last semester on the history of hoodoo, and she referenced *Sinners* heavily because it's central to the film. In that moment she used a movie as a learning text.That's what UFVA does: we create space to share those opportunities through research and scholarship, and we bring it back to our students and institutions.BEN: You said “best practices,” and I want to come back to that because it's a rabbit hole I love.But first: in an interview you did with the *Journal of Film and Video*, you said you were about to start your UFVA presidency and weren't sure what to expect. Now that you've lived it—how was it?TERÉSA: One of the biggest things I've learned—maybe I've only really realized it in the last couple of months—is that joining an association as an educator keeps the fire hot. It keeps you learning.As UFVA President, I've met so many people who've inspired me. It's not that I want the presidency to end; it's more like, “I need more time to implement everything I'm learning from colleagues.” It also pushed me to partner with other organizations and communities I knew about but hadn't been deeply involved with.I joined UFVA because of the pandemic. Before that I'd never even heard of the University Film and Video Association. I was the kind of person who kept my head down and did my work in my silo, and I was fine with that. But when the pandemic hit, no one knew what to do with film production courses in quarantine.I reached out to colleagues—thinking maybe eight or ten of us would hop on Zoom and talk through hybrid and online teaching. That snowballed. People said, “Can I invite a colleague?” I said yes. I posted on Facebook: if you teach film production or media studies and want to talk about what we're doing this fall, let's meet.Jennifer Proctor replied and asked, “Have you heard of UFVA?” I hadn't. She suggested sharing the call with UFVA, and we kept casting the net. By the time we met, there were 126 professors from around the world—about 100 universities represented, including USC, Ivy League schools, and institutions in Germany and Australia.I ran the meeting as breakout rooms—nine of them—named after Black women in film and television: Shonda Rhimes, Julie Dash, and others. So even in the mechanics of the meeting, people were saying these names and being reminded of who matters in media.Two things came out of that experience. First, UFVA invited me to join the board. I said, “Let me be a member first,” but within a few months I knew: yes, this is where I want to be.Second, I saw the gaps. There was very little representation from HBCUs, and very few Black people involved. Not because UFVA was “bad,” but because people simply didn't know. So I understood my call: help bring people in, build bridges, and create collaboration without turning it into a slogan. I love that we get to do the work without making it a “thing.” That's been the value of the presidency for me.BEN: Love it. Can you talk about with your students at Prairie View, what are some trends you're seeing with what the young people are doing?TERÉSA: Oh, child. They want to be influencers.This is the social media age, and a lot of students see it as the primary industry of their generation—and I get it. If you have enough followers and a couple brands offer deals, it can be real money. I have students with tens of thousands of followers. I'm like, I can barely get my family to like a post. And they're like, “Oh, I do nails,” or “I do lashes,” or “I show my sneaker collection,” and they'll get 10,000 likes every time they post.My reaction is: we need to be teaching this. We need to teach students how to parlay that into careers. Even if I don't personally understand every part of it, that doesn't make it non-viable.It reminds me of when we were in school. The internet wasn't even a thing when I was in college (1990–1994), and then suddenly we were on the edge of being connected to the world. Professors were saying, “This will create cheaters—you'll never look things up in books again.” Sound familiar?Now students are figuring out VR, AR, AI. They're building brands, protecting brands, learning to be CEOs of themselves. That's exciting.BEN: Yeah. I think about that all the time. It's like when people first started writing letters—somebody must have said, “No one's going to talk to each other anymore. They're just going to send letters.”TERÉSA: Exactly. Every generation has a thing—“Who's using this calculator? You need to learn long division.”BEN: I graduated high school in '93, so when you're talking about Janet, my “Janet album” is literally *janet.