Payne on Politics: Recent Episodes
Dr. Gregory Payne
Each week Dr. Payne interviews some of the leading academics, experts, and practitioners in the realm of politics, public opinion, and global affairs. He is the Co-Director of the Emerson Blanquerna Center for Global Communication and received an “Honoris Causa” from the Blanquerna School of Communication and International Relations, University of Ramon Llull in Barcelona in the fall of 2019 for his lifelong distinguished academic and professional career.In addition, Payne has taught at Yale and Tufts University as well as Occidental College. Dr. Payne received his B.A, M.A. and Ph.D at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he was Phi Beta Kappa and a Big Ten Traveling Scholar where he studied at the University of Wisconsin- Madison and a special scholar program at the University of Southern California. He earned an MPA from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He is the co-author of Tom Bradley: The Impossible Dream, Mayday: Kent State, the play Kent State: A Requiem, and has authored academic and popular articles and book chapters for publications worldwide. He has lectured internationally on topics related to political communication, public diplomacy, health communication, media, ethics, leadership, negotiation, crisis and risk communication, and political and social movements. After writing the first dissertation on the shootings at Kent State at Illinois, he is a noted expert on the May 1970 tragedy and its aftermath. He directed three, global conferences on Celebrity/Spectacle on the aftermath of the death of Princess Diana, and has continued to highlight this issue in politics as well as the infatuation with the British Royal Family. He is on the Advisory board of the Journal of Health Communication, Tripidos, American Behavioral Scientist, Media Ethics, Journal of Promotion Management, among others. Dr. Payne has served as Editor for American Behavioral Scientist’s special edition on the U.S. presidential campaign for every election since l988. He is past President of the International Academy of Business Disciplines, past chair of the Political Communication Division of the National Communication Association, Executive Advisory Board member of the Global Communication Project, and the Academic Director of the global Team Harmony Project dedicated to eradicating hate.Payne has directed numerous global public diplomacy projects for governments, corporations, NGOs and community groups. He is the co-founder of the Saudi American Exchange, the first grass roots, people to people public diplomacy effort in the wake of 9/11, honored at the inaugural Clinton Global Initiative and the Middle East Public Relations Association. Payne has served as speechwriter for Sec. of State Hillary Clinton, Senator Robert Dole, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, former Boston Mayor Ray Flynn, Queen Noor of Jordan, Prince Faisal of Saudi Arabia, as well as numerous CEO’s and heads of organizations internationally. He has consulted with the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of Treasury, City of Boston, City of Los Angeles, National Republican Institute, National Institute of Health, Atomic Energy Commission and U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Bechtel, Fidelity Investments, Watson Pharmaceuticals, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Formula One, among others.Dr. Payne received the Robert F. Kennedy Award for Public Service, the first University of Illinois’ Speech Communication Alumni Award, the NCA Humanitarian Award, honors from the US Treasury, UNICEF, Formula One Racing, Friends of the Majestic Theatre, and the President’s Award, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Association of Business Disciplines. He received grants from the U.S. State Department and the National Republican Institute, among others. He is a Schweitzer Fellow in health communication.
Ian Sullivan and Mick Lohr are two student-athletes who are a part of Emerson's Communication Studies Department seeking to create NIL opportunities for ALL student-athletes. They're doing so through an app called CollegiateX and their group, Lions Connect. They've collaborated with Suffolk University to help further push their mission. Listen in and hear about the amazing program they seek to create.
Olivia Holub, a second-year sports communication major with a minor in podcasting, radio, and streaming media, speaks on the opportunities Emerson has given her and how Emerson really prepares you for the workplace.
Emerson's Sports Communication Superteam is made up of professors and some of whom include Dr. Charles Steinberg (Paw Sox's President), Dr. Laurin Anderson, Tim Neverett (Voice of LA Dodgers), Prof. John Zannis (NBC-Sports, Boston), Prof. Kevin Mercuri (Protheta), Prof. Kevin Mitchell (Founder of ESportsX), Prof. Brad Ross, and Dr. Mary Ann. This superteam builds upon a legacy of leadership as we train the next generation to meet the challenges and seize the opportunities in an ever-changing global sports marketplace.
Connect with Olivia:
www.linkedin.com/in/oliviaholub
https://www.instagram.com/oliviaholub11/
On this episode of Payne on Politics, we chat with DJ Mara, a third-year student studying political communication and journalism, on how he is leveraging professional opportunities in sports and politics to build bridges in his community.
Connect with DJ on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/djmara/
Makeighly dos Santos is the current Ms. International World Petite (https://www.msinternationalworld.com/) and an International Political Communication student at Emerson College. She has become a prominent member of the Boston community after arriving only this past September.
In this podcast, she shares her perspective on space law and the growing need for clear legal frameworks as space becomes more accessible.
Stay up to date with Makeighly by connecting with her socials:
https://www.instagram.com/makeighly
https://www.linkedin.com/in/makeighly
Listen in as Cole Gustafson & Shawnee Sims, two of our great film students, talk with me about how the Communication Studies Department & Film School bounce off each other.
Shepard is an Emerson Alum who is currently the Beat The Streets New England's Boston program director. Shepard has been involved with a number of global projects and now uses sports as a way of youth development and civic engagement. As program director he works with over 300 youth annually in the city of Boston, using the sport of wrestling as a gateway for mentorship.
Siapok Mu began as a journalism undergraduate student and switched to political communications after becoming immersed in public diplomacy and the political campaign trails here in the US. Having enjoyed his undergraduate education here at Emerson, he made the decision to pursue his masters degree here as well.
In this episode of Payne on Politics, host Greg Payne sits down with the Emerson College Professor Adam Franklin-Lyons for an in-depth discussion about the Emerson-Blanquerna 9th Annual Global Summit, a remarkable event set against the awe-inspiring backdrop of the 70th Anniversary commemorative concert for Blanquerna University at Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. This episode delves into the Catalan context of the concert performance, highlights from the summit, and further showcasing the fusion of culture and education in these global networks.
Dr. Adam Franklin-Lyons is interested in almost anything Medieval.He first worked in archives in Catalonia and Valencia investigating famines in the Western Mediterranean. A monograph based on that work is under contract with Pennsylvania State University Press. Currently, he participates in the Travelers Lab at Wesleyan University. The Lab uses computer-based analysis such as GIS to study patterns of mobility and communication. The Lab also invites undergraduates to participate directly in the research of the Lab. As part of this project, Dr. Franklin-Lyons led a group of Marlboro faculty members funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities in developing an undergraduate curriculum combining data science and humanities methods of research in the classroom and in projects addressing social questions in the local community.
One of the biggest challenges today in education is the shortage of Black males in public school education. Explore the day-to-day challenges for Black male teachers who oftentimes are the only prevalent male figure for at risk youth in the public school system.
Neil Harris is public school teacher with a specialty in special education and moderate disabilities at the elementary school level. Neil is a Boston Teacher Residency graduate who received his MA in education at UMass Boston and his BA at UMass Amherst.
Niko Emack graduated from Emerson College in 2018, where he majored in Political Communication and played soccer in the NCAA. He recently currently graduates from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where he studied Leadership, Organizations, and Entrepreneurship.
Trey Fuccillo is an Emerson College junior studying Political Communication with minors in Pre-Law and Philosophy. He’s a lifelong resident of Marlborough, Massachusetts, and was recently elected their newest Ward 6 City Councilor. Prior to being elected, Trey worked at Marlborough City Hall and the Marlborough Community Development Authority. In 2022, he served as the Deputy Director of Campus Engagement on Governor Maura Healey’s gubernatorial campaign.
Chase Taylor is the Strategic Communications Director at VIVA Politics and a senior Political Communications Major at Emerson College. He has worked on over 30 campaigns as a speechwriter and communications staffer/director. But now, with Trey’s victory, he has successfully won his first campaign as the campaign manager.
Trey Fuccillo and Chase Taylor are two Political Communication students who just put years of campaign experience to the test. Meeting early in their time at Emerson, they became friends while working together on the Maura Healey for Governor campaign. They had often discussed the possibility of Trey running for office, but early in May, Trey made the decision to run for Ward 6 City Council in his hometown and hired Chase as his Campaign Manager. For the next six months, they ran a grassroots operation in Marlborough, Massachusetts – a city nestled between Boston and Worcester. Together, they achieved a decisive 68% to 32% victory on Election night. This win makes Trey one of the youngest electeds in Massachusetts.
