KC, Saïeda, and Danielle get behind the mic together one last time to recap season 7 and reflect on the group's time together as cohosts of Real Talk. For those who aren't caught up, this marks KC's final episode, concluding six seasons as the show's lead host. Join us in wishing KC farewell @realtalkhighered on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.…

KC, Saïeda, and Danielle talk with sociologists Dr. Cassi Meyerhoffer (Imprisoned: Interlocking Oppression in Law Enforcement, Housing, and Public Education) and Dr. Venice Michalsen (Mothering and Desistance in Re-Entry) about interlocking systems of oppression, the responsibility of researchers to communities, and the possibilities of abolition.…

Tune in for a special announcement by KC, followed by a fascinating talk with Drs. Marian Evans and Anuli Njoku about their new book, Navigating Academia During Covid-19: Perspectives and Strategies from BIPOC Women. Don't miss this important and timely conversation about mentorship, fostering health and well-being on a community level, and the bir…

KC and Real Talk team member, Cindy Cardozo, engages three theatre professionals—Mike Skinner, associate professor of theatre at Southern Connecticut State University; Rebecca Goodheart, producing artistic director at Elm Shakespeare; and Rachel Alderman, associate artistic director for Long Wharf Theater— in a conversation about the significance o…

KC, Danielle, and Saïeda talk with Amelea Lowery, a graduate student in Yale’s Master of Public Health program, about trauma and healing, how to tap into and create community when you’re new to town, and liberation through the land.By Southern Connecticut State University

KC, Saïeda, Danielle, and Zoe talk with student leader and Marisa Howard, a student resident advisor, about friendships in college — how to create community, navigate tricky situations, and make healthy connections.By Southern Connecticut State University

Join KC, Danielle, and Saïeda as they sit down with the passionate creators behind two cherished community spaces in New Haven: Alisha Crutchfield of BLOOM and Lauren Anderson of Possible Futures. In this episode, they explore the significance of community spaces that have enriched their lives, discussing the role of plants, books, and communal gat…

KC, Saïeda, and Danielle talk with a panel of expert guests about affirmative action—its political history, its legal present, and the impact of the Supreme Court’s decision on our university campuses and beyond. Guests are: Tess Marchant-Shapiro, professor of political science Andy Marchant-Shapiro, attorney at law Julie Edstrom, vice-president of…

KC, Saieda, and Zoe talk with Dr. June Parks, a clinical psychologist whose years of working with children and trauma have informed her current work empowering student support workers in higher ed. They talk about resilience–its possibilities and its limits—and the importance of mindset in preventing burnout. Dr. June Parks is a licensed clinical p…

Join KC, Zoe, and Diane Ariza as they sit down with David Garza, the Executive Director of LEDA (Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America). In this episode, they delve into the power of mentorship, the significance of diverse leadership, and the authenticity that drives it. With over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, David's journe…

Join KC, Danielle, Saieda, and Zoe, along with our special guests, Dr. Mary Boudreaux and Brandon Lovene, for the podcast's very first live show! Recorded before an audience of 1,200 incoming students at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, this episode delves into the challenges and opportunities of joining a new and diverse communi…

In the exciting Season 7 premiere, KC, Saieda, and Danielle reunite for a lively conversation, reminiscing about their college experiences and sharing valuable insights on what they wish they'd known back then. Plus, stay tuned for hints about the upcoming episodes you won't want to miss.By Southern Connecticut State University

KC, Saieda, Danielle, and Zoe talk with outgoing SCSU President Joe Bertolino about the challenges and opportunities facing higher ed. Reflecting on his 7-year tenure at the university, they grapple with legacy, and reflect on the work ahead for aspiring social justice universities.By Southern Connecticut State University

KC, Saieda, and Danielle talk with Dr. Sami Schalk about her new book, Black Disability Politics. Learn about the ways we have not recognized disability justice work in Black liberation movements, the importance of making scholarship accessible and useful to activists and communities, and taking pleasure activism seriously! Follow Dr. Schalk on Twi…

Saieda, Danielle, Zoe and KC reflect on the season, some of their favorite moments, and talk about what it takes to be a podcaster.By Southern Connecticut State University

Saieda, KC, and Danielle talk with undergraduate student Kyle Magri about spirituality, religion, and connection with others. Kyle hosts the group Monthly Magic at Southern Connecticut State University, a diverse and inclusive community dedicated to finding the sacred in the people, places, and things where most religious institutions refuse to loo…

In this episode, Danielle, Saieda, and KC talk with school social worker and dance instructor Chelsea Little-Hughes about paths to meaningful work, community education, and creating connection, discipline, and joy in her dance studio. To learn more about CR & Co. Dance Studio, see https://www.crandcodance.com/.…

