Podcasts about pennoni honors college

Subscribe to Receive Venkat's Weekly NewsletterDean Vakharia has an interdisciplinary background. An Engineering undergraduate, master's in arts administration and Phd in Information Science. He has experience working in the corporate sector as well with non-profits.When the opportunity to be Dean of the HC came up, he threw his hat in the ring.On this podcast, Dean Vakharia shares his background, his vision for Pennoni Honors College, Honors Programs, Scholarships & Grants, Role of AI, Career Opportunities, and Advice for High Schoolers.In particular, we discuss the following with him: Dean Neville Vakharia's BackgroundPennoni Honors CollegeImpact of AICareer OpportunitiesTopics discussed in this episode:Introducing Dean Vakharia, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel U []Hi Fives - Podcast Highlights []Background []Becoming the Dean []Vision for Honors College []Flagship Programs []Custom Design Major []Fostering UG Research []Fellowship Programs []Financial Aid []HC Applicants []AI Impact []Career Opportunities []Advice for High Schoolers []Closing Thoughts []Our Guest: Dr. Neville Vakharia is the Dean of the Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Dean Vakharia is an Associate Professor in the Arts Administration program at the Antoinette Westphal College.Memorable Quote: “...put the focus on you as a student, as a learner, and focus on your own growth, and that will get you where you want to go.” Dean Vakharia. Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode's Transcript.Similar Episodes: College ExperiencesCalls-to-action:Follow us on Instagram.To Ask the Guest a question, or to comment on this episode, email podcast@almamatters.io.Subscribe or Follow our podcasts at any of these locations: Apple Podcasts, Spotify.

This is the 400th episode of Historically Thinking. And while it's a podcast that focuses on history, and how historians and everyone else think about the past, I do that each week through conversation. For a long time I have really wanted to believe something that Plato wrote, that “Truth, as human reality, comes about only in conversation.”  So it's fitting, I think, that we devote Episode 400 to having a conversation about conversation with Paula Marantz Cohen, author of Talking Cure: An Essay on the Civilizing Power of Conversation. In this stimulating book, Cohen travels over all the terrains of conversation, from familial conversations to the restaurants most conducive to good conversation; from gatherings of great conversationalists to surprisingly useful self-help books on conversations;  and to gossip, and those little keys that somehow unlock what Samuel Johnson termed “solid conversation”.  Paula Marantz Cohen is Dean Emerita of the Pennoni Honors College and Distinguished Professor of English at Drexel University. Among her books are Of Human Kindness: What Shakespeare Teaches Us About Empathy and six novels, including Jane Austen in Boca, which is “Pride and Prejudice set in a Jewish retirement community in Boca Raton”; the literary mystery What Alice Knew: A Most Curious Tale of Henry James and Jack the Ripper; and Beatrice Bunson's Guide to Romeo and Juliet, a novel for young adults.

Frank starts the third hour talking about animal species being relocated to save their populations. He then talks with Dr. Paula Marantz Cohen, Distinguished Professor of English and Dean of the Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University and the author of the book, The Talking Cure: An Essay on the Civilizing Power of Conversation. Frank also gives the Conspiracy of the Day on Trump furthering the claim that Kamala Harris has been wearing earpieces disguised as earrings.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Frank starts the show joined by WABC host Dominic Carter to discuss Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's concussions and the future of his NFL career. Frank moves on to talk with Judge Andrew Napolitano, a former NJ Superior Court Judge and former Fox News Senior Judicial analyst. They talk about Trump's trial, FISA, college protests and much more. Frank discusses the wrath of a bag of Cheetos, talks with his two-year-old son Carmine and listens to new music sent in by listeners at the start of the hour. He moves on to talk with Vinny Parco¸ a veteran private investigator and author of the book, From the Detective's Kitchen: Stories & Recipes from a Real Private Eye. They discuss crime, his time in prison, being a private eye, cooking and more. Frank then gives the UFO Report on natural events wiping out ancient civilizations. Frank starts the third hour talking about animal species being relocated to save their populations. He then talks with Dr. Paula Marantz Cohen, Distinguished Professor of English and Dean of the Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University and the author of the book, The Talking Cure: An Essay on the Civilizing Power of Conversation. Frank also gives the Conspiracy of the Day on Trump furthering the claim that Kamala Harris has been wearing earpieces disguised as earrings. Frank wraps up the show opening up listener mail. He is also joined by Noam Laden for News You Can Use. He also talks about how politicians and the media are responding to the latest assassination attempt on Trump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Paula Marantz Cohen, Distinguished Professor of English and Dean of the Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University and the author of the book, “The Talking Cure: An Essay on the civilizing power of conversation” Topic: the key to a good conversation Bio: https://drexel.edu/coas/faculty-research/faculty-directory/english-philosophy/Cohen-Paula-Marantz/ Book: https://www.amazon.com/Talking-Cure-Essay-Civilizing-Conversation-ebook/dp/B0BFGBWVLZ?ref_=ast_author_dp&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Znv6bNrspDsMbodXIS7BTN-IlxcvJuBYiuXp87QWsI9-2Vr127ux-hj4EA-mtkVvqHuHM08Q3PElVVqb_FPzvotyZjGLW5eNrXB93CdI78e2xWx6L1_1P5f3jGXLnpBTQkDs9sq9SR0gEdIFNXty6g8JpWNPUAAll-mAXShxFyBJ0Vp2M9wb9mFKgGiWk_C9B9afBHO7vR02TI0yUq4PXw.DMDxcSAWyDRP5zO3sd5UKGZkqMOXYtJ4s4-yvjlZiEY&dib_tag=AUTHOR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe to Receive Venkat's Weekly Newsletter In High School, Emily was a theater kid. She was into music. She was in a number of clubs ranging from National Honor Society to Science Olympiad. Her favorite subjects were STEM courses, but she was really confused about what major to pursue in college. But Emily was clear that she wanted to do UG Research, from Day One in college! Emily  joins our podcast to share her undergraduate college journey at the Honors College at Drexel University, Infant Heart Research, Co-Op, Choosing Biomed engineering Major, and Advice for High Schoolers. Check Out: The College Application Workbooks for Juniors and Seniors In particular, we discuss the following with her:  Drexel Honors College Experience Infant Heart Research Biomed Engineering Major Advice to High Schoolers Topics discussed in this episode: Introduction to Emily Woodland, Drexel U [] Hi Fives - Podcast Highlights [] Overall Drexel & Honors College Experience [] Why Drexel? [] High School Interests [] Transition to College [] Academics [] The Honors Program [] Infant Heart Research [] Majoring in Biomedical Engineering [] Co-Op Experience [] Advice for High Schoolers [] Memories [] Our Guests: Emily Woodland is studying Biomedical Engineering at Pennoni Honors College, Drexel University in Philadelphia. Memorable Quote: “So I think happiness is a large part of success. Because if you're motivated, and you're excited to wake up every day and study what you're studying, you're going to do great things.” Emily Woodland. Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode's Transcript. Similar Episodes: College Experiences  Calls-to-action: Follow us on Instagram. To Ask the Guest a question, or to comment on this episode, email podcast@almamatters.io. Subscribe or Follow our podcasts at any of these locations: Apple Podcasts, Spotify.

563. Cordelia Frances Biddle visits with us this week. She has written a biography of Saint Katharine Drexel, the founder of Xavier University founded by Saint Katharine Drexel. Saint Katharine: The Life of Katharine Drexel. "Katharine Drexel devoted her life to social justice, creating schools for those whom racism marginalized and persecuted. Born in 1858, she died in 1955; her life reflects the nation's history: the tumultuous years leading to the Civil War, Lincoln's assassination, Reconstruction, Jim Crow, the movement for Women's Suffrage, and the Equal Rights Movement.” “Cordelia teaches creative writing at Drexel University's Pennoni Honors College. She won the Honors College Teaching Excellence Prize in 2012, and The Adjunct Faculty Award in 2021.” This week in Louisiana history. March 2, 1805. Louisiana becomes "organized" territory, upper part becomes District of Louisiana with capital at St. Louis by act of Congress This week in New Orleans history. March 1, 1967, New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison arrested Clay Shaw on the charge of conspiracy to assassinate President John F. Kennedy. Precisely two years later, on March 1, 1969, Shaw was acquitted by the jury in less than an hour of deliberation. This week in Louisiana.Here's the Beef Cook-Off.The annual Here's the Beef Cook-Off in Opelousas is the best place to sample brisket, roast, gravies, and stews. There's also live music and a trail ride.March 2, 20248:00 AM - 12:00 AMYambilee Building1939 West Landry Street Opelousas, LA 70570 United States Postcards from Louisiana. John Joyce at dba.

