Shows
English Matters: from UTC EnglishUTC Alum Erin Hicks, Teaching with Taylor Swift, and Making WishesThis time, I’m chatting with recent UTC English graduate Erin Hicks about how she helped me design my Taylor Swift course, how she wanted to integrate the pop superstar into her studies her senior year, and how her degree set her up for success as a coordinator for the Make-a-Wish Foundation! Theme music, “Storybook,” generously provided by Scott Holmes (scottholmesmusic.com)
2025-01-2423 minEnglish Matters: from UTC EnglishMark Brooks on Writing and Laying Autumn's DustJoin us for a conversation with UTC English alum Mark Brooks as he talks about his time in Chattanooga, what happens when the plot surprises the author, and his new novel Laying Autumn’s Dust, available now!To learn more about Mark and his novel, visit his website here.Theme music, “Storybook,” generously provided by Scott Holmes (scottholmesmusic.com)
2024-11-0519 minEnglish Matters: from UTC EnglishAndrew Najberg, Japanese Women Authors, and Publishing in Horror and Sci-FiSenior Lecturer Andrew Najberg returns to tell us all about his most recent publications in horror and looking forward to writing in the fantasy genre. Like English professors are wont to do, we discuss our ever-expanding TBR lists, what we’re looking forward to in horror offerings, etc. We also discuss his upcoming Japanese women authors literature course.Find Andrew Najberg’s books wherever books are sold. For more information about English at UTC, visit https://www.utc.edu/arts-and-sciences/englishTheme music, “Storybook,” generously provided by Scott Holmes (scottholmesmusic.com)
2024-09-1634 min
SoL-Mates: Love and MST3KRifftrax Eragon and Teen FantasiesWe're doing a YA-two-fer with Rifftrax's take on the dragon-riding...film...Eragon. News flash - it's not as good as Twilight, and that's saying something.(Re: sound quality on the Kimbro end, at the time of recording Joe was in the throes of a covid infection and Devori was wearing a mask in a (vain) attempt to avoid it.)Host segments: More tussin than man; ripping off Saga; Joe's peak interests re: dragons; the merits of Disembaudio; Jeff cracks the code; Joe is definitely grizzled.Be sure to check us out on social media an...
2024-08-061h 35English Matters: from UTC EnglishDominik Heinrici and Teaching Old English MonstersWe’re joined this time by Dominik Heinrici, long-time UTC English faculty member and student. Dominik tells us about how he came to be at UTC, and shares with us his exciting work developing his popular class on medieval monsters! We talk about misconceptions about the medieval period, the role social media takes in creating panics, and the myth of the “digital native” along the way.
2024-03-2834 minEnglish Matters: from UTC EnglishDr. Karen Babine, Wild Hungers, and Editing Non-FictionWe’re joined this time by Dr. Karen Babine, Assistant Professor of Creative Writing. In a wide-ranging conversation, Dr. Babine shares intimate stories about the inspiration for her award-winning memoir, All the Wild Hungers (2019 Milkweed Editions). She tells us about her exciting course offerings in food writing and true crime at UTC, and also about her experiences managing UTC’s literary journal, The Sequoyah Review and her work with Assay: A Journal of Nonfiction Studies. You can find out more about Assay at https://www.assayjournal.com/
2024-01-2337 minEnglish Matters: from UTC EnglishDr. Marcia Noe and Three Midwestern PlaywrightsWe’re joined this time by Marcia Noe, Professor of English and Women’s and Gender Studies at UTC, as she tells us about her new project, Three Midwestern Playwrights: How Floyd Dell, George Cram Cook, and Susan Glaspell Transformed American Theater, now out from Indiana University Press (link below). Dr. Noe tells us about her decades-long research process for this text, as well as the significance of the artistic community that grew from the collaboration of these three unique and influential creators.Pick up Dr. Noe's book at Indiana University Press.For more information abou...
2023-08-3124 minEnglish Matters: from UTC EnglishCatherine Meeks and UTC's New Environmental Studies MinorThis episode, we’re pleased to talk to Associate Lecturer Catherine Meeks Quinlan about her work developing and implementing our exciting new interdisciplinary Environmental Studies minor. For more information about the minor and how to enroll in these fascinating classes, please head to https://www.utc.edu/arts-and-sciences/departments/environmental-studies or reach out to Catherine at Catherine-Meeks at utc dot edu.
