Small Speculations

About Small Speculations

Dr. Nancy Small and her amazing students at the University of Wyoming take on semester-long topics of study including public memory, storytelling, strategies for civic discourse, and more. Join us to hear about and learn through their projects, many of which are situated right here in Laramie. Each season is written and produced by a particular class. For spring 2023, we’re starting with nine talented folks analyzing local sites of public memory.

Publisher

Nancy Small

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

17 Feb 2023

Latest episode

19 Nov 2025

Latest episodes

21 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   19 Nov 2025

   Season 2, Ep.7: Now Let Us Tell The Whole Story with Two Peas, One Pod

   On this episode of Small Speculations, Alyssa and Hannah are telling their full stories from their public memory project. They take us through the emotional re-telling of their places of public memory that have been forgotten, erased, or lost. By telling these stories and doing the research, these two are making a difference in the eyes of public memory. We hope you enjoy hearing what they have been working hard on all semester. More on Our Sites: UW Lab School Staff Speak Out Against Closing (https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/open-spaces/2025-06-27/two-uw-lab-school-staff-speak-out-about-why-they-think-the-school-closed?utm_source=chatgpt.com) Topics of the Black 14 (https://www.wyominghistoryday.org/theme-topics/black-14) Sources: Connerton, Paul. “Seven Types of Forgetting.” Memory Studies, vol. 1, no. 1, 2008, pp. 59–71. Simon, Nina. The Art of Relevance. Museum 2.0, 2016.

2. 

   13 Nov 2025

   Season 2, Ep6: To Remember or Not to Remember, That is the Question

   In this episode of Small Speculations, Payton, Sadie, and Hilde dive deep into the specific stories they have dedicated to their public memories. They start by detailing the specific wording and class readings they incorporated into their stories. Then they each discuss their stories that they have been building towards all semester. Next, they touch on what relevance these stories hold both past and present, and why they have been erased in public memory. Finally, they discuss what they wish they could have done differently if they had more time, and close out with their final goodbye. Sources: Dunn, Thomas. "'The Quare in the Square': Queer Memory, Sensibilities, and Oscar Wilde." Quarterly Journal of Speech, 100, 2, 2014, 213-240. Rice, Jennifer H., et al. “Memory and Lost Communities: Strange Methods for Studying Place.” Review of Communication, vol. 20, no. 2, 2020, pp. 144–151. Schulz, Kathryn. "Citizen Khan." The New Yorker, 13 June 2016.

3. 

   31 Oct 2025

   Season 2, Ep4: Ephemera, Ghosts, and Hanging off a Baniester with The Girly Pops, Part 2

   In this episode of Small Speculations, Sadie Ring, Payton Hans, and Hide Ball continue to dive deeper into their sites of public memory. They discuss their research methods, activities on place-making, and interests and challenges about their sites. They also give a little bit of insight on what they want to focus on moving forward in their public memory projects. Special shout-out to the American Heritage Center, especially Brie Blasi and John Waggener, for their help in our research efforts. Sources Rice, Jennifer H., et al. “Memory and Lost Communities: Strange Methods for Studying Place.” Review of Communication, vol. 20, no. 2, 2020, pp. 144–151. https://doi.org/10.1080/15358593.2020.1737193. Oral History Association. “OHA Core Principles.” Oral History Association, https://oralhistory.org/oha-core-principles/. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025. Le Carmichael. “Research for Writers: How to Interview an Expert.” Le Carmichael, 7 Dec. 2020, lecarmichael.ca/2020/12/research-for-writers-how-to-interview-an-expert/. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025. Seidel, Ed. “A Message from the President: Update on DEI Response.” University of Wyoming News, 22 Aug. 2024, www.uwyo.edu/news/2024/08/a-message-from-the-president-update-on-dei-response.html.

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Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

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Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.