Critical Connections

Bonus Episode 1: Full Interview with Justus

Ever wondered what anarchists really think? Listen to the full interview with Justus from Trashbird Distro, parts of which were featured in a previous episode. Listen to Dani and Justus discuss community, anarchism, and art in our first Bonus Episode of Season 2.Are you a writer interested in having your short story or poem highlighted on the pod? Email Dani at 10796756@uvu.eduCritical Mass Podcast is produced by the Center for Social Impact of Utah Valley University, but was researched, scripted, recorded, and edited by students. Any and all opinions expressed by me or interviewees belong to us alone, and don’t necessarily reflect the opinions or values of the Center for Social Impact or of Utah Valley University.

Water and Meditation: The Great Salt Lake Climate Crisis

Have you heard? The Great Salt Lake is turning into poison. Dani speaks to scientists, professors, and artists to try and understand what’s going on with the lake, what can be done about it, and we she should care.Special thanks to Daren Perry, Carl Moore, Teri Harman, Corrina Bow, Star Guerrero, and Emily Ostler, who spoke and performed on behalf of the lake during the Great Salt Lake Offering Ceremony on September 30th.Are you a writer interested in having your short story or poem highlighted on the pod? Email Dani at 10796756@uvu.eduCritical Mass Podcast is produced by the Center for Social Impact of Utah Valley University, but was researched, scripted, recorded, and edited by students. Any and all opinions expressed by me or interviewees belong to us alone, and don’t necessarily reflect the opinions or values of the Center for Social Impact or of Utah Valley University.Links:https://www.instagram.com/tapahe/?hl=enhttps://www.jingledressproject.comhttps://www.instagram.com/uvusocialimpact/https://uvugrit.garden/https://www.uvu.edu/ethics/events/2023-24/2023_ees.htmlhttps://open.spotify.com/artist/1L1bz3YvpUGrUNofMXyYWhSources:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1j5fbGnNlsuba49V3CJPYML0Te3PFTQHmeLQHAxHi7eM/edit?usp=sharing

Nothing Exists In Itself: Community Building from Anarchism to Buddhism

Organizers from two different communities that have blossomed in the desert of Utah Valley share their experience building community. First up is Trash Bird Distro, a coalition of anarchists, followed by the Awakening Valley Sangha, a buddhist community in the tradition of Zen Master, Thich Nhat Hanh. This episode contains discussions of racism, appropriation, orientalism, and too many Moby Dick quotes. Are you a writer interested in having your short story or poem highlighted on the pod? Email Dani at 10796756@uvu.edu.Intro: 0:00Art highlight: 5:06Trashbirds: 9:10Awakening Valley: 22:30Conclusion: 43:49Critical Mass Podcast is produced by the Center for Social Impact of Utah Valley University, but was researched, scripted, recorded, and edited by students. Any and all opinions expressed by me or interviewees belong to us alone, and don’t necessarily reflect the opinions or values of the Center for Social Impact or of Utah Valley University.  Links:socialimpacthttps://www.instagram.com/trashbirddistro/https://www.awakeningvalleysangha.org/Sources:www.unhcr.org/media/buddhist-core-values-and-perspectives-protection-challenges-faith-and-protectionhttps://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/3522‌https://doi.org/10.26034/lu.jgb.2022.1992https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1306702.https://www.awakeningvalleysangha.org/faq “What is a Sangha” https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/thich-nhat-hanh “How do you pronounce Thich Nhat Hanh?” https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/thich-nhat-hanh “Biography” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Th%C3%ADch_Nh%E1%BA%A5t_H%E1%BA%A1nh Thich Nach Hanh’s Wikipedia page. https://www.awakeningvalleysangha.org/ “Our Meetings” https://www.lionsroar.com/in-a-word-dharma/ “Dharma as Teachings” https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/young-asian-american-buddhists-are-reclaiming-narrative-decades-white-rcna1236  https://www.lionsroar.com/road-to-diversity/  https://www.awakeningvalleysangha.org/resources  https://utprisonbuddhistproject.weebly.com/about.html  https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/dharma-outreach-program  https://utbuddhistprisonproject.com/participating-sanghas “Participating Sanghas” https://utbuddhistprisonproject.com/about “’About’ page” https://utbuddhistprisonproject.com/get-involved “’get Involved’ page” https://issuu.com/utah10/docs/uhq_volume44_1976_number2/s/125310 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5Ro4rTvDcw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv4DJmcFTqE       

Critical Mass Season 2 Trailer: Casting Off Into Unsure Waters

This season on the Critical Mass podcast, we are looking deeper into communities local to Utah Valley to understand how impactful communities are formed through the creation, development, and cultivation of critical connections. Each episode will feature research, interviews, and art from local bands, poets, and others. 

