Best The Scholars Circle Interviews Podcasts (2024)

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Scholars’ Circle – LGBTQ communities and their impact on global politics – November 3, 2024 58:01

24m ago58:01

58:01

LGBTQ communities are marginalized in so many places around the world. While their presence in international politics is growing, they still face quite a lot of threats and challenges. We explore LGBTQ communities and their impact on global politics. S. N. Nyeck is Associate Professor of Africana Studies in the Department of Ethnic Studies at the U…

1
Episode 2411: Hanan Alyami - radian concepts and prospective mathematics teachers 22:22

31m ago22:22

22:22

Hanan Alyami from Purdue University Fort Wayne discusses her article, "Defining radian: Provoked concept definitions of radian angle measure," published in Research in Mathematics Education (Vol. 25). Article URL: https://journals.scholarsportal.info/details/14794802/v25i0002/154_drpcdoram.xml Hanan's Professional Webpage: https://www.pfw.edu/about…

1
The Similarities Between God & Your D&D Group: Episode 30 15:18

7d ago15:18

15:18

In a solo episode, Ben reads aloud an essay from the 2nd edition Vampire: The Masqerade Player's Guide which asks us to consider: How is a TTRPG group like God? We are taking a break from the podcast until the week after the week of November 15th. I have turned off the Patreon payments, so no one will be charged for October. Frankly, this podcast h…

1
Episode 2410: Priya V. Prasad - instructional support for college algebra instructors 31:22

4d ago31:22

31:22

Priya V. Prasad from the University of Texas at San Antonio discusses her NSF-project working with college algebra instructors and previews some research that will be shared at the PME-NA conference in a report entitled "Factors contributing to instructional shifts at the college level," co-author Jessica Gehrtz. Priya's professional webpage https:…

1
Scholars’ Circle – Election by gerrymandering and a tribute to Professor Philip Zimbardo – October 27, 2024 58:00

3d ago58:00

58:00

First, we discuss gerrymandering and redistricting and what it means for the upcoming elections on First Tuesday of November 2024. Christian Gross He’s professor of political science and public policy at the University of Southern California. He’s the academic director of the USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy. He’s the author…

1
Episode 2409: Jonathan Bostic - math ed measures and validity 48:14

8d ago48:14

48:14

Jonathan Bostic from Bowling Green State University discusses MathEdMeasures.org and the work of the VM2ED (Validity Evidence for Measurement in Mathematics Education) project, with Erin Krupa and others. https://MathEdMeasures.org/ Jonathan's professional webpage List of past episodes

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Scholars’ Circle – Election issues of Tariff on imports and Childcare affecting Economy and Workforce – October 20, 2024 58:01

9d ago58:01

58:01

“the most beautiful word in the English language is tariff.” That is a direct quote from former President and current Republican candidate for President Donald Trump. On most issues that involve funding, when the former President is asked how he intends to pay for a proposal, his response is to increase tariffs. In 2018 the US initiated a round a t…

1
Scholars’ Circle – Water issues and challenges faced by voters in 2024 US elections – October 13, 2024 58:01

23d ago58:01

58:01

As part of our ongoing series on the important issues that confront the US in the 2024 election we look at access to safe water and lessons learned from the Ellicott city floods. Segment 1: Although Access to safe drinking water is a human right, millions of people in the United States do no have access to safe water. Lead in the pipes is the most …

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The Best Defense of Orc as Other We’ve Heard: Ep. 29 53:44

17d ago53:44

53:44

If you give your villians psychology, do they lose their mythic status? Scott & Ben examine that and the debate between narrative-ism and game-ism in the TTRPG space on today's show!By Brutal Segue Productions

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Episode 2408: Sigal Rotem - critical incidents and prospective teacher noticing 28:10

29d ago28:10

28:10

Sigal-Hava Rotem from Utrecht University (The Netherlands) discusses the article, "Using critical incidents as a tool for promoting prospective teachers' noticing during reflective discussions in a fieldwork-based university course," published in Educational Studies in Mathematics (Vol. 117). Co-authors: Potari and Psycharis Article URL: https://li…

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A Tolkien Scholar, a Tolkien Game Designer, and Me: A Conversation with John Rateliff and Gareth Hanrahan: Episode 28 57:22

23d ago57:22

57:22

Gollum getting Sam those rabbits seems out of character somehow... Could there be something more behind it? I run a podcast, so I got Tolkien scholar John Rateliff and The One Ring game writer Gareth Hanrahan on the show to discuss! Buy The History of the Hobbit by John Rateliff here! As I write this, it is 50% off on Amazon! Sign up to be notified…

1
Scholars’ Circle – Foreign Policy differences of candidates in 2024 Presidential elections – October 6, 2024 58:01

1M ago58:01

58:01

From now until November’s American election, we will cover issues that confront the nation and the world and on which we expect people will vote. For today’s show, we will explore the differences between Vice-President Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party’s nominee for President, and former President Donald Trump, the Republican Party’s nominee for …

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Scholars’ Circle – Cyber killing of targeted individuals; Assassinations and Targeted Killings in the eyes of international laws – September 29, 2024 57:55

1M ago57:55

57:55

Israel used devices loaded onto personal communications devices like pagers to launch attacks against the Lebanese group Hezbollah. The bombs detonated throughout Lebanon, and killed several Hezbollah members while wounding countless others. What was Israel’s motivation in using such an unorthodox approach to attack its adversaries? Is it acceptabl…

1
Time is a Flat Circle Ep. 27 54:19

1M ago54:19

54:19

It's digression all the way down on this one folks! Are you looking for the juiciest of juice and the hottest of tea? Well, Ben has released his Gen Con 2024 seminar, "The Battle for the Soul of D&D," which is the culmination of dozens of hours of interviews with former Wizards of the Coast employees, and may be a sort of rough draft of his next bo…

1
Scholars’ Circle – Unleashing of Cyber-attacks that kill ; Green washing techniques we should know – September 22, 2024 58:01

1M ago58:01

58:01

Cyber operations and cyber threats have become a greater fear in world politics and everyday life. But just how much of a threat are they? And how have they changed the way nations interact and conduct diplomacy? Hosted by Doug Becker. [ dur: 26mins. ] Brandon Valeriano is Assistant Professor at the School of Diplomacy and International Relations a…

1
Who Really Created Dungeons & Dragons? Ep. 26 55:00

2M ago55:00

55:00

A reading of the spell Cure Blindness leads to the King James Bible, and a discussion of the most-controversial of D&D topics: the contributions of Gygax vs. Arneson in the creation of D&D. Are you looking for the juiciest of juice and the hottest of tea? Well, Ben has released his Gen Con 2024 seminar, "The Battle for the Soul of D&D," which is th…

1
Scholars’ Circle – Ways to Stop violence among Kids ; Addressing generational traumas experienced by children – September 15, 2024 58:01

2M ago58:01

58:01

School shootings have sadly become a part of American life over the last two decades. From the 2000–01 to 2021–22 school years, there were 1,375 school shootings at public and private elementary and secondary schools, resulting in 515 deaths and 1,161 injuries. What are the causes of all of this violence? What are the best ways to address this epid…

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Scholars’ Circle – Refugees right to return in international law ; Effects of earth’s magnetism on birds, whales, bees and turtles – September 8, 2024 58:01

2M ago58:01

58:01

States have legal requirements to receive refugees and can return them after a conflict ends. But does this mean there is a right of return? What are the conditions of the right of return? Is it conditional on the provision of security for the state to which they are returning? [ dur: 40mins. ] Susan Akram is Clinical Professor of Law at Boston Uni…

1
Was Gary Gygax Great or Lucky? Ep. 25 56:32

2M ago56:32

56:32

Was Gygax a great game designer? Or was he merely in the right place at the right time to connect and publish world-shaking ideas? We discuss, along with the implications of "Continual Light" from that 1st Ed DMG. Soon, we'll be releasing another of Ben's Gen Con seminars to Patrons. If you want that juicy historical goodness, join our Patreon here…

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Interview with Dr. Thomas Malaby Ep. 24 1:06:40

2M ago1:06:40

1:06:40

In this erudite and thoughtful episode, world-renowned anthropologist Dr. Thomas Malaby joins Scott & Ben to discuss the practice and history of the tabletop role-playing game. Fascinated by the ideas of Dr. Malaby? Get more of him on September 9th, when he teaches an online class at the Royal Anthropological Institute entitled, "Legitimacy through…

1
Scholars’ Circle – Right of Self-Determination ; Civil War politics examined- September 1, 2024 58:01

2M ago58:01

58:01

Kamala Harris declared that the Palestinians must live in dignity, security and self determination. But what is the right of self determination? How has it been practiced legally and practically throughout history? And does self determination mean independence? [dur: 30mins.] Hurst Hannum is Professor of International Law Emeritus at Fletcher Schoo…

1
D&D Should Be More Like Reading, Less Like Playing Risk Ep. 23 1:01:39

2M ago1:01:39

1:01:39

Does D&D succeed in translating the mythology of the vampire to the gaming table? Is the ritual of the tabletop role-playing game a rehearsal and practice for our own deaths? Today, we ponder these and other questions in our continuing discussion of combat as war vs. combat as sport with Harvard's own, Dr. Christopher Robichaud! Pick up the Robicha…

1
Vampires, Combat as War, Combat as Sport, and Satanists at Harvard Ep. 22 56:25

2M ago56:25

56:25

This conversation goes places I'd never imagined it going. Today, we discuss 1E vampires, whether combat is war or sport, Satanists at Harvard, and zombie pandemics with Dr. Christopher Robichaud, the senior lecturer in ethics and public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Dr. Robichaud's TED talk is here. My interview with the Hick…

1
Is this the worst sentence in the 1st ed DMG? Ep. 21 56:43

3M ago56:43

56:43

"Animate Dead: It is, of course, possible to animate the skeletons or corpses of demi-human and humanoid, as well as human, sort." -pg. 41 of the 1st edition Advanced Dungeon Masters Guide. Is that the worst sentence in the book? It is confusing, ill-constructed, and hideous to the ear. Or is it merely the worst sentence so far? Scott and Ben discu…

1
The Spells in the 1st Ed PHB Don’t Match the DMG! Ep. 20 41:54

3M ago41:54

41:54

Scott & Ben continue their exploration of spells as described in the DMG, and discover more examples of spells with contradictory instructions in the two AD&D corebooks! We enjoy you. Do you enjoy us? If so, support us on Patreon! You'll get access to our Discord server, and have the pleasure of knowing that deep down, you really are the best.…

1
Source Says Weekly WotC Meetings Like “Christians being thrown to lions.” Ep 19 54:15

3M ago54:15

54:15

Regrettably, sources are confirming what we all fear: that Hasbro's digital future will leave little room for Dungeons & Dragons as we know it. Ben & Scott discuss. We enjoy you. Do you enjoy us? If so, support us on Patreon! You'll get access to our Discord server, and have the pleasure of knowing that deep down, you really are the best.…

1
It Doesn't Matter Who Is CEO at Wizards of the Coast Ep 18 52:04

3M ago52:04

52:04

Last week, the empty position of CEO at Wizards of the Coast was filled. But does it really matter at all when Chris Cocks, the gentleman who thought ending the OGL was a good idea is still running Hasbro? Ben and Scott discuss, and also talk over the spell light from both the 1st edition PHB and DMG. We enjoy you. Do you enjoy us? If so, support u…

1
Nets in 5E with Vocal Talent Madeleine Craig! Ep 17 55:46

4M ago55:46

55:46

Today, we take time to talk to the third voice of our show, Madeleine Craig! Madeleine is an actress and long-time DM who got her start with 5th edition. We enjoy you. Do you enjoy us? If so, support us on Patreon! You'll get access to our Discord server, and have the pleasure of knowing that deep down, you really are the best.…

1
Episode 2407: David Coffey and Kathryn Coffey - Designing Math Adventures 30:27

4M ago30:27

30:27

Dave Coffey and Kathy Coffey from Grand Valley State University discuss their new book, Designing Math Adventures: Using Design Thinking to Support the Teaching and Learning of K-8 Mathematics, available through Amazon. Book URL: https://www.amazon.com/Designing-Math-Adventures-Thinking-Mathematics/dp/B0D36HKT3X/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_2 Dave's Delta Scape …

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Episode 2406: Travis Weiland - statistics education research and teacher preparation 36:04

4M ago36:04

36:04

Travis Weiland from the University of Houston (but soon to be at UNC-Charlotte) discusses the chapter "Preparing teachers of statistics: A critical read of standards, review of past research, and future directions" published in The AMTE Handbook of Mathematics Teacher Education (Vol. 5), with chapter co-authors Chris Engledowl and Susan Cannon. Boo…

1
In Which We Discuss the New Orc Art -Ep 16 48:12

5M ago48:12

48:12

Given the racist tropes baked into the fantasy genre, how does the institution of D&D move forward into a brighter, better future? Are there also questions of stories for children versus stories for adults to be weighed? And all that is bookended by a discussion on spells in AD&D 1st edition. We enjoy you. Do you enjoy us? If so, support us on Patr…

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The Ugly Portrayal of Indigenous Cultures in AD&D- Episode 15 51:07

5M ago51:07

51:07

We read aloud "Tribal Spellcasting" from the 1st edition AD&D Dungeon Master's Guide, and reflect on how it codifies racist stereotypes into the game. We also read sections from "Hack the Orcs, Loot the Tomb, and Take the Land" by Daniel Heath Justice, which you can and should read here. We enjoy you. Do you enjoy us? If so, support us on Patreon! …

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Episode 2405: Practice-Driven Professional Development Project - Incremental PD 34:59

5M ago34:59

34:59

Zandra de Araujo (University of Florida), Amber Candela (University of Missouri, St Louis), and Paul Wonsavage (University of Florida) join Sam Otten (University of Missouri, Columbia) to discuss their NSF-funded project entitled Practice-Driven Professional Development (PDPD). They share thoughts on why they are pursuing an incremental approach ra…

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How Does D&D Magic Compare to the Occult Tradition? Ep 14 1:01:29

5M ago1:01:29

1:01:29

You will not hear a conversation like this anywhere else. Was the D&D magic system an extension of the existing Western occult tradition, or a break from it? To answer that question, historian of magic, author, and eldritch librarian Dan Harms joins Dr. Scott Bruner, TTRPG academic, & Ben Riggs, D&D historian, for a discussion that takes us from re…

1
What Fuels the D&D Magic System? Ep 13 56:52

5M ago56:52

56:52

When you cast Fireball, what really happens in the fiction of the game? Today, Scott Bruner & Ben Riggs take a look at that very question by continuing to examine the "Magic" chapter of the 1st edition AD&D Dungeon Master's Guide. We enjoy you. Do you enjoy us? If so, support us on Patreon! You'll get access to our Discord server, and have the plea…

1
Do We Play RPGs Better Now Than in the Past? Ep 012 1:12:27

5M ago1:12:27

1:12:27

Today, we talk with one of the most significant game designers of his generation: Jonathan Tweet. Best well known for being the lead designer on 3rd edition D&D, Tweet's D20 rolling fantasy game, 13th Age, is Kickstarting its second edition right now! Did you know that 13th Age, the premier D20-rolling fantasy TTRPG, is funding a 2nd edition right …

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What's Worth More XP? Nuclear Weapons or Satan's Own Pitchfork? Ep 011 57:55

6M ago57:55

57:55

Scott & Ben read an ancient OSR oddity aloud with D&D and 13th Age designer Rob Heinsoo! The book is both deeply weird and incredibly inspiring. Imagine a TTRPG world with phasers, machine guns, ESP, evil wizards, demigods, and reincarnation. Did you know that 13th Age, the premier D20-rolling fantasy TTRPG, is funding a 2nd edition right now? Back…

1
Does the D&D Magic System Suck? Ep 010 51:02

6M ago51:02

51:02

Would anyone designing a magic system for an RPG today use D&D's fire-and-forget magic system? A reading from the DMG on how the Illusionist gets their spells spins into RPG history and, shockingly, a link to Scott's dissertation. We enjoy you. Do you enjoy us? If so, support us on Patreon! You'll get access to our Discord server, and have the plea…

1
The Religious Work of D&D- Ep. 009 59:25

6M ago59:25

59:25

If you have not heard Dr. Joseph Laycock speak about the religious elements of tabletop role-playing games, prepare to have your mind blown. This conversation is like nothing you've heard before. Check out his book on D&D and other RPGs here. We enjoy you. Do you enjoy us? If so, support us on Patreon! You'll get access to our Discord server, and h…

1
Cthulhu in 1st Ed AD&D- Ep 008 1:08:33

6M ago1:08:33

1:08:33

Cthulhu is an unknowable eldritch blasphemy. How many hit points does it have? Was it copyright infringement for this octopoid monstrosity to appear in an AD&D product? Find out today when Ben & Scott talk to Jim Lowder, TSR alumnus, master freelancer, and specialist on the big green guy. We enjoy you. Do you enjoy us? If so, support us on Patreon!…

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How the 1st Ed Wizard Got Their Spells- Ep 007 56:42

6M ago56:42

56:42

A discussion on how 1st edition Wizards got their spells leads us down unexpected paths, and leads us to Dangerous Games... We enjoy you. Do you enjoy us? If so, support us on Patreon! You'll get access to our Discord server, and have the pleasure of knowing that deep down, you really are the best.By BCS Productions

1
How Would You Save D&D if You Were the New CEO? Ep 006 55:42

7M ago55:42

55:42

Cynthia Williams is out at WotC, which begs the question: If you were hired as the new CEO, what would you do to right the ship of game and sail us all to safer waters? We enjoy you. Do you enjoy us? If so, support us on Patreon! You'll get access to our Discord server, and have the pleasure of knowing that deep down, you really are the best.…

1
How Faithful Does a Polytheistic Cleric Have to Be? Ep 005 51:17

7M ago51:17

51:17

Today, we examine how clerics get their spells, and discuss what did and did not influence Gary Gygax in the creation of the cleric. Ben's book, Slaying the Dragon: A Secret History of Dungeons & Dragons is now only $2.99 for Kindle on Amazon! Buy it! Gift it! Love it! I assume this will only be for a limited time, so get it now! We enjoy you. Do y…

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Reading Aloud "Time" from the 1st Ed Dungeon Master's Guide 58:52

7M ago58:52

58:52

This week, Scott & Ben look at a piece of text which has proved shockingly influential: "Time." Click here to read about Ben Robbins's original West Marches campaign. Click here to read more about West Marches. We enjoy you. Do you enjoy us? If so, support us on Patreon! You'll get access to our Discord server, and have the pleasure of knowing that…

51
Episode 2404: Luis Leyva - Queer of Color Justice in STEM 35:55

7M ago35:55

35:55

Luis Leyva from Vanderbilt University discusses his article, "Queer of Color Justice in Undergraduate Mathematics Education," published in the Notices of the American Mathematical Society, Volume 71. Article URL https://doi.org/10.1090/noti2875 Episode 1701 with Luis https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/mathed/episodes/2017-01-04T12_03_01-08_00 Other…

1
The TSR-Tolkien Letters Ep 003 56:28

8M ago56:28

56:28

In 1992, TSR attempted to acquire the rights to produce Lord of the Rings roleplaying products. How much do you think they offered for the rights? Thanks to Tolkien scholar John Rateliff, we now know the answer! Ben & Scott read aloud the actual correspondence between TSR and Tolkien representatives that reveals the shocking answer. We enjoy you. D…

51
Episode 2403: Melissa Gallagher - adaptive teaching and math on social media 24:28

7M ago24:28

24:28

Melissa Gallagher from the University of Houston (soon to be at U.S. Math Recovery Council) discusses the article, "Adaptive teaching in mathematics: A review of the literature," published in Educational Review, Volume 7. Co-authors: Parsons and Vaughn. Article URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00131911.2020.1722065 Math with Melissa…

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The Truth About the Last 10 Years at Wizards of the Coast Episode 002 49:13

8M ago49:13

49:13

In December, Wizards fired numerous key members of the D&D team. Ben, of course, has been interviewing them. In another episode in which we fail to so much as read a single sentence of D&D aloud, Ben and Scott discuss the truth of what has been happening at Wizards these past 10 years... Let's talk on Discord! Join our Patreon here and for the pric…

1
Reading Aloud Zeb Cook's Intro to the 2nd Ed Player's Handbook! 43:05

8M ago43:05

43:05

A historian and an academic read and talk over the intro do the 2nd edition Player's Handbook for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons! Let's talk on Discord! Join our Patreon here and for the price of a cup of coffee per month, keep the show up and releasing episodes weekly, and chat with Scott and Ben on the Discord! Ben promises to talk, even though he h…

1
Episode 2402: Nathalie Sinclair - methodological experiments with embodied number 36:15

8M ago36:15

36:15

Nathalie Sinclair from Simon Fraser University in Canada discusses her article, "Knowing as remembering: Methodological experiments in embodied experiences of number," published in Digital Experiences in Mathematics Education. Article URL https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40751-023-00132-7 Nathalie's professional webpage https://www.sfu.ca…

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