In this vibrant episode of BG Ideas, Arigon Starr, award-winning Kickapoo artist and performer, joins us for a powerful conversation on Native storytelling as an avenue of resistance and healing through music, theatre, and comics. In our conversion, Arigon conveys the importance of using art to illuminate, respond to, and challenge injustices, emphasizing the transformational effect of balancing humor with emotion. Implementing Native American traditions of storytelling in tandem with contemporary forms of expression, such as comics, she reframes dominant narratives about what it means to be indigenous and reclaims joy. Through music and performance, Arigon connects with diverse audiences using art as a pathway to process historical trauma without being consumed by it. Would you like to know more about Arigon Starr? You can check out her website https://arigonstarr.com/ and also follow her on Instagram @arigonstarr.A transcript for this episode can be found here.

In this exciting new episode of BG Ideas, we sit down with Dr. Clayton Rosati, Associate Professor of Media Studies at Bowling Green State University and Claire Cromly, an undergraduate student who took Dr. Rosati’s course about media, place, and power through the works of James Baldwin. During this conversation, our guests navigate the construction of social environments, the values within them, and the importance of illuminating minority voices and experiences in the dominant narrative. Listen as they discuss their respective experiences of teaching and learning. For Claire, reading Baldwin in the classroom has encouraged her to think critically and to reframe the way she understands the world in which she lives. For Dr. Rosati, Baldwin is an avenue through which he can illustrate the racialization of spaces, using his work to act as a liaison that showcases the interconnectedness of spaces we don’t generally think of as related. His goal is to empower minority voices and experiences in America through the amplification of them in classroom spaces and larger scholarly discussion. A transcript for this episode can be found here.

In this episode of BG Ideas, we welcome two inspiring guests: Heather Andolina, President of the Melungeon Heritage Association and host of the Melungeon Voices Podcast, and Dr. Muhammad Sheeraz Dasti, a literary scholar and translator, specializing in linguistic criticism. Both were presenters at ClassCon, a conference hosted at BGSU, inspired by Ray Brown, that seeks to give, “education a broader base and greater richness” through the exploration of the intersections between cultural and class studies. Together, Andolina and Sheeraz take listeners through their experiences planning and hosting conferences, offering a look into the challenges and logistics of conference planning and the complexities of cross-cultural organization when curating meaningful events. They reflect on the personal significance of their work, discussing the transformative impact that these gatherings, which work to foster connectivity, identity exploration, and provide a forum for critical dialogue amongst diverse groups of people, have on communities. A transcript for this episode can be found here.

In this exciting episode of BG Ideas, we sit down with Jay Grummel, a BGSU creative writing student and recipient of the Hoskins Global scholarship, as well as BGSU creative writing Professor and Jay’s research advisor, Abby Cloud, to delve into her transatlantic exploration of opera libretti in Europe. Their conversation brings light into the specifics of writing libretti and how it requires a different approach than writing poetry and fiction. Jay outlines the steps of co-creating, along with BGSU alumnus Steven Naylor the opera Souls for Abigail which premiered at BGSU in Spring 2025, detailing their experience working abroad under Iain Bell in London and the collaborative process that made the journey both challenging and rewarding. Listen as Jay explains what adaptation and music can do to a story, and she gives insights into the role of the libretto within an opera production. Together, our guests reveal the advantages of cultural immersion in change-making creative work conducted by a college student. A transcript for this episode can be found here.

In this episode of BG Ideas, we speak with Dr. Sidra Lawrence, Associate Professor of Ethnomusicology, and Dr. Amy-Rose Forbes-Erickson, Associate Professor of Theatre and Performance Studies at Bowling Green State University. Together, they were recipients of the ICS Interdisciplinary Team-Teaching Program, through which they co-designed and co-taught a course titled Africana Performance and the Aesthetics of Resistance. Through the Team-Teaching Program, their course brought students into conversation with the history of Black theatre and music from the 1960s to the present, highlighting how artistic expression has long served as a form of cultural resistance. Drawing on dramatic literature, performance, and sound, Dr. Lawrence and Dr. Forbes-Erickson encouraged students to think critically about the intersections of colonialism, race, gender, and sexuality, and to consider how genres such as jazz, rap, and hip-hop, have shaped political and creative movements across time. In this robust discussion, we reflect on the rewards and challenges of collaborative teaching, exploring how their disciplinary perspectives came together to create a dynamic and inclusive learning environment. We also learn how Black performance and music traditions continue to influence activism, community building, and the ongoing pursuit of liberation both in the United States and around the world.A transcript of this episode can be found here.

