The Sarah Lawrence College Podcast

In this season finale episode we are joined by SLC professor and author Bob Desjarlais to discuss his new book The Visual Afterlife of Abdelkader Bennahar. Bob sheds light on a mostly forgotten night of political unrest in France, zeroing in on a handful of photographs that capture his imagination.

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Sarah Lawrence College Podcast host Tim Kail announces that the Spring '26 season finale will publish Friday, June 26th!

This week on the Sarah Lawrence College Podcast we're joined by philosophy faculty Brom Anderson to discuss his latest book The Skeptical Roots of Critique: Hume's Attack on Theology and the Origin of Kant's Antinomy. Whether you're a Kant scholar or just someone who enjoys asking big questions this episode is for you. Host Tim Kail asks Brom about rationalism, empiricism, and space-time.

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This week we're joined by SLC Faculty and author Brian Morton to discuss his new book Writing as a Way of Life. Host Tim Kail asks Brian about his process, writing 500 words a day, setting "wimpy" goals, feeling like a story wants to exist, being a medium for the narrative, and what he's learned from SLC Students.

This episode was recorded in front an audience for one of our monthly Faculty Spotlight Events.

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Music by Kevin McKenna

In this episode Library Director Mustafa Sakarya attends the SLC annual event A Night Of Philosophy. We hear abridged versions of student papers as well as insights from the attending crowd. It's a lively episode that epitomizes SLC's interdisciplinary approach to education.

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Music by Kevin McKenna

This week we're joined by history professor Mary Dillard to discuss African History, segregation in America, the slave trade, the enduring importance of Public History, the cultural significance of Roots, and the beauty of Bryant Park in Manhattan. Mary also discusses her career at SLC and shares some advice for graduating students.

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Music by Kevin McKenna

For this season premiere episode of The Sarah Lawrence College Podcast we are joined by SLC President Cristle Collins Judd to discuss the SLC Centennial.

Topics include:

• the centennial theme of "timely and timeless"
• "adaptive reuse" and The Remy Theatre as a metaphor for the SLC community's progression into our second century
• reshaping the podcast to be in keeping with this year-long theme
• "Lifelong Learning" at SLC
• the great opportunities provided to SLC students given our proximity to New York City and Yonkers
• the distinctiveness of our faculty
• what Cristle would like listeners a hundred years from now to know about what SLC did to preserve democracy in education

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Thank you for listening!

This week Tim is joined by professor Jamee Moudud for a Faculty Spotlight to discuss Jamee's book: Legal and Political Foundations of Capitalism: The End of Laissez Faire?

Tim and Jamee discuss how society has gotten to where it is, writing readable academic text, and what people should do to be "good citizens".

This is the season finale of the Fall 2025. The podcast will be going on hiatus for the winter break following this episode.

Thank you for another great season of the podcast. Have a restorative break!

This week we are joined by professor and author Joseph Earl Thomas to discuss Joseph's memoir Sink.

Tim and Joseph discuss the importance of passions as a child, the narrative power of video games, inhabiting the perspective of a child, dedicating one's life to art, and the value of forming friendships and social groups.

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And follow the podcast on Instagram @slcpodcast!

This week we're joined by Christyn Refuerzo, editor in chief of the SLC people of color literary magazine, Dark Phrases.

Christyn discusses what it takes to be an editor, putting the magazine together, studying abroad, and the value of showcasing under-represented voices.

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And follow the podcast on Instagram @slcpodcast!

This week Tim is joined by writing professor and author Carolyn Ferrell to discuss Carolyn's award-winning novel, Dear Miss Metropolitan. Tim and Carolyn discuss creating the world of Dear Miss Metropolitan, her writing practice, coping with setbacks, and teaching at Sarah Lawrence.

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This week Tim is joined by two guests, history professors Matthew Ellis and David Gutman. Matt and David have created a new blog, The Historicizer on substack, where they intend to write accessible pieces that analyze current events through a historical lens.

You can subscribe to their substack for free at thehistoricizer.substack.com.

Follow Sarah Lawrence on social media @sarahlawrencecollege.

And follow the podcast on Instagram @slcpodcast!

This week we're joined by Mary Hartnett, former Director Of Medical Services. Tim and Mary discuss Mary's career at SLC, and why she decided to retire.

If you have any questions, thoughts, or guest suggestions email fkail@sarahlawrence.edu.

Follow Sarah Lawrence on social media @sarahlawrencecollege.

And follow the podcast on Instagram @slcpodcast!

This week we're joined by Mikayla Frain. Mikayla works in the Library as the Evening Access Services Coordinator. Tim and Mikayla discuss their love of library science, being a recent graduate, taking ownership of one's choices, and growing into a self-assured adult.

If you have any questions, thoughts, or guest suggestions email fkail@sarahlawrence.edu.

Follow Sarah Lawrence on social media @sarahlawrencecollege.

And follow the podcast on Instagram @slcpodcast!

Deadlines got you down? Overwhelmed by your commitments? Struggling to balance your studies with your social life?

We've got you covered! In this episode, we're joined by Senior Associate Dean of Studies & Director of the Learning Commons, Rachelle Rumph to discuss "burnout".

After defining what burnout is, Tim and Rachelle share a variety of strategies for preemptively addressing circumstances that lead to burnout. They discuss cognitive behavioral therapy, pivoting away from your inner dictator, listening to the signs of burnout, and establishing healthy, daily practices for your mental health.

If you have any questions, thoughts, or guest suggestions email fkail@sarahlawrence.edu.

Follow Sarah Lawrence on social media @sarahlawrencecollege.

And follow the podcast on Instagram @slcpodcast!

This week we're joined by SLC professor and author, David Hollander. Host Tim Kail and David discuss David's second novel, Anthropica, in great detail - how he developed his prose style, his love of simulating the chaotic nature of human consciousness, and his affinity for long sentences. David also shares his insights on getting published, working with an agent, and the evolving nature of the publishing industry.

This is a particularly poignant episode for writers of all ages and skill levels.

If you have any questions, thoughts, or guest suggestions email fkail@sarahlawrence.edu.

Follow Sarah Lawrence on social media @sarahlawrencecollege.

And follow the podcast on Instagram @slcpodcast!

This week host Tim Kail is joined by Jenn Melendez, Director of Campus Operations & Auxiliary Services. Jenn discusses managing SLC's fleet of vehicles, her various jobs before SLC, meeting Beyoncé, becoming confident in her job, and what she loves most about working at SLC.

If you have any questions, thoughts, or guest suggestions email fkail@sarahlawrence.edu.

And follow Sarah Lawrence on social media @sarahlawrencecollege.

This week host Tim Kail is joined by volleyball coach John Carroll for another in-depth look at the women's volleyball team. John discusses the positions and rules of the game, learning from losses, the demanding schedule of SLC's student athletes, being a student first and an athlete second, the best sports movie, and the recruiting process.

If you have any questions, thoughts, or guest suggestions email fkail@sarahlawrence.edu.

And follow Sarah Lawrence on social media @sarahlawrencecollege.

This week we are joined by Christina Fernandes, SLC's Director of Special Events.

Tim and Christina talk commencement, organizing events of all sizes, her hobbies, and their shared love of reality television.

If you have any questions, thoughts, or guest suggestions email fkail@sarahlawrence.edu.

And follow Sarah Lawrence on social media @sarahlawrencecollege.

This week we're joined by Tristana Rorendelli, the Italian professor here at SLC. Host Tim Kail and Tristana discuss learning a second language, the nuances of translation, language as culture, and more.

If you have any questions, thoughts, or guest suggestions email fkail@sarahlawrence.edu.

And follow Sarah Lawrence on social media @sarahlawrencecollege.

Today's episode of the podcast is a Faculty Spotlight which was recorded in front of a live audience. We're joined by professor Ryan Purcell, an expert on the 1970s New York rock scene. Host Tim Kail and Ryan discuss what soundscapes are, the origins of "Punk", how environmental conditions shape art, the aesthetics of "Punk", and more.

If you have any questions, thoughts, or guest suggestions email fkail@sarahlawrence.edu.

And follow Sarah Lawrence on social media @sarahlawrencecollege.