Fordham Conversations

Football is more than just a game to most Americans.   Whether we play it or watch it football can be a reflection of America’s character.  And sometimes that reflection is hard to take.  On this week’s Fordham Conversations, Hugo Benavides, Associate Professor of Anthropology at Fordham University discusses the culture of American Football in relation to symbolism, gender and more.

On this week’s Fordham Conversations we look at two holiday traditions, decorations and Christmas cards. First we visit the Garabedian family’s uniquely decorated holiday house, which is near Fordham's Rosehill Campus.   Then a conversation with Professor Kenneth Ames about his book and art exhibit “American Christmas Cards 1900-1960.”  Both examine how Christmas cards are connected to American history and culture.

Filmmakers Mike Campo and Jeff Azize of Grassroots Films discuss their documentary “The Human Experience.”  The two share what it was like living homeless on the streets of New York City; spending time at a leper colony in Africa; and taking care of abused orphans in South America.  We also hear from Father Vincent DeCola, who discusses the impact the film had during its showing at Fordham’s Lincoln Center.

Manhattan’s Lincoln Square has come a long way since a major redevelopment plan began in 1996. One of the many partners helping with Lincoln Square‘s growth has been Fordham University. On This week's Fordham Conversations the President of the Lincoln Square Business Improvement District, Monica Blum talks about the evolution of the area. Then WFUV’s Marisa Galdi looks at the resurgence of the double-crested Cormorant, a bird whose population was almost wiped out.

As part of WFUV’s Strike a Chord campaign this week’s Fordham Conversations focuses on financial literacy.  Our guests include Donna Katzin, Executive Director of Shared Interest. This non-profit organization raises capital in the U.S. to help small businesses in South Africa. We also talk to Fordham Junior Katy Raymond. Katy will be visiting South Africa as part of Fordham University’s first study abroad program on the African continent. 

Today we’re hearing some of the past shows that were developed, produced and hosted by WFUV Journalist in-training.

This Saturday on Fordham Conversations, Heart attacks leave a mental mark -- but how to treat victims, if they refuse to step foot on a psychiatry ward? Psychologist Rachel Annunziato found a way. Then, a look at heart trauma in the Charles Dickens classic, Great Expectations with English professor Kathleen Urda.

The Faux-real’s All-Male version of OEDIPUS REX has been called cutting-edge, classic, serious and seriously silly.   Director and Fordham Professor Mark Greenfield, along with actors Steve Johnson, Jason Scott Quinn and Rafael Miguel discuss how they infuse this classic play with humor for a modern audience.

WFUV's Viridiana Castelan reports on an organization that trains kids reporters.  Then WFUV's Conor Teehan interviews veteran newsman Brian Williams. Finally, Mary Wilson talks with Keith Alan Howey about his master’s thesis on homeless veterans.

Fordham University Professor Robin Anderson is researching eco-tourism while writing for a travel guidebook. It took her to Curacao where she discovered all about this island's rich and diverse culture.

Twi is one of the most widely spoken languages in the West African nation of Ghana.  Beginning this summer Fordham will be the only University in New York City to teach it.  On this week’s Fordham Conversations we learn about the Twi language and Ghana’s cultural influence from Professor Mark Naison, who Chairs Fordham’s department of African and African-American studies and Kojo Ampah, Founder of The African Cultural Exchange student group at Fordham.

Eliot Spitzer was cut from CNN's prime-time lineup this week.  Spitzer spent less time as a TV host than he did as governor of  New York.  As many await word on Spitzer’s next move,  today’s  Fordham Conversations will take us back to an interview  between director of the Forum on Law, Culture and Society at Fordham Law, Thane Rosenbaum and Eliot Spitzer.

Veteran news man Dan Rather recently paid a visit to Fordham University where he share stories about growing up in Texas, his first big news story  and offered advice for aspiring journalist. 

Host and Fordham Senior Lauren Naymie talks with Fordham Alumni and NPR Correspondent Lynn Neary. The veteran reporter reflects on her career and offers advice to young Journalist. Listen to Fordham Conversations Saturdays at 7am on 90.7 WFUV or www.wfuv.org.

Don't leave your family's dirty laundry lying around Dr. Nicholas Paul – although unless your lineage goes back to the middle ages, chances are he's not interested.  Paul studies medieval noble families, and he does so by reading the official histories those families recorded about themselves.  But it's tough to say what those stories can really tell us about a world so many centuries away – and tougher still to draw comparisons to families then and now.  "The value is in the difference," says Paul.

Keith Alan Howey still carries his tape recorder with him.  It's habit by now, after a year of searching for interviews to include in his Master's thesis on the causes of homelessness among veterans.  Howey's a military veteran himself, and a Fordham sociology student who spent the past year asking himself: Why do so many veterans slip through the cracks?  And how come I didn't?

Michael Pirson is a fugitive of the business world and a founding member of the Humanistic Management Network.  Put profits before human well-being at your own peril, he warns.  But try making that case to CEOs – or an undergraduate finance student. 

As the Pelham Picture House prepares for it's March reopening Fordham Conversations revisits an earlier interview with its Executive Director Jennifer Christman and John Calvelli, the newly installed Board Chair.A historic independent Westchester Movie Theater is saved from demolishment by a community of people who  banded together.  This week on Fordham Conversations, we hear from Fordham Alumni John Calvelli who spearheaded efforts to save this not-for-profit movie house.  We also hear what’s ahead for The Pelham Picture House from its Executive Director Jennifer Christman.

Dr. Beth Knobel co-wrote “Heat and Light: Advice for the next generation of Journalists” with CBS News legend Mike Wallace.

WFUV's Erin McLaughlin speaks with Fordham Graduate Louis Papa. The Long Island resident is studying Arabic at the American University in Cairo and got to see firsthand the events that have been unfolding in Egypt.