Danell is an Emerson College alum and former professor in the Communication Studies department. Tune in to hear Danell share what Emerson means to her, and how the Communication Studies department continues to enrich the tradition of being the 1st School of Communication in the U.S.
Geoffrey Parish graduated Emerson with a BA in Political Communication and an MBA from Cambridge University in England. Geoff is the Senior Commercial Officer at the U.S. Consulate –Hong Kong & Macau, where he leads the team providing advocacy and navigating market access issues on behalf of U.S. companies doing business in the market. Before serving in Hong Kong, Geoff was the Deputy Senior Commercial Officer for India. Based in New Delhi, he managed operations for the agency’s largest overseas post, with seven offices and 70 staff across the country, as well as Commerce’s activities in Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Maldives. Geoffrey previously served at the U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong (2017-2020), the U.S. Consulate in Mumbai (2015-2017), and at the U.S. Export Assistance Center in Boston (2014-2015).
Twice an Emmy Award-winning television executive producer, Lu Ann Reeb, Emerson College Chair of Journalism, is a longtime broadcast journalist and an entrepreneur, who has launched online media companies. Reeb is founder of Boston Media Group, creating innovative digital and traditional media strategies for clients in various industry sectors. Reeb also founded Legal Talk Network, LLC, an online media and information network for the legal profession, which was acquired by a California firm in 2012.
The two Department Chairs discuss Lu Ann's incredible career along with what the future might hold for Emerson College and the creative communicators that study there.
Ashley Osmecki is one of the many talented students graduating as part of the class of '23 and officially becoming a member of the Emerson Mafia! From Rosarito, Mexico, to shedding tears of joy in the FC Barca stadium - Camp Nou, Ashley has always approached her Emerson experience with wholehearted enthusiasm. Tune in to hear the story of her leadership and how Emerson College was always her Camelot.
An emotional and historic account of a story etched in the souls of many due to John's iconic photo of 14 year old Mary Vecchio over the Body of Jeffery Miller. John re-accounts his steps on Kent State's campus as a student whose iconic photo - one that would earn him a Pulitzer Prize - captures the horror and tragedy of that day. Some would say a photo that helped end the Vietnam war. John shares how the FBI visited his house after he took the photo and the odyssey of getting it published.
Matt Shearer graduated from Emerson in 2009 and quickly became a well-known local media personality. As an award-winning Reporter for WBZ NewsRadio, he's carved out a niche for highlighting the colorful people and places that make New England special. His unique approach to storytelling has resulted in several viral videos, as well as international press coverage. Matt was born and raised in Massachusetts, so his love for the Commonwealth is evident in every story he shares. Follow Matt on Instagram: reportermatt Twitter: MattWBZ
Oliver Rick recently released a new book with co-author Dr. Longxi Li —Global Sports and Contemporary China: Sport Policy, International Relations, and New Class Identities in the People’s Republic.
This book examines the formation of a globally oriented sports system in China from the beginning of the reform process in 1978 to the present, with a particular focus on the period between the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and the 2022 Beijing Olympics Games. It analyses how this system has shaped domestic social class dynamics and the role of sport in international Chinese state politics.
If anyone is interested in discussing the project further please reach out to him at orick@springfieldcollege.edu
Warren Backman is an Emerson College alum and graduate of the Sports Communication program. Warren has a passion for college athletics which in many ways was cemented by his time playing soccer at Emerson College. Tune in to hear Warren discuss the meaning he finds in coaching athletes and the value of leadership skills that become developed in sports.