*—“Again,” “That's the Way Love Goes,” all of that. It's funny how, year by year, the soundtrack shifts just a bit.BEN: Okay—teaching and best practices. What's something you've done in your classroom that really leveled up your teaching?TERÉSA: Oh, wow. Gosh, I think it's less something I've done and more the intention of showing the students that their success is not coming from looking up. It's from looking over. It's the concept that. When you graduate from college, it isn't some executive that's going to give you an opportunity. It's the people you're in the trenches with right now that you're gonna build with right now. So I think the thing that's leveled up my teaching is less a thing that I can show them as much as relationships that I can help them forge and the power of networking. So our program has has a pipeline relationship with the Annenberg School of Communication at the university. The University of Southern California professor Mickey Turner, who's a professor there at USC teaches the senior storytelling for Media course similar to the communication capstone course that I teach here. And so every semester, professor Turner and I collaborate. Those two classes together and we introduced those students to each other through pitches, research topic pitches for their final capstone project. And what they see is. Students at an HBCU or students at this PWI are not different at all. They just, they, live in different states. Perhaps they come from different backgrounds, but by and large, they have similar goals. And we teach them that this is who you need to forge a relationship with because when you are at the stage of making deals or going out and work, this is the person you're gonna want to call. So I think the thing that's leveled up my teaching is my understanding. And my teaching of that understanding of how the industry works and how it can best work for them. Since you no longer have to live in LA or New York to, to make movies people are making movies on their devices. You have to now find your tribe to tell your stories and it can be much more localized. And so I teach them to build their team where they are and not. Go after this aspirational. The only way I can make it if is if I put it in the hands of someone so far away from me. No, put it in the hands of the guy sitting next to you or the young lady that's sitting on this other side and shoot your film, make your short tell the story. Do your podcast. I feel like that's leveled up. The final piece to that USC story is that during the pandemic, five of our students from Prairie View and five students from USC collaborated on a short documentary about the pandemic and how it impacted students at HBCUs, at this HBCU versus how it impacted students at a private, pWI Prairie View is 45 minutes outside of the city of Houston. We're a rural community. We're in the middle of nowhere essentially, whereas USC is in the heart of Los Angeles and those students taught, told an amazing story. I'll send you the link to the film. It's on YouTube. Told an amazing story from two different vantage points. That is a great indication of how education can be collaborative. Just as film is.BEN: Yeah. Before we started recording, we were talking about travel—and it just reminds me: travel is one of the best educations people can get. The more you interact with people from around the country and the world, the more you realize how similar we are and what we want: better lives for our kids and a better world to live in.That feels like a good place to end. For people interested in your work, where can they find you?TERÉSA: A good starting point is **thedeathofcliffhuxtable.com**. That's where you'll find my fan-fiction series—and later scholarly series—about separating the art from the artist when the artist is problematic.Bill Cosby's work touched every stage of my life: as a child I watched *Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids* on Saturday mornings; as a teenager in the '80s I watched the Huxtables and wanted to be part of that world; and in college in the '90s—at James Madison University, a PWI—every Thursday night at 8:30 we gathered to watch *A Different World*, and it made us feel connected in a way.When I think about the more than 60 women who came forward, my first thought is: that many people aren't lying. Even if one person tells the truth, it changes everything.In 2015—around the time the New Yorker reporting was circulating and more women were speaking—I started writing fan fiction centered on the Huxtable family at the moment Cliff Huxtable dies. I “killed” Cliff Huxtable to push back on the idea that Bill Cosby was “America's dad.” That moniker belonged to Cliff Huxtable—a fictional character written by an artist who created something meaningful and also did something horrific.We can't see Cliff the same way because he wears Bill Cosby's face, but they are not the same person—one of them isn't even real. Writing the series helped me illustrate that tension, and it eventually became a scholarly project.During the pandemic we hosted a virtual series with 51 artists, scholars, and actors who read chapters and then joined post-show discussions on the themes. You can find all of that through the website, and it's also the easiest way to contact me.BEN: Wow. Professor, thank you for all the, for your time today, but also for all the good work you're doing in so many different spaces.TERÉSA: Thank you. Thank you. And I look forward to listening to the podcast even more. I'm sorry that I'm just now getting hip to your great work, but I tell you what, I am going to tune in and probably hit you up with some questions and excited remarks shortly thereafter.BEN: I love it.That was my conversation with Professor Dowell-Vest. If you enjoyed it, share it with a friend. Have a great day. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit benbo.substack.com