A good conversation can bring many benefits. Paula Marantz Cohen, dean and distinguished professor of English at Drexel University, tells us why. Paula Marantz Cohen is Dean of the Pennoni Honors College and Distinguished Professor of English at Drexel University. She is the author six novels and six non-fiction books, including, most recently, Talking Cure: […]

Subscribe to Receive Venkat's Weekly Newsletter The Honors Programs at Drexel U started in 1991, and became the Pennoni Honors College in 2002. 10 years ago, Prof Cohen became the Dean of the Pennoni Honors College. Dr. Cohen is a Distinguished English Professor, a writer, a novelist.  On this Podcast, Dean Cohen introduces the Pennoni Honors College, Honors Programs, Experiential Programs including the Co-Op, Scholarships & Grants, How to Apply, and Career Opportunities. In particular, we discuss the following with him:  Dean Paula Marantz Cohen's Background Pennoni Honors College Student Requirements Career Opportunities Topics discussed in this episode: Introducing Dean Cohen, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel U [] Hi Fives - Podcast Highlights [] Background [] Honors College Origins and Highlights [] Honors Courses Flavor [] Faculty [] Popular Courses [] Experiential Programs [] Grants for Research [] Students doing UGR [] Balancing Experiential Programs [] Thesis [] Honors College Benefits [] HC Applicants [] HC Student Body Profile [] Test Optional [] Career Opportunities [] Advice for High Schoolers [] Closing Thoughts [] Our Guest: Dr. Paula Marantz Cohen is the Dean of the Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Dean Cohen is a Distinguished English Professor, writer and novelist. Memorable Quote: “But overall, I would say our students are used to being leaders of one sort or another. They're not afraid to voice their opinions. But they're also, I would say, very respectful.” Dean Cohen.  Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode's Transcript. Similar Episodes: College Experiences Calls-to-action: Follow us on Instagram. To Ask the Guest a question, or to comment on this episode, email podcast@almamatters.io. Subscribe or Follow our podcasts at any of these locations: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify.

In 2007, the world of fine cuisine forever changed its menu when Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Pictures brought to life the animated feature "Ratatouille." The film follows the journey of rat protagonist Remy, who leaves the conventions of his family and hometown to satiate a “faim” for fine French cuisine. As Host Dr. Melinda Lewis discovers in conversation with Drexel alumnus and "Ratatouille" superfan Clayton Fosterweber, the animated classic speaks to all ages and has spawned a variety of fan theories, including Fosterweber's own interpretations around collectivism, queer identity, and a search to find meaning and companionship in the melting pot that is Paris. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded February 10, 2023 through virtual conferencing (Philadelphia, PA, USA). Featured Guest: Clayton Fosterweber (Alumnus, Drexel University; Former STAR Scholar, Office of Undergraduate Research & Enrichment Programs) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Director of Strategy, Pennoni Honors College) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Production Assistance: Noah Levine Social Media Outreach: Olivier Jacques Graphic Design: Felicia Wolfer Logo Design: Michal Anderson Additional Voiceover: Malia Lewis The views expressed in this podcast are not necessarily those of Drexel University or Pennoni Honors College. Copyright © 2023 Drexel University

Do you have the gift of gab? Well, whether you love small talk or you don't, we could all benefit from learning how to have better and more engaging conversations. Reset has a conversation about having conversations and how to navigate tough discussions with Paula Marantz Cohen, author of Talking Cure: An Essay on the Civilizing Power of Conversation; dean of the Pennoni Honors College and professor of English at Drexel University, Stephanie Boron, assistant clinical professor at Northwestern University and Danielle Portis, licensed clinical professional counselor at Rose Gold Crowns

Subscribe to Receive Venkat's Weekly Newsletter Sky was a very active student in high school - inside and outside the classroom. He was into sciences, writing and Science research projects. Research took him to the International Science Fairs starting in the sophomore year. Sky was also very involved in the Student Government. He was the President of the Student Body in his senior year. Sky joins our podcast to share his undergraduate college journey at Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University, Passion for Research, Winning the Goldwater Scholarship, The Truman Scholarship, Majoring in Chemistry, and Advice for High Schoolers. In particular, we discuss the following with him:  Drexel & Honors College Experience UG Research The Goldwater Scholarship, Truman and Udall Scholarships Advice to High Schoolers Topics discussed in this episode: Introduction to Sky Harper, Drexel [] Hi Fives - Podcast Highlights [] Overall Drexel & Honors College Experience [] Why Drexel Honors College? [] High School Interests [] Transition to College [] UG Research [] Goldwater Scholarship Application [] The Goldwater Difference [] Getting the Truman Scholarship [] The Importance of Scholarships [] Why Chemistry Major? [] Impact of UG Research [] Advice for High Schoolers [] Memories [] Our Guests: Sky Harper is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry at Drexel University and Pennoni Honors College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Memorable Quote: “My favorite thing to do on campus is just kind of hang around at the Honors College with my friends. And at the same time, every now and then some of the Honors College faculty will come out of their offices and just kind of start having casual conversations with us.” Sky Harper. Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode's Transcript. Similar Episodes: College Experiences , UG Research Calls-to-action: Follow us on Instagram. To Ask the Guest a question, or to comment on this episode, email podcast@almamatters.io. Subscribe or Follow our podcasts at any of these locations: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify.

Conversation and communication with others is a natural human urge, as well as a skill that can be developed and honed like any other. The power of conversation has been long known in society, and still, there are regular efforts to preserve and maintain the spaces and opportunities for genuine conversation in today's world of screens and distractions.Paula Marantz Cohen is the Dean of the Pennoni Honors College and a Distinguished Professor of English at Drexel University. She is also the author of several books. Her latest, which is titled Talking Cure: An Essay on the Civilizing Power of Conversation, is all about the art of good conversation and examining how it connects us all. Paula and Greg discuss the connection with Sigmund Freud and her own book's title, as well as the connections and differences between conversation and therapy. Paula sheds some light on good practices in conversation and how to carry on civilly on issues that parties disagree with or are controversial. Greg and Paula discuss dinner parties and the false idea that all professors were constantly having them. They discuss the differences between French and American culture and also the idea that there must be a conventional hero and villain in circumstances that may be more nuanced than that.*unSILOed Podcast is produced by University FM.*Episode Quotes:Are we professionalizing conversation by hiring people to have conversations with us?35:15: We're outsourcing conversation to our therapist. Yeah, that's a sad thing to think of because it also reflects the isolation of the individual. We're alone in ultimately anyway. And this seems to reinforce it further and make it less and less necessary to reach out to other people if we have that weekly appointment with the therapist whom we pay to listen to us and not agree with us but make us the center of focus. So that reinforces the fact that we don't really need anybody else to help us.Conversation is about the exercise of the mind47:34: I think we could sell conversation if we said it was about exercise for the mind, but then we might defeat the purpose.On forging bonds with people through conversation35:15: Finding points of divergence is a lot of fun. As long as goodwill is involved, as soon as there's animus involved, it's not fun anymore, and as soon as it becomes a matter of winning or losing, which is detrimental to conversation, I know people who can only converse or only discuss things they disagree with if they can win. And I didn't realize until recently that I just don't want to do that anymore.Why is dynamic so inherent in our nature?28:59: Many young people are trying desperately to get out of that dynamic of othering because they find it not virtuous. On the other hand, for the sake of intimacy, there has to be a little bit of that we versus they.Show Links:Recommended Resources:The Talking Cure by Sigmund FreudDale CarnegieThe Teagle FoundationSt. Johns Mathematics MethodGuest Profile:Faculty Profile at Drexel UniversityProfessional Profile on Macmillan PublishersPaula Marantz Cohen's WebsitePaula Marantz Cohen on LinkedInHer Work:Talking Cure: An Essay on the Civilizing Power of ConversationOf Human Kindness: What Shakespeare Teaches Us About EmpathAlfred Hitchcock: The Legacy of VictorianismBeatrice Bunson's Guide to Romeo and Juliet: a novelSuzanne Davis Gets a LifeGetting Dressed: Confession, Criticism, Cultural HistoryWhat Alice Knew: A Most Curious Tale of Henry James and Jack the Ripper Jane Austen in Scarsdale: Or Love, Death, and the SATsJane Austen in Boca: A NovelSilent Film and the Triumph of the American MythBlogs for The American Scholar