Dr. Charles Steinberg joined the Pawtucket Red Sox (Now the Worcester Red Sox aka WooSox) as President on November 5, 2015 after many years as Executive Vice President of the Boston Red Sox. In a vast career in which he has also worked with the Baltimore Orioles, San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig, "Dr. Charles" has helped revamp and re-energize the PawSox front office while leading the effort to aggressively reach out to the community to restore and enhance bonds of connection. Working with his friend and mentor, PawSox Chairman Larry Lucchino, nearly all of their careers, Steinberg spent 11 seasons with the Red Sox (2002 through 2007 and 2012 through 2016), but also two with the Dodgers as Chief Marketing Officer and two with Commissioner Selig as Senior Advisor for Public Affairs. He is currently helping Selig with his memoirs. He spent 19 years with his hometown Orioles, rising from intern to head of public relations, and followed Lucchino to San Diego, where, in 7 years with the Padres, he rose to Executive Vice President. Each of the four major league clubs established attendance records in his tenure. With each club, he has created innovative ballpark entertainment and community initiatives. He led the creation of the Padres Scholars, Red Sox Scholars, and PawSox Scholars programs, as well as landmark initiatives in pediatric cancer research awareness and fundraising. Among his memorable ceremonies was the Fenway Park event following the Boston Marathon tragedy in which David Ortiz made his unforgettable-and unrepeatable-speech. Also Director of Sports Communication at Emerson College, he is a musician and songwriter, whose compositions have been recorded by Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. among others. He wrote the theme songs for Wally the Green Monster and the PawSox, and performed with Jimmy Buffett at Fenway Park in 2004. He sang (briefly) on the Dropkick Murphys' hit song, "Tessie," and had a cameo with Drew Barrymore in the Farrelly Brothers' hit film, "Fever Pitch."
Tune in to hear Emerson College Professor and Howard Alum, Dr. Sharifa Simon-Roberts discuss her research and ongoing project of Oscar Talks which is a collaborative effort with Prof. Owen Eagan on the Emerson LA campus.
Bob Socci is currently teaching sports communication at Emerson College in addition to his professional career in broadcast. Socci was hired as the new play-by-play voice of the New England Patriots in April 2013, replacing Gil Santos, who retired after 36 years with the team. Socci is partnered with Scott Zolak on Patriots broadcasts.
Since joining the Patriots broadcast, Socci and Zolak have called three Super Bowl Championships. In February 2015 the Patriots won the franchises fourth Super Bowl defeating the Seattle Seahawks when rookie cornerback Malcolm Butler intercepted a pass at the goal line sealing the title. In February 2017 the duo called "The Greatest Comeback in Super Bowl History" when the Patriots rallied from a 28-3 third-quarter deficit to beat the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in the first overtime game in 51 years of the Super Bowl. He was named Massachusetts Sportscaster of the Year 2021.
Niko Emack-Bazelais graduated from Emerson College in 2018, where he majored in Political Communication and played soccer in the NCAA. He's currently studying Leadership, Organizations, and Entrepreneurship at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where he's looking at issues in politics, policy, and power through the lens of education. Professionally, his writing on the intersection of politics, sports, culture, and identity has been published by The Boston Globe, NPR, Foreign Policy Magazine, U.S. Soccer, and The National Interest. Politically, Niko served in numerous communication roles at the City of Cambridge, the City of Boston, and the Massachusetts State House. After the murder of George Floyd, he worked with partners from My Brother’s Keeper Cambridge (Obama Foundation) – a non-profit focused on race and equity – to organize a protest on Cambridge Common, creating space for the community to come together and ask tough questions. From 2020-2021, Niko helped run the MBK Summer Empowerment Program, a paid opportunity for high school-aged kids to learn about social justice, financial literacy, and mental health. In 2022 and 2023, he led community walks on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, challenging residents to view Cambridge’s inequities through Dr. King’s eyes. For all of his work, Niko was honored alongside black leaders selected across the state of Massachusetts with the Black Excellence award on the Hill. When he's not behind a desk, Niko coaches high school soccer at his alma mater, Cambridge Rindge and Latin.
Dr. Nejem Raheem, Interim Chair of Marketing Department at Emerson College, joins Dr. Payne to discuss research in environmental economics, lessons in indigenous groups sustainability practices and how they are valuable in the consumer oriented society that is present, and also how Emerson College is poised to lead in these discussions and advocacy.
Four Dead in Ohio is the Iconic Mantra of the Protest Movement for generations who experienced the horror of 4 deaths of students at Kent State and 11 days later the deaths of Jackson State students in 1970. Dr. Gregory Payne is an expert academic on the historical events at Kent State on May 4, 1970. Pete Hall is a communication expert, Ohio native with ties to Kent, and former student of Dr. Payne. The two explore how the song Four Dead in Ohio was part of the storytelling of the tragedy at the time.
