Cool Meanderings with Dr. Jerm G

Send us Fan Mail In my first podcast episode for 2024, I give some thoughts on an interesting college football season that had an entertaining end!  The episode also reviews another thrilling NFL season that culminates with two conference championship games today and the Super Bowl in two weeks. My picks are towards the end of the episode. Hint: I'm a Niners fan! ;-) Thanks for listening!! NF...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I try to make sense of how the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has unearthed the gem of Loki season 2, episode 1 after rolling out so much lackluster content. I was thrilled to see how Loki takes us further into the Multiverse Saga, but I also wondered what took Marvel so long. Source Loki Season 2 | On Disney+ Marvel Studios' The Multiverse Saga Revealed at...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I give my thoughts on the recent developments across US college campuses for faculty as different types of institutions announce cuts to academic programs and faculty positions. I lay out a few points on how I think faculty can pivot with the challenging times that threaten the traditional role college faculty have held in higher education for generations. Source...

Send us Fan Mail CORRECTION: I called the Broncos whippin' at the hands of the Dolphins a "mitigated disaster," which...could be somewhat true, but I intended to say, "unmitigated disaster," which I think is a more appropriate description of Sunday afternoon for Denver. In this episode, I spend a little time reflecting on the state of football in Colorado. This includes an...

Send us Fan Mail It's that time of the year! Are you ready for some football?!! In this episode, I give my takes on the upcoming college football season. I also give my predictions for the 2023-24 NFL season.  Who ya got?! Sources Colorado tops No. 17 TCU in Deion Sanders' 1st game as coach - ESPN Boise State 19-56 Washington (Sep 2, 2023) Game Recap - ESPN Florida 11-24 Utah (Aug 31, 20...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I explore a number of interesting topics in US K-12 and higher education that are worth keeping an eye on during the 2023-24 school year. From teacher shortages to mental health issues on college campuses to the need for more digital learning, I give my thoughts on some interesting topics in education. I would love to hear your thoughts on these and other topics!...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I briefly share my thoughts on the hype machine that drives interest in live action adaptations of comics on the small screen or feature films. I remain amazed at how amped the buzz can be for comic book adaptations relative to the final product. The comic book adaptation hype goes back to the early 2000s when Sam Raimi's Spider-Man changed the game for the c...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I try to make sense of all the conference realignment madness including the mass exodus of major "Power 5" programs out of the Pac 12 conference. West Coast powers like Oregon and Utah are joining USC and UCLA on the move eastward to the Midwest and Deep South regions. The video mainly just reflects on the chaos affecting the Big 12, Big 10 and the now s...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I ramble on about the exciting end to the 2022-23 NBA season. I also offer a few hot takes about the 2023 offseason and the upcoming 2023-24 NBA season. First, I offer my two cents on the US Supreme Court ruling to all but end affirmative action in college admissions. The episode abruptly ends with me complaining about my beloved New York Knicks and I accidently y...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I give my thoughts on the pending U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding two cases challenging race-conscious college admission practices.  We are on the cusp of yet another monumental decision that will affect U.S. education and the greater society for decades to come. My comments are pithy and forthright (somewhat). Sources: Colin, E. & Cook, B.J. (2023, June...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I give my review of #theflash movie right out of the theaters. I also reflect on the fun I had watching #spidermanacrossthespiderverse . Both films were multiverse-level stories with tons of action and real stakes for its key characters. These two films also reminded me of the Multiverse Saga that we're supposed to get from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I reflect on the end of the 2022-23 school year by revisiting projections from research published in the mid-2010s about an impending college enrollment cliff. The projected freefall in college enrollment was expected around the mid-2020s onward. Obviously a lot has happened over the last 7 or 8 years, which has significantly affected all aspects of U.S. society i...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I give my review of the latest film from the #MarvelCinematicUniverse, #GuardiansofthegalaxyVol3. The film included many things to love and a few disappointments.  The film also left me with a lot of questions, some of which I get into in this podcast episode. It was a perplexing cinematic experience as I haven't enjoyed an #MCU film like that in a while (out...

Send us Fan Mail After watching the #NYKnicks tie its second round NBA Playoff series against the #8 seed Miami Heat last night at the Garden, I'm a little worried. The #Knicks should have won the game by at least 10 because the Heat were without their best player, while the #Knicks had everyone.  The Heat just look a little tougher than the Knicks are the two games, but there's a glimme...

Send us Fan Mail The DINK (Dual Income, No Kids) movement is definitely trending on social media. These households seem to be the envy of parents who are up to their eyeballs with all that involves raising children, but is the DINK lifestyle really all it appears to be? In this episode, I give my take on the DINK phenomenon and why it might be ideal for some adults, but not for others. I would lov...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I break down my picks for the tonight's NCAA Men's Final Four matchups and my pick for Monday night's national championship game. This bonkers tournament ends with some unlikely matchups: Game 1: #5 San Diego State University v. #9 Florida Atlantic University Game 2: #4 University of Connecticut v. #5 University of Miami . Who ya got?! While I didn&...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I explore some of the recent challenges facing the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). It's been an up and down few years for arguably Hollywood's most successful franchise/shared universe. Recent changes in leadership, departure of talent, legal troubles for high profile stars and moderately successful-to-subpar films/TV shows represent major challenges to...

Send us Fan Mail After an extended hiatus, I'm back on the podcast front with an update. A big thanks goes out to my faithful listeners. I appreciate you keeping the podcast alive! Stay tuned for fresh commentary on topics related to education, sports, entertainment, culture, etc.! Support the show If you like this episode, please like, subscribe and share. Also, check out my content hub at d...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I give a pithy review of James Cameron's Avatar: The Way of Water . It's a mostly spoiler-free perspective that highlights aspects of the film that resonated with me in personal ways. It was much a better viewing experience than I expected.  My kid convinced me to see it and I'm glad I listened! Tune in to find out why! DISCLAIMER: The opinions in t...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I review my football predictions from September. While I nailed a few, I swung and miss on several takes. Wow! It's been a crazy football season with some pleasant surprises, wild upsets and for some teams, hugely disappointing outcomes.  How'd your college team do this season? Does your pro team still have a mathematical chance to make the playoffs? Dro...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I share my thoughts on the annual International Education Week in the US and more than 100 countries. Colleges and universities appear to be slowly returning to pre-COVID levels for student mobility - in some areas. Other areas, e.g., U.S. students studying abroad might need more time. Overall, I think it's reasonable to be cautiously optimistic about the fut...

Send us Fan Mail Listen in to my review of Marvel's Wakanda Forever . It's a non-spoiler take on the final feature film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's (MCU) Phase Four.  Bottom line: Go see it!! Worth reading ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Sets Up Marvel’s Future, and It’s Female (yahoo.com) Support the show If you like this episode, please like, subscribe and share. Also, che...

Send us Fan Mail Some thoughts on what I think this election cycle and its outcome could mean for our society. Perhaps all is not lost. We just might find a way to reconnect with each other despite our differences. Sources 2022 Election: Live Analysis and Results | FiveThirtyEight An interview with Cornel West on American pragmatism - Vox Changes in Mental Health Following the 2016 Presidential El...

Send us Fan Mail My snap reaction to the "Black Adam" film after leaving the theater. I was entertained! It wasn't a perfectly crafted script, but how many films are? Here my thoughts on why I felt the film delivered and how it stacks up against other comic book films. I respect film critics, but they were somehow very disconnected from the fans on this one: Black Adam - Rotten Toma...

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode, I give my thoughts on the teaching crisis a NYU. Dr. Maitland Jones, Jr., a professor of organic chemistry at NYU, was f ired after more than 80 students from his 350-student course signed a petition complaining about this grading and teaching .  Jones is an authority in his field after teaching organic chemistry a Princeton University for 40 years. His dismissal...