Critical Connections

We need community now more than ever...but what does that look like?  As we navigate connecting with others and learning from other ways of knowing, we’re likely not going to learn them from people who look or live like us, and certainly we’re not going to learn them from people we agree with on everything. We are likely going to disagree and argue; we will have conflict.  But is there a way to do that doesn’t cause harm? Can confl...

The Critical Mass Podcast returns for it's third season with a reinvigorated focus, and a new name; Critical Connections. We're going to talk about the new name, what it means, and honor the name we came from. We also turn our eyes to the future, to confront what can feel like an apocalyptic time in our history. We're joined by Dezi Lynn, a Diné educator whose expertise in pattern-recognition and empowering ways of knowing and lear...

Dani wants to know what goes on in STEM departments at UVU. She talks to students of all walks of life to understand how narratives about STEM--who belongs, and who doesn't--affect those who study the 'hard' sciences.

Due to the nature of this episode, the interviews are sprinkled throughout rather than sectioned off as in previous episodes. While our intention was to have every interviewer introduce themselves once at the beginnin...

Dani chats with Dr. Hilary Hungerford, a UVU Earth Science professor who specializes in sustainability issues. She and Dani chat about the Great Salt Lake climate crisis, Utah Lake, and other environmental issues.

NOTE: The opinions expressed are those of the podcast participants alone, and do not necessarily represent Utah Valley University or the UVU Center for Social Impact.

Link to Dr. Hilary Hungerford's instagram, where she...

Would you like fries with that English degree? Dani pits the Humanities and STEM against each other in this double feature to settle once and for all which arm of education ought to be amputated in the name of cost-effective efficient synergetic return on investment DBA incentive.

Dani interviews UVU Doctor-professors Zan Cammack, an English Literature professor and host of "The Thing About Austen," Ezgi Sertler, and Leslie Simon t...

Dr. Ruen-chuan Ma is a medievalist who teaches literature at Utah Valley University. As someone who grew up Buddhist and around the world--from Taiwan to London--he has a unique perspective on culture and cultural appropriation that he shares in depth, available now in full.

Critical Mass Podcast is produced by the Center for Social Impact of Utah Valley University, but was researched, scripted, recorded, and edited by students. An...

Ever wondered what anarchists really think? Listen to the full interview with Justus from Trashbird Distro, parts of which were featured in a previous episode. Listen to Dani and Justus discuss community, anarchism, and art in our first Bonus Episode of Season 2.

Are you a writer interested in having your short story or poem highlighted on the pod? Email Dani at 10796756@uvu.edu

Critical Mass Podcast is produced by the Center for S...

Have you heard? The Great Salt Lake is turning into poison. Dani speaks to scientists, professors, and artists to try and understand what’s going on with the lake, what can be done about it, and we she should care.

Special thanks to Daren Perry, Carl Moore, Teri Harman, Corrina Bow, Star Guerrero, and Emily Ostler, who spoke and performed on behalf of the lake during the Great Salt Lake Offering Ceremony on September 30th.

Are you ...

Organizers from two different communities that have blossomed in the desert of Utah Valley share their experience building community. First up is Trash Bird Distro, a coalition of anarchists, followed by the Awakening Valley Sangha, a buddhist community in the tradition of Zen Master, Thich Nhat Hanh. This episode contains discussions of racism, appropriation, orientalism, and too many Moby Dick quotes. 

Are you a writer interested...

In the final episode of this 2022-2023 season of Critical Mass, the pod decided to highlight the host of the production: The UVU Center for Social Impact. Featuring interviews with some of the people that have made the Center what it is, this episode includes the voices of the Center's advisors and program directors, Cass, Jo, and Kai, all ten of the student Social Impact Fellows, short audios from the podcast team, and small clips...

This episode of Critical Mass podcast talks about the importance and history of climate activism, awareness, and appreciation through an Indiegnous lens of Land Stewardship. This episode features interviews with Raquel Juarez and Ava Curtis, two student activists with @fridaysforfuture.ut on Instagram, and a short excerpt from our interview with Denae Shanidiin from our 3rd episode, "Come find us" : Diné student stories. This short...

This episode of Critical Mass podcast talks about the importance and history of community journalism through the lens of guerrilla student journalism. Featuring interviews from two major student led journals, @ProdigalPressProvo on Instagram and the University of Utah's Latine student journal Venceremos, this episode reflects on the importance of stories and who tells them, and what it means to take stories into your own hands and ...

This episode of Critical Mass podcast features interviews with the UC Santa Cruz Student Housing Coalition from California and a series of anonymous unsheltered students stories from here in Utah Valley. This episode highlights the organizing and advocacy efforts of students in the fight for just, affordable, and equitable housing and the experiences of some of the students they're fighting for

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