There's more than meets the eye, when it comes to the representation of robots in popular culture. In TV and movies like "The Terminator," robots have a way of appearing much more advanced and seamless than engineers actually experience behind the scenes. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis joins U.S. Naval Research Laboratory mechanical engineer and Drexel University alumnus Matt Wiese to define what we mean by robots, cyborgs, and androids and to rethink how the media portrays technological advances of this type. Wiese also discusses how his work on Drexel's comedy improv team applies to collaborative work in the robotics field. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded February 9, 2023 through virtual conferencing (Philadelphia, PA, USA). Featured Guest: Matt Wiese (Alumnus, Drexel University; Mechanical Engineer, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Director of Strategy, Pennoni Honors College) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Production Assistance: Noah Levine Social Media Outreach: Olivier Jacques Graphic Design: Zale Heller Logo Design: Michal Anderson Additional Voiceover: Malia Lewis The views expressed in this podcast are not necessarily those of Drexel University or Pennoni Honors College. Copyright © 2023 Drexel University

"The Real Housewives" is a television franchise of voluminous proportions. With over 10 American-produced series since 2006 (each with multiple seasons and based in varied locations), a conglomerate of spin-offs, and numerous international series to boot, the Bravo network continues to attract the attention of audiences the world over. With characters, locations, and on- and off-screen drama aplenty, the franchise is both soap-opera-reality-show and cultural institution. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis joins longtime "Housewives" fan and Drexel University Director of International Admissions Christie Ruggieri to take a deep dive into "The Real Housewives" universe, where the show's stars exhibit transgressive behavior and demonstrate how anything is possible on modern television. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded January 18, 2023 through virtual conferencing (Philadelphia, PA, USA). Featured Guest: Christie Ruggieri (Director, International Admissions; Alumna, Drexel University) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Production Assistance: Noah Levine Social Media Outreach: Jaelynn Vesey Graphic Design: Zale Heller Logo Design: Michal Anderson Additional Voiceover: Malia Lewis The views expressed in this podcast are not necessarily those of Drexel University or Pennoni Honors College. Copyright © 2023 Drexel University

For over two centuries, the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University has been at the forefront of scientific research in the Philadelphia metropolitan region and across the globe. Now, more than ever, the institution's vast collections, research initiatives, and community-based projects are forging pathways to scientific understanding about the world's natural environment and its inhabitants. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis joins two esteemed science experts from the Academy: Dr. Rick McCourt (Curator of Botany and Director of the Center for Systematic Biology and Evolution; Drexel University Professor of Biodiversity, Earth and Environmental Science) and Roland Wall (Senior Director of Environmental Initiatives for the Patrick Center for Environmental Research). This in-depth conversation addresses the impact of climate change, the accessibility of science writing in popular culture, and the greater movement for environmental justice and access to nature for all. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded October 28, 2022 through virtual conferencing (Philadelphia, PA, USA). Featured Guests: Rick McCourt (Professor, Department of Biodiversity, Earth and Environmental Science, Drexel University; Curator of Botany and Director of the Center for Systematic Biology and Evolution, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University) and Roland Wall (Senior Director for Environmental Initiatives, Patrick Center for Environmental Research, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Production Assistance: Noah Levine Social Media Outreach: Jaelynn Vesey Graphic Design: Kat Heller Logo Design: Michal Anderson Additional Voiceover: Malia Lewis The views expressed in this podcast are not necessarily those of Drexel University or Pennoni Honors College. For more info on the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, visit https://ansp.org. Copyright © 2023 Drexel University

Esports, as a growing cultural institution, finds itself in the middle of a debate over how it qualifies in the world of professional athletics and competitive sport. With growing popularity among gamers and fans alike, esports thrives among online streamers and college-level competitors. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis faces off with Drexel University undergraduate, gamer, and Drexel Esports President Claire Toomey to understand the rapid evolution of esports and how colleges are fostering a sense of sport and community for gamers. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded October 21, 2022 through virtual conferencing (Philadelphia, PA, USA). Featured Guest: Claire Toomey (President, Drexel Esports and Undergraduate Student, Software Engineering, College of Computing & Informatics, Drexel University) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Production Assistance: Noah Levine Social Media Outreach: Jaelynn Vesey Graphic Design: Kat Heller Logo Design: Michal Anderson Additional Voiceover: Malia Lewis The views expressed in this podcast are not necessarily those of Drexel University or Pennoni Honors College. For more info on Drexel University esports, visit https://linktr.ee/drexelesports. Copyright © 2022 Drexel University

Magic has a way of (abracadabra!) appearing ubiquitously throughout popular culture. Integrated with mysticism and illusion is the core element of performance, transcending the carnival atmosphere and stage into other arenas of human life and interaction. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis talks with magician, improv comedian, Drexel University English writing professor, and overall “Man of Mystery” Dr. Fred Siegel to uncover the allure of the magic genre, its evolution, and its performative relevance to life on stage and in the classroom. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded September 29, 2022 through virtual conferencing (Philadelphia, PA, USA). Featured Guest: Fred Siegel, PhD (Teaching Professor of English and Director, First-Year Writing Program, Department of English & Philosophy, College of Arts and Sciences, Drexel University) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Production Assistance: Noah Levine Social Media Outreach: Jaelynn Vesey Graphic Design: Kat Heller Logo Design: Michal Anderson Additional Voiceover: Malia Lewis The views expressed in this podcast are not necessarily those of Drexel University or Pennoni Honors College. Visit "The Smart Set" at https://www.thesmartset.com/magic-class for a related essay by Fred Siegel. Copyright © 2022 Drexel University

This special episode highlights a previously recorded discussion in partnership with the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia. Presented as an installment of the Pennoni Panels series–and later produced as a pair of episodes for the PBS-broadcast TV series "The Civil Discourse," hosted by Drexel University Pennoni Honors College Dean Paula Marantz Cohen–“When Great Artists Behave Badly” features Tony Award-winning dancer/choreographer Bill T. Jones and a panel of esteemed experts. The panelists take on the topic of controversial artists and how society can separate the art from the artist in cases of toxic, immoral personal behavior. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded January 21, 2021 through virtual conferencing with supplemental recording on October 13, 2022 (Philadelphia, PA, USA). Featured Guests: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean and Host of The Civil Discourse); Aruna D'Souza (Author and Art Critic); Bill T. Jones (Tony Award-Winning Dancer/Choreographer); Martha Lucy, PhD (Barnes Foundation Renoir Scholar); and Erich Hatala Matthes, PhD (Author and Philosopher) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD with Melinda Lewis, PhD and Brian Kantorek Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Production Assistance: Noah Levine Social Media Outreach: Jaelynn Vesey Graphic Design: Kat Heller Logo Design: Michal Anderson Additional Voiceover: Malia Lewis The views expressed in this podcast are not necessarily those of Drexel University or Pennoni Honors College. To watch these episodes and others from "The Civil Discourse," check your local PBS listings or visit www.youtube.com/c/thecivildiscourse. Copyright © 2022 Drexel University

The image and stories of working-class people have been central to an understanding of "America" and the "American Dream.” Their stories are omnipresent in popular literature, film, television, music, and everyday life. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis takes a tour with Drexel University sociologist Dr. Amanda McMillan Lequieu to explore a deindustrialized United States of America and its hardest hit communities, where some choose to leave while others remain. Along the way, the two also explore narratives that have helped shape policy and public perception of what it means to come from a place of importance. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded May 27, 2022 through virtual conferencing (Philadelphia, PA, USA). Featured Guest: Amanda McMillan Lequieu, PhD (Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Center for Science, Technology and Society, College of Arts and Sciences, Drexel University) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Production Assistance: Noah Levine Social Media Outreach: Jaelynn Vesey Graphic Design: Bhavna Ganesan Logo Design: Michal Anderson Additional Voiceover: Malia Lewis The views expressed in this podcast are not necessarily those of Drexel University or Pennoni Honors College. To learn more about Amanda McMillan Lequieu, visit www.amandamcmillanlequieu.com. Additional historical information on Herminie, PA by Jim Miller. To learn more about this and other Pennsylvania towns, visit www.youtube.com/channel/UCbtpYJoRYw7PdJ3M7IyWvYg. Copyright © 2022 Drexel University

