The University of Sunderland podcast: Recent Episodes
University of Sunderland
The University of Sunderland podcast, is a series of podcasts that bring together our students and experts to discuss big ideas and topical issues that tie in with their current and future research in their specialist field. Featuring in-depth conversations, the podcasts are intended to showcase their opinions and views on important matters as well as a route to insider knowledge on new trends and upcoming key issues. The series will cover a wide range of topics from gun control to gender fluidity as well as discussions of academic research within their specialist field. The views expressed during these podcasts are purely those of the contributors at the time of broadcast and do not necessarily reflect the views of the University.
Rebecca from Zoe’s Places & Rachel from Sodexo join us for our latest podcast episode to discuss their experiences studying for the PG Cert Leadership & Change course as part of the ESF fully funded programme. If you are interested in developing your skills and becoming a better leader, stay tuned to find out more about accessing the project, the paperwork involved, and what support is available. We'll also touch on the other courses we have available that are fully funded.
The University of Sunderland is proud to announce a new course designed to stimulate the Menopause at work conversation to all Known to many as Miss Menopause, Sharon MacArthur has been commissioned by the University to deliver a series of Masterclasses aimed at workplaces to promote the conversation around the Menopause. Whether you’re a manager or an employee having experience with this, this course is a factual and fun way of bringing this subject to the forefront in business. This podcast gives you some insight into what to expect from the course!
If you want to find out more about the course, dates, and the ESF funded programme as a whole email esf@sunderland.ac.uk
Access our ESF Fully Funded BRAND NEW Early Childhood Practice (early childhood graduate practitioner competencies) course with The University of Sunderland. Dr. Lindey Cookson, Gayle Blackburn, and Helen Haygarth join us to chat about the benefits of studying this FULLY FUNDED short course. This podcast also details more information about the course and gives great insight into the type of employees who would benefit from doing it!
Hear from final-year journalism students, Holly, Lucy, Sorina and Megan, as they share with us their experiences of studying at Sunderland through letters to their 2019 selves. All four students have key roles at Fashion North, one of our student publications. This episode is not to be missed if you want to hear real-life experiences from current students.
Join Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Manager Justine Gillespie for a special episode on Ramadan! Justine is joined by Shah Amin and Jolel Miah, Co-Chairs of the BAME network, and current student Anisa Nawaz, President of the Islamic Society to discuss Ramadan and how we as an institution support staff and students who are observing.
Please click here to find out more about our prayer facilities: https://sj.sunderland.ac.uk/wellbeing/chaplaincy/prayer-facilities/
Access our ESF Fully Funded Infant Mental Health course with The University of Sunderland. In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Lindey Cookson & Matthew Evans to discuss the benefits of studying this 10-week short course. Stay tuned to find out everything you need to know and gain insight into the type of employees who would benefit from doing it!
For this special #IWD2022 episode, we’re joined by Angela Smith, Professor of Language and Culture, to discuss the Rebel Women of Sunderland Project and delve into the life of one rebel woman in particular: Eileen O’Shaughnessy. Stay tuned to learn about Eileen’s connection to Sunderland, her marriage to George Orwell, and how she influenced some of his most famous works.
Whether it's an on-campus event or online, if you are considering studying at the University of Sunderland, open days are a great opportunity to find out everything you need to know. Stay tuned to discover all the exciting things you can expect at a University of Sunderland event and all the reasons you need to attend one. https://www.sunderland.ac.uk/open-days/
For this special LGBTQI+ History Month episode, we’re joined by University Equality Diversity and Inclusion Manager Justine Gillespie and University staff and students from the LGBTQI+ community to discuss its importance, how LGBTQI+ history is not taught enough in the current curriculum, and their own personal heroes/historical figures.
If you are a member of staff or a current student and are interested in learning more about how we as a university support students from the LGBTQ+ community please click here: https://www.sunderland.ac.uk/about/about-the-university/equality-diversity-inclusion/
Our website also provides information on what we are doing to create a culture of diversity and inclusivity across our campuses
This Valentine’s Day we discuss the concept of love with psychology lecturers Dr. Helen Driscoll and Mark Ord. As evolutionary psychologists, Helen and Mark talk us through how humans have evolved to build relationships and explain the laws of attraction from a biological and psychological point of view.
