Best Math U See Podcasts (2025)

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Ben Connable, "Ground Combat: Puncturing the Myths of Modern War" (Georgetown UP, 2025) 39:55

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4d ago39:55

39:55

Ground Combat: Puncturing the Myths of Modern War (Georgetown UP, 2025) reveals the gritty details of land warfare at the tactical level and challenges the overly subjective and often inaccurate American approach to characterizing war. Ben Connable's motivation for writing the book is to replace overly subjective analyses with an evidence-based app…

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Unlocking Adventure: Stories Boys Will Love 36:25

5d ago36:25

36:25

We had a wonderful discussion with Jan Bloom, where we explored how to encourage our boys to find and embrace the themes they cherish. 🗒️ Show Notes https://demmelearning.com/blog/stories-boys-will-love-showBy Demme Learning

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Gary Rivlin, "AI Valley: Microsoft, Google, and the Trillion-Dollar Race to Cash In on Artificial Intelligence" (Harper Collins, 2025) 1:05:23

8d ago1:05:23

1:05:23

A veteran Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist shadows the top thinkers in the field of Artificial Intelligence, introducing the breakthroughs and developments that will change the way we live and work. Artificial Intelligence has been “just around the corner” for decades, continually disappointing those who long believed in its potential. But now, wi…

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Noah Giansiracusa, "Robin Hood Math: Take Control of the Algorithms That Run Your Life" (Penguin, 2025) 1:02:25

8d ago1:02:25

1:02:25

Everything we do today is recorded as data that’s sold to the highest bidder. Plugging our personal data into impersonal algorithms has made government agencies more efficient and tech companies more profitable. But all this comes at a price. It’s easy to feel like an insignificant number in a world of number crunchers who care more about their bot…

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Thomas Christian Bächle and Jascha Bareis eds., "The Realities of Autonomous Weapons (Bristol UP, 2025) 1:00:17

9d ago1:00:17

1:00:17

Autonomous weapons exist in a strange territory between Pentagon procurement contracts and Hollywood blockbusters, between actual military systems and speculative futures. For this week's Liminal Library, I spoke with Jascha Bareis, co-editor of The Realities of Autonomous Weapons (Bristol UP, 2025), about how these dual existences shape internatio…

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Navigating AI in Homeschooling [Show] 47:23

12d ago47:23

47:23

We had an insightful conversation with Francie Black about the rise of artificial intelligence and its potential applications for our students’ learning and development. 🗒️ Show Notes https://demmelearning.com/blog/ai-homeschooling-showBy Demme Learning

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Petter Törnberg and Justus Uitermark, "Seeing Like a Platform: An Inquiry into the Condition of Digital Modernity" (Taylor & Francis, 2025) 58:40

15d ago58:40

58:40

'Seeing Like a Platform: An Inquiry into the Condition of Digital Modernity (Taylor & Francis, 2025)' by Petter Törnberg & Justus Uitermark In my conversation with Petter Törnberg about Seeing Like a Platform, we kept returning to a simple but unsettling point: platforms don't just carry our messages or connect us to information. They've created an…

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Tatiana Bur, "Technologies of the Marvellous in Ancient Greek Religion" (Cambridge UP, 2025) 55:56

17d ago55:56

55:56

Tatiana Bur, Technologies of the Marvellous in Ancient Greek Religion (Cambridge UP, 2025) This open-access book investigates the ways that technological, and especially mechanical, strategies were integrated into ancient Greek religion. By analysing a range of evidence, from the tragic use of the deus ex machina to Hellenistic epigrams to ancient …

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Vijay Selvam, "Principles of Bitcoin: Technology, Economics, Politics, and Philosophy" (Columbia UP, 2025) 58:41

17d ago58:41

58:41

Principles of Bitcoin presents a holistic, first-principles-based framework for understanding one of the most misunderstood inventions of our time. By stripping away the hype, jargon, and superficial analysis that often surrounds the crypto industry, this book uncovers the true ingenuity behind Satoshi Nakamoto’s creation—and its profound implicati…

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Paul Thagard, "Bots and Beasts: What Makes Machines, Animals, and People Smart?" (MIT Press, 2021) 59:54

