Communication is at the heart of everything we do, from the friendships we make to the communities we build to the stories we tell.
In these podcasts, Natalie Pennington talks about friendship and loneliness in young people, Katie Knobloch discusses how communities can build a "civic action toolbox" for creating local change, and Kit Hughes shares our collective American perspective on small business owners based on how they're represented in Hallmark movies.
Building meaningful connections
While many young adults are highly connected, they still feel disconnected. They are satisfied with their number of friends, but long for deeper closeness. Assistant Professor Natalie Pennington discusses her research on friendship and loneliness, sharing strategies for building meaningful relationships. "The pandemic showcased just how valuable friendship and social interaction are for our well-being," she said. Her work equips students with communication skills essential for thriving in college, career, and community life.
Empowering communities to create change
From mini-grants for rural Colorado towns to civic trainings in high schools, Associate Professor Katie Knobloch helps communities build a "civic action toolbox" for creating local change. "We can stand up for what we believe in and build connections," she said. Through this approach, she empowers students to be engaged citizens and strengthen democracy.
Understanding economic narratives
After watching a year's worth of holiday Hallmark movies, Associate Professor Kit Hughes discovered that small business owners shape how Americans think about economic policy and community. These characters embody a fantasy where work-life balance is effortless, and communities thrive through volunteerism. "These policy conversations are about who we think the heroes of our economy are," Hughes said. Her research reveals how popular culture influences attitudes about fairness, success, and support.
Liberal Arts Impact
Colorado State University’s College of Liberal Arts is a vibrant community of artists, thinkers, storytellers, and scientists who examine the human experience. In these podcasts, our faculty share their areas of expertise and talk about why their work matters in our world today.
Faculty and staff recorded their podcasts with CSU's Center for Science Communication through the leadership of Associate Professor Jaime Jacobsen and her graduate students in the Department of Journalism and Media Communication.