UConn 360: The UConn Podcast

Episode 126: Off to Mars…Via Houston! Nov 13, 2024

Jason Lee, an associate professor in the College of Engineering at UConn, has wanted to travel into space since he was a child. He got a chance to do that for 45 days – without ever leaving earth! For 45 days, Lee, lived in NASA’s Human Exploration Research Analog habitat at Houston’s Johnson Space Center, participating in a simulated journey to Mars. He and three others operated in a constrained environment, completing mission-critical tasks, conducting repairs, viewing Martian landscapes through virtual reality, and making communication attempts with Mission Control. Lee talks to the UConn 360 podcast all about the experience, including what it was like to stay in touch with family and friends, what the diet was for the crew, and the future of space travel.

Episode 125: Cheese, Glorious Cheese Oct 30, 2024

UConn is known around the country for great academics, championship basketball and the greatest ice cream you can find. Now, award-winning cheese can be added to that list! Cheeses produced at UConn’s Creamery have recently won major awards in national and regional contests, including winning a first prize at the American Cheese Society Annual Judging and Competition. Dennis D’Amico, associate professor of animal science, joins us to talk about the cheese making process at UConn, and also brought some samples along for your UConn 360 hosts to sample and enjoy. Jacie Severance from University Communications is a guest co-host this episode and started off by sharing a few of her favorite cheese puns!

Episode 124: Hoop Dreams Oct 16, 2024

Coach Tom Moore is entering his 20th season (during two stints) on the UConn men’s basketball coach staff and has been part of four national championships with the Huskies. He has been involved in college basketball at every level – a head coach in Division I and III and an assistant coach in Division I and II. He talks to us about the similarities, and differences, between Dan Hurley and Jim Calhoun and what it is like coaching in the age of NIL and the transfer portal. Moore also looks back on his background growing up in Central Massachusetts and how being a sports writer was his original calling in college.

Episode 123: Holocaust Education Oct 02, 2024

Alan Marcus is a professor in UConn’s Neag School of Education and among his areas of focus is global education with an emphasis on the Holocaust and teaching difficult history. Last year, he led a program at E.O. Smith High School in Storrs that Taught lessons about the Holocaust and larger issues of identity. The program, which was also offered to local members of the community, consisted of interactive experiences with Holocaust survivors, a virtual tour of a Holocaust concentration camp, and a photography exhibit featuring E.O. Smith teachers and staff members in their life way from school. Marcus talks about how social media has affected the way the Holocaust is thought of in these times and what the future of this program might be.

Episode 122: Meet Our Dean of Students Sep 20, 2024

Fany DeJesus Hannon serves as the Dean of Students and absolutely loves her job…and UConn students. A native of Honduras, she embraces her Latino heritage and applies it to how she and her office help Huskies succeed. The Dean of Students office works with virtually every area of campus to help undergraduates get the most of their college experience. Fany looks at college as a “family business” and encourages parents and guardians to be active participants at UConn. She has been part of the UConn family for 18 years and is the former director of the Puerto Rican/Latin American Cultural Center. Fany even told us the Latino cuisine she like to eat when she visits her family in Florida!

Episode 121: Helping Huskies Earn Scholarship and Fellowships Sep 04, 2024

It’s the second week of classes on all of UConn campuses and our guest on this week’s UConn 360 podcast is busier than ever. Vin Moscardelli is the director of the Office of National Scholarships & Fellowships, which helps identify students for such honors as the Rhodes, Fulbright, Truman and Udall programs. Moscaredelli’s office guides students through the application process and has some great stories about how some scholars have found out they are winners. Moscardelli also tells us about his background and his time as a political science professor and what that is like during this time of political division. He’s also a huge college sports fan and we talk about his favorites!

Episode #120: A Real Pain in the Knee Aug 21, 2024

Neal Glaviano is an assistant professor at UConn in the Department of Kinesiology and serves as the clinical education coordinator for the master’s in athletic training program. He works with a number of areas on campus ranging from athletics to ROTC. Neal joins us in this episode and talks about treatments for knee pain for everyone from college athletes to members of the military to weekend warriors. He explained how a shoulder injury sustained as a high school football player first got him interested in athletic training. Neal also provides advice to parents on how their child can try to avoid injuries and how playing a variety of sports growing up is helpful.

Episode 119: A Firefighter for UConn... and Beyond Aug 07, 2024

UConn Deputy Fire Chief Chris Renshaw is involved in virtually every aspect of campus life. He is a key part of the Division of University Safety whose mission is to make sure the entire campus community is safe on a day-to-day basis. Chris is also heavily involved in special occasions like a Presidential visit and sporting events. When he’s not keeping UConn safe, he’s been known to travel around the country for the safety of others as he helps battle large forest fires. He also chatted with us about the long and proud history of the UConn Fire Department and how rare it is for a University to have its own department.

Episode 118: Researching the Arctic Jul 24, 2024

UConn faculty have performed research all over the globe, but few have gone to a more remote place than professor of marine science Penny Vlahos. Vlahos, along with two other UConn researchers, travelled to the Arctic in May of 2023 to gather samples from sea ice that is expected to be extinct by 2040 and gather clues about our future without it. She shares details about the logistics of traveling to that region of the world and stories of other research trips she has taken around the globe. Vlahos also talks about what she likes to do in her free time, including baking bread!

Episode 117: Hittin’ the Links with Coach Pezzino Jul 10, 2024

UConn golf coach Dave Pezzino has been on campus for 17 seasons and has led the elevation of the program to the national scene. He joins us on the latest version of the UConn 360 podcast to talk about that climb and what it is like to be part of the overall Husky culture. Coach Pezzino also gives us some insight on his experience playing alongside Tiger Woods one day, what it is like to be the father of two pairs of twins and what UConn 360 co-host Izzy Harris should concentrate on the next time she hits the driving range!