19d ago59:54

59:54

Octopuses can open jars to get food, and chimpanzees can plan for the future. An IBM computer named Watson won on Jeopardy! and Alexa knows our favorite songs. But do animals and smart machines really have intelligence comparable to that of humans? In Bots and Beasts: What Makes Machines, Animals, and People Smart? (MIT Press, 2021), Paul Thagard l…

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Minding the Gaps: Why Foundational Math Skills Matter to Student Success [Show] 1:03:28

19d ago1:03:28

1:03:28

Foundational math skills are essential for student success. When a student faces difficulties, the root cause often lies in weak and disconnected basic knowledge rather than the current lesson. We had an insightful discussion of the reasons behind these struggles and how remediation may only require a temporary pause rather than a permanent setback…

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[Bonus] From Keyboard to Trail: ChatGPT's Unique Role in Preparing Me for the Continental Divide 38:35

22d ago38:35

38:35

Hear a compelling real-life example of AI's positive impact. Listen as Duncan Roe explains how he leveraged AI to prepare for his long-distance hike on the Continental Divide Trail. This is a follow-up to our 10/27/23 episode on hiking the Continental Divide Trail. We recommend listening to that episode and reading the show notes first: https://dem…

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The Social Impact of Automating Translation 56:37

24d ago56:37

56:37

In this episode of the Language on the Move Podcast, Tazin Abdullah speaks with Dr. Esther Monzó-Nebot, Associate Professor in Translation and Interpreting Studies at Universitat Jaume I in Catalunya. They talk about Dr. Monzó-Nebot's new book The Social Impact of Automating Translation: An Ethics of Care Perspective on Machine Translation. The con…

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Life on the Edge: Joy Ng’s Inspiring Journey 35:30

27d ago35:30

35:30

We had an engaging conversation with Joy Ng, the wife of a Coast Guard rescue helicopter pilot in remote Alaska. Her compelling book Even There recounts her exciting journey, including unexpected ventures into commercial fishing, business entrepreneurship, homeschooling, and authorship—all interwoven with a profound thread of faith. 🗒️ Show Notes h…

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Gavin Williams, "Format Friction: Perspectives on the Shellac Disc" (U Chicago Press, 2024) 1:07:47

27d ago1:07:47

1:07:47

With the rise of the gramophone around 1900, the shellac disc traveled the world and eventually became the dominant sound format in the first half of the twentieth century. Format Friction brings together a set of local encounters with the shellac disc, beginning with its preconditions in South Asian knowledge and labor, to offer a global portrait …

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On Bullshit in AI 20:40

28d ago20:40

20:40

Today we’re continuing our series on Harry Frankfurt’s seminal work, On Bullshit. I have the privilege to speak with Arvind Narayanan co-author of the book AI Snake Oil: What Artificial Intelligence Can Do, What it Can’t, and How to Tell the Difference (Princeton University Press, 2024). Arvind is the perfect guest to explore the subject of bullshi…

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Anil Ananthaswamy, "Why Machines Learn: The Elegant Maths Behind Modern AI" (Dutton, 2024) 1:07:21

29d ago1:07:21

1:07:21

Machine learning systems are making life-altering decisions for us: approving mortgage loans, determining whether a tumor is cancerous, or deciding if someone gets bail. They now influence developments and discoveries in chemistry, biology, and physics—the study of genomes, extrasolar planets, even the intricacies of quantum systems. And all this b…

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Emily M. Bender and Alex Hanna, "The AI Con: How to Fight Big Tech's Hype and Create the Future We Want" (Harper, 2025) 1:01:13

1M ago1:01:13

1:01:13

Is artificial intelligence going to take over the world? Have big tech scientists created an artificial lifeform that can think on its own? Is it going to put authors, artists, and others out of business? Are we about to enter an age where computers are better than humans at everything? Linguist Emily M. Bender and sociologist Alex Hanna make clear…

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How ClioVis is Transforming Education and Historical Research 22:14

1M ago22:14

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Today I’m speaking with Marcus Golding, historian and Director of Educational Operations at ClioVis. ClioVis is an incredible software and learning tool that allows educators and studies to create digital timelines, network visualizations, and interactive presentations. Founded by UT Austin history professor Erika Bsumek, ClioVis is made for profes…

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From Bedside to Byte: Navigating the Nursing to Informatics Transition 20:04

1M ago20:04

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We had a fascinating conversation with Duncan Lawrence, a homeschool graduate and experienced registered nurse. Duncan will share insights into how his passions have evolved, the skills he's gained along the way, and his current career goals within the rapidly growing field of informatics. 🗒️ Show Notes https://demmelearning.com/blog/nursing-inform…

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Meegan Kennedy, "Writing Embodiment in Victorian Microscopy: Beautiful Mechanism" (Oxford UP, 2025) 41:03

1M ago41:03

41:03

Writing Embodiment in Victorian Microscopy: Beautiful Mechanism (Oxford UP, 2025) by Dr. Meegan Kennedy examines a revolutionary period in microscopical technology and practice. At first considered a mere toy, by 1900 the microscope rivaled the railway and telegraph as an emblem of modernity and enjoyed an astonishing diversity of applications. Thi…

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David S. Wall, "Cybercrime: The Transformation of Crime in the Information Age" (Polity, 2024) 28:47

2M ago28:47

28:47

How has the digital revolution transformed criminal opportunities and behaviour? What is different about cybercrime compared with traditional criminal activity? What impact might cybercrime have on public security? In this updated edition of his authoritative and field-defining text, cybercrime expert David Wall carefully examines these and other i…

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Homeschooling with Unique Learners: An Encouraging Conversation with Dr. Patti Stoudt 32:26

2M ago32:26

32:26

While our conversation will focus on educating students at home with unique learning needs and how parents can provide positive, encouraging support, Dr. Stoudt will also provide insight into a deeper understanding of when standardized testing is helpful and how much weight it should have in a parent’s homeschool world. 🗒️ Show Notes https://demmel…

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Edward Tenner, "Why the Hindenburg Had a Smoking Lounge: Essays in Unintended Consequences" (APS Press, 2025) 57:20

2M ago57:20

57:20

How did the addition of lifeboats after the Titanic shipwreck contribute to another tragedy in Chicago harbor three years later? How efficient are wild animals as investors, and how do dog breeds become national symbols? Why have scientific breakthroughs so often originated in the study of shadows? How did the file card prepare scholarship and comm…

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Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling, "The Ghost Lab: How Bigfoot Hunters, Mediums, and Alien Enthusiasts Are Wrecking Science" (PublicAffairs, 2025) 1:03:51

2M ago1:03:51

1:03:51

In this episode, New Books Network host Nina Bo Wagner talks to Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling about his recently published book The Ghost Lab: How Bigfoot Hunters, Mediums, and Alien Enthusiasts Are Wrecking Science (PublicAffairs, 2025). They talk about the process of writing the book, including delving deep into the local paranomal community in New Ha…

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The Mathematics of a Career in Biological Research [Show] 43:42

2M ago43:42

43:42

Discover how Shelby Roe transformed her love of animals into a career at the forefront of biological research. Experience the excitement of scientific discoveries as Shelby candidly shares her path into the molecular biology field, navigating the challenges of the often-intimidating landscape of STEM. 🗒️ Show Notes https://demmelearning.com/blog/bi…

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Matthew Wisnioski on the History of the Idea and Culture of “Innovation” in the United States 1:33:16

2M ago1:33:16

1:33:16

Peoples & Things host, Lee Vinsel, talks with Matt Wisnioski, Professor of Science, Technology, and Society at Virginia Tech, about his new book, Every American an Innovator: How Innovation Became a Way of Life. The pair talk about how the new book connects to Matt’s earlier book, Engineers for Change; how what Matt calls “innovation expertise” fir…

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Cultivating Attentiveness and Contemplation 1:01:45

2M ago1:01:45

1:01:45

As we increasingly depend on external stimulation for diversion, our ability to reflect, remember, compare, and contemplate seems to wane. This discussion addresses this need as well as practical ways we can help our students develop these essential thinking skills. 🗒️ Show Notes https://demmelearning.com/blog/cultivating-attentiveness-contemplatio…

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Elliot Lichtman, "The Computer Always Wins: A Playful Introduction to Algorithms through Puzzles and Strategy Games" (MIT Press, 2025) 46:46

2M ago46:46

46:46

In The Computer Always Wins: A Playful Introduction to Algorithms through Puzzles and Strategy Games (MIT Press, 2025), Elliot Lichtman will teach you some of computer science’s most powerful concepts in a refreshingly accessible way: exploring them through word games, board games, and strategy games you already know. Learn recursion by playing tic…

