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Welcome to Campus Conversations, Wellness at Penn’s podcast that brings us together to share stories and find strength in vulnerability. Come along as we dive into the personal stories of members of the Penn community who display grit and resilience in times of adversity.


Latest Episodes

 Episode 6: A Campus Conversation with Dr. Lia Howard

Episode 6Our guest is Dr. Lia Howard, a political scientist who specializes in American politicsli and serves as the Fellows Director at Penn’s SNF Paidea Program. Lia shares her journey as a researcher at the intersection of political culture, education policy, and citizenship. She offers valuable and timely insights about political empathy—what it entails and how we can achieve it—and the dynamics of civic dialogue. She recalls how a simple conversation on a park bench in Erie, Pennsylvania, sparked an unexpected and heartwarming reaction. Join us as we unpack the transformative power of connection in bridging divides and fostering a more engaged community.

Episode 5: A Campus Conversation with Michael Krone

Episode 5Our guest today is Michael Krone, L’24 W’24 C’19.mk Michael is a recent graduate of the Carey JD/MBA Program at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School and The Wharton School. Michael shares thoughtful insights about his academic journey at Penn, both as an undergraduate and graduate student, highlighting ways the campus has changed over the years. He tells us how the laws of addition and subtraction allowed him to thrive as a student, reminds us that laughter is the best medicine and shares how Wawa fits into his life plans.

 Episode 4: A Campus Conversation with Eric Anglero

Our guest is Eric Anglero, Penn’s new LGBT Center Director. Together, we fbstumble into a candid conversation about intersectionality and learn about their journey as a Queer Latinx person. They share with us how mentors helped them stay afloat in trying times and reminds us of the importance of finding community. We also find out why their glasses match their shoes and about the role of queer Kickball in their self-care repository.

 

Episode 3: A Campus Conversation with David Clark  

Our guest is David Clark, a graduate student at the School of Nursindavidg and a newly minted Peer Wellness Coach at Penn. In conversation with David, we learn about his pivot from engineering to psychiatric nursing and how he navigated this career transition. He shares with us the fulfillment he experiences as an accountability partner in his work as a Peer Wellness Coach. We also learn about how surfing the Jersey shore and his fear of blood impacted his professional journey thus far.

Episode 2: A Campus Conversation with Rev. Charles (Chaz) Howard

Our guest is Rev. Charles (Chaz) Howard, a Penn alum who serves as the University ChaplainChaz and Vice President for Social Equity & Community. In conversation with Chaz, we learn about the surprising role Paula Abdul played in his formative years, his special connection with the biopond on Penn’s campus, and how he prioritizes self-care in order to avoid depleting his empathy reserves. Now a proud Penn Parent, he also shares the advice
he gave his daughters as they embarked on their own college journey at Penn.

Episode 1: A Campus Conversation with Taunita V. Stephenson

Our guest is Taunita Stephenson, Head of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion andtaunita
Belonging for Wellness at Penn and the Division of Recreation and Intercollegiate Athletics (DRIA). In conversation with Taunita, we learn about what is was like to be an Army brat, make decisions unpopular with her parents, and work for the National Football League.