2023-04-1418 minEnglish Matters: from UTC EnglishRussell Helms, French Realism and the Importance of SympathyWe're joined this time by senior lecturer Russell Helms as he talks with us about his love of French Realism and its significance to his own creative process. Russell also talks to us about his new novella, Sympathy, and how he came to the unique idea at its core.You can find Helms' Sympathy at Solstice Publishing: https://solsticeempire.com/products.aspx?categoryid=521For more information about English at UTC, visit https://www.utc.edu/arts-and-sciences/englishTheme music, “Storybook,” generously provided by Scott Holmes (scottholmesmusic.com)
2023-02-2319 minEnglish Matters: from UTC EnglishJapanese Literature in the Classroom - Andrew Najberg Returns!Andrew Najberg is back on English Matters to discuss his interest in Japanese literature, how it has inflected his teaching and his own writing, and his upcoming course offerings in the subject.Be sure to keep an eye out for Andrew's newest work, Gollitok, coming soon from Cactus Moon Press!Check out more about the English Department at UTC at https://www.utc.edu/arts-and-sciences/english
2023-01-2429 minEnglish Matters: from UTC EnglishSpecial Episode - Mike Jaynes and Josh Parks talk about CampFire Book Club! (from the DarkSky Podcast)We have a special cross-over this time while lecturers Josh Parks and Mike Jaynes talk on the DarkSky Podcast about their upcoming outdoor adventure book club, CampFire!More info here: https://campfirebookclub.wordpress.com/
2022-10-2653 minEnglish Matters: from UTC EnglishUTC English Alum Jessica York and the Masters to Publishing JourneyJoin us on English Matters this time as we talk to UTC English MA program alumna Jessica York about her journey from grad student to published author. Since this recording, Jessica has signed with literary agent Elizabeth Copps, founding agent of Copps Literary Services. Jessica was also recently invited to speak about her writing at DragonCon in Atlanta. For more information about Jessica and her work, please visit jessicaannyork.com!For more information about English at UTC, visit https://www.utc.edu/arts-and-sciences/englishTheme music, “Storybook,” generously provided by Scott Holmes (scottholmesmusic.com).
2022-09-0622 minEnglish Matters: from UTC EnglishDr. Hannah Wakefield, Podcast as Pedagogy, and Race and ProtestFor this episode, English Matters talks with Dr. Hannah Wakefield about her recent Race and Protest course and using podcasting as pedagogy. We also get to hear student work from the class. (Credits below!)Segment #1 courtesy of Hunter Burnheimer, Jacey Spann, Malachi Knight-Smith, Trip CarruthersSegment #2 courtesy of Aja Washington, Dillon Simpson, Kobe Clark, Mollee Sneed, Tyler MullinsSegment #3 courtesy of Cassidy Yarborough, Hiba Arkawazi, Kimbra Dunning, Obi ObidiebubeFor more information about English at UTC, visit https://www.utc.edu/arts-and-sciences/englishTheme music, “Storybook,” generously provided by Scot...
2022-01-271h 02English Matters: from UTC EnglishSpring 2022 Course Preview!This episode of English Matters is devoted to exploring some of our exciting offerings for Spring 2022 - schedule now available on the university website!Theme music, “Storybook,” generously provided by Scott Holmes (scottholmesmusic.com).
2021-11-0415 minEnglish Matters: from UTC EnglishDr. Jenn Stewart and Diversity in the English Composition ClassroomThis episode, we're chatting with Dr. Jenn Stewart, Director of Composition at UTC, about UTC's Read 2 Achieve Program, and how inclusion and diversity foster a fertile environment in the composition classroom. Theme music, “Storybook,” generously provided by Scott Holmes (scottholmesmusic.com).
2021-09-0930 minSoL-Mates: Love and MST3KTime Chasers v 1.0 and Dealing With Frustrations (Minisode)The gremlins have struck again. First, there was no Joe and Devori audio for Fu Manchu. Now - there was audio, but nothing actually recorded for Time Chasers. Since we are hell-bent on giving you content every two weeks, here's a minisode featuring some of the best of MiMi and Jeff and Time Chasers v. 1.0. We will re-record a full Time Chasers episode in the next few weeks (look out for The Time Travelers on 6/15), but we wanted to give you these little moments that likely wouldn't be repeated on a re-record. Also, please send your best wishes to the...
