In this episode, Susan speaks with Robin Cole-Jett, a native of the Red River Valley who is known as "The Red River Historian." For nearly twenty years, Robin has been introducing readers and tourists to the history of this unique region of the United States "where the South meets the West." As she explains to Susan, tracing the Red River has taken Robin on a 1,300 mile journey from the old plantation system of Louisiana and Arkansas to the ranches of Texas and Oklahoma. Along the way, she has documented everything from ghost towns to a historic jail cell that once housed Bonnie Parker. She has also noted the cultural and environmental impacts of major changes in infrastructure, such as the development of railroads and highways. Robin discusses all of these topics with Susan and shares her plans to resume offering tours once the pandemic is behind us.

To learn more about Robin's work, visit https://redriverhistorian.com/.

To learn more about OLLI at UNT, visit https://olli.unt.edu or email olli@unt.edu.

Episode 68: Red River History with Robin Cole-Jett

In this episode, Susan speaks with Officer David Causey, Community Relations Officer for the UNT Police Department. Officer Causey explains some of the most common scams he encounters in his work, including various examples of fraud and identity theft. After revealing some of the tactics that scammers may employ, he shares some guidance on steps we can all take to reduce our vulnerability.

To learn more about OLLI at UNT, visit https://olli.unt.edu or email olli@unt.edu.

Episode 70: Scam Awareness and Avoidance with Officer David Causey

This semester, UNT welcomes its first cohort of students through the brand new ELEVAR program, which offers an inclusive post-secondary educational experience for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. With support from staff, faculty, and volunteers, these UNT students will attend classes, gain experience living independently on campus, and ultimately gain an internship in their career of choice. Susan sat down with Dr. Brenda Barrio, Associate Professor of Special Education and co-founder of ELEVAR, to discuss this launch of this remarkable program.

To learn more about ELEVAR, visit https://elevar.unt.edu/. Donations to support the program can be made online at https://one.unt.edu/elevar.

To learn more about the UNT Alumni Association, visit https://untalumni.com.

To learn more about OLLI at UNT, visit https://olli.unt.edu or email olli@unt.edu.

Alumni Spotlight #12: Diversity in Special Education & UNT ELEVAR with Dr. Brenda Barrio

In this episode, Susan speaks with Dr. John McKenzie, who worked for 30 years as a Family Practice Specialist with additional certification in Geriatric Medicine before retiring to teach at the LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport, Louisiana. Dr. McKenzie also spent time caring for his parents, both of whom developed Alzheimer's disease. He and Susan discuss some of the lessons he learned from his professional and personal experiences, which now form the basis of the OLLI courses he teaches on common geriatric medical problems and end-of-life issues.

Dr. McKenzie recommends this printable pocketcard, which details the AGS Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults: https://www.elderconsult.com/wp-content/uploads/PrintableBeersPocketCard.pdf

In this episode, Dr. McKenzie references Susan's interview with Dr. Becky Knight about senior housing and healthcare trends, which was featured in Episode 31 of our podcast. Explore that episode and all of our previous interviews at https://olli.unt.edu/podcast.

Dr. McKenzie is offering Parts 1 & 2 of his Geriatric Medicine series this fall at several of our classroom locations. For dates, times, and locations, check out page 31 of our fall catalog: https://olli.unt.edu/catalog.

We'll be back with another new Alumni Spotlight episode on October 6. In the meantime, we encourage you to catch up on episodes you may have missed. You can also let your family and friends know about our podcast by directing them to our website: https://olli.unt.edu/podcast. We have dozens of episodes available featuring a wide variety of fascinating guests. 

To learn more about OLLI at UNT, please visit https://olli.unt.edu or email olli@unt.edu.

Episode 73: Geriatric Medicine with Dr. John McKenzie

The University of North Texas Latinx Alumni Network (UNT-LAN) is the newest culturally based affinity chapter of the UNT Alumni Association. In this episode, Susan learns about the chapter's mission from Bob Garza ('74) President of the UNT-LAN Executive Committee. He first tells Susan about his journey from the Air Force to UNT, where he learned valuable skills that served him well during his long career at AT&T. Then he explains how alumni and administrators came together to establish UNT-LAN for the purpose of recruiting Latinx students to the university and mentoring them for academic and career success.

To learn more about UNT-LAN or join the chapter, visit https://untalumni.com/chapters/lan/.

To learn more about OLLI at UNT, visit https://olli.unt.edu or email olli@unt.edu.

Alumni Spotlight #13: The Latinx Alumni Network with Bob Garza

In this episode, Susan speaks with Clinical Associate Professor Cassini Nazir about the important role that curiosity plays in the field of Interaction Design. Interaction designers help us to communicate with digital objects through screen interfaces or with our own voices. Professor Nazir encourages his students to design interfaces that provoke a user's curiosity, inviting them to explore the available information in a way that creates lasting memories. He and Susan discuss the wide-ranging benefits of remaining curious in all aspects of our lives. They conclude their conversation by considering whether, in the digital age, designers ought to be bound by an ethical code that takes their social impact into account.

To learn more about OLLI at UNT, please visit https://olli.unt.edu or email olli@unt.edu.

Episode 75: Curiosity in the Digital Age with Cassini Nazir

In this episode, Susan speaks with Dr. Joanna Davis-McElligatt, Assistant Professor of Black Literary and Cultural Studies in the Department of English at UNT. Although her primary area of research is in Africana Studies, Professor Davis-McElligatt's lifelong interest in comics eventually grew into a significant scholarly pursuit. She traces the evolution of the artform for Susan, from the "funny pages" to the underground comix associated with 1960s counterculture to the increasingly diverse representation found in present-day comics. Along the way, Dr. Davis-McElligatt describes how comics tell stories using their own unique graphic language, making them rich sources of meaning for scholars to mine.

To learn more about OLLI at UNT, visit https://olli.unt.edu or email olli@unt.edu.

Episode 76: The Importance of Comics Studies with Dr. Joanna Davis-McElligatt

In this Alumni Spotlight episode, Susan speaks with Frank Bracken ('63), former president of the Haggar Clothing Company, about his time as a student at UNT, his experiences in professional life, and his passion for community service. Frank encourages all listeners to dedicate themselves to serving those in need and shares some of the lessons he's learned from his experiences as a mentor. He and Susan also discuss some of the remarkable innovations of the Haggar Clothing Company.

To learn more about the UNT Alumni Association, visit https://untalumni.com.

To learn more about OLLI at UNT, visit https://olli.unt.edu or email olli@unt.edu.

Alumni Spotlight #14: The Importance of Giving Back with Frank Bracken

In this episode, Susan speaks with retired geologist and Audubon Master Birder Scott Kiester. He tells Susan about some of the birds that can be found in North Texas during the winter and explains why so many different kinds of birds can be found in Texas. Scott also provides some helpful tips for those who are new to birding or are interested in going on a bird walk. Finally, he reflects on the importance of appreciating and preserving nature around us.

To learn more about Scott's bird walks and other events of the Texas Master Naturalist Elm Fork Chapter, visit https://txmn.org/elmfork/events-calendar/.

Episode 78: Winter Birding in North Texas with Scott Kiester

In this episode, Susan speaks with Dr. Kim Williams, Chair of the Hospitality and Tourism Management Department in UNT's College of Merchandising, Hospitality, and Tourism. Professor Williams begins by explaining the relationship between an individual's personality type and their travel preferences. She also shares some tips for how people with different interests can travel well together. In the rest of this wide-ranging conversation, Dr. Williams discusses her work at UNT, provides some insights into the hospitality and tourism industries, and reflects on how the pandemic has changed the way we travel.

Episode Notes:
- Take the travel personalities quiz: https://besttripchoices.com/travel-personalities/quiz/
- Learn more about The Club at Gateway: https://cmht.unt.edu/club

To learn more about OLLI at UNT, visit https://olli.unt.edu or email olli@unt.edu.

Episode 79: The Psychology of Travel with Dr. Kim Williams

In this episode, Susan speaks with Dr. Andrew Torget, Associate Professor in the UNT Department of History, about a special summer trip he is leading for OLLI at UNT members called "Revolutionary Road: Tracing the Landscape of the Texas Revolution." Professor Torget explains his inspiration for leading the trip and then describes the itinerary. Over the course of five days, he will lead members through a series of historic sites, describing the battles fought in the revolution and the impact of the war on the lives of people throughout the state and across the continent. Whether you're a lifelong Texan or a recent transplant, we guarantee you've never experienced Texas history like this!

For full details of this trip, visit https://olli.unt.edu/revroad.

This episode was recorded on Thursday, March 3, 2022.

Special Episode: Revolutionary Road with Dr. Andrew Torget

In this episode, Susan speaks with award-winning artist and educator Francesca d'Atria Romano about her passion for inspiring the community to appreciate and create art. Before relocating to Texas, Francesca lived and worked in New York, where she taught high school art, worked as a docent at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and became renowned for her etchings. She discusses several highlights of her remarkable career with Susan, including her logo design for the Staten Island Ferry, the NOVA award-winning documentary that featured her high school art class, and the advice she gave to the panel of artists who designed the Tribute in Light memorial following the 9/11 attacks. She also previews some exhibitions she will be offering locally this year and encourages listeners to take time to visit the art museums in our area and wherever they may travel.

To learn more about OLLI at UNT, visit https://olli.unt.edu, or email olli@unt.edu.

Episode 81: Appreciating Art Museums and Local Artists with Francesca Romano

In this episode, Susan speaks with Dr. Masood Raja, an Associate Professor in the UNT Department of English who specializes in postcolonial literature. They discuss his humanist approach to teaching literature from various cultures across the globe and his belief that reading widely can help make us more empathetic toward others. Professor Raja explains how his service in the Pakistan army helped prepared him for a career of literary scholarship. He also reflects on his recent involvement in an initiative that brought Pakistani scholars to UNT through funding provided by the U.S. Department of State. Finally, Dr. Raja shares some resources for those who may be interested in deepening their appreciation of literature from around the world.

Episode Notes:

Dr. Raja's website, Postcolonial Space, can be found at https://postcolonial.net/.

Dr. Raja's YouTube channel can be found at https://www.youtube.com/c/Postcolonialism.

To learn more about OLLI at UNT, visit https://olli.unt.edu or email olli@unt.edu.

Episode 82: World Literature and Postcolonial Studies with Dr. Masood Raja

The OLLI at UNT Retiree Spotlight Series is presented in partnership with the UNT Retiree Association. In this first installment, Susan speaks with Dr. Tom Hoemeke, who came to the university in 1979 and directed the Office of International Studies and Programs for over two decades. He tells Susan about his office's efforts to consolidate the university's international studies efforts and grow its study abroad programs. Dr. Hoemeke reflects on some highlights from his career, which included traveling to Thailand with the One O'Clock Lab Band and presenting the king with an honorary degree. He also talks to Susan about his post-retirement roles with the UNT Retiree Association and OLLI at UNT.

To learn more about the UNT Retiree Association, visit https://untra.unt.edu.

To learn more about OLLI at UNT, visit https://olli.unt.edu.

Retiree Spotlight #1: International Studies at UNT with Dr. Tom Hoemeke

This alumni spotlight episode highlights journalist, speechwriter, and strategic communications consultant Charlie Fern, who served as speechwriter for First Lady Laura Bush. She discusses the important lessons she learned as a student at UNT and how that training prepared her to transition from journalism to speechwriting. Charlie came to work for Mrs. Bush after a formative stint with Governor Ann Richards and her career took her all the way to the White House, where she was during the tragic events of September 11, 2001. 

To learn more about the UNT Alumni Association, visit https://untalumni.com

To learn more about OLLI at UNT, visit https://olli.unt.edu or email olli@unt.edu.

Alumni Spotlight #15: A Speechwriter's Journey to the White House with Charlie Fern

The OLLI at UNT Retiree Spotlight Series is presented in partnership with the UNT Retiree Association. In this installment, Susan speaks with Dr. Lenora McCroskey, Professor Emeritus in the College of Music at UNT. Professor McCroskey taught organ and harpsichord at the university for nearly 30 years. She also served as Assistant Director of Early Music studies, teaching Baroque performance, continuo, and coaching chamber ensembles. She provides Susan with a brief history of the organ and harpsichord before tracing the path of her career.

To learn more about the UNT Retiree Association, visit untra.unt.edu.

To learn more about OLLI at UNT, visit olli.unt.edu.

Retiree Spotlight #2: Early Music Studies at UNT with Dr. Lenora McCroskey

In this episode, Susan interviews Dr. Nancy Little, a licensed professional counselor, author, and public speaker who specializes in boosting mind and body health to enhance quality of life and overall wellness. They have a wide-ranging conversation that covers many aspects of health, including some strategies for increasing self-awareness, generating a proactive mindset, and releasing attachment to unhealthy habits.

To learn more about OLLI at UNT, visit https://olli.unt.edu or email olli@unt.edu.

