Critical Connections

In this double-feature bonus episode, Eriona and Eugene discuss their art, activism, and indigeneity with Dani.

NOTE: The opinions expressed are those of the podcast participants alone, and do not necessarily represent Utah Valley University or the UVU Center for Social Impact.

Carl and Camlyn, practitioners from Provo's mindfulness community "Awakening Valley Sangha" chat with Dani about mindfulness, spirituality, the dangers of appropriation, and responsible practice. Listen to the full interview here!

Dr. Ruen-chuan Ma is a medievalist who teaches literature at Utah Valley University. As someone who grew up Buddhist and around the world--from Taiwan to London--he has a unique perspective on culture and cultural appropriation that he shares in depth, available now in full.

Critical Mass Podcast is produced by the Center for Social Impact of Utah Valley University, but was researched, scripted, recorded, and edited by students. Any and all opinions expressed by me or interviewees belong to us alone, and don’t necessarily reflect the opinions or values of the Center for Social Impact or of Utah Valley University.

Ever wondered what anarchists really think? Listen to the full interview with Justus from Trashbird Distro, parts of which were featured in a previous episode. Listen to Dani and Justus discuss community, anarchism, and art in our first Bonus Episode of Season 2.

Are you a writer interested in having your short story or poem highlighted on the pod? Email Dani at [email protected]

Critical Mass Podcast is produced by the Center for Social Impact of Utah Valley University, but was researched, scripted, recorded, and edited by students. Any and all opinions expressed by me or interviewees belong to us alone, and don’t necessarily reflect the opinions or values of the Center for Social Impact or of Utah Valley University.

Have you heard? The Great Salt Lake is turning into poison. Dani speaks to scientists, professors, and artists to try and understand what’s going on with the lake, what can be done about it, and we she should care.

Special thanks to Daren Perry, Carl Moore, Teri Harman, Corrina Bow, Star Guerrero, and Emily Ostler, who spoke and performed on behalf of the lake during the Great Salt Lake Offering Ceremony on September 30th.

Are you a writer interested in having your short story or poem highlighted on the pod? Email Dani at [email protected]

Critical Mass Podcast is produced by the Center for Social Impact of Utah Valley University, but was researched, scripted, recorded, and edited by students. Any and all opinions expressed by me or interviewees belong to us alone, and don’t necessarily reflect the opinions or values of the Center for Social Impact or of Utah Valley University.

Links:

https://www.instagram.com/tapahe/?hl=en

https://www.jingledressproject.com

https://www.instagram.com/uvusocialimpact/

https://uvugrit.garden/

https://www.uvu.edu/ethics/events/2023-24/2023_ees.html

https://open.spotify.com/artist/1L1bz3YvpUGrUNofMXyYWh

Sources:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1j5fbGnNlsuba49V3CJPYML0Te3PFTQHmeLQHAxHi7eM/edit?usp=sharing

Organizers from two different communities that have blossomed in the desert of Utah Valley share their experience building community. First up is Trash Bird Distro, a coalition of anarchists, followed by the Awakening Valley Sangha, a buddhist community in the tradition of Zen Master, Thich Nhat Hanh. This episode contains discussions of racism, appropriation, orientalism, and too many Moby Dick quotes. 

Are you a writer interested in having your short story or poem highlighted on the pod? Email Dani at [email protected].

Intro: 0:00

Art highlight: 5:06

Trashbirds: 9:10

Awakening Valley: 22:30

Conclusion: 43:49

Critical Mass Podcast is produced by the Center for Social Impact of Utah Valley University, but was researched, scripted, recorded, and edited by students. Any and all opinions expressed by me or interviewees belong to us alone, and don’t necessarily reflect the opinions or values of the Center for Social Impact or of Utah Valley University. 

Links:

socialimpact

https://www.instagram.com/trashbirddistro/

https://www.awakeningvalleysangha.org/

Sources:

www.unhcr.org/media/buddhist-core-values-and-perspectives-protection-challenges-faith-and-protection

https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/3522‌

https://doi.org/10.26034/lu.jgb.2022.1992

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1306702.

https://www.awakeningvalleysangha.org/faq “What is a Sangha” 

https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/thich-nhat-hanh “How do you pronounce Thich Nhat Hanh?” 

https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/thich-nhat-hanh “Biography” 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Th%C3%ADch_Nh%E1%BA%A5t_H%E1%BA%A1nh Thich Nach Hanh’s Wikipedia page. 

https://www.awakeningvalleysangha.org/ “Our Meetings” 

https://www.lionsroar.com/in-a-word-dharma/ “Dharma as Teachings” 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/young-asian-american-buddhists-are-reclaiming-narrative-decades-white-rcna1236  

https://www.lionsroar.com/road-to-diversity/  

https://www.awakeningvalleysangha.org/resources  

https://utprisonbuddhistproject.weebly.com/about.html  

https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/dharma-outreach-program  

https://utbuddhistprisonproject.com/participating-sanghas “Participating Sanghas” 

https://utbuddhistprisonproject.com/about “’About’ page” 

https://utbuddhistprisonproject.com/get-involved “’get Involved’ page” 

https://issuu.com/utah10/docs/uhq_volume44_1976_number2/s/125310 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5Ro4rTvDcw 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv4DJmcFTqE 

This season on the Critical Mass podcast, we are looking deeper into communities local to Utah Valley to understand how impactful communities are formed through the creation, development, and cultivation of critical connections. Each episode will feature research, interviews, and art from local bands, poets, and others. 

In the final episode of this 2022-2023 season of Critical Mass, the pod decided to highlight the host of the production: The UVU Center for Social Impact. Featuring interviews with some of the people that have made the Center what it is, this episode includes the voices of the Center's advisors and program directors, Cass, Jo, and Kai, all ten of the student Social Impact Fellows, short audios from the podcast team, and small clips from friends of the Center on campus. These voices and many more create the Center as we know it today, and the impact it has made on students' lives is immeasurable. Listen to hear about the place that made this podcast what it is.

Thanks for listening all semester ! The Center for Social Impact is located on Utah Valley University campus in SC 105 (across from the ballroom). Follow us on Instagram @uvusocialimpact to find out about how you can be involved with the next season of the podcast.

Take it easy y'all

- Hannah Filizola Ruiz <3

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This episode of Critical Mass podcast talks about the importance and history of climate activism, awareness, and appreciation through an Indiegnous lens of Land Stewardship. This episode features interviews with Raquel Juarez and Ava Curtis, two student activists with @fridaysforfuture.ut on Instagram, and a short excerpt from our interview with Denae Shanidiin from our 3rd episode, "Come find us" : Diné student stories. This shorter episode emphasizes the importance of holding hope for the climate through cultivating a relationship with your local land that is based in respect, appreciation, and joy.

Thanks for listening ! Check out citations and suggested readings here, drop by our Center located in SC 105 (across from the ballroom), and follow us on Instagram @uvusocialimpact to find out about the events we do every Thursday. 

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This episode of Critical Mass podcast talks about the importance and history of community journalism through the lens of guerrilla student journalism. Featuring interviews from two major student led journals, @ProdigalPressProvo on Instagram and the University of Utah's Latine student journal Venceremos, this episode reflects on the importance of stories and who tells them, and what it means to take stories into your own hands and create for your community. 

Thanks for listening ! Check out citations and suggested readings here, drop by our Center located in SC 105 (across from the ballroom), and follow us on Instagram @uvusocialimpact to find out about the events we do every Thursday. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices