We Rate Ratings: Recent Episodes
The Crimson White | Student Media | The University of Alabama
"We Rate Ratings” is a comedy/journalism podcast focusing on reviews left online about University of Alabama professors and local Tuscaloosa businesses. Josh LeBerte and Monica Nakashima will read the best and worst reviews left on one subject in an episode then interview the professors/business owners themselves to tell their side of the story.
This last episode of We Rate Ratings starts with Josh and Monica reading reviews of the show sent in by Meredith Cummings and Tom Arenburg. They react to comments about the podcast and its hosts, as well as their ‘rival’ professor in a roast match! Afterwards, clips play in order of formerly released episodes in a ‘best moments’ reel, featuring some conversations that were unaired.
In the last interview-based episode of WRR, Josh and Monica talk with Bill Getchell. As the owner of PJ’s coffee and Rita’s custard on the Strip, Getchell shares how the launch of both businesses this past March has endured Covid, UA student life and their online reviews.
On this weeks episode of "We Rate Ratings," Monica and Josh waste no time hoping into a conversation about all things history with this weeks guest, UA history professor, Jon Merritt, who also happens to be one of the top three best professors Monica has ever had.
Together the trio dive into a discussion about Merritt's rate my professor reviews, what makes or breaks a history class, what sparked Merritt's "broad love" for history and all the "big picture" moments.
Episode 6 of WRR features Allison Scrivner, Psychology professor and pomeranian mom of Snyper! Due to her love of animals, Monica and Josh discuss the ultimate argument: cats versus dogs. Once Allison comes on the show, she talks about how talking about Snyper helps students understand Psychology and the lessons she teaches.
Monica talks about spraining her ankle while walking in the rain on campus, which leads to both hosts discussing the unsafe conditions of UA's crosswalks. This transitions into interviewing Ernest & Hadley booksellers, a local business near campus.
Episode four of “We Rate Ratings” begins with Monica revealing her anxiety of her incoming Summer II classes, and Josh asking for her “Ned’s Declassified [Summer] School Survival Guide." Professor Tom Arenberg joins the podcast as its second C&IS guest.
The trio discuss JCM 303 (News Writing and Reporting) and reviews mentioning Arenberg’s setup of the course.
This third installment of “We Rate Ratings” centers around all things music from Josh's mini-rant about how people have been responding to Lorde’s new single “Solar Power," to this weeks guest Kevin Woosley, a UA instructor in the music department.
Together the trio discusses why students may think “Intro to Listening” is an "easy A" course, Woosley's music skills and his recent personal life change.
In the second episode of “We Rate Ratings" hosts, Monica and Josh discuss their recent vacations before welcoming guest Garrett Bridger Gilmore, a UA instructor in both English and Race and Gender studies.
Together they discuss, Gilmore's positive RMP reviews, his unique teaching style, how he navigates teaching African American literature and his hopes for the upcoming semester.
In the premiere episode of We Rate Ratings, a podcast inspired by “Beach Too Sandy, Water Too Wet,” hosts Monica and Josh discuss Spotify ads and cringey 2010s trends before they’re joined by Meredith Cummings, a UA College of Communication and Information Sciences senior instructor.
Together the trio unpack the constructive, mean and oddly personal depths of Cummings' Rate My Professor reviews while learning what it means to choose joy in the classroom.