Happy Friday, North Texas!

In spring, three words burst through a news cycle otherwise laser-focused on COVID-19: “I can’t breathe.” George Floyd’s brutal death broke through the greater American consciousness, particularly that of white Americans, in a way the other questionable fatalities that have occurred over the years did not — and out of that horrific incident, deeper conversations about the lack of equity in modern society have risen to the surface. This episode of UNT Pod explores where we are, how we got here, and how we all can — and should — move forward together to build a stronger, more equitable world.

In this episode, we discuss:

● The modern Black Lives Matter movement and the classical period of civil rights

● How the transatlantic slave trade marked African Americans as existing outside of the social compact, and the effects of those biases on modern race relations

● How popular media shapes impressions of the African American community

● Equity and diversity in higher education

● How Americans from all backgrounds can help build a more equitable society

Featured in this episode are:

Helpful links:

· Read the UNT History Department’s anti-racism syllabus

· Check out UNT’s new diversity and inclusion initiatives

· Listen to more interviews from the Civil Rights in Black and Brown project

· Dr. J. Anthony Guillory discusses his favorite works of African American literature

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In celebration of UNT’s 130th anniversary, we take a deep dive into UNT’s Special Collections with archivist Rachael Zipperer, exploring some of the most unusual pieces of history contained within — and to see how the university is always working to preserve its exceedingly unique spirit.

In this episode, we discuss:

● Eppy subreddits

● The miniature books collection and the reemergence of "The Hobbit" first edition

● UNT’s digital Memory Collection

● Other unique items found in Special Collections, including a hamster skull and KXAS footage of chickens clucking to Glenn Miller’s “In the Mood.”

Featured in this episode is:

· Rachael Zipperer, UNT archivist

Helpful links:

· library.unt.edu

· Memory Collection

· Keeper app

· KXAS collection

· Chicken clip

Follow our Podcast

● @UNTpod

● Connect with us on Twitter @UNTSocial or on Instagram @UNT.

From 300-year-old murder cases to unidentified bodies on the Texas border, Dr. Harrell Gill-King has investigated it all. As a forensic anthropology professor and founding director of UNT’s Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology, Gill-King has developed what he calls a “junkyard mind” — he knows a lot about a little bit of everything. His knack for digging deeper to find the truth has led to his sterling reputation, and he was recently awarded the American Academy of Forensic Science’s T. Dale Stewart Award for outstanding contributions to the forensic anthropology field.

In this episode, we discuss:

● The evolution of forensic anthropology

● The “CSI Effect”

● The emotional aspects of scientific work

● The importance of science

Featured in this episode is:

· Dr. Harrell Gill-King, a forensic anthropology professor, founding director of UNT’s Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology and co-founder of UNT’s Center for Human Identification

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● Connect with us on Twitter @UNTSocial or on Instagram @UNT.

In this episode of UNT POD, UNT professor of psychology Patricia Kaminski discusses parent-child relationships, child abuse and eating disorders related to COVID-19.

In this episode, we discuss:

● How to cope with stress to build healthier parent-child relationships

● How to identify and prevent child abuse

● The pressures COVID-19 places on those with eating disorders and how to best cope

Featured in this episode is:

● Patricia Kaminski, professor in UNT’s Department of Psychology

Helpful links:

● Healthy parent-child relationships

○ www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/adolescent-development/healthy-relationships/parents-child/index.html

○ www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/parenting

● Child abuse prevention and reporting

○ www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/focus-areas/child-abuse-neglect

○ www.childwelfare.gov/topics/responding/reporting/how/

● Coping with eating disorders

○ nationaleatingdisorders.org/help-support/contact-helpline

● Help at UNT

○ psychology.unt.edu/clinics-and-centers/psychology-clinic

○ studentaffairs.unt.edu/counseling-and-testing-services

○ untwell.unt.edu/services-offered

● @UNTpod

● Connect with us on Twitter @UNTSocial or on Instagram @UNT.

Joanna Davis-McElligatt, an assistant professor in UNT’s Department of English who is an expert on diversity in higher education and comics, discusses a recent uptick in inclusion — and the challenges that still lie ahead.

In this episode, we discuss:

● The importance of diversity and inclusion in higher education

● The recent uptick of diversity and inclusion in comics, and its importance to the industry

● Some of Davis-McElligatt’s favorite comics

● Recent entries in the genre such as Black Panther and HBO’s Watchmen relaunch.

