In this episode, we discuss the growing impact of AI on education, popular culture and beyond.

Host: Tom Reynolds, lecturer - Media and Communication

Guests: Dr. Jason Macintosh, asst. professor - EnglishJustin Hughes - AI researcher, graduate student

In this discussion, we dive into the continued growth of AI (artificial intelligence) and how it's improved dramatically since it first appeared to the public back in 2022. How has it impacted education, positively or negatively? Will it replace humans in the labor market? Will it ever get so good that it will become sentient and destroy us?

Guest: Sara Parks - assistant professor, Dept of English; AI educator

Justin Hughes, graduate assistant Moderator: Tom Reynolds - lecturer, Dept. of Media & Communications

East Texas - AKA the Pine Curtain - is home to over 12 million acres of pine forests and one of the nation's major producers of softwoods for commercial and industrial use. Forestry is also one of the largest programs at Stephen F. Austin State University, offering both undergraduate and graduate studies. In this episode, we discuss forest management, controlled burns, invasive pests, and how forestry is one of the strongest careers a college graduate can pursue, with a growing (no pun intended) demand for qualified job seekers.

Guest: Dr. Hans Williams, Ph. D, Dean - Dept. of Forestry

Host/moderator: Tom Reynolds, lecturer - Dept. of Mass Communications

After the Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that college athletes are allowed to earn money through endorsements and merchandising, it has transformed college athletics in many ways, both good and bad. In this episode, we explore the specifics of NIL and its connection to the "transfer portal", where stand-out athletes can transfer to any number of colleges offering the best licensing deals through outside sponsors. Can it ruin a college's sports program when all of their best players are being lured away?

Guest: Jonathan Shuskey - sports reporter/student athlete

Host/moderator: Tom Reynolds, lecturer - Dept of Mass Communications

The American poet Sylvia Plath is known primarily for her confessional writings and committing suicide at age 30. But Tarot expert and reknowned Plath scholar Julia Gordon Bramer, author of the forthcoming book "The Occult Sylvia Plath" discovered that the late poet was obsessed with Kabbala, the occult, and Tarot, which heavily influenced her later work and continues to be overlooked by virtually every other literary scholar. In this episode, Ms. Bramer shares her research into the little-known mystical life of Sylvia Plath.

With AI technology like ChatGPT rapidly advancing and improving, the challenge for educators is adapting it as part of their curriculum so students can learn to work with AI and not use it to cheat. In this episode, we discuss how university faculty can better understand AI and use it to its full potential for class assignments and training.

Guests: Dr. Steve Marsden, professor - English

Dr. Jason McIntosh, professor - English; writing program coordinator

Moderator: Tom Reynolds, lecturer - mass communications

In this third episode on the issue of AI and ChatGPT, we discuss the possibilities and ramifications of students using chatbot technology when performing writing assignments. Much of this is still open to debate regarding official policies when faced with academic dishonesty. How far down the AI rabbit hole can both students and educators go before things spin out of control? How can we as educators work with students in having AI be used as a valuable educational tool and not for cheating?

Panelists: Justin Hughes - SFA Graduate, AI independent study scholar

Dr. Marc Guidry - assoc. provost, professor of English & Creative Writing

Dr. Elizabeth Tasker Davis - chair, Dept of English & Creative Writing

Moderator: Tom Reynolds - lecturer, communication studies

The state of Wyoming recently passed legislation to ban TikTok, just the latest of many states that are clamping down on the popular app. What is behind all the fear and loathing of TikTok and is it the threat to personal security that so many politicians claim it is? In this episode, we dig deep into the Chinese-made social media phenomenon that boast hundreds of millions of users and explore the misconceptions and misplaced fears that surround it.

Moderator: Tom Reynolds, lecturer - Dept. of communication studies

Guest panelist: Dr. Bailey Thompson, associate professor - Dept. of mass communications

In recent years, several literary pundits have declared the long-form novel dead or at least obsolete. In this episode, we discuss the current fate of the contemporary novel and whether its demise is forthcoming or if it's simply tired conjecture that we've all heard before. We also delve into if AI will be writing long-form genre fiction (hint: it will) and if readers will even care.

#WillSelf. #TomWolfe #isthenoveldead #thenovelisdead #novels #literaryfiction #MFAprograms

Moderator: Tom Reynolds - lecturer, communication studies

Guest panelists: Billy Longino - adjunct professor, English & creative writing

John McDermoot - professor, English & creative writing; coordinator of SFA creative writing program

In this continuing examination of the controversial new AI language program, two new panelists join the discussion where we explore the ethical and moral ramifications that could arise from its widespread use in academia and beyond. Will students use it to cheat? Will AI gradually replace live educators in the classroom? Is there a way for AI to be successfully incorporated into the education curriculum and not usurp it? 

Moderator: Tom Reynolds, lecturer - communication studies

Panelists: Dr. Elizabeth Spradely, professor - communication studies

                  Dr. Amber Wagnon, asst. professor - education

                  Justin Hughes, student; president of Student AI Exploratory Council

In Part I of this this two-part episode, we do a deep dive into the controversial artificial intelligence (AI) program ChatGPT that has become a worldwide phenomenon since it was first released in November 2022. We explore its many features and capabilities, what it can and cannot do (the former vastly outweighing the latter), and what effects it and other forms of AI will have in the future on education, law, and the humanities. Will AI replace entire occupational fields, putting humans out of work?

Moderater: Tom Reynolds, lecturer - communication studies

Panelists: Justin Hughes, student; president of Student AI Exploratory Council

                 Dr. Jason McIntosh, asst. professor & writing program coordinator - Dept. of English & Creative Writing

In this episode, we discuss the rapid proliferation of conspiracy theories today, from the oldie-but-goodies like the JFK assassination and the Apollo moon landings to the bizarre newbies like QAnon, staged school shootings, the Illuminati, and lizard people working for the federal government. What is the mindset of the typical conspiracy theorist and why are they so determined to believe the most preposterous conspiracies as if they're true? Guest Dr. Kelly Salsbery also talks about the course he teaches that examines conspiracy theories. 

Moderator: Tom Reynolds, lecturer - communication studies

Guest panelist: Dr. Kelly Salsbery, asst. professor - philosophy

In this episode, we continue discussing the topic of student mental health in colleges, with the focus on the students themselves. What is behind the anxiety and stress that afflicts so many college students today? Are their fears real or imagined? We explore how technology and social media often exacerbate students' mental health struggles and how they often seek support and guidance from faculty who are sometimes ill-equipped to help.

Panelists. Chris Braue, second-year student in School of Nursing; Dana Cooper, professor - History, graduate student in Clinical & Mental Heath program; Casie Weihe, practicing counselor, Ph.D. candidate in School of Psychology

Moderator: Tom Reynolds, lecture - communication studies

This episode addresses the serious impact that the Covid pandemic has had on college students as they return to campuses after years of quarantines and online/Zoom classes. We talk about the increase in anxiety and depression among many students, how faculty member attempt to confront these issues and the mental health services and support that the university offers.

Panelists: 

Kristin Bailey-Wallace - professor, School of Social Work; Catherine Pearte - clinical psychologist, dept. of psychology; Elizabeth Spradley - assoc. professor, dept. of communication studies.

Moderator: Tom Reynolds - lecturer, dept. of communication studies

In this  episode, we engage in a lively discussion on how social media dominates our lives so much. We begin with its origin from long-gone platforms like Friendster, leading to the rise of Facebook and the current domination of Instagram and Twitter. Social influencers, metrics, and other topics are examined along with the psychological addictions that come with our fixations with social media. Also, we explore the question: Is Google making us stupider?

Panelists: Scott Drury - assoc. professor of psychology; Bailey Thompson - asst. prof. of advertising & public relations; Ambrie Dunn - mass communications student

Moderator: Tom Reynolds - lecturer, communication studies

This episode discusses the infamous Johnny Depp - Amber Heard civil trial that came about after one of the most acrimonious celebrity divorces of recent memory. We examine the facts of the case, the he-said/she-said nature of their accusations against each other and why the American public became fascinated with the trial to the point of dividing into two teams: Team Johnny and Team Amber. 

Panelists: Dr. Donald Gooch, Assoc. Professor - Government, Casey Hart, Professor - Mass Communications

Moderator: Tom Reynolds, Lecturer - Communication Studies

#JohnnyDepp #AmberHeard #Depp-Heardtrial #celebritytrials #celebritytrial #teamJohnny #teamAmber #TeamJohnny #TeamAmber

This is Part II of our two-part discussion on the topic of serial killers. In this episode, we analyze spree killers and mass murderers like Andrew Cunanan and Charlie Starkweather, and the pathology behind their heinous acts. We also talk about how the victims of serial killers and victims' families are too often forgotten about while their murderers become unlikely cult heroes.

Panelists: Dr. Sylvia Middlebrook, professor of psychology (retired) & licensed psychologist and behavior analyst

Dr. George Franks, professor of criminal justice, former member of FBI serial killer task force

Kat Noble, graduate student in publishing & true crime aficionado

Moderator: Tom Reynolds, lecturer in communication studies

#serialkillers #TedBundy #AileenWournos #JohnWayneGacy #sociopaths #psychopaths #glorification

This is Part I of a two-part episode on the topic of the public's fascination with serial killers. We discuss the pathology of the serial killers and how fans of true crime often turn sadistic predators into pop culture anti-heroes while ignoring their victims. Ted Bundy, Aileen Wuornos, John Wayne Gacy and other notorious serial killers are discussed at length as well as the investigative tactics that were used to catch them. We also examine how the depiction of serial killers and law enforcement in Hollywood is frequently inaccurate.

Panelists: Dr. Sylvia Middlebrook, professor of psychology (retired) & licensed psychologist and behavior analyst

Dr. George Franks, professor of criminal justice, former member of FBI serial killer task force

Kat Noble, graduate student in publishing & true crime aficionado

Moderator: Tom Reynolds, lecturer in communication studies

#serialkillers #TedBundy #AileenWournos #JohnWayneGacy #sociopaths #psychopaths #glorification

In August of 2019, The New York Times magazine published the 1619 Project, a collection of articles and essays by African-American journalists and writers about the black experience in America and the nation's legacy of slavery. According the NYT editors, the Project "aims to reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of our national narrative." 

The Project has been highly praised yet also received criticism from historians, several of them African-Americans, who pointed out historical inaccuracies in some of the essays. The Project's most controversial claim is that the primary impetus to American revolution of 1776 was the Founding Fathers wanted to maintain slavery, which England had banned. 

This episode discusses the merits and problems of the 1619 Project and whether or not it should be taught in schools.

Panelists: Scott Sosabee, professor of History; Randi Cox, professor of History

Moderato: Tom Reynolds, lecturer, Communication Studies

#1619Project #1619project #NewYorkTimes #NewYorkTimesMagazine #Slavery #AmericanHistory #1776 #AmericanRevolution #Americanrevolution

This premiere episode discusses the enduring popularity of horror films and how they often reflect the anxieties of modern society. Films discussed range from the FRIDAY THE 13TH and NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET series to Edgar Wright's psychological thriller film LAST NIGHT IN SOHO. 

Guests: Paul Sandul, professor - History; Steve Marsden, professor - English; Meredith Janning, graduate student - Publishing

Moderator: Tom Reynolds, lecturer - Communication Studies

#horrorfilms #finalgirls #FinalGirls #FRIDAYTHE13TH #NIGHTMAREONELMSTREET #NightmareOnElmStreet #LastNightInSoho #LASTNIGHTINSOHO