Artists, educators, scientists, activists, health care professionals. This is Pennsylvania Western University – home to individuals who make the world a more informed, passionate and diverse place. And these are their stories. Hosted by Christopher LaFuria, PennWest POV takes an interdisciplinary look at the voices and perspectives of faculty and students.
Just look at the list of films Jalil Sadool worked on: "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," "Avatar," "Rise of the Guardians" and "The Adventures of Tin Tin."
Jalil is an animator and co-owner of Steamroller Animation, and he joins us to talk about the field and how he came from a small island near Madagascar to working with some of the top names in cinema.
After graduating from Edinboro, Sadool took his talents to some of the major animation students and worked on award-winning films. Check out his story and his thoughts on the future of animation.
20 Sept 2023
S2E1: Hunting for answers with the Paranormal Society
When California senior Mara Proie gathers her equipment and begins ghost investigations, she isn't looking for the cliché white-sheet ghost or the spooky spirit. She's digging into the history and background of real people who existed.
Mara and her California Paranormal Society colleague Tristan Huber join the podcast to share what got them interested in the abnormal and celestial and what they've found during their investigations.
29 Mar 2023
S1E10: Finding the moment with mindfulness and meditation
Your mind is racing. You can't focus. You're too worried about what just happened or what's to come. How can you learn to be in the moment? What can you do to be more present in the moment. And better yet, how can being mindful lead to a more fulfilling academic and personal experience?
Today's guest on PennWest POV is Dr. Michael Baranski, assistant professor of Psychology at PennWest California. In this episode, we'll talk about what mindfulness is and how you can achieve it on a small or large scale. Also, stay tuned as we do a guided breathing meditation at the end of the chat.
To learn more or to inquire about joining PennWest's Meditation and Mindfulness Club, email our guest at baranski@pennwest.edu.
28 Feb 2023
S1E9: Celebrating Black History Month and "Black Resistance"
The Black History Month 2023 theme, “Black Resistance," explores how African Americans in the U.S. have resisted oppression and fought for freedom. But what does that mean to members of the PennWest community? How are the ideas of resistance and resilience alive on campuses in 2023?
Today on PennWest POV, we sit down with a panel of PennWest administrators and students to learn what Black History Month means to them, how they find the strength to resist and success and who has inspired them to press on.
29 Nov 2022
S1E8: Serving those who serve
After a 10-yearcareer in law enforcement, Special Agent Ryan Spencer found his new calling – educating future police officers. And this isn’t just your average municipal or state police force. Spencer has spent nearly a decade educating law enforcement officers. He now works for the Department of Veterans Affairs – a force that is comprised of nearly 90% U.S. veterans.
So what is the difference between VA police officers and your average community police? What sort of training is involved in this field?
Special Agent Spencer joins us today on the podcast to discuss his career in law enforcement and how he discovered the human element of serving veterans. He also talks about how modern policing in Veterans Affairs involves a large percentage of social work techniques.
8 Nov 2022
S1E7: Evolving to meet 21st Century needs in the campus library
Maybe you’re a frequent visitor, and the thought of checking out a book brings you excitement. Maybe you recall spending hours and hours in a solo booth, cramming for your midterms.
Regardless of your experience, the campus library has traditionally been the center of colleges and universities for centuries. But how are they adapting to the increase in dependency on electronic sources and a focus on collaborative learning?
In today’s episode of PennWest POV, we are joined by Anthony McMullen (Edinboro), Douglas Hoover (California) and Dr. Terry LaTour (Clarion) – the library directors of the three PennWest campus. In this episode, the trio will discuss how campus libraries are evolving to meet the needs of everchanging audiences and how they carry traditional characteristics of libraries into the future.
25 Oct 2022
S1E6: Experiencing Deaf lifestyles and cultures in the U.S.
In her 20-year career teaching – and her experience in higher-education teaching deaf studies – Dr. Karen Lindeman has been laser focused on the science, intervention and understanding of students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
But what does it mean to be deaf? What is the different between lowercase “d” deaf – the scientific condition with hearing difficulty or inability – and uppercase “D” Deaf – the social beliefs, behavior, history and traditions of deafness.
We’ll get into all of this and more in this episode of PennWest POV.
FULL TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE
https://www.pennwest.edu/news/pennwest-pov-deaf-lifestyles-and-cultures
11 Oct 2022
S1E5: Understanding the President of the United States
Despite the different background and experiences of the individuals who hold the position, the office of the U.S. presidency has endured because of the Constitution.
Is this person an American hero or simply a public servant? How has the office changed and evolved since the first one – that’s right, George Washington – was elected in 1789? How have our perspectives and trust in the office changed as our population becomes more divided and antagonistic?
Dr. Kevan Yenerall, who teaches American government and political science courses at Clarion, joins the show today to discuss the executive branch and the individual who helps define us as Americans – the President of the United States.
1 Sept 2022
S1E4: Combining art, crafts, science, joy in woodworking
Whether it’s an escape from stresses of daily life or creating a hand-crafted gift for a loved one, the DIY revolution has reached the farthest points of the art world. According to Edinboro woodworking professor Karen Ernst, there’s just something healthy and satisfying about making something with your hands.
Ernst, who serves as the board president for the Furniture Society, joins host Christopher LaFuria to chat about making furniture by hand and passing along woodworking wisdom to the next generation of craftspeople.
1 Sept 2022
S1E3: Making bones about early skeletal research
We all know that what you see on television should be taken with a grain of salt – especially if presented as a realistic program. Such is the case for forensic investigation shows like the CSI franchise. But although the series promotes some improbable tools and techniques, there is some truth behind the tactics of forensics.
Dr. Matthew Rhode, from Clarion’s social sciences, joins host Christopher LaFuria to investigate what you can learn from skeletal remains. Rhode, a physical anthropologist, joins the podcast to discuss his experience uncovering the mysteries that lie beneath the earth.
1 Sept 2022
S1E2: Expanding the borders of parks and recreation
As a black woman and explorer of the outdoors, Dr. Candice Riley hasn’t noticed too many folks in parks and recreation settings who look like her. What’s the reason behind this, and what can we do to solve this issue?
Riley, from California’s parks and recreation program, discusses how she became enthralled with the outdoors – as a stress reliever and way to explore the world. She joins host Christopher LaFuria to discuss how we can make the outdoors more accessible to minorities, LGBTQIA+ individuals and individuals with physical disabilities.
1 Sept 2022
S1E1: Teeing off in a multi-billion-dollar business
Golf is an everchanging sport – and industry. With new courses, equipment and different ways to experience the game, golf has grown into a $191 billion industry over the last three decades.
Dr. Justin Barroner and Dr. James Pond, from California’s exercise science program, join host Christopher LaFuria to talk about making the game accessible to new audience and what to expect from the sport in the next decade.
16 Aug 2022
Season 1 Trailer
The podcast world is a vast universe of content for everyone – whether you’re into sports, true crime, arts or business.
In the new podcast from Pennsylvania Western University, you can listen to these topics and more – right on your phone or podcast provider.
This fall, PennWest’s Office of Communications is launching “PennWest POV,” a podcast that explores the unique experiences and perspectives of students, faculty and alumni on the California, Clarion and Edinboro campuses. Each episode will dig into the individuals who make PennWest exciting, diverse and profound place to discover your passion.
Host Christopher LaFuria, digital communications director at PennWest Edinboro, will speak with individuals from each campus about their industry and life’s passions.
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