Episode 116: The New Kids…and Children’s Lit Jun 26, 2024

The UConn 360 podcast is back…with some new co-hosts. Izzy Harris and Mike Enright of University Communications have taken over the reins of UConn 360 and hope to live up the high standards of information and entertainment provided by colleagues Tom Breen and Julie Bartucca. In this first (or 116th) episode, Izzy and Mike introduce themselves to the audience and then are joined by Professor Victoria Ford Smith of the Department of English, who is an expert on classic children’s literature, Robert Louis Stevenson and a slew of other topics.

Goodbye - or Maybe Au Revoir? Jan 31, 2024

After six years, 115 episodes, two national awards, and countless memories that will last a lifetime, UConn 360 is going on indefinite hiatus. Does this mean you'll never again hear from the only podcast known to science that covers the University of Connecticut from every conceivable angle? Probably not! Who knows? The future is unwritten, as Tom's favorite band once observed. So put on your best UConn sweater, scoop yourself a bowl of Dairy Bar ice cream, and join us for a stroll down memory lane as we bid adieu - for now - to what we once advertised on UConn buses as "the only podcast in the world."

The Politics of Wild Weather Nov 15, 2023

From raging wildfires in Canada to record rainfall in New York City to an out-of-nowhere hurricane slamming into Mexico, 2023 has been yet another year with abundant evidence that our weather is getting harder to predict - and disasters harder to manage - as the planet continues to heat. Talbot Andrews, assistant professor of political science, focuses on how institutions, public policy, and the physical environment shape preferences and behavior related to climate change. She uses a combination of experiments, public opinion data, and formal theory to answer questions such as: When do people believe in climate change? When are they willing to support climate change mitigation policies?

She sat down with UConn 360 to talk about extreme weather and public policy, and, while it's a sobering topic, delivers an optimistic message.

After that, UConn 360 travels back to 1989, to discover what it means to be a Suitcase Campus.

How Hip Hop Conquered the World Oct 18, 2023

This year marks the 50th anniversary of hip hop, which emerged from block parties in the South Bronx to become the dominant form of popular music in the United States and beyond. How did this unlikely underdog story happen? What kind of changes to the music and culture have taken place over five decades? What do you do when Chuck D from Public Enemy keeps giving you the brushoff? To answer these questions and more, there's no one better qualified than Professor of History Jeffrey Ogbar, director of the Center for the Study of Popular Music and author of the award-winning book, “Hip-Hop Revolution: The Culture and Politics of Rap." In one of the most fun and wide-ranging conversations in the illustrious history of UConn 360, he lends his insights into how this vital expression of the Black experience in the US became the dominant mode of popular music, and why it remains urgent and fresh after 50 years.

After that, Tom and Julie journey back to the late 1970s to learn about how UConn was responding to the energy crisis: with chilly buildings, solar panels, and carpools that made lifelong friendships.

How You Like Them Apples? Oct 04, 2023

Once upon a time, UConn was home to abundant orchards - where Gampel Pavilion sits now, and later at the Cold Spring Orchard not too far away. It's been many years since UConn grew its own apples, pears, and other tree fruit, but that's about to change.

The Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources is working to revive UConn's status as an orchard-having university, and this time, in addition to apples, there will be an impressive variety of fruits both familiar and new. Here to tell us all about these efforts is Evan Lentz, assistant extension educator of fruit production and integrated pest management. Evan graduated from UConn in 2022 with his master's in plant science and before that earned his bachelor's here in sustainable plant and soil systems.

After we speak with Evan, Tom and Julie find a University guide to managing email from the dawn of the Internet era, and see how much has changed since then.

Reliving UConn’s Dream Season Sep 06, 2023

It may seem hard to believe, as we bask in the glow of a fifth national championship, but there was a time when the UConn men's basketball team was little more than an afterthought.
The Huskies had joined the newly created Big East Conference in 1979, which coincidentally would be the last time they'd play in the NCAA tournament for more than a decade. A doormat in the best basketball conference in the country, UConn's fortunes would only start to change when they hired a new head coach in 1986.
In his second year at UConn, Jim Calhoun led the Huskies to a victory in the National Invitation Tournament, their first ever national championship. But it would be the 1989-90 season that would capture the imagination of the entire state and announce UConn's arrival as a national contender.
The Dream Season, as it's become known, saw the Huskies reach their first NCAA tournament since 1979, a run capped off by the unforgettable Sweet 16 victory over Clemson, won in the very last second by a Tate George jump shot.
It would all end in tears in the following round against Duke, but even though the Huskies would cut down the nets five times in the next 33 years, that season retains a special place in the hearts of UConn fans.
Matt Edwards is one of those fans. But unlike most fans, he's not content to simply cherish his memories.
Since April 2022, Matt has been producing the Dream Season Podcast, an in-depth oral history of the 1989-90 season, featuring interviews with players, coaches, and journalists who relive that incredible time and offer their insights on what made it so special.

After the interview, Matt sticks around while we answer a history question he posed on Twitter: What's the story behind a UConn-related publication with a memorable name that we're not sure we can say on the podcast?

Learning to Live in the Anthropocene Jul 12, 2023

Tom and Julie get a break this week from their hectic podcast production schedule when colleague Elaina Hancock interviews Professor of Earth Sciences Robert Thorson - known far and wide as "Thor" - whose expertise runs from Henry David Thoreau to New England stone walls to cutting-edge geology. In this interview, Elaina and Prof. Thorson talk about the "Anthropocene" - the current age the earth finds itself in, when human civilization is bringing unprecedented changes to the climate and environment. What does it mean to live in a time when people are a leading factor in shaping the very conditions of life on Earth?

Meanwhile, Tom and Julie travel back to a lost age of slightly less dramatic scope: the age of public access television. There, they discover that UConn Waterbury once had its own regular show on cable systems throughout Connecticut, episodes of which seem to be lost, much to our hosts' chagrin.

