Question: Would you consider wildland firefighters athletes, and if so, what type of athlete would they be most like? 

Meet Heidi Holubetz (bit.ly/3W4UNbl), a master’s student in the Margaret Ritchie School of Family and Consumer Sciences (bit.ly/3f87n9m) at the University of Idaho. Wildland firefighters are considered tactical athletes who can burn 6,000 calories a day and require a solid nutrition plan. Holubetz and her fellow researchers are working to improve firefighter nutrition through education and collaborations with vendors who provide meals to firefighters.  

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory​. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.

More U of I Research and Activities Around Wildfire 

Fueling the Firefighters: U of I Proposes Changes to USFS Wildland Firefighter Food Contract (bit.ly/3N7o1SM) 

New Science Tracks Microbes in Smoke: New Science Explores Microbes in Wildfire Smoke and the Ecological Impact of Dispersal (bit.ly/3gHhcv4) 

Rising to the Occasion: Students Lead Fire Mitigation at UIEF and Beyond (bit.ly/3gJMq57) 

Music 
“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/3f271AU) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/3D7wBMV). 

“Reveille” by Wild Soul (bit.ly/3VZWx5N) via soundstripe.

Episode 5.1: Heidi Holubetz — Wildland Firefighter Nutrition

Question: What makes someone believe in climate change?

Meet Dilshani Sarathchandra (https://bit.ly/3zJNJr0) and Kristin Haltinner (https://bit.ly/3NCZd5n), sociology professors in the Department of Culture, Society and Justice (https://bit.ly/3T7VcHx) at University of Idaho. They delve deep into people’s beliefs about climate change, recounting lessons learned over hundreds of interviews for their upcoming book “Inside the World of Climate Change Skeptics,” set to publish in spring 2023. The research team uncovers the nuanced identities of climate skeptics — many of whom worry about environmental degradation — to shape social understanding around one of the most pressing issues of our time.

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory​. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.

More U of I Sociology Research
Using Data to Shape the Criminal Justice System (https://bit.ly/3t0akfi)
U of I Professors to Release Findings on Climate Change Skepticism (https://bit.ly/3sVzNXr)
Recidivism of Terrorists — Vandal Theory 3.5 (https://bit.ly/3FLXI35)

Music
“Young Republicans” (https://bit.ly/3DXRfkd) by Steve Combs via freemusicarchive.org, not modified. (https://bit.ly/3FNcPcI)
“Great Beyond” (https://bit.ly/3U52UDn) by Reveille via soundstripe.

Episode 5.2: Dilshani Sarathchandra and Kristin Haltinner — To Believe, or Not to Believe

Question: Just how much is Idaho growing?

Meet Jaap Vos (https://bit.ly/3WdJYTU), a professor of planning and natural resources at University of Idaho, where he also serves as interim head of the Natural Resources and Society department. Vos used novel data on driver’s license registrations and turnovers to create a fuller picture of Idaho’s unprecedented rates of population change. More than one in every four Idahoans are new to the state, Vos’s analysis found. “We’re not in the middle of nowhere anymore,” he said.

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory​. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.

More U of I Sociology Research
Idaho’s Demographics Changing at Unprecedented Rates, U of I Analysis Finds (https://bit.ly/3FogCva)
CNR Students Use McCall Field Campus to Forge Futures and Friendships (https://bit.ly/3uLT26K)
Associate Degrees in Natural Resources Offered for First Time This Fall (https://bit.ly/3FpDYjM)


Music
“Young Republicans” (https://bit.ly/3f271AU) by Steve Combs via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (https://bit.ly/3D7wBMV).
“The Optimist” (https://bit.ly/3Y9gMPs) by EILOH

Episode 5.5: Jaap Vos — Our Changing Idaho

What changes people’s minds about politics?

Meet Florian Justwan (https://bit.ly/3YpXHsm), a professor of political science at University of Idaho, who studies political psychology. Drawing on years of research into how people process political information, Justwan shows we often rely on our identities and social networks to interpret new political data. People may not weigh new facts as heavily as expected and Justwan offers advice on how to check our information blind spots.

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory​. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.

