Moraine Valley Community College Library Podcast

Faculty members from literature and the library will discuss James Baldwin's classic text.

From blockbuster starships to immersive video game worlds, popular culture does far more than entertain us. It shapes how we see ourselves, each other, and the future. In this talk, MVCC Faculty members, Carey Millsap-Spears will explore how TV, film, and gaming create powerful narratives about identity, power, technology, and fear. Drawing on her work as the author of Star Trek Discovery and the Female Gothic and contributor to Set Phasers to Teach!: Star Trek in Research and Teaching, and other works, she will show how even the “geekiest” stories reveal deep cultural anxieties and hopes.

Drawing on his research in fandom, games, and popular culture, DePaul University professor Paul Booth examines how media texts like Doctor Who invite audiences to imagine new futures, question authority, and rethink what justice looks like. Booth is Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Engagement in the College of Communication and the author or editor of more than ten books, including Adventures Across Space and Time: A Doctor Who Reader, Watching Doctor Who, and Entering the Multiverse. He is also the organizer of the annual DePaul Pop Culture Conference, where fans and scholars gather to discuss everything from time travel and Star Trek to slasher films, superheroes, and pop music.

History is riddled with tales of leaders courting authoritarianism and dictatorial desires when leading institutions, organizations, and countries. Some who enter positions of authority with the best of intentions at times fall prey to the temptation of self-gratifying motives. Is this human nature or a function of the ways in which society conceptualizes leadership? What role do associates, supporters, and constituents play? For those who have resisted the lure of self-aggrandizement, were there certain protocols and characteristics that keep them balanced, or were these individuals skilled at not being exposed? This conversation explores this failure (or fallacy) of leadership and inevitably invites far more questions than answers.

Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jerusalem, and historic Palestine continue to struggle for justice and liberation after 79 years of occupation. Join us for a talk on the goals of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, which advocates for an end to Israeli complicity in Palestinian human rights violations.

We welcome Tim Noonan, director of 19th Ward Mutual Aid, which provided over 20,000 people with food during the pandemic and supports asylum seekers who need support. This talk will explore the idea of “mutual aid” and what it means. It will consider how students may get involved.

Join Moraine Valley Psychology faculty in a conversation inspired by our One Book text, Ursula K. Le Guin’s novel The Dispossessed. Using the novel’s vision of community, freedom, and obligation as a starting point, the panel will explore how people build relationships when autonomy and interdependence are both at stake.

Political Divisions in the United States are far more complex than decisions about the role of government. In this talk we’ll discuss the cultural, historical, geographic, and economic roots of political bifurcation, and how understanding this can yield more enriching political interactions. This event is a Democracy Commitment event.

Marc DiPaolo presents on his newly published book about the contributions Italians and Italian Americans have made to the genres of science fiction, fantasy, and horror.

Join Moraine Valley history and political science faculty for a lively panel conversation inspired by Ken Burns’ new PBS documentary series The American Revolution.

In this talk we’ll discuss some of the historical, economic, and political roots of the current Venezuelan conflict.

Le Guin is one of the best writers to help us imagine different futures and better worlds. This talk will explore her life and writing as well as why her work is still so relevant today.

As the United States prepares to mark the 250th anniversary of the War for Independence, this panel brings together MVCC historians to explore the defining moments of the Revolution and the lasting significance of the founding struggle.

This event will explain what led to the U.S. government shutting down on October 1, 2025. We will discuss the factors that led to the shutdown, the positions of the Democrats and Republicans on the shutdown, and the impact on government workers, services, and politics in general.

Our communities are a reflection of the time and dedication we spend making them work. Whether through employment, interactions with your neighbors, or organizing with your elected officials, you get out of your community what you put into it. Join us for an interactive discussion about what is being put into our communities by ourselves and others and what we can do to rehabilitate ourselves from poverty and overcriminalization.Our communities are a reflection of the time and dedication we spend making them work. Whether through employment, interactions with your neighbors, or organizing with your elected officials, you get out of your community what you put into it. Join us for an interactive discussion about what is being put into our communities by ourselves and others and what we can do to rehabilitate ourselves from poverty and overcriminalization.

