Korea in Maize & Blue

Bringing a background in activism to the study of democratization and economics, Dr. Jamie Doucette provides food for thought on modernity, American politics, academic labor rights, and structures of power in general. Nam Center Undergraduate Fellow Leah Phillips joins to reflect on how high-level systems affect our everyday lives.

Dr. June Hee Kwon shares her insightful wisdom on the discipline of anthropology, the human relationship with trees, Jeju Island's place within Koreanness, and the concept of Koreanness itself. Nam Center Undergraduate Research Fellow Sydney Jones joins the podcast for this thoughtful and broad-ranging conversation.

Join this insightful conversation with two old friends, Dr. Texu Kim, Associate Professor of Music Composition and Theory at San Diego State University, and Maestro Earl Lee, Music Director of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra. Along with guest host Dr. Matthew Thompson, we discuss unforeseen career pivots, balancing professional and family life, and the reasons we make and perform music.

We talk with Dr. Stephan Haggard, Research Professor at the School of Global Policy and Strategy, University of California San Diego, about seeing Korea for the first time as a member of the U.S. military, how to do ground-breaking research on political economies, and the role of mentorship in supporting the growth of an academic discipline. Joining us as guest host is Jane Lee, doctoral student i...

We discuss music, language, mentorship, and getting a million views on YouTube with Dr. Matthew Thompson, Clinical Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Michigan's School of Music, Theater, and Dance. Joining as guest host is fellow viral sensation Jack Morin, recent SMTD graduate.

Join us for a profound discussion of life, freedom, and happiness Dr. Juhn Ahn, Associate Professor of Buddhist and Korean Studies at the University of Michigan. From rebellious high schooler to Buddhist monk to beloved professor, Dr. Ahn shares insights from his life, lessons he's learned about how to be the person you want to be in the world, and how happiness is achievable no matter what circum...

Join this master class in imperialism with Dr. Christine Hong, Professor of Critical Race and Ethnic Studies and Literature at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a dedicated activist scholar. Dr. Hong explains how visiting South Korea ignited her interest in US imperialism, and helps us understand the structures of power that ultimately work to interpret reality in ways that reinforce t...

Join our lively chat with Dr. Chuyun Oh, Associate Professor of Dance Theory/Practice at San Diego State University, and CEO of Oniz Lab, a program offering certification for K-Pop creators. We delve into the problematic distinctions between high art and pop culture, the importance of preserving the legacy of dance, and how to reassure your parents that there really are jobs in K-Pop.

We talk with Dr. Sonja Kim, Chair of the Department of Asian and Asian American Studies at SUNY Binghamton, about how the ability to see obstacles as opportunities has led her on a fascinating journey in becoming a historian. Dr. Kim shares her insights on teaching, community, and how to leave your mark on the world.

Join our conversation with Dr. Catherine Ryu, associate professor of Japanese Language & Culture and director of the Japanese Studies Program at Michigan State University. We share stories on the difficulty of learning languages, discuss Dr. Ryu's entrepreneurial endeavors, and get her amazing advice for undergraduate students.

Join us as we talk to a legend in the field of Korean Studies, Dr. Bruce Cumings. We discuss Dr. Cumings' early aspirations toward baseball, his misadventures as an undergraduate, and how a decision to join the Peace Corps led to one of the most distinguished careers in Korean Studies.

Join our conversation with Dr. William O'Grady, professor of Linguistics at the University of Hawai'i. Learn about the complexities of Jejueo as an endangered language and the importance of Dr. O'Grady's research in various conservation efforts.

Join our conversation with Dr. Erica Vogel, professor at Saddleback College. Dr. Vogel shares how she became interested in migration between Asia and Latin America and how her field work experience interviewing Peruvian migrants in South Korea influenced her research focus.

Join our conversation with the Nam Center's Korea Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow 2022-23, Dr. Thomas Ryan. Follow Dr. Ryan's journey to academia as we explore how various career experiences influenced his research decisions and how he obtained fluency in the Korean language.

Join our conversation with Dr. Yumi Moon, associate professor at Stanford University. We will follow Dr. Moon's experience as an undergraduate student at Seoul National University during the student movement of the 1980s and how the efforts for democratization in Korea impacted her views and understanding of modern history.

Join our conversation with Dr. Jung Joon Lee, associate professor at the Rhode Island School of Design. We'll explore the ways Dr. Lee's career decisions and work experience influenced her path to academia and the ways in which she approaches her research.

Join our conversation with Dr. Cheehyung Harrison Kim, associate professor at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa. Follow Dr. Kim's journey starting from his interest in becoming a writer, hearing about his visit to North Korea, and exploring what it means to be an academic and an activist.

Join our conversation with Dr. Erik Mobrand, Korea Policy Chair and a senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation. Explore different political and economical career opportunities offered at policy think-tanks, considerations for graduate study, and how to stay up to date on international politics.

Join our conversation with Dr. Kelly Jeong, associate professor at the University of California, Riverside. Follow Dr. Jeong's journey and exposure to film and film studies, from working in her parents' video store with Hollywood films to studying film theory in graduate school and watching Korean 60s cinema.

Join our conversation with Dr. Jinsoo An, associate professor at the University of California, Berkeley. Learn how Dr. An's early experiences with film, from Kung Fu arts to RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, influenced his journey to becoming a film scholar.

Join our conversation with Dr. Junyoung Verónica Kim, assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh. We'll follow Dr. Kim's journey living, learning, and working in various counties and how these unique experiences shaped her path into academia.

Join our conversation with Dr. Sharon Yoon, assistant professor at the University of Notre Dame. We'll explore different pathways to academia, and how it's not always linear! Dr. Yoon shares her work experiences after undergrad and how they shaped her choices going into her PhD program.

Join our conversation with the Director of the Nam Center for Korean Studies, Dr. Youngju Ryu! We'll discuss Dr. Ryu's path into academia, the changing setting of Korean Studies, and the effects of current events on research in the field of Korean Studies.

Join our conversation with the Nam Center's Korea Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow 2021-22, Dr. Angela McClean! We'll explore what it's like choosing a department home as a PhD student and life after a dissertation as an early-career scholar.