Best Humanities (UNC CH Podcasts (2025)

1
Episode 142: Julia Gibson on acting, teaching, and “Becoming Invisible” 31:16

23d ago31:16

31:16

Actor and dramatic art professor Julia Gibson joins the podcast to reflect on her past roles, including ones in PlayMakers Repertory Company’s 2024-25 season. She compares her roles in What the Constitution Means to Me and Death of a Salesman, and shares how acting differs from directing and teaching. In fall 2024, Gibson was a Turner Fellow in the…

1
Episode 141: African American Legal History Post-Emancipation with Brandi Brimmer 25:34

2M ago25:34

25:34

Associate professor Brandy Brimmer reflects on her fellowship experiences and research in historical legal practices regarding Black attorneys post-Emancipation, and Black women in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Black attorneys and claims agents in the post-emancipation South. Brimmer’s work emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of her w…

1
Episode 140: Brian Hsu’s Collaborations on Cherokee Word Order, Star Trek, and the Faculty Fellowship 24:30

3M ago24:30

24:30

Brian Hsu (FFP ’24) joins us this episode to share how he fell in love with language and linguistics from a young age. Additionally, Hsu describes his recent projects about uncovering Cherokee word order and “Starship Generative Enterprise,” a Star Trek-spin on modern linguistics. We also discuss Hsu’s time as a Faculty Fellow in Spring 2024, where…

1
Episode 139: The Legacy and Evolution of the IAH’s Tyson Academic Leadership Program 39:56

4M ago39:56

39:56

Institute for the Arts and Humanities Director Patricia Parker sits down with faculty program director Viji Sathy and Rob Kramer for discussion on academic leadership and their involvement with the Institute's Tyson Academic Leadership Program. Kramer, who recently left the IAH and moved to Oregon, had served as the Institute’s senior leadership ad…

1
Episode 138: Milada Vachudova on Political Change in Europe and Importance of Interdisciplinary Connections 29:20

5M ago29:20

29:20

Political science professor Milada Vachudova (FFP ’05, ’15) discusses her research on political change in Europe. In this episode, Vachudova provides context for recent democratic backsliding in countries like Hungary and Poland, and its impact on civic participation and engagement. Vachudova, who joined the IAH as the Faculty Director for Strategi…

1
Episode 137: How Inger Brodey Applies Public Humanities to Jane Austen Scholarship and SCiLL 30:13

6M ago30:13

30:13

Inger Brodey (FFP '11, '24) shares details about her new publication, Jane Austen and the Price of Happiness, and her upcoming Jane Austen research she worked on as a recent faculty fellow. In addition to book projects, she discusses her public humanities service with UNC's School of Civic Life and Leadership, the Jane Austen Summer Program, and mo…

1
Episode 136: Adam Versényi on Dramaturgy, Translation, and the Chairs Leadership Program 32:23

7M ago32:23

32:23

Adam Versényi is a professor of dramaturgy in the UNC Department of Dramatic Art. In this episode, Versényi shares his collaborative work in dramaturgy and translation projects. He also discusses his previous fellowships with the IAH and also what the current Chairs Leadership Program cohort is up to this year.…

1
Episode 135: Historian Michelle King and the Impact of Fu Pei-mei 29:24

8M ago29:24

29:24

History associate professor Michelle King specializes modern Chinese gender history and food history. In this episode, she discusses her experience in the IAH Faculty Fellowship Program and the research behind her new book, Chop Fry Watch Learn: Fu Pei-mei and the Making of Modern Chinese Food (Johns Hopkins University Press).…

1
Episode 134: Weil Speaker Judy Woodruff on ‘America at the Crossroads’ 39:19

1y ago39:19

39:19

In advance of the 2024 Weil Lecture on March 25, Director Patricia Parker conducts a phone interview with speaker Judy Woodruff. During her lecture, Woodruff will speak on her reporting project, Judy Woodruff Presents: America at a Crossroads. In this podcast, Director Parker asks Woodruff about her distinguished career in journalism, the inspirati…

1
Episode 133: Examining Biblical Texts with Assistant Professor Hugo Mendez 24:11

1y ago24:11

24:11

Assistant professor of religious studies Hugo Mendez (FFP '22) discusses his research in his recent book projects: one exploring the role of St. Stephen in early Christian communities, and the most recent examining the biblical books of John. He also describes his fellowship experiences – at the IAH and at the National Humanities Center – and how t…

1
International Collaborative Research with Associate Professor Andrea Bohlman 38:51

1+ y ago38:51

38:51

Andrea Bohlman is an associate professor of music who received a 2023 Summer International Collaborative Research Grant from the Institute for the Arts and Humanities. Part of Bohlman’s research examined the consent and politics of sound and sound-recordings, and she collaborated with colleagues at Polish universities. In the podcast, she talks abo…

1
Episode 131: The Women of NOW with historian Katherine Turk 35:49

1+ y ago35:49

35:49

Historian Katherine Turk (FFP ’21) discusses her new book, The Women of NOW: How Feminists Built an Organization that Transformed America (The Macmillan Group). She shares the history of the National Organization for Women, and on three leaders who helped shape the organization.By Institute for the Arts and Humanities (UNC-CH)

1
Episode 130: When the Swelling Goes Down with Actor, Playwright Samuel Ray Gates 34:56

1+ y ago34:56

34:56

Actor and playwright Samuel Ray Gates (FFP ’22) talks about his Faculty Fellowship experience, where he continued his work on his one-person show, When the Swelling Goes Down. Gates shares the themes of the show, the writing process, and the ways comedy can be used to explore and heal through difficult issues.Recorded in spring 2023.…

1
Episode 129: Digital Humanities, Game Studies, and International Collaborations with Courtney Rivard 19:17

1+ y ago19:17

19:17

Recorded in spring 2023, Courtney Rivard, a 2023 fellow in the Tyson Academic Leadership Program, discusses her work as Director of the digital literacy and communications lab at UNC-Chapel Hill. She also shares recent projects in digital humanities, gaming studies, and a book that she worked on during her spring 2022 Faculty Fellowship.…

1
Episode 128: Kenneth Janken on Bringing the Wilmington Ten to the Public’s Attention 30:49

2y ago30:49

30:49

African, African American and diaspora studies professor Kenneth Janken received the 2022 George H. Johnson Prize for Distinguished Achievement by an IAH Fellow. On March 23, 2023, he received the award and delivered a lecture, "Bringing the Wilmington Ten to the Public's Attention: One Historian's Experience in Public Humanities.” Before his lectu…

1
Episode 127: Slavery as History and Memory with 2023 Reckford Lecturer Ana Lucia Araujo 33:43

2y ago33:43

33:43

Recorded in February 2023, Director Patricia Parker talks with 2023 Reckford Lecture speaker and historian Ana Lucia Araujo about her research.Watch the 2023 Reckford Lecture on the IAH website: https://iah.unc.edu/araujo-2023-reckford-lecture/By Institute for the Arts and Humanities (UNC-CH)

1
Ep 126: Public Humanities Engagement and Interdisciplinary Collaborations with Patricia Parker 22:52

2y ago22:52

22:52

Institute for the Arts and Humanities Patricia Parker talks about the impact of public humanities engagement. She also shares her recent interdisciplinary collaborations with other UNC faculty and international partners.By Institute for the Arts and Humanities (UNC-CH)

1
Episode 125: Leadership and Engaged Humanities Scholarship with Patricia Parker - Part 1 22:27

2+ y ago22:27

22:27

Institute for the Arts and Humanities Director Patricia Parker reflects on her first year leading the IAH, and how her experiences and work in engaged scholarship prepared her for the role.By Institute for the Arts and Humanities (UNC-CH)

1
Episode 124: Viji Sathy on the Academic Leadership Program 25:24

2+ y ago25:24

25:24

Viji Sathy, the IAH's Tyson Academic Leadership Program Director, talks about how the program helps faculty across the UNC-Chapel Hill campus, her experiences in leadership development, and the way she brings her work in inclusive teaching into the ALP seminars. (Recorded in Summer 2022.)By Institute for the Arts and Humanities (UNC-CH)

