What would it take to reinvent American politics and create a new government model? In this episode, Dr. Gary Deel talks to APU political science professor Dr. Rob Mellen about the prospect of government reformation and what’s involved with holding a constitutional convention to institute change. Learn about the dangers of a constitutional convention that essentially has no rules, and understand the true fragility of America’s democracy as seen after the January 6 insurrection on the Capitol. Also learn how direct democracy can take place at the local level and why it’s so important for citizens to get involved in their local government to bring about true and impactful change to their communities.

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When the barcode was introduced, it marked an incredible technological advancement for retailers. In this episode, Dr. Gary Deel talks to retail management professor Dr. Kevin Forehand about his 20 years of experience working in retail and entertainment. Learn about the adoption of technology including the growth of self-checkout lines and the testing of shopping carts equipped with technology that automatically calculates a customer’s purchase. Also learn how COVID-19 has accelerated the adoption of many of these technologies into the retail environment.

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The COVID-19 pandemic affected all of us to varying degrees. Will it have lasting impacts on our collective psyches, mental health, psychological development, and socialization behavior? In this episode, Dr. Gary Deel talks to APU psychology professor Brendi Schramm about the fears and insecurity caused by COVID and how it has affected adults and children differently. Learn how adults and children have adapted to a virtual world of work, school, and daily tasks, but have been greatly impacted by the loss of in-person social connections and social interactions. Also learn tips about how to help children cope by understanding their love language, focusing on attachment styles, and finding ways to connect deeper with them.

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When the COVID-19 vaccine became available, there was concern it wouldn’t adequately reach underserved communities. In this episode, APU professor Linda Ashar talks to nurse and healthcare advocate, Dr. Anne Harty, about how providers came together to quickly mobilize volunteer-based vaccination centers in underserved areas in Sacramento County, California. Learn about partnering with local community-based organizations to ensure people who didn't have access to the internet or were undocumented could register for the vaccine, how the pop-up vaccination centers were developed to be scalable so anyone across the country could replicate it, and why the all-volunteer program was an ideal model for delivering the COVID-19 vaccine.

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Corporate social responsibility, or CSR, is a way for companies to take a stance on social, environmental and political issues. In this episode, Dr. Gary Deel talks to APU business professor and lawyer Linda Ashar about what drives businesses to engage in corporate citizenship, the benefits, and the risks. Also, learn how businesses have increasingly taken public stances on political issues, including the insurrection and riots at the Capitol Building on January 6, and the effect such action can have on a company’s reputation and bottom line. 

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Healing divisions and finding the common good that unites us is challenging for individuals and institutions. In this episode, APU Dean Dr. Marie Gould Harper talks to Edgardo Colón-Emeric, Director of the Center for Reconciliation at Duke Divinity School, about strategies to build equity, diversity and inclusion and how to counter resistance with patience and openness. Learn how supporting all forms of diversity, whether it’s diversity of backgrounds or diversity of thought, can provide a new perspective and bring hope for a better future of unity.

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Getting divorced is a life-changing event that can be extremely emotional and confusing for adults and children. In this episode, APU professor Dr. Kandis Wyatt talks to Danica Joan about the benefits of having a divorce coach, especially in child custody cases. Learn about the support role of a custody coach in helping parents navigate the difficult waters of custody battles and court proceedings to help the family come up with the best resolution possible. 

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Motocross has become an increasingly competitive and technical sport in the last 10 years. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Gary Deel talks to professional supercross racer AJ Catanzaro about turning pro when he was just 16 years old and how the sport has changed during his 10-year career. Learn about the evolution of course layouts with increasingly dangerous elements, technological changes to motorcycles and protective gear, and why he hopes electric motorcycles will soon be an option in professional racing.

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What are the psychological principles contributing to today’s divisive political and social environments? In this episode, Dr. Gary Deel talks to Joe Reish, who has spent more than 40 years teaching psychology, about some of the cognitive processing systems that affect the way people form belief systems. Learn about confirmation bias, dichotomous thinking, and simplistic bias that can prevent people from understanding opposing viewpoints, being empathetic, and being critical thinkers.

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The 2020 election displayed divisiveness among the American public. In this episode, Dr. Gary Deel talks to APU Political Science Program Director Dr. Tom Kelly about Trump’s presidency and the current state of American politics. Learn about the need for government transparency, the benefits of instituting Congressional term limits, and where the nation goes from here.

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