Emerson College professor and public affairs expert, Mohamed Khalil, sits down and talks with Dr. Payne about their work with the Saudi-American Exchange Public Diplomacy project.
Dr. Payne sits down with Emerson College alum ('13) , Katie Prisco-Buxbaum.
After graduating, Katie discusses her career post-Emerson as she has held a variety of worthwhile positions on campaigns - including roles as finance director for Gavin Newsom's governor campaign ('17-'18) and Kamala Harris's senate campaign ('15-'16).
Dr. Payne sits down with Spencer Kimball, Director of Emerson Polling, and discusses a recap of the 2022 midterms and a Decade of Distinction for Emerson College Polling.
Tom Smith, Class of '67, shares his experience of the oral tradition at Emerson and comments on what makes an Emerson graduate so different ... It's all about speech!
Dr. Payne sits down with former Emerson student Abhishek Suryawanshi to discuss the past, present, and future. Abhishek has worked for the United Nations and is now a director at Wikipedia with a finger on the pulse of digital diplomacy and promoting healthcare awareness within local communities.
Dr. Payne sits down with Dr. Tony Pinder, Emerson College Vice-Provost - Internationalization & Equity. This episode was a special moment for Payne on Politics as it was the first featuring a live-audience and first being live-streamed. Created to contribute to International Education Week at Emerson College, the podcast also took the opportunity to collaborate with the ongoing weekly series - Pizza and Politics.
Pizza and Politics is a weekly zoom event featuring a global audience of professionals, academics, experts, and students to discuss current events. Each week a guest will share their thoughts and knowledge regarding a topic which will then be opened up to a Q&A portion moderated by Dr. Payne.
Dr. Payne sits down with Emerson Alum John Grisby.
John's expertise in leadership is a direct result of 25 years' experience in human performance and development. Multi-displined background/roles include competitive sport, organizational and leadership performance consultancy, public sector, entrepreneurship, and academia. John has worked and lived around the world in Europe, USA, Africa, South America, and the Middle East.
Dr. Payne sits down with America's favorite pollster and executive director of Emerson College Polling, Spencer Kimball.
Spencer shares what the data is showing as we close in on the Nov. 8 midterm elections. The two of them also discuss the upcoming Emerson-Blanquerna Global Communication Summit, taking place in D.C. on Nov 4 at the Watergate, where Spencer will be sharing the most up-to-date details on their midterm polls.
Dr. Payne sits down with a former student (Emerson alum '90) Lee Schwebel to discuss his Emerson experience and life story. Lee shares his memories of Emerson College's back bay campus along with a trip to Kent State during the commemoration of the 1970 Kent State shootings.
Tune in to hear how Lee describes the importance of his Emerson education and what he sees as one of the most promising aspects of Emerson. Here's a hint: Polling.
Dr. Payne sits down with Emerson College's Oral Presentation Professor and Southwick Recital Director, Ken Grout.
Ken has revived the once-prominent Southwick Recital and is making it a
must-see item on the college’s calendar. Of specific note are Ken’s performances during the Southwick. He wrote and presented a 40-minute piece on being a dementia caregiver and then moderated a hybrid panel on the topic. Further, Ken was selected as a program auditor by the Chautauqua Training Institute to develop a character piece on Oscar Wilde.
Tune in to hear Prof. Grout discuss the history of the Southwick Recital as well as a sneak preview for this fall's Southwick, which will be capping off the Global Communication Pre-Summit this Nov. 2nd, at the Emerson College Greene Theatre.
Dr. Payne sits down with Emerson College Alum and Director of Communications at Emerson College Polling, Camille Mumford. Tune in to hear Camille share her story of being a student-athlete at Emerson College to now working with local news outlets across the U.S. for Emerson Polling.
Kathryn Grosso Gann, Emerson Alum and Professor, joined the podcast to share her story! From starting her career after Emerson College in the White House to then working for former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani and NJ Governor Chris Christie.
