Fordham Conversations

After hours of interviews and soul-searching questions, over a dozen courageous people were able to share their stories of overcoming homelessness and other trauma for the book "Sacred Shelter: Thirteen Journeys of Homelessness and Healing." Robin Shannon, host of Fordham Conversations, was joined by three women who helped make this book happen. Deborah Canty and Sophia Worrell were once homeless in New York. They survived sexual abuse and domestic violence, and went on to graduate from a life-skills program and now use their stories to inspire others. Susan Greenfield, Ph.D., professor of English at Fordham University, served as the book's editor. 

Fordham Conversations Host Robin Shannon talks with award winning actor Michael Potts.  Known for his roles in The Wire and The Book of Mormon, Potts is currently in the Broadway musical Prom. The show tells the story of a student in Indiana who was unceremoniously sidelined from attending her prom, and the press swarm that followed. Michael Potts is also joining the Fordham University faculty as the Denzel Washington Chair in Theatre.  

Fordham Conversations Host Robin Shannon discusses  depression and visually impaired older adults with Dr. Amy Horowitz, a professor of social work at Fordham University.

Fordham Conversations Host Robin Shannon talks Elyn Saks.  The esteemed University of Southern California Law Professor discusses how she became an Ivy League grad, legal scholar, endowed professor all while coping with schizophrenia. Dr. Saks also discusses the book she co-authored called “Informed Consent to Psychoanalysis: The Law, the Theory and the Data.” It examines informed consent to psychoanalysis and is currently out by Fordham Press.

Fordham University's annual Women's Philanthropy Summit hosted hundreds of alumni, students and faculty to network and reflect on work and the power of giving. Keynote speaker Kirsten Swinth, an associate professor of history and American studies at Fordham University, discussed societal challenges for women. She also discussed her book, "Feminism's Forgotten Fight: The Unfinished Struggle for Work and Family." Fordham Conversations offers an abridged version of Professor Swinth's speech.

There are breakthroughs in science that make it easier for those who can’t become parents to do so. But it’s also raising complex questions for women in India who become surrogates for families in America. Fordham Conversations Host Robin Shannon talks with Dr. Daisy Deomampo. The Fordham University Assistant Professor discusses her research and book “Transnational Reproduction: Race, Kinship, and Commercial Surrogacy in India.”  

Fordham Conversations Host Robin Shannon discusses the evolution of rock and rap and the influence that young New York City kids, who helped create the music, have had on American culture. Dr. Mark Naison is Professor of History and African American Studies at Fordham University.  He created the class “From Rock and Roll to Hip Hop: Urban Youth Cultures in Post War America.” His plan is to encourage partnerships with Bronx schools relating to the course

The on-line video game Fortnite has exploded in popularity. But what lessons does it teach American children? Fordham Conversations Host Robin Shannon talks with Nicholas Tampio. The tenured associate professor of Social Science at Fordham University wrote the article “Fortnite could be teaching us the wrong lessons about how to be good citizens.”

The 60's original soundtrack Star Trek describes space as the final frontier. But Dr. Kirk Bingaman says there is another frontier we are only beginning to understand: our inner space. Fordham Conversations host Robin Shannon talks to the Associate Professor at Fordham University’s Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education. Dr. Kirk Bingaman authored "The Power of Neuroplasticity for Pastoral and Spiritual Care." His research has led him to understand how mindful meditation and prayer can help us manage our negative thoughts and actually change the neurological makeup of our brains.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral is a prominent cultural attraction known for its grand architecture; however, it has a rich musical history that is no as prominent. Fordham Conversations Host Robin Shannon revisits a conversation with Salvatore Basile about his book Fifth Avenue Famous: The Extraordinary Story of Music at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Then, WFUV’s Kacie Candela talks with Monsignor Donald Sakano, Pastor of the Basilica of St. Patrick's Old Cathedral. They discuss Archbishop John Hughes who, in the19th-century, laid the cornerstone of St. Patrick's Cathedral, founded Fordham University, and earned the nickname, "Dagger John"

Fordham Conversations Host Robin Shannon continues her conversation with three of the people who took part in creating the book “Sacred Shelter: Thirteen Journeys of Homelessness and Healing.”  It follows the lives of formerly homeless New Yorkers, who graduated from a life-skills program and now help others by sharing their experience with healing and forgiveness. Fordham Professor Susan Greenfield served as Editor. James Addison and Dennis Barton were two of the 13 people who shared their experience with addiction, homelessness, transformation and hope.

