The Undercurrent on Impact 89FM: Recent Episodes
Impact 89FM | WDBM-FM
The Undercurrent is a biweekly news feature show written and produced by students from Michigan State University. Each episode explores multiple stories surrounding one central theme.
On this week's episode of The Undercurrent, host Claire Bacarella talks with the Michigan State University students behind the Combo for a Change initiative.
To listen live, tune in every other Sunday at 10:30 a.m. ET.
On this week's episode of The Undercurrent, host Claire Bacarella talks with MSU graduate and YouTube star Tyler Oakley.
To listen live, tune in every other Sunday at 10:30 a.m. ET.
On this week's episode of The Undercurrent, host Claire Bacarella talks with three MSU seniors as they reflect on their time as students here.
To listen live, tune in every other Sunday at 10:30 a.m. ET.
On this week's episode of The Undercurrent, host Claire Bacarella talks with MSU senior Nick Coglianese about his success on Tik Tok.
To listen live, tune in every other Sunday at 10:30 a.m. ET.
On this week's episode of The Undercurrent, host Claire Bacarella talks with MSU junior Presley Bergmooser about her art business Presley Made It.
To listen live, tune in every other Sunday at 10:30 a.m. ET.
On this week's episode of The Undercurrent, host Claire Bacarella talks with an MSU student preparing to compete for Miss Michigan.
To listen live, tune in every other Sunday at 10:30 a.m. ET.
On this week's episode of The Undercurrent, host Claire Bacarella does a deep dive into the different housing options available for students here at MSU.
To listen live, tune in every other Sunday at 10:30 a.m. ET.
On this week’s episode of The Undercurrent, host Nick Saba interviews some of the Impact's new hires, including the future Undercurrent host Hailey MacDonald, about their new roles and their thoughts on the station as a whole.
To listen live, tune in every other Sunday at 10:30am ET.
On this week's episode of The Undercurrent, News Director Delaney Rogers, reporter Hailey MacDonald, and host Nick Saba go to the Constellation Cat Cafe to learn more about the company and their customers. To learn more about volunteering or adopting, go to meow.cool online.
To listen live, tune in every other Sunday at 10:30am ET.
On this week's episode of The Undercurrent, News Director Delaney Rogers and host Nick Saba interview MSU students about the beginning of this spring semester and the challenges of going from online to in-person schooling.
To listen live, tune in every other Sunday at 10:30am ET.
On this week’s episode of The Undercurrent, host Nick Saba talks with the creator of MSU Affirmations, an online account that posts in order to help give MSU students a bright start to their day.
To listen live, tune in every other Sunday at 10:30am ET.
On this week's episode of The Undercurrent, host Nick Saba interviews Renee Leone, a local businesswoman who recently opened her science-themed gift store Quark! earlier this year, about the intersection of science and art.
To listen live, tune in every other Sunday at 10:30am ET.
On this week's spooky episode of The Undercurrent, host Nick Saba reads some scary stories in-between MSU students retelling real-life eerie experiences.
To listen live, tune in to Impact89fm.org every other Sunday at 10:30am.
On this week's episode of The Undercurrent, Nick Saba interviews Impact 89FM members about working amidst the pandemic, their overall experience and what they may have learned.
To listen live, tune in to impact89fm.org every Sunday at 10:30am.
On this week's episode of the Undercurrent, reporters George McNeil and Delaney Rogers interview students that graduated during the pandemic on their experiences and hopes as the MSU community moves toward the end of another online semester.
On this week's episode of the Undercurrent, Reporter Tasia Bass interviews interim Canadian Studies Center Director Dr. Rebecca Malouin about the direction of international studies and what the future of the program will look like
On this special episode of the Undercurrent, News Director Nathan Stearns sits down with Lansing Mayor Andy Schor to discuss a variety of topics, including the city’s effort to improve racial equality and enact criminal justice reform, economic initiatives and more.
On this week's episode, host Nick Saba focuses on Valentine's Day and the large array of emotions the "holiday" brings out of people. In honor of this Day of Love, our very own Impact Operations Manager George McNeill talks about Valentine's Day with his girlfriend and what it's come to mean during a pandemic. Some guests also share their views on what Valentine's means to them, and Nick chimes in with some facts on the day in focus to round off a lighthearted episode.
On this episode of the Undercurrent, host Nick Saba talks with Dennis Pennington, a Michigan State wheat systems specialist, and Aaron Newberry about the past, present and future of agriculture and what role agriculture plays in ensuring a healthy society. The trio also talked about the impact of genetically modified foods on the future of agriculture and crop population as a whole.
