Tartan Talks

Recent government data show that nearly three out of every four children under the age of 18 participate in some sort of youth sport. With those numbers remaining steady through 2021, some professionals are taking a closer look at youth sport safety.

As professional leagues such as the NFL and NBA become more physical and oftentimes aggressive, some parents have noticed youth athletes adapting to more advanced playing style. And th...

In one year, Dr. Jim Roberts ran 7 marathons. He once completed marathons on 3 consecutive days. He has run a marathon in all 50 states – 49 of which he finished in less than 4 hours.

Only one question comes to mind when chatting with a seasoned marathon runner like Dr. Roberts: Why?

Whether it’s a test of personal perseverance or a hobby with friends, Dr. Roberts has found several reasons to complete the 26.2 mile race over and ov...

If you’re an artist, sometimes looking back on your earliest work can be – well – somewhat embarrassing. But as Edinboro University professor Karabo Legwaila explains in today’s episode of “Tartan Talks,” that’s one of the best ways to improve as an artist.

Karabo Legwaila joined the Art Department in the fall of 2016 as a professor of Computer Animation. Prior to that, he spent 10 years as a lead technical animator and dynamics sp...

Information is out there. Look no further than the mobile device in your hands. In an instant, you have access to news stories and scientific research about topics from climate change to virus pandemics. But what happens when we encounter science and research that doesn’t fit with our own beliefs or preconceptions? Are we rigid to change? What will it take to reconsider our own opinions when presented with new information?

Dr. Pete...

We all have our hobbies. Some of us enjoy music and writing, others partake in woodworking or fashion. A growing percentage of Americans spend their downtime playing games on video gaming systems, computers and mobile phones. For nearly 10% of these gamers, the hobby has become more than recreation – it’s become an addiction.

Dr. Stephanie Diez-Morel, from Edinboro’s Social Work Department, joins us to discuss how we can identify a...

For the last 20 years, we have been warned not to believer everything we see or read on the internet. Today’s “Tartan Talks” guests explores that concept in today’s deep dive. Dr. Larry Downey has taught mathematics at Edinboro University since 2012. But in his research, he developed a software program that can detect false or doctored images that appear on the internet and in academic research. Dr. Downey joins us to discuss the...

Although you can't tell because of the snow squalls and sub-freezing temperatures, we are quickly approaching spring in Northwestern Pennsylvania. And with the anticipation of warmer weather, birds chirping and leaves returning to trees, many of us hit the books to recall the words of our favorite nature poets. Dr. Bob Hass, from Edinboro University's English & Philosophy Department, joins us today to discuss his lifelong quest to...

It's Black History Month, and we're delivering you a special episode from Edinboro University's Black History Month programming. Although the Civil Rights Movement resulted in monumental legal changes for a country just 100 years removed from slavery, African Americans continue to experience bias, discrimination and prejudice at all levels of society. LGBTQ African Americans often live at the intersection of racism. In 2020, ther...

It's a new year and a new opportunity to reach our goals and meet our personal expectations. However, in 2021, we are still in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and the number of individuals impacted by this virus are still climbing. Not only that, but people around the globe are facing increasing mental health issues like stress, anxiety and depression. Dr. Julaine Field, from Edinboro's Counseling, School Psychology and Speci...

Erie is much more than the fourth largest city in Pennsylvania. From the food to the entertainment to the small businesses, Erie possesses a certain charm that ignites the spirit of locals and piques the nostalgia of those who have moved away. Dena Rupp and Corrine Kraus, two Edinboro University graphic design graduates, started a business to capture this spirit – Flagship City Press. The pair of entrepreneurs joined us on "Tartan...

Attention: Gear heads, military service members, public servants and curious entrepreneurs. We have an episode of "Tartan Talks" for you. Angela Ambrose, 2002 graduate of Edinboro University and VP of Government Relations and Communications for GM Defense joins us to chat about the new Infantry Squad Vehicle – which is set to roll out soon. GM Defense LLC, a subsidiary of General Motors, is celebrating the first delivery of the In...

Tyler Waltenbaugh and Hunter Klobucar understand the issues in the outdoors. Plastic and garbage pollution. Waterways willed with discarded materials from anglers and outdoors visitors. Instead of ignoring the issues, these two Edinboro University students (Tyler graduated in May 2020, and Hunter will graduate in May 2021) decided to do something about it. And start a business in the process. The pair founded Fish Gods, LLC and a...

Sherry Kuiper is a storyteller. Ever since her graduation from Edinboro University, she has changed careers and found new hobbies. But the one constant in her life is connecting a genuine story to a curious audience. And that's what she does for a living now as a communications specialist at Fort Meade – one of the largest military communities by population. She hosts "Fort Meade Declassified," which tells stories of servicemembe...

“It’s less about the drug of choice now and more about drug abuse. It’s more of a drug epidemic than it is an opioid epidemic right now. They’ll take anything they can get.” Alan McGill is a Senior Supervisory Special Agent – who has previously worked as an undercover narcotics agent – within Pennsylvania’s Office of the Attorney General. Agent McGill has been a professional investigator for over 30 years with 23 years in law en...

If you're listening to this podcast right now, chances are you're quite familiar with technology. Maybe you're streaming on your smart phone, or you're listening to it with headphones on your computer. Whether you've expected it or not (and if you like it or not), technology has changed our lives permanently. And with the COVID-19 pandemic impacting our methods of communication, one area of our lives might never be the same: Educ...

As the world addressed the global COVID-19 pandemic, the United States endured one of the most contentious summers since 1968. On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, a 46-year-old black American man, was killed in Minneapolis, Minn., during an arrest for allegedly using a counterfeit bill. From there, the #BlackLivesMatter movement activated with protests occurring across the country. Edinboro University's Rhonda Matthews, Ph.D. (History...

As the Secretary of Health for Pennsylvania, Dr. Rachel Levine has the been the face of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Each day, she addresses thousands of Pennsylvanians with advice and news related to the virus. In 2017, Dr. Levine received an honorary doctorate from Edinboro and delivered the commencement address. She discussed how to be fearless when making big life decisions. She also advised the Class of 2017 to dedicate the...

How can you possibly put into words the impact of a lifetime of service to the United States Armed Forces. That's what we're going to try and do today, with interviews of two Edinboro University administrators with nearly 30 years of military experience between them. Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Kavanagh and Major Andrew Matt join "Tartan Talks" today to talk about their "A-ha" moment in the military, what it was like during boot c...