Prof Talk

In this episode, Tom is joined by Kristi Govella (CSIS and Oxford) and Yuji Idomoto (Center for Maritime Safety and Security Studies at the Japan Coast Guard Academy) to discuss the role of scholarship in shaping policy and the many paths researchers can take to have a larger impact. They also dig into their research on Japan’s demographics and national security (sponsored by SSRC and the Japan Foundation New York). This episode goes deep and it’s a fun one!

Our first sequel episode! Tom Le is joined by Kunihiro Nishimura (Xcoo), Masahiko Haraguchi (Columbia University), and Bianca Mirica to discuss international collaboration. Come to learn about Smart Cities and leave knowing that interdisciplinary research is the best way to answer complex questions.

In this episode, Tom is joined by an international team of scholars and practitioners to discuss the value of international collaboration and interdisciplinary research. Lots of benefits, but it's always important to be mindful of logistics, different time zones, and nonsynchronous fieldwork. If smart cities is what you live for, then this is the episode for you! Thanks to United States-Japan Foundation for supporting our research.

On this episode, Tom is joined by Pui Tiffany Chow (Assistant Professor of Art), Philip Choi (Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy), Kyoko Kurita (Professor of Japanese), and two students to talk about taking education outside the classroom. Fresh off a 10-day research trip to Japan, the group reflects on the good, the bad, and the surprising about teaching in the field across several disciplines — and the serendipitous moments of learning that happen along the way.

On this episode, we talk about how college students can connect with the community, not from a position of "helping" and from a position of "learning" and being a part of a community. Special guests include students from Professor Le's Sports and Politics course and coaches from the Claremont Cubs of the Claremont Little League.

In this last episode of Season Two, we answer student questions and reflect on two years of the pod. Mission accomplished, but more to come!

Nick and Tom are joined by Professor of Romance Languages and Literatures Virginie Duzer for a discussion of language, AI, and the liberal arts. Stay for the second half where we do an Ask Me Anything with student questions.

On this episode, we speak with Roy Edward Disney '51 Professor of Creative Writing and Professor of English Jonathan Lethem about creative writing, a liberal arts education, AI, graduation, and a host of other things. The end of the semester has us all in a reflecting mood!

In this episode, Professor Le, Bianca, and Joelle talk about The Student Life and the role of student journalism in a college community.

A special student takeover of Prof Talk with Becca and Bianca, reflecting on the realities of student life at Pomona College. We discuss the challenges of balancing academic responsibilities with personal and creative commitments and consider how students navigate these demands within the broader context of a liberal arts education.