2021-06-0112 minEnglish Matters: from UTC EnglishPedagogy, Naming, and Transgender and Non-Binary Students with Jo KibbleOn this episode of English Matters, we talk with Jo Kibble, a graduating senior in English, about the importance of proper naming, pronoun usage, and its significance to the transgender/non-binary community at large. Jo shares their experiences with the audience, and helps define an inclusive vision for UTC going forward.
2021-04-2717 minEnglish Matters: from UTC EnglishTiffany Mitchell and David Pleins on Anti-Racist PedagogyThis week, we’re talking to English lecturer Tiffany Mitchell and David Pleins from the Walker Center about their recent pedagogy book club and the experience of reading bell hooks’ Teaching Critical Thinking: Practical Wisdom. Tiffany and David discuss the challenges of making sure that BIPOC voices are centered in pedagogy discussions, as well as the difference between active and passive allyship. Perhaps most importantly, we discuss the way that these ideas might make their way into college classrooms and help dismantle systemic racism in the university and beyond. (see the prior episode of English Matters with Beth Pearce and Tiff...
2021-01-2652 minEnglish Matters: from UTC EnglishAndrew Najberg on Creative Writing and The Goats Have Taken Over the BarracksOn this episode, we hear from author and UTC English Lecturer Andrew Najberg. Andrew talks to us about how he became a creative writing professor and how the teaching of creative writing differs from and mirrors other types of writing. Andrew also tells us about his own personal writing and publication process, and his inspiration for his forthcoming collection of poems, The Goats Have Taken Over the Barracks, available for pre-sale beginning November 23. You can see selected readings from the chapbook on Andrew’s Facebook page – and pre-order your copy from www.finishinglinepress.comTheme music, “Storybook,” generously provided...
2020-11-0222 minEnglish Matters: from UTC EnglishTeaching Suffrage in the Composition Classroom with Oren WhightselThis time on the podcast, we’re talking with Dr. Oren Whightsel about how the rhetoric surrounding the debate over women’s suffrage proved to be a helpful tool in composition courses. We discuss the value of historicizing the teaching of rhetoric and composition for our new students, and how it helps them in places other than the university. Additionally, Devori and Oren talk about the experience teaching the rhetoric of voter suppression is especially interesting in an election year. We also talk about how English departments and first-year composition courses are uniquely able to speak to broader social issues that...
2020-10-0626 minEnglish Matters: from UTC EnglishInternships with UTC English Major Anna BrewerOn this episode, we talk to UTC English major Anna Brewer about her experience with the department’s internship placement program. Through the program, Ms. Brewer was able to secure an internship with The Borgen Project (borgenproject.org), a non-profit that works to fight global poverty. She tells us about how she was able to secure her internship, the types of work she did, and how she plans to use her experiences to push her forward on a career path after she graduates.For more information on UTC’s internship program, visit www.utc.edu/english/internships.
2020-09-0612 minSoL-Mates: Love and MST3KAtor: the Fighting Eagle and Sibling StuffDevori's birthday is coming up, and she made us watch Ator:The Fighting Eagle. That's it. That's the episode description. Host segments: Ator has a plan; Totino's betrayal; Devori Kimbro for Day-Drinking; a shitty rogue, Joe's weird rabbit-hole; an accent-heavy ad break; Van Dwellers; Encino Ator; the fat one is watching the little one.Please be sure to like, share, rate, and subscribe. Find us on Facebook and Twitter, or on our Subreddit r/ArcaneJuggzz. All Rowsdower Cocktail Hour recipes are archived in our Subreddit.
2020-07-281h 18English Matters: from UTC EnglishTiffany Mitchell and Beth Pearce and Teaching IntersectionalityIn this episode, English department faculty Tiffany Mitchell and Beth Pearce discuss their process of teaching intersectional adolescent and YA literature in the UHON program, and how they hope to port those skillsets and questions into coursework in the English department. We talk about the value of adolescent literature when it comes to discussing tricky topics and ideas, as well as how a course like this can challenge instructors’ perceptions of the literature they teach. Additionally, Beth and Tiffany talk about the benefits of a team-teaching environment.Theme music, “Storybook,” generously provided by Scott Holmes (scottholmesmusic.com).