Episode 87: Boosting Mind and Body Health with Dr. Nancy Little

Our 16th spotlight features host Susan Supak's conversation with Russell Crews, President and CEO of CC Young Senior Living. Crews, who earned his MBA degree from UNT, came to CC Young after working for many years in public accounting. He tells Susan what drew him to CC Young and explains why he enjoys serving residents within its not-for-profit structure. He also reflects on the latest developments in senior living as CC Young celebrates its 100th anniversary. OLLI at UNT recently signed a three-year Partnership Agreement with CC Young, bringing our courses to their facilities in Dallas.

To learn more about CC Young, visit https://www.ccyoung.org/.

To learn more about the UNT Alumni Association, visit https://untalumni.com.

To learn more about OLLI at UNT, visit https://olli.unt.edu.

Alumni Spotlight #16: 100 Years of CC Young Senior Living with Russell Crews

In this episode, Susan speaks with Dr. Michael Coble, Executive Director of the Center for Human Identification (CHI) at the UNT Health Science Center in Fort Worth. They discuss the important work done at the CHI, including the forensic DNA testing they conduct for criminal casework and missing persons identification. Dr. Coble explains some of the latest advances in forensic science and describes how he came to work on high profile cases such as the 9/11 attacks and the identification of the missing Romanov children.

NOTE: This episode was recorded in February 2023.

To learn more about OLLI at UNT, visit https://olli.unt.edu or email olli@unt.edu.

To learn more about the Center for Human Identification, visit https://www.unthsc.edu/center-for-human-identification/.

Episode 89: The Center for Human Identification with Dr. Michael Coble

In this episode, Susan speaks with retired corporate attorney Jim Bays. A graduate of Dartmouth College and the University of Virginia Law School, Jim has turned his passionate interest in Thomas Jefferson and the legal foundation of the United States into several OLLI courses. He talks with Susan about the life of Jefferson and the series of compromises that were involved in creating a working constitution for the country.

To learn more about OLLI at UNT, visit https://olli.unt.edu/ or email olli@unt.edu.

Episode 90: Thomas Jefferson and the U.S. Constitution with Jim Bays

In this episode, Susan speaks with Tom Tweeddale. They discuss his career in aviation, which included teaching at a private pilot ground school and 36 years as an airline pilot. Mr. Tweeddale explains how his passion for U.S. history has led him to give lectures for libraries, colleges, and OLLI at UNT. He also describes how he got his start as a dance instructor.

To learn more about OLLI at UNT, visit https://olli.unt.edu/ or email olli@unt.edu.

Episode 91: Aviation, U.S. History, and Ballroom Dancing with Tom Tweeddale

In this episode, Susan speaks with Casey Shelton, Senior Researcher at the Monuments Men and Women Foundation for the Preservation of Art. They discuss Casey's background and how she came to work for the Foundation, which is a not-for-profit organization created to raise worldwide awareness about the service of the Monuments Men and Women, honor them for their achievements, and complete their unfinished mission of returning missing art to the rightful owners. Casey explains the Foundation's history, speaks about several of the accomplishments of the Monuments Men and Women, and discusses the Foundation's ongoing work.

To learn more about the Monuments Men and Women Foundation, visit https://www.monumentsmenandwomenfnd.org/.

Information about the Foundation's WWII Most Wanted Art playing cards is available at https://www.monumentsmenandwomenfnd.org/join-the-hunt/wwii-most-wanted.

To learn more about OLLI at UNT, visit https://olli.unt.edu or email olli@unt.edu.

Episode 92: The Monuments Men and Women Foundation with Casey Shelton

In this episode, Susan speaks with Dr. James Bednarz, Senior Avian Lecturer and Advisor in the Department of Biological Sciences at UNT. They discuss Dr. Bednarz’s current research projects on the breeding ecology of a local Painted Bunting population and the wintering biology of the American Kestrel. He explains the important role these birds play in our ecosystem and why the decline of their populations is a cause for concern. Susan learns about an exciting secret research project Dr. Bednarz once participated in and the two discuss some of the latest efforts involved in protecting bird populations.

To read the Audubon Magazine article about Dr. Bednarz's research, visit https://www.audubon.org/magazine/spring-2023/the-perplexing-decline-american-kestrel.

To learn more about Dr. Bednarz's research on the Painted Bunting, please visit https://www.facebook.com/UNTPaintedBunting.

Information about the UNT Raptor Research Team that works with Dr. Bednarz on the American Kestrel, please visit https://www.facebook.com/UNTRaptorResearch.