1
Episode 112: The History of Trans-Africa/Ron Williams 50:18

2+ y ago50:18

50:18

Assistant professor of African, African American and Diaspora Studies, Ron Williams joins The Institute to discuss his latest book project, an institutional history of the US based foreign policy organization, "Trans Africa."By Institute for the Arts and Humanities (UNC-CH)

1
Episode 123: Oswaldo Estrada on the Faculty Fellowship Program 14:23

2+ y ago14:23

14:23

Oswaldo Estrada, professor of Romance studies, discusses the Faculty Fellowship Program. After receiving a fellowship three times, Estrada returned as its program director in 2021. As he enters the second year in the role, we talk about the program, the way that it enhances faculty research, his past experiences as a Fellow, and what he's looking f…

1
Episode 122: Recovering stories from the past: The Sewing Girl’s Tale 38:10

3y ago38:10

38:10

History professor John Wood Sweet joins the podcast to talk about his new book, The Sewing Girl's Tale: A Story of Crime and Consequences in Revolutionary America, published by Henry Holt and Company. He talks about the experiences of researching and publishing this book, his IAH Faculty Fellowship in 2020, and why he started telling the stories of…

1
Episode 121: Interview with 2022 Reckford Speaker Magdalena J. Zaborowska 50:30

3y ago50:30

50:30

After the 2022 Reckford Lecture, speaker Magdalena Zaborowska joins Patricia Parker and Sharon Holland for a deeper dive into themes from her remarks, including questions about belonging and identity in James Baldwin’s philosophy of Black humanism. She also discusses her interdisciplinary research methodologies and provides a glimpse into her futur…

1
Episode 120 Performance And The US-Mexico Border With China Medel 23:47

3y ago23:47

23:47

Recorded in summer 2021, Fall 2021 Faculty Fellow China Medel talks about her work in media and performance studies, as well as her manuscript Spectral Aethestics: Alternative Media and Visibility at the US-Mexico Border, which looks at a selection of film photography, new media and installation art about the crisis of migrant death at the US Mexic…

1
Episode 119: The Endurance Project with Gwendolyn Schwinke and Maya Gurantz 25:42

3y ago25:42

25:42

Assistant Professor Gwendolyn Schwinke and Artist Maya Gurantz discuss their latest collaboration, The Endurance Project.A Work-In-Progress showing of The Endurance Project will be open to the public on Saturday, Feb. 26 from 5:00-6:30 p.m. in the Joan Gillings Center for Dramatic Arts, Room 102, UNC-Chapel Hill campus. People are invited to arrive…

1
Episode 60: Chris Clemens Professor Of Physics And Astronomy 25:13

3+ y ago25:13

25:13

In February of 2018, Former IAH Director Mark Katz interviews astrophysicist and College of Arts and Sciences Dean Chris Clemens about his research of the stars, as well as his self-identified conservatism on a college campus, where liberalism is the dominant language. He discusses why different views on campus are fundamental to a higher education…

1
Episode 118: Senator Claire McCaskill 30:15

3+ y ago30:15

30:15

Professor Pat Parker (Director, Institute for the Arts and Humanities) interview Claire McCaskill on her career in politics and her thoughts on the current political and cultural climate of the United States.By Institute for the Arts and Humanities (UNC-CH)

1
Episode 117: Uncovering Abandoned Voices Of Antiquity With Hérica Valladares 25:28

4y ago25:28

25:28

Associate Professor of Classics Hérica Valladares speaks with Philip on her current research project regarding the material culture of domestic Ancient Rome.By Institute for the Arts and Humanities (UNC-CH)

1
Episode 116: Literature On The Politics Of Noise With Petal Samuel 19:51

4y ago19:51

19:51

Literary Scholar and Assistant Professor of African, African American, and Diaspora Studies Petal Samuel sits down to discuss her current research project!By Institute for the Arts and Humanities (UNC-CH)

