Context

Russell Meeuf from the University of Idaho joins Johanna this week to talk about his book  White Terror: The Horror Film from Obama to Trump . He argues that horror films are a form of social and political critique for both conservatives and liberals and discusses how that was seen in the Obama era and the election of Donald Trump.   Dr. Russel Meeuf is a professor in the School of Journalism and...

Johanna is thrilled to be joined by Dr. Emily Wakild from Boise State University to learn more about one of Idaho’s most beloved governors, and the last Democrat to serve as governor of Idaho, Cecil D. Andrus. Dr. Wakild is a professor of environmental studies and the Cecil D. Andrus Endowed Chair for the Environment and Public Lands at Boise State University. Raised in eastern Oregon, she earned...

Johanna interviews Kim Madsen Dill about the veteran’s literature class she teaches at the College of Southern Idaho, that was inspired by her father’s military service. Kim Madsen Dill has taught in the English Department at the College of Southern Idaho since 2004 and recently retired. She was the Writing Program Administrator for the English Department. Kim oversaw the writing program and was t...

In March, Boise State sociology professor Dr. Sharon Paterson offered a workshop course about Taylor Swift. Learn about the sociology of a pop star as Johanna discusses the course with Dr. Paterson and students Sophie Pederson and Jazmyne Hartogh.  Dr. Sharon Paterson’s 30-year career has been dedicated to implementing programs that increase college students’ success and learning, mentoring studen...

This special episode of Context is dedicated to all of the families who have been impacted by organ donation. Johanna is joined by Heather Platts and Bruce Michael Miller, who perform together as the musical duo Crazy Love.  Heather donated a kidney to Bruce and they produced an album of music to share their story and to give hope to others who are going through the organ donation process.    Heat...

Dr. Jim Gentry joins Johanna to talk about a little-known story from Twin Falls history that demonstrates the resilience of communities during booming or stressful times. Dr. Jim Gentry taught history at the College of Southern Idaho between 1969 and 2010.  He completed his Ph. D. in History at the University of Utah in 1985. While completing his dissertation he became inspired to research and wri...

Johanna is joined by Dr. Ashley Kerr to learn about how the Buenos Aires Zoo was used to shape the debates around immigration, women’s rights, and labor unions in Argentina in the early 20th century. Ashley Kerr is an associate professor of Spanish and Latin American Studies. As an undergraduate, Kerr spent a year living in Chile. After graduation she taught English in Argentine Patagonia as a Ful...

Randy’L Teton talks to Johanna about her new book It’s Her Story: Sacajawea and her special connection to this incredible heroine in Idaho history. Randy’L Teton – Randy’L is a member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of Fort Hall, Idaho. In 1998, Randy’L was chosen as the Shoshone model for the US Golden Dollar coin aka the Sacajawea dollar coin, Since then, Randy’L has gained wide recognition for h...

Dr. Caitlin Cieslik-Miskimen joins Johanna to talk about how valuable student newspapers and yearbooks are to study American history.   Caitlin Cieslik-Miskimen is an assistant professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Media. She received her Ph. D. in Mass Communication and History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and joined the University of Idaho faculty in 2019. In addition to med...

Sharon Stoll is an award-winning teacher and director of the Center for ETHICS at the University of Idaho. She discusses with Johanna the value of honor and integrity in athletics and how to teach moral reasoning.   Dr. Sharon Stoll serves as the Director of the Center for ETHICS* at the University of Idaho.  She is considered one of the leading authorities in competitive moral education intervent...

John Poole from BYU-Idaho joins Johanna this week to talk about how he became an advocate of social justice in the classroom and how teaching about the Holocaust has inspired him.  John Poole is a professor of English education at BYU-Idaho. Prior to that, he was a teacher and a principal at an alternative high school. He started his career as a high school English teacher. He has been interested...

Johanna is joined by European historian Dr. Alexandria Ruble from the University of Idaho to learn about the surprising history of women’s rights in Germany after World War II. Dr. Alexandria N. Ruble is an assistant professor of European history at the University of Idaho. She earned her Ph. D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2017. Her research focuses on central Europe, G...

In this episode Johanna is joined by Dr. Matthew Levay from Idaho State University to discuss the history and value of comics and recommends some must-read favorites!

In this episode, our guest is Kári Tulinius, an Icelandic poet and novelist. Join Johanna to learn about the unique literary culture of Iceland that culminates in a book flood every year at Christmas time. 

Blake Lingle, founder and owner of Boise Fry Company and author of  Fries!, An Illustrated Guide to the World’s Favorite Food  teaches us everything we ever wanted to know about French fries!  Including, why they are not really French!  Watch the video here .

Johanna and Dr. Rebecca Schwartz talk about a little-known area of World War II history in Idaho that significantly impacted Idaho families. *  The Long Afterlife of Nikkei Wartime Incarceration  by Karen Inouye is the correct title of a book referenced in this episode. Watch the video here .

Johanna is joined by Dr. Russell P. Johnson from the University of Chicago Divinity School to talk about our favorite holiday films. Watch the video here .

Sir Alfred Hitchcock is arguably the most celebrated and admired film director in history.  Dr. Douglas Cunningham joins Johanna to talk about the essential Hitchcock films everyone needs to watch and what we learn about ourselves through his work.

Join us for this episode to learn about the remarkable project co-directed by our guests that is working to preserve wartime stories, experiences, and objects to help communities connect with the history of war.

In this episode, Dr. Sara Dant explains the history of how we use public lands in the West and how federal land management agencies have stewarded those lands for the public.  Dr. Dant’s presentation can best be viewed on YouTube and is geared toward students and teachers.  Watch on YouTube here .

Dr. McMillin shares his presentation on the Blue Humanities, which he gave at the IHC Summer Teacher Institute,  An Environment of Hope , with our listeners. In this session, participants will be introduced to the “blue humanities,” with particular focus on rivers and literature. There are three main parts: Why Teach Blue Humanities, What to Teach If You Teach Blue Humanities, and How to Teach Blu...

I am blooming from the wound where I once bled. –Rumi   Idaho is fraught rich with stories of loss hope. Stories of failure resilience. Stories of doubt belief in a better future. Some of those stories are often repeated and some have not yet been told. It’s time to revisit our narratives from the past, to revise our stories for the future, to re-story a state and its beings whose destiny relies o...

Dr. Sydney Freeman, Jr. from the University of Idaho joins Johanna to talk about the Black History Research Lab and the important work he is performing as a memory keeper.

Dr. Johann Neemfrom Western Washington University joins Johanna in this episode to talk about the history of American public schools and the wrestle they are facing today about how to teach our nation’s history.

Join Johanna and Rachel Stewart, Vampire Scholar, to talk about the history of vampires in literature, TV, and film. They also discuss how women have played a central role in the fate of vampires in popular media.