Fandom often gets a bad rap, with communities surrounding popular texts like "Star Trek," "Lord of the Rings," and professional wrestling framed as toxic, desperate, or some combination of both. But fan communities are also the source of vibrancy and community-building with fans who make and share art, fan fiction, fanzines, clubs/message boards, cosplay, and conventions. Participatory culture helps expand the boundaries of the text, expanding its reach and meanings. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis explores these communities with Drexel University student, artist, writer, and consummate fan Kat Heller, who discusses their own research and relationship with fandom. The conversation also dives into the depths of the HBO Max series "Our Flag Means Death," offering overt queer representation with its characters and, in turn, plenty for fans to enjoy. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded May 20, 2022 through virtual conferencing (Philadelphia, PA, USA). Featured Guest: Kat Heller (Undergraduate, Animation & Visual Effects, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, Drexel University) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Production Assistance: Noah Levine Social Media Outreach: Jaelynn Vesey Graphic Design: Bhavna Ganesan Logo Design: Michal Anderson Additional Voiceover: Malia Lewis The views expressed in this podcast are not necessarily those of Drexel University or Pennoni Honors College. Copyright © 2022 Drexel University

"Euphoria" is a highly bingeable HBO series that has made an indelible impact on pop culture of the early 2020s. It has drugs, sex, cutting-edge fashion, constant conflict, and plenty of references to past TV teen dramas like "My So-Called Life" and "Beverly Hills, 90210." It also places lead star Zendaya and writer/director Sam Levinson in the spotlight, but not without criticism. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis welcomes Drexel University student and "Euphoria" critic Kiara Santos for a debrief of the show's first two seasons, exploring the ups and downs of the cast of characters and the writing behind all the drama. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded March 11, 2022 through virtual conferencing (Philadelphia, PA, USA). Featured Guest: Kiara Santos (Undergraduate, Communication, College of Arts and Sciences, Drexel University) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Production Assistance: Noah Levine Graphic Design: Bhavna Ganesan Logo Design: Michal Anderson Additional Voiceover: Malia Lewis The views expressed in this podcast are not necessarily those of Drexel University or Pennoni Honors College. Copyright © 2022 Drexel University

Professional wrestling encapsulates so much of what's popular in the greater culture: dynamic characters; athleticism; narrative conflict; and riveting performance. For decades in the media spotlight, wrestling has maintained a stronghold on audiences with the likes of Hulk Hogan, André the Giant, Rick Flair, Dusty Rhodes, The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and The Undertaker. However, as the profession changes, so do the players with the passing of time and their own aging in the face of mortality. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis gets in the ring with Drexel University student services pro and lifelong wrestling fan Dr. Subir Sahu for a match for the ages. The tag team takes on wrestling's powerful place in pop culture with a special focus on The Undertaker's trajectory from Mean Mark Callous to a masterful icon of the sport. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded January 21, 2022 through virtual conferencing (Philadelphia, PA, USA). Featured Guest: Subir Sahu, PhD (Senior Vice President for Student Success, Enrollment Management & Student Success, Drexel University) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Production Assistance: Noah Levine Graphic Design: Camille Velasquez Logo Design: Michal Anderson Additional Voiceover: Malia Lewis The views expressed in this podcast are not necessarily those of Drexel University or Pennoni Honors College. Copyright © 2022 Drexel University

Beauty pageants have a prominent history in American culture, where they evolved from baby contests at state fairs to full-blown Miss America extravaganzas for millions of viewers to enjoy. With its evolution, pageantry in all its splendor has found a home in popular culture and inspired TV shows like "The Bachelor" and "Toddlers & Tiaras," movies like "Miss Congeniality" and "Drop Dead Gorgeous," and also the way social media influencers comport themselves. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis examines the history, trends, and cultural impact of beauty pageants with Dr. Hilary Levey Friedman, a Brown University sociology professor, the author of "Here She Is: The Complicated Reign of the Beauty Pageant in America," and the daughter of a former Miss America winner. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded October 22, 2021 through virtual conferencing (Philadelphia, PA, USA). Featured Guest: Hilary Levey Friedman, PhD (Sociologist, Brown University Professor, and Author of "Here She Is: The Complicated Reign of the Beauty Pageant in America") Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Production Assistance: Noah Levine Graphic Design: Camille Velasquez Logo Design: Michal Anderson Additional Voiceover: Malia Lewis The views expressed in this podcast are not necessarily those of Drexel University or Pennoni Honors College. Copyright © 2022 Drexel University To learn more about Hilary Levey Friedman, visit www.hilaryleveyfriedman.com.

The popularity of true crime indicates a fascination with crime. Whether that interest is rooted in the perpetrators, the horror of the crimes themselves, or the pleasure in detective work, audiences continually gravitate toward narratives like "The Staircase" and "Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer" or podcasts like "My Favorite Murder" and "Criminal." True crime has become a lifestyle, where enthusiasts even attend conventions like CrimeCon. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis examines the truth behind true crime in conversation with criminologist and serial killer expert Anthony Meoli, who has spent years corresponding with those behind bars. From Michael Alig to Gary Whiteside (and Charles Manson and Ted Kaczynski in between), Meoli has built relationships with some of the more notorious people of true crime lore and provides insight to the complexities and nuance of crime and criminality. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded March 1, 2021 through virtual conferencing (Philadelphia, PA, USA). Featured Guest: Anthony Meoli (Criminologist and Serial Killer Expert) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Production Assistance: Noah Levine Graphic Design: Camille Velasquez Logo Design: Michal Anderson Additional Voiceover: Malia Lewis Copyright © 2021 Drexel University To learn more about Anthony Meoli, visit www.anthonymeoli.net.

Philadelphia's punk rock legacy, much like Rocky Balboa, is one embodying a fight to the finish and unsung achievements. Such is the story of author, educator, and lifelong rabble-rouser Nancy Barile, whose autobiography, "I'm Not Holding Your Coat: My Bruises-and-All Memoir of Punk Rock Rebellion," revisits her beloved Philly and a revolutionary period in music culture. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis stage-dives into conversation with Barile for a return to the author's old stomping grounds and the punk rock lifestyle that made her who she is today as a high school English teacher and hardcore punk historian. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded October 5, 2021 through virtual conferencing (Philadelphia, PA, USA). Featured Guest: Nancy Barile (Author, "I'm Not Holding Your Coat: My Bruises-and-All Memoir of Punk Rock Rebellion") Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Production Assistance: Noah Levine Graphic Design: Camille Velasquez Original Photography: Bruce Rhodes and Allison Schnackenberg (courtesy of Bazillion Points) Logo Design: Michal Anderson Additional Voiceover: Malia Lewis Copyright © 2021 Drexel University To learn more about Nancy Barile, visit Bazillion Points at www.bazillionpoints.com.

Dr. Melinda Lewis is a pop culture aficionado, participating in it from a young age, studying it, and now, in her podcast, “Pop, the Question” from Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University, talking with folks who are pop culture makers and lovers like herself. In this Artblog Radio podcast Roberta talks with Melinda about what makes pop culture and why it is so fascinating to study and talk about.

