Shows
Books in the Freezer - A Horror Fiction PodcastMore Anticipated New Releases 2025You know what time it is! Time to talk about the horror books coming out in the second half of the year. Which book are you most looking forward to?
Books Mentioned:
Come Knocking by Mike Bockoven
My Ex, The Antichrist by Craig DiLouie
Angel Down by Daniel Kraus
Mayra by Nicky Gonzalez
House of Beth by Kerry Cullen
Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle
Black Flame by Gretchen Felker-Martin
The Possession of Alba Diaz by Isabel Canas
The Game in Yellow by Hailey Piper
This is My Body by Lindsay King-Miller
Feral and Hysterical: Mother Horror’s Ultimate Re...
2025-07-011h 04Books in the Freezer - A Horror Fiction PodcastMore Anticipated New Releases 2025You know what time it is! Time to talk about the horror books coming out in the second half of the year. Which book are you most looking forward to?
Books Mentioned:
Come Knocking by Mike Bockoven
My Ex, The Antichrist by Craig DiLouie
Angel Down by Daniel Kraus
Mayra by Nicky Gonzalez
House of Beth by Kerry Cullen
Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle
Black Flame by Gretchen Felker-Martin
The Possession of Alba Diaz by Isabel Canas
The Game in Yellow by Hailey Piper
This is My Body by Lindsay King-Miller
Feral and Hysterical: Mother Horror’s Ultimate Re...
2025-07-011h 04
The ARC PartySam Rebelein - THE POORLY MADE AND OTHER THINGSBuy Sam’s Books and preorder GALLOWAY’S GOSPELSomething’s Wrong in the Hudson ValleyGuys, if there’s one thing I’ve been consistent on when it comes to author Sam Rebelein, it’s dragging my ass — to my own detriment. Back when his debut novel EDENVILLE released last about a year ago, I heard great things about it, listened to Sam talk about it on podcasts, and failed to actually read the thing. So when I heard THE POORLY MADE AND OTHER THINGS was imminent and ostensibly a prequel, I knew this time...
2025-04-171h 44
The ARC Party2025 Horror PreviewWelcome to 2025!This is the semi-annual Horror Preview episode, with my treasured guests Becky Spratford and Emily Hughes. Every six months, we gather to share with you all the extensive list of books we’re looking forward to in 2025. As is tradition, we talk about six months at a time, so I’m so excited to share with you all 36 books that we talked about in this episode, covering January to June of 2025. Emily and Becky are the guests for these episodes because they are unrivaled in knowledge of horror literature. Emily as the legendary cura...
2024-12-271h 41
Terras IrradientCommunity, Prestige, and the Problem of Public Service WorkWhat exactly does a career in public service entail? How and why do Amherst grads fail or succeed in entering the field? All these questions, and more, on this semester opener.
Read the rest of our series examining career outcomes at https://amherststudent.com/article/a-better-amherst-amherst-isnt-doing-its-job/ and https://amherststudent.com/podcast/the-student-sums-it-up-wednesday-april-20-2022/.
Produced and edited by Sam Spratford '24.
2022-09-0735 min
The Student Sums it UpWednesday, May 11, 2022In 1821, Amherst College was founded with the mission to educate “indigent [poor] young men of piety and talents for the Christian ministry.” In the past 200 years, how has this mission been delivered, and how has it evolved? Managing news editors Caelen McQuilkin and Sonia Chajet-Wides pose us this question, and, in a two-part investigative series entitled “Accessing Amherst,” they deliver us an answer. It's a worthy achievement that Amherst is the second-most-diverse LAC in the nation, according to Niche. But the fact that, as of 2017, 60% of the student body comes from the wealthiest 20%, and 21% comes from the wealthiest 1% throws into que...
2022-05-1130 minThe Student Sums it UpWednesday, May 4, 2022This week, we talk about the most recent development in a 50-year movement to establish an Asian Pacific American Studies department on campus, and what a recent wage increase reveals about labor dynamics at the college.
Produced by Sam Spratford '24. Audio Engineering by Sebastian Son '22.
Wage Raise Breakdown: https://www.amherst.edu/offices/human_resources/ohr-announcements/compensation-increases-faq
2022-05-0423 minThe Student Sums it UpWednesday, April 27, 2022On today's special edition of "The Student Sums it Up," Sam recaps an exit interview with President Biddy Martin.
Audio Engineering by Sebastian Son '22.
More information about the new student center can be found here: https://www.amherst.edu/campuslife/student-center
2022-04-2719 min
Terras IrradientThe Amherst to Wall Street PipelineIn 2020, 1/5 of Amherst College graduates went on to work in the finance industry; the next-highest number of grads — only 11% — went into consulting. In other words, finance is far and away the most appealing industry to Amherst students. At a school with such diverse opportunities, and which purports itself to be a progressive institution, why does there seem to be an Amherst-to-Wall-Street pipeline? What are the real reasons why so many Amherst students flock to the world of finance? On this episode, staff podcaster and writer Andrew Rosin '25 delves into these questions, and more.
Produced by Sam Spra...
2022-04-2028 minThe Student Sums it UpWednesday, April 20, 2022This week, we discuss students' Ramadan experiences, an Indigenous art exhibition at the Mead, and interviews with the newly-elected AAS Executive Board.
Produced by Sam Spratford '24
Audio Engineering by Sebastian Son '22
2022-04-2019 minThe Student Sums it UpWednesday, April 13, 2022Maggie and Sam talk about a new (and controversial) AAS bylaw and Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). We also hear from Arts & Living about the new film, Everything Everywhere All at Once.
2022-04-1322 minThe Student Sums it UpWednesday, April 6, 2022Today, we discuss the scaling-back of testing and masking policies on campus, a new affordable housing project in the Town of Amherst, and an alumnus working in the energy consulting industry.
Produced by Sam Spratford '24 and Maggie McNamara '23; edited by Sebastian Son '22.
2022-04-0618 minThe Student Sums it UpWednesday, March 30, 2022Today, Maggie and Sam talk about the college's Climate Action Plan, the 5th Black Arts Matter festival, "Fresh Faculty" Professor Stefan Bradley, and ACPD's decision to unmark all of their vehicles.
Hosted by Sam Spratford '24 and Maggie McNamara '23; edited by Spencer Michaels '24.
2022-03-3132 minThe Student Sums it UpWednesday, March 23, 2022Today, we'll talk about two student-led initiatives to redistribute Amherst's resources more equitably among the community and Glee Club's transition to co-ed participation.
Episode Notes:
Produced by Sam Spratford '24 and Maggie McNamara '23; edited by Sam Spratford '24.
2022-03-2315 minThe Student Sums it UpWednesday, March 9, 2022Today, we reflect on whether Amherst's Language Assistants have been fairly compensated, Covid-19's two-year legacy, and a resource center that's helping campus to reimagine justice.
Episode Notes:
Produced by Sam Spratford '24 and Maggie McNamara '23; edited by Spencer Michaels '24 and Sam Spratford '24
2022-03-0920 minThe Student Sums it UpWednesday, March 2, 2022Today, we review LitFest 2022, a new student publication spurring debate about free speech, and the way that some Amherst students have been personally affected by the war in Ukraine.
Episode Notes:
Produced by Sam Spratford '24; edited by Spencer Michaels '24.
2022-03-0319 minThe Student Sums it UpWednesday, February 23, 2022Today, we discuss the uncertainty plaguing student-athletes, the status of benefits among "casual employees," and a new faculty member whose focus on premodern South Asia can decolonize our conception of history.
Episode Notes:
Produced by Sam Spratford '24; edited by Nicole Richards '23.
2022-02-2221 minThe Student Sums it UpWednesday, February 16, 2022This week, we discuss student dancers' latest grievance with the administration, reparations activism in the Town of Amherst, and a significant change in UMASS Amherst's reproductive health services.
Episode Notes:
Produced by Sam Spratford '24 and Maggie McNamara '23; edited by Nicole Richards '23.
2022-02-1823 minThe Student Sums it UpWednesday, February 9, 2022This week, we talk about the Instagram account @/amherstshareyourstory, some developments in Amherst's presidential search process, and recent student housing errors. Visit amherststudent.com to read all of our latest stories.
Episode Notes:
Produced by Sam Spratford '24; edited by Nicole Richards '23.
2022-02-0918 minThe Student Sums it UpThursday, December 9, 2021This week, we talk about Val's changemaker pastry chef Carl Charette, the College's update to their climate action plan, and an AAS debate that unexpectedly reveals the state of democratic practice among students.
Episode Notes:
Correction: At 1:11, we mistakenly stated that Mr. Charette has been working at Amherst for five years -- he has been on the Val staff for six years.
"From the Red Room" AAS Meeting Minutes
Produced by Sam Spratford '24 and Maggie McNamara '23; edited by Sam Spratford '24.
2021-12-0916 minThe Student Sums it UpWednesday, December 1, 2021Today, we discuss the student quarantine experience and the unfolding debate over whether or not the college should maintain a remote learning option.
Episode Notes:
Produced by Sam Spratford '24 and Maggie McNamara '23; edited by Spencer Michaels '24.
2021-12-0310 minThe Student Sums it UpWednesday, November 3, 2021This week, we discuss Val-induced food anxieties, Professor Kwame Anthony Appiah's philosophical perspective on "race", and student concerns with Amherst's Bicentennial budget.
Episode Notes:
Produced by Maggie McNamara '23 and Sam Spratford '24; edited by Spencer Michaels '24.
