Culture and Belonging

We're celebrating two years of Culture and Belonging with a conversation with our producer, Austin Toy. He'll give his definitions of culture and belonging and his thoughts on how infrastructure affects culture in small town America. Follow us on Bluesky: @belongingpod.bsky.social

Were you a "gifted" kid, growing up? It's a label applied to students who show a higher aptitude in one or more areas. But, as our guest Dr. Shirley Farrell tells us, being gifted is not a golden ticket to success, and many misconceptions exist about what gifted students need for success in the classroom and later in life. Follow us on Bluesky: @belongingpod.bsky.social

In this episode, we talk to Troy University student Kelsey Rumler about her trip to Puerto Rico and Peru and her involvement with the Global Scholars Program. We spoke to Kelsey before and after her trip to gauge how her experiences might change her perspective. Follow us on Bluesky: @belongingpod.bsky.social

December of 2025 will mark 70 years since Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery city bus. On this episode, we're talking to Donna Beisel, Director of Museum Operations at the Rosa Parks Museum in Montgomery. We'll talk about what has changed in the 70 years since the Montgomery bus boycott and the obstacles that still remain. Follow us on Bluesky: @belongingpod.bsky.social

In this episode Kyle Gassiott, Director of Radio at Troy Public Radio, shares what he’s learned in his 15 years as a radio, print, and television journalist about crafting a story that connects with listeners. We also talk about how our experiences and the stories we tell contribute to culture.

Maria Frigge, Dean of International Student Services at Troy University, tells us how faculty, staff, and students can better accommodate the needs of international students. She also shares her own experiences coming to the U.S. as an international student from Sweden.

Historian and archivist Dr. Marty Olliff is the Director of the Wiregrass Archives at Troy University’s Dothan Campus. Like other archivists, he seeks to identify, preserve, and make available the records of the local community. Those records inform community formation and preserve the corporate or institutional memory that typically walks out the door when an archivist is missing. We learn a great deal about how to proceed in the present and future based on our past experiences. We are tied to our communities because we share a worldview, but perhaps the healthiest communities have permeable boundaries that allow membership to change as needed.

Political Science major Jud Keel, who participated in a study abroad trip to Puerto Rico this past summer, joined us to talk about how he engaged in research while on his trip. From the preparation before the trip to what he learned during the project, and what he is still learning while working to complete it, he shares his thoughts with us about this experience. Discussions with a professor during an undergraduate class for his major sparked Jud’s interest in studying Puerto Rico’s politics, but as he explains, learning is certainly not limited to the classroom. Jud’s experience allowed him to interview several locals during his visit, make observations about Puerto Rican perspectives, and sample authentic food, music, art, and people's perspectives on local politics. One thing that is clear, maintaining the status quo does not lead to happiness for everyone.

The really successful college or university is organic and willing to evolve and change. Embracing change is vital to progress, so cultivating the ability to change is essential. Drs. Hal Fulmer and Christina Martin have survived their fair share of organizational change. Each has filled multiple roles in various departments just at Troy University, not to mention their individual experiences at previous institutions. They speak candidly about navigating the inevitable evolution of systems and technology while emphasizing the importance of building and maintaining relationships with others. If our differences are what lead to greater learning and understanding, then finding a productive pathway through conflict is invaluable. Constructive conflict leads us forward.

"Educate the mind to think, the heart to feel, and the body to act.” Troy University’s motto has stood the test of time because it gets to the core of what it means to be human. We are complex beings, and we all have stories and experiences worth sharing. Tropolitan student newspaper editorial staff members Emily Mosier (editor-in-chief) and Kris Harrell (Trojan living editor) shared their opinions with us on recent state legislation concerning funding for diversity initiatives in higher education and other state agencies. Resources that help students feel safe and seen are valuable and accessible across college and university campuses even when they are not housed in a one-stop-shop. We can all do our part to help others belong.

TROY Art and Design professor Ed Noriega talks about how it felt to move into south Alabama as an “outsider” from southern California via NYC. Belonging for him has been a lifelong struggle, as he has navigated various professional settings with different cultural mixes and strived to set a high bar for himself and his students. A truly eclectic and inspirational creative with big plans for retirement on and around his peafowl farm, Ed advocates play as he reflects candidly on lessons he has learned and challenges he has overcome.

