The Ampersand

I read once that bravery required feeling tangible fear. A Shackleton-style blistering confidence that barrels into harsh landscapes is not, by definition, brave, because it refuses to acknowledge the contextual realities around one's experience. Today's guest, on the other hand, looks with clear eyes at challenging field experiences, the inherent risks of life and severe discomfort, and she goes anyway. Joanna Lambert, professor of environmental studies at the University of Colorado Boulder, is a conservation rock star. Known more recently for her research on Colorado's reintroduction of gray wolves, on today's episode she discusses her unexpected journey from commercial art into conservation, her love of the Rolling Stones and the music she finds in tracking wildlife through Yellowstone's extremes. Joanna's website Joanna's research Wolves in Colorado --- Original music composed by Nelson Walker. Recorded at Interplay Recording and Multimedia. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley.

A moment of honesty: This producer shies from conflict. Most often, when someone disagrees, I perceive it as intellectual arm-wrestling—the more clever person winning the day and their opponent (usually me) hunched in a walk of shame away from the table. Imagine our delight when we began to work with today's guest, Megan Stephenson, who not only sees conflict as a means of connection and a path toward equity, but finds the reconciliation of differing views to be one way we can work toward a shared understanding. Megan is the College of Arts and Sciences' director of academic operations and student records, the college's hidden email voice and the person who helps students navigate academic policies. On today's episode, she discusses her take on conflict, how she arrived at this distinct stature, the way she sings through life and, yes, the sheer number of game shows on which she's competed. For more about Megan, see her CU Boulder About me page. See Megan's announcement on Family Feud. --- Original music composed by Nelson Walker. Recorded at Interplay Recording and Multimedia. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley. The Ampersand is a production of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder.

ANDers, today's episode is a doozy. Today, we sit with Ed Chuong, associate professor of molecular, cellular and developmental biology and researcher at CU Boulder’s BioFrontiers Institute. Ed discusses his research exploring unexpected conflict, even in the womb, and his more recent exploration of the long-overlooked transposons. He also shares his journey into biology—from a love of science-fiction to an interest in developing video games, to a devastating discovery while snorkeling leading to original, career defining work in a lab. This conversation is a case study in ANDing's array. For more on Ed Chuong's research, visit the Chuong Lab or his profile at the BioFrontiers Institute. --- Original music composed by Nelson Walker. Recorded at Interplay Recording and Multimedia. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley. The Ampersand is a production of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Okay ANDers, we need a moment to fawn. Today's guest, Nick Houy, is a Hollywood film editing badass with movie credits like Barbie, Little Women, Mid90s and Lady Bird. Full transparency, these are some of our team's faves, and we couldn't believe our luck when Nick agreed to come on our show. When we discovered he is not only brilliant but incredibly kind and thoughtful, we lost it ... quietly, but we lost it. On today's episode, Nick discusses his career, his sculptor's approach to editing and why he looks for small moments among found footage. Read more from Nick in his interview with Film Supply. To craft a Houy movie marathon, check out Nick's IMDb page. Nick Houy, ACE BFE, is a multi-award-winning film editor known for LADY BIRD, LITTLE WOMEN, BARBIE, and the HBO miniseries THE NIGHT OF. Houy is also known for editing MID90s, and the highly acclaimed documentary STUTZ. --- Original music composed by Nelson Walker. Recorded at Interplay Recording and Multimedia. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley. The Ampersand is a production of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Cleo Washington (DnceBFA'25) is a gifted dance performance artist who deftly performs pieces across styles—from ballet to house, Hip Hop to modern. Hers is a rare talent, but Cleo's journey to graduation from the University of Colorado Boulder was not a simple story of recognizing talent and shaping skill in an academic experience. On today's episode, Cleo discusses challenges she faced, the courage she needed to ask for help, the support of her family and how the simplest moments, like a casual, friendly hello, deeply affects students' lives. --- Original music composed by Nelson Walker. Recorded at Interplay Recording and Multimedia. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley.

Can we trust what we see on social? In the case of today's guest, the answer is adamantly the affirmative. Sarah Looper is a gifted sommelier and wine educator who has worked in the food and wine world for over twenty-five years. She is also the beloved personality behind Loopersomm, an online presence that democratizes wine with content that rapidly switches between hysterical and informative. That presence and personality is authentically Sarah, and on today's episode she discusses her background, synesthesia, fascination with wine and interest in social media as a means to convey a topic she loves to her community. Connect with Sarah three ways: On Instagram @loopersomm. TikTok. Online at loopersomm.com. This episode was recorded in October 2024. Since the interview, we are deeply saddened by the loss of Richard Chamberlain, who passed away in March 2025. Sarah remains a fan and noted, "If I could serve him one last wine, it would be a 1995 Roumier Bonnes Mares Grand Cru. And I would savor it with him and tell him how much I loved him." --- Original music composed by Nelson Walker. Recorded at Interplay Recording and Multimedia. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley.

Erika and Producer Tim discuss Erika's debut novel, Music for Leaving, its origin story, what makes the story grand and how Erika and Tim navigate feeling like imposters, even with a gorgeous book in-hand. Buy Music for Leaving on IngramSpark, our preferred vendor. Music for Leaving is also available, often by request, from your favorite bookstore or online service. --- Original music composed by Nelson Walker. Recorded at Interplay Recording and Multimedia. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley.

An encounter with the smallest material can spark nostalgia: the first bite of saltfish and home, the texture of satin and standing onstage, just the right weight of rain. While these unexpected free-falls into memory can be a lovely surprise, today's guest reaches intentionally into her imagination and shapes memories into gorgeous narratives of fiction and nonfiction. Marcia Douglas is an author, artist and professor of creative writing at the University of Colorado Boulder. Widely published and a winner of many awards, she discusses growing up in Kingstown, Jamaica, writing in community and her playful-profound approach to creative craft. Visit Marcia's website and learn more about her current creative work. To buy The Marvelous Equations of the Dread, visit New Directions Publishing. Learn more about Marcia's research and creative work on her CU Boulder profile. --- Original music composed by Nelson Walker. Recorded at Interplay Recording and Multimedia. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley. The Ampersand is a production of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder.

So many highlight their winding roads to self-discovery, but we still seem in a rush to get to our end fast. But could a wide curiosity of all of our becoming (i.e., reflecting on how you AND) help you rediscover facets of our being that lived inside us all along? On today's episode, musical artist Monica LaBonte recounts a winding journey of discovering her love of music and performance, becoming a full-time musician, pivoting away to teaching and finding her love of expression through song again. Follow Monica on Instagram. Check out Monica's website for future shows, private music lessons and to buy her most recent album See Through. --- Original music composed by Nelson Walker. Recorded at Interplay Recording and Multimedia. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley. The Ampersand is a production of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder.

In an era marked by impatience and shortened attention spans — Hang on ... I forgot where I was going with that. — Anyway, today's guest is Dan Carlin, whose podcast, Hardcore History, is one of our medium's gold standards for narrative storytelling. On today's episode, we dig into Dan's past, discover the music that defined his counter-cultural posture and learn how deep, detailed descriptions of our past are their own kind of punk rock. Learn more about Dan at dancarlin.com or listen to his seminal podcast Hardcore History. --- Original music composed by Nelson Walker. Recorded at Interplay Recording and Multimedia. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley. The Ampersand is a production of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder.

ANDers, look at the horizon. Coming fast are an epic lineup of guests making up our fourth season of The Ampersand. Featuring Dan Carlin, Monica Labonte, Marcia Douglas, Sarah Looper, Cleo Washington, Nick Houy, Ed Chuong, Megan Stephenson and Joanna Lambert. Debuting on Radio 1190 AM Boulder, 92.9 FM Denver and coming soon to your favorite podcast platform. Tune in and discover the alchemy of ANDing.

What we love about ANDing is synthesizing our interests, personalities, cultures and experiences into a swirling, gorgeous human that is you. But does that variety implicitly encourage overdoing it? We've heard from many ANDing-curious listeners that they worry an emphasis on ANDing encourages busyness and maxing out the calendar with an ever-growing list of to-dos. So, does it? Erika and Producer Tim sat down to talk through that very question, recorded as a winter special just in time for these very busy holidays. --- Original music composed by Nelson Walker. Recorded at Interplay Recording and Multimedia. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley. The Ampersand is a production of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder.

If storytelling is an art, today's guest is a maestro. Jennifer Ho is a professor of ethnic studies and director of the Center for Humanities and the Arts at the University of Colorado Boulder. On today's episode, our finale for season three, Jennifer's ability to convey meaning through compelling narratives is on full display. She discusses growing up in California, navigating cultural differences in the U.S. South, finding joy in hardship, countering racism and the manner art can bring about true reconciliation. --- Learn more about Jennifer's research. Learn more about the Center for Humanities and the Arts. Follow Jennifer on Threads. Original music composed by Nelson Walker. Recorded at Interplay Recording and Multimedia. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley. The Ampersand is a production of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Beyond a wild ride of an interview, Eric Small gifted us a new favorite word that describes his hydrological research on water, energy and carbon budgets of the Earth's surface—ground-truthing. On today's episode, Eric explosively (i.e., like a Muppet) walks us through the practice of matching on-the-ground maps with satellite data. Beyond the sheer hilarity of his and Erika's conversation, what makes this such a fun interview is his unwavering belief that easy answers are hard to come by and they only get more complex the closer you choose to look. --- Learn more about Eric's research. Original music composed by Nelson Walker. Recorded at Interplay Recording and Multimedia. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley. The Ampersand is a production of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Empathy is trending again—we are reminded in venues as wide as SNL sketches and self-improvement podcasts that growing our capacities to step into another’s point of view and feel their perspective brings boons to our interpersonal, professional and emotional lives. The practical work of looking for opportunities to empathize often goes unsaid or appears trickier to realize. Today’s guest, though, is a veritable maestro in building connection points with those fortunate enough to meet him. Charles Eagan in an award-winning academic advisor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience in the College of Arts and Sciences at CU Boulder. On today’s episode, he discusses some of the strategies he employs to create points of connection, even with the most withdrawn students, so that they feel seen, valued and willing to engage with their college experiences again. --- Learn more about Charles. Original music composed by Nelson Walker. Recorded at Interplay Recording and Multimedia. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley. The Ampersand is a production of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Activists have expressed that the work of changing oppressive structures requires tirelessness and strength. When we consider how this looks lived out, striking photos and stories of campus protests, marches and sit-ins focused on a given issue come to mind, but how do communities come together to advocate for change? Today's guest, Eswari Duggarala (she, they), is the co-founder of Students Against Campus Sexual Assault at the University of Colorado Boulder, and they recently graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in ethnic studies. Eswari discusses how they sought to make Boulder's campus a safer, more just and equitable place for all students, and, in doing so, how they discovered a profound community of friends who lift each other to continue the work of change. --- Learn more about the organization Eswari helped found, Students Against Campus Sexual Assault and follow SACSA on Instagram. Original music composed by Nelson Walker. Recorded at Interplay Recording and Multimedia. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley. The Ampersand is a production of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder.

After reading a poem out loud, we hope you've had the experience of inexplicably welling with emotion. Be it joy, grief, adoration for beauty or those emotions harder to describe, we've found these literary experiences can dramatically alter our points of view. But why? What in tightly written pieces of prose causes us to shiver with goosebumps, weep or smile ear-to-ear? Julie Carr is an award-winning poet and activist who has authored seventeen books of poetry, prose and translation, and on today's episode she delves into the way poetry and written words can transform their readers. Julie also explores the manner dance has influenced her writing, continues to show up in her art and influenced her most recent collection titled Underscore. --- Buy Julie's newest collection, Underscore. Learn more about Counterpath. Read more about Julie and her work. Original music composed by Nelson Walker. Recorded at Interplay Recording and Multimedia. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley. The Ampersand is a production of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder.

The Ampersand is bringing ANDing to the Big Apple! Join Erika and Producer Tim for an evening of networking and nostalgia at the first roadtrip version of Arts & Sciences CU After Work. We're busy in our ANDer's Workshop whittling experiences and games to complement our keynote discussion (with mystery guests) about the essence of ANDing. Save your spot! Details: Oct. 22, 2024 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. Peoplehood's Flagship 109 W. 17th St. New York NY, 10011 Cost is $35 per person. A portion of the registration fee supports A&S student scholarships. Light dinner, wine, beer and beverages will be served. *Space is limited. Thank you to our host, Elizabeth Cutler, for opening up the space in Peoplehood for the event!