Getting It Right on Substance Use Disorder Jun 07, 2023

Nationally, about 12% of children live with a parent who abuses alcohol or other drugs, and about 80% of parents in the child welfare system have substance use disorder.

Margaret Lloyd Sieger is an Assistant Professor in the UConn School of Social Work who teaches courses in substance use disorder, research, program evaluation, and social policy. Her professional and practice background includes clinical work with children and adolescents affected by parental addiction at the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and as a civil litigation paralegal. She now studies mothers and infants with prenatal substance exposure, child protection policies and systems, and family treatment courts.
Professor Lloyd Sieger is leading Connecticut's evaluation of the implementation of the federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, known as CAPTA, which requires states to collect notifications when infants are born and found to have been exposed to certain drugs in utero.

In this episode, she talks about Connecticut's national-model data gathering system on substance abuse disorder, how to help make social workers' lives easier, and what it's like to be part of drafting a new law.

On this month's visit to Tom's History Corner, we talk about some big anniversaries for UConn, involving intra-university lawsuits, an especially momentous day in the life of Charles Lewis Beach, and the last class in University history who could truthfully say they earned their sheepskins.

How Seemingly Senseless Acts Make Life Worthwhile May 03, 2023

Dimitris Xygalatas is an anthropologist and cognitive scientist who studies some of the more peculiar aspects of what it means to be human: ritual, music, sports fandom, and other things that help people connect with each other and make sense of their lives. He is an associated professor in anthropology and psychological sciences at UConn, and the head of the Experimental Anthropology Lab.
His most recent book is “Ritual: How Seemingly Senseless Acts Make Life Worth Living,” which is available wherever you can get books. We’ve been trying to make this interview happen for a while, and we’re thrilled it happened for this great conversation about personal superstition, public ritual, and why it sort of makes sense to wear the same pair of underwear during a historic NCAA tournament run. After we speak with Professor Xygalatas, Tom and Julie break out the UConn History Bagatelles and indulge in the decadent fantasy of dedicated parking.

We Are the Champions, My Friend Apr 05, 2023

Hey! Have you heard that the UConn Huskies men's basketball team are YOUR 2023 NCAA national champions? OF COURSE YOU HAVE. In this episode, recorded hours after the final game, Julie and Tom talk about it in a very sleep-deprived way that will either capture the lingering excitement of the moment or make you wonder if the fumes from the soundproof paneling have started to finally get to us.

Then, professionalism kicks in once again, and we have a fascinating chat with Nidhi Nair '23 (CLAS), UConn's first-ever Schwarzman Scholar and someone with a keen grasp of economics in both the macro and micro arenas. In this wide-ranging discussion, we talk about how she started an effort to boost financial literacy among her fellow students, the United Nations COP26 conference in Glasgow which she attended as a student fellow, her future plans to study in China, and much more.

We then travel back to the magical summer of 1966 to learn about the best spots on campus to listen to recordings and check out pamphlets. Take a listen!

Perception Matters: Supreme Court Edition Mar 01, 2023

This week, we sit down with UConn School of Law Dean Eboni S. Nelson for a wide-ranging discussion on everything from the U.S. Supreme Court to the future of legal education. Dean Nelson, who arrived at UConn in July 2020, says that the growing public impression of the nation's top court as essentially a political body doesn't bode well for its ability to fulfill its mission as ultimate arbiter of the country's laws. She also talks about an anticipated Court decision that could radically change the college admissions process, the importance of diverse viewpoints and backgrounds on the Court, and what she wants to see happen at UConn Law as it enters its second century.

After that, the band gets back together when Ken Best returns, IN STUDIO, to talk about a new exhibition he curated at Homer Babbidge Library on the history of rock and roll. Ken has forgotten more about rock music than most of us will ever learn, so don't miss either this conversation or the exhibit, which runs through June.

A Big Mountain to Climb: Neurodivergency and the Workplace Feb 01, 2023

“Neurodiversity” has become a familiar term across American society, but mere awareness of autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia, dysgraphia, and other neurological differences doesn’t mean much for the people who live with these – especially when it comes to finding work.

Studies differ on exact numbers, but the unemployment rate among neurodivergent people (a more precise term than neurodiversity) is definitely higher than among the overall population, probably by a double-digit factor.

“It’s not just awareness,” says Judy Reilly, Judy Reilly, the director of the Werth Institute’s Center for Neurodiversity & Employment Innovation at UConn. “The heavy lift is really in, Ok, so now what do we do? How do we build a process to include these candidates better for the jobs they’re talented enough to do, and then how do we support them when we hire them?”

The new Center, under Reilly, is at the forefront of a growing move in higher education and the American workplace to appreciate the skills and talents of neurodivergent individuals, and create environments where they can succeed.

In this episode of UConn 360, Reilly talks about the shifting landscape in employment, the challenges of culture change in the workplace, and the reasons she’s so passionate about her work.

Then, in this episode's installment of Tom's History Shelf, Tom and Julie discover which building is the oldest on the UConn campus, and explain why it isn't the one you might be thinking of.

The Person Who Makes Sure UConn is Picture-Perfect Dec 28, 2022

If you've ever looked at a copy of UConn Magazine, visited the UConn Today website, or received any UConn-related material in the mail, you've probably seen the work of Peter Morenus. University photographer for nearly three decades, Morenus has photographed everyone from first-year students on their first day moving in to U.S. presidents. Here, he talks with UConn 360 about some of his most memorable assignments, the changes he's seen in photography since he started out as a freelancer in New York putting rolls of film on Greyhound buses, and even a little bit of K-Pop. Also, Julie and Tom discuss where on campus you can find a really old bog.

First Year Programs and the Limo Code Oct 19, 2022

In this episode, we sit down (finally in our real studio!) with Leo Lachut '89, Director of Academic Support and Assistant Director of First Year Programs and Learning Communities. A first-generation college student himself, Leo talks about how, while student needs have remained roughly the same since his undergraduate days, the resources to help them succeed have vastly expanded.

But there's another side to Leo Lachut: a limousine-driving side. Moonlighting as a limo driver since he was in graduate school, Leo tells us about the 'Limo Code,' and the time he almost found himself on a Broadway stage by accident.

Tom and Julie round out this episode by reminding people not to spell "UConn" in all capital letters, in hopes of furthering a surprisingly intense online debate.

The Case for Not Despairing Over the Fate of the Earth Aug 31, 2022

We're joined by Michael Willig, executive director of the Institute of the Environment and a Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, who talks about why he doesn't lose hope even in the face of grim news about the climate and environment. One of the things that encourages him is the work that UConn is doing on a number of fronts, which he tells us about. He also discusses what it was like to start his field career in a remote corner of Brazil, and how that taught him about more than just evolutionary biology. Afterwards, we travel back to the Golden Age of Radio to meet a UConn professor reluctant to relive his childhood celebrity.

The ’Black Superwoman’ Dilemma Jul 27, 2022

In this episode, Dr. Loneke Blackman Carr discusses the multiple caregiver role experienced by many Black women. She describes this as "The Black Superwoman Phenomenon,” which essentially means they keep their families and communities afloat, but to the detriment of their own health. Her research is the first study to examne this role specifically in the context of a weight loss intervention. We also talk about the culture around weight loss more broadly, and how it fits into our evolving understanding of holistic health and body positivity. Then, in the latest installment of the History Shelf, Tom and Julie discuss the origin of a singles club strictly for UConn employees.

Folks, We Are 100 Jun 29, 2022

It's been a little over four years since UConn 360's humble origins in a conference room on North Eagleville Road, and now we have 100 episodes under our award-winning belts. Join us for a star-studded celebration that includes such beloved characters from the UConn 360 Cinematic Universe as co-founder Ken Best, who tells us about an exhibit he's working on that will be on display in Homer Babbidge Library; former student worker extraordinaire Maxine Philavong '20, who fills us in on her life in the Big Apple and delivers the stunning news that UConn 360 was actually helpful in pursuing a post-graduation career; and Steve Winchell '08, podcaster, artist, all-around great guy, and UConn 360 super fan, who offers some sure-to-be provocative thoughts on which dorms on campus are the best.

Online archive of Ken's WHUS radio show "Good Music": https://spinitron.com/WHUS/show/6021/Good-Music

Maxine's podcasting work: https://www.trainerroad.com/blog/author/maxine/

Steve Winchell on Twitter: @SAWinchell

What’s in Your Medicine Cabinet? Jun 15, 2022

Many people probably think they know exactly what's in the dietary supplements and even prescription medications they take. Many people are WRONG. Professor C. Michael White, head of the Department of Pharmacy Practice, drops by to tell us about flaws in the FDA oversight process when it comes to medications, counterfeit drugs, and how dietary supplements can pose real risks to people. And, in this installment of Tom's History Corner Cabinet, Tom and Julie unearth a letter from an alumna that details what it was like to play basketball in cumbersome bloomers.

Some of Professor White's articles and commentary can be found here: C. Michael White – The Conversation

Park Week Jun 01, 2022

Hartford native Frederick Law Olmsted is famous for his work in designing Central Park, but he was also a driving force behind human-shaped landscapes from Niagara Falls State Park to Smith College to the Institute of Living. Sohyun Park, assistant professor in the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, recently cohosted a symposium on Olmsted as part of a year-long celebration of the 200th anniversary of his birth. Park tells us about the lessons Olmsted's work holds for landscape architects today, from public accessibility to social justice.

Tom and Julie also spend some time pondering the difference between AM and FM, and Tom makes a rash promise to file a public records request.

Pursuing History, from Israel to Eastern Connecticut May 18, 2022

Stuart Miller, a professor of Hebrew, History, and Judaic Studies and Academic Director of the Center for Judaic Studies and Contemporary Jewish Life, has been a force at UConn since 1982. Professor Miller is an expert in the history and literature of the Jews of Roman and Late Antique Palestine and throughout his career has worked closely with archaeologists, having served for many years on the staff of the Sepphoris Regional Project in Israel. Now, as he prepares to retire, we get a chance to talk with him about his remarkable career, touching on everything from the evolution of Judaic studies to the essence of the professorship to the peculiar thrill of being associated with an ancient toilet.

Read the article about the excavation in Chesterfield here.

Schoolhouse Showdown: The Fight(s) Over American Education May 04, 2022

Preston Green is a professor of educational leadership and law at the University of Connecticut and the John and Maria Neag Professor of Urban Education at the Neag School of Education. He's a nationally recognized expert on school choice, charter schools, and the complex legal landscape of American public education. He's also a great follow on Twitter, and a fun person to talk to about issues that are at the forefront of American politics. He stops by this week to talk about the Supreme Court, charter schools, the fight over school curricula, and more. And, with commencement hoving into view, Tom and Julie take a look back at the "naughty generation" of 1927.

Master of Puppets Apr 20, 2022

John Bell is an associate professor in the Department of Dramatic Arts, the director of the Ballard Institute & Museum of Puppetry, and one of the most fun guests we've ever had. He stopped by to tell us about the astonishing diversity of puppeteering traditions, the everyday objects that serve as puppets without being thought of that way, and even why some people are creeped out by puppets. He also fills us in on some great opportunities to watch live performances on campus by the world-famous Bread and Puppet Theater in April.

Blue and White, Blue and Yellow: A UConn Student Responds to the Invasion of Ukraine Apr 06, 2022

This week we return to the fabled UConn 360 Studio for a talk with Victoria Kostour '22, a first-generation Ukrainian-American and the president of the Ukrainian Student Association. She tells us what it's been like to watch the war in Ukraine from here in the United States, how she and her fellow students have responded with activism and organizing, and how the UConn community has supported her. We also find a very old copy of the Daily Campus, which helps us learn about a bygone campus protest and a mysterious restaurant with a gruesome name.