What is the meaning of life? It's a question that many (including Monty Python) have asked themselves through the annals of history and, most recently, during a global pandemic. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis evokes a discussion on the topic with Drexel University adjunct professor of philosophy Dr. Josh Peskin, exploring representations in popular film, the power of mindfulness, and the allure of woodworking that has helped Peskin design his life and make sense of the world around us. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded June 29, 2021 through virtual conferencing (Philadelphia, PA, USA). Featured Guest: Josh Peskin, PhD (Adjunct Professor, Pennoni Honors College) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Production Assistance: Noah Levine Graphic Design: Camille Velasquez Logo Design: Michal Anderson Additional Voiceover: Malia Lewis Copyright © 2021 Drexel University

Remember when you were 14 and there was that one album that changed the way you see and hear the world? Taking its lead from The Adolescentia Project, a digital archive that honors the music of our past, this special episode delves deep into the 14 year-old selves of three Drexel University faculty members to understand how The Police, Carpenters, and Dead Milkmen impacted these listeners' lives and outlooks. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis leads the listening party with Drs. Denise Agosto, Jonson Miller, and Sheila Sandapen to reminisce about formative records (along with a few bonus tracks).   "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded January 31, 2021 through virtual conferencing in collaboration with The Adolescentia Project and Enrollment Management & Student Success (EMSS) (Philadelphia, PA, USA). Featured Guests: Denise Agosto, PhD (Professor and Director of the MS in Information Program, Information Science, College of Computing & Informatics, Drexel University); Jonson Miller, PhD (Teaching Professor of History, Department of History, College of Arts and Sciences); and Sheila Sandapen, PhD (Associate Teaching Professor and Director of Programs in English, Department of English and Philosophy, College of Arts and Sciences) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Production Assistance: Noah Levine Graphic Design: Alex Hotchkiss Logo Design: Michal Anderson Additional Voiceover: Malia Lewis To learn more about The Adolescentia Project, visit https://adolescentiaproject.com/. Copyright © 2021 Drexel University

In conversation with Wendy Moffat, Professor of English and Curley Chair of Global Education at Dickinson College and author of the prize-winning biography, A Great Unrecorded History: A New Life of E.M. Forster A professor in the Pennoni Honors College of Drexel University, William di Canzio has also taught writing and literature at Yale University, Smith College, and Haverford College. His plays Dooley and Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier have been staged in New York City, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles, among many other places. He has been honored with the Julie Harris Playwright Award, a Brown Foundation Award, and residencies and fellowships from the MacDowell, the Eugene O'Neill Theater's National Playwrights Conference, and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Alec, his debut novel, continues the story at the end of Maurice, E.M. Forster's tale of a gay romance. Books with signed book plates are available from the Joseph Fox Bookshop (recorded 7/15/2021)

The COVID-19 pandemic turned the fashion world on its head, prompting independent designers to step up as larger, more established brands had to either pivot their business model or fold. Prudent designers followed the call to design comfy clothes like sweats, supportive footwear like Crocs, masks for both function and fashion, and creative collaborations with independent designers and craftspeople representing diverse clientele and wide-ranging needs. Drexel fashion design major Lindsay Alshouse and fashion design graduate Gabrielle Bak join Host Dr. Melinda Lewis for a big reveal of fashion trends from the pandemic, as well as industry shifts and their impact on popular culture. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded April 10, 2021 through virtual conferencing in collaboration with Enrollment Management & Student Success (EMSS) (Philadelphia, PA, USA). Featured Guests: Lindsay Alshouse (Undergraduate Student, Fashion Design, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, Drexel University) and Gabrielle Bak (Alumna, Fashion Design) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Production Assistance: Noah Levine Graphic Design: Emily Anderson and Alex Hotchkiss Additional Voiceover: Malia Lewis Copyright © 2021 Drexel University

Part of the allure of science fiction, fantasy, and dystopian fiction, whether in print or on screen, is the ability to conjure up possible worlds and concepts that don't yet exist in reality. Novelists have done this for centuries, inspiring television and film adaptations to give rise to scientifically-based visions of what lies ahead. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis explores this genre of popular media with Drexel University product design professor, lifelong sci-fi and fantasy fiction enthusiast, and self-proclaimed "Doomsday optimist" Raja Schaar, unearthing the power of imagined stories to help make sense of (and potentially heal) a fractured society. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded November 9, 2020 through virtual conferencing (Philadelphia, PA, USA). Featured Guest: Raja Schaar (Assistant Professor and Program Director, Product Design, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, Drexel University) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Production Assistance: Noah Levine Graphic Design: Emily Anderson and Alex Hotchkiss Additional Voiceover: Malia Lewis Copyright © 2021 Drexel University

As unpopular as it may seem, poop is omnipresent. We all do it, we all think about it, and we all have established practices and product preferences. Companies make big bucks from human bowel movements, while social infrastructure determines how we “go” about our daily lives. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis lets loose alongside self-proclaimed poop advocates and Drexel University undergraduate students Alaina and Jake to tackle this typically taboo topic with humor and pragmatism. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded September 17, 2020 through virtual conferencing (Philadelphia, PA, USA). Featured Guest: Alaina and Jake (Undergraduate Students, Drexel University) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Production Assistance: Noah Levine Graphic Design: Emily Anderson and Nina Pagano Additional Voiceover: Malia Lewis Copyright © 2021 Drexel University

Everybody loves a good musical! They’re full of life, movement, poetry, social commentary, and, of course, plenty of song. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis joins the chorus line with Drexel University Associate Teaching Professor Gail D. Rosen, a life-long devotee of musicals, to discuss the best (and worst) in stage production and screen adaptation, as well as the power, memory, and future of the great musical. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded September 30, 2020 through virtual conferencing (Philadelphia, PA, USA). Featured Guest: Gail D. Rosen, JD (Associate Teaching Professor, Department of English & Philosophy, College of Arts and Sciences, Drexel University) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Production Assistance: Noah Levine Graphic Design: Emily Anderson and Nina Pagano Additional Voiceover: Malia Lewis Copyright © 2021 Drexel University

Binging TV, movies, and social media during a pandemic is one way to cope with the daily uncertainty and inordinate amount of time spent at home. Fresh content abounds, giving viewers plenty of excuses to procrastinate from ongoing duties and the reality of the world outside. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis invites a cast of colleagues to chat about current TV series, horror flicks, and even some throwbacks that have been occupying their minds and capturing their hearts. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded September 16, 2020 through virtual conferencing as part of two sessions for Pennoni Honors College Honors Student Orientation (Philadelphia, PA, USA). Featured Guests: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel University); Jaya Mohan (Director, Undergraduate Research & Enrichment Programs; Martha Meiers (Program Manager, Undergraduate Research & Enrichment Programs); and Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Production Assistance: Noah Levine Graphic Design: Emily Anderson and Nina Pagano Additional Voiceover: Malia Lewis Copyright © 2021 Drexel University

Zombies emerge as one of popular culture’s great symbols of anxiety, unrest, and crisis in the face of public health. More than ever, in a pandemic, zombie films conjure up the power of human instinct, strength, logic, and empathy. For this special episode, Host Dr. Melinda Lewis welcomes returning guest Dr. Kevin Egan to lead a team of outstanding Drexel University faculty through a discussion on what it takes to survive a zombie apocalypse and whose expertise will best equip them to lead the cause. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded October 20, 2020 through virtual conferencing in collaboration with Enrollment Management & Student Success (EMSS) (Philadelphia, PA, USA). Featured Guests: Kevin Egan, PhD (Director, Academic Programs, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel University); Dimitrios Papadopoulos, EdD (Assistant Teaching Professor, Mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences, Drexel University); Josh Peskin, PhD (Adjunct Professor, Pennoni Honors College); Raja Schaar (Program Director and Assistant Professor, Product Design, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design); and Steven Weber, PhD (Department Head and Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Kevin Egan, PhD and Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Production Assistance: Noah Levine Graphic Design: Emily Anderson and Nina Pagano Additional Voiceover: Malia Lewis Copyright © 2020 Drexel University

Punk rock roots run decades deep in underground and mainstream culture. The music and aesthetics exist in opposition to convention and in reaction to the sociopolitical climate of the times. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis riffs with Drexel University political scientist Dr. Kevin Egan and historian Dr. Scott Gabriel Knowles about punk in popular culture, the indelible music it has created, and the future of the genre. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded October 9, 2020 through virtual conferencing (Philadelphia, PA, USA). Featured Guests: Kevin Egan, PhD (Director, Academic Programs, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel University) and Scott Gabriel Knowles, PhD (Department Head and Professor, Department of History, College of Arts and Sciences) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Production Assistance: Noah Levine Graphic Design: Emily Anderson and Nina Pagano Additional Voiceover: Malia Lewis Copyright © 2020 Drexel University

At the intersection of material culture and critical theory is an ever-changing music industry. Just as popular media formats have evolved over the last century, so have marketing strategies and power dynamics to get those media into the hands of audiences around the world. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis spins tales and unpacks theory with Dr. Joe Steinhardt, Drexel University Music Industry Program Assistant Teaching Professor, avid collector of both obscure and popular music and movies, and co-founder/owner of Don Giovanni Records. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded July 29, 2020 through virtual conferencing (Philadelphia, PA, USA). Featured Guest: Joe Steinhardt, PhD (Assistant Teaching Professor, Music Industry Program, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, Drexel University) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Production Assistance: Noah Levine Graphic Design: Emily Anderson and Eric Lauterbach Additional Voiceover: Malia Lewis Copyright © 2020 Drexel University To learn more about Joe Steinhart’s material collections, visit www.instagram.com/joesteinhardt.

