The Search Bar

People talk about work-life balance, but what does it even mean? And is it possible to truly find alignment between the two?     Guest: Neil MacKinnon , president at Central Michigan University   It's the 50th episode of The Search Bar and host Adam Sparkes welcomes Central Michigan University President Neil Mackinnon to the show. The two sit down to discuss the balancing act between your personal...

With the ubiquity of smartphones, who's a photographer when everyone's a photographer? And what separates photography from art?  Guest: Kris Sanford , professor of photography at Central Michigan University    Summary  In this episode of The Search Bar, Adam Sparkes welcomes Kris Sanford to the show. The two discuss what makes a photographer truly great, the blurred line between art and ph...

Ahead of National Speech-Language-Hearing Month in May, join us for a conversation focusing on the intersection of hearing loss, advocacy and innovation.  Guest: Stacey Lim , associate professor of audiology at Central Michigan University     Summary  In this episode of The Search Bar, Adam Sparkes welcomes Stacey Lim to the show. Stacey shares her personal journey that led to a career in audiolog...

National Beer Day isn’t just a made-up holiday by the beer industry. There’s real, historical significance with the legalization of beer having economic ripple effects across the country during The Great Depression.    Guest: Jason Taylor , professor of economics at Central Michigan University and author of The Brew Deal: How Beer Helped Battle the Great Depression     Summary  In this episode of...

Sometimes it feels like we’re scrolling through life more than we’re living it.   Guest: Kirsten Weber , professor of communication at Central Michigan University     Summary  In this episode of The Search Bar, host Adam Sparkes and Kirsten Weber, professor of communication at Central Michigan University, discuss how documenting our lives for social media affects our ability to fully experience th...

Participating in a marching band leads to personal and professional growth. What skills can you gain? And how can those skills set you up for success after graduation?  Guest: Jim Batcheller , associate director of bands at Central Michigan University  Summary   Host Adam Sparkes welcomes Jim Batcheller, associate director of bands at Central Michigan University, to the show. The two discuss the v...

Are people born curious? Or is curiosity something that can be nurtured over time?  Guest: Guest:  Jen Weible , professor of  teacher and special education  at  Central Michigan University   Summary   Host Adam Sparkes welcomes Jen Weible back to the show to discuss curiosity. What can you do in your everyday experiences to help nurture curiosity? And how can you encourage someone to be more curio...

Artificial intelligence is here to stay. So, how can students and teachers embrace it effectively and ethically?    Guest: Jen Weible, professor of teacher and special education at Central Michigan University    Summary  Host Adam Sparkes welcomes Jen Weible to the show to discuss the impact, benefits and potential drawbacks of utilizing artificial intelligence in schools. The two touch on some of...

From the products you buy to the food you eat; supply chains and logistics are an integral part of our everyday lives.      Guest: Fred Lawrence , faculty member in logistics management at Central Michigan University     Summary Host Adam Sparkes sits down with Fred Lawrence, faculty member in logistics management, to get a better understanding of how supply chains impact our daily lives. Some of...

What’s the appeal of conspiracy theories? And how did they make their way into pop culture?  Guest: Joe Packer , professor of communication at Central Michigan University     Summary Conspiracy theories have been around as long as human civilization. What’s their appeal? And why have conspiracies in pop culture found such a large following? Host Adam Sparkes and guest Joe Packer sit down to discus...

It turns out, talking to strangers is actually a good thing. Guest: Kirsten Weber, professor of communication at Central Michigan University Summary In this episode of The Search Bar, host Adam Sparkes sits down with Kirsten Weber, professor of communication at Central Michigan University, to discuss how going outside your comfort zone and talking with people you don't know can have big benefits....

Is imposter syndrome something that can be fully "overcome," or is it more about managing it over time? Guest: Allison Arnekrans, professor of counseling at Central Michigan University Summary In this episode of The Search Bar, host Adam Sparkes sits down with Allison Arnekrans to to talk about imposter syndrome. The two discuss what factors contribute to imposter syndrome and how we can overcome...

Equity and access in higher education is about more than just making sure people have equal opportunity to apply and attend. Guest: Anne Hornak, professor of higher education at Central Michigan University Summary In this episode of The Search Bar, host Adam Sparkes sits down with Anne Hornak to discuss equity and access in higher education. The two dive into some of the biggest barriers to higher...

Using movies and popular media in the classroom is nothing new. But being purposeful and effective in using it as a teaching tool can have many challenges along the way. Guest:  Scott Roberts , professor of education at Central Michigan University Summary  In this episode of The Search Bar, Scott Roberts, professor of higher education at Central Michigan University sits down with Adam Sparkes to d...

It may very well be one of the most important skills you develop in your life: Ethical decision making. How can you approach decisions more ethically and how can leaders foster that mindset within their organizations? Guest: Anne Hornak, professor of higher education at Central Michigan University Summary In this episode of The Search Bar, Anne Hornak, professor of higher education at Central Mich...

How do you start competing in esports? And how easy is it to turn a love for gaming into a college scholarship and even a career? Guest: Luke Theis, senior assistant director of  @CMICHEsports  at Central Michigan University. Summary In this episode of The Search Bar, Adam Sparkes sits down with Luke Theis, senior assistant director of esports at Central Michigan University, to discuss all things...

Young voters will have louder voices in the 2024 presidential election than ever before. What are the long-term implications of engaging and empowering young voters for the future of democracy and governance both nationally and closer to home? Guest: Sam Dattilo, assistant director for the Mary Ellen Brandell Volunteer Center at Central Michigan University. Summary In this episode, Sam Dattilo, As...

The NCAA’s Name, Image and Likeness rule is changing the landscape of college sports. How is it impacting recruitment? What are some of the benefits and drawbacks? And what’s its impact long-term? Guest: Tangela Cheatham, deputy athletic director for administration at Central Michigan University. Summary The NCAA's name, image, and likeness (NIL) rule is changing the landscape of college sports, w...

Studying abroad is extremely expensive and will push back your graduation date – or maybe not. We’re tackling myths, tips and life-changing benefits of studying abroad. Guest: Marko Schubert, assistant director of the Office of Study Abroad at Central Michigan University Summary In this episode of The Search Bar, Marko Schubert, assistant director of the Office of Study Abroad at Central Michigan...

Volunteer rates are down across the country as the need for volunteers continues to go up. How does donating your time help benefit organizations in need as well as the volunteers themselves?    Guest: Sam Dattilo, assistant director for the Mary Ellen Brandell Volunteer Center at Central Michigan University .    Summary  In this episode of The Search Bar, Adam Sparkes interviews Sam Dattilo, the...

Women’s sports are reaching new heights in popularity. So, what’s behind that surge – and how can women’s sports continue to grow and evolve?    Guest: Tangela Cheatham , deputy athletic director for administration at Central Michigan University.    Summary  In this episode of The Search Bar, Tangela Cheatham, deputy athletic director for administration at Central Michigan University, discusses th...

Is cheap wine worse than expensive wine? And are there any health benefits to drinking wine?  Guest: Jeff Fisher , Director of the Allen Foundation Culinary Nutrition Center , at Central Michigan University .  00:00 Introduction   01:06 What makes a good wine?   01:52 What’s the difference between cheap wine and expensive wine?   05:06 How can I begin to enjoy and appreciate wine?   08:24 What mak...

Eating a healthy diet on a regular basis can be a challenge for many reasons. Among them: costs, having a lack of access to healthy foods, and the convenience of processed foods. What are some tips for eating healthy on a budget? And what are some misconceptions when it comes to diet and nutrition?  Guest:  Jeff Fisher , Director of the  Allen Foundation Culinary Nutrition Center , at  Central Mic...

What are some of the most important skills for an entrepreneur to have, and what do you need to know when launching or acquiring your own business?  Guest: Julie Messing , Director of the Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship at Central Michigan University .  00:00 Introduction   01:09 What is entrepreneurship?   02:33 What skills does an entrepreneur need?   04:54 How can you build people...

How is light pollution affecting the environment and our own well-being? And how can we mitigate light pollution and preserve night sky visibility?  Guest: Aaron LaCluyzé, faculty member in the Department of Physics at Central Michigan University .    00:00 Introduction   02:04 What is light pollution?   06:55 Is there a benefit to reducing light pollution?   10:50 How does poor light design contr...