Emerson College volleyball athlete and Sports Communication major shares her experience representing the USA at the 21st Maccabiah Games in Israel this summer.
Dr. Payne sits down with Emerson alum and Director of Survey Operations at Emerson Polling, Isabel Holloway. The two of them discuss public opinion around upcoming elections and Emerson Polling's involvement at the November 4th Global Communication Summit in Washington D.C. Izzy also shares the launch of her new podcast called Poll It Together.
Dr. Payne sits down with PR expert and author of PR of Everything Dr. Rob Brown. The two of them have been following the royal family from the perspective of performative leadership and celebrity spectacle for decades. Both share their thoughts on Queen Elizabeth II passing after 70 years of being the head of the monarchy along with their personal stories of meeting the Queen.
Spencer Kimball, Director of Emerson Polling, joins the podcast to give us an update on the 2022 Elections and what the polls are telling us.
On the 25th anniversary of the tragic passing of Princess Diana, Dr. Payne explores his experience following the Princess Diana story with Emersonians Charlotte Munson and Shepard Vargo.
Charlotte is an Emerson Alum who is an actress in Los Angeles and has been performing an incredible one-woman musical called Di Lady Di, a story of Princess Diana. Di Lady Di is Best Musical Winner HFF22, TVO's Best of the Fringe, and Best of Broadwater.
Dr. Payne sits down with Blanquerna Alum and Emerson College Admin, Shepard Vargo.
Shepard was a student from Lake Erie College when he first collaborated with Emerson College as part of the 2014 Rediscover Rosarito Public Diplomacy Program. Tune in to hear about how that experience took him from the Midwest and motivated him to become the global citizen that he is today.
Diego Mejia is a young and talented Emerson College student who is majoring in VMA. While down in Rosarito as part of the Rosarito Public Diplomacy Program, his interest focused on Baja's music diplomacy. Tune in to hear about how the Emerson students built relationships, about Rosarito's music culture, and Diego's experience at the Baja Beach Fest.
Prof. Mark Brodie was a photographer for the Department of Defense before graduating from Emerson College with his Masters degree. Since then, he has continued to take the Emerson brand globally as an alum and now even more so as an Emerson College professor. Tune in to hear about his leadership in the 2022 Rediscover Rosarito Film Festival and how he uses digital storytelling within the scope of Public Diplomacy.
Hugo Torres, former Mayor of Rosarito sits down to discuss his life as an influential leader in Baja, Mexico. From leading a family that runs the biggest hotel in Baja to then taking on the challenge of becoming mayor during a time when a leader was needed to clean up corruption. Hugo shares some of the challenges he faced dealing with the crime and corruption as well as the mediated reality that was an obstacle after cleaning up the city.
As mayor, Hugo led Rosarito through the crisis when the Mexican president declared war on the cartels. During his leadership, he worked with Dr. Payne, Janice Payne, and Ron Raposa to start the Rediscover Rosarito Film Festival to combat the narrative that U.S. media was portraying of his city and country. Tune in and hear more about his experience as a proactive leader during difficult times.
Laura Torres is a businesswoman and politician from Rosarito, Mexico. She's been and continues to be a tremendous advocate for women's rights and economic opportunity. Tune in to her story of being a trailblazer for women in the political landscape, along with her thoughts as we discuss the challenges in Mexico.
Steve is a retiree enjoying the finer things in life from the beach in Rosarito.
Dr. Payne and Steve discuss what it has been like for Steve, a veteran and former teacher, to turn Rosarito Mexico into his full-time residence. Tune in to hear thoughts on the mediated reality of Mexico, the experience of living abroad, and the perspective of a veteran looking at the state of U.S. politics.
Dr. Payne sits down with long-time friend and global artist, David Silva.
David is known for his beautiful paintings which have captured the vibrancy of Baja, Mexico, and carried it across the globe. His artwork has been featured throughout the United States, Mexico, and Europe.
Tune in to hear about David's journey and what his experience has been building bridges through his painting.
Axel Silva shares his experience collaborating with Emerson College for the Rosarito Film Festival.
Mikey McManus was a key Emerson alum in the foundation of the Rosarito Film Festival. He and I sat down and discussed his experience of working with the filmmakers during those early years of the program. Mikey also tells us what it's like being in LA with the Emerson College Mafia and the network of talent that exists there.