Content warning: Some words mentioned in the podcast during the reference of research may be found offensive by some listeners. Discretion is advised
Victoria Trachy, Head of Vocational Skills at ScreenSkills, joins us to talk about what ScreenSkills does, how they work with universities and how you can start your career in the screen industries. This episode is a great listen if you’re interested in the screen industries – that's film, TV, Visual Effects, Animation and Games.
Access ESF Fully Funded Short Leadership courses with The University of Sunderland. This podcast details the suite of short courses available to business in the NE as part of the ESF Project. Ian Carr, Senior lecturer gives his overview of what to expect from these courses and how to choose the correct leadership course for you!
In honour of Movember, we’re joined by Psychology academics Dr Rebecca Owens and Dr Helen Driscoll to discuss all things men! We’ll be digging deep into stereotypes, toxic masculinity, inclusion and the role society plays in depicting gender roles, and the impact this has on our mental health and wellbeing.
In honour of Movember, we’re joined by Psychology academics Dr Rebecca Owens and Dr Helen Driscoll to discuss all things men! We’ll be digging deep into stereotypes, toxic masculinity, inclusion and the role society plays in depicting gender roles, and the impact this has on our mental health and wellbeing.
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Emma Robinson, Accreditation Manager at the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ), joins us to talk about the benefits of studying an NCTJ-accredited course. If you’re interested in studying and fast-tracking your career in journalism, then this is the episode for you!
In this episode, we're joined by University staff from our Widening Access and Participation and Student Recruitment team to discuss how we as an institution support inequalities in access and success in higher education. We also have some current students joining us who will share their insight on their student experience.
In this episode, we’re joined by Academic Dean of Technology, John Murray. We discuss human/robot interaction, artificial intelligence, and future applications and uses of technology. If you’re interested in learning more about the future of technology, this is the episode for you!
Starting university can be daunting, especially when it comes to making friends. In this episode, we're joined by some current students of ours who share their top tips on how to make some great connections and help alleviate any worries students may be having this time of year.
At the University of Sunderland, the Disability Support Team (DST) provide information, support, and guidance to students with disabilities, mental health difficulties, specific learning differences (such as Dyslexia), Autism Spectrum conditions and long-term medical conditions. The team offer this support to current students and applicants so if you would like more information on how the team may be able to help you, stay tuned to find out everything you need to know from Head of Disability Services Ben Hodgson and Disability Support Adviser Lucy Lax.
According to the NHS website, Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high. There are 2 main types of diabetes and we are here today to discuss those two types in a little more detail, identify the symptoms, the causes and cover what it is like to live with diabetes. We'll also be covering the support available here at the University for staff and students living with the condition.
Are you a new or recent graduate fro the University of Sunderland? You probably think that's it from us once you've graduated. But that's not the case – our Sunderland Futures team have got your back with three years of careers support! We call that Graduate Launchpad
In this episode, the team discuss what kinds of support you can access when you register for Graduate Launchpad, they answer your questions, and offer tips and expert insights into the jobs market and more.
You can register for Graduate Launchpad at https://sunderland.targetconnect.net/unauthorisedGraduate/register.html
Learn more at https://sunderland.ac.uk/futures
Follow Sunderland Futures on social: Instagram - https://instagram.com/uosfutures Twitter - https://twitter.com/uosfutures LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/uosfutures/ Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/GCUOS
In this episode we're joined by Student Administration Officer, Megan Molloy and Events and Applicant Experience Coordinator, Stephen Goldsmith to cover all things UCAS, Applications, Clearing and Adjustment. So if you are applying late, reconsidering your options or just want more information, stay tuned to find out everything you need to know.
To honour the last week of Pride Month, University Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager Justine Gillespie is joined by University staff and students from the LGBTQI+ community to discuss the importance of Pride and also cover what support is in place at the university. If you are an applicant joining us in September or are a current student who just wants to know more about how the LGBTQI+ community is represented at Sunderland stay tuned to find out everything you need to know.
Have you applied to Sunderland but are wanting some insight into where to stay when it comes to accommodation? Or perhaps you want to know more about the options available?
In this episode, we’re joined by Accommodation Manager Emma Colbeck who will shed some light on the different choices available, how applicants can apply for accommodation, and cover everything you need to know about the overall process and what students can expect when they arrive. We also have some current students joining us who will share their insight on how they found living in student accommodation, some tips for September starters, and general advice for living with flatmates.