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Carly A. Kocurek and Matthew Payne, "Ultima and Worldbuilding in the Computer Role-Playing Game" (Amherst College Press, 2024) 27:12

2M ago27:12

27:12

Ultima and World-Building in the Computer Role-Playing Game (Amherst College Press, 2024) is the first scholarly book to focus exclusively on the long-running Ultima series of computer role-playing games (RPG) and to assess its lasting impact on the RPG genre and video game industry. Through archival and popular media sources, examinations of fan c…

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How Even Supermoms Find the Encouragement They Need 27:09

2M ago27:09

27:09

Through gentle encouragement, humor, and passion, Mary empowers homeschooling moms to achieve greater balance and find more joy in their journeys. 🗒️ Show Notes https://demmelearning.com/blog/supermoms-find-encouragement-showBy Demme Learning

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Trans Technologies 1:03:27

2M ago1:03:27

1:03:27

How can technology creates new possibilities for transgender people? How do trans experiences, in turn, create new possibilities for technology? Trans Technologies, (MIT Press, 2025) by Dr. Oliver L. Haimson, explores how and why mainstream technologies often exclude or marginalize transgender users. Trans Technologies describes what happens when t…

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Ben Snyder on Spy Plane: Inside Baltimore’s Surveillance Experiment 59:34

2M ago59:34

59:34

In this 100th episode (!!!) of Peoples & Things, host, Lee Vinsel, talks with Benjamin H. Snyder, Associate Professor of Sociology at Williams College, about his recent book, Spy Plane: Inside Baltimore’s Surveillance Experiment (University of California Press, 2024). Spy Plane examines how the city of Baltimore, Maryland, came to adopt a corporate…

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The Art of Choosing Wisely: Learn Why You Cannot Have it All 42:44

3M ago42:44

42:44

Kelly Noah explores with us how to guide young adults in prioritizing and focusing on choices that align with their goals and values. 🗒️ Show Notes https://demmelearning.com/blog/choosing-wisely-showBy Demme Learning

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Jean J. Ryoo and Jane Margolis, "Power On!" (MIT Press, 2022) 55:40

3M ago55:40

55:40

An interview with Jean Ryoo and Jane Margolis about Power On! A diverse group of teenage friends learn how computing can be personally and politically empowering and why all students need access to computer science education. This lively graphic novel follows a diverse group of teenage friends as they discover that computing can be fun, creative, a…

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Strange But True: Kids Learn More When We're Not With Them 26:32

3M ago26:32

26:32

Lenore Skenazy joins us for a discussion on fostering youth resilience and independence. We explore how unstructured time and autonomy can better equip young people to handle frustration and develop problem-solving skills. 🗒️ Show Notes https://demmelearning.com/blog/lenore-skenazy-showBy Demme Learning

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John Horn, "Inside the Competitor's Mindset: How to Predict Their Next Move and Position Yourself for Success" (MIT Press, 2023) 1:39:13

3M ago1:39:13

1:39:13

Inside the Competitor's Mindset: How to Predict Their Next Move and Position Yourself for Success (MIT Press, 2023) offers a roadmap to help leaders predict, understand, and react to their competitors’ moves. It is a valuable tool to help companies stay ahead of their competitors when the competition is intensifying. To make the right choice when a…

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How a Physics Grad Became an Engineering Innovator [Show] 23:46

3M ago23:46

23:46

We explore the dynamic relationship among physics, engineering, and mathematics through Jack Carty's experiences. 🗒️ Show Notes https://demmelearning.com/blog/physics-grad-showBy Demme Learning

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Alex Davies, "Driven: The Race to Create the Autonomous Car" (Simon & Schuster, 2022) 1:21:49

3M ago1:21:49

1:21:49

In Driven: The Race to Create the Autonomous Car (Simon & Schuster, 2022), Alex Davies tells the enlightening and significant story of the effort to create driverless cars and the intense competition among tech heavyweights such as Google, Uber, and Tesla to move this technology forward. Autonomous vehicles (AVs) have been one of the most hyped tec…

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The Growing World of Homeschooling in the Hispanic Community 35:19

3M ago35:19

35:19

As the fastest-growing demographic in homeschooling, this conversation is essential for understanding the dynamic expansion and reach of this educational approach. 🗒️ Show Notes https://demmelearning.com/blog/homeschooling-hispanic-communityBy Demme Learning