More U of I Research
Political Partisanship, Party Loyalty Shape Beliefs of 2016 Election Interference, U of I Study Shows (https://bit.ly/3BFWKm1)
U of I Junior Wants to Show Idaho’s Latinx Population Anything Is Possible (https://bit.ly/3Wj2Pgb)
Vandal Theory 4.2: Bert Baumgaertner — Vaccine Hesitancy (https://bit.ly/3YsiOdx)

Music
“Young Republicans” (https://bit.ly/3f271AU) by Steve Combs via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (https://bit.ly/3D7wBMV). “Glasgow” (https://bit.ly/3W39QBZ) by Falls

Episode 5.6: Florian Justwan — How Our Brains Wrestle With Politics

Question:  When you imagine a farmer, what picture do you have in your head?
 
Meet Colette DePhelps (bit.ly/3WzzXAA), an area extension educator specializing in community food systems for University of Idaho. As part of the Idaho Woman in Ag (bit.ly/3FJxbBN) project, DePhelps is interviewing and surveying Idaho’s female farmers — who earn $1 for every $2.50 earned by male counterparts — and identifying the support they need.
 
Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory​. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.
 
More U of I Agricultural and Life Sciences Stories
Undergrad Research Project Focuses on Nitrous Oxide Emissions (bit.ly/3I9lrvt) 
Dairy Waste Research (bit.ly/3v4shu7) 
Global Food Security (bit.ly/3v4UP6T) 
 
Music 
“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/3f271AU) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/3D7wBMV). 
“The Family Farm” by Heartland Nights (bit.ly/3jjxNGS) via soundstripe.

Episode 5.7: Colette DePhelps — Female Farmers

Question: What does your favorite sports team jersey mean to you?

Meet Bill Smith (go.uidaho.edu/3wPE1oz), a clinical professor and director of the Martin Institute (go.uidaho.edu/3ValAF9) at University of Idaho.  When athletes playing at the international level walk onto pitches, courts and fields, the politics of their countries tag along. Listen as Smith explains how cultural identity and politics are woven into soccer jerseys.

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory​. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.

More U of I Stories
U of I Senior Identifies Reasons for Issue Polarization (go.uidaho.edu/48UgwYK)
Summer Internship in D.C. Became an Integral Part of Education (go.uidaho.edu/48PyiML)
Professor, Students Help Police Investigators Dig Up Evidence (go.uidaho.edu/48R22sA)

Music
“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/3f271AU) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/3D7wBMV).
“Colombian’s in Zimbabwe” by Anthony Catacoli (go.uidaho.edu/43cD3id) via soundstripe.

Episode 7.1: International Sports Intertwine With Politics

Question: Today we are talking about soil, so I want you to imagine digging a hole. How do you think the soil might change as you dig farther and farther down? 

Meet Michael Strickland (go.uidaho.edu/3VuJr2r) and Zachary Kayler (go.uidaho.edu/4aub5Bf), associate professors in the Department of Soil and Water Systems (go.uidaho.edu/3PAgcYu) at University of Idaho. They are leading a national contingency of scientists in building what amounts to huge terrariums at U of I: all to study a world that scientists still don’t understand — the deep soils under our feet. 

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory​. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.

More U of I Stories 
Stepping Lightly in the Sage (go.uidaho.edu/3PyG9Yy) 
U of I Grads Making a Splash (go.uidaho.edu/3Tsw94c) 
Fields of Change (go.uidaho.edu/43qX4lv) 

Music 
“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3TLajds) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3VvMrf9). 
“Wanderlust” by Cody Martin (go.uidaho.edu/4a6Hais) via soundstripe.

Episode 7.3: Exploring the Unknown Deep Soils

Question: How do you feel about running? 

Meet Sharon Stoll (go.uidaho.edu/3vzwCJP), the director of the Center for ETHICS (go.uidaho.edu/4cwwVFQ) at University of Idaho and a leading authority in competitive moral education intervention techniques for college-aged students in America. She has been a consultant with many well-known organizations, including the U.S. military. Today she is going to discuss moral development in athletes and whether it’s possible to learn to love running. 

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory​. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.

More U of I Stories 
Carrying Hope (go.uidaho.edu/4cwxhMG) 
Something for All Vandals (go.uidaho.edu/3VGDbVz) 
Copters, Darts and DNA (go.uidaho.edu/3PJy9DP) 

Music 
“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/3f271AU) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/3D7wBMV). 
“I'm Good, You're Good” by Sam Cardon (go.uidaho.edu/3VFJR6c) via Amphibious Zoo.

Episode 7.4: Learning to Love Running

Question: Did you ever nerd out about geology as a kid? 