Argonne National Laboratory is a scientific hub with initiatives ranging from cancer research to quantum chemistry to astrophysics and cosmology. Dr. Wells will talk about his experience as a postdoctoral researcher and early-career computational scientist.

Historian Jim McIntyre will explore how the North American theater of the Seven Years’ War laid the groundwork for colonial unrest and the birth of the American Revolution. McIntyre will examine the war’s political, economic, and territorial consequences that reshaped British-colonial relations.

In recent years, there have been a rapid increase in conflicts, wars and major disagreements between countries over numerous issues. Please join history professors Merri Fefles-Dunkle and Josh Fulton and political science professor Kevin Navratil as they examine the breakdown of the Post WWII international system and other factors that may have contributed to this volatile international environment.

Join us for a special lecture exploring the work and legacy of Ursula K. Le Guin, one of the most influential voices in science fiction and fantasy. Dr. Rebecca Johns-Trissler of DePaul University will examine Le Guin’s themes of anarchism, gender, and imagination in works such as our One Book Text, The Dispossessed. This lecture invites students, faculty, and the community to reflect on how Le Guin’s writing continues to shape conversations about society and storytelling.

The Framers of the Constitution intentionally designed a “Madisonian” system with separation of powers and checks and balances. This event will briefly explain why the Framers designed the system they did and then examine how well these principles are holding up in 2025.

Brian P. Swift's life was changed as a result of a tragic football accident when he was 17 years old. A C6 quadriplegic, he now lives life fully from a wheelchair as a personal development coach, speaker, best-selling author, radio personality, alumnus of Moraine Valley and graduate of DePaul University's College of Law.

This talk shares the story of Teófilo Stevenson, a prominent and dominant Afro-Cuban boxer whose decision to remain in Cuba following the Cuban Revolution of 1959 elevated him to the status of Cuban national hero and international sports celebrity; it also set off discourses about race and black athletic activism and Cuban exile culture and politics.

As we mark the 100th anniversary of the historic Scopes Trial, this interdisciplinary panel will delve into the enduring significance of The State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes, a case that reshaped the cultural, legal, and educational landscape of America. Bringing together historians, political scientists, biologists, and philosophers, this discussion will explore the trial's foundational conflicts between science and religion, and its resonance in today’s debates over the teaching of evolution and other controversial subjects.

Participants will hear Dr. Haney’s leadership journey and gain valuable insight from Moraine Valley Community College's 6th president.

Several faculty across disciplines will discuss the new media ecosystem and the impact this has had on politics and society.

MVCC students share their personal experiences and perspectives living with disabilities. This event offers a unique opportunity to learn about life inside and outside of the classroom. Panelists will highlight what they wish others understood about living with disabilities and how to create a more inclusive and supportive environment. This event is part of the One Book program and is organized by the Center for Disability Services.

Political Science Professor Kevin Navratil discusses global trade with a special focus on tariffs and protectionism. He examines the benefits and drawbacks of both free trade and protectionism, exploring the potential implications on the global economy.

The prospect of graduate school for any degree or program can seem like a lot. Join us for this interactive panel as faculty and administrators from across disciplines share their many experiences, and answer questions on how to approach what graduate school can involve.

There have been numerous executive orders and new policy directions in the first few weeks of the second Trump Administration. Join us for a discussion regarding the resulting changes and the implications for the future.

Marc DiPaolo, Assistant Professor of Humanities and author of War, Politics, and Superheroes will talk about what different superheroes mean to fans, focusing on their value systems, powers, race, gender, and personality. He will also consider how we relate to and what powers we wish we had tell us about ourselves and others.

Presentation by Dr. Heather Hayes, Assistant Professor of Special Education at Northwestern College. Dr. Hayes is an expert in special education, having served as a middle and high school special education teacher for seven years before pursuing both a master's degree and doctorate in the field.Her current research focuses on opportunities to learn the general education content for students with extensive support needs, universal design for learning, and literacy instruction for students with extensive support needs.

There have been numerous executive orders and new policy directions in the first few weeks of the second Trump Administration. Join us for a discussion regarding the resulting changes and the implications for the future.

The MVCC Library is excited to welcome Dr. Paul Booth, a leading scholar from DePaul University specializing in fandom, pop culture, and media studies. Dr. Booth will delve into the ways media and fan communities shape culture, identity, and creativity in the digital age.

