Unstoppable Minds

Leading up to the centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921, Unstoppable Minds sat down again with Dr. Phoebe Stubblefield, a forensic anthropologist and research assistant at the University of Florida. Dr. Stubblefield sheds new light on one of the worst episodes of mass racial violence in U.S. history through the lens of her professional and personal experiences. The details of these events and the devastation of the Greenwood Community where Black residents were killed and many became homeless after Black-owned businesses and homes were destroyed is a lost chapter of American history which is being recovered, reclaimed and will now be remembered. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Foreign-trained dentists interested in seeking employment in the United States face numerous challenges including immigration barriers and cultural differences. The University of Florida offers a unique path to licensure in the state of Florida through the two-year Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD). Dr. Rodrigo Souza, the program director and clinical associate professor for the UF Health Hialeah Dental Center, leads the AEGD program where these dentists not only serve underrepresented populations but are also woven into the heart of the local community. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former linebacker for the Florida Gators who earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Florida is now a passionate educator and middle school math teacher in his hometown of Belle Glade, Florida. Hygens Succes reinvests in the community that shaped him because his journey as a first-generation college student was supported by the Machen Florida Opportunity Scholarship (MFOS). The MFOS program provides transformative access, comprehensive scholarships, and elite support programs that change the academic trajectories of first-generation students. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Older adults will tell you that losing their driving license is like getting a death sentence. In her unstoppable journey to empower seniors, Dr. Sherrilene Classen, a professor and chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy in the UF College of Public Health and Health Professions, is getting older adults comfortable with autonomous vehicle technology as well as conducting research to develop autonomous transit resources to promote their independence and safety. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While owning pets is universal, there is a lack of diversity in the veterinary medicine field. Dr. Michael Bowie, clinical assistant professor and director of community engagement and diversity outreach for UF's College of Veterinary Medicine shares how he and his colleagues are engaging and mentoring African-American middle and high school students to encourage their interest in pursuing veterinary medicine as a career. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How can educators help young learners find success - and equity - in the classroom through technology? The answers lie in providing access to computer science through an inclusive curriculum designed for a diversity of learners. Dr. Maya Israel, research director of the Creative Technology Research Lab and associate professor of educational technology at the College of Education, shares the importance of creating flexible instruction, how it's being done through removing barriers to inclusive education and demystifying computer science for future teachers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bees pollinate a quarter of the food consumed by humans. With the rapid decline of the honeybee population our ecosystem is impacted - which results in changes in what we eat. Amy Vu, extension coordinator of the UF/IFAS Honeybee Research and Extension Lab explains why communicating the importance of honey bees to the masses is critical for the survival of the bee species and the continuity of the food chain. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leading up to Season Two of Unstoppable Minds, we're re-releasing last season's interview with Dr. Phoebe Stubblefield, a forensic anthropologist who is involved in the work of searching and recovering remains from the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Recent national headlines announced the discovery of a new mass grave, placing the spotlight again on a long overlooked event that has recently gained more interest through documentaries and recognition in popular entertainment. The interview with Dr. Stubblefield, a descendant of a survivor from the Tulsa Race Massacre, was originally aired in June 2020. Listen to her discuss the work of unearthing mass grave sites and how her family was impacted by the destruction. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When ground scans in Oklahoma showed unusual markings, something hidden below the surface came to light. Forensic anthropologist Phoebe Stubblefield discusses unearthing mass grave sites attributed to the long overlooked 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and shares how her family was impacted by the destruction. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when civil engineering and behavioral sciences overlap? According to associate professor Denise R. Simmons—we get answers. Hear how her perspective as a black woman in a male dominated field has taught her some hard truths about diversity. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shannon Boye is the associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Florida here to talk about her journey in academia and what led her to try gene therapy in the fight against a mutation causing babies to be born blind. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How does a question about woodpeckers lead to groundbreaking research on neurological disease? In this episode, associate professor Dr. Lakiesha Williams talks about her work to understand traumatic brain injury and the culture of mentorship she created along the way. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It took a decade of planning and effort by Brent Christner and colleagues to demonstrate that life exists in lakes beneath the Antarctic ice sheet. Three half-mile boreholes, 10 million dollars, and 1 million pounds of equipment later, he’s sharing what they discovered under the ice. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Five out of a million people are diagnosed every year. She was one of them. Mariel White talks about her diagnosis with Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA)—formerly known as Churg Strauss syndrome—and the lengths UF went to help her return when it left her paralyzed from the waist down. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you think everyone receives the same quality of care when they visit the doctor? According to professor Laura Guyer, not always. Hear how she leads the only undergraduate academic program in the country designed to teach students across disciplines how to address barriers and take on unseen bias in healthcare. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the breakthroughs and backstories of the people powering real world change from the University of Florida. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if big breakthroughs weren’t a cause for a victory lap – they were just the beginning of paths to even bigger ones? That’s what we’re here to find out. Hosted by Dr. Kyla McMullen and Dr. Jeremy Waisome, from the University of Florida comes Unstoppable Minds: a podcast looking into the challenges and triumphs faced by those taking on the world’s most formidable foes. Unstoppable Minds features the real stories of students, researchers, and faculty overcoming obstacles to tackle the...