W&L After Class, the Lifelong Learning Podcast

Walks with A Noise: Exploring Identity, Quietly, with Harvey Markowitz

Harvey Markowitz is an emeritus professor of anthropology. Before arriving at W&L in 2003, Harvey taught in South Dakota at Sinte Gleska University, a tribal college on the Rosebud Indian Reservation. Later he spent nine years as associate and acting director of the D'Arcy McNickle Center for American Indian and Indigenous Studies at the Newberry Library in Chicago. His research interests include interrelationships among American Indian religions, landscapes, culture, histories, and identities. In this episode, we talk about how he first arrived on the reservation, his relationship with the Lakota identity and language, and conversations about identity and acknowledgement in tribal communities.

Studied Carelessness: A Discussion of Life as Improvisation with Caleb Dance

In this conversation with Caleb Dance, associate professor of classics, we explore the impact of humor, improvisation and “sprezzatura” (studied carelessness) on his research and teaching. He also shares the story of his journey into classics, the importance of studying abroad and his musical endeavors, including the work he does with the nonprofit MIMA.

Find Your People: Absolut(e) W&L with Amanda Bower

Professor Amanda Bower, the head of the Business Administration department and the Charles C. Holbrook, Jr. '72 Professor of Business Administration, is widely known for her popular "AdClass.” She also started the AdLib Conferenceon W&L's campus.

Russia Then and Now: The Arc of a Superpower with Rich Bidlack

Rich Bidlack, the Martin and Brooke Stein Professor of History, has spent decades studying Russia and Soviet History. He shares what first sparked his interest in Russia, his research over the decades, and the direction his research will take upon his retirement.  

Accountant or Detective: A Credit to Her Profession with Megan Hess

Megan Hess, associate professor of accounting at W&L discusses her passion for teaching, how she grew to love accounting, and what it’s like to investigate corporate fraud.

Understanding Humanity Through Theater with Stephanie Sandberg

Associate professor of theater Stephanie Sandberg tells the story of social justice theater, and why theater and a liberal arts education go hand-in-hand.    

A discussion about cybersecurity with Taha Khan

Assistant Professor of Computer Science Taha Khan, discusses his research that focuses on computer security, privacy, and human-computer interaction, including cybercrime.

Art on the Wall with George Bent

George Bent, the Sidney Gause Childress Professor of the Arts at W&L, talks about what inspired his love of art history, why he loves teaching it, and how he has engaged students in a remarkable digital history project, "Florence As It Was," that is reconstructing the Italian city the way it appeared at the end of the 15th century.

Along Came a Spider: The Allure of Arachnids with Nadia Ayoub

Nadia Ayoub, associate professor of biology at W&L, weaves a fascinating lesson about her research into the genetics of black widow spider silk – and explains the wide-reaching implications of understanding these amazing arachnids. 

The Nose Knows: The Science of Smell with Tyler Lorig

Tyler Lorig, professor emeritus of cognitive and behavioral science at Washington and Lee University, has spent decades studying the olfactory system and its impact on everyday life. After listening to him explain this crucial sense, you'll never think about odor the same way again.