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From Hal to Siri: How Computers Learned to Speak 54:27

3M ago54:27

54:27

Today we learn how computers learned to talk with Benjamin Lindquist, a postdoctoral researcher at Northwestern University’s Science in Human Culture program. Ben is the author “The Art of Text to Speech,” which recently appeared in Critical Inquiry, and he’s currently writing a history of text-to-speech computing. In this conversation, we explore:…

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Elevate Your Learning: Explore Spelling You See’s Latest Innovations 58:43

3M ago58:43

58:43

We discuss how our customers helped shape this new edition and explore how Spelling You See simplifies the spelling journey. 🗒️ Show Notes https://demmelearning.com/blog/spelling-you-see-latestBy Demme Learning

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Jacquelyn Schneider and Julia MacDonald, "The Rise of Unmanned Warfare: Origins of the Us Autonomous Military Arsenal" (Oxford UP, 2023) 46:29

4M ago46:29

46:29

The Rise of Unmanned Warfare: Origins of the Us Autonomous Military Arsenal (Oxford UP, 2023) tells the fascinating story of the people, processes, and beliefs that led to the contemporary American unmanned arsenal. It takes an expansive look at automated and autonomous technologies, from mines and torpedoes to guided bombs and missiles, satellites…

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Jennifer Holt, "Cloud Policy: A History of Regulating Pipelines, Platforms, and Data" (MIT Press, 2024) 1:05:45

4M ago1:05:45

1:05:45

How the United States' regulation of broadband pipelines, digital platforms, and data—together understood as “the cloud”—has eroded civil liberties, democratic principles, and the foundation of the public interest over the past century. Cloud Policy: A History of Regulating Pipelines, Platforms, and Data (MIT Press, 2024) is a policy history that c…

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Beaty Rubens, "Listen In: How Radio Changed the Home" (Bodleian Library, 2025) 50:57

4M ago50:57

50:57

Radio, today, can feel like a faithful old companion, but its early history was sensational. Between 1922 and 1939, British life was transformed by what was known as the Radio Craze. Listen In: How Radio Changed the Home (Bodleian Library, 2025) expresses what the radio's arrival signified at a personal level. This narrative history recounts the pe…

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Unleash Creativity: Transform Your Child's Education with the Arts! 37:44

4M ago37:44

37:44

Music history, arts, and culture should be a part of your homeschool curriculum and Dr. Carol makes a compelling case for including them in your homeschool journey. 🗒️ Show Notes https://demmelearning.com/blog/creativity-arts-showBy Demme Learning

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Darryl Campbell, "Fatal Abstraction: Why the Managerial Class Loses Control of Software" (W. W. Norton, 2025) 1:06:28

4M ago1:06:28

1:06:28

A tech insider explains how capitalism and software development make for such a dangerous mix. Software was supposed to radically improve society. Outdated mechanical systems would be easily replaced; programs like PowerPoint would make information flow more freely; social media platforms like Facebook would bring people together; and generative AI…

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Peter Krapp, "Computing Legacies: Digital Cultures of Simulation" (MIT Press, 2024) 1:10:44

4M ago1:10:44

1:10:44

We're pleased to welcome Dr. Peter Krapp, the author of Computing Legacies: Digital Cultures of Simulation (MIT Press, 2024), to the New Books Network. In Computing Legacies, Peter Krapp explores a media history of simulation to excavate three salient aspects of digital culture. Firstly, he profiles simulation as cultural technique, enabling symbol…

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Unlocking NCAA Rules for Homeschoolers: What You Need to Know 38:06

4M ago38:06

38:06

We will delve into the specific academic standards, course requirements, and documentation processes that homeschoolers must meet to participate in collegiate sports. 🗒️ Show Notes https://demmelearning.com/blog/ncaa-rules-homeschoolers-showBy Demme Learning

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Radiophilia 1:10:31

4M ago1:10:31

1:10:31

Today’s guest is Carolyn Birdsall, Associate Professor of Media Studies, University of Amsterdam. If you’re a scholar of sound or radio, you likely know her work, particularly her monograph Nazi Soundscapes (AUP, 2012) which was the recipient of the ASCA Book Award in 2013. Her new book, Radiophilia (Bloomsbury, 2023), examines the love of radio th…