macalester talks podcasts

May 2009

Mommy Wars. Anthropology Professor Dianna Shandy talks about her forthcoming book Glass Ceilings and 100 Hour Couples, which she co-authored with Economics Professor Karine Moe, Shandy and Moe interviewed professional women who chose to opt out of the professional workforce to stay home with their children. listen

Kofi Annan '61 holds a Q&A with students on Wednesday, May 20. Listen»

Commencement speech by Tonderai Chikuhwa '96, "Turmoil and Possibilities--A Worldview from Macalester to Darfur" Listen»

Senior Commencement speech by Andrew Ver Steegh Listen»

Senior Send off Lecture. Economics Professor Vasant Sukhatme delivered the address to seniors. Listen»

Does anybody remember Hurricane Katrina? Sophomore Kyera Singleton spent a week with other Macalester students in New Orleans, a city which she says is divided. One part, she says, looks as though a hurricane never hit while the 9th District looks like the storm was yesterday. listen»

April 2009

Khmer Rouge Peace Project. Alumna Leah Roth-Howe '08 organized workshops for Cambodians who suffered through the Khmer Rouge genocide and for children that had yet to learn about the history. The project took some unexpected turns but ultimately it proved to be a healing experience. listen»

What is a global citizen? Shantee Rosado '09, winner of this year's Global Citizenship Student Award, shares her views on the topic and her aspirations for life after Macalester. listen»

March 2009

How are women in sports faring? Vanessa Seljeskog, athletics, talks about the importance of sports in the life of women and how families can encourage youth to participate. listen»

"We tend to demonize humans but don't humanize demons," says Marlon James about his characters in the novel The Book of Night Women, which has received rave reviews. The novel takes place in 18th century Jamaica and follows a group of seven women living as slaves on a plantation. In this episode, he talks about his inspiration for the novel and how to write about atrocities such as slavery. listen»

Frank Adler, Political Science, has researched the role of Israel's Mizrahim, Jews who for millennia were deeply rooted in the region, but were summarily expelled from Arab states after the state of Israel was founded in 1948. Professor Adler examines the "orientalist" discrimination that Mizrahim suffered in Israel, but also raises the possibility that both as Jews and Arabs, the Mizrahim might serve as a bridge to regional reconciliation. listen

February 2009

Professor Vasant Sukhatme, economics, gives listeners a brief history of events that has led to the current economic crisis, which he calls a crisis of confidence. listen»

January 2009

Professor Kendrick Brown, psychology, talks about his research on interracial friendships and what he has discovered from it. listen»

Professor Adrienne Christiansen, who is the director of the Jan Serie Center for Scholarship and Teaching, tells us what it takes to be a good teacher. listen»