Host Beth Anne DeKeizer speaks with Eric Baker, Senior Creative Director for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ at Universal Creative. A Grady College Fellow, Emmy Award nominee, and recipient of the 2025 Grady Lifetime Achievement Award, Baker reflects on his journey from prop fabricator at Nickelodeon to working on the design teams building immersive worlds like Hogsmeade™, Diagon Alley™, and the newly opened Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ - Ministry of Magic™ at Universal Epic Universe....
Jun 04, 2025•31 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Host Hope Thornton sat down with Dr. Denis Dumas, a leading researcher in creativity and education, to explore how creative intelligence is often misunderstood in traditional classrooms. Dumas shares how his research challenges the one-size-fits-all approach to learning and how tools like AI could help educators better identify and support creative students who think outside the box.
May 14, 2025•36 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Host Hope Thornton sat down with Laura Whitaker, Executive Director of Extra Special People, to discuss her journey. Whitaker shares what it means to lead with purpose and how ESP creates joyful, inclusive spaces for children and young adults of all abilities.
May 08, 2025•41 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Host Hank Tatum sits down with Rodd Cargill, a 2024 UGA 40 Under 40 honoree and Volunteer of the Year, to discuss the impact of mentorship and his involvement with the university after graduation. Cargill shares how he became an active volunteer, ultimately serving as president of the Black Alumni Leadership Council and as the Vice-Chair of the Terry College Young Alumni Board.
Apr 30, 2025•27 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Host Syd Weigand speaks with Dr. Xiaorong Lin to explore the fascinating problem posed by a deadly strain of fungal infection and what her lab is doing to help. Dr. Lin discusses the founding of the Lin Lab, some recent breakthroughs in drug development, and the world’s first-ever fungal vaccine.
Apr 23, 2025•26 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Host Beth Anne DeKeizer sits down with Dink NeSmith and Dr. Amanda Bright to explore the unique collaboration between the University of Georgia and the Oglethorpe Echo, a 151-year-old newspaper in Oglethorpe County. NeSmith discusses the origins of the news-academic partnership and how the Echo was saved from closing. Then, Dr. Bright details the role of the students producing each paper and what this collaboration might mean for dying newspapers across the country.
Apr 16, 2025•49 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Host Hank Tatum sits down with the legendary Ernie Johnson Jr., an Emmy-winning broadcaster and Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame inductee. Most known for hosting TNT’s Inside the NBA , Johnson shares what he learned at the University of Georgia and the journey he took to get where he is today. Johnson also gives students advice that spans industries while reflecting on some of his best moments from a long and successful career.
Apr 09, 2025•41 min•Season 3Ep. 1
From the New Media Institute at the University of Georgia comes the third season of the Georgia On Your Mind Podcast. Season 3, Built By Bulldogs, turns the spotlight on UGA alumni and faculty, discovering how their time in Athens propelled them to successful careers and how they've shaped the state of Georgia beyond the UGA campus.
Apr 08, 2025•1 min
The University of Georgia is a national leader in university outreach. With eight different Public Service and Outreach units, faculty, staff and students in all of UGA's colleges are contributing to Georgia's prosperity. In this episode, we take a deep dive into some of the projects that are impacting communities across the state.
May 24, 2024•17 min
Whales, robots and hurricanes. In this episode, we take a closer look at some of the groundbreaking research that's happening at UGA's Skidaway Island Institute of Oceanography.
Apr 30, 2024•17 min
Georgia is known for its peaches - but did you know the 'Peach State' actually produces more blueberries than peaches? At the University Georgia blueberries have been a subject of research for decades. In this episode, we're taking you to UGA's Blueberry Breeding Lab where students and professors are working to help blueberry plants thrive.
Apr 25, 2024•15 min
Right now, students at the University of Georgia are actively building satellites that will be launched into outer space. In this episode, we hear from UGA's Small Satellite Research Lab Director about developing and launching this innovative technology. He also talks about the meaning behind the mission and what's in store for the future.
