Soundaffect

A Civil Rights activist and world-renowned poet, Nikki Giovanni's journey led her from Knoxville, TN to the forefront of the late 1960s Black Arts Movement. On the path she fell in love with hospitals and space, befriended gangsters and nuns, and determined that writing is not about keeping score - but it is about making a point.

Richard Blanco earned his engineering license and MFA in poetry in the same year. Within a short time, he found himself among a group of only five poets who have read their works at a United States presidential inauguration. Through the fame, the newfound career success as a poet, and the book tours and speaking engagements, he keeps it real.

What happens when the FEMA Administrator and a water quality expert and biology professor start talking about resiliency and the effects of climate change? The discussion moves from what it's like being on the front lines of America's worst disasters, to the interplay of environmental, social and economic resiliency, to how Appalachian is cultivating resilient students.

Constitutional law scholar and radio show host Stewart Harris considers the First Amendment protection of speech and expression, and how they play out on college campuses.

The Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr., shares lessons from his experiences as an activist a politician and an advocate, and stories of his days working alongside Martin Luther King, Jr. in the Civil Rights movement, his two runs for president and his current work to encourage young people to vote.

Dr. Damon Williams, chief catalyst and founder of the Center for Strategic Diversity Leadership & Social Innovation, joins Megan Hayes to talk about leadership, possibility and the imperatives of diversity, equity, inclusion, change and the centennial generation.

Author and Co-Founder of Biomimicry 3.8 Janine Benyus sits down with host Megan Hayes to explain the art and science of biomimicry and how nature may hold the key to the biggest scientific and social challenges of our time.

Robert Haswell and Dr. Darrell Kruger, geography scholars from South Africa who now hold leadership positions in local government and academia, respectively, discuss the unifying power of rugby, monuments to a nation's troubled history and lessons learned from Nelson Mandela.

Prize-winning poet Jehanne Dubrow reads from her books “Dots and Dashes" and "Stateside," and talks with host Megan Hayes about society's view of the military spouse, the power of the arts, grief, mint chocolate bayonets and the importance of a good haircut.

University Communication's Dave Blanks interviews Chitra Divakaruni about her book "One Amazing Thing." The book was chosen for Appalachian's 2017-2018 Common Reading Program.

Megan Hayes, Troy Tuttle, Garrett Ford and Dave Blanks chat in studio and share their favorite moments in UComm podcast history.

Dr. Nikolas Jordan, Associate Dean of the Reich College of Education and licensed marriage and family therapist, gets real about getting real, taking risks, screwing up and - very importantly - staying in relationship.

Dr. Nancy Love, political scientist who teaches critical, democratic and feminist theory at Appalachian, explores how music motivates, and our responsibility to recognize its power.

First Amendment advocate Dr. Lee Bird urges students at Appalachian State University and on campuses everywhere to engage in dialog, especially when they don’t agree.

Hear FIRE founder Robert Shibley on why freedom of speech must be protected and how Appalachian students and administrators can be sure it is.

Hear David Pilgrim encourage Appalachian State University to “jump in the water” and get involved with race, diversity and multiculturalism issues.

Critically-acclaimed comedian and sociopolitical explorer, W. Kamau Bell gets real about humor and social change, and why both are important.

Chef and activist Bryant Terry gets pragmatic about healthy eating and why access to healthy, affordable food is a social justice issue we all need to understand.

Hear Jon Ronson on the phenomenon of public shaming via social media. Have we come that far from the stocks in the public square? Is Twitter our new scarlet letter?

In a recent visit to Appalachian State University’s podcast studio, one of America’s foremost African American voices, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, shares his thoughts on 21st-century activism, and the value of empathy.