Host Amiya Vashi speaks to Yale English professors and students about what it means to tell a story through creative writing. This episode uncovers the way Yale preserves the tradition of storytelling through the popular class English 1020. As a literary essay class that centers on personal narrative, how does it strengthen students’ ability to write, communicate and engage?

Guests: Jennifer Stock ’03, Jack Hanson GRD ’24, Kimberly Shirkhani, Miriam Syoum ’29, Courtney Tetteh-Martey ’29

Producers: Amiya Vashi ’29, Andre Fa’aoso ’27 

Music: Blue Dot Sessions

Host Esmeralda Vasquez-Fernandez speaks to psychiatrist Paul Desan about Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as SAD. As Yale students hunkered down over the Fall and early Spring due to extreme cold and snow days, Desan delves into the science behind how weather changes and the winter darkness affects our moods. Desan also shares strategies for coping during these periods, and Vasquez-Fernandez speaks with students about how the weather has affected them and what they do to cope.

Guests: Paul Desan MED ’93, Carissa Alcaraz ’29, Annasophia Castillo ’29, Gabriella Mwangi ’29, Sean Yu ’29

Producers: Esmeralda Vasquez-Fernandez '28, Andre Fa’aoso '27

Music: Blue Dot Sessions  

In this episode, Amiya Vashi ’29 speaks to Jeremy Oldfield, Farm Manager of Field Academics at the Yale Farm. The Yale Farm and greater Yale Sustainable Food Program, YSFP, are integral parts of the Yale community, providing spaces for not only agricultural work but also food systems learning. This episode will cover what the YSFP brings to Yale, as well as ways to get involved. 

Guests: Jeremy Oldfield, Mara Klien ’27, Lawrence Tang ’26

Producers: Amiya Vashi ’29, Andre Fa’aoso ’27 

Music: Blue Dot Sessions 

Host Esmeralda Vasquez-Fernandez will be talking about veganism at Yale and the group responsible for tabling across campus - the Allied Scholars For Animal Protection.

Vasquez-Fernandez sits down with the Yale Chapter President Hannah Owens Pierre ’28, and Events Coordinator Allie Ruiz ’28 to discuss the organization and their tabling strategies. Vasquez-Fernandez also goes out on the field to gain student perspectives and wraps up with a conversation over the phone with Allied Scholars' founder, Dr. Faraz Harsini.

Many thanks to Belen Mendoza Cortes ’28, Justin Fan ’28 and Victoria Cantu ’28 for sharing their thoughts and experiences on this topic.

Producer: Esmeralda Vasquez-Fernandez, Andre Fa’aoso

Music: Blue Dot Sessions 

This episode uncovers the varied experiences and challenges of transfer students when making their shift to Yale. Host Esmeralda Vasquez-Fernandez sits down with Hana Tilksew ’28, Armando Encinas ’28 and Danielle Kabboul ’28 who share their transfer journeys thus far. They also discuss the opportunities they are delving into on Campus and the mix of reactions they receive from other students when premising they are transfers. Collectively, they share insights on adjusting and thriving at Yale after previously starting college at vastly different institutions across the country.

Guests: Hana Tilksew '28, Armando Encinas '28 and Danielle Kabboul '28  

Producer: Esmeralda Vasquez-Fernandez and Andre Fa'aoso

Music: Blue Dot Sessions 

Evelyn Jiang ’26, a former Production & Design Editor at the News, and Maxwell Kiekhofer ’26 are frocos in Silliman College and Morse College respectively. Listen in as host Joanne Lee ’26 talks with Evelyn and Maxwell about their experiences as frocos, reflect on their time at Yale, and offer advice to Yale’s Class of 2029.

Edited and Hosted by Joanne Lee, produced by Andre Fa'aoso.

Steven Rourick '27, a sophomore in Silliman, is best known as the "Taylor Swift guy" for singing Taylor Swift songs as he walks around campus. Join us as host Xavier Guaracha '25 talks with Steven about the origins of his music walks, his relationship with Taylor Swift's music, and the current musical landscape.

Producers: Xavier Guaracha '25 and Joanne Lee '26

Music: Blue Dot Sessions

Ivana Ramirez ’25 is a member of Whim and Rhythm and the group's rush manager. Join us for an episode where host Xavier Guaracha '25 speaks with Ivana about her a capella career, the history of Whim and Rhythm, and her most significant memories as a member of Yale’s acapella community. 

Producers: Xavier Guaracha '25 and Joanne Lee '26

Music: Blue Dot Sessions

In this episode, Andre Fa'aoso '27 and Gemard Guery '28 speak to Tina Li '27, who wrote an article about anxiety amongst First Generation Low-Income students at Yale who have to interact with the Yale Financial Aid Office for hardship and emergency grants. It is a difficult process that has issues, and we want this episode to elaborate on those hardships and the wider difficulties that students who receive financial aid face when interacting with the office.

Guests: Tina Li '27, Gia Cook '26

Producers: Andre Fa'aoso '27, Gemard Guery '28, Joanne Lee '26, Camila Perez '26

Music: Blue Dot Sessions

Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at Woolsey Hall in 1959. At a time when Yale was highly segregated, King challenged students to resist complacency and protest the unjust conditions of segregation. How did Yale answer his call? This episode examines how Yale students, administration, and alumni engaged with King and the civil rights movement.

Written and produced by Jonas Losel '27, with production help and editing from Grace Ellis '25, Joanne Lee '26, and Camila Perez '26. Music is by Blue Dot Sessions.