Our first podcast of 2026 continues our collaborative project with James Madison University's Feminist Rhetorics course. This is the second of three podcasts guest-hosted by team of students from that class who are exploring Girl Museum, the Girls. Period. exhibition.The team continue their interview our Head Girl, Ashley E. Remer about Girl Museum and Ella Stotzky, a fellow student who worked on the exhibition.Thanks for listening.The JMU Team: Ally de Cardona, Via Chapin, LeeAnne English-Stewart, and Freddie Tavakoli.Girls. Period. exhibitionGirl Museum

Valley native and recent JMU graduate Kyle Showalter shares why he chose to stay in the Shenandoah Valley after graduating from James Madison University. Now working as the assistant controller for Partners Excavating, Kyle talks about why he values working at this long-standing Valley company and how he turned an internship into a full time career opportunity.

In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with James Davies about how to evolve your style when your team, culture, or market changes. James Davies is the Chief Executive Officer of Kinetic Data, a Minneapolis-based software company focused on empowering organizations to deliver unified digital experiences across complex technology ecosystems. With over a decade at Kinetic, James has helped evolve the company from its workflow roots into a leader in digital experience platforms serving both enterprise and government sectors. Before assuming the CEO role, James served in multiple operational and leadership capacities, shaping the company's growth strategy, culture, and partner ecosystem. Under his leadership, Kinetic Data reorganized around four key pillars—Growth, Product, Success, and Operations—creating an agile, scalable structure designed to drive collaboration and efficiency. James is known for his transparent and people-first leadership style, often communicating directly with employees through his “Friday Thoughts” updates—open reflections on company direction, lessons learned, and team progress. His approach blends operational discipline with an emphasis on empowerment and trust, traits that have earned him recognition for cultivating both performance and authenticity inside growing tech organizations An advocate for sustainable growth and innovation, James is passionate about bridging the gap between legacy systems and modern experiences—particularly within government and large-scale enterprises. He also champions the “low-code revolution,” believing that empowering small teams to build and adapt workflows quickly is key to organizational agility. A graduate of James Madison University, James credits his alma mater with shaping his collaborative, team-first mindset. Outside of work, he's known for drawing leadership parallels to his love of restoring classic Toyota Land Cruisers—symbols, to him, of durability, reliability, and purpose-driven engineering. Check out all of the podcasts in the HCI Podcast Network!

On today's episode we're focusing on mindset skills, emotional regulation and mental toughness and feel that orthopedic surgery with Dr. Winston Gwathmey, an orthopedic surgeon at UVA. We start off our discussion today with an article from the September 2022 issue of the Journal of Surgical Research titled “Emotional Regulation in Surgery: Fostering Well-Being, Performance, and Leadership.” This article reviews the critical role of emotional regulation as a trainable cognitive skill that enhances surgical well-being, technical performance, and career longevity. It highlights how burnout and stress are pervasive in surgery and argues that individual-level emotional regulation training—paired with necessary system-level changes—can help surgeons cope with the inherent stressors of operative practice, complications, and high-stakes decision-making. Through multiple institutional case studies, the paper illustrates practical strategies for implementing emotional regulation curricula within surgical training, including mindfulness-based programs, mental skills training, and broader well-being initiatives. Across all examples, successful adoption hinges on leadership support, stakeholder buy-in, iterative design, and embedding training into existing educational infrastructure. Ultimately, the authors advocate for an integrated national curriculum that combines cognitive skills training, application to technical performance, and preparation for independent practice to promote surgeon resilience and sustainable careers.Then, from the July 2021 issue of the Journal of Surgical Research, we review an article titled “Mastering Stress: Mental Skills and Emotional Regulation for Surgical Performance and Life.” This article reviews how mental skills training and emotional regulation can enhance surgeons' technical performance, well-being, and career longevity by mitigating the negative effects of stress. It explains the physiological and cognitive mechanisms of stress and highlights how chronic stress impairs decision-making and increases burnout. The authors present evidence that mindfulness, cognitive training, and mental rehearsal improve surgical skill acquisition, stress resilience, executive function, and performance under pressure. The authors go on to outline common elements of successful programs. They also discuss barriers to implementation and propose a framework for integrating mental skills training across surgical education from basic instruction to independent practice. They ultimately advocate for the development of a national mental skills curriculum to promote surgeon well-being, reduce errors, strengthen leadership and teamwork, and improve patient and systems-level outcomes.We are joined today by Dr. Winston Gwathmey, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and a Professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Virginia.  He is the Medical Director for the Sports Medicine Clinic at UVA and is also one of the team physicians for both UVA and James Madison University. Dr. Gwathmey is the Program Director for the Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program at UVA and is very passionate about educating the next generation of orthopedic surgeons.  He has won numerous teaching awards including the Mulholland Teaching award, the Charles W. Miller Resident Teaching award, and the Dean's Award for Excellence in Medical Student Teaching. So, we're very excited to have him on today to talk about this important topic. 

This episode features two leaders from the International Academy of Process Educators.  Our guests are Josh Morrison and Tris Utschig. Josh is Director of Academic Retention Programs at the University of Indianapolis. Tris is Director for Scholarly Teaching and Professor of Nuclear Engineering at Kennesaw State University.Link to resource mentioned in this episode: International Academy of Process Educatorshttps://www.processeducation.org/  This season of Leading Improvements in Higher Education is sponsored by the Center for Assessment and Research Studies at James Madison University; learn more at jmu.edu/assessment. Episode recorded: September 2025.  Host:  Stephen Hundley.  Producers:  Chad Beckner and Angela Bergman.  Original music:  Caleb Keith.  This award-winning podcast is a service of the Assessment Institute in Indianapolis; learn more go.iu.edu/assessmentinstitute. 

In this inspiring and educational episode of The Big Bid Theory, host Bill Culhane engages in a powerful conversation with procurement thought leader Chris Smith about the evolving role of public procurement and what it means to lead with purpose in 2026 and beyond. Public procurement professionals, leadership‑minded listeners, and anyone passionate about ethical impact will discover fresh perspectives on how the field is transforming from a compliance‑driven function into a strategic engine of trust, innovation, and measurable outcomes. Together, Bill and Chris explore:Why public procurement is a tremendous opportunity for professionals driven by ethics and meaningful impact.The core principles of servant leadership and how putting people first builds more effective teams and sustainable results in government procurement.The role of AI and strategic thinking in optimizing procurement processes while safeguarding integrity and accountability.How professional certification, including the NIGP Certified Public Procurement (CPP) credential, boosts credibility, career growth, and elevates procurement as a respected profession.Real‑world insights on leadership, career development, and the future of public procurement that will inspire you to think differently about your role and opportunities ahead.Appropriate to this episode, Bill shares a reminder that the 2025 David and Beverly Nash Leadership Award recipient will be named this week!Whether you're a seasoned Chief Procurement Officer, an emerging leader in public procurement, or someone curious about the intersection of leadership and public service, this episode delivers compelling insights, practical advice, and strategic inspiration to fuel your professional journey.If you believe public procurement should be more than a checkbox, you want to build trust, drive impact, and lead with purpose, this episode of The Big Bid Theory is made for you.Rick Jennings shares the final Crazy Bids You Can Win of season 11. Don't miss it!

In this episode of the Podcast of Champions hosts Ryan Abraham and David Woods talk about Indiana's victory over Ohio State in the Big Ten Title game, and then the placement for each of the Big Ten teams in the Playoffs. With the Hoosiers and Buckeyes being the top-2 seeds, both programs get a bye and with Oregon coming in at No. 5, the Ducks get a home game against the lowest ranked program in the field, James Madison University. Then they get to the real news: what in the hell is going on in the state of Michigan? Sherrone Moore fired and arrested? The fellas dive deep. There were also two official coaching hires in the Big Ten, with Penn State hiring Matt Campbell from Iowa State and UCLA hires Bob Chesney from the aforementioned JMU. As always, they wrap up the podcast by answering listener email and live chat questions. For the video simulcasts of our POC please subscribe to your ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Please follow, give the POC a five-star rating and post a review on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠You can bet all of the Big Ten games over at MyBookie! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jenny Li Fowler sits down with Rochelle Reed, Social Media Manager at James Madison University (JMU), to unpack how Instagram Stories evolved from an overlooked feature into a strategic powerhouse for campus engagement. Rochelle shares how JMU has built a data-driven Instagram Stories strategy that prioritizes interaction, authenticity, and smart storytelling. This episode is a goldmine for anyone serious about leveling up their social content game.Guest Name: Rochelle Reed, Social Media Manager, James Madison UniversityGuest Social: LinkedInGuest Bio: Rochelle Reed is the social media manager at James Madison University, where she works with students and campus partners to elevate JMU stories and connect with the JMU community.  Rochelle is a proud alum of JMU and is honored to steward the growth of JMU's social media presence. With a decade of social media experience, most in higher education, Rochelle leads a community of practice for social media at JMU and provides guidance and support to campus partners across JMU. Her experience as a certified community manager allows her to navigate the flexible and dynamic landscape of social media and community management while ensuring JMU's online communities thrive and grow. Previously, Rochelle worked at Lehigh University, where she worked on the institutional and admissions social media accounts. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Jenny Li Fowlerhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jennylifowler/https://twitter.com/TheJennyLiAbout The Enrollify Podcast Network:Confessions of a Higher Ed Social Media Manager is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you'll like other Enrollify shows too! Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this conversation, DJ Dove and JJ Wang discuss the current state of fantasy football as the regular season nears its conclusion. They analyze playoff chances, quarterback performances, running back trends, and the impact of wide receivers and tight ends on fantasy teams. The discussion also touches on college football playoffs, particularly focusing on local teams like James Madison University. Throughout the conversation, they provide insights into player performances, strategies for the upcoming weeks, and the dynamics of their fantasy leagues.Website with Links & all The Fantasy Couriers' Rankings: https://www.thefantasycouriers.com/ Fast Draft: Join and use code COURIERS for deposit match up to $50!! https://fastdraft.app/ NEW SPONSOR!! Get energized with our newest sponsor–DUBBY : https://www.dubby.gg/discount/couriers?ref=noytokxv Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3JgcXENPRnlcX5RMgwsNlO?si=5cb6b49ecfc9420a Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fantasy-couriers/id1573810445?mt=2&id=1573810445 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCenPosjOxg1MYQ8TFd5RP1A **For waiver and start/sit, join DJ Dove on The Fantasy Turf War Show - live every Tuesday at 9pm EST or on demand afterwards – https://www.youtube.com/@FantasyTurfWar , X - https://x.com/fantasyturfwar, Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/FantasyTurfWar/ or Rubml - https://rumble.com/c/c-6710436?e9s=src_v1_cmdJOIN COURIER NATION on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefantasycouriers #DJDove79 #JJwang79 #TheFantasyCouriers #fantasyfootballadvice #fun #football #nflnews #nflfantasy #FantasyFootball #fantasysports #fantasyfootballtips #fantasypros #footballseason #spotify #IHeartRadio #TuneInpodcasts #AmazonPodcasts #applepodcasts #youtubemusic #Fantasyfootball #podcast #nfl #fantasy #touchdown #nfl #fantasypros #trendingpodcast #trending #FUN #week13 #dubbyenergy #PlayoffPush #FootballStrategy #PlayerInsights #PlayerInsights

