Stan State EduCast: Recent Episodes
Stanislaus State
The Stan State EduCast shines a spotlight on various members of the Warrior community as they share their experience and expertise in relation to important issues and topics that affect us all. Produced by the Office of Communications and Public Affairs, edited and recorded in the KCSS studios on the campus of Stanislaus State.
California’s Central Valley faces a growing healthcare crisis—from long ER wait times to a severe shortage of nurses and primary care providers. In this episode of the Stan State EduCast, we explore how Stanislaus State is tackling the issue head-on by training local students to become the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Host Frankie Tovar is joined by Dr. Sarah Sweitzer (Dean of the Stockton Campus) and Dr. Wendy Matthew (Associate Professor of Nursing) for an in-depth conversation about nursing shortages, health equity, burnout, and how simulation labs, bachelor’s programs, and community partnerships are reshaping the region’s healthcare future.
Whether you're a student, parent, faculty member, healthcare partner, or community advocate, this episode will show you how Stan State is “growing local, training local, and keeping local” — all while building a healthier, more equitable Central Valley.
Dr. Sarah Sweitzer: https://www.csustan.edu/people/wendy-matthew
Dr. Wendy Matthew: https://www.csustan.edu/people/dr-sarah-sweitzer
Stan Magazine Article: https://issuu.com/csustanislaus/docs/stan_magazine_spring_2025/s/84341041
School of Nursing Website: https://www.csustan.edu/nursing
HealthForce Partners: https://healthforcepartners.org
Produced by the Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing, edited and recorded in the KCSS studios on the campus of Stanislaus State.
This episode of the Stan State EduCast features Meggan Jordan PhD. (Professor of Sociology) and Phyllis Gerstenfeld PhD. (Criminal Justice Department Chair & Professor of Criminal Justice).
Meggan Jordan and Phyllis Gerstenfeld join host Frankie Tovar to discuss the high-profile case of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson's murder and the upcoming trial of suspect Luigi Mangione. The crime has sparked a whirlwind of discussion both online and in the media about corporate greed, healthcare reform, and morality. This episode highlights the societal tensions surrounding for-profit healthcare, the phenomenon of cult hero status for the accused, Luigi Mangione, and the implications for legal and ethical discourse in the U.S.
Meggan Jordan: https://www.csustan.edu/people/dr-meggan-jordan
Phyllis Gerstenfeld: https://www.csustan.edu/people/dr-phyllis-gerstenfeld
Produced by the Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing, edited and recorded in the KCSS studios on the campus of Stanislaus State.
This episode of the Stan State EduCast features Carin Heidelbach (Theatre Department Chair & Associate Professor of Acting and Directing) and Jamie Johns (Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre).Carin Heidelbach and Jamie Johns join host Frankie Tovar to discuss the brand-new Musical Theatre Bachelors Degree Program, a highly anticipated and much welcomed addition to the Stan State curriculum. Listen as our guests provide a comprehensive look into the unique aspects of this program, explore its interdisciplinary and interdepartmental approach to education, and preview upcoming theatre productions. Discover the opportunities this new BA program creates for aspiring performers and theatre technicians in the Central Valley and beyond.
Theatre Department: https://www.csustan.edu/theatre
Buy Tickets Here: https://cur8.com/projects/17811
Produced by the Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing, edited and recorded in the KCSS studios on the campus of Stanislaus State.
This episode of the Stan State EduCast features Danica Bravo (Project Rebound Program Coordinator).Danica Bravo joins host Frankie Tovar to discuss the life-changing initiatives of Project Rebound, highlighting the ongoing efforts to break down barriers and provide seamless transitions for former inmates seeking academic success. The pair cover the lived experiences that transformed Danica into an advocate for the incarcerated, how she established Project Rebound at Stan State, and what long-term goals she has for the program.
Project Rebound: https://www.csustan.edu/project-rebound
Danica Bravo:https://www.csustan.edu/people/danica-bravo
Produced by the Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing, edited and recorded in the KCSS studios on the campus of Stanislaus State.