MVCC Velocity students interview special guest Theresa Mah, Illinois State Representative from the 24th District. Representative Mah was the chief sponsor of the Dignity in Pay Act which eliminates subminimum wage for workers with disabilities.

The structure of the international system has changed in the past generation and this has contributed to wide ranging implications on countries/states around the world. We will discuss how the international system is changing and how this might impact conflict, cooperation around shared global threats, and human security around the world. This event is organized by the MVCC Democracy Commitment.

The history of the Bishop Colony (1846-1860) includes assassination, religious debates, and an economic boom (and bust) of the Illinois Prairie. Bishop Hill helped lead the way for the development of the Western Illinois by Europeans. The Swedes at Bishop Hill followed their profit Eric Janson from Sweden to America. This talk will explore this history and consider how we view this period of Illinois history.

Should your food choices be the way your community and the state determines if you re in fact a patriotic or good American? In wartime America in 1917-1918 that absolutely happened. The history of food and drink in wartime America is a fascinating reality where a new federal organization, the Food Administration sought to influence American food consumption choices nationwide and needed the public s help to do it.

During this presentation, an overview will be provided on the different definitions of homelessness, how it can impact individuals, and the available resources on campus to support students.

Monsters often are shaped by our collective fears and Mary Shelley, Bela Lugosi, and James Whale, some of the greatest architects and faces of horror narratives, are clear demonstrations of this. In this lecture we will discuss how the experiences of war deeply shaped the unconscious creation of monsters. Explore how authors and filmmakers have harnessed the power of fear and the macabre to confront, process, and ultimately heal from the unspeakable traumas of armed conflict. This discussion will consider the relationship between art, psychology, and the collective reckoning with the horrors of war.

For nearly 50 years, Star Wars has made a tremendous impact on popular culture. Controversies surrounding the saga have shifted to issues of diversity and representation. Living in a world where the consumption of and meaning-making of pop culture have become a collective process, minoritized groups of Star Wars fans have been using their voices and creativity on social media and other fan outlets to "resist" problematic representation and the lack of visibility.

In collaboration with the Crisis Center of South Suburbia, this presentation will focus on the components that make up a healthy relationship, and how to address concerns that may escalate to signs of control or abuse. We will also discuss resources available to victims as well as how to support an individual who experiences abuse or violence in their relationship in awareness of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Join us for a student panel discussion, organized by the Library and the Anime Club, where passionate readers share their favorite Manga titles. Panel members will delve into the unique characteristics of various genres, offering insights into what makes each one special. Whether you're a seasoned Manga enthusiast or just curious, this event promises to broaden your understanding and appreciation of this diverse and vibrant medium.

This talk explores the significant impact language has on perceptions of disability. This lecture will delve into how word choice influences attitudes, shapes societal norms, and either promotes inclusion or perpetuates stigma.

Neurodiversity, the understanding that many people think, process sensory information, and behave differently than others due to brain differences, is an emergent way of broadening our view of neurological variations, such as ADHD and the autism spectrum traditionally categorized as disability.

Political Science faculty Merri Fefles-Dunkle, Dr. Deron Schreck, and Kevin Navratil will explain how the Electoral College works and which states will determine who our next president will be.

MVCC faculty members across disciplines discuss the implications and realities of artificial intelligence here at MVCC and beyond.

Professors Merri Fefles-Dunkle, Dr. Deron Schreck and Kevin Navratil will examine the 2024 Election.

Faculty member Carey Millsap-Spears will discuss her new book, Star Trek Discovery and the Female Gothic: Tell Fear No. Join us to explore the intersection of science fiction and the scholarly themes of the female gothic. Millsap-Spears will share her perspectives on how "Star Trek Discovery" redefines these classic motifs for a modern audience.

This talk will provide an overview of the resources and support available to students at Moraine Valley to ensure an inclusive educational environment. This talk will cover the range of services offered, including academic accommodations, assistive technologies, and more.

Moraine Valley political science faculty members Merri Fefles-Dunkle, Dr. Deron Schreck, and Kevin Navratil come together to update the state of the 2024 election. The September 10, 2024 debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump was a major moment, but did it change much?