Ian McPake, Programme Leader for our BA (Hons) Film Production course, joins us for this fascinating episode as we take a deep dive into Martin Scorsese’s ‘Goodfellas’, often considered one of the greatest films ever made. We take a broader look at the gangster genre and Goodfellas’ place within it, explore the now-iconic casting, and discuss the energetic editing and soundtrack of the acclaimed 1990 gangster drama to discover exactly what gives the film its classic status.
Would you like to hear more film reviews in the future? Let us know in the comments!
Disclaimer: This episode contains spoilers
Today is International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT), and to celebrate, we're joined by members of the LGBTQI+ community and allies to discuss its importance and uncover what still needs to be done in order to achieve true equality.
Academics from the School of Hospitality, Events, Aviation, and Tourism join us in this episode to discuss the future of the industry and how they think it will look in a post-Covid world. Stay tuned to hear insight from our experts and discover how this will be applied to the teaching for these courses.
In this episode of the University of Sunderland podcast, we're joined by Senior Lecturer in Immunology Dr Jane Falconer, to discuss the vaccine programme for Covid-19, the types of vaccines available and the ‘myths’ surrounding the vaccination process. More than 33 million people in the UK have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine - part of the biggest inoculation programme the country has ever launched, but can it be trusted? Stay tuned to hear Dr Jane Falconer reveal all. (Stats correct at time of publish)
ReportOUT is a global SOGIESC (sexual orientation, gender identity, expression and sex characteristics) human rights organisation founded and chaired by our Senior Lecturer in Sociology and Programme Leader of the MSc Inequality and Society Drew Dalton. In this episode, Drew joins us to discuss a number of human rights abuses that currently affect sexual and gender minorities and advises on what we can do as allies to help.
It's Fashion Revolution week, and today we're joined by Senior Lecturer in Fashion Design and Promotion Naomi Austin to discuss sustainable textiles, fast fashion and making the fashion system more eco friendly. If you are interested in finding out more about the fast fashion industry and what you can do to help the sustainable movement, stay tuned for some great insight and tips!
Today we're joined by staff from our school of Medicine to celebrate National Doctors' Day! GP Lead and Clinical Tutor Dr. Alison Craig and Team Leader in GP Education Dr. Julian Hargreaves, who are also both practicing GP's, discuss their careers, their reasons for choosing the field and we find out more about their role at the university. If you are an aspiring Medicine student or just want to find out more about a career in Medicine, this is the episode for you!
Earlier this month we celebrated International Women’s Day with just some of the incredible women that make this university. To mark the day we recorded this episode and spoke about women's achievements, the challenges they have faced on their journeys, and how they haveeach taken action for equality.
Are you interested in knowing more about student life here in Sunderland? In this episode, we're joined by some current international students of ours who are sharing their experiences on how they adapted to life in the UK, the application process and their reasons for choosing Sunderland. If you are considering applying to Sunderland in the future from another country, stay tuned to hear from the students themselves and get an insight into their journey so far.
In this episode, Programme Leader for Fashion Journalism Carole Watson, and Senior Lecturer in Online Journalism Neil Macfarlane join us to discuss journalism, media law, fake news and free speech. Carole worked as a journalist and editor for magazines and national newspapers for 25 years, including roles as Deputy Editor of Grazia and Head of Features at the Daily Mirror and Neil writes for several publications including Private Eye magazine. If you are interested in learning more about a career in Journalism and how varied the role can be, stay tuned!
In this episode, University Equality Diversity and Inclusion Manager Justine Gillespie discusses the importance of LGBTQ+ History Month with Charlotte our student LGBTQ+ Officer and Jenneh from the Activities and Opportunities Team. If you are interested in learning more about how we as a university support students from the LGBTQ+ community as well as what we are doing to create a culture of diversity and inclusivity across our campuses, listen up!
In this episode we're joined by three current students who share their experiences on learning online during Covid-19 and how the pandemic has impacted their studies. The students share some positive outcomes as well as tips they have for others on how to stay motivated.
LGBTHistoryMonth: What is it, why do we celebrate it and where did it all begin? ¿¿¿¿
Senior Lecturer in Sociology / Programme Leader MSc Inequality and Society Drew Dalton joins us for our latest podcast to answer all this and more. We'll also cover the inaccuracies in how history is taught in the education system and highlight just some of the key LGBT figures that changed the world.
Caroline Gibby joins us again to discuss further developments that have occurred since we last spoke regarding the SQE, a qualifying exam that all solicitors must pass at the point of qualifying.
