Fordham Conversations

What does it take to be a monster? They hide under the bed, lurk in the shadows, and scare us half to death.But is there more to monsters than just screams and frights?Fordham Conversations Host Chris Williams sits down with Fordham University Professors Rebecca June and Paul Levinson to talk about medieval monsters, real life monsters, and more.

Fordham Conversations Host Robin Shannon sits down with Fordham University Professor of Art History Dr. Barbara Mundy to discuss the work of painter Frida Kahlo and the significance of Mexican art.  Also Producer Blake Christy takes listeners on a tour of the New York Botanical Gardens exhibition, "Frida Kahlo: Art. Garden. Life."

Fordham Conversations host Robin Shannon sits down with members of The Faux-Real Theatre Company.  They are performing "Lysitrata" at The Nuyorican Poets Café. It’s a comedy on how the women of early Greece used the battle of the sexes to end a war. Some members of The Faux-Real Theatre Company include: Mark Greenfield, Director and Fordham Professor. Tony Naumovski, Musical Director and performers Joy Kelly and Emma Orme.

Berto Colon’s been on TV shows like “The Good Wife,” “Nurse Jackie,” “Madame Secretary,” and “HBO’s “Two Night Stand.”  But arguably his most popular role is the character of Cesar on The award-winning Netflix series “Orange Is The New Black. Fordham Conversations Host Robin Shannon sits down with the Actor and Fordham Alumni to discuss his character on the show, how he became an actor, and one of his biggest regrets.

Host Alen Kanlic showcases some of Fordham Conversations best features and interviews.  Will Germain talks with military veterans about their experience returning to school after serving overseas.  Mary Wilson reports on Fordham Law students who  kept audio diaries about their fact finding mission in Nepal.  Robin Shannon sat down with Katy Raymond who was part of Fordham University’s first study abroad program in South Africa.  Vivadiana Castelan interviewed kids who are training to be reporters. She also talks with New Yorkers who make careers out of can collecting.

Jean Laughton traded her career as a New York City casting director for the life of a rancher in South Dakota.  Now she’s out with the photo exhibit “My Ranching Life” which is on display at Fordham’s Lincoln Center.  Fordham Conversations Host Robin Shannon sits down with Jean Laughton to discuss her exhibit, being a photographer and why she doesn’t like the term “Cowgirl.”

In his last two and a half years as leader of the Roman Catholic Church, the popularity of Pope Francis has continued to grow among Catholics and non-Catholics.  The 78-year old embraces social issues like immigration, poverty and the environment. Now he’s bringing his message to the United States.  Fordham Conversations host Robin Shannon discusses the Pope's visit, and his popularity, with Vice President for University Mission and Ministry, Msgr. Joseph Quinn, Fordham Associate Professor Michael Pirson, and Fordham University senior Nicholas Sawicki, who has interned at the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See.  

What happens when you put a group of Fordham University graduate business students in front of a live audience to share unscripted stories about their lives?  You get “The Storytelling Project.”   Chris Watts, Jonathan Schenker and Alfie Warn talk with Fordham Conversations Host Robin Shannon about their experience taking part in the project.  Plus, Associate Professor Dr. Travis Russ discusses what it was like to develop this groundbreaking course.    

Fordham University’s Eva Li is a Peer Health Exchange volunteer. She’s trained to teach health workshops at some of New York City’s underfunded and understaffed public high schools. On this edition of Fordham Conversations, Li, along with Community Liaison and Innovation Manager, Sarah Cocuzzo sit down with Fordham Conversations Host Robin Shannon. They discuss Peer Health Exchange’s mission, and the need teens have for a platform to talk about sensitive health Issues and concerns.

Host Chris Williams talks to people who, in one way or another, have gone back to college. Cira Vernazza, director of Fordham University's College at 60 program, talks about how the university has special classes designed for people 60 and older. Three of the students in the program (Judy Bowman, Timothy Kiehn, and Peg Smith-Loeb) discuss the benefits of taking college courses after retirement. Then, Taylor Harris talks about moving back to her alma mater and her McSweeney's column "Big Mom on Campus: Raising 2 Kids in a College Dorm." 

  Fordham has launched a center that offers an executive education for leaders of nonprofit groups. The Fordham Center for Nonprofit Leaders is the brainchild of Allan Luks, who serves as its director. Elaine Congress the- Associate Dean for Continuing Education and Extramural Programs in the Fordham Graduate School of Social Service. They sit down with Fordham Conversations Host Robin Shannon to discuss the best way for business and service to merge

On This week’s Fordham Conversations we’ll hear from  Author Ed Rohs about his book “Raised by the Church” where he talks about the history of orphanages, and speaks for some of the thousands of baby-boomers taken in by the catholic institutions in New York City.

Social Stigma can take on many forms.  It may be an unpleasant remark, a strange look or even the refusal of employment.  On today's Fordham Conversations WFUV's Will Germain try to understand the phenomena of stigma by talking with Tina Maschi. She’s President of the national Organization of Forensic Social Work, and a professor at the Fordham University Graduate School of social service.

This week, Fordham Conversations is all about spies and surveillance. WFUV's Connor Ryan reports on NYC's surveillance cameras and how some people feel their privacy is being invaded. Then, Chris Williams talks to Spy Store NYC owner Bob Leonard about different types of spying equipment and the reasons for using them. Fordham University professor Al Auster discusses how spies have been portrayed in film, and how that differs from actual espionage.

Internationally famed street artist J.R. has created a global participatory art project that gives anyone a chance to make a statement, with their picture.  The INSIDE OUT project has traveled around the world and now to Fordham University.  On this week’s Fordham Conversations, Host Robin Shannon discusses the project with Fordham Professor Rosemary Wakeman, Associate Professor of Visual Art Mark Street and members of The Inside Out team.

We are examining the issue of poverty through different vantage points. Host Robin Shannon sits down with Fordham Professor Sophie Mitra, an Associate Professor at Fordham University in the Economics Department. They discuess the relationship between disability and poverty. But first we take a look at youth and homelessness. Some sixty thousand people are homeless in New York City-- the highest amount since the great depression. Experts say the shelter system is overburdened. Reporter Emrys Eller takes us along as he talks with young people who sleep in unusual places to avoid city shelters.

Author and Fordham Professor Dr. Mary Bly discuss her class “Publishing Theory and Practice.” It introduces students to the world of publishing. She also offers advice for writers looking to become published author.

The International Dyslexia Association defines dyslexia as a specific learning disability that is neurological in origin.  But members of a boarding school for dyslexic students in Dutchess County, New York don’t use the term “disability.”   They prefer to call it a “way to learn differently.”  On this week’s Fordham Conversations we discuss the issue of dyslexia with three people who have first-hand knowledge of the condition. Fordham Alumn, Kevin Pendergast is the Headmaster of the Kildonan School, a boarding School that empowers students with dyslexia. Dave Flink is the Executive Director of Eye-to-Eye, a national grass roots mentoring program. August Hunt is in his senior year at Kildonan

On this week’s Fordham Conversations we explore two pests that have shown up around New York.  Research scientist and Fordham Alumni Dan Molloy discusses a pesky species of mussel that haunts some of New York’s waterways.  We also hear from Fordham University Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Jason Munshi-South.  He tells us about his research with rats.

Ever wonder why some subways are numbered and some are lettered? Or, when the MTA came into existence? How about how will the 2nd Ave. subway benefit the city of New York? On this weeks Fordham Conversations we hear from Andrew Sparberg,the author of “From a Nickle to a Token: The Journey from Board of Transportation to MTA” (Fordham Press).  It’s a comprehensive look at New York’s transit system from its inception to the 1960s.