Why are we willing to spend millions of dollars and untold man-hours consuming stories about people who don’t exist? This week on Just Sow, we explore why humans love fiction, and how imaginary worlds have meaningful impacts on our everyday lives.

Why We Love Imaginary Worlds

Chatting with professors, and enriching your everyday life with niche knowledge on pretty much anything.

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Educational Technology

When you imagine the future, what do you see? Towering skyscrapers, self-driving cars, cryptocurrency, or smart homes?

When Andrea L’Afflitto Ph.D., an Assistant Professor at the University of Oklahoma, imagines the future, he sees drones: pizza delivery drones, drones as personal assistants, drones with the ability to run our errands and even help people with limited mobility perform tasks.

There’s a whole world of untapped potential when it comes to new drone technology, and research at OU is at the threshold of this new frontier.

Drone Technology Ready to Soar

Heartbreaking is an essential skill as a professional writer. Novelists have to create characters, relationships, and worlds we love only to break them apart in the course of the narrative and subsequently break readers' hearts. Join my conversation with Mel Odom, an OU assistant professor and novelists who has written and published over 200 works. He talks about creativity, getting published, and how to break readers' hearts. 

Professional Heartbreaking

There's an education crisis in Oklahoma. Teachers are moving out of state to earn more livable wages and people are being emergency certified to fill empty positions at schools. Despite this, educators and leaders are focusing on solutions. 

This week, we have Dean Gregg Garn on the show from the college of education. He shares some of his innovative ideas on how we can rally together, support educators in our community, and keep talented and caring teacher in Oklahoma. 

A Priceless Investment

Making healthy food options accessible to everyone despite their economic status is an issue in Oklahoma and around the world. What do we do when supermarkets don’t settle down in communities that need them most? The future of food intersects with architecture and urban planning with solutions that range from community gardens to towering skyscraper farms in the middle of downtown.

Today on the show Professor Bryce Lowery from the College of Architecture will talk about rethinking city planning and architecture with access to food in mind.

The Future of Food

Starting your own business seems like the dream. Being your own boss, creating something from scratch, turning a good idea into something real-something profitable.

Today, we’re diving into what makes a successful entrepreneur, discovering why Oklahoma may be the best place to start a business, and talking about how you can be a part of it. Joining us today is OU professor Jeremy Short, who, like many entrepreneurs, had an unconventional career path.

Why We Love Imaginary Worlds

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