Nick Saba talks with Dr. Rebecca A. Malouin about the new graduate program Masters of Science in Global Health Program focused on global relations studies at Michigan State University. Dr. Malouin oversees all aspects of the Master of Science and Graduate Certificate programs in global health. Dr. Malouin also serves as Director of Research for the Institute for Global Health in the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Michigan State University.
Impact 89FM alum Steve Robinson has been selected as the next Lansing Community College (LCC) president by the LCC Board of Trustees. Currently the president of Owens Community College in Perrysburg, Ohio, Robinson will replace LCC president, Brent Knight, in July 2020.
On this episode of the Undercurrent, we present the first installment of "Bands in Exile" a new segment that features bands and venues that have been affected by the Covid-19 crisis and the stay at home order. Vince DiGiorgio, Ian Ian Puzdrowski, Cam Varner are members of the band Vincie D, they join host Sophie Sagan this week.
This week on the Undercurrent our producers sit down with Dr. Denise Maybank the Vice President and Associate Provost for Student Affairs and Services. We asked her about how operations have changed at Student Affairs and Services since most of the campus has closed and how students can access resources still available to them through the university.
This week on the Undercurrent the producers present an interview with Michigan State University President Samuel Stanley. We talked about how the university has stepped up to combat the COVID-19 crisis in Michigan.
This week on The Undercurrent we are taping into the conversation about parking. First up Taylor Haelterman set out to understand MSU parking policies and sat down with MSUPD. After that host Sophie Sagan takes a drive with former parking enforcer and they talk about tricks students might not know to save money on parking.
This week on the Undercurrent we declare that love is not weird. Reporter Matt Anikiej and Nick Saba asked MSU students about their favorite pickup lines. Then reporter Taylor Haelterman talked to Sci-Files hosts, Chelsie Boodoo and Danny Puentes about their love story. Finally, host Sophie Sagan produced an a bridged version of the 36 questions that lead to love, between impact buddies Amber Kienutske and Andy Campbell.
This week on The Undercurrent host Sophie Sagan interviews Kahlil Ashanti, the writer and star of Basic Training. In his one man show, Ashanti tells the true stories of his time in the US Air-Force and how during that time he forced to face his abusive childhood. Basic Training will run at MSU's Wharton center January 30th and 31st 2020.
We also return to a story that was reported in 2019 by Taylor Haelterman. Taylor interviewed the band Sure Sure about how they got the start, how they found their sound, and what plans they have for the future.
We are back for season 13! One new story this week by reporter Taylor Haelterman is all about how our sleep patterns effect us everyday. Then a throwback story all about Dr. Martin Luther King's Walk to Freedom in Detroit 1963.
Host Sophie Sagan interviewed Rebecca Lynn Douglas about her new children's book in episode 5 Finding a Place.
Reporter and Destinny Todd interviewed impact staff about their bee knowledge and reporter Taylor Haeltermen interviewed the Bailey Bee Team in episode 6 What is all the Buzz About?
Finally, Nick Saba put together a musical treat way back in September in episode 3 Outside.
This week on the Undercurrent we are diving into the world of plants. Reporter Taylor Haelterman checked out the MSU horticulture gardens. In the second half of the show, Sophie Sagan visited B/A Florist in East Lansing.
This week on The Undercurrent we look at some artist interviews, new and old. First Taylor Haelterman interviewed one of her new favorite bands, Sure Sure. In the second half we throwback to a story from 2016 when reporter Sana Hakim interviewed band member John Warm, of Rent Strike.
Sure Sure began releasing music in 2014, and has since opened for the likes of Young The Giant, Hippo Campus and, most recently, half•alive. The band will open on one more tour with Coin this summer before kicking off their own tour in March 2020.
Kevin Farzad, the band’s drummer, said the band chooses to play shows without a backing track because of the energy from the live instruments and the exciting nature of on-stage errors.
“They [the audience] can expect to be a part of the band by the end of the night,” said Farzad. “We’re going to, together, feel the whole range of human emotions over the course of an hour and fifteen minutes.”
The band plans to release a batch of new singles early next year before dropping their new album, said singer and guitarist Charlie Glick.
Regarding the band’s future after the album release, Glick said, “Who knows man, then we’ll be on Mars probably at that point. The sky is the limit. Mars is not the limit.”