Meet Erika Rader (go.uidaho.edu/3Q4YVqz), an assistant professor in the Department of Earth and Spatial Sciences (go.uidaho.edu/448B2Ej) at University of Idaho. We’re going to discuss how scientists are studying the geology of Mars, how astronauts will need to navigate when they get to the moon and even how to go on a geology field trip online. 

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory​. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.

More U of I Stories 
Sustainable Science Innovations (go.uidaho.edu/3vSC2Qm) 
Addressing the Mammoth in the Room (go.uidaho.edu/4d0A0yk) 
Researchers Model Vulnerable Energy and Water Nexus (go.uidaho.edu/3Jqf9qk) 

Music 
“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). 
“Through the Asteroid Belt” by Timber Music Supply (go.uidaho.edu/3JmDuxs) via Amphibious Zoo.

Episode 7.7: Geology on Mars and in Minecraft

Question: Is there someone in your life, past or present, who you associate with their clothes — like if they changed their outfit you would be confused about who they were?  

Sonya Meyer (go.uidaho.edu/3YMfyfp) is a professor in the Margaret Ritchie School of Family and Consumer Sciences (go.uidaho.edu/48uxHS4) and curator of U of I’s Leila Old Historic Costume Collection (go.uidaho.edu/4f8fUma), which reflects the clothing across lower-, middle- and upper-class society in Idaho from around 1850 to the present. Today she will talk about what’s in the collection, how to preserve clothing and give us some examples of what TV shows and movies get right and wrong with their costumes. 

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory​. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.

More U of I Stories 
Educating educators (go.uidaho.edu/3C7txUe) 
Immersive medical training (go.uidaho.edu/3YOdrIb) 
Sustainable sensation (go.uidaho.edu/3C5HiD0) 

Music 
 “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). 
“Power in You” by Micah Dahl Anderson (go.uidaho.edu/3C81YdD) via Amphibious Zoo.

Episode 8.6: If clothes could speak

Question: Growing up, did you ever ride horses?

Meet Rebecca Scofield (go.uidaho.edu/414paCk), chair of the University of Idaho’s Department of History (go.uidaho.edu/418fGpC) specializing in American history. Bicycles, horses, mechanical bulls and dragons — Scofield brings new insights to the visuals of women riding astride beasts and machines throughout history and how that informs our current economy.

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory​. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.

Music
“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5).
“Riding Out” by Magnum Opus Music Library (go.uidaho.edu/4kh15ku) via Amphibious Zoo.

(0:00) Introduction
(1:32) Do you ride?
(2:14) Introduce Rebecca Scofield
(3:29) What intrigues you?
(5:36) Suffragettes
(10:10) Horse girls
(13:41) Mechanical bull riding
(16:24) Dragon riders
(24:04) Why is women’s history important?
(26:37) Culture is important

Episode 9.1: From suffragettes to dragon riders

Question: Have you ever butchered animals, such as while hunting or at a farm or ranch?  

Meet Phil Bass (go.uidaho.edu/3XubJdD), associate professor of meat science in the Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences (go.uidaho.edu/4kpnzjc) at University of Idaho. Whether as hamburger, filet mignon, ribeye or T-bone, beef is a staple on many American dinner tables. Listen as Bass discusses the growing size of cattle, the creation of dry-aged beef and the impact of the meat industry on the economy.  

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory​. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.

Music 
“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). 

“Drive ’Em” by Sam Cardon (go.uidaho.edu/4hgikzn) via soundstripe. 

(0:00) Introduction
(1:18) Have you butchered an animal?
(1:37 Introduce Phil Bass
(3:35) Why beef?
(4:15) What is meat science?
(7:36) Cows have gotten bigger
(12:28) Dry aged beef
(17:37) Meat economics
(22:45) Why go into meat science?

Episode 9.3: Beef, it’s what’s for dinner and for science

Question: Have you ever had a problem you just lived with because you assumed it couldn’t be fixed?    

John Crepeau (go.uidaho.edu/41ufl0H) is a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering (go.uidaho.edu/4iSt4oS) at University of Idaho who has had a hand in making all sorts of things, from a nuclear-powered Mars hopper to reimagined medical equipment. In this episode, he talks about his experiments and the role he’s playing in the future of sustainable jet fuel.    

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory​. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.

Music 
“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5).  
“Fun and Games” (https://go.uidaho.edu/41TxhBS) by Darwin Music, via Amphibious Zoo. 