In this utterly informative sit-down session, we got to speak with assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at BGSU and Spring 2025 ICS Faculty Fellow Meagan Docherty to talk about gun violence reduction and prevention in Toldeo, Ohio. She identifies gun violence as a public health crisis that disproportionately impacts children and minority communities. Docherty stresses the idea that gun violence prevention and reduction is an issue that must be addressed collaboratively with scholars, politicians, and community engagement. To tackle this issue Docherty works with community groups such as the Toledo Community action table and Moms Demand Action to gather a community perspective, as she believes no progress can be made without the people who are directly impacted by gun violence. Docherty hopes to increase visibility surrounding human health and safety, children, racial equity and address gun violence prevention on both local and state levels. Want to delve even deeper into this important issue? Watch Dr. Docherty’s public talk on our YouTube channel by following this link https://youtu.be/N6S8YtOBQec?si=uvsTGKHNL8XpQecW.A transcript for this episode can be found here.

In this episode of BG Ideas we engage with Dr. Thomas Roberts, ICS Faculty Fellow in Spring 2025 and Assistant Director of Undergraduate Education and Associate Professor in the School of Inclusive Education at BGSU, to discuss the importance of access to STEM education in primary schools. Throughout his diverse teaching experiences, Dr. Roberts has identified a resource-based disparity in STEM programs and seeks to find equity-centered practices in STEM education. He shares with us the importance of an interpretive, context-based approach to STEM education that enhances the student's ability to critically and creatively solve problems as well as communicate solutions. Through his research, Dr. Roberts is not only working to allow students the opportunity to participate in STEM education, but he hopes to create a student-centered method of teaching that allows students to find purpose and meaning in STEM centered learning. A transcript for this episode can be found here.

In this episode of BG Ideas, award-winning writer Saeed Jones reveals how writing became his refuge. Jones shares the intimate history of his creative journey, revealing how it became his escape as a young Black and queer person navigating life and identity in the South. Believing that safety can be found between the pages in books, Jones uncovers how writing provides a space for one to explore an interior self. In his writing, Jones provides a model for people to see the value in their existence, specifically by working to shed light on the complexities behind the identities of people with whom we differ. Jones’ work seeks to ignite a spiritual awakening that, “makes revolution irresistible.” Furthermore, he hopes that his writing will serve as a vessel to provide answers to questions of the past, present, and future through a collaborative experience that invites all readers, breaks down barriers, and challenges dominant notions of perception and understanding. Check Saeed Jones on Instagram: Saeed Jones (@theferocity) • Instagram photos and videos and website here.A transcript for this episode can be found here.

In this episode of BG Ideas, we talk to Dr. Kristina Richardson, a visiting Phi Beta Kappa Historian from the University of Virginia. Listen as Dr. Richardson explores the hidden histories of marginalized peoples in the medieval world, and through her focus on the technological innovations of the Roma to the complex global networks of slave trades, Dr. Richardson challenges traditional historical narratives by uncovering the stories of those often overlooked. Want to know more about this fascinating history? Follow this link to watch the full lecture by Dr. Richardson! A transcript for this episode can be found here.

In this episode we talk to Dr. Dan Piccolo and several members of the BGSU Percussion Ensemble including Jacob Koch, Chris Harris, Nick Bahr, Emma Zemancik, and Frank Sanzo. Join us as we listen to them talk about their journey as percussionists, the history of percussion in the American conservatory tradition, and the challenge of teaching and playing global music. The group also plays many examples for us to illustrate their work. Dr. Piccolo hopes most to show us that ”music is not a universal language but, like language, music is universal.” All cultures have music, and much can be learned through listening to and playing music from different places.You can find The BGSU Percussion Ensemble at BGSU.edu/percussion, on FaceBook at facebook.com/bgsupercussionstudio, on instagram instagram.com/percussionbgsu and on YouTube at YouTube.com/@bgsupercussion. Curious? Go see the live performance of Samba Bateria at PorchFest on May 31, 2025 at 1:45 p.m. in Bowling Green, OH. A transcript of this episode can be found here:https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/shared/f3N2Ckme5N2QjLmcjaLJ8GN0isG3JQXkEM2LrA4UShhEhxa80_toIwZZgrGKojrRXk-0lKDQ9VpakIw32lqSTXjPnjM?loadFrom=SharedLink

In this episode we welcome Khani Begum, an Emerita Professor of English at BGSU, and Amjad Dhouman. Together, they have organized a Palestine Film Festival in Northwest Ohio. Join us as we have a conversation about why they started the festival in the first place, and how the festival is a forum to have a timely conversation on a current issue affecting us all.A transcript for this episode can be found here:https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/shared/HbvZbXFyCCRGNRHIsuFnRpt1ONYdKEchBAEHesuu-HzT8sRamzqXiis9YwHDGzez1W3N_dPjG_sldnIUZqLAEnTw7II?loadFrom=SharedLink

In this episode, we talked to Haley Anissa Alvarez, a PhD candidate in Theatre at BGSU. Join us as we discuss her directorial debut, staging Alfaro’s Mojada, the work that went into it, and how different activist theatre techniques like antiracist acting can affect and challenge stereotypes. Alvarez hopes to show us that by thinking outside the box with theatre and using it as activism, that immigrants and the others in society should never be “out of sight, out of mind.”A transcript for this episode can be found below:https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/shared/SmzB3LOA8NVNkxdLa1BIlzSS4Fd5Aqd7umC08_-BIutGEr_nzEzRqia2WY3wMkPn9qEc4f1GBZIV4SDF5KIyO_1KyLg?loadFrom=SharedLink

In this episode, we welcomed Indigenous influencer James Jones (aka Notorious Cree), a dancer and youth educator. James Jones is Nehiyaw from Tall Cree First Nation in Treaty 8 Territory in Northern Alberta, Canada. Listen as we discuss dance and performance as a form of free expression, and emphasize the significance of preserving Indigenous cultures. James Jones seeks to pass on tradition to the next generation and uses social media to reach a wider and diverse audience. You can find James Jones @NotoriousCree on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.A transcript for this episode can be found here:https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/shared/i6e5W9owikxqqFacdB3TINRUwqP9ohW36UOA3h9ky1udqI40KaUrJw79Tb7gaKmXUioJlnq4TOlOqIiXsehel4bCnaE?loadFrom=SharedLink

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Kate Brodeur, a professor of Education at BGSU and ICS Fellow, to talk about her research into new and different methods for creating a sustainable tutoring clinic for reading literacy. Come along as we dive into themes of learning, community bonding, and the challenges faced by teachers, tutors, and families alike as they strive to create a better, safer environment in which for students to learn and create. Dr. Brodeur hopes to use her research to establish a new tutoring clinic for the children of Northwest Ohio that could potentially be modeled and used in other places.A transcript for this episode is available here:https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/shared/CFS_cBO7S7r6apWRA1afLqVswc3qsh8b0boML8lzj3D4t2_Tk4pgzMzpyKfV_y8joRiiczS8QK6QxBXXbJOq2g2kcs4?loadFrom=SharedLink

In this episode, Mackenzie Kneessi, an undergraduate social work student, and Dr. Jordan Wilfong, an Associate Professor of Social Work at BGSU, join us to talk about Mackenzie’s research on the struggles faced by unaccompanied children forced to immigrate to the United States. Listen as we have a conversation about the pains and tragedies that are forced upon migrant children, their experiences in the American legal system, and what can be done to help them fight for their lives here. Mackenzie Kneessi and Dr. Wilfong seek to use their research to advocate for these children and create awareness for how little recourse and resources they have in their fight.A transcript for this episode can be found here:https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/shared/nP815qtvNSkoRNTUXDESa-U1jyEJ_7OxeEfEdb-f0xoDxzgV842JYMwgzh9jLmcqbfZfjhCY_7qFRZ7xPU5eFR3CWkw?loadFrom=SharedLink

In this episode, Dr. Ernest Gibson, an Associate Professor of English at Auburn University, joins us to talk about the fictional works of James Baldwin. Come along as we dive into the complex themes of salvation, gender, black masculinity, and intersectionality in some of James Baldwin’s most prominent fictional works. Dr. Gibson hopes to show us that the work done by Baldwin, while it often seems transparent, uses “quiet intimacies” to bring attention to his major causes. A transcript for this episode can be found here:https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/shared/g2BghsQ4Yz9dykY8RVRVUDs9spak0f3QM5pmFVTdIjyVMQm45Siv2D3ogJmL00n8rb1mog80Zu6F25d_rJcXRiGUmVs?loadFrom=SharedLink

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Sidra Lawrence, an Associate Professor of Ethnomusicology at BGSU and a 2024 ICS Faculty Fellow. Tune in as we explore themes of trauma and justice and examine how people can use art practices as a way to heal trauma, particularly in cases of gender-based and sexual violence. The conversation focuses on how to empower survivors through artistic practices and embodied expression. A Transcript for this episode can be found here:https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/shared/mEOxNAPoLPthc6Wz2UlTnLn8iUj7AFOnoE-Qr9x-HuwQZW1HFRpMUWlBR27chWXMIc7RmV-3A8FYqhJwI2rRHGfYYQQ?loadFrom=SharedLink

In this episode, we are joined by Alia Levar Wegner, a digital collections librarian at Miami University in Ohio, Brenda Foster, an archivist at the Columbus College of Art and Design, Nick Pavlik, a manuscripts and digital initiatives archivist at the Center for Archival Collections at BGSU, and Janet Rhodes, supervisor of digitization services with the Toledo Lucas County Public Library. Listen as they share their experience making a short educational film, Learning to Listen: Rethinking the Approach to Community Archiving, focused on community informed digitization practices that avoid an extractive approach. With this project, they invite us to listen to communities and to respect their views. As they explain, the team strives to rethink mainstream academic archival practices that do not take communities' needs and values into consideration. This project was supported by an Innovative Librarians Explore, Apply, and Discover (ILEAD) grant. You can watch Learning to Listen: Rethinking the Approach to Community Archiving on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5mvGAPId5AQ?si=HoITNfrkO4eteLaE. A transcript for this episode can be found here: https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/shared/hahetwtzY-Yd_elv8faKDB25GAclM5SgC8dYiSXNu3zTbXzFlW-8KeKaUmXFnsbGVQdTcMjP3vIUQ2BrDuaXFcMwaPI?loadFrom=SharedLink

In this episode, we are joined by Traci Sorell, an author and citizen of the Cherokee Nation, and Dr. Colleen Boff, Head Librarian of BGSU's Curriculum Resource Center. Listen as they discuss the importance of representing contemporary and historical Native American stories and nations in public education and children’s literature. This conversation focuses on the importance of diversity and inclusion in books about native peoples, and the need for multicultural stories. They speak on the erasure of tribal stories in historical education, libraries, and book publishing. Find more of Traci Sorell’s work and free educational resources at her website: https://www.tracisorell.com/. Transcript for this episode available here: https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/shared/dG3GvM4WlugFRhTi38Oy1IOtV3AGAhGu0NfLFEdo8EzU4bLQL85hixsyZ5qRNqpSoa0bmBnGHwpkjGo430rtlPwhHDM?loadFrom=SharedLink

In this episode, we are joined by graduate students John King and Ahmad Bilal from BGSU, and Zara Anwarzai and Anne Kavalerchik from Indiana University to discuss their interest in and research on graduate working conditions and class differences. Both Zara and Anne were part of a successful unionization campaign for graduate students at Indiana University and shared their experiences. The conversation centers around class inequality in higher education and, specifically, the need for better working conditions for graduate students. Listen as the group discusses the impact of graduate student unionization and calls for class inclusivity in academia.