KUCI: UCI Conversations

Hal Stern, Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor...........................................(first broadcast 6-22-2021)

“We are a young campus doing incredibly noble work ... dedicated to our diverse student population for great outcomes”, says new Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor Hal Stern. His academic colleagues call him, “brilliant, personable, humble and honest” and he loves sports :) Listen to this wide-ranging interview about his life, his statistics expertise and COVID-19. After teaching at Harvard and Iowa State, Professor Stern found a home at UCI in 2002 and has never looked back..

Ilhem Messaoudi-Viral Immunology Professor.............................................(first broadcast 6-15-2021)

Viral Immunologist Professor Ilhem Messaoudi talks about the year like no other with COVID-19, her dreams and an opportunity she could not pass up. She strongly encourages all of us to get vaccinated saying, "in science we trust" and that "vaccines are always better than therapeutics or drugs". She also shares about lessons learned from this pandemic...and her outstanding and committed lab personnel.

Mark Roberts -- UCI baseball play-by-play announcer...................................(first broadcast 6-08-2021)

Twenty-year UCI baseball play-by-play announcer Mark Roberts recaps the extraordinary season it has been...from the COVID shut down to the 2021 Stanford Regional Bracket that they almost won. Their 43-18 record was outstanding. This all around strong team, hits, plays defense and is primed for a run next season. Third-year head coach Ben Orloff is doing a great job!

Daniel Whiteson, Physics Professor & Communications Expert.......................(first broadcast 06-01-2021)

Growing up in Los Alamos, NM, UCI Physics Professor Daniel Whiteson never dreamed he would have his own podcast, PBS kids science show or author published books, yet here he is... and you will hear it all and more...
Plus his continuing incredible research in Cern, Switzerland with the Large Hadron Collider for the smallest particles and Higgs-Boson... all I gotta say is...WOW!!!! And UCI professors never know who they might meet next... sometimes it’s Bernie Sanders and Robert Plant of Led Zepplin fame... :) Enjoy the ride!

Jon Lovitz’79 Comedian/Actor....................................................................(first broadcast 09-2018)

Encore edition from September 2018 interview with UCI and Saturday Night LIVE alumni Jon Lovitz. He talks about talent nights nights at Mesa Court, his favorite comedians growing up and not working for five years until BOOM! SNL comes in the picture...an amazing story. Listen to this unpredictable interview...

Andrew Noymer, Public Health Professor/COVID Expert................................(first broadcast 05-11-2021)

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE--WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS!
UCI Public Health/Pandemic Expert-Professor Andrew Noymer visits ‘UCI Conversations’ for the fourth time and shares the evolving good news about Orange County, VACCINES, and cautious optimism. His description of how the mRNA vaccine works is wonderful. Our scientists are HEROES!!! This honest interview is high on facts and straight when the answer is still not clear :)

Kevin Madsen ’05 Car Racer, Stunt Driver + Coach......................................(first broadcast 05-04-2021)

UCI Social Science alumni Kevin Madsen'05 has been auto racing, stunt driving and coaching for 22 years. Listen to this entertaining walk through what it takes to make it in the professional motorsports world. His motto is-"ALWAYS BE READY" and his #1 coaching question is-"WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS?"...He is motivated, dedicated and passionate. Enjoy!

Dr. Tepring Piquado, Senior Policy Researcher/RAND Corp.............................(first broadcast 4-27-2021)

From 2010-2012 Dr. Tepring Piquado did post-doc work in Professor Greg Hickok’s language science lab. From there she has become a Senior Policy Researcher at Rand Corporation, Chief Policy Director at the California Issues Forum and has run for a state assembly congressional seat. She also continues being involved at UCI on the Graduate Dean’s Leadership Council. Diversity, equity and inclusion are driving commitments for this active Anteater. Listen in as she shares her story...

Jack Miles, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of English & Religious Studies.....(first broadcast 4-20-2021)

Distinguished Professor Emeritus of English & Religious Studies Jack Miles talks about his books, winning the Pulitzer Prize, his long career, as well as failure AND success! He was inspired by the Guggenheim Award which said to him, the world hasn’t heard about you, but we think you have what it takes...”oh, that’s precious!” He also discusses his new project, “A Friendship in Twilight”, a series of letters between him and his colleague Mark C. Taylor written during the pandemic. Also don’t miss his UCI ‘What Matters to Me and Why’ presentation which can be found on your favorite search engine.

Stephen Tucker, UCI Music Chair & Conductor..............................................(first broadcast 4-13-2021)

UCI Conductor & Music Chair Professor Stephen Tucker has been guided by his love of music, this love of teaching and by his identical twin brother. Listen to this revealing interview about being on the podium, stress, sublime moments (?), losing years off his life and being inspired by the artistry of a 90+ year old conductor. A life in music is fun to explore and is full of surprises...