Apr 23, 2024•17 min
Since 2005, the Archway Partnership has been providing public service and outreach to cities and towns across the state of Georgia. From economic development to health and welfare, Archway empowers communities to address long-standing development needs. In this episode, we take a look at how students, faculty and community leaders worked together to re-vamp downtown Hartwell, Georgia - transforming the area from an occasional stop for locals to 'Georgia's Downtown of the Year' in 2023.
Apr 18, 2024•21 min
The University of Georgia is driving many major statewide industries, but it's also fueling thousands of small businesses. In this episode, hear how UGA's Small Business Development Center is helping entrepreneurs all across Georgia find success in their financial endeavors. You'll hear from a former UGA student who fulfilled his dream of starting and operating a brewery, and you'll hear how a historic, family-owned candy company managed to re-brand and bring its factories back to life.
Apr 16, 2024•22 min
The Georgia On Your Mind podcast is back with a brand-new season. Season Two of the podcast takes a deeper dive into some of the unexplored ways the University of Georgia is leaving a big impact on the state.
Apr 16, 2024•44 sec
Join the host and interviewers of the Georgia On Your Mind podcast as we discuss our favorite moments and parts of making Season 1 happen and what to expect in the next season! Visit our site on https://georgiaonyourmindpod.com/
May 15, 2023•17 min
Georgia has become one of the top destinations for filmmakers in recent years, with a thriving industry that has contributed billions of dollars to the state's economy. From the state's diverse range of landscapes to its tax incentives for filmmakers, Georgia has positioned itself to be a leader in the film production industry for years to come. Featuring Daniel Sattelmeyer (Head of Creative & Partner at Bark Bark Entertainment & Content Studio) and Dr. Jay Hamilton (Department Head of t...
May 05, 2023•32 min
Home to over 100 miles of coastline and the largest aquarium in the US, Georgia has good reason to dive deep into the realm of marine conservation. Featuring Dr. Kady Lyons (Research Scientist at the Georgia Aquarium) and Dr. Mark Risse (Director of the UGA Marine Extension & Georgia Sea Grant), this episode dives deep into the unique challenges and opportunities Georgia faces in preserving this fragile ecosystem.
Apr 28, 2023•33 min•Season 1Ep. 5
If there's one area we all know Georgia excels in, it's agriculture. Producing $69.4 billion in revenue every year and dedicating almost 10 million acres of land to production, it's no surprise that we are the leading producers of peanuts, blueberries, onions, and of course, peaches. Featuring Cassie Ann Kiggen (Chief Communications Officer of the UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences) and Dr. Laura Perry Johnson (Associate Dean of Extension for the UGA College of Agriculture ...
Apr 21, 2023•26 min•Season 1Ep. 4
We explore the state of the music industry in Georgia and the deep history that music has within the Peach State. We interview Mala Sharma (Founder of Georgia Music Partners) and David Barbe (Director of the UGA Music Business Certificate Program) to get an overview of the rich history and current opportunities that the music scene has to offer.
Apr 14, 2023•31 min•Season 1Ep. 3
In this episode, we learn about the state of entrepreneurship and business within Georgia and how the University of Georgia empowers people to succeed. We talk to Kevin Planovsky (Founder of Vert Digital) and Shep Ogden (Founder of Offbeat Media) to get their insight on how they started their own businesses in Georgia. We also talk with Senior Business Consultant Michael Myers of UGA’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to get an inside look at the proactive ways that UGA promotes small bu...
Apr 07, 2023•27 min•Season 1Ep. 2
In this episode, we explore the sports tourism and entertainment industry of Georgia and the culture that surrounds it. Featured in this episode are Josh Brooks , the J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics at the University of Georgia, and Tim Zulawski , the current President of Arthur M. Blank Sports & Entertainment (AMBSE), which houses the Atlanta Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the Atlanta Falcons, and Atlanta United. When we first interviewed Tim, he was the Chief Revenue Officer of AMBSE but has ...
Mar 31, 2023•27 min•Season 1Ep. 1
From the New Media Institute at the University of Georgia comes the Georgia On Your Mind podcast, a series that explores the relationship between the state of Georgia and the university that lives within the heart of it. Each week, a new episode will dive into an area that the state excels in and how the University of Georgia acts as a major contributor to that success.
Mar 24, 2023•2 min