2021-11-0811 minThe Student Sums it UpThursday, October 27, 2021Today, we discuss Amherst's updated Covid-19 protocols, the resurgence of party-related vandalism and the college's decision to end the legacy preference in admissions.
Episode Notes:
Produced by Maggie McNamara '23 and Sam Spratford '24; edited by Cole Richards '23.
2021-10-2812 min
Tusk TalksCounseling Center (Jordan Barnard and Student Panels)In this episode, we sit down with Counseling Center psychologist Jordan Barnard and two panels of students to investigate recent tensions between Amherst's Counseling Center and the student body. After touching on wait times and inaccessibility, we talk about the structural and cultural changes that could be made to aid students in their mental health and wellbeing. Episode Notes: "Elevated Demand for Mental Health Services Strains Counseling Center""Letter to the Editor: Counseling Center Resources"Produced and edited by Sam Spratford '24 and Spencer Michaels '24.
2021-10-2747 minThe Student Sums it UpWednesday, October 6, 2021This week, we'll be discussing the student experience at the Boston Women's March and the cold that has been spreading throughout the student body.
Episode Details:
Produced by Maggie McNamara '23 and Sam Spratford '24; edited by Spencer Michaels '24.
2021-10-0609 min
Terras IrradientDemocratizing Justice: Reed College and Rule EnforcementIn this episode, we discuss the enforcement and punishment processes of Covid-19 restrictions and other regulations placed on the student body. To shine a light on alternative judicial models, we interviewed a Reed College student. Should Amherst adopt these alternative principles of justice?
Episode Details:
Produced by Conner Glynn '24 and Karen Lee '25; edited by Sam Spratford '24.
2021-10-0638 minTusk TalksAmherst Community Connections (Sophia Harrison '22 and Julia Zabinska '22)The Town of Amherst, like most of the country, is experiencing a shortage of affordable housing. To supplement The Student's coverage of the Town's policy response, we sat down with Sophia Harrison and Julia Zabinska to talk about their work for Amherst Community Connections — a local resource hub for those experiencing housing instability. Harrison and Zabinska detailed the nature of their work, expressed their own visions for change and emphasized the need for institutions — including Amherst College — to consider the nuanced, human stories behind the housing crisis. Episode Notes: Produced by Sam Spratford '24 and Andrew R...
2021-10-0633 minThe Student Sums it UpWednesday, September 29, 2021Today, September 29th, we’ll be discussing how the local economy was affected by the return of students, Amherst’s fall break travel recommendations, and an inefficiency in paycheck distribution that sheds light on student frustration with administrative transparency.
Produced by Sam Spratford ‘24 and Maggie McNamara ‘23; edited by Cole Richards ‘23.
2021-09-2911 minThe Student Sums it UpWednesday, September 22, 2021This week, we discuss the recent surge in Covid-19 cases at UMASS Amherst, student experiences with Five College courses, and a staff writer’s first installment in an investigative series about “class struggle” at the college.
Episode Notes:
September 8th Employee Shortage Article
Produced by Maggie McNamara ‘23 and Sam Spratford ‘24; edited by Cole Richards ‘23.
2021-09-2223 min
The Student Sums it UpWednesday, September 15, 2021This week, we discuss student concerns about dining accessibility, the updated COVID protocols, and the role of the new Community Safety Ambassadors (CSAs) in campus security.
Episode Notes:
September 1st Editorial on COVID Restrictions
EDIT: Ella Peterson did not investigate student opinions about the CSAs; the article was written by staff writer Ella Steciuk '23.
2021-09-1516 min
Tusk TalksEpisode 7: Sunrise Amherst (Meenakshi Jani '23 and Claire Taylor '23)In this edition of Tusk Talks, we sit down with Claire Taylor ‘23 and Meenakshi Jani ‘23, two leaders of Sunrise Amherst — an offshoot of the broader Sunrise climate action movement. Sunrise Amherst has been integral in campaigning for the college to divest from fossil fuels and the prison-industrial complex. Taylor and Jani dive into the timeline of their campaign, the group’s founding principles and a reflection on the actions that the college has taken so far. Musical credit goes to Guillermo Rodriguez ’22 and Quentin Jeyaretnam ’23. Audio editors: Ashley Chang ’23, Sam Spratford ’24 and Rebecca Picciotto ’22.
2021-09-0132 min
Tusk TalksEpisode 7: Sung Kwak ’22In this episode, we catch up with Sung Kwak ’22, the senior chair of the Asian Students Association (ASA). Musical credit goes to Guillermo Rodriguez ’22 and Quentin Jeyaretnam ’23. Audio editors: Ashley Chang ’23, Sam Spratford ’24 and Rebecca Picciotto ’22.
2021-04-0724 min