2020-05-2327 minEnglish Matters: from UTC EnglishJessica Miller (J. Kasper Kramer) and the Road to PublicationOn this episode, UTC English instructor and alumna Jessica Miller (J. Kasper Kramer) talks about how UTC’s creative writing MA program poised her for success with her first novel, The Story that Cannot Be Told. Jessica tells us about the road from idea to publication, discusses why she was drawn to young adult fiction as a genre and how it’s more nuanced than some might think, and gives us a look forward to her next project, The List of Unspeakable Fears and why we like scary stuff. Theme music, “Storybook,” generously provided by Scott Holmes (scottholmesmusic.com).
2020-04-1329 min
Remixing the HumanitiesJenn Stewart, Diversity, and the First-Year Composition ClassroomJoin us this week as Devori talks with Dr. Jenn Stewart, the director of composition and assistant professor of English at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Jenn tells Devori about her research with first-year composition courses and texts that focus on issues surrounding diversity. They talk about how important it is that humanities courses provide a necessary touchstone to diversity for college students, as well as what sort of data can be derived from such initiatives to help steer humanities programs into public-facing pedagogy that helps create an informed electorate and conscientious citizens, and avoid the dreaded "indoctrination" accusation.
2019-09-2432 minRemixing the HumanitiesWelcome to 2019!Join Geoff, Michael, and Devori for a super-short, super-informal, but informational episode as we look forward to the podcast's future in 2019! We discuss some exciting upcoming series of episodes, as well as other projects we've been busy with behind the scenes. Please remember to like, share, rate, review, subscribe - and reach out to us on Twitter/FB at humanitiesremix, and email at humanitiesremix@gmail.com.Happy New Year from Remixing the Humanities!
2019-01-0117 minRemixing the HumanitiesGenerosity and Academia Part 1 - Scandal, Reckoning, and What It Means to be "Generous."Given the recent spate of scandals in academia, Geoff, Devori, and Michael touch on what these things mean in connection to another academic trend: generosity. What does it mean to be a generous colleague and instructor? What damage do we do to our academic ethos and our colleagues when we act in ways that are less-than-generous?
2018-10-1543 minRemixing the HumanitiesRemixing Graduate School #2 - Bad Grad School AdviceGeoff, Michael, and Devori solicited their listeners for their best bad grad school advice, and folks did not disappoint. In this episode, we discuss the dos and don'ts of graduate school - including to go or not to go?; self care; financials; publication; and everything in between.Please remember to like, share, rate, and subscribe. Find us on Twitter and Facebook at humanitiesremix, or e-mail us at humanitiesremix@gmail.com.
2018-10-0249 minRemixing the HumanitiesRemixing Graduate School #1 - The Dissertation with Dr. Sara SaylorGeoff, Michael, and Devori chat with Dr. Sara Saylor about the crazy project that is the dissertation. What can you expect from this process in the ever-changing university? How should you get the help you need to continue and finish this important part of the process? What are some key elements that will make writing the dissertation as easy as possible?If you're interested in contacting Sara, please follow her on Facebook, or visit her website www.sarasaylor.com.As always -- like, share, rate, and subscribe! You can follow us @humanitiesremix on Twitter and on...
2018-09-1745 minRemixing the HumanitiesPrecarity Part 3: Precarity StoriesIn this episode, Michael, Geoff and Devori discuss the reality of precarity with their own stories about academia, as well as some listener submissions. What does it mean to be precarious? How does it impact you when precarity and identity are so closely commingled? Please listen, share, rate, subscribe! We're on Twitter @humanitiesremix, and Facebook at the same. Please send e-mail inquiries to humanitiesremix@gmail.com.
2018-08-2145 minRemixing the HumanitiesPrecarity Part 1: Defining PrecarityWhat does it mean to be “precarious?” Is it political, economic, or ontological? Geoff, Devori, and Michael have a spirited discussion as they try to define “precarity” as it relates to the current state of the world and academia. How does precarity impact academics? What do precarity its underpinning ideologies cost academia in the long run?