1
Episode 115: 2020 Johnson Prize Award Winner Betsy Olson 22:11

4y ago22:11

22:11

Geography Professor Betsy Olson, recipient of the George Johnson Prize for Distinguished Achievement by an IAH Fellow, sits with Philip to discuss her career as a scholar and campus leader.By Institute for the Arts and Humanities (UNC-CH)

1
Episode 114: Studying BTS With Candace Epps Robertson 23:30

4+ y ago23:30

23:30

In this episode, Philip speaks with Assistant Professor of English and Comparative Literature Candace Epps-Robertson. In our conversation, Professor Epps-Robertson discusses her work on a collaborative and open-sourced syllabus on the South Korean pop group BTS and their fandom known as ARMY. Follow Prof. Epps-Robertson on Twitter: @DrEppsRobertson…

1
Episode 113: Helga Davis 19:11

4+ y ago19:11

19:11

Helga Davis, musician, artist, Carolina Performing Arts artist in residence speaks with us on the life of an interdisciplinary artist!By Institute for the Arts and Humanities (UNC-CH)

1
Episode 112: The History Of TransAfrica With Ron Williams 50:18

4+ y ago50:18

50:18

Assistant Professor Ron Williams (Department of African, African American, and Diaspora Studies) discusses his current book project on the advocacy organization TransAfrica.By Institute for the Arts and Humanities (UNC-CH)

1
Episode 111 Theater Of The Everyday And Marginilized With Jacqueline Lawton 13:20

4+ y ago13:20

13:20

Assistant Professor of Dramatic Art Jacqueline Lawton joins us again to talk about the projects she is doing! How are her plays living on despite the pandemic? Listen to find out!Follow Professor Lawton on Twitter: @dulcia25Follow IAH on Twitter: @iah_uncBy Institute for the Arts and Humanities (UNC-CH)

1
Episode 110: Afro-German Afrofuturism With Priscilla Layne 14:29

4+ y ago14:29

14:29

Associate Professor Priscilla Layne talks about her latest research on Afro-German Afrofuturism in literature and theater.By Institute for the Arts and Humanities (UNC-CH)

1
Episode 109: The Poetry Of W.E.B. Du Bois With Rebecka Rutledge Fisher 23:03

4+ y ago23:03

23:03

Associate Professor of English and Comparative Literature Rebecka Rutledge Fisher discusses her decades-long research on the work of prolific author W.E.B. Du Bois.By Institute for the Arts and Humanities (UNC-CH)

1
Episode 108: Medicine and the Armed Forces with Jocelyn Chua 15:48

5y ago15:48

15:48

Associate Professor of Anthropology Jocelyn Chua discusses her current research on the use of pyscho-pharmaceuticals by active duty soldiers in the US army post 9/11.By Institute for the Arts and Humanities (UNC-CH)

1
Episode 107: Southern Futures With Melody Hunter-Pillion And Corban Davis 17:05

5y ago17:05

17:05

Melody Hunter-Pillion and Corban Davis speak with Philip on the Southern Futures Initiative and the Southern Futures podcast. Learn more at southernfutures.unc.eduBy Institute for the Arts and Humanities (UNC-CH)

1
Episode 106: Italian Medieval Lit With Maggie Fritz-Morkin 19:35

5y ago19:35

19:35

Assistant Professor of Italian Maggie Fritz-Morkin speaks with us about her work in Medieval Studies!By Institute for the Arts and Humanities (UNC-CH)

1
Episode 105: Music Of Arab America Post 9/11 With Michael Figueroa 20:00

5y ago20:00

20:00

Music Professor Michael Figueroa talks about the music of Arab America as a key component to post-9/11 racial identity formation. Subscribe so you don't miss an episode!By Institute for the Arts and Humanities (UNC-CH)

1
BONUS: Meaning Of Aging In COVID Times With Jane Thrailkill (ZOOM Talks Series) 1:00:02

5y ago1:00:02

1:00:02

English Professor Jane Thrailkill discusses the meaning of aging during the COVID-19 pandemic and the role of humanities in health-related matters. Recorded May 14, 2020 as part of the Institute for the Arts and Humanities "Zoom Talks Series". Check out iah.unc.edu for registration information on upcoming Zoom Talks.…