This episode of the Stan State EduCast features Dr. Koni Stone (Professor of Biochemistry, Instrumental Analysis) and Dr. José Díaz-Garayúa (Associate Professor of Human Geography, Geographic Information Systems and co-Director of the Center for Applied Spatial Analysis).
Dr. Stone and Dr. Díaz-Garayúa join host Frankie Tovar to share their expertise on the topic of vaping, the nicotine delivery method that has gained popularity with both children and adults. The trio discuss the dangers of vaping from a scientific standpoint, the role of the Smoke and Vape Free Scholars Initiative on demographic research, and the overall influence of the tobacco industry.
Dr. Koni Stone: https://www.csustan.edu/people/dr-koni-stone
Dr. Jose Diaz-Garayua: https://www.csustan.edu/geography-environmental-resources/dr-jose-r-diaz-garayua
Smoke and Vape Free Scholars Initiative: csustan.edu/casa/svfsi.
Produced by the Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing, edited and recorded in the KCSS studios on the campus of Stanislaus State.
This episode of the Stan State EduCast features Jake Weigel (Founding Director of Warrior Fab Lab, Associate Professor of Art, 2023 Wang Family Excellence Awardee).Professor Weigel joins host Frankie Tovar to speak about the origins and capabilities of the Warrior Fab Lab and the opportunities these maker spaces create for both students and the community as a whole.
Jake Weigel Bio: https://www.csustan.edu/people/mr-jacob-weigel
Warrior Fab Lab Website: https://www.csustan.edu/warrior-fab-lab
Produced by the Office of Communications and Public Affairs, edited and recorded in the KCSS studios on the campus of Stanislaus State.
This episode of the Stan State EduCast features Dr. Horacio Ferriz (Professor of Hydrology and Director of the Water for the World program).
Dr. Ferriz joins host Frankie Tovar to share his expertise on topics including California's water sources and allocation, its jagged history of drought and precipitation and how Californians can better conserve and recycle their most precious resource.
Dr. Horacio Ferriz Bio: https://www.csustan.edu/people/horacio-ferriz
Geology Website: https://www.csustan.edu/geology
Produced by the Office of Communications and Public Affairs, edited and recorded in the KCSS studios on the campus of Stanislaus State.
This episode of the Stan State EduCast features Stephanie Eubank (Lecturer for the Management Operations and Marketing Department of the College of Business Administration).
This Warrior expert join host Frankie Tovar to discuss the increasingly relevant topic of Remote Work and Leadership - a field she began studying long before the COVID-19 pandemic and shutdown.
Produced by the Office of Communications and Public Affairs, edited and recorded in the KCSS studios on the campus of Stanislaus State.
This episode of the Stan State EduCast features Dr. Suzanne Whitehead (Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator for Counselor Education) and Detective Leland Lawson (Stan State Alumni and member of the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department).
These Warrior experts join host Frankie Tovar to discuss the synthetic opioid Fentanyl - the country's leading cause of overdose deaths.
Visit the CDC website for more information regarding Fentanyl: https://www.cdc.gov/opioids/basics/fentanyl.html
Produced by the Office of Communications and Public Affairs, edited and recorded in the KCSS studios on the campus of Stanislaus State.
This episode of the Stan State EduCast features three members of the University's Political Science program - Dr. Stephen Routh, Dr. Andrew Conteh, and Mr. Richard Randall.
These Warrior experts join host Frankie Tovar to discuss the results and implications of the 2022 United States elections.
Visit the Stan State Political Science website: https://www.csustan.edu/political-science
This episode of the Stan State EduCast features three members of the University's Political Science program - Dr. Stephen Routh, Dr. Andrew Conteh, and Mr. Richard Randall.
These Warrior experts join host Frankie Tovar to talk about the January 6 United States Capitol Attack and it's implications in regards to domestic and foreign politics.
Visit the Stan State Political Science website: https://www.csustan.edu/political-science
This episode of the Stan State EduCast features Dr. Gokce Soydemir, the inaugural Foster Farms Endowed Professor of Business Economics at Stanislaus State and author of the San Joaquin Valley Business Forecast.
Dr. Soydemir joins host Frankie Tovar to talk about the cause of California's record-high gas prices, their economic implications and what we can expect moving forward.