Today we will talk about the challenges of teaching and learning about COVID-19 in higher education with Audrey Truschke (trushkey), Theresa MacPhail, and Maddy Larkin.Maddy Larkin is a junior Custom Design Major student at Drexel University. For her major, she combines studies of biology, psychology, criminology, and public health to study Humanistic Health. She is also a theatre minor and is involved in the Pennoni Honors College as a member and student mentor. Theresa MacPhail is a medical anthropologist at Stevens Institute of Technology and the author of The Viral Network: A Pathography of the H1N1 Influenza Pandemic (Cornell UP). Her research centers on the social, cultural, and political aspects of global health, infectious disease, and medicine. Her next book examines the global rise of allergies and will be published by Random House in 2022.Audrey Truschke is Associate Professor of South Asian History at Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey. She is a premodern South Asianist by training, and is the author of two books on aspects of the Mughal Empire in India. She also publishes on historical memory and the politics of the past in the present. Because the pandemic has remade her world and she cannot get it off her mind, she is teaching a course at Rutgers-Newark in fall 2020 called Archiving COVID-19.

Celebrating a 25th episode special, "Pop, the Question" turns the tables on Host Dr. Melinda Lewis to play a little game of celebrity Love and Hate Island. Pop culture expert, Drexel University colleague, and longtime friend Dr. Katie Barak quizzes Dr. Lewis about the worthiness of various celebrities and cultural icons. Some earn an appointment to Love Island and others get dumped on Hate Island, but the game reveals a treasure chest full of pop culture nuggets. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded May 1, 2020 through virtual conferencing, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Featured Guest: Katie Barak, PhD (Associate Director, Academic Programs, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel University) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Production Assistance: Noah Levine Graphic Design: Emily Anderson and Eric Lauterbach Additional Voiceover: Malia Lewis Copyright © 2020 Drexel University

Fashion always remains ahead of the curve and the vintage economy is no exception. Thrift stores and vintage specialty retailers offer an opportunity for consumers to find affordable glamour, to buy back their memories, and to even contribute to a global economy of product upcycling. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis sifts through the racks with fashion and thrifting expert Jen Ayres to unearth the allure of a subculture. A scholar, former vintage retailer, and longtime thrift store ethnographer, Ayres digs deep to uncover the power of memory and narrative hanging around at the local thrift store. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded January 14, 2020 in 3034 MacAlister Hall, Marketing & Media, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Featured Guest: Jen Ayres (Visiting Fellow, The Symposium, Custom Designed Major, Academic Programs, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel University) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Production Assistance: Noah Levine Graphic Design: Emily Anderson Additional Voiceover: Malia Lewis Copyright © 2020 Drexel University

Young adult (YA) and children’s literature has defined contemporary pop culture. While Robert Cormier and Judy Blume set the stage in the 1970s for exploring adolescence, recent decades have ushered in a growing depth and diversity in the youth stories we read and write. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis curls up with a good conversation alongside Drexel University English professor and YA literature expert Dr. Deirdre McMahon to outline the evolution and cultural impact of YA and children’s literature on other media, including film and graphic novel adaptations. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded October 22, 2019 in 3034 MacAlister Hall, Marketing & Media, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Featured Guest: Deirdre McMahon, PhD (Teaching Professor of English, Department of English and Philosophy, College of Arts and Sciences, Drexel University) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Production Assistance: Noah Levine Graphic Design: Emily Anderson and Kathy Vy Chung Additional Voiceover: Malia Lewis Copyright © 2020 Drexel University

Ultrarunning is an introspective sport and way of life for those who commit to the long haul. It conjures up the unrelenting pace of running-themed movies and inspirational music, but also encourages contemplation of human joy and suffering. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis runs through the topic with ultrarunner and Drexel University information science professor Dr. Tim Gorichanaz to discuss the myriad ways in which extreme running defines a person’s character, literary choices, and even playlists. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded October 2, 2019 in 3034 MacAlister Hall, Marketing & Media, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Featured Guest: Tim Gorichanaz, PhD (Assistant Teaching Professor, Information Science, College of Computing & Informatics, Drexel University) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Production Assistance: Noah Levine Graphic Design: Emily Anderson and Barbara Chernyavsky Additional Voiceover: Malia Lewis Copyright © 2020 Drexel University

Tedium isn’t such a bad thing, when you work for the stars. Such is the case for artist Grace Kim, whose fastidious craftwork has taken her all over the world to perfect what she was born to do as a precision tailor. Kim has worked with the likes of Rihanna, John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Lucy Liu, Mahershala Ali, and sew on and sew forth. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis talks with Grace Kim to knit together stories of the artist's formative years with the fast-paced, demanding nature of a professional career behind the scenes of popular culture. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded July 25, 2019 and January 15, 2020 in 3034 MacAlister Hall, Marketing & Media, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Featured Guest: Grace Kim (Artist and Professional Tailor) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Production Assistance: Noah Levine Graphic Design: Emily Anderson and Barbara Chernyavsky Additional Voiceover: Malia Lewis Copyright © 2020 Drexel University

Comfort television is nostalgia, kinship, family, convenience, escapism, and so much more. It includes favorites from the past, the syndicated usual suspects of "Law & Order" and "Star Trek" franchises, classic sitcoms, reality television, and other contemporary streaming hits. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis tunes in with former Drexel University colleague and TV enthusiast Ana Castillo-Nye to binge all their favorites, and to make sense of this universal creature comfort. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded June 13, 2019 in 3034 MacAlister Hall, Marketing & Media, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Featured Guest: Ana Castillo-Nye (Former Associate Director, Center for Interdisciplinary Inquiry, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel University) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Production Assistance: Noah Levine Graphic Design: Emily Anderson and Kathy Vy Chung Additional Voiceover: Malia Lewis Copyright © 2019 Drexel University

The field of computer science was once a playground for aspiring basement developers and classified government initiatives. Now, with the omnipresence of computer technology, video games, and a big push from Hollywood in recent decades, computer science permeates the greater economy, cultural landscape, and mostly everything humans do. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis connects with Dr. Bill Mongan, assistant professor of computer science at Drexel University, to discuss representations of the field in popular media, as well as efforts to make it all more accessible and inclusive. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded June 6, 2019 in 3034 MacAlister Hall, Marketing & Media, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Featured Guest: Bill Mongan, PhD (Assistant Professor and Associate Department Head of Undergraduate Affairs, Computer Science, College of Computing and Informatics, Drexel University) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Production Assistance: Noah Levine Graphic Design: Emily Anderson and Kathy Vy Chung Additional Voiceover: Malia Lewis Copyright © 2019 Drexel University

Game shows are a decades-long American television tradition, and "Wheel of Fortune" has one of the strongest legacies. Take a spin with Zaarah Abdul-Aziz, a Drexel University undergraduate who was a contestant and prize winner on "Wheel of Fortune" (engaging in plenty of wordplay with Pat Sajak and Vanna White). Host Dr. Melinda Lewis quizzes Abdul-Aziz about her TV game show experiences, as well as the obsession that took the pre-med student from her living room to the set of "Wheel of Fortune." "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded July 23, 2019 in 3034 MacAlister Hall, Marketing & Media, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Featured Guest: Zaarah Abdul-Aziz (Undergraduate, Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Drexel University) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Production Assistance: Noah Levine Graphic Design: Emily Anderson and Barbara Chernyavsky Additional Voiceover: Malia Lewis Copyright © 2019 Drexel University