To learn more about Sure Sure, or see their upcoming shows, visit their website.
This week reporter Taylor Healterman presents a story with help from Nick Saba and Destinny Todd about MSU Department of Theater’s yearly tradition of the Haunted Auditorium.
On the other half of the show, host Sophie Sagan sits down with the hosts of So Dead Podcast , Jenn Carpenter and Dani Fairman, to hear a a true crime story that took place right on MSU’s Campus in 1979.
This week on The Undercurrent, we are talking about where you are going and how you are getting there.
First, Taylor Haelterman produced an audio narrative about what you need to know about the electric scooters in East Lansing. For an earlier version of this story check out her featured written story here.
Then in the second half, reporter Nick Saba presents a piece profiling the Student Green House Project.
This week on The Undercurrent, host Sophie Sagan presents stories about bees and pollinators. First, Destinny Todd and Taylor Haelterman produced a compilation of interviews with Impact employees about what they know about bees. Then Sophie Sagan interviews Meghan Milbrath with the Michigan Pollinators Initiative. Finally, Taylor Haelterman presents a story about the Bailey Bee Keepers.
This week on the Undercurrent our stories are focused on finding a place. Cole Tunningly talked to the MSU branch of the Refugee Outreach Collective. Taylor Haelterman and George McNeill collaborated to produce a creative piece about what community means. Lastly, Sophie Sagan interviewed Rebecca-Lynn Douglas, a local author, about her newest book.
Happy homecoming! This week on The Undercurrent, we have three stories produced by alumni Daniel Rayzel, Naina Rao, and Audrey Matusz.
The original launch date was vaguely set for around the start of classes, and on Sept. 16, Gotcha teased on its Facebook page that the scooters would launch later that week. Yet, the scooters are nowhere to be found.
Sean Flood, founder and CEO of the sustainable transit company, said the scooters should be available on campus within the next few days. The release was delayed due to the extra week it took to install the mobility hubs, which are specified locations on the sidewalks where the scooters must be docked.
“We partnered with the university on that install to make sure (the hubs) were all in the right place,” he said. “And, last I heard, the scooters and everything are ready to go. But I know the last delay was to just make sure we have all those mobility hubs installed. I know they’re eager to get people on scooters running around campus.”
Choosing not to dock a scooter in a designated hub will result in a fee. This fee was put in place with hopes that people will follow the new rules, and the scooters will be able to remain on campus this year, Flood said.
“My genuine hope is that students, and riders, give it a chance,” he said. “And that they understand that it’s a different company, and just because the rules are different doesn’t make it a bad thing. I think that if everybody can follow those rules, and help us grow the system, then there really is a trust, and a system that could be here for years and years to come.”
The 300 scooters expected to roll onto campus will cost $1 to unlock, and 15 cents for every minute of ride time.
Flood said he hopes the initial launch at MSU goes smoothly, as there is potential to bring other Gotcha products such as electric bikes, and trikes, to campus and the surrounding community in the near future.
This week on The Undercurrent, we head Outside. First reporter Taylor Haelterman talked to street artist Samskee at the Below the Stacks Festival in Lansing. Then another piece by Taylor from the Climate Strike on the steps of the Capital Building. Finally, reporter Nick Saba put together a creative piece honoring a very special day of the year September 21st.
This week on The Undercurrent, we have three hosts: Cole Tunningley, Sophie Sagan, and Taylor Haelterman.
Cole reports a story about the September 8th MSU board of trustees meeting. And the groups talks about stories in the upcoming season of the Undercurrent.
This week on the Undercurrent, the Impact News Team collaborates with the Sports Team for an episode featuring stories about e-sports, a fan club of grandmas, and more! First, reporter Taylor Haelterman brings you a feature about the Lebron James Grandmothers Fan Club, a group of grandmas devoted to supporting the legendary basketball player.Next, reporter Nick Saba does a deep dive into MSU’s Super Smash Bros. Club.To close out the show, reporter Sophie Sagan tells the story of an ill-fated baseball game, during which beer was sold for a nickel.
This week on the Undercurrent, we examine the lead-up to the Global Climate Strike that took place on March 15th, 2019.
Host Cole Tunningley interviews a member of the Sunrise Movement. And reporter Sophie Sagan looks at a few young folks who are fighting for climate justice.
This week on the Undercurrent, host Cole Tunningley presents stories about costs and benefits.