To learn more about OLLI at UNT, please visit https://olli.unt.edu or email olli@unt.edu.

Episode 93: Avian Ecology with Dr. James Bednarz

In this episode, Susan speaks with Dr. Katherine Alsop, an Audiologist and Clinical Educator in UNT's Department of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology. They have a wide-ranging discussion about hearing loss and the importance of diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. Dr. Alsop answers questions about hearing aids and shares some information about auditory training. Their conversation also covers some of the fascinating research into the relationship between hearing loss and health issues such as cognitive decline and fall risk.

To learn more about the UNT Speech & Hearing Center, visit https://hps.unt.edu/aslp/aslp-clinics.

To learn more about OLLI at UNT, visit https://olli.unt.edu or email olli@unt.edu.

Episode 94: Audiology and Hearing Loss with Dr. Katherine Alsop

In this episode, Susan interviews Dr. Craig Neumann, Distinguished Research Professor in UNT's Department of Psychology, about his background and his research on subjects like psychopathy and mindfulness.

Episode 1: The Psychology of Psychopaths and Mindfulness with Dr. Craig Neumann

In this episode, Susan speaks with retired professor Kaye Nubel about her background as an educator in the fields of Speech and Intercultural Communication. They also discuss Kaye's experiences teaching courses for the OLLI programs both in California and at the University of North Texas.

To learn more about our program, visit our website at https://olli.unt.edu/ or send an email to olli@unt.edu.

Episode 2: How We Communicate with Kaye Nubel

In this episode, Susan speaks with Annette Becker about her work as director of the Texas Fashion Collection at UNT. You can learn more about the TFC on its website: https://tfc.unt.edu/. To explore the TFC's digital collection, go to https://digital.library.unt.edu/explore/collections/TXFC/.

To learn more about OLLI at UNT, visit our website at https://olli.unt.edu/ or send an email to olli@unt.edu.

Episode 3: Inside the Texas Fashion Collection with Annette Becker

In this episode, Susan has a wide-ranging conversation with Dr. Reid Ferring of UNT's Department of Geography and the Environment. They discuss his professional accomplishments in the fields of archaeology and geology, why he loves teaching for OLLI, and the reasons for his interest in the relationship between science and faith.

To learn more about OLLI at UNT, visit our website at https://olli.unt.edu/ or send an email to olli@unt.edu

Episode 4: Archaeology and the Relationship Between Science and Faith with Dr. Reid Ferring

In this episode, Susan speaks with Dr. Max Morley about his background in music education, his work on the OLLI at UNT Advisory Council and with our OLLI at UNT Ambassadors, as well as his experiences teaching and attending OLLI at UNT courses.

To learn more about OLLI at UNT, visit our website at https://olli.unt.edu/ or send an email to olli@unt.edu.

If you're a member who's interested in getting involved in our Advisory Council, Standing Committees, or Ambassador program, please visit https://olli.unt.edu/volunteer.

Episode 5: Classical Music Appreciation with Dr. Max Morley

In this episode, Susan interviews Scott Kiester, a retired geologist with an M.S. in Environmental Science who is also a certified Texas Master Naturalist and Audubon Master Birder for North Central Texas. He discusses his birding background with Susan and offers helpful birding tips. They then get into a deeper conversation about bird migration patterns. Mr. Kiester also explains how the work of Master Naturalists and Master Birders impacts our environment and communities.

To learn more about OLLI at UNT, visit our website, https://olli.unt.edu/ or send us an email at olli@unt.edu.

Episode 25: Birding with Scott Kiester

In this episode, Susan interviews Dr. Jan Holden, who recently retired from a 31 year career as part of the UNT Counseling Program. Dr. Holden speaks with Susan about her background and how she came to conduct extensive research into the counseling implications of near-death experiences, after-death communication, and other transpersonal experiences—those that transcend the usual personal limits of space, time, and/or identity. Dr. Holden shares examples of astonishing transpersonal experiences from her research and discusses the profound life changes reported by those who have had these experiences.

To learn more about our program, please visit our website, https://olli.unt.edu/, or send an email to olli@unt.edu.

Episode 26: Near-Death Experiences with Dr. Jan Holden

The official podcast of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of North Texas. Hosted by OLLI at UNT member Susan Supak, this podcast is a series of interviews with the faculty, staff, and members who make our program special. Learn more at https://olli.unt.edu/

OLLI at UNT Podcast

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