Rosy Torres, a Pan-Am and World Champion racquetball athlete, sits down and talks about how founding the Boys and Girls Club of Rosarito has changed the lives of over 4000 young people in Baja, Mexico!
Rosy is an inspirational figure to so many people and is another example of the community-driven Torres family - of The Rosarito Beach Hotel - continuing their legacy of giving and making an impact.
Always a pleasure to sit down with her and share the great work she continues to do! Excited to take Emerson students participating in the Rosarito Film Festival to her Boys and Girls Club for the Hugo Torres Soccer Tournament.
Dr. Payne sits down with one of his former Occidental College students and fellow Harvard alum, Larry Mondragon.
Larry carries a vast range of eclectic and in-depth knowledge ranging from law, his career with IBM, and his journey as an Executive Producer of the Amazon show Wheel of Time. Larry quickly became a fan favorite of our weekly Pizza and Politics calls where he consistently shares his brilliance. Tune in for one of my favorite conversations he and I shared while out in Malibu!
Guest Sam DeCoste embodies the Emersonian spirit! As a current student in the Sports Communication program, Sam talks about winning the National Student Production Awards for producing the Outstanding College/University Sports Program in the Boston/New England chapter. The award is for producing the 4th episode of The Box Score, a live-to-tape student-run studio sports talk show at Emerson.
What were the deciding factors why Sam choose Emerson College? Tune in to find out!
Dr. Charles Steinberg, president of the Worcester Woosox, opened up his suite after a WooSox game to talk sports as soft power. Stemming from years of being VP for the Boston Red Sox, the Baltimore Orioles, and the San Diego Padres, Charles is known for creating innovative ballpark entertainment and community initiatives. Outside of his role in Major League Baseball, Charles is Director of Sports Communication at Emerson College. Get struck out by his storytelling ability as he shares what makes Emerson students special and find out how "A ballpark is a storytelling vehicle."
Spencer Kimball, Director of Emerson Polling, joins us to further discuss their ongoing project called, "Unlocking the Hispanic Vote."
How did the economy, gas price, and Trump endorsement impact the recent primary results in Texas, South Carolina, and Nevada? What are the differences between the Hispanic vote in Texas vs Florida and how do those demographics view the idea of election fraud and immigration? Find out what America's Favorite Pollster has to say about it.
Brian Weidling (Emerson College '96, film producer and documentarian) reflects on his time at Emerson College plus shares his experience with the 1970 Kent State shooting story and interviewing a guardsman who participated in that horrific event.
Weidling also shares stories from his career, his life experience after developing physical disabilities from a car accident, and his current project with Theatre by the Blind - the only all-blind theatre troupe in America. Weidling has been capturing 2 years worth of their stories and process as they prepare for the upcoming performance of The Braille Legacy. The Braille Legacy is a musical and the story of Louis Braille. It'll be the first time the all-blind troupe will perform a musical.
Our first guest on the Podcast visiting from Barcelona! Blanquerna Universitat Marketing Professor Alba Ramirez discusses the politics of food, gastrodiplomacy, and more!
Spencer Kimball, director of Emerson Polling, joins us again to talk about Dr. Oz and his ceiling, John Fetterman and his Yinzer popularity, and the Louisiana Jungle Primary!
Dr. Payne and Spencer Kimball also give their input on the Netflix series, Stranger Things, featuring a 1980s Emerson College shirt.
Political Analyst, Susan Del Percio, discusses her time at Emerson College along with her journey as a moderate Republican and how it led her to MSNBC.
America's favorite Pollster, Spencer Kimball, dives into the Georgia and Alabama Primaries and what the numbers are telling them at Emerson Polling. Spencer shares his thoughts on what some take-home points are for the Republican Party.
Dr. Payne and Spencer Kimball also discuss the recent shootings and what Spencer has seen with over a decade of polling public opinion on gun control/background checks.
Guest Spencer Kimball (Director of Emerson Polling at Emerson College) talks Pennsylvania primary results/race, Trump endorsements and their effect on public opinion, Madison Cawthorn going down in his primaries, AIPAC and outside money in politics + much more!