1
RE-POST: Rev Dr William J Barber II 49:54

5y ago49:54

49:54

Recorded in September 2017, Journalist M. Clay Barnes interviews Reverend Doctor William J. Barber II, architect of the Moral Monday movement and co-chair of the Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival.By Institute for the Arts and Humanities (UNC-CH)

1
BONUS: Judith Butler (Zoom Talks Series) 1:15:03

5y ago1:15:03

1:15:03

Professor of Comparative Literature (UC-Berkeley) Judith Butler joins IAH Director Andy Perrin and English Professor Florence Dore to discuss the essential role of humanistic work during the current pandemic. She also discusses the oft overlooked considerations necessary for reopening universities in the fall.Recorded on May 20, 2020 as part of the…

1
Episode 104: Poet Gaby Calvocoressi 30:00

5y ago30:00

30:00

Poet and Associate Professor Gaby Calvocoressi speaks with us on what made her a poet, the creative process, and possibilities for being creative in quarantine. She also does a reading of her poem "Hammond B3 Organ Cistern", published in the New Yorker.Follow Professor Calvocoressi on Twitter:@rocketfantastic…

1
BONUS: Leadership During Crisis With Terry Rhodes And Elizabeth Engelhardt (Zoom Talks Series) 57:20

5y ago57:20

57:20

College of Arts and Sciences Dean Terry Rhodes and Senior Associate Dean for Fine Arts and Humanities Elizabeth Engelhardt speak to challenges in leadership during the COVID19 pandemic.Check iah.unc.edu or the IAH Twitter (@iah_unc) to register for upcoming Zoom Talks May 20th at 1pm - Zoom Talk with renowned scholar Judith Butler!…

1
Episode 103: The Gig Economy With Alexandrea Ravenelle 17:15

5y ago17:15

17:15

Assistant Professor Alexandrea Ravenelle (Sociology) discusses her research on the gig economy as well as her book HUSTLE AND GIG: Struggling and Surviving in the Sharing Economy (Univeristy of California Press).By Institute for the Arts and Humanities (UNC-CH)

1
BONUS: IAH Zoom Talks with Eric Klinenberg 57:38

5y ago57:38

57:38

Sociology Professor Eric Klinenberg (New York University) kicks off the IAH's "Zoom Talks" series with an insightful conversation on the new reality due to COVID-19.Recorded via Zoom on April 8, 2020Follow Prof. Klinenberg on Twitter: @ericklinenbergCheck http://iah.unc.edu to register to the next Zoom Talk!…

1
Episode 102: Inclusive Teaching During COVID-19 With Viji Sathy 15:57

5y ago15:57

15:57

Teaching Associate Professor Viji Sathy (Psychology & Neuroscience) talks with us about the transition of course work in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Follow Prof. Sathy on Twitter: @vijisathyBy Institute for the Arts and Humanities (UNC-CH)

1
BONUS: On The Question Of Beloved Community With Ronald Judy 1:15:57

5y ago1:15:57

1:15:57

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the 2020 Mary Stevens Reckford Memorial Lecture in European Studies with Dr. Ronald Judy (University of Pittsburgh) was held via Zoom video conference on March 31.Here is the audio from Prof. Judy's lecture, "On the Question of Beloved Community: Revisiting W.E.B. DuBois's Critique of the Teutonic Strongman".Enjoy this…

1
Episode 101: ”UFOs are a Myth. Myths are Real” with David Halperin 20:04

5y ago20:04

20:04

David Halperin, Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies, talks about his latest book INTIMATE ALIEN: THE HIDDEN STORY OF THE UFO (Stanford University Press). He also discusses how the current COVID-19 pandemic might give rise to new UFO sightings and interest in UFOlogy http://davidhalperin.netBy Institute for the Arts and Humanities (UNC-CH)

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Humanities (UNC CH Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen