Voices of Excellence

Voices of Excellence

Interviews with researchers at The Ohio State University

Episodes

June 25, 2025 30 mins
Christa Teston, the Andrea Lunsford Designated Professor of English, discusses her book Doing Dignity: Ethical Praxis and the Politics of Care. Teston argues that dignity is not an inherent trait but a practice that depends on situations and can be taught. She supports her argument with ethnographic research and interviews with healthcare professionals during the […]
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Dr. Jason Rawls, Assistant Professor of Hip Hop Studies, discusses his approach to education, which uses hip hop culture to connect with students. He talks about how he went from being a business major to an educator by emphasizing the importance of authenticity and building strong connections through hip hop. Rawls describes the elements of […]
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Björn Köhnlein, Associate Professor of Linguistics, studies sound systems in languages. He and host David Staley discuss how speech melodies and intonational patterns distinguish between statements and questions and the challenges of historical linguistic studies. Köhnlein shares his journey into linguistics, his fascination with generative grammar, and his current research projects, including the surprisingly complex […]
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Roger Beebe, Professor of Art and Theater, Film and Media Arts at Ohio State University, describes his artistic practice of experimental filmmaking and expanded cinema, including his use of found images and multi-projector performances. Beebe’s work seeks to transform traditional film screenings into live events. Beebe shares his creative process, touching on innovative projects like […]
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Amy Brunell, Professor of Social Psychology at The Ohio State University, researches narcissism in social contexts. In this interview, she discusses with host David Staley the clinical definition of narcissism versus its understanding from a social psychology perspective and details the three different types of narcissism. Brunell describes how narcissistic traits manifest in individuals, the […]
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Eric Schoon, Associate Professor of Sociology at The Ohio State University, discusses his research interests, such as how social scientists produce knowledge and what makes something have legitimacy. He touches upon his work on linear regression in the book Regression Inside Out, co-authored with David Melamed and Ronald Breiger, and shares insights from interviewing ethnographers […]
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Dominik Stecula, Assistant Professor of Communications, discusses his research on political and science communication, focusing on where the public gets its information and the impact of various media types on public attitudes and behaviors. He studies the evolving landscape of media from traditional news to social media, the influence of podcasts such as “The Joe […]
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Dr. Jada Wiggleton-Little, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, discusses her extensive research on pain communication. She explores subjects like social biases and perceptions of pain, pain as a bodily command, and the implications of pain communication in the management of pain in medical and personal settings. Wiggleton-Little shares insights from her own life and education that […]
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 Trevon Logan, the ENGIE-Axium Endowed Professor of Economics, and Benton Wishart, a recent Ohio State economics alumnus and Dr. Logan’s research assistant, discuss their research into white women’s involvement in the slave trade during the antebellum era. Their work, titled Her Property Transactions: White Women and the Frequency of Female Ownership in the Antebellum Era, […]
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February 5, 2025 32 mins
Jaime Sabel, Associate Professor in Molecular Genetics and Director of the Center for Life Sciences Education (CLSE), discusses the CLSE’s role in housing the biology major and collaborating with other life sciences departments. Her FRAMER and MASTER educational scaffolds support students’ metacognitive skills to enhance their understanding of complex biological concepts. Sabel also highlights her […]
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Pranav Jani, Associate Professor of English, researches the literatures, cultures and history of current and formerly colonized people. His current book project examines the 1857 Rebellion in British India, and he describes the historical context of the rebellion, its depiction as the Sepoy Mutiny by imperialist narratives, and provides an in-depth analysis of the underlying […]
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January 22, 2025 31 mins
Dr. Paul Martini, a Professor of Astronomy and Physics at The Ohio State University, joins host David Staley to discuss the expanding universe, dark energy, and the role of the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) project in advancing research. Dr. Martini also talks about the importance of custom-built instruments in astronomy, the use of machine […]
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Paleoclimatologists Ellen Mosley-Thompson and Lonnie Thompson continue their discussion with host David Staley on the imminent challenges and possible solutions to climate change. They emphasize the importance of collective action, innovative technologies, and political will in combating environmental issues. They highlight practical actions individuals can take, such as voting and reducing energy consumption, and discuss […]
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Renowned paleoclimatologists Ellen Mosley-Thompson, Distinguished University Professor of Geography, and Lonnie Thompson, Distinguished University Professor in Earth Sciences, discuss their groundbreaking work in studying ice cores to understand Earth’s climate history. Join host David Staley to learn how they extract climate data from ice cores, the logistical challenges of their fieldwork, and the importance of […]
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December 18, 2024 32 mins
Paul Reitter, a Professor of Germanic Languages and Literatures at Ohio State University, discusses his recent translation of Volume 1 of Karl Marx’s Capital with host David Staley. Reitter discusses the nuances and challenges of translating Marx’s work, the intricacies of Marx’s theories on value and capitalism, and how Reitter’s translation aims to preserve Marx’s […]
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Erin Lin, Associate Professor of Political Science, and author of When the Bombs Stopped: The Legacy of War in Rural Cambodia discusses her research. She focuses on the the enduring impact on Cambodian agriculture and economic development of unexploded ordnance from US secret bombings during the Vietnam War. The bombs remain dangerous, contributing to injuries […]
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Professor of physics Ezekiel Johnston-Halperin studies quantum information science and engineering (QISE), a combination of quantum mechanics and information technology, and its applicability in computing, networking, and sensing. He describes the foundational concepts of quantum mechanics, magnetism, and the physical properties of materials to host David Staley. Halperin explains how classical electromagnetism cannot fully account...
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Steve Gavazzi, Director of the College of Arts and Sciences’ CHRR and professor in the College of Education and Human Ecology, joins host David Staley to discuss Gavazzi’s research on public higher education. Gavazzi and Staley coedited Fulfilling the 21st Century Land Grant Mission: Essays in Honor of The Ohio State University’s Sesquicentennial Commemoration. Gavazzi […]
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Some people look at a grasshopper and see an insect.  Anthropology professor Jeffrey Cohen sees a snack.  Cohen’s research spans migration, development, and nutrition, interests that have taken him from Project Panchavati, which addressed the digital divide in the Bhutanese community in Central Ohio during the pandemic, to his new book Eating Grasshoppers, which explores the […]
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Margaret Ellen Newell, Distinguished Professor of History, talks with host David Staley about her directorship at the History Praxis Lab, a collaborative research initiative funded by the Mellon Foundation. The Praxis Lab engages undergraduates in research focused on citizenship, civic engagement, and the movements of Native Americans and African Americans in the Midwest. She also […]
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