Top Hat STEM Chat

Welcome to Top Hat STEM Chat! Today we're joined by Owen Fink, a dual-major with a long list of passions including, but not limited to, computers, nature, Full Spectrum Learning, CASE, tinkering, and much more! Join us for the last episode ahead of summer break!

Welcome to Top Hat STEM Chat! Today we're joined by Blue Tinsley, an Austin Peay alum now working with Tri-County Upward Bound! We talk about his life, his interests, how an English major adds an engineering minor, his involvement with Tri-County and his passion for 3D printing. All that and more in our first episode (we've been away too long) of 2026!

Welcome to Top Hat STEM Chat! Today we're joined by Jacob Lehtola, a computer science major you might have seen around campus working with IT! This senior can also unicycle in addition to explaining how most of your computer problems can be solved by just restarting the computer or logging out and logging back in. All that and more in our final episode of 2025!

Welcome to Top Hat STEM Chat! Today we're joined by Isaac Billeter, a cybersecurity major who has carved quite a career for himself at Austin Peay, from Middle College to Belgrade and CDE Lightband!

Welcome to Top Hat STEM Chat! Today we're joined by Yuriy Holovchak--double major, Goldwater Scholar, two-time IRES traveler and all-around good dude. We discuss his time at APSU, his future, his ambitions and much more. We also have 90 seconds of STEM, celebrating department achievements, and more! Audio Intro: Jelly Roll, "Get By" Holovchak Intro/Outro: They Might Be Giants, "...

Welcome to Top Hat STEM Chat! Today we're joined by Dr. Jordan Miller Tschida, a computer science currently working as a Research Scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory; she breaks down her career path, her time as a NSF Research Trainee, REU travels and much more. We also have 90 seconds of STEM, celebrating department achievements, and more! Audio Intro: The Talking Heads, "Life Dur...

Welcome to Top Hat STEM Chat! Today we're joined by Jacob Robertson, a physics alum currently shaping policy with the Federation of American Scientists; Jacob talks about his career path, his work, the 2017 eclipse and much more. We also have 90 seconds of STEM, celebrating department achievements, and more! Audio Intro: The Traveling Wilburys, "End of the Line" Robertson Intro/Outro...

Welcome to Top Hat STEM Chat! Today we're joined by Dr. Joshua Hinckley, a chemistry alum and the co-founder and CEO of Bioqore, a company aiming to disrupt the food science industry. We talk chemistry, AI, MIT, Harvard, machine learning and much more during our discussion. We also have 90 seconds of STEM, celebrating department achievements, and more! Audio Intro: Jimi Hendrix, "Voodoo C...

Welcome to Top Hat STEM Chat! Today we're joined by Sarai Faulkner, a senior chemistry major set to graduate in May and head off to Florida State in pursuit of her doctorate. We talk about her route to Austin Peay, her passion for chemistry and favorite glassware, among other subjects. We also have 90 seconds of STEM, celebrating department achievements, and more! Audio Intro: Jasmine Thompson...

Today we're joined by Dr. Mary Akinyemi of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. In a wide-ranging conversation, we talk about her academic and industry career, giving back to students and touch on artificial intelligence too. We also have 90 seconds of STEM, celebrating department achievements, and more! Audio Intro: Taylor Swift, "Anti-Hero" Akinyemi Intro/Outro: They Might...

Welcome to Top Hat STEM Chat! Today we're joined by Brandon Gulley, an Austin Peay alum now working on his doctorate in ecology at Vanderbilt. A 20-year veteran of the Army, Brandon came to Austin Peay after concluding his time in the service and became an outstanding student thanks to his incredible work ethic, discipline and motivation. We talk about his military career, the Bat Lab, South A...

Welcome to Top Hat STEM Chat! Today we're joined by Dr. Lynn Von Hagen, an Austin Peay alum now serving the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance as their Regional Conservation Director for Africa managing a portfolio of conservation partnerships across the continent. We discuss her career, her late start in higher ed and the fascinating conservation efforts she's been a part of. We also have 9...

Welcome to Top Hat STEM Chat! Today we're joined by Dr. Kallina Dunkle, Associate Dean for the APSU College of STEM and professor in the Earth and Environmental Science department. We discuss music, different teaching methods, her biggest risk and a run-in she had in Greenland with a musk ox. We also have 90 seconds of STEM, celebrating department achievements, and more! Audio Intro: Everythin...

Welcome to Top Hat STEM Chat! Today we're joined by Dr. Dwayne Estes, executive director of the Southeastern Grasslands Institute, PI in the Center of Excellence for Field Biology and Austin Peay biology professor. Dr. Estes, known as the "Prairie Preacher" is a renowned grasslands conservation advocate with big ideas and big dreams. We also have 90 seconds of STEM, celebrating depar...

Welcome to Top Hat STEM Chat! Today we're joined by Charles Weigandt, who heads up Austin Peay's Aviation Science division out at Hangar 5 at Outlaw Field. Charles has taken this program from an idea to one of the fastest growing programs at the university, and he shares his background, his interests and how he's embraced this challenge at Austin Peay. We also have 90 seconds of STEM,...

Welcome to Top Hat STEM Chat!  Today we're joined by Jane Semler, a professor of medical laboratory sciences, 2015 Socrates Award winner, former Faculty Senate President, and a faculty member on the APSU Board of Trustees, to name just a few of her many accomplishments. She shares more about her background, campus involvement and the importance of mentoring and collaborating with students. We...

Welcome to Top Hat STEM Chat!  Today we're joined by Michelle Rogers, a faculty member in the biology department who is also involved in the CEFB and Healthy Yards, a program designed to get native plants back in the soil around Clarksville and Montgomery County. She also shares how she would prefer to die and gives one of the most brilliant answers in podcast history. We also have 90 Seconds...

Welcome to Top Hat STEM Chat!  This episode offers a rare treat: a visit from Dr. Adrian Parker, who works in the Navy's Missile Energy Systems branch! We talk about his time at Austin Peay, his commitment to life-long learning and much more. We also have 90 Seconds of STEM, celebrating department achievements, and more!  Audio Intro: Beyonce, "Blackbiird"  Parker Intro/Outro: They M...

Welcome to Top Hat STEM Chat!  On this episode, we visit with Meleah Lanier, an outstanding engineering physics student with a plethora of experience. From their research in France to their post-grad goals and everything in between, the wide-ranging conversation is a must-listen! We also have 90 Seconds of STEM, celebrating department achievements, and more!  Audio Intro: Warren Zeiders, "Rid...

Welcome to Top Hat STEM Chat!  On this episode, we visit with Dr. Michael Northington, a Clarksville native who now works for Optum. We discuss his post-grad work at Mississippi and Vanderbilt, his time as a professor at Georgia Tech, his move from academia to industry and much more. We also have 90 Seconds of STEM, celebrating department achievements, and more!  Audio Intro: Ghost Hounds, "L...

Welcome to Top Hat STEM Chat!  On this episode, we visit with Leigh Duncan, a park ranger for the Bureau of Reclamation. A recent Austin Peay graduate, we talk about her work at New Melones Lake in the Sierra Nevada foothills, her journey from Clarksville to California and the rigors and different types of ranger work. We also have 90 Seconds of STEM, celebrating department achievements, and more!...

Welcome to Top Hat STEM Chat!  On this maiden voyage into the podcasting space, host Colby Wilson is joined by Dr. Alex King, Chair of the Department of Physics, Engineering and Astronomy, to discuss his career, how he got to Austin Peay, advice for aspiring physicists and more! We also have 90 Seconds of STEM, celebrating department achievements, and more!  Audio Intro: John Vincent III, "Bl...