Ray White is the Vice Chancellor of Troy University’s Montgomery Campus, but 25 years ago, in a previous role at the University, he set out to establish the Rosa Parks Museum on the site of her 1955 arrest. He shares candid reflections on his work to build trust as he worked with Mrs. Parks and her family, collected materials, and consulted with Civil Rights experts to build the interpretive museum and children’s wing as it exists today. Although change may take generations, we can treat others well and genuinely care about their stories. Even our seemingly small decisions today direct our future.

As a clinical sociologist, associate professor and associate dean of Troy University’s college of arts and sciences, Dr. Sharon Lindhorst Everhardt works to improve systems. Her book Gardening Behind Bars was released in February, and she sat down to talk to us about some of her experiences with the incarcerated women she worked with on this project. She reminds us that belonging is a basic need for all of us, and listening to understand is of critical importance to our society. We talk about some difficult issues in this episode, including children of incarcerated parents who struggle with suicidal thoughts and tendencies, but the bottom line is that no one’s story is simple, and we all need to be a little more intentional about getting to know our neighbors.

Be curious. Have a conversation with a stranger. Try something new. Travel. What better ways are there to get out of our comfort zone? Dr. Kelly Suero, associate professor of Spanish language at Troy University, advocates travel as a means of stimulating intellectual curiosity. Her love of travel began with a study abroad trip to Argentina at age 18, and she says that we should all aim to become compassionate, understanding global citizens.

Dr. Brandon Stewart studies ethnic politics and political violence. In this episode we'll talk with him about how cultural, political, and ethnic identities are constructed. And we'll learn how to promote understanding and cooperation within diverse populations.

Spanish language professor Dr. Johanna Alberich is passionate about sparking curiosity in her students and encouraging them to learn about people who are different from them. She defines culture as a belief system that can vary by individual and says belonging primarily focuses on adaptability. She serves as a resource for colleagues preparing to lead their first study abroad trip for students, and she emphasizes how rewarding it is to hear students express their gratitude and expanded mindset after a study abroad experience. She believes strongly that intercultural competence is vital regardless of your discipline or location.

Author, librarian, and historian Dr. Christopher (Chris) Shaffer talks books, food, and travel with us on our ninth episode of the Culture and Belonging podcast. He agrees that culture is difficult to define and shares insights about why banning books is never a good idea (unless you’re hoping to spike book sales). He talks specifically about his own book, Moon over Sasova, and a sample of personal anecdotes he shares in it, and he concludes with a challenge to prioritize authentic travel experiences that build empathy and feed our curiosity.

Cultural identity is often tied to where we call home, but what happens when that home changes? Today, we'll talk to Miguel Rodriguez-Blest, who lived most of his life in Puerto Rico before moving to south Alabama.

The US Surgeon General released an advisory earlier this year placing the pervasive problem of loneliness on the same level of public health concern as smoking. For this seventh episode of the Culture and Belonging podcast, Kim Serrano, Director of the Center for Inclusion and Belonging, spoke with us about her agency’s research around belonging, and their findings are thought-provoking! Belonging is a fundamental human need, and it does not have an on/off switch. Instead, belonging is a multifaceted spectrum of experience that varies depending on place and other people. We need a baseline understanding of the state of belonging in our spaces to develop effective interventions to increase belonging. Kim encourages us to recognize that we’re not alone when we feel a lack of belonging, and she emphasizes the fact that we combat loneliness when we prioritize being intentional and present with our loved ones.

Librarians are here to help! Before coming to the States to study and become a librarian, Olga Casey worked as a translator in her native Ukraine, and she clearly continues that work today. Olga shares stories with us for episode six of the Culture and Belonging podcast about gifting materials to a Ukrainian sister library, preserving cultural heritage online, archiving wartime creative works, and important translation projects to reveal hidden history. Olga defines belonging as a comfortable feeling of being needed and even recognizing potential to contribute. Wearing her “please interrupt me” button, she emphasizes the importance of a sense of humor, and she reminds us - above all - that no question is a bad question.