The Forum is a platform for the discussion of significant issues. Guest speakers typically focus on issues of political, social justice, moral, educational and artistic significance. Each presentation is followed by questions and discussion.
Steve Werner, Ph.D., explains the fascinating history and intricate evolution of the modern calendar in this interview.
5 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT
Fraud Awareness: Modern Scams, AI & Self Protection
Kerri VanMeveren is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Amazing Traditions, LLC and the creator of Smart Like a Fox™, a community education program that helps people recognize scams, evaluate information, and make more informed decisions. With more than a decade of experience conducting research, strategic planning, and organizational assessments for businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies, she brings a practical, evidence-based approach to every presentation. Kerri’s workshops are designed to give people real-world tools they can immediately apply to protect themselves, their families, and their communities.
Musical Guests: The Wanderlast Band
16 Aug 2026TRANSCRIPT
Unmentionable Histories: Looking at the Past Queerly
History is often presented as a collection of settled facts, but the stories we tell about the past are shaped by the questions we ask. What happens when we stop asking whether queer people existed in history and start asking how they lived, loved, performed, and imagined their futures? In this interactive lecture, artist and historian Joseph Germain Keehn II explores what it means to view history through a queer lens — examining the people, relationships, performances and possibilities that traditional historical narratives have often overlooked. Drawing on the research behind Queertauqua — a traveling tent show inspired by the late-19th and early-20th centuries Chautauqua movement — this hands-on program combines historical storytelling with plushie-making, inviting participants to become “producers” for Queertauqua’s inaugural production, "A Series of Unmentionable Acts." Perfect for anyone curious about history, creativity and the stories that refuse to stay buried.
Joseph Germain Keehn II is a cultural creator whose interdisciplinary practice is informed by history, theater, museum studies and queer theory. Their conceptually driven projects bridge archival research with the glam of camp and the melodrama of the absurd to challenge conventional norms. Joseph navigates the past as a “performance artist as historian,” transforming silences into vibrant spectacles that address the struggles of those who came before. Rooted in theorist Annamarie Jagose’s call to locate “queer as the source, not the destination,” Joseph centers LGBTQIA+ experiences as foundational to our collective history. By amplifying marginalized agency and resilience, their work offers a nuanced, empathetic and critical interpretation of the past. Queertauqua is the manifestation of this journey — a thought-provoking and memorably camp laboratory for the tenor of our times.
Inside a recent episode
How We Got Our Calendar
Published 24 Oct 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] And so in between are the equinoxes. And what does that word mean? Equal time. Equal night. Nox for night. Equal night and day. all right i just showed you these dates for this year and also these are the official beginnings of seasons it's the solstice and equinox points that's the official beginning of seasons but it doesn't match up with the weather or the school schedule right that's why it's obviously not well summer solstice well heck schools have been closed for weeks the pools have been open it's been hot but it's the official beginning based on the equinoxes and solstices. So what's a month? […]
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