Cultivate Talk

In this episode of  Cultivate Talk , Emily sits down with Max Brichta to explore how technology is transforming the way we think about money. From payment apps and investing platforms to cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence, financial decisions are increasingly shaped by digital communication, online communities, and algorithm-driven technologies. Max explains why money isn't simply an e...

In this episode of  Cultivate Talk , Emily sits down with Kelli Matthews, professor at the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication and founder of Verve Northwest Communications, to explore what effective communication looks like in today's rapidly changing media landscape. Drawing from more than two decades of experience in both academia and professional practice, Kelli dis...

In this episode of  Cultivate Talk , Emily sits down with Sara Rabon to explore how algorithms, platforms, and digital technologies shape the way we communicate online. Drawing from her background in computer science, corporate IT, and rhetoric, Sara explains how digital systems are never truly neutral — they are shaped by human decisions, institutional pressures, and cultural values. The conversa...

In this episode of  Cultivate Talk , Emily sits down with Dr. Vincent Russell to explore participatory budgeting — a democratic process that allows residents to directly decide how a portion of public funds should be spent in their communities. Drawing from his research and recent book on participatory budgeting, Dr. Russell explains how the process works, from community brainstorming sessions to...

In this episode of  Cultivate Talk , Emily sits down with Dr. Josh Bentley to unpack the evolving role of public apologies in today’s media landscape. Drawing from his research in crisis communication and his book  Devaluing Public Apologies in the Age of Social Media , Dr. Bentley explains what people actually expect from apologies — and why those expectations are often unmet. The conversation ex...

In this episode of  Cultivate Talk , Emily sits down with Dr. Deondre Smiles to explore how Indigenous relationships to land, space, and death challenge dominant ways of thinking about ownership, history, and power. Drawing from his research in Indigenous geographies and political ecology, Dr. Smiles explains how burial grounds and ancestral lands are not just physical spaces, but deeply relationa...

In this episode of Cultivate Talk, Emily sits down with Dr. Emma Bloomfield to explore the powerful intersection of storytelling and science communication. Focusing on controversial and often polarized topics like climate change, vaccination, and evolution, Dr. Bloomfield explains why facts alone are often not enough to change minds — and how storytelling plays a critical role in shaping how peopl...

In this episode of  Cultivate Talk , Emily sits down with Dr. Jordan Soliz to explore how families navigate difference — and why communication is at the center of those experiences. Dr. Soliz’s research challenges the idea that families are homogenous, instead highlighting how multiple identities — including political, cultural, religious, and generational — coexist within family systems. Together...

In this episode of  Cultivate Talk , Emily sits down with Dr. Andrew Cole and Dr. Thomas Salek to explore the political rhetoric of Orson Welles and his 1940s radio program,  The Orson Welles Commentaries . Together, they examine how Welles used the intimacy of radio to connect with audiences, the role of celebrity in shaping political influence, and how his experience compares to later figures li...

In this episode of  Cultivate Talk , Emily sits down with Dr. Larry Schooler to explore the role of dialogue in healing conflict and building stronger communities. Larry works with cities, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations to facilitate consensus around high-stakes and deeply contentious issues — from repairing relationships between law enforcement and communities of color to guidin...

In this episode of  Cultivate Talk , Emily sits down with Dr. Lilly Feder to explore how communication shapes the experiences of athletes in public-facing and high-pressure environments. A former collegiate basketball player and now Assistant Professor of Sports Communication, Lilly studies the intersection of sport, public relations, and organizational behavior. Her research centers on athlete em...

In this episode of  Cultivate Talk , Emily sits down with Dr. Josh Fitzgerald to explore the power of student–teacher rapport and its impact on learning in higher education. Drawing from his research in communication education, Josh explains what student–teacher rapport really means and why it matters — not just for classroom climate, but for student motivation, engagement, and long-term success....

In this episode of  Cultivate Talk , Emily sits down with Dr. Sara Potter to explore the intersections of communication, care, and crisis. Drawing from fieldwork in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria, Dr. Potter’s research examines culture-centered humanitarian aid, feminist organizing, and the often invisible labor women take on in the wake of disaster. Together, they discuss what it means to...

In this episode of  Cultivate Talk , Emily sits down with Ally Osborne — Oregon Ducks reporter for Sports Illustrated, broadcast journalist, and the creative force behind KOIN 6’s “Everyday Northwest” and “Tower Talk Live.” A born-and-raised Oregonian with a passion for storytelling, Ally shares how she built a career covering the teams and athletes she grew up watching. Together, they dive into t...

In this episode of  Cultivate Talk , Dr. Maura Snyder joins to discuss how parents and children navigate media in today’s digital world. Dr. Snyder’s research explores  parental mediation —the ways parents can talk with their kids about what they watch, play, and scroll through to reduce harmful effects and boost positive ones. We dive into her studies on how mothers are using the  Barbie  movie t...

In this episode of  Cultivate Talk , we sit down with researcher Jakki Padilla to explore the powerful intersection of sports, communication, and social change. Centering on the WNBA and the Atlanta Dream during the 2020–2021 season, Jakki unpacks how activism became woven into the fabric of the league — and how Black women athletes reshaped public discourse in the process. We talk intersectionali...

In this episode of  Cultivate Talk , Emily sits down with Dr. Amanda Cooper, an Assistant Professor of Interpersonal Communication at the University of Connecticut. Dr. Cooper’s research explores how families communicate and connect through some of life’s most difficult transitions — particularly when caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Together, they discuss what it means...

In this episode of  Cultivate Talk , I sit down with  Macy Dunklin , a writing center professional and doctoral candidate in Communication at Texas A&M University, whose research explores stigma, education, and the power of supportive spaces. Together, they unpack how communication shapes two surprisingly connected areas— writing and sex education —and why both are often surrounded by shame, a...

In this episode of  Cultivate Talk , Emily sits down with Aaron Burtch — a seasoned broadcaster, educator, and communication scholar whose career spans sports journalism, higher education, and research on the cultural side of athletics. From his time as a television sports anchor and producer for the Detroit Pistons to his academic work on baseball, rhetoric, and media, Aaron brings a unique persp...

In this episode of  Cultivate Talk , we sit down with Dr. Emily Pfender, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Pennsylvania and a dedicated science communicator. Dr. Pfender’s research explores how misinformation and wellness trends about women’s health spread on social media, and how they shape health beliefs and behaviors. Together, we unpa...

In this episode, we interview Dr. Dan Hartman, and we delve into the critical role of communication in ensuring sports safety. Join us as we explore how effective dialogue among athletes, coaches, and parents can prevent injuries and promote well-being. Discover the challenges and breakthroughs in discussing concussions and other safety concerns, and learn how shifting the culture from silence to...