The Beatles made an unprecedented impact on music and pop culture when they first arrived on the scene over a half-century ago. To this day, their influence continues to reverberate for new generations of listeners worldwide, including a curious and critical group of Drexel University staff members who dove head first into The Beatles' back catalog. In a special live episode of "Pop, the Question" (recorded for the 7th Annual Philadelphia Podcast Festival), Dr. Melinda Lewis breaks down the band’s canon of work with fans Dr. Kevin Egan, Broc Holmquest, and Julia Wisniewski. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded July 21, 2019 at Tattooed Mom, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Featured Guests: Kevin Egan, PhD (Director, Center for Interdisciplinary Inquiry, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel University); Broc Holmquest (Instructional Technologist, Office of Information Technology); and Julia Wisniewski (Assistant Director, Honors Program, Pennoni Honors College) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Production Assistance: Noah Levine Graphic Design: Emily Anderson, Barbara Chernyavsky, and Jaya Mohan Additional Vocals: Julia Wisniewski Live Event Production and Audio Engineering: Kevin Gallagher, Jr. for Crude Humor Studios (in collaboration with the Philadelphia Podcast Society) Copyright © 2019 Drexel University

Once relegated to undergarment necessity, the T-shirt has evolved over the last half century to fashion trend, art form, political statement, and now collectable item. For artist and musician Perry Shall—a self-identified T-shirt archivist of over 1,400 shirts (among other artifacts)—his unique hobby is an unprecedented labor of love mixed with a lifelong thrill of the thrift store hunt. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis and Shall dive deep into the stories and cultural trends sewn into the very fabric of the ubiquitous T-shirt. Recorded August 21, 2018 in 3034 MacAlister Hall, Marketing & Media, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Featured Guest: Perry Shall (Artist, Musician, and T-Shirt Archivist; Guest DJ, WKDU, Drexel University) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Graphic Design: Emily Anderson and Kathy Vy Chung Additional Vocals: Johnpaul Golaski and Julia Wisniewski Copyright © 2019 Drexel University To learn more about Perry Shall, visit www.perryshall.com.

"The Office," an American mockumentary sitcom, ran on NBC for nine seasons through 2013 and continues to resonate with fans for its satirical humor and sometimes brutally absurd depiction of everyday work life. Central to business operations at Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, Inc. are the personal relationships among the characters, as well as the transformation many undergo over the course of their employment together. Most notable is lead character Dwight Schrute, who embodies the hero’s journey as theorized by mythologist Joseph Campbell. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis gets to the bottom of the paper piles with longtime fan of "The Office" and Drexel University Mathematics professor Dr. Dimitrios Papadopoulos. Recorded November 29, 2018 in 3034 MacAlister Hall, Marketing & Media, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Featured Guest: Dimitrios Papadopoulos, EdD (Assistant Teaching Professor, Mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences, Drexel University) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Graphic Design: Isabella Akhtarshenas and Emily Anderson Additional Vocals: Emily Kashka and Julia Wisniewski Copyright © 2019 Drexel University For more on "The Office" from Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University, visit https://thesmartset.com/the-banal-and-beautiful/.

Following growing discussion around identity politics, Hollywood rolled out the red carpet in 2018 for diverse film offerings like "Black Panther," "Sorry to Bother You," "Blindspotting," "BlacKkKlansman," "Crazy Rich Asians," and "Eighth Grade." While the industry hasn’t turned over its equitable leaf quite yet, these titles represent an exciting moment and promise for historically underrepresented filmmakers and narratives. They represent greater specificity and character development to reach and resonate with their diverse global audiences. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis shines the spotlight on film and diversity in conversation with cultural critic and Drexel University English undergraduate Byshera Williams. Recorded August 27, 2018 in 3034 MacAlister Hall, Marketing & Media, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Featured Guest: Byshera Williams (Undergraduate, English, College of Arts and Sciences; Honors Program, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel University) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Graphic Design: Isabella Akhtarshenas and Emily Anderson Additional Vocals: Nick Barber and Julia Wisniewski Copyright © 2019 Drexel University

Apples are nature’s candy, as well as a popular motif and metaphor. At their core, they represent original sin, despite the adage that one a day keeps the doctor away; still there’s relatively little consumer information available in the cybersphere about this handy fruit. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis gets to the root of the matter—and even holds a taste test—with apple aficionado and Drexel University Computer Engineering undergraduate Doug Gerichten. Recorded January 29, 2018 in 3034 MacAlister Hall, Marketing & Media, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Featured Guest: Doug Gerichten (Undergraduate, Computer Engineering, College of Engineering; Honors Program, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel University) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Graphic Design: Emily Anderson Additional Vocals: Julia Wisniewski Copyright © 2018 Drexel University

Once upon a time in America, Westerns ruled the film landscape. While the Western genre no longer commands the front line of popular culture, the legacy endures through space epics, heist films, and anthology TV. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis discusses the complex and inspirational nature of the great Westerns with late filmmaker, writer, and Drexel University cinema studies professor Dave “D.B.” Jones. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded April 27, 2018 and November 13, 2018 (introductory eulogy) in 3034 MacAlister Hall, Marketing & Media, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Featured Guest: Dave “D.B.” Jones, PhD (Dean Emeritus, Pennoni Honors College and Distinguished Professor of Film, Cinema & Television, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, Drexel University) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Graphic Design: Isabella Akhtarshenas and Emily Anderson Additional Vocals: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD and Julia Wisniewski Copyright © 2018 Drexel University

Horror punk godfather and musician Glenn Danzig birthed the Misfits, Samhain, and Danzig with iconography and inspiration from the likes of Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, and B-list horror and sci-fi flicks from his formative years. His love/hate relationship with the pop culture of his youth helped Danzig establish preeminence within the music subculture, which later lent itself back to more mainstream audiences through branding, merchandising, and appearances on cable comedy series like "Portlandia" and "Aqua Teen Hunger Force." Host Dr. Melinda Lewis and veteran Drexel University WKDU DJ Johnpaul Golaski explore Glenn Danzig’s legacy and peculiar rise to fame. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded September 11, 2018 in 3034 MacAlister Hall, Marketing & Media, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Featured Guest: Johnpaul Golaski (WKDU 91.7 FM DJ and Former Undergraduate Student, Drexel University) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Graphic Design: Isabella Akhtarshenas and Emily Anderson Additional Vocals: Perry Shall and Julia Wisniewski Copyright © 2018 Drexel University

"Working Girl" and its protagonist Tess McGill set sail on the Staten Island Ferry for a piece of the capitalist pie, challenging gender and class stereotypes. For three decades now, the 1988 film’s influence has docked in the hearts of moviegoers and feminists alike. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis and Drexel University alumnus Maren Larsen reflect on the greater cultural appeal and impact of "Working Girl." "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded March 13, 2018 in 3034 MacAlister Hall, Marketing & Media, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Featured Guest: Maren Larsen (Custom-Designed Major '18, Honors Program, Drexel University) Special Guest: Annie Larsen (Parent to Maren Larsen) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Graphic Design: Isabella Akhtarshenas and Emily Anderson Additional Vocals: Kevin Egan and Julia Wisniewski Copyright © 2018 Drexel University

Music is instrumental to self-exploration, identity, and socialization. This includes songs filed under the category of "guilty pleasure," where earnest tastes somehow prove misaligned with what's considered cool. In a special live episode of "Pop, the Question" (recorded for the 6th Annual Philadelphia Podcast Festival), Dr. Melinda Lewis digs deep in the crates with pop music fans Ann Alexander, Dr. Katie Barak, and Jenny Carolina-Bell to unearth some of their greatest hits of all time. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded July 1, 2018 at Tattooed Mom, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Featured Guests: Ann Alexander (Director of Administration & Finance, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel University); Katie Barak, PhD (Associate Director, Honors Program); and Jenny Carolina Bell (Director, Campus Partnerships, Office of Alumni Relations) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Graphic Design: Isabella Akhtarshenas and Emily Anderson Additional Vocals: Eric Kennedy and Julia Wisniewski Live Event Audio Engineering: Dave Steele for Steele Empire (in collaboration with the Philadelphia Podcast Society) Live Event Production: Kevin Gallagher, Jr. for Crude Humor Studios (in collaboration with the Philadelphia Podcast Society) Copyright © 2018 Drexel University