Featured in this episode is:

● Joanna Davis McElligatt, assistant professor in UNT’s Department of English

Follow our Podcast

● @UNTPod

Join the Conversation

● Connect with us on Twitter @UNTSocial or on Instagram @UNT.

In this episode of UNT POD, University of North Texas community members discuss their personal experiences on the topic of love. We'll also hear from experts in neuroscience and social science.

Featured in this episode are:

● Dr. Nicoladie Tam, Associate Professor, Dept. of Biological Science

● Dr. Julie Leventhal, Sr. Lecturer, Educational Psychology

● Judith Sanchez and Tanner Dritschler, UNT alumni and couple

● Chuck Gatlin and William Jackson, UNT alumni and married couple

Follow our Podcast

● @UNTpod

Join the Conversation

● Connect with us on Twitter @UNTSocial or on Instagram @UNT.

In this episode of UNT POD, University of North Texas community members discuss their personal experiences on the topic of love. We'll also hear from experts in neuroscience and social science. 

In this episode, we'll hear from several couples as they tell their stories of how they met and what keeps their relationships strong. We'll also explore the science behind love as an emotion.

Featured in this episode are:

● Dr. Nicoladie Tam, Associate Professor, Dept. of Biological Science

● Dr. Julie Leventhal,  Sr. Lecturer, Educational Psychology

● Judith Sanchez and Tanner Dritschler, UNT alumni and couple

● Tracy and Eugene Frier, UNT alumni and married couple

● Chuck Gatlin and William Jackson, UNT alumni and married couple

● @UNTpod

● Connect with us on Twitter @UNTSocial or on Instagram @UNT.

In this episode of UNT POD, our University of North Texas staff and alumni experts discuss their own experiences with mental health, as well as how to identify if and where one should seek out mental health resources for themselves or others.

In this episode, we discuss:

● The stigma that sometimes surrounds mental health and how to dispel it

● Common chronic mental health symptoms

● Preventative mental health treatment, including positive psychology

● Campus and online mental health resources

Featured in this episode are:

● Madison “Rudi” Clary-Wortham (’16, ’18 M.S.), a communications studies alum who battled anxiety and depression as a teenager and college student

● Rebecca Werts (’13, '19 M.S.), an advisor in the College of Science and a recent master’s graduate in counseling

● Rachita Sharma, Ph.D., LPC-S, CRC, a senior lecturer in UNT’s College of Health and Public Service and the clinical coordinator for UNT’s Well Clinic

● Tamara Knapp-Grosz, Ph.D., senior director of UNT’s Counseling and Testing Center

Click here for UNT’s mental health and wellbeing resources, made available through UNT’s Speak Out program

Follow our Podcast

● @UNTpod

Join the Conversation

● Connect with us on Twitter @UNTSocial or on Instagram @UNT.

In this episode of UNT POD, University of North Texas students and staff discuss their personal fandom, their first Star Wars memories and expectations for Episode IX, and industry experts discuss the staying power and cultural impact of the franchise over the last 40-plus years.

In this episode, we discuss:

● Star Wars fandom

● Star Wars memories

● The staying power of the franchise

● The cultural impact of Star Wars

● Expectations for Episode IX

Featured in this episode are:

● Dr. Stephen Mandiberg, media arts lecturer

● Dr. Jennifer Porst, media arts assistant professor

● Mark Lanier, mechanical technician

● Kevin Yanowski, catalog management librarian

● Julian Mondress, sophomore and UNT Star Wars Club president

● Jaena Ice, freshman and UNT Star Wars Club social media manager

● Wesley Belisch, sophomore and UNT Star Wars Club member

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● Connect with us on Twitter @UNTSocial or on Instagram @UNT.

In this episode of UNT POD, our University of North Texas faculty experts discuss recent events that reflect the shifting power dynamic in newsrooms, including the mass exodus of Deadspin’s editorial staff and the Salt Lake Tribune being granted non-profit status, as well as the rise of #fakenews accusations ahead of the 2020 election.

In this episode, we discuss:

● The death of Deadspin

● Newsroom unionization

● The Salt Lake Tribune’s non-profit status

● How to find trustworthy media coverage of the 2020 election

Featured in this episode are:

● Neil Foote, principal lecturer in UNT’s Mayborn School of Journalism

● Randy Loftis, lecturer in UNT’s Mayborn School of Journalism

● Jacqueline Fellows, lecturer in UNT’s Mayborn School of Journalism

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● Connect with us on Twitter @UNTSocial or on Instagram @UNT.