Nostalgia can be tricky business. Love of the past can lead to a slowing stasis of the people we are/were or our refusal to let relationships evolve. But remembering places and experiences can fill us with warmth or teach us to live into our respective nexts. Today's guest beautifully threads that balance. Francois Baptiste is co-founder of the company 3DEEP Productions, and he has built a successful career in the music promotion industry. At the same time, he is keenly aware of his past experiences' effect on that path. Today's episode is filled with glorious recollections of Boulder in the early 1990s—the budding Hip Hop scene, shows at The Fox and after-parties with the University of Colorado as the nexus—but Francois notes the lessons he learned that spurred him to stretch beyond these city limits and stay at the forefront of innovation and creativity. --- Learn more about Francois' company, 3DEEP Productions. Original music composed by Nelson Walker. Recorded at Interplay Recording and Multimedia. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley. The Ampersand is a production of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Today's guest owns that dance. Tin Tin Su is an intellectual force, whose research on tiny fruit flies led to fresh discoveries and innovative approaches to radiation therapy for those living with head and neck cancers. While she offers us a snippet of her work in the lab, Su spends today's episode discussing the childhood experiences in Burma and India that shaped her worldview, her interest in the U.S. and a leadership style that still finds space to dance. --- Learn more about Tin Tin Su's research and the Su Lab. Learn more about Tin Tin's company, Suvica. Tin Tin's latest NIH Biosketch. Tin Tin's publications on NCBI. Learn more about the Woodstock School. Original music composed by Nelson Walker. Recorded at Interplay Recording and Multimedia. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley. The Ampersand is a production of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Over our years, we've collected quite the stories of A&S students at the University of Colorado Boulder living out the alchemy of ANDing. Their experiences perpetually nudge what we suppose our students can experience—opportunities that reach for the boundaries of the profound and even the obscure. Our guest today, Ava Altenbern (art history, biochemistry '24), puts the unexpected on full display. From an internship at a Colorado morgue to her bubbly optimism while navigating death to searching for her art style to an honors thesis on riboswitches, she delves into the manner these interests wove together and shaped how she views a world she is thrilled to step into. --- More about Ava's current work with NIAID and the Ivanovic Lab. Original music composed by Nelson Walker. Recorded at Interplay Recording and Multimedia. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley. The Ampersand is a production of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Tenacity is often portrayed as acting with a confident, if insensible inevitability. Characters like Creed's Donnie Johnson, Selena and even Jack Sparrow of The Pirates of the Caribbean barrel into adventures filled with long odds and only slightly wavering determination. While their stories are wrapped within a film's tidy two-ish hours, how can we maintain the same level of drive when our plot lines extend out months, years and even decades? Today's guest, Aba Arthur, found that happy medium in her pursuit of a Hollywood career. While the list of roles in her film credit continues to grow—The Color Purple, Wakanda Forever and Respect to name a few since 2021—Arthur discusses on today's episode how she pursued and found a deep self-belief that this pathway she chose was right and worthwhile. --- Follow what's new with Aba on Instagram @abathegoddess. Original music composed by Nelson Walker. Recorded at Interplay Recording and Multimedia. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley. The Ampersand is a production of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Coming as soon as that tantalizing ice cream truck jingle, we are deep in production of The Ampersand's third season. So that you need not waste time deciding between your favorite desserts, we've pulled together this season's novelties in a singular menu that offers a taste of each interview. We hope you'll love what you hear and come back for more when we debut season three later this summer. --- Original music composed by Nelson Walker. Recorded at Interplay Recording and Multimedia. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley.

Yes, this trailer for season two of The Ampersand is nine months late. But, like the Scotch that inspired Erika and Producer Tim to match the guests to their ideal labels, this one is worth the wait. --- Original music composed by Nelson Walker. Recorded at Interplay Recording and Multimedia. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley.