Zoe, Danielle, and KC talk with Milford Public School’s transition program student Johnny Vaccino and two of his teachers. Eric Paradis is the head of Special Ed for MPS and is joined by colleague Erin Williams to discuss disability rights, the challenges of moving through the world with disabilities, the contributions of disability rights activist…

KC, Saieda, and Danielle talk with New Haven journalist Lucy Gellman and UW-Madison journalism professor Dr. Sue Robinson about engaged journalism, the changing media landscape, and the future of the field. You can read Lucy’s work at https://www.newhavenarts.org/ and see more about Sue at https://journalism.wisc.edu/news/staff/susan-robinson/.…

The team talks with Dr. David Robinson-Morris about radically reimagining the structures of higher ed, polite disruption, and the healing necessary for these times. For more on Dr. Robinson-Morris, visit https://www.drmphd.com.By Southern Connecticut State University

KC, Saieda, and Danielle talk with stand up comedian Linda Belt about the importance of comedy to society, cancel culture, and what teachers can learn from comedians.By Southern Connecticut State University

KC, Danielle, Saieda, and Zoe talk with Miros Gonzalez about her journey to reconnect with her Yaqui roots and the possibilities of filmmaking to share these stories. You can contact Miros via www.yaquiland.com. In the episode, she mentioned Kin Theory, an initiative of Nia Tero, which is a global network of indigenous media creators; they host fre…

KC and Danielle talk with two educators and changemakers about the public school system, with a focus on underfunded schools. Guests Patricia Gagliardi, Director for Inclusion and Restorative Justice Education Development at SCSU and Alva Hanson, First Year Experience and Environmental Science instructor at Tunxis Community College, bring their ric…

KC and Danielle talk with Saymah Nah, CEO of Gateway U in Newark, about new models of higher ed and ways to break down barriers that keep students of color from being able to complete degrees.By Southern Connecticut State University

This season, Real Talk is heading in a fresh new direction with multiple co-hosts joining KC in the studio. Our cross-generational team includes Danielle Campbell, a graduate student, Zoe Pringle, an undergraduate student and Saieda Lataillade-Lewis, a post-grad. Join us for hot takes, fresh insights, and a lot of laughs as we test the waters toget…

In this season finale, KC talks with two young leaders, Alex Grant and Abdul Osmanu, about leadership, running for office, role models, and what it’s like to serve in political office. Osmanu was elected to the Hamden, CT Town Council in 2021 at the age of 19.By Southern Connecticut State University

KC and guest co-host Jess Holman talk with Nicole Lynn Lewis, founder and CEO of Generation Hope, and author of memoir Pregnant Girl: A Story of Teen Motherhood, College, and Creating a Better Future for Young Families. Join our discussion on the stigma and myths of teenage pregnancy and motherhood, and learn how you can help change the narrative a…

This week, KC talks with two passionate people behind the soon to open PROUD Academy (Gr 7-12) in New Haven—Patty Nicolari, the founder and executive director, and Brandon Iovene, graduate student and board member. The school’s mission is to provide a safe and affirming learning environment for all students, but particularly for LGBTQIA+ students. …

The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond has been training people and leading effective community change through its Undoing Racism workshop for four decades. In this episode, KC is joined by three undergraduate students who recently experienced the workshop: Tatiana Jackson (Sociology ‘23), Shoshana Mahon (Social Work ‘24) and Zoe Pringle (P…

There’s some big news from the team at the top of today’s episode! Then, KC and guest co-host Dr. Kelvin Rutledge talk with Dr. Natasha Flowers about systems of power within education, and the challenges to and opportunities for sustained change. Dr. Flowers is the assistant dean for anti-racism, equity, and inclusion at the Southern Illinois Unive…

KC and Jamil sit down with Whitney Gent, Ph.D., an assistant professor of rhetoric and civic engagement at University of Nebraska Omaha. Dr. Gent's research examines how rhetorics circulate among advocates and policymakers in public policymaking processes and how representations of people experiencing homelessness appear in popular culture -- in fi…

Black faculty members offer perspective following a university-hosted event featuring Justin Stewart and Antija Allen, authors of We're Not Okay: Black Faculty Experiences and Higher Education Strategies. The conversation is navigated by Diane Ariza, vice president of Southern's Office for DEI. If you haven't listened to our episode with Justin and…

Our unfiltered, unadulterated, unasked for opinions -- need we say more?By Southern Connecticut State University

KC and Jamil talk with authors Bridget Crawford and Emily Gold Waldman about their new book Menstruation Matters: Challenging the Law’s Silence on Periods. The conversation explores legal contexts around menstruation from tax policies and education to workplaces and prisons, gender equity, and reimagining a world that is built for all bodies—vision…

Jamil and KC are joined by a good friend of the podcast, Denise Fryzelka, a certified nurse-midwife with nearly 30 years in health care, to discuss self and community care, myths about pregnancy, U.S. culture around bodies and shame, home births, and much more. In her work, Denise addresses both maternity care and primary health care needs of women…

Scholars Lilie Chouliaraki and Myria Georgiou join KC and Jamil to discuss their new book: The Digital Border: Migration, Technology, Power. Learn how digital technologies impact the experiences of migration and its depictions in the media, in particular the 2015 European migration “crisis” and the current war in Ukraine. Lilie Chouliaraki is Profe…

In this opening episode, KC and Jamil discuss upcoming guests, share some big news, and talk about the work to come.By Southern Connecticut State University

KC and Jamil reflect on the 15 episodes and 20+ guests they talked with in season 4. Thank you to everyone who tuned in and joined us for hours of innovative conversations. And, of course, they drop a few hints about what's to come this fall in season 5!By Southern Connecticut State University

KC and Jamil are proud to to host the first stop on Dr. France Winddance Twine's book tour, talking about her new work Geek Girls: Inequality and Opportunity in Silicon Valley. They discuss the beginnings of her tech-focused research, mythologies surrounding Silicon Valley, marginalized representation in tech, coding boot camps, primary concepts in…

KC and Jamil meet with Liz Ellcessor, associate professor of Media Studies at the University of Virginia, about her new book In Case of Emergency: How Technologies Mediate Crisis and Normalize Inequality. Together they discuss emergency media, surveillance technologies, safety on college campuses, and much more. Dr. Ellcessor is a Senior Faculty Fe…

Jamil and KC talk with Ines Reardon and Peter Dimoulas from the Bioscience Academic and Career Pathway (BioPath) about their community efforts to increase students of color entering STEM fields through mentorship, job opportunities, and specialized classes. They are joined by Lionel Meda (Pfizer) and Legairre Radden (Boehringer Ingelheim), who talk…

Post-Graduation Blues: Finding Your Path. KC and Jamil talk about common anxieties that surround graduating from college with guest Michael King. Together they address feelings of hopelessness, worries about not finding employment, societal pressures, and ways to overcome these troubles. Michael King is a storyteller, educator, and a campus advisor…

KC and Jamil talk about the power of using friendship to fuel activism. They are joined by Tony Ferraiolo and Dru Levasseur, who share the story of their friendship, which allowed their co-founding of the Jim Collins Foundation and has supported them through struggles with burn out so many of us face. Tony and Dru’s dedication to uplifting the tran…

KC and Jamil give their unsolicited advice to some questions circulating around social media about higher ed. Sit back, relax and enjoy their banter!By Southern Connecticut State University

In this episode we discuss the rise in anti-LGBTQIA+ and anti-CRT bills regarding K-12 education and how to prepare future educators on politics of curriculum. Dr. Roni Jo Draper, lifelong educator, joins Jamil and KC to to talk about how to create classroom spaces so all students will thrive, including rethinking teaching practices in mathematics.…

Jamil and KC are joined by Dr. Antija Allen and Justin Stewart, co-editors and authors to talk about their forthcoming book We're Not Okay: Black Faculty Experiences and Higher Education Strategies. Check them out here! https://linktr.ee/notokbookprojectBy Southern Connecticut State University

KC and Jamil highlight university counseling services and discuss cultural barriers to mental health care in Black and Latinx communities, debunk common myths about counseling, and talk about how to approach healing as a community with guests Dr. Randolph Brooks, Multicultural Programming and Outreach Coordinator, and Stephanie Perez, MS, LPC, NCC,…

KC and Jamil begin to discuss mental health on university campuses and how to take care of ourselves along with our communities featuring guest Micah Wolf.By Southern Connecticut State University

KC and Jamil discuss the complexities of being disabled in higher education by virtue of identity, visible and invisible disabilities, accessibility, and perceptions, featuring guests Sarah Rizzuto and Aura Fortier. You can listen to/read some of Aura's work here: The Illusive Men (https://youtube.com/channel/UCEqnBYms--G9c5uXPQdPItg), Recusant’s S…

KC and Jamil discuss the Divine Nine, particularly highlighting the legacy of historically Black sororities and their importance on predominantly white campuses. They are joined by Dr. Audrey Kerr, professor of African American literature, and Tishana Williams, president of the Sigma Gamma chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho, Inc.…