UConn 360: The UConn Podcast

How Seemingly Senseless Acts Make Life Worthwhile

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

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

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

“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

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

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

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

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

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?

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