74. Pursuing Your Passion w/ Katie McNey

In Episode 74, Dan interviews Katie about her science fiction and fantasy novels, her background in medieval literature, her journey getting into podcasting, and her new role as a book writing coach.

73. Confronting Campus Rape Culture w/ Chris Belcher, Stephanie Renée Payne, & Jordan Broberg

Content Warning: Discussion of sexual and domestic violence, please listen with care. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual and/or domestic violence/abuse, you can find support through: RAINN & RSVP (for USC community). More resources available here. In Episode 73, Dan is joined by Writing Program faculty Chris Belcher & Stephanie Renee Payne, USC alum Jordan Broberg, andContinue reading “73. Confronting Campus Rape Culture w/ Chris Belcher, Stephanie Renée Payne, & Jordan Broberg”

72. Life After the Ph.D. w/ Dr. Steven Mentz, Dr. Meghan P. Nolan, Dr. Melissa Rampelli, & Dr. Daniel Dissinger

In Episode 72, Dr. Steven Mentz of the Saint John’s University English Department interviews three SJU Alums about what academic, writing, and teaching life is like after the Ph.D. This was a special episode for Dr. Mentz’s graduate theory course, and some of these questions come straight form his students

69. Practicing Mindful Entrepreneurship w/ Lloyd Cambridge

In Episode 69, Dan Dissinger talks to the founder of Progress Playbook, Lloyd Cambridge about practicing mindfulness to be a better entrepreneur and person, community building, and supplementing the gaps in higher education with experiential project-based learning. Lloyd J. Cambridge is the founder & CEO of Progress Playbook, a small business training and economic developmentContinue reading “69. Practicing Mindful Entrepreneurship w/ Lloyd Cambridge”

68. Building Your Story w/ Tanya Gough

In Episode 68, Dan Dissinger talks to the founder of StoryBilder, Tanya Gough, about breaking the rules for the sake of creativity, curating the first-ever Shakespeare on film catalog, and teaching English in Japan pre-internet. Tanya Gough has been an ESL teacher, a retail store owner, a corporate digital marketer, and a freelance content strategist,Continue reading “68. Building Your Story w/ Tanya Gough”

67. Learning to Adapt w/ Spencer Frankeberger

In Episode 67, Dan Dissinger talks with to Actor, Director, and Board Certified Music Therapist Spencer Frankeberger about adaptability in Music Therapy, how being scared of improv is the best reason to do improv, we discuss systemic ableism in standardized testing from the bar exam to the GREs, and this all somehow ends up inContinue reading “67. Learning to Adapt w/ Spencer Frankeberger”

66. Unpacking Cultural Anthropology w/ Sydney Laws

In Episode 66, Dan Dissinger talks with recent graduate of USC’s Film and Television Production program Sydney Laws about how Black stories are represented in media, cultural anthropology, and Storytelling versus Story-breaking. Sydney Laws is a very proud ATLien and recent graduate of USC’s Film and Television Production program. She defines herself as a creative, particularlyContinue reading “66. Unpacking Cultural Anthropology w/ Sydney Laws”

65: Documenting the Nickelodeon Story w/ Scott Barber

In Episode 65, Dan Dissinger talks with filmmaker Scott Barber about storytelling through documentary, why Nickelodeon was such a positive creative force in the early 90s, and the role of writing when making a documentary. And who can forget GWAR. Scott made his directorial debut with his film, The Orange Years: The Nickelodeon Story, featuring KenanContinue reading “65: Documenting the Nickelodeon Story w/ Scott Barber”

64: Performing Arts Advocacy w/ Viva Vinson

In Episode 64, Dan Dissinger talks with Vocalist/Educator/Actor/Writer Viva Vinson about the positive impact of performing arts education, overcoming Dyslexia and ADHD, and harnessing the power of the performing arts to have deeper DEI discussions with students and teachers. Born of an Italian American mother, and African American father, Viva has always had multiple artisticContinue reading “64: Performing Arts Advocacy w/ Viva Vinson”

63. Expanding the Victorian Conversation w/ Dr. Melissa Rampelli

In Episode 63, Dan Dissinger and special guest host Dr. Meghan Nolan talk with friend, colleague, and fellow Saint John’s University Alum Dr. Melissa Rampelli from Holy Family University about the impact of the Victorian Age, Medical Humanities, and what sea monsters have to do with the 2008 Great Recession. On top of all ofContinue reading “63. Expanding the Victorian Conversation w/ Dr. Melissa Rampelli”