It is easy to feel out of touch with the larger community and administration at the University — there is a wealth of interesting professors, authors, athletes and artists on Grounds that most students never come in contact with. Although exploring unfamiliar subjects or disciplines may be a little daunting, flipping on a podcast while doing the dishes, going for a run or walking home from class can be a great place to start. Here are four podcasts to get a taste of what’s going on around Grounds.
Wahoo Central
Jeff White, Crozet native and class of 1985 alumnus, interviews University athletes, coaches and alumni to talk about Wahoo sports. One recent episode features PGA tour golfer and class of 2015 Alumnus Denny McCarthy talking about his recent professional golf success and his collegiate golf days at the University.
White also hosts current University athletes like the field hockey team’s leading scorer, fourth-year student Laura Janssen, Haley Hopkins, a graduate student on the women’s soccer team and men’s swimming standout third-year student Matt King. Listeners can get in-season updates on various sports teams, put a voice behind the faces of their favorite Wahoo athletes and learn about the many world-class athletes at the University on lower-profile sports teams.
Yanks Talk United
Alumnus Matthew Whitlock and fourth-year Engineering student Will Sivolella cover Manchester United of the English Premier League from the perspective of the American fan.
“The podcast is centered around all things Manchester United,” Whitlock said. “From match results and previews, to player reviews, transfer news and everything in between.”
The podcast also covers sports betting, global soccer news, the European Champions and Europa leagues and the U.S. Men’s National Team. Sivollela says he and Whitlock run the podcast for fun and enjoy staying in touch with each other and fellow alumni through their shared love of Manchester United.
Politics is Everything
Produced by the Center for Politics at the University, “Politics is Everything” offers discussions featuring guest speakers and University professors, as well as general news updates, election analysis and more.
In a recent episode, the Center for Politics hosted former Senator Russ Feingold and Stanford University legal scholar Paul Prindiville to talk about their new book “The Constitution in Jeopardy: An Unprecedented Effort to Rewrite Our Fundamental Law and What We Can Do About It.” They break down current efforts by right-wing political groups to invoke a constitutional convention and the dangerous nature of this loosely defined mechanism for amendment.
Listeners can find a host of episodes like this one providing in-depth analysis on whichever political issues they are interested in. “Politics is Everything” is a valuable resource for the academically curious and those seeking to become more informed participants in democracy alike.
Inside UVA
University President Jim Ryan hosts members of the University community in 30-minute conversations, profiling notable University alumni and leaders or discussing the inner workings and future of the University. Recent guests include the head basketball coach Tony Bennett and Provost Ian Baucom.
Ryan spoke to Provost Baucom about his unique upbringing as the child of missionaries in South Africa during Apartheid Rule and how this background shapes his approach to leadership at the University.
“Coming into an understanding of what it means to grow up in a culture that is structured on violence and that can change — it’s shaped me more than anything beyond my wife and kids,” Baucom said on the podcast.
Administration at a large state university are often a black box to the student body. There are simply too many students for most to have even a brief encounter with Ryan. However, this podcast offers an intimate look at the personality and guiding beliefs of Ryan and the other leaders that shape students' experiences at the University.
From fire-side chats with Ryan to constitutional politics, these podcasts are a great way to keep up to date with University news, sports and national politics — and maybe even find a new hobby like Premier League football.
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