In this 'spooktacular' episode of Sunderland talks, we're joined by Dr Amy Pearson and Dr Sophie Hodgetts to discuss all things dark. From ghosts, dark triads, psychopaths and serial killers, we cover it all and hear from our experts on why such things fascinate us!
With Sunderland Pride approaching, we recently sat down with graduate Sam Willey and Sociology academic Drew Dalton to discuss equality, current issues within the community and rise of LGBTQ football fan groups. To support the need for wider inclusivity, SAFC LGBTQ was established by Sam to enhance the match day experience of LGBTQ supporters and to establish a dialogue with the club. His hard work has resulted in rainbow flags at the stadium and ongoing support from SAFC.. and it's just the beginning.
When it comes to media focus on Muslims and Islam, news is often limited to ‘Islamic extremism’ or 'conservative Muslims'. In our latest podcast Sunderland academic and Research Associate at the School of Oriental and African Studies, Dr Geoffrey Nash, discusses with his PhD student Mohammed Shafiq a less well known school of Islam that Mohammed believes could be key in changing perceptions.
For our latest podcast, we sat down with Dr Sarah Pickup, a Senior Lecturer in Health, Safety and Wellbeing here at the University of Sunderland for her insight on the rising number of new cases of stress, anxiety and depression being reported in the workplace every year.
The term 'body image' has become commonplace in the media recently with rising concerns into how it affects one's mental health. With body image as the theme of this year's Mental Health Awareness Week, we sat down with Dr Helen Driscoll, an evolutionary psychologist and Principal Lecturer in Psychology here at the University, to get her view on the link between body image and mental health and what additional factors in our society can also play a part.
Prevent is one of four strands of the government's counter-terrorism strategy, known as Contest. It is designed to support people at risk of joining extremist groups and carrying out terrorist activities. Whilst Prevent has attracted criticism since its implementation in 2006, the need to rethink the radicalisation agenda - as well as the entire Prevent strategy has recently gained traction. In this podcast, we speak with Dr Paul Dresser, whose research highlights a number of organisational barriers towards achieving the successful aims of the Prevent agenda, developed to safeguard individuals and communities from the threat of terrorism.
For our latest podcast, we're joined by Head of Law Caroline Gibby to discuss the biggest shake up to legal education in decades, the introduction of the new Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE).
Here we cover why and when the change is taking place, what to expect from the new assessment method and how this will affect both current and future students.
As MMR vaccine uptake rates decline in many countries despite the wake of measles outbreaks in recent months, it’s no shock that vaccines are back in the news again. The debate continues on what the right decision is between medical professionals and parents and with many influenced by "anti-vax" material on social media and the growing trend of celebrity influencers and fake news, we asked Dr. Sophie Hodgetts to reveal the truth about vaccines.
Drew Dalton, a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Sunderland, talks us through the history of HIV, the common misconceptions and how those living with the virus are able to live relatively normal lives thanks to the help and medications now available.
Gain an insight into the engineering industry with Dave Knapton, Principal Lecturer and the Engineering Academic Team Leader within the Faculty of Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing here at the University. From the national skills shortage, to where the industry stands on gender imbalance, we also delve into Sunderland's rich heritage.
With an ever growing concern for remaining safe online, cybersecurity has never been more relevant. In this podcast, we speak to Colin Gray, a Senior Lecturer in Computer Forensics who spent 20 years with Northumbria Police pioneering the use of reconstruction and forensic analysis of digital evidence in solving crime.
In a recent UK survey, one in eight meat eaters said they would consider going vegan. In this podcast, Senior Lecturer Dr Alex Lockwood discusses the history of veganism and plant-based diets, and how they can intersect with other important topics of the day such as masculinity, racism and environmental issues.
With the advent of sex robots equipped with artificial intelligence, Professor Clarissa Smith and Dr Helen Driscoll discuss what sex and relationships mean to us in 2018, and why some of us are choosing to forge relationships with robots and other non-human entities.
With an estimated one in five people (and one in three young adults) in the UK having a tattoo, there has never been more interest in body modification. In this podcast, Dr Becky Owens, Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society and Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Sunderland, discusses her personal interest in body modification and how it led her to a career as an academic specialising in evolutionary psychology.
With the recent proposals for legislation to allow assisted suicide, the controversial proposal has sparked a controversial and complicated debate. Here, Professor Kevin Yuill, Programme Leader for History and author of ‘The Liberal, Humanist Case Against Assisted Suicide’, discusses his views.