Chapters
(00:00) Introduction
(03:51) Getting to know John
(07:27) Mars hopper
(10:55) Medical devices
(15:55) Stefan problem
(17:35) Sustainable jet fuel
(23:00) Joys of academia
(24:25) Conclusion

Episode 9.4: Solutions to life’s mechanical problems

Question: What is your favorite African animal? 

Meet Ryan Long (go.uidaho.edu/4l9hrvI), an associate professor of wildlife sciences in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences (go.uidaho.edu/44dwZIK) at University of Idaho. In Disney’s “The Lion King,” all the regional animals show up to honor Simba’s birth. Now that’s obviously fictitious, but lots of large animals do live alongside each other in Africa. Long is working to understand how that works and how those animals interact with humans. 

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory​. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.  

Time stamps  
(0:00) Introduction 
(1:01) What is your favorite African animal? 
(1:52) Meet Ryan Long 
(2:53) Why large mammals? 
(3:41) Why Africa? 
(4:24) Gorongosa National Park history 
(6:24) Spiral-horned antelope 
(14:55) Tuskless elephants 
(20:55) Crop-raiding elephants 
(26:51) Curiosity and observation 

Music 
“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). 
“Find The Good” by Zach Sundwall (go.uidaho.edu/4jcr1fw) via Amphibious Zoo Music.

Episode 9.7: Understanding African ecosystems through antelopes and elephants

Kendra Kaiser (go.uidaho.edu/3GtiU0n) is the director of the Idaho Water Resources Research Institute (go.uidaho.edu/3I8jscN). In the first episode of a special summer season of “The Vandal Theory,” she shares how the institute is identifying and filling critical water research gaps across Idaho. 

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory​. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.  

Music  
“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5).  

Chapters 
(00:00) Introduction 
(00:46) What is IWRRI? 
(02:15) Identifying water needs 
(03:50) Community outreach 
(05:26) Importance of water research

SS 1.1: Shaping a water-resilient future for Idaho

Dev Shrestha (go.uidaho.edu/3Gnw3s3) is a University of Idaho engineering (go.uidaho.edu/44k6BNk) professor exploring the future of farming, starting with the soil beneath our feet. He’s developing affordable soil sensors and studying the power of biochar to help farmers conserve moisture, increase yields and build a more resilient, sustainable future for Idaho agriculture. In this episode, he shares how improving soil health on the Palouse could transform the way we grow food. 

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory​. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. 

Music 
“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). 

Chapters
(00:00) Introduction
(00:52) What is biochar?
(03:34) Making a sustainable solution more affordable
(06:25) Innovative soil sensors
(08:10) Building a biochar industry

SS 1.2 Transforming Idaho agriculture from the ground up

Feng Li (go.uidaho.edu/3UdtdZK) is the Micron Endowed Professor of Microelectronics at University of Idaho and director of the Next Generation Microelectronics Research Center (go.uidaho.edu/44MLoKG). He’s helping shape the future of semiconductors — not just through research, but by training the next generation of skilled workers Idaho’s tech industry needs. Li studies high-temperature devices that can withstand the extreme heat of space missions, geothermal systems and supersonic flight, while giving students hands-on experience in microchip fabrication and clean room technology. 

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory​. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. 

Music 
“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). 

Chapters
(00:00) Introduction
(01:28) High-temperature electronics
(02:25) Implications of high-temp tech
(03:35) Working with Micron
(05:36) Building a high-demand workforce

SS 1.3 Training Idaho’s next wave of tech talent

Alistair Smith (go.uidaho.edu/4mbiISI) is a professor and department chair in University of Idaho’s Department of Earth and Spatial Sciences (go.uidaho.edu/419qiFi). He’s working with power companies across the globe to identify which types of vegetation are most likely to ignite — and what can be done to stop wildfires before they start. At U of I’s combustion lab, his team tests how vegetation burns under different conditions, helping utilities make informed decisions about the fuels growing beneath their power lines. 

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory​. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. 

Music 
“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). 

Chapters 
(00:00) Introduction 
(01:00) Identifying flammable vegetation 
(01:45) Combustion lab 
(02:32) Helping power companies prevent fires 
(05:18) Why do power companies care now? 
(06:38) Why do we care?  
(07:48) Immediate impacts

SS 1.4 Stopping wildfires before they spark

A new season of "The Vandal Theory" kicks off Monday, Sept. 29, with a lineup as curious and wide-ranging as ever. From teaching medical students through Pokémon, to exploring the future of Idaho’s water systems, to rethinking what it means to dress sustainably, season 10 is packed with discoveries. You’ll also hear unexpected twists in world mythology — plus a Halloween episode that brings monsters to life. 

