Author: Jessica Newman

Jessica Newman, assistant educator in the Elliott School of Communication, produces and hosts the podcast Create Space. The show focuses on creativity and storytelling and has featured WSU faculty, students and alums.

The episode, “Literature in the Audio Age,” is a multidisciplinary collaboration between two departments in the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. Jessica is joined by Dr. Katie Lanning, assistant professor of English. Dr. Lanning is pioneering a new course at Wichita State titled “Literature in the Audio Age,” set to launch in fall 2024. In the episode, she gives a preview of the course as she and Jessica explore the fascinating intersection of literature and audio technology.

They dissect a piece of Shakespeare and discuss its meaning in the context of audio technology’s rapid growth. Listeners will learn how the experience of literature transforms in the dynamic landscape of the audio age, where podcasts, audiobooks and immersive soundscapes are reshaping the way people engage with narratives.

Listen to the podcast online or wherever you get your podcasts.

On March 21, 22 and 23, the Elliott School of Communication is hosting One Small Step conversations in the podcast studio in Elliott Hall. All faculty, staff and students are invited to sign-up and participate in a recorded/facilitated conversation. If you’ve considered participating in One Small Step before but haven’t signed up, now is the time. The session times will be available all day on all three dates so you can arrange a time that fits your schedule.

If you’d like to participate, sign up online. Then, once you’ve signed up, you can email One Small Step field manager, Mary Bess Ser at bser@storycorps.org, and let her know what days and times you are available to get scheduled.

One Small Step is a non-profit organization formed under Story Corps. The mission is to brings strangers with different political views together to record 50-minute facilitated conversations, not to debate politics, but to learn more about who we are as people. One Small Step was created to remind the country of the humanity in all of us, even those with whom we disagree. 

The founder of Story Corps, Dave Isay is a radio producer and he’s won six Peabody awards. He was recently interviewed about One Small Step by WSU President, Rick Muma, on the Forward Together Podcast. One Small Step has also been covered by The Sunflower, WSU’s independent student newspaper.

Why has the Elliott School chosen to partner with One Small Step? Because storytelling is what its all about. Sharing stories in a strategic way in order to facilitate connection and community is what it does. This is an opportunity for WSU to be involved in a large-scale, strategic, story-telling initiative and the Elliott School is hopeful that the campus community will join.

The Elliott School of Communication is hosting One Small Step conversations, moderated discussions between students with different political views and from different backgrounds, Dec. 4, 5 and 6 in the podcast studio in Elliott Hall. All are welcome to join the conversations, and to provide a balanced variety of viewpoints, students of all political leanings are encouraged to register for a discussion with their peers. Those who have considered participating in One Small Step before, but haven’t signed up, now is the time. Session times will be available all day on all three dates, so participants can arrange a time that fits their schedule.

Those interested in participating can sign up online through Story Corps. After signing up, email One Small Step Field Manager Mary Bess Ser at bser@storycorps.org, and let her know what days and times participants are available.

What is One Small Step?

One Small Step is a non-profit organization formed under Story Corps. The mission is to bring strangers with different political views together to record 50-minute facilitated conversations, not to debate politics, but to learn more about them as people. One Small Step was created to remind the country of the humanity in everyone, even those with disagreements.

The founder of Story Corps, Dave Isay, is a radio producer who’s won six Peabody awards. He was recently interviewed about One Small Step by President Rick Muma on the Forward Together Podcast. One Small Step has also been covered by The Sunflower.

The Elliott School has partnered with One Small Step because storytelling is what its all about. Sharing stories in a strategic way in order to facilitate connection and community is what the Elliott School does. This is an opportunity for WSU to be involved in a large-scale, strategic, story-telling initiative and hopes everyone joins.

“Let’s Talk About It” — Season 2 Episode 4: Social Justice

We’ve seen a significant increase in social justice efforts both locally and nationally throughout the past two years. From civil rights to a global pandemic, we’ve hit a turning point and many have launched into action as a result. Today, we’ll be discussing social justice efforts with several guests who have been in the trenches doing this work for years. How do we maintain momentum and continue to make progress? Today’s episode features:

• Selena Jackson (she/her) — Staff psychologist and group therapy coordinator for WSU Counseling & Prevention Services
• Brandon Johnson (he/him) — Wichita city council person & vice mayor
• Kevin Harrison — WSU Community Engagement Coordinator
• David Garcia — WSU student and Director of Public Relations for the Wichita State Student Government Association

About “Let’s Talk About It”: The mission of the FUSE ICT is to prepare and inspire students to achieve their true passion and purpose; while providing the tools, opportunities, and diverse programming options for them to grow. One of the most effective tools that we have to spark dialogue and unearth passion is dialogue. Our goal with “Let’s Talk About it” is to create a safe, comfortable and casual environment that will foster connection with diverse people in an effort to create meaning, ask questions and start honest conversations about the topics that matter most to college students today.

Season 2 of the “Let’s Talk About It” podcast has begun. Today’s subject is the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath and will feature commentary from Camille Childers, Student Health Services director; Tasha Parker, WSU therapist and doctoral candidate; and David Nevarez and Chase Biswell, WSU undergraduate students.

About “Let’s Talk About It”: The mission of the FUSE ICT is to prepare and inspire students to achieve their true passion and purpose while providing the tools, opportunities, and diverse programming options for them to grow. One of the most effective tools that we have to spark dialogue and unearth passion is dialogue. Our goal with “Let’s Talk About It” is to create a safe, comfortable and casual environment that will foster connection with diverse people in an effort to create meaning, ask questions and start honest conversations about the topics that matter most to college students today.

This is our final episode of the first season of “Let’s Talk About It.” It’s been a journey that we’re honored to have shared with you. In this episode, we’re looking at the unique experience of student-athletes. How do they deal with the pressure and publicity that comes along with the student-athlete experience? How do they foster both the athletic part of themselves but also everything about them that isn’t their sport? Here to break this down with us are:

• Mike Ross, assistant professor in the Department of Sport Management and coordinator of the E-Learning program
• Sarah Mathews, director of compliance for the WSU athletics department
• Rachel Johnson, junior in sport management major and former WSU basketball player.

Stay tuned for Season 2 coming in August 2021.

About “Let’s Talk About It” — The mission of the FUSE ICT is to prepare and inspire students to achieve their true passion and purpose; while providing the tools, opportunities, and diverse programming options for them to grow. One of the most effective tools that we have to spark dialogue and unearth passion is dialogue. Our goal with “Let’s Talk About It” is to create a safe, comfortable and casual environment that will foster connection with diverse people in an effort to create meaning, ask questions and start honest conversations about the topics that matter most to college students today.

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