The Everyday Scholar

The goals, ideals, and principles of Batman changes during the different cinematic depictions of the character. What do these movies tell us about our own moral compass and how ethics and justice have changed over time? In this episode, Dr. Bjorn Mercer talks to APU philosophy professor Trey Jackson about how Batman's conflict with villains represents real-life philosophical conflicts about the pursuit of justice. What lessons does Batman teach us about apathy, corruption, anonymity, and how to bring about moral change?

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Writing a fantasy book series requires the author to spend endless hours developing the world in which unique and complex characters live and interact with one another. In this episode, Dr. Bjorn Mercer talks to APU professor and author Dr. Jennifer Fisch-Ferguson, who has published 10 books, about her writing process and tips for aspiring writers. Learn about her brainstorming process and where she finds sources of inspiration for her themes, characters, and urban fantasy settings. Also learn why she writes multiple stories at once, why she uses character sheets to help track her characters’ interactions, and all the research involved in ensuring these magical worlds are complete and engrossing for the reader.

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Before 2020, many leaders thought working from home wasn’t a feasible business model, but the COVID-19 pandemic proved otherwise. In this episode, Dr. Bjorn Mercer talks to Dr. Marie Gould Harper, Dean of APU’s School of Business, about how leaders and employees responded to this forced change. Learn why managers were often the ones resisting the most, how working from home highlighted a generational divide, and why success depends on everyone knowing their own strengths and weaknesses as a remote employee.

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The transition from one level of leadership to the next can bring a lot of uncertainty and insecurities. In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bjorn Mercer talks to Alexa Chilcutt about her experience teaching executive leadership education at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. Learn about three basic communication competencies for executive leaders to help them convey their authentic selves that inspire those they manage and oversee.

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Political and social issues have seemingly created a polarizing divide among people who adamantly profess their beliefs and often adamantly protest against anyone who disagrees. But are our divisions really so wide? In this episode, Dr. Bjorn Mercer talks to APU philosophy professor Steven Schultz about the fact that people rarely examine why they believe what they believe. Learn the difference between having an informed position versus a personal opinion and why it’s so important for people to assess their own biases and worldviews so they can critically examine the evidence and reasoning behind their beliefs. Also learn how to find common ground with people who have different beliefs in order to have a constructive, intellectually honest, and open conversation. 

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Institutions of higher education are often compared and judged based on their graduation rates, but it often provides an incomplete picture of institutional success. In this episode, Dr. Bjorn Mercer talks to Dr. Wally Boston, President Emeritus of American Public University System, about various metrics used to compare institutions and the many variables that affect those metrics.

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Presenting data and putting it into local context is the most effective way to get the public to understand issues, but it’s also one of the greatest challenges for journalists. In this episode, AMU’s Dr. Bjorn Mercer talks to journalist and professor Dr. Amber Narro about the challenges of teaching journalists how to understand and effectively use data in their reporting. Learn why it’s so important for journalists to start with data and let it drive the direction of the story, rather than trying to find data that supports a preconceived story angle. Also learn about the value of localizing data so readers understand how information applies to their lives as well as the challenges aspiring journalists face entering the competitive media landscape.

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Equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and work ethic needed to succeed in the workforce is one of the most critical tasks of universities and colleges. But is there a gap in preparedness between what employers want and what students are learning? In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bjorn Mercer talks to Dr. Ashley Finley, Vice President of Research at the Association of American Colleges & Universities, about an annual report that aims to illuminate what employers want from graduates. Learn the key takeaways and new revelations from this 15-year report, including what employers say they want regarding student skills, aptitudes and mindsets like work ethic, empathy, resilience, persistence and more.

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What key points from “The Communist Manifesto” can be applied to modern society? In this episode, APU’s Dr. Bjorn Mercer talks to religion and philosophy professor Dr. Terrence Threadwell about how some of the issues that Marx discusses are often misunderstood or taken out of context. Learn why this document is often used by politicians to illicit fear, but many of the issues around social disparities, poverty, and power are still very relevant in today’s world. 

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Once a month, 26 Black women get together to discuss how they’re going to invest their money. In this episode, Dr. Bjorn Mercer talks to Dr. Andre Rawls about her role in forming numerous investment clubs that help educate women about financial investment strategies and wealth accumulation. Learn how an investment group works, how it changes the mindset of how members spend money, the importance of financial literacy in minority populations, and why it’s necessary to correct people’s beliefs about money and wealth accumulation.

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