Facing Anti-Asian Hate in and out of Academia Mar 23, 2022

This week we're joined by Jason Oliver Chang, Associate Professor of History and Asian American Studies, to talk about the pop-up course on anti-Asian racism he helped create for UConn; the increase in anti-Asian racist incidents and attacks since the start of the pandemic; and the role of scholarship in maintaining a strong democracy. We also take a stroll on Tom's History Sidewalk (real name pending) to the first visit by a foreign head of state to UConn.

Healthy Democracy, Healthy People Mar 09, 2022

This week, we sit down with Tanya Rhodes Smith, director of the Nancy A. Humphreys Institute for Political Social Work in the UConn School of Social Work. She tells us about how social work is inherently political, how social workers can help make positive changes for individuals and society, and how research indicates that higher rates of voter participation correlate with better overall health in people. Also, back by semi-popular demand, we journey into the mists of UConn's past for a new installment of something we're not calling Tom's History Corner.

Meet the Man Behind those Horsebarn Hill Sunsets Feb 23, 2022

This week, we talk with Milton Levin '04 Ph.D., Associate Research Professor in the Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, about his research work, but also about the thing UConn's roughly 90,000 Instagram followers will recognize instantly: his breathtaking pictures of campus locations, especially Horsebarn Hill. Professor Levin tells us how he got interested in photography, what it's like to teach yourself to pilot a drone, and what he looks for when he goes for a walk and brings his camera along.

Celebrating 50 Years of PRLACC Feb 09, 2022

This week, we welcome Fany Hannon, Director of the Puerto Rican/Latin American Cultural Center, which is celebrating its golden anniversary this year. Fany talks about how the Center emerged from the civil rights movement of the 1960s and 1970s, what it's been like trying to keep a student-oriented organization running during a global pandemic, and why so many generations of Latinx Huskies consider PRLACC a home away from home.

Building Strong Communities and Drinking Hot Sauce on Twitter Jan 26, 2022

In this episode, Matt Necci '03 (CLAS), an attorney and UConn Twitter all-star, talks about what it means to be really involved with a community, his work with the Husky Ticket Project, why he's optimistic about Hartford, and more. He also talks about what it was like to be in the scalding, vinegary center of the Hot Sauce Challenge phenomenon of spring 2021.

Behind the Scenes: Movie Magic Jan 12, 2022

Every year, UConn sends out a video celebrating the arrival of the holiday season - creative, funny, moving, and surprising, these videos are produced by the talented team at University Communications. On this week's episode, we interview videographer Angelina Reyes, the producer of the 2021 holiday video, to learn about what goes into turning a barn into a movie set, and what it's like to work with an actor named Geno Auriemma.

We‘re Back! Sort Of. A Little Bit. Maybe? Dec 08, 2021

It's been a minute! But now your favorite UConn-centric podcast is back-ish! Join Tom and Julie as we catch you up on what's been happening at UConn over the last six months, and talk about what comes next for UConn 360.

Our Puppets, Our Selves Jun 02, 2021

In our last episode before the big summer hiatus, we talk with Prof. Bart Roccoberton Jr. about his work using the puppet arts to build bridges between artists in the US and China; we hear from Sage Phillips '22 about her activism and scholarship on behalf of her fellow Native American students; and we go all the way back to 1881 to experience what a semester was like when UConn first opened its doors (hint: more compulsory prayer than would typically get today).

Sympathy for the Hate Man May 19, 2021

This week, our colleague Courtney Chandler talks with Dr. Sarita Arteaga, the associate dean for students at the UConn School of Dental Medicine, about the challenge of recruiting a diverse group of future dentists; newly-hired assistant men's basketball coach Luke Murray talks about what makes a successful recruiter; and we learn the strange saga of the Hate Man, who generations of UConn students have to thank for giving them a big rock to paint.

The Show Must Go On May 05, 2021

This week, Allison Lombardi, an associate professor in the Department of Education Psychology, tells us about College and Career Readiness for Transition (CCR4T), a five-year measurement study that aims to evaluate high school students' preparation for their next steps; Stuart Brown, campus director of student services at UConn Waterbury, describes how he's been helping the Palace Theater during the pandemic with a little bit of Broadway buzz; and we go back to 1957, when students were so attached to a big rock that they were willing to do almost anything to save it. Plus: it's Tyler Silverio's last show, and we have summer plans for UConn 360!

A Long Time Coming Apr 21, 2021

This week, we talk with Ben Shaiken '10 (CLAS), who was elected to the Mansfield Town Council in 2015 and is now deputy mayor, about his work in the nonprofit world and the challenges faced by elected officials; and we head back to the 1940s to learn how long it takes, once committees get involved, for a good idea to reach fruition (hint: a long time).

A Case of U(Conn) Apr 07, 2021

This week, we're celebrating the 50th anniversary of Joni Mitchell's album "Blue" with music professor Peter Kaminsky, who has organized a virtual conference at UConn to explore the legacy of the landmark recording; we're talking with Aswad Thomas '15 MSW, national director of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, about how his experience as a victim of gun violence led him to a life of advocacy and activism; and we're going back to the 1930s to meet Harrison "Honey" Fitch, the first Black basketball player in UConn history, and the ugly encounter with racism he experienced that made national headlines.

Writing Through Dark Times Mar 24, 2021

This week, Crystal Maldonado '10 (CLAS) stops by to talk about how bleak times helped inspired her critically-acclaimed YA novel "Fat Chance, Charlie Vega"; we speak with History Professor Alexis Dudden about attempts to discredit the experience of women who were forced into sexual slavery during World War II; and we learn about the brief period in history when UConn experimented with running the kind of place where everybody knows your name.

The Battle of Horsebarn Hill Mar 10, 2021

This week, we talk with distinguished political commentator Stu Rothenberg '77 Ph.D. about the latest happenings in a sleepy little town called Washington, D.C.; in the latest installment of our Brave Space series, Political Science Prof. Christine Sylvester interviews Timothy Bussey '18 Ph.D. about their work in the diversity, equity, inclusion and LGBTQIA+ fields; and we hear about a time not so long ago when the UConn community split over the proposed location of a vaccine research facility.

The Trouble With Phubbing Feb 24, 2021

This week, we talk to Ryan Allred '20 Ph.D. about "phubbing": the act of being too distracted by your phone to give your full attention to the person right in front of you. We also talk with Professor Nathanael Okpych about his book "Climbing a Broken Ladder," which provides insight into how children in foster care can be provided with better opportunities to succeed in college. Finally, we visit 1935, a time when the University was convulsed by debate over, well, debate itself.

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The Voice of the Huskies Feb 10, 2021

This week, we hear from a voice that's very familiar to Husky fans - John Tuite, the PA announcer whose booming tones are an inseparable part of the gameday experience. We also talk with Professor Sandra Chafouleas about ways parents can support their kids during the uncertainty and stress of pandemic-era schooling, and we learn about a member of the Class of 1941 who became a famous foe of the Luftwaffe.

Banquet Brawl Jan 27, 2021

This week, we speak with School of Fine Arts faculty members Cora Lynn Deibler and Earl MacDonald about the new collaborative work of animation "By Our Love"; student Tomaso Scotti tells us about what it's like to host the My First Year Story podcast; and we learn about a bygone student tradition that is probably best left in the past.

Stop the Car, There's a Nuclear War! Jan 13, 2021

This week, we talk with Prof. Sharde Davis and Mason Holland '23 (CLAS) about UConn's newly-launched course on antiblack racism; John Bell, director of the Ballard Institute & Museum of Puppetry drops by to talk about engineering and puppetry; and we learn about how the University prepared for nuclear attack at the dawn of the 1960s.

Sculpting a UConn Tradition Dec 23, 2020

This week, we talk with Larry Wasiele, the sculptor who created the iconic statue of Jonathan that stands in front of Gampel Pavilion, and we look back on a year that many of us would just as soon forget.

Buying Local, Listening Local, Newspapering Local Dec 09, 2020

This week, we hear from Kenneth Fuchs, professor of music composition, about his new recording with the United States Coast Guard Band; Donald Pendagast '20 MBA talks about how his Curated CT startup is helping local businesses; and we travel back to a time when a house ordered from a Sears catalog was the center of UConn student journalism.

Back to the Big East Nov 25, 2020

Big East basketball is back! We hear from a variety of voices about the significance of UConn's return to the conference where we became a national powerhouse; we talk to Avinoam Patt, Doris and Simon Konover Chair of Judaic Studies and Director of the Center for Judaic Studies and Contemporary Jewish Life, about the critical importance of understanding the Holocaust in relation to contemporary events; and we learn about the time UConn stood up for Keystone State Huskies.

A Building (Almost) Named Nate Nov 11, 2020

This week, we sit down with School of Law Professor John Aloysius Cogan Jr., who talks about why this week's arguments on the Affordable Care Act before the Supreme Court could be so critical; and we travel back to the mid-1970s to learn an iconic UConn building's original name.

Where Have All the Glide-O-Rides Gone? Oct 28, 2020

This week, we talk with History Prof. Manisha Sinha about the 2020 presidential election's significance within US history, as part of our ongoing Brave Space series; Political Science Prof. Evan Perkoski discusses his study of civil society's role in preventing (or worsening) mass violence; and we learn about homecoming traditions of days gone by.

Finding the Blues Oct 14, 2020

This week, we uncover a lost documentary about American blues legends, and learn about a time on campus when Spring Break meant students could finally take off their hats.

Supreme Deliberations Sep 30, 2020

This week, the Brave Space feature launches with Kelly Ha, a Master's of Social Work student who talks about her experiences as an Asian American and the #IAmNotaVirus campaign; we talk with Professor David Yalof about the future of the Supreme Court; and we learn what Mirror Lake replaced on campus.

Broadcasting Diverse Voices in Sports Sep 16, 2020

This week, Adam Giardino '11 (CLAS) tells us what he's doing to make the sports broadcasting world more welcoming and inclusive for diverse voices via a new scholarship and grant program; we meet new UConn 360 student worker Tyler Silverio '21 (CLAS); and Tom horses around ... historically.

Here Comes The Story of the Hurricane Sep 02, 2020

This week, we talk with Professor Caitlin Lombardi about how family income can adversely affect the development of math skills in children, and we learn about how the Hurricane of 1938 left an indelible mark on campus, but couldn't stop classes from being held.

Symbol of Might to the Foe Aug 19, 2020

This week, we sit down with UConn sports expert Mike Enright to go over some of the most memorable moments in Husky history, and we learn that the prehistory of Downtown Storrs is longer than we originally guessed.

The Great Grade-Change Caper Aug 05, 2020

This week, Professor Rachael Gabriel, director of the Neag School of Education's Reading and Language Arts Center, talks about what she's done to help students, parents, and teachers stay on top of reading education during the pandemic, and we learn about the fatal flaw in a plan to illegally change the grades of students.

The Tide Is In Jul 22, 2020

This week we sit down with alumna Lara Herscovitch '95 about balancing a career in social work with a career in writing and performing music; and we travel to storied Fort Trumbull to learn how UConn students there got the news out in the 1940s.

The Spirit of '49 Jul 08, 2020

This week, we hear from Coach Geno Auriemma; we meet Louis Goffinet '17, who launched a local charitable project in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; and we don mismatched Colonial uniforms to march alongside the mysterious UConn 49ers.