2018-07-2045 minRemixing the HumanitiesSAA Digital Exhibits Interview #5 - Paddy Fulmerton and Carl Stahmer and the English Broadside Ballad InitiativeWe've got another noisy, vibrant minisode for you this week from SAA in LA. In this episode, Geoff, Michael, and Devori talk with Paddy Fulmerton and Carl Stahmer of the English Broadside Ballad Initiative about why mass-produced fare from the early modern period gets the least scholarly attention. Also, Michael wants to make broadside ballad karaoke a thing.For more information, you can visit the website at ebba.english.ucsb.edu and see for yourself why this fascinating project has won seven two-year NEH grants! Please like, share, rate, subscribe - we're at @humanitiesremix on Twitter...
2018-05-2921 minRemixing the HumanitiesSAA Digital Exhibits Interview #2 - Whitney Trettien and Visualizing Used BooksHere's the second interview from the Digital Exhibits hall at Shakespeare Association of America early this month. Whitney Trettien of the University of Pennsylvania talks to Michael, Devori, and Geoff about her work with digital humanities, and the way that we collaborate and make our work accessible to the public. As always, please like, share, rate, and subscribe.
2018-04-2909 minRemixing the HumanitiesSAA Digital Exhibits Interview #1 - Kristen Bennett and The Kit Marlowe ProjectIn this episode, Geoff, Michael, and Devori sit down with Stonehill College's Kristen Bennett and talk about The Kit Marlowe Project - an interactive project she started to get her students invested in research about the early modern figure. How did she start the project, and how does she keep it up and running? What are the perks and perils of operating outside of the paywall? Please be sure to check this exciting work out at www.kitmarlowe.org, and feel free to contact Kristen at kbennett@stonehill.edu!As always - be sure to like, share, rate...
2018-04-1423 minRemixing the HumanitiesShakespeare, Relevance, and Teaching (Part 2 of 2)After our discussion of the role of Shakespeare in the academy from a scholarly angle, what do we make of his place in the classroom? Geoff, Michael, and Devori discuss the role Shakespeare plays in teaching, both in Shakespeare/early modern classes, and in others? How do we “use” Shakespeare as a tool? To what extent does the teaching of Shakespeare provide job security? What can/should we learn from the Shakespearean model of education? For those of us who teach Shakespeare AND composition, what can each learn from the other?
2018-03-161h 10Remixing the HumanitiesEpisode 2: The State of the HumanitiesIt's our second super-sized episode! In this discussion, Geoff, Michael, and Devori take on the state of the humanities in our nation's HE institutions. Is there a crisis in the humanities, and does it look like we think it does? Why does the commodification of education seem to strike the humanities particularly hard? Are digital humanities the saviors we’re all waiting for – either financially or ideologically? How do technology and the humanities mix – is it another skill-set we need to teach? What essential roles do humanities classes play in today’s increasingly noisy world? Are we in the humanities uniquely...
2018-01-061h 21SoL-Mates: Love and MST3KSoL-Mates #20: The Crawling Hand and Peculiar College Mating HabitsFour friends. A divisive MST3K episode. Will their relationships remain intact? Will MiMi ever speak to any of them again? Probably. We just wanted to interject some actual drama into The Crawling Hand.Host Segments: Joe bones the intro; Devori ponders things; Kimbro Clothing Wish-List; In case you cared -- a history of space-suit films; beating a dead riff; weird ways to hate teens; what happens when a body rejects "Surfin' Bird"; the "Uncle Jimmy's" jokes write themselves; too soon?; Devori breaks MiMi -- FINALLY.
2017-12-051h 06SoL-Mates: Love and MST3KSoL-Mates #19: The Giant Spider Invasion and Fun With MisogynyIt's our take on a Turkey Day favorite! There was merriment, and wine, so things got a little ribald. OK -- they got A LOT ribald. But that's probably to be expected when discussing a creature flick in which a whole town is getting down with itself. HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM SOL-MATES!Host Segments: That's right -- DOCTOR Devori Kimbro; Pervy Redneck Jewelers; Joe is a sweet, sweet, innocent boy; Jeff does some uncomfortable conjecturing; we talk way too much about the sexual exploits of rural Wisconsinites; #GreaseFilter; Gore vs. Repulsive People; Devori visits the Patriarchy Angry Dome; Bobo...
2017-11-211h 11