In this episode of Cultivate Talk, Emily sits down with Kelli Matthews, professor at the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication and founder of Verve Northwest Communications, to explore what effective communication looks like in today's rapidly changing media landscape.

Drawing from more than two decades of experience in both academia and professional practice, Kelli discusses how organizations can communicate with clarity during times of uncertainty, build trust through authentic engagement, and navigate high-stakes situations such as crises and public scrutiny. The conversation explores the evolving role of storytelling, the challenges of communicating in digital spaces, and the communication strategies that help organizations move from simply sharing information to creating meaningful impact.

Whether you're a communication professional, business leader, nonprofit advocate, student, or simply someone interested in how messages shape relationships and communities, this episode offers valuable insights into the power of strategic communication.

In this episode of Cultivate Talk, Emily sits down with Sara Rabon to explore how algorithms, platforms, and digital technologies shape the way we communicate online.

Drawing from her background in computer science, corporate IT, and rhetoric, Sara explains how digital systems are never truly neutral — they are shaped by human decisions, institutional pressures, and cultural values. The conversation examines the “invisible structures” behind online communication, including algorithms, platform incentives, and audience data, and how these forces influence what users see, believe, and engage with online.

Together, they discuss the rise of the digital Manosphere during the 2024 political landscape, the attention-driven logic behind creators like MrBeast, and the growing role AI plays in shaping public discourse. Sara also challenges the idea that technology is purely objective, arguing instead that communication and rhetoric are central to understanding how technologies are built and used.

This episode offers a thoughtful look at the intersection of technology, media, and communication — and why becoming a more critical digital consumer matters in an increasingly algorithmic world.

In this episode of Cultivate Talk, Emily sits down with Dr. Vincent Russell to explore participatory budgeting — a democratic process that allows residents to directly decide how a portion of public funds should be spent in their communities.

Drawing from his research and recent book on participatory budgeting, Dr. Russell explains how the process works, from community brainstorming sessions to proposal development and public voting. Together, they discuss what participatory budgeting reveals about democracy, civic engagement, and the role communication plays in building trust between residents and local government.

The conversation also examines how communities navigate disagreement, why some residents feel empowered to participate while others remain disconnected, and whether participatory processes truly shift power in meaningful ways.

This episode offers a thoughtful look at how communication, collaboration, and public participation can reshape the relationship between communities and the institutions that serve them.

In this episode of Cultivate Talk, Emily sits down with Dr. Josh Bentley to unpack the evolving role of public apologies in today’s media landscape.

Drawing from his research in crisis communication and his book Devaluing Public Apologies in the Age of Social Media, Dr. Bentley explains what people actually expect from apologies — and why those expectations are often unmet. The conversation explores how apologies function as a social ritual meant to promote accountability and reconciliation, while also examining how polarization and social media have complicated that process.

Together, they discuss why some apologies that seem insincere can still be strategically effective, how outrage is sometimes driven more by attention than repair, and when apologizing can actually make a situation worse. The episode also challenges listeners to think more critically about when to apologize, when to stand firm, and how communication shapes the way responsibility is understood in public life.

In this episode of Cultivate Talk, Emily sits down with Dr. Deondre Smiles to explore how Indigenous relationships to land, space, and death challenge dominant ways of thinking about ownership, history, and power.

Drawing from his research in Indigenous geographies and political ecology, Dr. Smiles explains how burial grounds and ancestral lands are not just physical spaces, but deeply relational sites connected to identity, memory, and more-than-human kin. The conversation also examines the idea of the “political agency of Indigenous death” and how struggles over Indigenous remains reveal broader tensions between Indigenous communities and settler institutions.

Together, they discuss how Western frameworks often separate culture, nature, and governance — and how Indigenous perspectives offer alternative ways of understanding care, responsibility, and survival, especially in the context of climate crisis.

This episode invites listeners to think more critically about land, listen more carefully to marginalized perspectives, and reconsider how communication shapes what — and who — we value.

In this episode of Cultivate Talk, Emily sits down with Dr. Emma Bloomfield to explore the powerful intersection of storytelling and science communication.

Focusing on controversial and often polarized topics like climate change, vaccination, and evolution, Dr. Bloomfield explains why facts alone are often not enough to change minds — and how storytelling plays a critical role in shaping how people understand and engage with scientific information.

Together, they discuss how identity influences the way we interpret messages, the common pitfalls communicators face when addressing skeptical audiences, and the importance of empathy in navigating difficult conversations. The episode also offers practical insight into how anyone — not just scientists or professionals — can become a more effective communicator when discussing complex or sensitive topics.

This conversation is a reminder that effective communication isn’t just about being right — it’s about being heard, understood, and willing to engage across difference.

In this episode of Cultivate Talk, Emily sits down with Dr. Jordan Soliz to explore how families navigate difference — and why communication is at the center of those experiences.

Dr. Soliz’s research challenges the idea that families are homogenous, instead highlighting how multiple identities — including political, cultural, religious, and generational — coexist within family systems. Together, they discuss how these differences shape relationships, particularly in an era where political identity has become increasingly salient in family life.

The conversation emphasizes a key insight: it’s not difference itself that harms relationships, but how we communicate about it. They also explore how family interactions influence the way we understand and engage with people outside the family, as well as practical strategies for navigating difficult conversations with more openness and intention.

This episode offers both research-based insight and real-world guidance for anyone seeking to foster more understanding, compassion, and connection within their family relationships.

In this episode of Cultivate Talk, Emily sits down with Dr. Andrew Cole and Dr. Thomas Salek to explore the political rhetoric of Orson Welles and his 1940s radio program, The Orson Welles Commentaries. Together, they examine how Welles used the intimacy of radio to connect with audiences, the role of celebrity in shaping political influence, and how his experience compares to later figures like Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump. This episode highlights how media and communication continue to shape public discourse and democratic engagement.

In this episode of Cultivate Talk, Emily sits down with Dr. Larry Schooler to explore the role of dialogue in healing conflict and building stronger communities.

Larry works with cities, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations to facilitate consensus around high-stakes and deeply contentious issues — from repairing relationships between law enforcement and communities of color to guiding communities through memorialization after tragedy. His work centers on creating spaces where those most affected by conflict are directly involved in shaping solutions.

Together, they discuss what distinguishes genuine dialogue from performative conversation, how truth and reconciliation models have been used in cities and nations to promote healing, and why communication is essential not just for managing conflict, but for resolving it. The conversation also examines trust-building, conflict de-escalation, and what gives hope — and concern — about the current state of public discourse.

Grounded in both research and practice, this episode invites listeners to rethink how communication can foster closure, accountability, and growth in moments of deep division.

In this episode of Cultivate Talk, Emily sits down with Dr. Lilly Feder to explore how communication shapes the experiences of athletes in public-facing and high-pressure environments.

A former collegiate basketball player and now Assistant Professor of Sports Communication, Lilly studies the intersection of sport, public relations, and organizational behavior. Her research centers on athlete empowerment, identity, activism, crisis communication, and resilience-building within athletic organizations.

Together, they discuss how intersectional identities shape the communication challenges athletes face, why underperformance should be understood as a form of crisis, and what organizations often fail to communicate when athletes become the “face” of controversy or scrutiny. The conversation also examines athlete activism, team resilience, and the difficult identity transitions athletes experience when leaving competitive sport.

Grounded in both scholarship and lived experience, this episode offers insight into how communication can either reinforce pressure and silence — or create healthier, more supportive athletic environments.