Say It Out Loud = Tackling Tough Topics Together

We are joined by Dr. Cran Lucas, Emeritus Professor of Biology with LSUS, to discuss viruses, pandemics, vaccines, and more.  We try to break down how viruses and pandemics occur, how vaccines are developed and how they work, and attempt to dispel some myths around fears and concerns of those hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Welcome to Season 2!  We are starting off this season by evaluating where we have been over the past year with the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, including discussing vaccine hesitancy as a top health concern.  We dig into the various reasons why many individuals struggle with choosing to be vaccinated, and seek understanding and compassion in the process.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, sales of alcohol and tobacco have increased, as have overdoses from illicit drugs.  Many factors have contributed to increased substance use and abuse, including grief and isolation, changes in support systems, lack of normal accountability parameters and structured life, not to mention added stress from family obligations and economic pressures, as well as the body's trauma response to a long-term stressor like a pandemic. Some of the unexpected consequences of evolving from a light drinker to riskier levels can be hard to reverse.  Certain demographics, including younger people, appear to me more at risk.  Our special guests from Restoring Light Counseling - Alden Murphy, Lauren Moody, and Amanda Veuleman - bring light to some things to look for and strategies for healthier coping.

We’ve all been there. Lack of motivation.  Indecision. Distraction. Procrastination. Desperation. Emotional breakdown! Obviously this unhelpful pattern in our college careers has a great impact on our mental health. No matter your major, learning how to prepare and organize, manage time effectively, and gain knowledge of resources available and how to use them efficiently (work smarter, not harder) – will not only make your life easier, but make you more successful academically and professionally. We are here today to discuss what NOT to do – and alternatives on how to be your best and live up to your sense of integrity and work ethic – when it comes to the research process. And who better than the individuals who see students in the middle of their research crisis, several faculty members from Noel Memorial Library!

With special guests: 

• Brian Sherman, Dean of Noel Memorial Library
• Jessica Hawkes, First Year Experience and Undergraduate Success Librarian
• Sarah Mazur, Head of Resource Management and Discovery

In observance of World Bipolar Awareness Day, we provide information on this serious mental illness, including statistics, symptoms, common impact on work, relationships, and daily life, as well as hope for coping. We are privileged to speak with Sarah Wynn, an LSUS student who has struggled with bipolar disorder. While this mental illness can have lifelong challenges, it does not have to be a life sentence. As Sarah states with passion, “Waking up with bipolar every day is a struggle, but I am glad to have that struggle.”

College is hard enough for the “average” student. Learning how to balance the academic pressures of multiple classes, with trying to maintain a social life, and possibly work and family obligations, all while trying to figure out who you are and who you want to be….these are some of the hugest existential challenges any of us can go through in early adulthood. For some unique students who may be dealing with additional personal challenges, whether with their physical or mental health, or perhaps a developmental disability or some physical limitation, dealing with these added stressors and impairments can make focusing on academics and staying on track even more difficult. But they don’t have to be barriers to achieving your goals and dreams. We are here today to discuss the mental, social, and emotional impact of going through college as someone with limitations. We are joined by Yolanda Price-Mitchell, Disability Coordinator at LSUS. And we also have two special guests with us who are a testament to resilience! Bianca Stakes, a graduate of LSUS who is also staff member here in our media department. And current student Tanton Stanford. Both are here to share their experience and leave us with a sense of hope!

Being a traditional college student has a wide array of challenges – from adjusting to the transition from high school to college, to going through the developmental milestones involved in the early adulthood stage of development – search for identity, independence, responsible decision making, learning positive coping skills and healthy study habits.

For non-traditional students who enter graduate school, often later in life after establishing family and career, a whole host of other unique challenges come into the picture, usually with a lot more responsibilities and obligations to juggle. And then 2020 hit, and a life-altering pandemic got added to the mix.

We are joined today by two very special guests, LSUS online MBA students located in different parts of the country! Deborah Mitchell, who is in Georgia, and Candice Jackson, who is in Texas. They are here to share their experiences, lessons, and advice on balancing grad school and life.

We are joined by our resident expert on changing majors & planning for the world of work after college, Jennie Flynn-McKevitt, Director of Career Services, to discuss the patterns, trends, challenges, and solutions when it comes to the likely choice to change your major.  We’ll also offer insight on how some of these challenges impact our emotional well-being & academic success, and hear from students who have been through this evolutionary part of self-development & have come out all the better for it.

Learn from the experts on why we have a tendency to struggle with unrealistic ideals & comparisons when it comes to body & lifestyle image, and how marketing & social media influences our self-perceptions & emotional well-being.  And we’ll hear from one student who is challenging negative body images by empowering & inspiring others to find self-acceptance & self-compassion.

With special guests:

• Angel Martin, Director of Student Activities & Recreational Sports;
• Wendell Riley, Director of Media & External Relations;
• Abigail Huddleston-Williams, LSUS junior, SGA Senator

We are joined by Dr. Helen Wise, Professor of Sociology at LSUS, to discuss key factors to student success that have nothing to do with academic ability, intelligence, or aptitude. It’s all about mindset, attitude, and behavior – proven changes students can make to ensure they stay on the path to achieving their academic and life goals.

After 2020, one of the most challenging years on a collective scale, we are bringing in 2021 with intentions for using our growth and lessons learned, harnessing our guiding intuition to make the changes we experienced work for us, to manifest the life we desire.

In order to reflect on what has been an exhausting and challenging year, we have a conversation around six specific questions to process the year's events and our experiences.  Idea borrowed from Mike Robbins' "We're All in this Together" podcast pre-COVID Dec. 2019 episode "Completing the Year Powerfully."

So much has happened throughout 2020, including the coronavirus crisis, racial injustice, major division during the presidential election season, and for college students, the need to suddenly pivot to remote learning.  The impact on both an individual and collective scale has been enormous.  We gather multiple perspectives on experiences, offer ways to cope, and discuss post-traumatic growth.

Special Guest: Dr. Hsin-Ya Tang, Associate Professor, Dept. of Psychology, Master of Science in Counseling Program, LSUS

The year 2020 has been exhausting.  And as we move into the holiday season, many people have concerns over an even deeper depression added to the commonly experienced Seasonal Affective Disorder. We go over strategies to proactively prevent falling into this deeper state, while normalizing that this holiday season is going to be different.  But we can focus on what is within our control to lift our spirits.

In this episode, we discuss the experience of diversity on a college campus.  Early adulthood and the pursuit of higher education includes encountering new and differing beliefs, values, and life choices of others around us, which can be both exciting and liberating, but also emotionally challenging at times.  How we handle potential discomfort in healthy and respectful ways is key to navigating a complex world, and reflects the importance of committing ourselves to grow into a direction of tolerance and acceptance.

We continue our discussion from Episode #1 and go over three science-backed strategies for having productive conversations when dealing with political (or other) conflicts.  

Step 1: Press Pause  Step 2: Listen to understand  Step 3: Speak with Humility

For our premier episode, we choose from a selection of student topic submissions, and discuss how to deal with the emotions involved in political stress surrounding the upcoming election.  Why do politics make us so angry?