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory​. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.

Music 
“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5).

Coming soon: Season 10 of “The Vandal Theory”

Do you know where your water comes from? 

Meet Liz Bageant (go.uidaho.edu/46eWQ3X), economist with James A. and Louise McClure Center for Public Policy Research (go.uidaho.edu/4pvdeEZ). Liz is going to discuss how Idaho’s growing population, its aging infrastructure and regulations affect the future of drinking and waste water (go.uidaho.edu/4mlmnNt) in the Gem state and the jobs that this industry supports. 

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory​. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.  

Music 
“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5).  
“Rhythm and Light” by Alin Oprea (go.uidaho.edu/46eXsXj) via Amphibious Zoo. 

H3: Chapters 
(0:00) Where does your water come from? 
(3:47) Getting to know Liz Bageant 
(4:23) What are Idaho’s water needs? 
(6:16) How does our water system work? 
(9:36) How does population affect water needs? 
(12:22) How does aging infrastructure and regulation affect our water? 
(14:46) Message to Idaho 
(18:06) Financing water 
(21:15) The people bringing us water 
(25:03) Final thoughts

Episode 10.1: The hidden costs of keeping Idaho’s water flowing

Question: Have you ever repaired clothing? 

Chelsey Byrd Lewallen (go.uidaho.edu/4gZXuWQ) is a senior instructor in the Margaret Ritchie School of Family and Consumer Sciences (https://go.uidaho.edu/3KrkCRR) at U of I and a sewist who’s rethinking the way we wear, care for and keep our clothes. In this episode, she discusses her new book, “Clothing Alterations and Repairs: Maintaining a Sustainable Wardrobe” (go.uidaho.edu/4o7syGp) and shares how small choices — like repairing instead of replacing and buying better garments from the get-go — can make a big impact on our closets, our wallets and the planet. 

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory​. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.  

Music  
“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5).  
“Bicycles And Backpacks” by Michael Dowdle (go.uidaho.edu/4o8Qx8d) via Amphibious Zoo.   

Chapters 
(0:00) Have you ever repaired clothing?  
(2:55) Getting to know Chelsey Byrd Lewallen 
(3:55) On writing a book 
(5:55) Clothing manufacturing 101 
(12:44) Building a sustainable wardrobe 
(17:44) Clothing repair basics 
(20:26) Building a sustainable mindset  
(24:32) Pick one small change 
(26:18) Final thoughts

Episode 10.2: Building a sustainable wardrobe

Meet Tyler Bland (go.uidaho.edu/3Vt7q0W), clinical assistant professor in the School of Health and Medical Professions (go.uidaho.edu/4nJgRFM). Medical students struggle to learn and retain the fire hose of information they need to become doctors. Bland explains how he is using ingenuity, imagination and AI to create Pokémon-esque monsters and medically-themed movies to help his students learn. 

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory​. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.  

Music 
“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5).  
“Reach” by Sam Cardon (go.uidaho.edu/46LpVUE) via Amphibious Zoo. 

Chapters 
(0:00) Have you used mnemnic devices 
(2:36) Getting to know Tyler Bland 
(3:43) Medical education challenges 
(7:42) Introducing Medimon 
(13:01) Medimon video games 
(15:45) Case studies become AI movies with Hollywood stars 
(17:45) Shattered Slippers with Selena Gomez 
(21:48) Malaria through Alien 
(25:28) Are the students learning better? 
(28:34) Final thoughts

Episode 10.3: Creative professor teaches medicine with Pokémon and AI

Question: Do you have a favorite myth? 

Rochelle Smith (go.uidaho.edu/3WaYWMi) is the humanities librarian for the U of I Library (go.uidaho.edu/48ru5Cx). In this episode, she discusses the surprising ways gods, goddesses and other beings across cultures are connected to crafting and making. She also shares why these stories still matter today and what they reveal about human creativity and imagination. 

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory​. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.  

Music  
“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5).  
“Daybreak Musing” (https://go.uidaho.edu/3LdpH0b) by Christian Richard Lloyd via Amphibious Zoo. 

Chapters 
(0:00) Do you have a favorite kind of myth? 
(4:50) Getting to know Rochelle Smith 
(5:55) Gods and their hobbies 
(7:45) What myths say about humanity 
(18:37) Smith’s favorite myths 
(21:20) Myths more people should know about 
(24:13) Engage with the past 
(27:23) Final thoughts

Episode 10.4: Exploring the hidden threads of mythology and making

Question: What is your favorite horror movie? 

Meet Russ Meeuf (go.uidaho.edu/4nj1jI2), professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Media (go.uidaho.edu/48I6Wfb) at University of Idaho — and a scholar who knows monsters better than most. What makes a monster truly terrifying? What do these creatures reveal about our deepest fears, our society and ourselves? And why do monsters evolve as our cultural anxieties change? Russ will guide us through the haunted corridors of horror cinema, showing how monsters are more than just nightmares — they’re mirrors. So, grab your flashlight, lock the doors and tune to our Halloween episode...if you dare. 

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory​. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.  

Music  
“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5).  
“Dark Undercurrent” by Harold Schenk (go.uidaho.edu/3LoVlI8) via Amphibious Zoo. 

Chapters 
(0:00) Favorite horror movie?
(3:50) Getting to know Russ Meeuf 
(5:40) What makes a good movie monster? 
(7:51) Two sides to every monster 
(12:49) What does a director or writer bring to a monster?  
(17:19) What do monsters reveal about ourselves? 
(20:06) Do monsters evolve over time? 
(25:08) Final thoughts

Episode 10.5: Monsters, meaning and media — A Halloween dive into horror cinema

Question: What’s your favorite example of evolution? 

Christine Parent (go.uidaho.edu/3WOPJtz) is a professor in the College of Science (go.uidaho.edu/4oJww8r) who studies the evolutionary biology of snails. In this episode, she shares how she earned the nickname “Snail Hunter,” what it’s like tracking these tiny creatures across the rugged landscapes of the Galápagos and what they can teach us about how life evolves. She’ll even drop a few fun snail facts that might just change the way you think about them. 

Learn more about the snail hunters — and watch a short film about their adventures — at go.uidaho.edu/snailhunters. 

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory​. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.  

Music  
“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5).   
“Lemonade and Lollipops” (go.uidaho.edu/49o1E8Y) by Matthew Trent Cropper via Amphibious Zoo.

Episode 10.6: What tiny snails can teach us about evolution

Question: Did you ever learn about investing in school? 

Meet Duff Bergquist (go.uidaho.edu/47Ud6rE), Barker Capital Management and Trading Program (go.uidaho.edu/3JGcSLs) director and senior instructor of finance. The Barker program along with its sister club, teach students about investing using real money. The students work with industry partners and alumni to learn about wealth management, risk management and financial analyses. Bergquist walks us through what research means for the Barker students, what life is like for participants and how the Girls Who Invest Program opens new opportunities for women in finance.  

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory​. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.  

Music 
“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5).  
“Apricot Twist” by Gregory Joseph Carrozza (go.uidaho.edu/43aRLYv) via Amphibious Zoo.   

Chapters 
(0:00) Did you learn about investing in school? 
(2:55) Getting to know Duff Bergquist 
(7:12) What does research look like in Barker? 
(14:04) How are PNW businesses involved? 
(15:37) What do competitions in investing look like? 
(17:52) What is Barker like for the students? 
(20:52) What is Girls Who Invest? 
(24:20) Final thoughts

Episode 10.7: From classroom to trading floor — How students learn to lead in finance

Question: How much do you know about where the fish you eat come from? 

Brian Small (go.uidaho.edu/4oLfkzy) is the director of the University of Idaho Aquaculture Research Institute (go.uidaho.edu/49wNXVx) and a professor of fish physiology in the College of Natural Resources (go.uidaho.edu/4hZSZMq). In this episode, he explains how research on fish nutrition, alternative fish diets and sturgeon caviar supports both the aquaculture industry and conservation efforts. He also shares what it’s like to raise millions of fish in Idaho’s spring-fed waters. 

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory​. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.  

Music  
“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5).   
“Seaside at Dusk” by Michael Dowdle (go.uidaho.edu/4r1nt4L) via Amphibious Zoo.   

Chapters 
(0:00) Where do the fish you eat come from? 
(3:38) Getting to know Brian Small 
(4:11) Inside the Aquaculture Research Institute 
(7:30) Life as a fish at the hatchery 
(11:35) Inside the science shaping Idaho’s sustainable aquaculture 
(17:01) Sturgeon, caviar and conservation 
(21:08) Why aquaculture matters in Idaho 
(23:28) Final thoughts

Episode 10.8: Inside the science driving Idaho’s thriving fish industry

In Season 1 of the Vandal Theory, I'm investigating how climate change is affecting Idaho, since the local effects of climate change vary from place to place. First, I'm exploring how climate change affects Idaho’s natural landscapes, everything from the sagebrush steppe in the south to the forests of the north. I ended up talking with four of U of I’s faculty members, all of whom are experts on climate change in Idaho: John Abatzoglou (associate professor of geography), Tim Link (professor of hydrology), Penny Morgan (professor of fire and forest ecology) and Ryan Long (assistant professor of wildlife sciences). Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory​. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. Music by Steve Combs.

Episode 1.1: How is climate change affecting Idaho’s natural landscapes?

Meet Jamie Derrick (bit.ly/3dwF7a1), an associate professor in the Department of Psychology and Communications Studies at the University of Idaho. I think we can all agree that going through a pandemic is stressful. Whether it’s concern for the health of our loved ones, job and food security or balancing childcare and work, there is a lot to keep us up at night. Jamie knows about stress, what triggers it, how it manifests and how we can overcome it. She is also an expert in helping people deal with trauma and has a toolkit for handling stress. Jamie and I chatted about how it feels to go through a pandemic, and we practiced tools for de-stressing.

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory​. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.

More U of I research:
The Rural Studies Program and U of I Extension have developed infographics for every county in Idaho to help manage the unknown around the threat of COVID-19. Read more at bit.ly/2yLENW1.

Researchers in the Mind and Movement Lab found that when older adults thought about posture as effortful, they had worse balance than when they stood in a relaxed way. In contrast, participants had the best balance when they thought about “lightening up” into length. Read more at bit.ly/2YQTQbC.

The College of Engineering’s Idaho Clean Snowmobile Team earned fourth place overall in the gasoline spark-ignited class at the 2020 Society of Automotive Engineers Clean Snowmobile Challenge. Read more at bit.ly/2zuYam2.

Music: 
“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/2PsMCpw) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2Ju7MQb).
“Gamma Muscae” by Florian Decros (bit.ly/3dtbYfw) via freeusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2WCIyot).

Episode S.2: Jamie Derrick — Calm in a Pandemic

Meet Lorie Higgins (bit.ly/2YGMGqa), a professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology and an Extension specialist at the University of Idaho. Many COVID-19 hot zones are located in large cities, but small towns and rural areas aren’t immune to the virus. Lorie, who’s an expert on rural communities, thinks there are likely benefits and challenges to living outside of big cities during the current pandemic. She thinks everything from the age of local populations to internet connectivity could impact how the pandemic impacts places like the Gem State. Lorie and I chatted virtually about how places like rural Idaho are dealing with COVID-19. 

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/thevandaltheory​. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu.

More U of I research:
Geographer Grant Harley and colleagues will be using tree rings to reconstruct summer air temperature in the Eastern United States, from North Carolina to maritime Eastern Canada. Read more at bit.ly/3dDuQbM.

Many climate change skeptics hold pro-environmental views. The researchers from U of I interviewed 33 Idahoan climate skeptics and found that many had concerns about pollution and deforestation and supported policies for clean air and water and alternative energy sources. Read more at bit.ly/2ztbM1g.

Ann Brown with Movement Sciences conducted a study on female collegiate dancers and their protein intake. The findings suggest protein supplementation for 12 weeks could be a simple way to improve the diets of female collegiate dancers without altering overall body weight. Read more at bit.ly/3fDDLfb.

Music: 
“Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (bit.ly/2PsMCpw) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/2Ju7MQb).
“Multitudes” by Gillicuddy (bit.ly/2YJVKuI) via freeusicarchive.org, not modified (bit.ly/35EdOI5).

Episode S.3: Lorie Higgins — A Rural Look at COVID-19

“The Vandal Theory” podcast asks, “What gets University of Idaho researchers’ brains buzzing ... besides coffee?” These award-winning stories showcase researchers exploring and solving real-world problems. With interviews on all things Vandal, discover the world of U of I research with hosts Leigh Cooper and Danae Lenz.

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