New BCLASSE podcast ‘Academic Bites’ showcases faculty expertise, interdisciplinary conversations
A new podcast out of Youngstown State University’s Beeghly College of Liberal Arts, Social Sciences, & Education is highlighting faculty expertise, fostering interdisciplinary engagement and encouraging students to connect with their professors outside the classroom.
Titled “Academic Bites,” the podcast was created by Kyle Starkey, a senior lecturer in history and general studies, as a way to bring faculty together for informal but insightful discussions on academic topics.
“The podcast actually came from a conversation between me and a colleague, Dr. Amy Fluker, about a dissertation chapter I was writing,” Starkey said. “She had written about something similar in her research. She’s a Civil War historian and I study German history. We were coming at it from different directions but found we were asking some of the same questions.”
That realization led Starkey to explore a broader initiative—one that could give faculty across disciplines an opportunity to share their research in a more accessible and engaging format.
The first episode, “The Many Complexities of Memory,” features Fluker and Dr. Dawna Cerney, a professional geographer, environmental designer and professor at YSU. Together, they discuss how memory shapes historical interpretation, identity and ethical decision-making.
“A lot of faculty have fascinating research that doesn’t always fit neatly into a class structure,” Starkey said. “I wanted to create something where we could have those conversations in a way that was engaging and open-ended where we could explore intersections between disciplines that might not normally interact.”
Fluker, the Reeder Professor of US History, studies how Americans have remembered and interpreted the Civil War over time. She also advises the History Club and the History Honors Society and chairs the Waksmunksi-Starr Memorial Conference.
Cerney’s research focuses on systems theory, ecological function and resilience. She applies these concepts to landscape-level ecosystem change and community renewal in Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. She is also the executive director of AGX: A Community of Applied Geographers and an associate editor for “Papers in Applied Geography.”
What sets “Academic Bites” apart is its interdisciplinary nature. Future episodes will include topics such as women in sports and Title IX, the science and history of brewing in the Youngstown area and even Bigfoot.
“In the first episode, we had two historians and a geographer, but I really hope to expand that,” Starkey said. “We’re already planning an episode on Bigfoot where we might bring in someone from the sciences to give a different perspective.”
Starkey emphasized that the podcast is open to faculty from all disciplines, as long as their research connects to the episode's theme in some way. “I want this to be an interdisciplinary project that breaks down some of the borders between departments and colleges,” he said. “Too often, we stay in our silos, but when we talk across disciplines, we find really interesting connections.”
The podcast is also designed to be more relaxed and conversational rather than a formal academic discussion.
“I didn’t want it to be overly scripted or feel dense,” Starkey said. “I want it to be like a lunch table discussion, a place where faculty can talk about their work in a way that’s engaging and accessible.”
While the podcast currently focuses on faculty research, Starkey hopes to involve students in the future, whether through live audience participation or by highlighting student research projects.
“Right now, we’re sticking with faculty, but in the future, if we have graduate students or even undergraduates working on a long-term research project, I’d love to feature them,” he said.
Beyond campus, Starkey eventually hopes to bring in voices from the broader Youngstown community.
“I’m working on a fall class about the history of alcohol in the Mahoning Valley, and I’d love to have local brewers talk about the science and business side of brewing while I bring in the historical perspective,” he said. “That’s the kind of interdisciplinary conversation I want this podcast to foster.”
Live recordings are open to students and faculty, with sessions currently taking place in the fifth-floor conference room of DeBartolo Hall. Episodes of “Academic Bites” are available on Spotify, with plans to expand to other platforms.
Faculty interested in participating can submit a topic proposal through Microsoft Forms or reach out to Starkey directly at ktstarkey@ysu.edu.
“Ultimately, I just hope it keeps growing,” Starkey said. “If we can get people across disciplines talking, and if students and the community get engaged in those conversations, then I think we’ll have accomplished something really meaningful.”