“Social impact is love” : the people behind the mission

In the final episode of this 2022-2023 season of Critical Mass, the pod decided to highlight the host of the production: The UVU Center for Social Impact. Featuring interviews with some of the people that have made the Center what it is, this episode includes the voices of the Center's advisors and program directors, Cass, Jo, and Kai, all ten of the student Social Impact Fellows, short audios from the podcast team, and small clips from friends of the Center on campus. These voices and many more create the Center as we know it today, and the impact it has made on students' lives is immeasurable. Listen to hear about the place that made this podcast what it is.Thanks for listening all semester ! The Center for Social Impact is located on Utah Valley University campus in SC 105 (across from the ballroom). Follow us on Instagram @uvusocialimpact to find out about how you can be involved with the next season of the podcast.Take it easy y'all- Hannah Filizola Ruiz <3Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

”Land should be sovereign” : youth climate action

This episode of Critical Mass podcast talks about the importance and history of climate activism, awareness, and appreciation through an Indiegnous lens of Land Stewardship. This episode features interviews with Raquel Juarez and Ava Curtis, two student activists with @fridaysforfuture.ut on Instagram, and a short excerpt from our interview with Denae Shanidiin from our 3rd episode, "Come find us" : Diné student stories. This shorter episode emphasizes the importance of holding hope for the climate through cultivating a relationship with your local land that is based in respect, appreciation, and joy. Thanks for listening ! Check out citations and suggested readings here, drop by our Center located in SC 105 (across from the ballroom), and follow us on Instagram @uvusocialimpact to find out about the events we do every Thursday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

”Documenting the history of a people” : unauthorized student journalism

This episode of Critical Mass podcast talks about the importance and history of community journalism through the lens of guerrilla student journalism. Featuring interviews from two major student led journals, @ProdigalPressProvo on Instagram and the University of Utah's Latine student journal Venceremos, this episode reflects on the importance of stories and who tells them, and what it means to take stories into your own hands and create for your community. Thanks for listening ! Check out citations and suggested readings here, drop by our Center located in SC 105 (across from the ballroom), and follow us on Instagram @uvusocialimpact to find out about the events we do every Thursday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“People over everything” : student fights for housing justice & equity

This episode of Critical Mass podcast features interviews with the UC Santa Cruz Student Housing Coalition from California and a series of anonymous unsheltered students stories from here in Utah Valley. This episode highlights the organizing and advocacy efforts of students in the fight for just, affordable, and equitable housing and the experiences of some of the students they're fighting forThanks for listening ! Check out citations and suggested readings here, drop by our Center located in SC 105 (across from the ballroom), and follow us on Instagram @uvusocialimpact.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

”Come find us” : Diné student stories

This episode of Critical Mass podcast highlights the efforts of local native activists from right here in Utah. Featuring interviews with four Diné individuals, both from here on campus and from the local community, interviewees share stories about their experiences and the realities of what it means to be native on and off the reservation.Thanks for listening ! Check out citations and suggested readings here, drop by our Center located in SC 105 (across from the ballroom), and follow us on Instagram @uvusocialimpact.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

”Queerness is beautiful” : student responses to queerphobia in Utah Valley

This episode of Critical Mass podcast tracks queer student responses to anti-queer events and actions in Utah Valley. Featuring interviews with UVU and BYU students, and interviews from the nationwide Strike Out Queerphobia protest, students discuss their experiences as queer student organizers and their allies fighting for acceptance in an ongoing movement. Thanks for listening ! Check out citations here, drop by our Center located in SC 105 (across from the ballroom), and follow us on Instagram @uvusocialimpactNOTE: Trigger warning for sensitive viewers. Mentions of electroshock therapy, conversion therapy, suicide, self harm, and other sensitive topics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices