In this episode, my co-host, Addie, and I have a conversation with Joe Goodkin, a Chicago-based singer/songwriter and modern traveling bard. Joe tours the country performing his one-man folk-opera interpretation of Homer's Odyssey (over 300 per

Greek Mythology is endlessly fascinating | George O'Connor

Nov 22nd, 2022 20m 14s

In this episode, my co-host, Addie, and I have a conversation with George O’Connor, an author, illustrator and cartoonist. Above all, George is a Greek mythology buff and a classic superhero comics fan, and he's out to remind us how much our pa

Greek Mythology is insight into the ancient world | Liv Albert

Nov 15th, 2022 17m 13s

In the episode, my co-host, Addie, and I have a conversation with Liv Albert, the host, creator, writer, editor, and producer of the “Let’s Talk About Myths, Baby!” podcast. Liv has a degree in English Literature & Classics from Concordia Unive

Greek Mythology is a body of stories that matter | Brent and Karen Rowe

Nov 15th, 2022 22m 4s

In this episode, my co-host, Addie and I have a conversation with two middle and high school teachers at Black River Public Schools, Brent and Karen Rowe. Karen Rowe has taught middle and high school English at Black River Public Schools since

Greek Mythology is a foundational map | Dr. Bram ten Berge and Dr. Margaret Burr

Nov 8th, 2022 33m 1s

In this episode, my co-host, Addie, and I have a conversation with two professors at Hope College, Dr. Bram ten Berge and Dr. Margaret Burr. Dr. ten Berge has his Ph.D. in classics from the University of Michigan. As part of his postgraduate tr

Greek Mythology is a gateway into falling in love | Dr. Stephen Maiullo

Nov 1st, 2022 26m 15s

In this episode, my co-host, Addie and I have a conversation with Dr. Stephen Maiullo, the interim Dean of Arts and Humanities at Hope College. Dr. Maiullo has his Ph.D. in Classics from Ohio State University, and has been a professor at Hope C

Greek Mythology is not everything | Elisabeth Thoburn

Nov 1st, 2022 21m 12s

In this episode, my co-host, Addie, and I have a conversation with Elisabeth Thoburn, a professor at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Professor Thoburn was born in Germany and immigrated to the United States in 1985. She is a

Poetry is mundane & poetry is philosophy’s sister | Susanna Childress

Dec 21st, 2021 29m 54s

In this episode, I have a conversation with Susanna Childress. She has authored the poetry volumes Jagged with Love and Entering the House of Awe and is finishing a collection of essays, Extremely Yours. Susanna teaches at Hope College and live

Poetry is paying attention | Mark Hiskes

Dec 20th, 2021 28m 40s

In this episode, I have a conversation with poet Mark Hiskes. Mark Hiskes grew up in Chicago, the seventh of eight kids lucky enough to be raised by Harold and Everdean. He has been blessed to be an English teacher for 35 years. When he’s not

Pablo Peschiera | Poetry is human connection

Dec 10th, 2021 40m 24s

In this episode, I have a conversation with my Hope College colleague, Pablo Peschiera. Pablo is an Associate Professor in the Department of English, at Hope College, and currently serves as the Interim Chair and as the Area Coordinator for Cre

Dana VanderLugt | Poetry is noticing

Dec 3rd, 2021 35m 21s

In this episode, I have a conversation with Dana VanderLugt. Dana VanderLugt lives in West Michigan with her husband, three sons, and spoiled golden retriever. She has an MFA from Spalding University and works as a teacher and instructional coa

David James | Poetry is a language experience

Nov 23rd, 2021 36m 25s

In this episode, I have a conversation with David James. James, who writes as D.R. James has taught writing, literature, and peace-making at Hope College for 34 years and lives in the woods near Saugatuck, Michigan. His poems and prose have app

Jack Ridl | Poetry is what poets write

Nov 12th, 2021 53m 38s

In this episode, I have a conversation with Jack Ridl. Jack Ridl taught at Hope from 1971 until retiring in 2006. With his wife Julie, Ridl founded the Visiting Writers Series at Hope College, later named the "Jack Ridl Visiting Writers Series"

Thea Patterson | Reading is more than words on a page

Oct 28th, 2021 34m 43s

In this podcast episode, I talk with Thea Patterson, one of my former Hope College students! Now, she's a teaches sixth grade English and is sharing her expertise with our Big Read community. We talk about her love for literature and where it b

Karen Rowe | Reading is building community

Oct 1st, 2021 29m 20s

In this podcast episode, I talk with Karen Rowe, Black River High School English teacher. We talk about her involvement with the Big Read (eight years!) and how she's seen reading benefit and build community. Karen uses examples from her own cl

Professor Bill Moreau | Reading is connecting the greater storyline

Sep 3rd, 2021 43m 46s

In this podcast episode, I talk with Professor Bill Moreau, associate professor of English at Hope College. Our conversation is focused on the strategies he uses to emphasize literature and reading with his students, both at the high school and

Dr. Tato Gyulamiryan | Reading is like going on a trip together

Aug 19th, 2021 36m 44s

In this podcast episode, I talk with Dr. Tatevik (Tato) Gyulamiryan, associate professor of Spanish at Hope College. In our conversation, Tato explains why the Big Read Lakeshore is her favorite event on campus and reflects on the ways she make

Trailer

Introducing... Behind the Read!

Aug 12th, 2021 2m 11s

Big Read Lakeshore of Hope College is proud to present Behind the Read, a podcast series that offers listeners insights and perspectives on all what goes into, around and behind the act of reading. Tune into our biweekly podcast!