For The Ampersand’s final episode of season two, we have the joy of interviewing Dr. Reiland Rabaka, professor of ethnic studies at the University of Colorado Boulder and director of the Center for African and African American Studies. Dr. Rabaka is a creative and scholarly hurricane who has authored more than 17 books that span his wide interests. Like his research, today’s interview covers unbelievable and unexpected ground—from W.E.B. DuBois to the Women’s Movement, from jazz and the civil rights movement to soul sisters and funksters, from Rabaka’s upbringing in Texas to catalyzing change in Boulder, Colorado. Woven throughout is Rabaka’s deep desire to live with reciprocity and help all people discover a renewed humanity. As 2023 draws to a close, we hope you, dear listeners, breath in this gorgeous human’s words. --- Learn more about the Center for African and African American Studies. Discover Dr. Rabaka’s research and publications. Music by Nelson Walker. Episodes recorded at Interplay Recording in Boulder, CO. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley, The Ampersand is a production of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Fear of failing stops many of us from tackling curiosities or opening doors on new adventures, but what if we could live without that anxiety of falling from heights? For today's guest, Rachel Suter, mitigating that fear comes down to confidence in her plans, counting from three and leaping from the (in this case literal) precipice. Suter, an undergraduate at the University of Colorado Boulder, is majoring in neuroscience and art practices, dives at Casa Bonita and for CU Boulder's club diving team, works in the College of Arts and Sciences' student government, professionally models and more. On today's episode, she discusses her desire to dabble and try interests, her "why not?" attitude and her strategies for staying calm before stepping out into the unknown. --- Check out Suter's artwork on Instagram, @rachelsuterart. Music by Nelson Walker. Episodes recorded at Interplay Recording in Boulder, CO. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley.

The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows (a rabbit hole courtesy of today's guest Camden Sharkey) defines sonder as "the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own." While this may feel sad for some, Sharkey, who is an undergraduate at the University of Colorado Boulder majoring in political science and dance, finds the concept invigorating. Whether it means treating every individual coming to Dutch Bros coffee shop with care, arguing for social change at the State Capitol or crafting dance performances that bring voice to current issues, Sharkey navigates life with grace and humor that warms every passerby who comes into his orbit. --- To connect with Camden, see his TikTok page. Music by Nelson Walker. Episodes recorded at Interplay Recording in Boulder, CO. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley.

On The Ampersand, we love to highlight stories of people who bring together their widest interests, research and making. In most cases, these disparate facets of being shine from our brightest sides—but how can we find compassion for our darker corners? Today’s guest, Lauren Lewis, walks listeners through her journey navigating an eating disorder while learning to cook from the heart as a nutritionist and chef, guiding others to healing as a yogi, feeling at home in her body through dance and wake surfing, and how she seeks out love and self-compassion. --- Lauren’s yoga website. Take Lauren’s online yoga classes. Lauren’s website dedicated to nutrition: The Pure Gourmet. Music by Nelson Walker. Episodes recorded at Interplay Recording in Boulder, CO. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley.

How do you pass your values on to those you love? Or live out those same values in your workplace? On today's episode, Bernadette Stewart, assistant dean of people, engagement and culture at the University of Colorado Boulder, discusses the manner we not only articulate what we hold most dear, but live out our "North Stars" on a daily basis. From growing up in a military family to parenting to music/streaming lists to self-care and living larger, Stewart shares the experiences and lessons she gleaned over a lifetime helping people reflect on who they have become. --- Learn more about Bernadette Stewart by reading Bernadette's bio. Connect with Bernadette on LinkedIn. Music by Nelson Walker. Episodes recorded at Interplay Recording in Boulder, CO. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley.

On The Ampersand, we take pride in the ground each episode covers. Today's guest, though, sets a high standard for the breadth through which we can meander in 30 minutes. Mathias Nordvig is a teaching professor in the University of Colorado Boulder's Department of German and Slavic Languages and Literatures. He specializes in pre-Christian Nordic mythologies, folklore and Neo-paganism. From the far right's co-opting of Norse iconography and mythology, to Danish summer camps, heavy metal, animistic philosophy, witch hunts, issues of separating wilderness from society and more, a conversation with Mathias is like a grand epic just starting out by the episode's end. --- For more on Mathias Nordvig, check out his podcast, the Sacred Flame. For more on his research and classes, see Mathias' faculty biography. Music by Nelson Walker. Episodes recorded at Interplay Recording in Boulder, CO. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley.

Today's guest, Mikayla Huffman, is pursuing a PhD in astrophysical and planetary sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder. Huffman's research delves into numerical modeling of impacts onto icy bodies, crater mapping on rocky bodies and cometary spectroscopy. She is also an exceptional dungeon master (DM) who leads epic, year-plus campaigns through a variety of Dungeons and Dragons worlds. Tune in to hear more about astrophysics and the manner D&D creates space for people to discover how they want to show up in our modern world. --- For more about Mikayla's research and love of Dungeons and Dragons, visit Mikayla's website. Follow Mikayla on X. Mikayla's Youtube channel. Music by Nelson Walker. Episodes recorded at Interplay Recording in Boulder, CO.Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley.

What happens when you not only collaborate on a project, but you also meet your creative work and research bestie? The result, in the case of today's guests, is We Are Coming, a project by Yumi Janairo Roth and Emmanuel David about Filipino pasts and futures. In 1899, Buffalo Bill's Wild West hired three Filipinos to join the Congress of Rough Riders of the World. Although the Filipino Rough Riders were largely forgotten to history, Roth and David are working with historic theaters in towns and cities where the Wild West show traveled to install the trio’s names —Ysidora Alcantara, Felix Alcantara, and Geronimo Ynosincio – on vintage marquees. --- Learn more about the Denver Museum of Contemporary Art's show, Cowboy, which features We are coming. Bucking the myth of the American cowboy. The Museum of Contemporary Art Denver Questions the Cowboy. Learn more about the installation in Cody, WY. Learn more about Yumi Janairo Roth's work and the project We are coming. More about Emmanuel David's work. Music by Nelson Walker. Episodes recorded at Interplay Recording in Boulder, CO. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley.

At what point does the drive for positivity become toxic? This week’s guest, June Gruber, studies moments that people deny themselves the full complexity of their emotions in order to try and stay happy, even when their experiences warrant feeling anything but joy. Gruber, an associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of Colorado Boulder, studies the dark side of happiness, but in today’s interview she also explains how complex emotions give her hope in humanity’s capacity for good. --- To support Gruber's efforts to help student mental health, check out the Emerge Project. To learn more about and support Gruber's work on happiness, emotions and well-being more generally, visit the Positive Emotion & Psychopathology (PEP) Lab's gift fund page. Music by Nelson Walker. Episodes recorded at Interplay Recording in Boulder, CO. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley.

We're back! Our lovely listening ANDers made season one such a huge success that we're spending this summer recording seasons two and three of The Ampersand! While we're hanging out at Interplay Recording in Boulder learning about toxic happiness, playing with gender in Dungeons and Dragons and the way music can mobilize people toward a just and equitable society, we wanted to offer listeners something to satiate their thirst for the alchemy of ANDing. I hope you'll enjoy this conversation between me, Erika Randall, and Producer Tim Grassley about The Ampersand's origins and the surprises along the way. --- Recorded at Interplay Recording. Theme music written and performed by Nelson Walker.

Sammy Ramsey’s interests have always been wide, but many mentors told him to keep those passions private and choose one professional lane. On The Ampersand’s final episode of season one, Ramsey, who is an assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado Boulder, discusses how he navigated these pressures, chose to embrace his full self even if it got him kicked out of graduate school and how fighting to bring his entire identity to work and life generally has helped him become a stronger biologist, speaker, graduate student mentor, researcher and human being. --- For more on his research and speaking opportunities, visit Dr. Sammy’s website and the Ramsey Research Foundation. Music by Nelson Walker. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley. Episodes recorded at Interplay Recording in Boulder, CO.

Why is it challenging to tell our stories, even when we are deeply passionate about the subject matter? On today’s episode of The Ampersand, Sarah Sohkey, an associate professor of political science at the University of Colorado Boulder, reflects on her fascination with Russia, policy reversals and territories within the former Soviet Union and the strategies she has tried to convey her research to students, colleagues and the public. She also describes her efforts to transform undergraduate research, wishing she grew up in the 1980s, effective lying and more. --- For more information about Sohkey’s research on Russia and policy reversals, visit Sohkey’s faculty bio or Sohkey’s research page. Learn about CU Boulder’s undergraduate STUDIO Lab. Music by Nelson Walker. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley. Episodes recorded at Interplay Recording in Boulder, CO.

On The Ampersand, we highlight stories of people who dive into their interests. Equally important is the way we tell our stories. Today’s guest is Aliya Trapp, an undergraduate student at the University of Colorado Boulder majoring in ethnic studies and international affairs. Aliya loves to cook, garden and plays bass in a Grateful Dead cover band while diving deep into her studies. Besides chasing her interests with abandon, though, she reminds us just how important ANDing conversations can be. Mentioned in today's episode: Serial Podcast. In the Dark podcast. Unreformed: the Story of the Alabama Industrial School for Negro Children Equity and inclusion in the wine industry. The vineyard where Aliya will work after college. The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone by Heather McGhee. Ladysmith Black Mambazo are the South African men’s choir who perform Isicathamiya and Mbube on Paul Simon’s Graceland. --- For those concerned about Erika’s vocal drop to baritone, she was recovering from a head cold during the recording. Please feel free to email well-wishes. Music by Nelson Walker. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley. Episodes recorded at Interplay Recording in Boulder, CO.

When Christopher Lowry told us there is correlation between the number of plants you eat and emotional well-being, we stopped. Lowry, who is an associate professor of integrative physiology at the University of Colorado Boulder, has spent his career digging into the manner microbiome diversity in the gut affects our mental health. On today’s episode of The Ampersand, you’ll hear about his research, the childhood experiences that set him on his academic journey and that his findings are more than just interesting knowledge—they change the way he chooses to live. For information about Lowry research watch his 2020 TEDxMileHigh talk “Plants, the microbiome, and mental health.” --- Music by Nelson Walker. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley. Episodes recorded at Interplay Recording in Boulder, CO.

A mid-career pivot is terrifying enough, but what if you decided on a new interest midway through your PhD’s field research? That’s part of Karen Bailey’s story, who is today’s guest on The Ampersand. Bailey, who is an assistant professor of environmental studies at the University of Colorado Boulder, discusses her training as an ecologist that took her to Africa, the effect of seeing parallels between one of the largest droughts in southern African history and her own community's struggle with food insecurity, and her subsequent research on equity and environmental systems. Along the way, we also discuss her love of podcasts, literature, fantasy movies and so much more. Check out Bailey’s podcast the Creature Connection. More on Bailey’s research. Music by Nelson Walker. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley. Episodes recorded at Interplay Recording in Boulder, CO.

How do you talk to your kids about their interests? For kids who become college students, that conversation often affects the major they choose first—a process that many worry abound in implications on rest of their lives. In the case of our guest, her major choice simply led to more interests, questions and opportunities to dive into new fields of research. Leilani Arthurs is a hydro-geo-chemist who studies volcanoes, water, educational access and so much more. Hear her story of what it looks like when someone simply follows her curiosity. For more information on Arthurs’ research, visit her University of Colorado Boulder profile page. Music by Nelson Walker. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley. Episodes recorded at Interplay Recording in Boulder, CO. Official captions coming soon.

What does seeing your community in films accomplish? For today’s guest Gabby Mejia, the experience galvanized her desire to create visual stories that give voice to her experiences and bring positive societal change. Mejia discusses her background, her emotional response to seeing movies like Black Panther and the possibilities she sees when she collides her interest in film and social justice. For more information on Mejia's creative work, see her online portfolio and her YouTube channel. Music by Nelson Walker. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley. Episodes recorded at Interplay Recording in Boulder, CO. Official captions coming soon.

In an era of specialization, many of us feel pressure to pick a thing—one skill, interest or passion that sets you apart. This one thing characterizes our identities, the way we talk, how we perceive ourselves and the stories we tell. But what happens when your one thing doesn’t pan out as planned and you need to pivot? That’s the story of our first guest in The Ampersand’s inaugural season. Hayley Muth graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder as a dance performance major, then pursued a career in dance, pivoted to a career in technology and is now a product manager at Instagram. Hear the lessons she learned as she uncovered and wove together these facets. Music by Nelson Walker. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley. Episodes recorded at Interplay Recording in Boulder, CO. Excerpt of Matthew Wigton's "Old Guard," performed by Wicked Cinema, used in the introduction. Check out Jared Angle's ballet brillance. Official captions coming soon.

Coming soon, a new podcast series from Erika Randall, a dancer, professor, mother, filmmaker and writer who explores the alchemy of ANDing. Music by Nelson Walker. Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley. Episodes recorded at Interplay Recording in Boulder, CO.