First, we hear from Robert Jenkins, a local comedian who just released his second album, Attempted Salvation. Later this month, Robert is appearing at a Planned Parenthood benefit show at Mac’s Bar.
Then, reporters Sophie Sagan and Nick Saba find out what is happening to Michigan State students’ tuition costs next year.
Sagan speaks to folks in administration working to implement the new policy. Then, Saba speaks with MSU students who will be affected by this change.
This week on the Undercurrent, host Cole Tunningley presents the yearly Valentine’s special episode.
Reporter Sophie Sagan asks people to describe their dream dates and their dream partners.
In between, you will hear short retellings of love stories from history.
This week on the Undercurrent, host Cole Tunningley rebroadcasts a vintage episode from the archives, titled “In the Dark.”
But before that, in honor of the polar vortex and MSU’s cancelling class, reporter Sophie Sagan talks to Michigan State alumni to find out how they spent the snow days of Michigan State’s past.
This week on The Undercurrent, host Cole Tunningley explores the life and times of John Engler.
On the other half of the show, reporter Sophie Sagan presents her research on the historical connections between MLK and Detroit.
This week on the Undercurrent, host Cole Tunningley presents stories about working for free.
First, reporter Sophie Sagan interviews a woman who spent some time interning at NASA.
Then, the host interviews Troy Hale, founder of Tricky Hale Films, to talk about his film, Fart: A Documentary.
This week on The Undercurrent, host Cole Tunningley and reporter Sophie Sagan tell each other two stories related to Thanksgiving.
The first is about Jamestown, a colony set up a few decades before the Pilgrims came to this country.
The second is about how one woman spent over thirty years of her life campaigning to make Thanksgiving a federal holiday.
This week on The Undercurrent, host Cole Tunningley presents two stories about the lines between fiction and nonfiction, reality and art.
Reporter Sophie Sagan talks to the co-director of Framing Device, an immersive theater experience that took over the Broad Art Museum.
After that, there’s a satirical story that tries to get both sides of the texting and driving debate. Most people would agree that it is dangerous and irresponsible. Most. The founder of a possibly ironic (but possibly sincere) Facebook group comes on the show to advocate for his cause: the freedom to text and drive for all Americans.
This week on the Undercurrent, host Cole Tunningley hands the show over to reporter Sophie Sagan, who gathered information on the candidates and proposals that Michiganders will be voting on this year.
This week on the Undercurrent, host Cole Tunningley presents stories about the supernatural in honor of the Halloween season.
Reporter Alex Euliano talks to members of the Michigan Paranormal Research Team about their lives, their work, and their stories.
This week on the Undercurrent, host Cole Tunningley brings you stories centered around the theme, “certain death.”
First, reporter Sophie Sagan interviewed Tracy Lamourie, a friend of Jimmy Dennis. Dennis lived on death row for twenty years, entirely innocent. Now that he’s out of prison, Jimmy is making music, restarting a career that should have taken off decades ago.
Then, a story about a cat named Bartleby, who is young enough to surpass the deadline set by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which gives the citizens of Earth twelve years to drastically cut emissions before global warming reaches a tipping point.
This week on The Undercurrent, host Cole Tunningley presents stories about confronting epidemics.
Reporter Sophie Sagan sits down with Natalie Rogers from Reclaim MSU to talk about their new policy proposal, which would radically change the structure of the MSU Board of Trustees.
Then, the host talks to Todd “Z Man” Zalkins about the documentary, The Long Way Back. Zalkins is currently showing the film around the country, inspiring many with his story of recovery.
This week on the Undercurrent, host Cole Tunningley presents stories about staying alive.
First, reporter Sophie Sagan sits down with the MSU Food Bank.
Then, the host interviews Maya Washington, director of Through the Banks of the Red Cedar about segregation and college football.
This week on the Undercurrent, host Cole Tunningley presents stories about work.
First, reporter Sophie Sagan interviews the new general manager of Impact 89 FM, Jeremy Whiting. Whiting has a long history at the station and is excited to be back. This is a chance to get to know the person who runs Impact, the adult in the room in a workplace populated by students.
Then, an interview with two activists from the Sunrise Movement. They came by our studio to talk about a federal jobs guarantee, a policy proposal that is seeing increasing support in Congress and among left-wing think tanks. It would ensure that every American who wants to work could find a job that pays well and offers benefits.
With school starting back up and assignments flooding in, it’s no coincidence that this week’s episode is all about work. Enjoy the season 10 premiere of Impact 89 FM’s news and storytelling podcast.