In a city as big as New York, homeless people can easily fade to the background and be pushed to the sidelines. A few have learned to share their experience and help other’s heal. That's what inspired the new book “Sacred Shelter: Thirteen Journeys of Homelessness and Healing,” which follows the lives of formerly homeless New Yorkers. They graduated from a life-skills program and shared their journey on a path of discovery, forgiveness and growth. Fordham Conversations Host Robin Shannon is joined by three people who took part in creating “Sacred Shelter: Thirteen Journeys of Homelessness and Healing.” Fordham Professor Susan Greenfield served as Editor of the book. James Addison and Dennis Barton were two of the 13 people who shared their experience with addiction, homelessness, transformation and hope.  

Fordham Conversations is remembering Dr. Olivia J. Hooker, the first black woman in U.S. Coast Guard and the last known survivor of the Tulsa Race Riot.   Fordham Conversation Host Robin Shannon talked with Dr. Hooker's nephew Kirkland Ward, who shares his memories of the woman he called Aunt Teek.   Then, we hear an interview with Dr. Hooker that Robin Shannon did in 2009.    

Fordham Conversations Host Robin Shannon and Fordham Professor Dr. Mark Naison discuss the evolution of rock and rap and the influence that young city kids, who helped create that music, have had on American culture. Naison is Professor of History and African American Studies at Fordham University, where he also directs the Bronx African American History Project. He created the class “From Rock and Roll to Hip Hop: Urban Youth Cultures in Post War America” with the goal of encouraging partnerships with Bronx schools relating to the course.

ESPN sports columnist and best-selling author Ian O’Connor is out with a biography on Bill Belichick, one of the most successful and controversial coaches in NFL history.    On this Week’s Fordham Conversations, Vinny DeBellis and Emmanuel Berbari from WFUV Sports sit down with Ian O’Connor to discuss his book “Belichick: The Making of the Greatest Football Coach of All Time.” Afterward, Fordham Conversations Host Robin Shannon sits down with DeBellis and Berbari to get the scoop on what they didn’t put in their interview.

Fordham Conversations Host Robin Shannon spoke with members of The Veteran's Writing Workshop, a successful writing program that helps veterans in New York share their stories through anthologies. Robin spoke with founder and instructor David Surface on how he created the program. She later sat down with Julia Rust, Natalie Edelhause and Laura Rossi to discuss their contributions to the anthology "On The Home Front," the first writing workshop with family members of veterans. 

Fordham Conversations Host Kacie Candela sat down with Westchester County executive George Latimer. Latimer, a Fordham alumnus, has been in New York local and state politics for over three decades. Latimer started out on the Rye City Council and served in both chambers of the state house before defeating incumbent Rob Astorino for the Westchester County Executive seat in 2017. 

For Fordham Conversations Host Chris Williams it's all about food and how it’s more than just a source of energy. Fordham Professor Jonathon Appels talks about the lack of discourse around food culture, and his own experience with food. Also, Emma Boast (program director at the Museum of Food and Drink) talks about a project aimed at opening a museum dedicated to food in New York City.

Growing up and attending high school is difficult enough without at the same time navigating one’s gender identity. A new study offers insight on the plight of transgender teens.        Fordham Conversations Host Marina Kopf is joined by Fordham Professor Dr. Eric Chen and Fordham Graduate School of Education doctoral student Hannah Sugarman and they spearheaded a new study on Transgenders students, in hopes that their findings would help others

Fordham Conversations Host Robin Shannon speaks with The Dean and CEO of Northwestern University in Qatar.  Dr. Everette Dennis discusses the new study “Media Use in the Middle East”.  It looks at The Arab Uprising’s impact on media habits in the Middle East.