Dig This Episode, Literally! (Well, Not Literally) Jun 24, 2020

This week, UConn Humanities Institute Fellow Siavash Samei '19 PhD tells us about his work on archaeological digs in what used to be Mesopotamia, we learn about a class so good students deliberately flunked so they could take it again, and we almost forget to brag about an award.

A Nation in Turmoil Jun 10, 2020

With marches and protests in small towns and big cities across the country in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, a black man, by Minneapolis police officers, we convened a panel of UConn faculty members affiliated with the Africana Studies Institute to help us understand the events unfolding across the nation and the world. Joining us are Melina Pappademos, associate professor of history and Africana Studies and director of the institute; Sean Salvant, associate professor of English and Africana Studies; Bede Agocha, assistant professor in residence of psychological sciences and Africana Studies; and David Embrick, associate professor of sociology and Africana Studies.

Awopbopaloopbop AlopbamUConn May 27, 2020

This week, Professor Jeffrey Ogbar talks about the art and lasting influence of Little Richard, and we journey back to the 1940s, when a professor was on trial for suspected anti-American sympathies.

The Graduate May 13, 2020

This week we bid a bittersweet farewell to Maxine Philavong, who graduated from UConn on May 9. We also talk with Prof. Nu-Ahn Tran about her work in archives that shed new light on the origins of the Vietnam War, and learn about a week that convulsed the university in 1970.

Gamers, Graduates, 'Husky Farm Girls' Apr 29, 2020

This week, we check in with students who are building a Minecraft graduation for UConn seniors and we learn about life on campus in 1905 from the perspective of an original member of the women's basketball team.

Anatomically Correct Squids Apr 15, 2020

There's still a lockdown, we're still recording from four socially distant locations, and we're still bringing the high heat: this week, Prof. Sarah McAnulty talks to us about adorable squids and the genesis of the Skype-a-Scientist initiative, and we visit Maxine's History Corner to learn what UConn students were forbidden to do during the 1918-1920 flu pandemic (hint: pouches were involved).

Coronavirus Exile: Week One Apr 01, 2020

This week we come to you from four different towns across the great state of Connecticut, where the global pandemic has deposited us for the time being. We also hear from professor and landscape photographer Janet Pritchard about the Guggenheim Fellowship she won to document the Connecticut River watershed in photography, and we learn about the previous times when UConn was forced to cancel graduation ceremonies. Wash your hands and join us!

The Great Storrs Air Raid Mar 18, 2020

This week, we speak with Prof. Lucy Gilson about the ways in which business and research go together; we hear about how the Guerrilla Girls changed the way we think about art; and we look back on a very patriotic series of fires on the Storrs campus.

Keep On Truckin' Mar 04, 2020

This week, we learn about a student's innovative initiative to promote composting at UConn; we get a glimpse at an exhibition of work by the underground comics artist R. Crumb; and we ask ourselves if they built the library without calculating the weight of books (answer: this did not happen).

Radio Free UConn Feb 19, 2020

This week, we learn about the UConn Woodsmen, one of the most distinctive and interesting student groups on campus; Prof. Christopher Vials tells us why a new anthology on the history of anti-fascism is so timely; and we meet early radio pioneer Dan Noble, and ponder the call letters of UConn's first radio station.

The Future of Our Brains Feb 05, 2020

This week, UConn philosopher Susan Schneider tells us about some of the possible benefits of artificial intelligence, as well as some potentially terrifying downsides; Associate Dean of Engineering Daniel Burkey explains how the school became a nationally-lauded exemplar of diverse student recruitment; and Tom tells us about two incidents from 1960 involving flags you probably shouldn't hang out your window.

Benedict Arnold: Before He Was Lousy Jan 22, 2020

This week, we talk about UConn's participation in the first-ever Connecticut ice hockey festival; we learn about ways for UConn students to stay healthy; and we discover the significance of some skeletal remains found near a Revolutionary War battle site.

We've Reached the Boiling Point Jan 08, 2020

This week, Tom is MIA; Julie catches up with the ever-popular Regina Barreca, renowned humorist and Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor of English Literature; and Ken takes us inside the Boiling Point competition, part of UConn’s annual Culinary Olympics, scheduled this year for Tuesday, January 14.

Wrapping Up 2019 With a Bright Blue Bow Dec 25, 2019

This week, the gang takes stock of the year just about to pass, plays back some of our favorite stories, and discovers the antediluvian ancestor of UConn 360 itself.

Getting Litty With Dan Hurley Dec 11, 2019

This week, we talk with men's basketball coach Dan Hurley about UConn hoops, Madison Square Garden, and growing up in a basketball family; Jane O'Donnell takes us on a tour of the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology's Insect Collection; and travel back in time to a period when UConn was a ski destination (sort of).

Raised on Promises Nov 27, 2019

This week, we meet the UConn-trained historians behind the popular "American Girls" podcast; learn about research into the causes of child neglect; and discover the identity of the University's first-ever international student.

UConn's Other Basketball Powerhouse Nov 13, 2019

This week, Julie meets members of the successful Chinese Students and Scholars Association UConn basketball squad; Ken sets the stage for the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine's visit to the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts; and Tom talks about the time UConn bought 13,000 ice cream bars to help stop an epidemic.

Our Milkshake Brings All the Ghosts to the Yard Oct 30, 2019

This week, Student Podcast Assistant Extraordinaire Maxine Philavong takes the reigns for a spooktacular Halloween episode, interviewing UConn students about their costume choices, and providing a feature on the UConn Horror Club. We wrap things up with a rundown of historic Halloweens at UConn, and learn about the mystery of the "milkshake dance."

Don't Send in the Clowns Oct 16, 2019

This week, Political Science Prof. David Yalof gives us some valuable context on the history of impeachment and presidential scandals; Astronomy Prof. Jonathan Trump talks about the awe-inspiring nature of black holes; and we recall the night when campus was convulsed with clown panic.

How Not to Break the Law Oct 02, 2019

This week, Mike Chase '11 (LAW) tells us about his runaway success in giving people pointers on avoiding federal crimes; Matt DeBarco talks about teaching a one-of-a-kind class on the horticulture of cannabis; and Tom tells us about a place near campus that is definitely not haunted.

Chuck and Augie and Royal and Otis Sep 18, 2019

This week, we welcome UConn 360 student worker Maxine Philavong; we learn about the UConn Gaming Club from Ryan Marsh '20 (ENG); PhD candidate Rebecca Rowe discusses her research on the effect that animated characters can have on girls' ideas about body image; and we try, unsuccessfully, to determine which Storrs brother deserves the most credit for UConn.

The Land of Steady-ish Habits Sep 04, 2019

This week, Tom has gone walkabout, so Julie and Ken step up with a history-heavy episode: Prof. Altina Waller tells us about the famous Hatfield-McCoy feud, and Prof. Walter Woodward, Connecticut's state historian, provides some perspective on how Connecticut's past lines up with our present.

Our Manners, Our Selves Aug 21, 2019

This week, Prof. Andrea Voyer explains what the collected advice of Emily Post can tell us about society; Prof. Beth Taylor tells us why getting even five minutes a day of exercise can be a significant benefit in our lives; and we journey back to 1919 to find out why students were lining up in Hawley Armory to have someone look at their noses.

Dial 'D' For 'Dramaturg' Aug 07, 2019

This week, Prof. Lindsay Cummings tells us what it's like to be the dramaturg for the Connecticut Repertory Theatre; we meet the journalists of tomorrow at a summertime camp in Storrs; and we learn all about the fall and rise of the UConn Tech Park.

Talking Trash, But In a Scholarly Way Jul 24, 2019

This week, Karen McDermott tells us whether trash talk can actually make a difference in the outcome of an athletic competition; Emeritus Prof. Nicholas Bellantoni talks about what it's like to be Connecticut's Indiana Jones; and we hear about a proposed campus event from 1972 that is probably better off never having happened.

Special Celebrity Guest: The Good Boy of UConn Jul 10, 2019

This week, Prof. Arnold Dashefsky tells us what goes into the making of the American Jewish Year Book; no less a UConn personage than Jonathan XIV himself drops by the studio to give us the lowdown on being the university's favorite pooch; and we journey back to 1979 for a sense of basketball deja vu.

Puppet Pandemonium Jun 26, 2019

This week, UConn engineering students get Hartford's iconic Keney Memorial Clock Tower chiming once again; Prof. Bart Roccoberton Jr. reflects on his work with UConn's world-famous puppetry program; and the gang tries, and fails, to solve a mystery about the first women to attend the university.

UConn's Most Mysterious President (Or Was He?) Jun 12, 2019

It's almost Father's Day, and Prof. Kari Adamsons, an expert on fatherhood, gives us some perspective on how family roles are changing; visiting scholar Katherine Jewell talks to us about the growth and development of college radio; and we learn why there's an asterisk on the list of UConn presidents.

The Night They Drove Old Dairy Down May 29, 2019

This week, Terrence Mann and Matthew Pugliese drop by to talk about jukebox musicals and the Connecticut Repertory Theatre's summer season; friend of the podcast Graham Stinnett interviews some of his fellow archivists about the treasures held by UConn's Dodd Center; and we learn about the most serious ice cream crisis in university history.

Students, Scholars, and Masters May 15, 2019

This week, we meet superstar student Wanjiku (Wawa) Gatheru; learn about Prof. Ryan Watson's survey research focusing on LGBTQ teenagers; thank our lucky stars commencement ceremonies have changed since 1895; and salute a master in our midst.

A Look Back At the "Lady Principal" Era May 01, 2019

This week, Prof. John Redden talks about breaking down the invisible barriers between faculty and students; Prof. Fiona Vernal tells us about the long (and ongoing) struggle for affordable housing in the Hartford region; and we journey back to see what life at Storrs was like for the first women to attend classes at UConn.

A Song In Our Hearts Apr 17, 2019

This week we get musical, with student Jesus Cortes-Sanchez, who tells us about being a DREAMer and playing clarinet on a Grammy-winning album; with Prof. Robert Stephens, who talks about social protest in the music of the Gullah people of the southeastern U.S.; and with a Daily Campus editor who had to face the music in 1960 for editing an issue of the paper deemed "obscene."

Getting Muddy With the Wizard of Ooze Apr 03, 2019

This week, we talk about the trial of war criminal Ratko Mladic with Gladstein Visiting Professor of Human Rights Predrag Dojcinovic; Julie takes us inside a class at UConn Hartford where students are learning to be mindful; and Student Alumni Association President Bryan Kirby drops by to give us all the dirt on the annual spring tradition of Oozeball.

Revolution-Era Murderers Mar 20, 2019

This week, UConn football great Dan Orlovsky talks social media and UConn memories, History professor and Frederick Burkhardt Residential Fellow at UConn’s Humanities Institute Kate Grandjean regales us with the tale of notorious British loyalist serial killers Micajah and Wiley Harpe, and Tom's History Corner gets personal with perhaps the worst building occupation in UConn history (with the best results).

When Irish Fashion Swept the USA Mar 06, 2019

This week, Prof. Mary Burke tells us about how a John Wayne film helped set off an American passion for Irish fashion; Prof. Manisha Sinha explains that history is never as simple as we make it out to be, and we tip our cap to the Daily Campus for digging up a clue to the truth behind an enduring legend about Jonathan the Husky.

Episode 27: Yearbook? More Like Jeer-book Feb 20, 2019

This week, Prof. Scott Wallace talks about an exhibit of photographs and reports from his work as a war correspondent in Central America, student Tahj-Anthony Jean tells us how he became a restaurateur as the owner of Farmhouse Crepes, and we learn about how a UConn yearbook once became a flashpoint in a national debate about youth culture.

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