Continental Drift: Student Spotlights: Recent Episodes
Michelle Rajan
COVID-19 may have displaced many of us, but it can't silence our stories. This is the sister show of "Continental Drift," which has been broadcasting on 91.7 fm WMUH Allentown for a few years. In this podcast, I've collected stories from the Muhlenberg College community and beyond to spotlight some valuable experiences. These interviews feature a healthcare worker, a singer-songwriter, an international student, and more. Despite these varying titles, we are more alike than we are dissimilar.
I'm so honored to have the founder of The Melacast Network and the author of "she found herself and other things" join me in this episode. Ewurakua has an Instagram account, @raekua, that you absolutely need to follow so you can fall in love with her poetry. Our conversation goes deeper into two poems that you'll find on her account, both relating to family and culture. Ewurakua gives a lot of insight on what it means to have a collective identity as well as her thoughts on the kind of legacy that she'd like to leave behind one day. This interview aired on my radio show on June 15, 2020.
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For the first time on this show, I don't have a student spotlight for you. Instead, I've asked a professor to join me: Dr. Jeremy Teissere. As the head of Muhlenberg College's Neuroscience department, he has many thoughts on how his discipline fits into the current anti-racism conversation spurred by the BLM movement. This episode delves into how our sensation and perception relates to White supremacy as well as how we can change social beliefs. These topics are intimately related to the way we collect data, so we also get into the power in subjecthood within scientific literature. Recording this felt like I was in his class, Mind & Brain, all over again. This interview aired on my radio show on June 15, 2020.
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This podcast certainly tries to illuminate the many ways in which we are more alike than we are dissimilar, but this episode tries to educate on one of the ways we may be different: our education background. Across the country, there are underserved schools due to insufficient funding and lack of adequate resources, thereby setting up its students with a disadvantage. Taj sought out to change that in his own way, through the Teach for America program. We talk about his passion for teaching and how his journey led him to TFA. Our conversation also gets into the topic of representation for students of color, and what it means for him to be an Indian male teacher in a classroom that is predominantly Black. This interview aired on my radio show on June 8, 2020.
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This episode's guest comes from a family of healthcare professionals . . . but she deviated from that legacy and chose her own: a career in music & communications. Renee is a singer-songwriter and the host of her own podcast, Fine-Tuned: Between the Lyrics. In her interview, we talk about the common thread she's found between healthcare + communications as well as key insight about her songwriting process. Our conversation also goes in-depth into the complicated nature of vulnerability that music affords us. You can find her podcast on Spotify or Anchor and her Instagram account @btn.the.lyrics. This interview aired on my radio show on June 8, 2020.
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Olivia joins me in this episode to talk about how she wrote an entire novel . . . in one month. Yes, you read that correctly. One month. And she managed to do it in April so, yes, the pandemic was happening even while she was drafting. But after talking to Olivia about it, the idea of achieving such a feat began to seem a bit manageable. She breaks down how she stays productive; in fact, she even details how to view the creative process through a scientific, data-driven lens. Also, Olivia works in the publishing industry and so she gave me more information on her responsibilities. Even if you're not a writer, this conversation could truly inspire any creative to continue pursuing their dreams. This interview aired on my radio show on May 25, 2020.
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I still remember when the conversations on campus changed from "the coronavirus isn't going to be a problem in the U.S." to "we need to leave college and go back home" . . . it was when the virus took a toll on Italy. And while that meant I had to cancel my spring break trip to the country, it was a vastly different experience for Rebecca who was studying abroad there, in Florence, at the time. In this episode, I get to learn more about her perspective of COVID-19 while living in Italy. We also talk about the value in holding space for a variety of experiences rather than restricting ourselves to one path when pursuing a career in science. As always, Rebecca somehow found a way to tie in neuroscience ideas into her reflections about her study abroad trip and it was amazing to be a part of this conversation with her. This interview aired on my radio show on June 1, 2020.
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You may have heard about studying abroad for a semester, but this episode's guest was supposed to be abroad for a full academic year! Well.. most of it, at least. Amisha was in London for the fall term, and then Dublin for the spring. While in England, she was able to explore the differences and similarities in being a South Asian-American in the UK vs. in the US. Her interview also goes into the perception of COVID-19 while she was in Dublin, and what it was like to have to abruptly travel home. Our conversation taught me a lot about my relationship to my own South Asian-American identity, so I'm truly grateful to have recorded this. The interview aired on my radio show on June 1, 2020.
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In this episode, you get to eavesdrop on my conversation with the former editor-in-chief of The Muhlenberg Weekly. Brooke recounts the long production nights every Tuesday and how she found a family along the way. We also get into what it takes to carry stories forward, especially since it requires an unbiased take on news that often carries several perspectives. If you were ever wondering what it takes to run a college newspaper, this interview is for you. My conversation with Brooke reminded me of the power in student voices; just take a look at muhlenbergweekly.com for proof. This interview aired on my radio show on May 25, 2020.
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In this episode, I get to have a conversation with one of my favorite artists: das. She is a pop-soul singer-songwriter and her style combines Pop, Soul, Classic Rock, and Bollywood... so, naturally, I'm in love with her music. But what really inspires me about her is the fact that das is pursuing her dream while in college! Online zoom classes were draining, and yet she somehow managed to release her latest single, "tired," while in quarantine. Her interview goes more in-depth into her creative process as well as some advice on how to follow your passion. You can find her on Instagram (@das_the_shef) or SoundCloud (dasmusic3). This interview aired on my radio show on May 18, 2020.
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As though surviving a global pandemic wasn’t difficult enough, many Asian-Americans must also face another virus: racism. In this episode, Robin talks about the #HateisaVirus campaign, a movement created to combat the xenophobia against Asians spurred by the onset of COVID-19. He is the co-president of Muhlenberg’s Asian Students Association, a Resident Advisor, the vice president of the Men of Color Network, and the president of the Emerging Leaders Council. His thoughts on student leadership and allyship hold plenty of inspiration for anyone looking to show solidarity from a distance. This interview aired on my radio show on May 18, 2020.
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As a student leader at Muhlenberg College, Adebisi has plenty of experience in enacting change at a personal level. So when Black Lives Matter and COVID-19 require changes from our college, her positions give her the opportunity to aid the school in its response. She is on the Student Conduct Board; she is a Resident Advisor; she is a member of the Bias Resource & Education Team (BRET). But, above all: she is a Black woman. In her interview, Adebisi details how her racial identity informs her perspectives and what that means for her when trying to advocate for students --- while also pursuing an education. She also gives a more nuanced approach to the "seat at the table" analogy. This interview aired on my radio show on July 6, 2020.
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Back in March, when Muhlenberg students were booking plane tickets or packing their cars, Laura decided to remain in her off-campus house. She watched as the final semester of her senior year transitioned into an online format. It seemed like the world was coming to a standstill as everyone began working from home. But Laura continued to be on the move, as she managed her contactless gardening business where she landscapes for a predominantly older clientele. In her episode, she tells me about what it's like to try to run this business and also about how going on walks is her new favorite form of meditation. Finally, we reflect on the ways nature, writing, and growth are all connected. It's a truly lovely episode. My radio show aired this interview on May 11, 2020.
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For many people, COVID-19 changed their lives in myriad ways; but for Ashley, her routine didn't change. In the third episode of the podcast, we hear about Ashley's experience as a healthcare worker at a mental hospital. When her friends and family began to shelter-in-place, she continued to go to work while also taking online college classes. She sheds light on both her concerns about the lack of protective guidelines in her workplace as well as the coping strategies that have aided her in persevering. You can find her on Instagram @ashdozik . My radio show aired this episode on May 11, 2020.
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This episode's all about Ruhani, an international student from India. When Muhlenberg College had to close due to COVID-19, Ruhani was left with two options: pack for a month or for the rest of the semester. So, in about 24 hours, she and her friends packed up her room, left a few things in storage, and she left for India. In our conversation, she tells me about what it was like to watch her life change in a whirlwind and what's stayed constant. You can find her on Instagram @ruhani_15 ! My radio show aired this episode on May 4, 2020.
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In this episode, Roshni tells me about her COVID-19 transition from on-campus to on-line and how that's affected her. We also talk about how to change our standards of productivity rather than holding ourselves to pre-pandemic expectations. She also shared some tips with me on cultivating moments of appreciation daily. You can find her on Instagram @ropatel12 and @ropatelphotography ! My radio show aired this interview on May 4, 2020.
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