"Keeping Up With the Kardashians" has pivoted reality television and social media to reinvent how audiences gain access to celebrity lives. With Kim at the center of it all, the Kardashians and Jenners work relentlessly to enhance their image, the public's consumption practices, and even the indelible impact on culture and society. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis and superfan Jenny Carolina-Bell explore this influence and the evolution of pop culture’s first family. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded March 15, 2018 in 3034 MacAlister Hall, Marketing & Media, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Featured Guest: Jenny Carolina-Bell (Director, Campus Partnerships, Office of Alumni Relations, Drexel University) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Graphic Design: Isabella Akhtarshenas and Emily Anderson Additional Vocals: Nick Barber and Julia Wisniewski Copyright © 2018 Drexel University

When the music industry emerged from the shadows of AM radio and found itself in the hardcore punk music mosh pit of the late 20th Century, fans followed suit and got involved on their own terms. Music industry professor and Jade Tree Records co-founder Darren Walters went from listener to active participant, supporting the work of artists on the ground level for the past three decades. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis spins tales with Walters about the evolution of the music industry, the place of an indie label in mainstream culture, and the influence of popular rock bands like Rush and Duran Duran on a thriving counterculture. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded March 14, 2018 in 3034 MacAlister Hall, Marketing & Media, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Featured Guest: Darren Walters (Associate Teaching Professor, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, Drexel University) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Graphic Design: Isabella Akhtarshenas and Emily Anderson Additional Vocals: Maren Larsen and Julia Wisniewski Copyright © 2018 Drexel University

While archeologists have Indiana Jones, geologists have Harry Dalton, Pierce Brosnan’s character in the 1997 volcano extravaganza "Dante’s Peak." The film laid the groundwork for scientific representation of volcanology in mainstream culture, and made an impact on how emergency agencies prepare the public for disaster. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis and aspiring volcanologist Nick Barber grapple with what "Dante’s Peak" gets right, what it gets wrong, and how popular culture shapes the way audiences interact with their natural environment. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded March 6, 2018 in 3034 MacAlister Hall, Marketing & Media, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Featured Guest: Nick Barber (Undergraduate, Geoscience Major, College of Arts and Sciences, Drexel University) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Graphic Design: Isabella Akhtarshenas and Emily Anderson Additional Vocals: Martha Meiers and Julia Wisniewski Copyright © 2018 Drexel University

A cartoonist draws inspiration from a spectrum of influences. For graphic novelist and educator Jamar Nicholas, city life, popular comic strips, and reality TV all inform his creations. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis and the artist discuss his graphic novels, social themes at play, and his affinity for "The Real Housewives" and Stone Cold Steve Austin. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded February 20, 2018 in 0054 University Crossings, Cinema & Television, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Featured Guest: Jamar Nicholas (Adjunct Professor, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, Drexel University) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Graphic Design: Emily Anderson Additional Vocals: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD and Julia Wisniewski Copyright © 2018 Drexel University

A celebrity crush is a rite of passage for people all over the world. The emotions are real, while the relationships typically are not. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis flirts with this cultural phenomenon alongside six guests, revealing myriad ways in which fans crush on those in the spotlight. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded December 19, 2017 through January 23, 2018 in 3034 MacAlister Hall, Marketing & Media, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Featured Guests: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel University); Jaya Mohan (Associate Director, Office of Undergraduate Research); Eric Kennedy (Assistant Director, Honors Program); Emily Kashka (Program Manager, Office of Undergraduate Research); Julia Wisniewski (Program Coordinator, Honors Program); and Karen Sams (Executive Assistant, Office of the Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Graphic Design: Emily Anderson Additional Vocals: Brian Kantorek and Julia Wisniewski Copyright © 2018 Drexel University

In the 19th Century, the pursuit of truth and holistic understanding of science were hot new trends. Little known Russian scientist Sergei Vinogradskii was one of the hippest cats, with his microbe work paving the way for the emerging fields of microbiology and ecology. Dr. Lloyd Ackert joins Dr. Melinda Lewis to till fertile ground related to the role of serendipity in scientific discovery, theories of mutual aid and Darwinism, and how microbes have impacted life and culture. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded November 28, 2017 in 3034 MacAlister Hall, Marketing & Media, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Featured Guest: Lloyd Ackert, PhD (Associate Teaching Professor of History, College of Arts & Sciences, Drexel University) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Graphic Design: Emily Anderson Additional Vocals: Jaya Mohan and Julia Wisniewski Copyright © 2018 Drexel University

The 1988 Oscar-nominated film "Die Hard" challenged preconceptions of the action film genre and what constitutes a Christmas film. It delivers a powerful (holiday) punch, while also unpacking the institutionalization of the Christmas spirit. Drs. Melinda Lewis and Kevin Egan embark on an analysis of this Christmas classic, and even discover a few stocking stuffers in the process. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded November 29, 2017 in 3034 MacAlister Hall, Marketing & Media, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Featured Guest: Kevin Egan, PhD (Director, Center for Interdisciplinary Inquiry, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel University) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Graphic Design: Emily Anderson Additional Vocals: Ana Castillo-Nye and Julia Wisniewski Copyright © 2017 Drexel University

Superhero fans, actors, and production companies are chasing down the next big hit, but at the risk of oversaturating the market for comic book screen adaptations. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis and guest Ann Alexander discuss the increasing popularity and financial ramifications of superheroes and their universes. "Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University. Recorded October 4, 2017 in 5016 MacAlister Hall, Office of the Dean, Pennoni Honors College, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Featured Guest: Ann Alexander (Director of Administration & Finance, Pennoni Honors College) Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media) Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College) Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media) Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media) Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek Graphic Design: Emily Anderson Additional Vocals: Kevin Egan, PhD and Julia Wisniewski Copyright © 2017 Drexel University

When Katharine Drexel was born in 1858, her grandfather, financier Francis Martin Drexel, had a fortune so vast he was able to provide a loan of sixty million dollars to the Union’s cause during the Civil War. Her uncle and mentor, Anthony, established Drexel University to provide instruction to the working class regardless of race, religion, or gender. Her stepmother was Emma Bouvier whose brother, John, became the great-grandfather of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. Katharine Drexel’s family were American royalty. As a Philadelphia socialite, “Kitty,” as she was often called, adored formal balls and teas, rowing regattas, and sailing races. She was beautiful, intelligent, and high-spirited. But when her stepmother died in 1883, and her father two years later, a sense of desolation nearly overwhelmed her. She was twenty-seven and in possession of a staggering inheritance. Approached for aid by the Catholic Indian Missions, she surprised her family by giving generously of money and time. It was during this period of acute self-examination that she journeyed to Rome for a private audience with Pope Leo XIII. With characteristic energy and fervor, she detailed the plight of the Native Americans, and begged for additional missionaries to serve them. His reply astonished her. “Why not, my child, yourself become a missionary?” In Saint Katharine: The Life of Katharine Drexel, Cordelia Frances Biddle recounts the extraordinary story of a Gilded Age luminary who became a selfless worker for the welfare and rights of America’s poorest persons. After years of supporting efforts on behalf of African Americans and American Indians, Katharine finally decided to follow her inner voice and profess vows. The act made headlines. Like her father and grandfather, she was a shrewd businessperson; she retained her financial autonomy and established her own order, the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. Until her death in 1955, she devoted herself and her inheritance to building much-needed schools in the South and Southwest, despite threats from the Ku Klux Klan and others. Pragmatic, sometimes willful—she corresponded with President Franklin Delano Roosevelt urging him to sign anti-lynching legislation—ardent, and a charismatic leader, Katharine Drexel was an indefatigable champion of justice and parity. When illness incapacitated her in later years, divine radiance was said to emanate from her, a radiance that led to her canonization on October 1, 2000. Cordelia Frances Biddle teaches creative writing at Drexel University’s Pennoni Honors College and received the college’s Outstanding Teaching Award in 2012. A member of the Authors Guild, she is the author of Beneath the Wind, Without Fear, Deception’s Daughter, and The Conjurer. She has contributed to Town and Country, Hemispheres and W, and won the 1997 SATW Lowell Thomas travel-writing award for “Three Perfect Days in Philadelphia.” She is a descendant of Francis Martin Drexel, grandfather of Saint Katharine Drexel.