Spool - Unwinding With Dr. Nils Roemer

About Spool - Unwinding With Dr. Nils Roemer

Distinguished historian Dr. Nils Roemer, dean of the Bass School at UT Dallas, hosts this monthly video podcast, which unwinds ideas that shape how we live, work and play. Together, Dr. Roemer and his guests spark thoughtful dialogue on the human experience and contemporary issues.

Publisher

Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

30 Sept 2024

Latest episode

19 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

28 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   19 Oct 2026

   Monuments Reflect Who We Are: Preserving America's Story, with Michele Cohen | Spool podcast

   What do monuments, public art, and historic spaces tell us about who we are?In this episode of Spool, Dr. Nils Roemer speaks with Dr. Michele Cohen, Curator for the Architect of the Capitol, about the power of public art, the importance of preserving history, and how iconic spaces like the U.S. Capitol shape our understanding of democracy. From New York City public art programs to the symbolic meaning of the Capitol Rotunda, Cohen shares insights into how monuments, architecture, and public spaces connect us to the past while helping define the future.The discussion explores the role of stewardship, changing historical narratives, public memory, monuments, and the challenges of preserving history in a rapidly changing world.Chapters:00:00 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4okk95RPwFE) Introduction and Michele Cohen's Role01:10 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4okk95RPwFE&t=70s) From Art Historian to Capitol Curator03:12 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4okk95RPwFE&t=192s) Why Public Art Matters07:45 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4okk95RPwFE&t=465s) Washington, D.C. as a Symbolic City08:47 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4okk95RPwFE&t=527s) Public Art, Public Spaces, and Democracy10:24 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4okk95RPwFE&t=624s) Universities as Public Spaces11:22 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4okk95RPwFE&t=682s) The Challenge of Creating Civic Centers13:08 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4okk95RPwFE&t=788s) The Capitol Rotunda's Evolution and Meaning17:35 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4okk95RPwFE&t=1055s) Art, Representation, and American History19:00 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4okk95RPwFE&t=1140s) What It Means to Be a Steward of History22:21 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4okk95RPwFE&t=1341s) Why Physical Monuments Still Matter23:17 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4okk95RPwFE&t=1397s) Michele Cohen's Favorite Artwork in the Capitol25:16 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4okk95RPwFE&t=1516s) AI, Authenticity, and Historical Memory27:38 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4okk95RPwFE&t=1658s) Public Spaces as Shared Experiences28:17 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4okk95RPwFE&t=1697s) How New Statues Are Added to the Capitol29:53 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4okk95RPwFE&t=1793s&pp=0gcJCWMAwfN6Pr3D) Expanding Representation in Public Art30:29 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4okk95RPwFE&t=1829s) New Commissions: RBG and Sandra Day O'Connor31:57 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4okk95RPwFE&t=1917s) What Makes a Great Historical Monument33:13 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4okk95RPwFE&t=1993s) Final Thoughts

2. 

   1 Oct 2026

   Animation as Research? Dr. Christine Veras Explains Why Creativity Matters | The Spool Podcast

   In this episode of Spool, Dr. Nils Roemer sits down with Dr. Christine Veras, Associate Professor at UT Dallas' Bass School. Dr. Veras shares her journey from growing up in Brazil and studying fine arts to leading innovative animation projects at the Bass School, highlighting the award-winning stop-motion film Kindertransport, a student-driven project that tells the story of Jewish children rescued from Nazi Germany before World War II. Dr. Veras discusses the historical research, artistic choices, and emotional storytelling behind the film, as well as its growing success on the festival circuit. The conversation also covers how animation can serve as a powerful form of research, why collaboration is essential in creative work, and how students gain real-world experience through large-scale productions. Whether you're interested in animation, filmmaking, history, education, or creative careers, this conversation offers fascinating insights into how art and scholarship come together to create meaningful work.

3. 

   28 Aug 2026

   Living With What We Inherit: A Conversation with Natalia Dopazo | Spool Podcast

   In this episode of Spool, Dr. Nils Roemer speaks with Natalia Dopazo, an anthropologist, urban planner and member of Asamblea Desobediente. As the granddaughter of a military intelligence officer later charged with crimes against humanity, Dopazo grew up surrounded by silence, contradictions, and domestic memories that concealed a violent past. Through family photographs, archival documents, and years of research, she shares how she began investigating her grandfather’s role, how everyday objects became clues, and how joining Asamblea Desobediente—a collective of relatives of perpetrators—helped her transform isolation into community. Together, she and Dr. Roemer explore how the humanities help us confront inherited trauma, understand the ethics of memory, and build pathways toward truth. Topics include: Discovering her grandfather’s involvement in state violence The “silent pact” and domestic life under dictatorship Childhood memories, photos, and objects that revealed contradictions Joining Asamblea Desobediente and breaking familial silence Guilt, shame, responsibility, and the ethics of inheritance How humanities guide us through difficult histories Subscribe for more inspiring stories! Watch more Spool podcast episodes: • Spool: Unwinding With Dr. Nils Roemer 00:00 – Introduction 01:36 – A Complex Family History 02:46 – Desobediente: Breaking Silence & Confronting Inherited Violence 05:21 – Growing Up in a Dictatorship & Domestic Silence 09:06 – Childhood Memories: Loving Scenes & Hidden Contradictions 12:01 – Early Signs of a Violent Past 16:08 – The Ford Falcon & Understanding Historical Context 18:47 – Guilt, Shame & The Ethics of Inheritance 22:58 – Visiting Córdoba & Confronting Sites of Memory 23:51 – Building Resources for Others Seeking Answers 26:05 – Letters & Domestic Life During Dictatorship 29:19 – Military Awards, Recognition & Upward Mobility 32:02 – Uniforms, Regalia & Inherited Objects 34:04 – Final Message: “Look at the Monsters in the Eyes” Watch more episodes of the Spool podcast at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9uL5QfvfiU0T-44aAY4JmeTAABgdJSgF

Who has been a guest on Spool - Unwinding With Dr. Nils Roemer

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Jinny Cho
• Scott Farber
• WJT Mitchell
• Jeremy Lock

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.3 / 5

3 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 30 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

48

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32