The Ampersand

Coming soon: Season Three of The Ampersand

Coming as soon as that tantalizing ice cream truck jingle, we are deep in production of The Ampersand's third season. So that you need not waste time deciding between your favorite desserts, we've pulled together this season's novelties in a singular menu that offers a taste of each interview. We hope you'll love what you hear and come back for more when we debut season three later this summer.
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Original music composed by Nelson Walker.
Recorded at Interplay Recording and Multimedia.
Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley.

Season Two of The Ampersand ... In post

Yes, this trailer for season two of The Ampersand is nine months late. But, like the Scotch that inspired Erika and Producer Tim to match the guests to their ideal labels, this one is worth the wait.
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Original music composed by Nelson Walker.
Recorded at Interplay Recording and Multimedia.
Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley.

Weaving reciprocity with jazz: An interview with Reiland Rabaka

For The Ampersand’s final episode of season two, we have the joy of interviewing Dr. Reiland Rabaka, professor of ethnic studies at the University of Colorado Boulder and director of the Center for African and African American Studies. Dr. Rabaka is a creative and scholarly hurricane who has authored more than 17 books that span his wide interests. Like his research, today’s interview covers unbelievable and unexpected ground—from W.E.B. DuBois to the Women’s Movement, from jazz and the civil rights movement to soul sisters and funksters, from Rabaka’s upbringing in Texas to catalyzing change in Boulder, Colorado. Woven throughout is Rabaka’s deep desire to live with reciprocity and help all people discover a renewed humanity. As 2023 draws to a close, we hope you, dear listeners, breath in this gorgeous human’s words.
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Learn more about the Center for African and African American Studies.
Discover Dr. Rabaka’s research and publications.
 
Music by Nelson Walker.
Episodes recorded at Interplay Recording in Boulder, CO.
Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley, The Ampersand is a production of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Counting back from three: An interview with Rachel Suter

Fear of failing stops many of us from tackling curiosities or opening doors on new adventures, but what if we could live without that anxiety of falling from heights? For today's guest, Rachel Suter, mitigating that fear comes down to confidence in her plans, counting from three and leaping from the (in this case literal) precipice. Suter, an undergraduate at the University of Colorado Boulder, is majoring in neuroscience and art practices, dives at Casa Bonita and for CU Boulder's club diving team, works in the College of Arts and Sciences' student government, professionally models and more. On today's episode, she discusses her desire to dabble and try interests, her "why not?" attitude and her strategies for staying calm before stepping out into the unknown.
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Check out Suter's artwork on Instagram, @rachelsuterart.
Music by Nelson Walker.
Episodes recorded at Interplay Recording in Boulder, CO.
Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley.

Espresso stories of sonder: An interview with Camden Sharkey

The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows (a rabbit hole courtesy of today's guest Camden Sharkey) defines sonder as "the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own." While this may feel sad for some, Sharkey, who is an undergraduate at the University of Colorado Boulder majoring in political science and dance, finds the concept invigorating. Whether it means treating every individual coming to Dutch Bros coffee shop with care, arguing for social change at the State Capitol or crafting dance performances that bring voice to current issues, Sharkey navigates life with grace and humor that warms every passerby who comes into his orbit.
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To connect with Camden, see his TikTok page.
 
Music by Nelson Walker.
Episodes recorded at Interplay Recording in Boulder, CO.
Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley.

Searching for Self-compassion: An interview with Lauren Lewis

On The Ampersand, we love to highlight stories of people who bring together their widest interests, research and making. In most cases, these disparate facets of being shine from our brightest sides—but how can we find compassion for our darker corners? Today’s guest, Lauren Lewis, walks listeners through her journey navigating an eating disorder while learning to cook from the heart as a nutritionist and chef, guiding others to healing as a yogi, feeling at home in her body through dance and wake surfing, and how she seeks out love and self-compassion.  
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Lauren’s yoga website.
Take Lauren’s online yoga classes.
Lauren’s website dedicated to nutrition: The Pure Gourmet.
 
Music by Nelson Walker.
Episodes recorded at Interplay Recording in Boulder, CO.
Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley.

Living your North Star. Values and bringing human resources into the 21st Century with Bernadette Stewart

How do you pass your values on to those you love? Or live out those same values in your workplace?
On today's episode, Bernadette Stewart, assistant dean of people, engagement and culture at the University of Colorado Boulder, discusses the manner we not only articulate what we hold most dear, but live out our "North Stars" on a daily basis. From growing up in a military family to parenting to music/streaming lists to self-care and living larger, Stewart shares the experiences and lessons she gleaned over a lifetime helping people reflect on who they have become.
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Learn more about Bernadette Stewart by reading Bernadette's bio.
Connect with Bernadette on LinkedIn.
Music by Nelson Walker.
Episodes recorded at Interplay Recording in Boulder, CO.
Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley.

Walk softly on this earth: The far right, Norse mythology, animism, metal, witches and more with Mathias Nordvig

On The Ampersand, we take pride in the ground each episode covers. Today's guest, though, sets a high standard for the breadth through which we can meander in 30 minutes. Mathias Nordvig is a teaching professor in the University of Colorado Boulder's Department of German and Slavic Languages and Literatures. He specializes in pre-Christian Nordic mythologies, folklore and Neo-paganism. From the far right's co-opting of Norse iconography and mythology, to Danish summer camps, heavy metal, animistic philosophy, witch hunts, issues of separating wilderness from society and more, a conversation with Mathias is like a grand epic just starting out by the episode's end.
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For more on Mathias Nordvig, check out his podcast, the Sacred Flame.
For more on his research and classes, see Mathias' faculty biography.
Music by Nelson Walker.
Episodes recorded at Interplay Recording in Boulder, CO.
Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley.

The universe, Dungeons and Dragons and self-discovery: An interview with Mikayla Huffman

Today's guest, Mikayla Huffman, is pursuing a PhD in astrophysical and planetary sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder. Huffman's research delves into numerical modeling of impacts onto icy bodies, crater mapping on rocky bodies and cometary spectroscopy. She is also an exceptional dungeon master (DM) who leads epic, year-plus campaigns through a variety of Dungeons and Dragons worlds. Tune in to hear more about astrophysics and the manner D&D creates space for people to discover how they want to show up in our modern world.
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For more about Mikayla's research and love of Dungeons and Dragons, visit Mikayla's website.
Follow Mikayla on X. 
Mikayla's Youtube channel.
 
Music by Nelson Walker.
Episodes recorded at Interplay Recording in Boulder, CO.Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley.

We are coming: A collaborative project gives voice to the past and draws researchers closer in the present

What happens when you not only collaborate on a project, but you also meet your creative work and research bestie?
The result, in the case of today's guests, is We Are Coming, a project by Yumi Janairo Roth and Emmanuel David about Filipino pasts and futures. In 1899, Buffalo Bill's Wild West hired three Filipinos to join the Congress of Rough Riders of the World. Although the Filipino Rough Riders were largely forgotten to history, Roth and David are working with historic theaters in towns and cities where the Wild West show traveled to install the trio’s names —Ysidora Alcantara, Felix Alcantara, and Geronimo Ynosincio – on vintage marquees.
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Learn more about the Denver Museum of Contemporary Art's show, Cowboy, which features We are coming.
Bucking the myth of the American cowboy.
The Museum of Contemporary Art Denver Questions the Cowboy.
Learn more about the installation in Cody, WY. 
Learn more about Yumi Janairo Roth's work and the project We are coming.
More about Emmanuel David's work.
 
Music by Nelson Walker.
Episodes recorded at Interplay Recording in Boulder, CO.
Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley.