Simpson College started its men's and women's gymnastics programs this year — the first Iowa small college to do so. Men's coach Colin Payne and women's coach Emily Barrett Payne are on the podcast this week to talk about how they've begun the gymnastics tradition at Simpson and how they're already posting successes in NCAA competitions.

Kim Keller Senger '92 is national director of corporate and foundation support at National Jewish Health in Denver. She joins the podcast this week to talk about how Simpson helped her build a career of service and development for one of the nation's largest respiratory hospitals. As with so many Simpson alumni, Senger has taken the skills and mindsets built at Simpson to find a career she couldn't have imagined when she graduated.

The teaching of American history has become increasingly politicized as the culture has become more divisive, and Simpson faculty and students often find themselves in the middle of those debates. History professor Nick Proctor and Education professor Chad Timm are on the podcast this week to talk about how the History Wars impact their teaching in Simpson's history courses and in the preparation of the next generation of Iowa's history teachers.

Marsha Kelliher recently announced her intention to step down as president of Simpson College after recently becoming engaged to be married. She stops by the podcast to talk about her decision to retire, her accomplishments during her three years as president, and the challenges facing Simpson College and higher education in the years ahead.

Simpson's Writing Across The Curriculum approach to liberal education shows the college's commitment to building writing skills across all disciplines. Writing Center Director Colin Payton guests this week to talk about his desire to build a culture of writing at Simpson in which all students seek out his center's help, and he also discloses plans for the center to grow to build oral, visual and electronic communication skills.

New Simpson head coach Reed Hoskins is on the podcast to talk about his effort to rebuild a Storm football program that's been on a slide in recent years. After two 1-9 seasons, the Storm hopes 'to be an annoyance' for teams in the American Rivers Conference this coming season, Hoskins says.

Greater Des Moines Partnership President & CEO Jay Byers '93 joins the podcast this week to talk about his Simpson Experience and his work with the partnership, which is the metro's biggest economic and community development organization. Byers is also on the Simpson College Board of Trustees, and he says the college is a critical developer of talent and economic value in the region.

After three seasons as Simpson's women's volleyball coach, KK Palea has taken a program that once was an American Rivers Conference doormat and has it posting winning season records. Now Palea is helping Simpson launch a new men's volleyball program that will start competition in January 2023. KK stops by the podcast this week to talk about his mission to turn Simpson into a college 'volleyball mecca' in Iowa.

One in five women nationally are victims of sexual misconduct during their years at college and university. Simpson College has just been awarded a $300,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to improve its education, preventing and adjudication of students, staff, and faculty on sexual violence. Heidi Levine, vice president of student affairs and planning, comes on the podcast to talk about the grant and how it will strengthen Simpson's efforts.

Simpson's programs in speech, debate and mock trial dominate national competitions, so this week we turn to competitors Ryan Corcoran, Abby Fry and Ryan Magalhaes to learn what drives them to compete at the highest levels.