Fordham Conversations

What characteristics define “twenty somethings” and should there be a new way to measure maturity?  Fordham Conversations Host Robin Shannon looks into this with Author and Clark University Professor Jeffrey Arnett. They discuss a new life stage being called “emerging adulthood,” which happens between adolescence and adulthood.  Also, Professor of Theology and Director of the Curran Center for American Catholic Studies, Christine Firer Hinze and Fordham MA student Paul Schutz of Systematic Theology share their experience from a conference about the relationship between twenty-somethings and the Catholic Church.

Fordham Conversations host Robin Shannon looks into the often ignored physical, emotional, and sexual abuse of Elderly people.

The chief program officer of city Meals on Wheels shares that she wants her volunteers to be able to identify abuse in order to better the quality of life for older individuals.

Dr. Patricia Brownell a scholar at the Ravazzin Center of Aging at Fordham University explores the exploitation and abuse of elderly women on a global platform.

Dr. Tina Maschi Associate Professor at Fordham’s Graduate School of Social Service sheds a light on elder abuse in prisons.

Fordham Conversations Host Chris Williams discusses what makes humans so infatuated with the freaky, unknown, and disgusting by exploring the history of side shows, literary monsters, and phobias.

Adam Rin teaches side show classes at Coney Island to keep the side show tradition alive and to celebrate differences.

Rebecca June teaches medieval studies at Fordham University and provides insight into the role monsters play in literature and society. 

 Dean Mckay is a psychology professor at Fordham who researches disgust and and its relationship to fear. 

Fordham Conversations Host Chris Williams is exploring the phenomenon of Love through scientific, literary, and philosophical perspectives.

 Dr. Jay Wade of the Fordham psychology department proposes that in order to get someone to love you, you need to show them that you love them.

 Fordham English Professor Phillip Sicker shares that the most interesting and desirable love stories involve complicated obstacles and trying hardships.

 Dr. John Davenport of the Fordham philosophy department explains the human need for love in order to feel complete, and the differences between the early philosophers understanding of love verses romantic modern love.

Fordham Conversations Host Robin Shannon is shining a spotlight on young people who are making a difference in their communities through volunteer efforts.

 Fordham University’s Eva Li is a Peer Health Exchange volunteer. She’s trained to teach health workshops at some of New York City’s underfunded and understaffed public high schools

 Sarah Cocuzzo is the Community Liaison and Innovation Manager for the Peer Health Exchange.  Their  mission is to give teenagers the knowledge and skills they need to make healthy decisions. The group does this by training college students to teach health in public high schools that lack health education. In the studio is

Fordham Conversations Host Robin Shannon talks with Social Worker, Advocate and Fordham Alumni Casey Berna. She discusses her battle with endometriosis and her documentary “Endo-truth: The Impact of Endometriosis and Infertility on Mental Health.”

We often think of the afterlife in terms of heaven and hell. But what about the afterlife on earth? Fordham Conversations Host Chris Williams looks into how some people believe life after death takes place here on earth. Fordham University Professors Joshua Schapiro and Mary Erler discuss reincarnation and the idea of an earthly Heaven. Anthony Bellov with the Merchant House Museum in downtown Manhattan talks about how the house's original owners may have never left.

David Spampinato and Dan DiOrio join John Furlong to discuss Gleyber Torres and the Yankees, Jacob DeGrom and the Mets, and the thrilling NL West battle between Colorado, Los Angeles, and Arizona. Will any of those three miss the playoffs?

Fordham Conversations Host Robin Shannon talk with Carol Bonomo Albright and Christine Palamidessi Moore about their anthology “American Women, Italian Style: Italian-Americana’s Best Writings on Women" (Fordham Press). Their collection brings together writers with a wide range of backgrounds, outlooks, ideas, and experiences to examine the history of Italian women in America.

Fordham Conversations Host Robin Shannon talks with Fordham Professor Mary Bly about William Shakespeare’s influence on pop culture.  Bly is a Shakespearean scholar who took her passion for the English poet and playwright to create the class “Shakespeare and Popular Culture.”