Real Talk: A Diversity in Higher Ed Podcast

KC and Jamil are joined by three student activists who helped raise awareness towards gun violence in the New Haven area. How can it be prevented? And how can more people go out there and make a difference?

KC and Jamil are joined by guest Andreina as they talk about the highs and lows of working in Congress, and the best ways to navigate current issues talked about on the Hill.

School is back in session! KC and Jamil are here to welcome you all to a new season and a new semester; with some tips and tricks to keep you sane along the way.

Don't worry, we'll be back in a month. But it's that time of year for reflection, and we're doing our due diligence here at Real Talk. See you in the spring semester!

When you don't have someone to guide you, transitioning to college can be a stressful and isolating process. From finding resources and navigating the college admissions process to learning to ask for help, this week we unpack the hidden pressures and burdens on students who are the first in their family to attend college, and get some advice from fellow first gens Dr. Diane Ariza and a variety of Southern students.

Let us know what you think of this episode on Instagram and Twitter @realtalkscsu. #realtalkscsu

This week, we take on a big question: What does it mean to be American? KC and Jamil invited twelve people from around campus to answer this question. In this episode, you'll hear the diverse voices of folks from many perspectives and walks of life—immigrant and U.S. born; younger and older; determined and despairing. Here to have the conversation with them in the studio is Nivonchel Bramble, a junior transfer student majoring in Computer Science—a biracial woman in STEM with a powerful voice and much to contribute to the discussion.

We’ve all heard both sides of the argument, and have likely felt the humanity in pro-life and pro-choice perspectives. But this week we talk about what’s often left out of the conversation, and why it’s more complicated than any of us actually thought…

Dr. Abigail Adams received her PhD from the University of New Mexico and is a medical anthropologist who focuses on human rights, global health, the LGBTQAI community, indigenous epistemologies, borderlands, food justice, and feminist ethnography. Her geographical specializations are Latin America, the U.S. Southwest, and Appalachia. She is an associate professor of anthropology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where she is also the director of the Global Health Program, the LGBTQ Program, and the Chair of the Native American Awareness Council.

In this episode, Abbie refers us to:  

Kaiser Family Foundation  

Guttmacher Institute 

Planned Parenthood 

Lilith Fund 

KC and Jamil visit with President Joe Bertolino to discuss the return to campus, the future of vaccinations and COVID-19, and the state of social justice at the university.

Appointed as the university's 12th president in July 2016, President Joe Bertolino oversees an institution of about 10,000 students, 440 full-time faculty, and 1,100 staff. His first day at Southern was Aug. 22, 2016.

President Joe has been a social justice educator for 25 years, and is passionate about student success and access to higher education.

During his short time at the helm of Southern, he has outlined the following priorities: raising the University’s profile, expanding community outreach and partnerships; strategic enrollment recruitment and retention; and streamlining students’ path to earning a degree.

Early initiatives include a new marketing program that is reintroducing the University to the region and beyond; the University’s first comprehensive enrollment plan; and new community partnerships at multiple levels to establish Southern as a good neighbor.

Love em or hate em – Halloween is coming and we're here for the horror movies. Renea DaCosta from the podcast team joins KC and Jamil this week to talk about Get Out, Candyman, The Conjuring, and more...

What is Academic Freedom and why does it matter? What's the big deal with tenure - and who, other than faculty, even cares? Professor Tony Rosso shares concerns over the future of academic freedom at universities and what's at stake if it's lost.

Dr. Tony Rosso received degrees in English from Ohio State University, San Francisco State, and the University of Maryland. He's been teaching at Southern since 1987 and has been a long-time member of the AAUP, serving as Academic Freedom officer for many years.