In this episode, we have a conversation with colleagues from the Consortium of Organizations for Student Affairs Assessment, or COSAA, which is a collaborative effort across key student affairs assessment organizations.  Our guests are Shaun Boren, Renée Delgado-Riley, Paul Holliday-Millard, and Sarah LaFrance.  In addition to serving as student affairs assessment professionals within their own institutional contexts, our guests are also national leaders involved in the organizations operating under the umbrella of COSAA.Link to resources mentioned in this episode: ACPA's Commission for Assessment and Evaluationhttps://myacpa.org/groups/cae/ Consortium of Organizations for Student Affairs Assessment (COSAA)https://studentaffairsassessment.org/entries/blog/announcing-the-formation-of-the-consortium NASPA's Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Knowledge Communityhttps://www.naspa.org/division/assessment-evaluation-and-research Student Affairs Assessment Leaders (SAAL)https://studentaffairsassessment.org/ This season of Leading Improvements in Higher Education is sponsored by the Center for Assessment and Research Studies at James Madison University; learn more at jmu.edu/assessment. Episode recorded: September 2025.  Host:  Stephen Hundley.  Producers:  Chad Beckner and Angela Bergman.  Original music:  Caleb Keith.  This award-winning podcast is a service of the Assessment Institute in Indianapolis; learn more go.iu.edu/assessmentinstitute. 

Hope to face any circumstance - Romans 15:13 Romans 15:13“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (ESV)Why look to God for hope?1. God gives real hopeLamentations 3:21-23 “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”Hope is forward-looking confidence in God, based on His faithfulness and power.2. God gives lasting hopeRomans 5:3-5 says, “More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”John 14:27 says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”3. God gives abundant hopeIt is Powerful to the true believer. It is Plentiful to the true believer.______________Dr. Don Cockes serves as a regional strategist in the Valley for the SBC of Virginia. He helps churches in various ways as an advisor, mentor, and partner in ministry.  He lives in Salem, but is a native of Altavista. He made a profession of faith in Christ at the age of 12, publicly acknowledged his call to ministry while in college, and has served in many Southern Baptist contexts.Since 1988, he has served in some form of ministry, including youth pastor, associate pastor, senior pastor, transitional pastor of four churches,  North American Mission Board missionary, and SBCV staff since 2004.  Additionally, he has served on numerous Southern Baptist boards and committees over the years and has a passion for missions. Don has a Doctor of Ministry from Southeastern Seminary and has degrees from James Madison University and Mid-America Seminary. He and his wife, Janine, have been married for more than 28 years and have two sons: Tim and Chris.

America's bookstores have always been about more than just books, but the role they play in American society has changed over the years. In this episode, Evan Friss joins us for a conversation about his New York Times Bestseller, The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore (Viking, 2023), and the unique place that bookstores – and those who operate them – have held in American society from the colonial era to our own. Dr. Evan Friss is Professor of History at James Madison University and the author of multiple books, including On Bicycles: A 200 Year History of Cycling in New York City (Columbia University Press, 2019). You can find out more about his work at his website, EvanFriss.com. A special thanks to our friend, Dane Honeycutt, for recommending that we invite Evan on the show to discuss The Bookshop. This episode was edited by Ben Sawyer.

In this episode of 'Pushing Forward with Alycia,' host Alycia Anderson welcomes Shane Walsh, a passionate advocate and global ambassador for Best Buddies International. Shane shares his personal story of growing up with his younger brother Lucas, who has autism. He reflects on how this relationship shaped his worldview and motivated his advocacy for the intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) community. The conversation delves into the importance of inclusion, the challenges faced by individuals with IDD, and the need for greater employment opportunities. Shane also discusses his efforts to enhance the Best Buddies program at James Madison University and his aspirations for broader societal change. Tune in for a powerful discussion on resilience, advocacy, and the impact of sibling relationships in the disability community. Minute Markers & Must-Know Points 00:00 Introduction to Pushing Forward with Alycia 00:26 Meet Shane: A Global Ambassador for Best Buddies 02:13 Shane's Journey with His Brother Lucas 05:05 The Sibling Experience and Advocacy 09:28 Challenges and Changes During High School 17:37 Shane's College Experience and Best Buddies Involvement 22:44 Encouraging Male Participation in Special Education 24:30 Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone 28:02 Final Thoughts and Call to Action 29:31 Closing Remarks and Motivation A Quote from Shane Walsh  “It is my hopes and dreams that one day I can develop the courage and bravery that individuals with IDD and parents of children with IDD have.”  ~ Shane Walsh Deep Dives from This Episode

In this soul-stirring episode of the Nurture Small Business Podcast, host Denise Cagan welcomes spoken word artist, author, and visionary Dr. Yemaja Jubilee. From her early days writing poetry in secret to producing plays and publishing books rooted in personal and cultural history, Dr. Jubilee shares how she channels divine downloads to guide her creativity and purpose.  Listeners will hear about her latest book, Born and Raised Under Jim Crow: Now You Know, her transformative dreams, and her unique acronyms like BYOV [Bring Your Own Voice], BYOT [Bring Your Own Truth], and AI [Authenticity and Integrity]. She also recounts the historic  journey of bringing Dr. Opal Lee, the Grandmother of Juneteenth, to Virginia—an effort born from a dream and realized through community collaboration.  Whether you're an entrepreneur seeking inspiration or a creative soul looking for permission to express your truth, this episode is a masterclass in living authentically, embracing inner brilliance, and letting purpose unfold naturally.  

How do you create true belonging? It might not start where you think. In this episode, we sit down with Kyra Loughlin, James Madison, to explore how Universal Design principles can reshape not only our chapter houses but also the ways that our members feel seen, valued and supported.Kyra walks us through her award-winning capstone project and introduces the Accessibility Screening Tool she developed in partnership with Tri Delta Housing. This innovative resource goes beyond ADA compliance to help meet the diverse physical, sensory and intellectual needs of our members—in both residential and social spaces.Along the way, Kyra shares what she's learned, including the importance of asking meaningful questions and listening deeply. She reflects on how her Tri Delta experience and the sisterhood she built at James Madison University continue to guide and inspire her, and she offers heartfelt advice for anyone looking to lead with Purpose.This conversation is about more than ramps and elevators. It's about redesigning belonging and reimagining what it means to create spaces where everyone feels at home.

Kim Habbert is in her 22nd season as the head coach of the Division II Wilmington University women's volleyball program. She entered the season with 359 coaching victories with the Wildcats. Her success at Wilmington follows a decade leading the girls volleyball program at Christiana High School in Newark, Delaware. Habbert played collegiately at James Madison University. In Episode #268 of "1-on-1 with Matt Leon," Matt speaks with Habbert about her career. They discuss her success at Wilmington, talk about her introduction to the sport, her favorite part of coaching and much, much more. “1-on-1 with Matt Leon” is a KYW Newsradio original podcast. You can follow the show on X @1on1pod and you can follow Matt @Mattleon1060.