Emma Atkinson

communicator, writer, editor, content marketer

RadioEd

RadioEd, which I host and produce, taps into the University of Denver’s deep pool of bright brains to explore new takes on today’s top stories.

RadioEd •

NIMBY By Design: How Renters’ Voices Go Unheard | University of Denver

Think about where you lay your head at night: Whether it’s an apartment, a house or a condo, do you own the place you sleep in?  While it’s more common to own a home than to rent one, there are more people renting now in the United States than at any point since 1965.   More than 45 million households in this country are rentals—that’s more than a third of all households in the United States, made up of more than 100 million residents.  And if you’re one of those 100 million renters, one Univers...
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Black Wall Street: The Economic Roots of Racial Violence | University of Denver

Since the beginning, I think the first Black newspaper in the United States was 1827, “The Freedmen's Journal.” And not a departure from some of the other newspapers during that time, Black newspapers really made an attempt to be critical and to be investigative with what happened, right, to actually discover the truth of the events as well, particularly because a lot of the events that they're reporting on are really personal and dangerous, in some ways, to Black people. So even from the start,...
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Protecting Your Future: How Cognitive Decline Affects Financial Decision-Making | University of Denver

Hosted by Jordyn Reiland and Emma Atkinson, RadioEd is a triweekly podcast created by the DU Newsroom that taps into the University of Denver’s deep pool of bright brains to explore the most exciting new research out of DU. See below for a transcript of this episode.Many of these changes are good—we can celebrate the process of aging as one that invites wisdom and joy. But there are natural consequences of getting older, and one of those consequences is cognitive decline. Eric Chess is a former...
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Why University Research Matters | University of Denver

Hosted by Jordyn Reiland and Emma Atkinson, RadioEd is a triweekly podcast created by the DU Newsroom that taps into the University of Denver’s deep pool of bright brains to explore the most exciting new research out of DU. See below for a transcript of this episode.Since 2021, when DU was designated as an R1 research institute, the University has been full speed ahead on groundbreaking research locally and globally in psychology, engineering, education, natural science, mathematics and more. An...
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Throwback Thursday: The Power of Nostalgia Marketing | University of Denver

Well, I'll rely here on particularly the research that has looked at this as more of a psychological phenomenon. Predictors might include feeling socially excluded, or feelings of sadness, feelings of loneliness, powerlessness, inauthenticity, all of those negative emotions and states have been demonstrated in maybe six decades of marketing and consumer research on nostalgia to exacerbate feelings of nostalgia. And then in response to that, people like to turn to the past, and they like to, for...
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Girls in STEM: What 3 Professors Are Doing to Empower the Next Generation

RadioEd is a biweekly podcast created by the DU Newsroom that taps into the University of Denver’s deep pool of bright brains to explore new takes on today’s top stories. See below for a transcript of this episode.

Women make up just 34% of the workforce in professional STEM fields. In college, too, women are underrepresented: about 21% of engineering majors are women and around 19% of computer and information science majors are women.

So, the question is: Why does this happen? Are women just
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Why Taking a Timeout in the NBA Might Not Be the Best Idea

RadioEd is a biweekly podcast created by the DU Newsroom that taps into the University of Denver’s deep pool of bright brains to explore new takes on today’s top stories. See below for a transcript of this episode.

Much of sports is a gamble. There’s a saying: “Any team can win any game on any given day.” Almost nothing, no outcome, is guaranteed in sports—and that’s part of the fun of watching and playing.

But players and coaches want to eliminate as many variables as possible, trying to leav
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Talking to a Loved One With Suicidal Thoughts

If you or a loved one are having suicidal thoughts, call or text 988.

RadioEd is a biweekly podcast created by the DU Newsroom that taps into the University of Denver’s deep pool of bright brains to explore new takes on today’s top stories. See below for a transcript of this episode.

This episode of RadioEd is about suicide and how people can help those they love who might be experiencing suicidal thoughts.

We know it’s a heavy topic. In many cultures, suicide is taboo—and in some countries i
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The Women Left Behind By War

University of Denver professor Marie Berry helps tell the stories of women picking up the pieces in the aftermath of global conflict.

Hosted by writer Emma Atkinson, RadioEd is a triweekly podcast created by the DU Newsroom that taps into the University of Denver’s deep pool of bright brains to explore the most compelling and interesting research coming out of DU. See below for a transcript of this episode.

An anonymous quote claims that “war does not determine who is right—only who is left.”
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The Art of Provenance: What Happened After Hitler’s WWII Art Heist

You're listening to RadioEd, the University of Denver podcast. I’m your host, Emma Atkinson.

If you were to visit the Art Institute of Chicago, you’d be able to see many works of fine art—the museum counts Vincent van Gogh, Henri Matisse and Edward Hopper among the artists whose work it showcases.

You’d also be able to lay eyes on a piece titled “Russian War Prisoner,” a watercolor and graphite drawing by Austrian artist Egon Schiele from the year 1916. It’s a portrait of a seated young man we
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What Colorado's Tiniest Creatures Tell Us About Life at the Highest Elevations

Hosted by writer Emma Atkinson, RadioEd is a triweekly podcast created by the DU Newsroom that taps into the University of Denver’s deep pool of bright brains to explore the most compelling and interesting research coming out of DU. See below for a transcript of this episode.

If you’ve hiked above the tree line of a mountain in Colorado, you’ve likely come across a couple fuzzy little critters making their homes among the rocks. Deer mice, in particular, are native to North America and are ofte
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Change in the Classroom: Training Teachers to Be Culturally Responsive

RadioEd is a biweekly podcast created by the DU Newsroom that taps into the University of Denver’s deep pool of bright brains to explore new takes on today’s top stories. See below for a transcript of this episode.

The time that K-12 students spend with teachers is formative. It’s important. Some might say that a teacher can make or break a kid, especially kids from marginalized communities. There are systems in place to educate and evaluate teachers on best practices in the classroom—but are w
RadioEd •

What Makes American Healthcare (Un)affordable?

RadioEd is a biweekly podcast created by the DU Newsroom that taps into the University of Denver’s deep pool of bright brains to explore new takes on today’s top stories. See below for a transcript of this episode.

University of Denver Sturm College of Law associate professor Govind Persad’s newest paper, “Defining Health Affordability,” looks into the phenomenon of how Americans avoid seeking healthcare because of the cost. The meat of his latest research, however, comes down to investigating
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Panda-monium: What’s Going On With the U.S. and China?

You're listening to RadioEd, the University of Denver podcast. I’m your host, Emma Atkinson.

You know what I’m talking about? By the end of this year, all of the giant panda bears loaned to U.S. zoos by the Chinese government will return to China.

The move will leave the U.S. panda-less for the first time since 1972.

And people are pissed! They’re sad to see the sweet, bumbling bears go. Who wouldn’t be? The National Zoo in Washington, D.C. hosted a “panda-palooza” event last month, a goodbye
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The Problem with Airbnbs: Tackling the Issue of Short-Term Rentals

Take out the trash.

Strip the sheets from the bed and put them in the washing machine.

Wash and put away the dishes.

Don’t forget to wipe down the counters in the kitchen and the bathroom.

That might sound like a list of chores your mom expected you to do before she got home from work, but it’s actually an example of tasks that people have been asked to complete before checking out of a short-term rental. If you’ve stayed in an Airbnb or a V-r-b-o or the like, you’ve probably done something
University of Denver •

Conflict in Sudan: The Developing Humanitarian Crisis

RadioEd is a biweekly podcast created by the DU Newsroom that taps into the University of Denver’s deep pool of bright brains to explore new takes on today’s top stories. See below for a transcript of this episode.

In the last month, the eyes of the international community have largely turned to Sudan, a North African country where political tensions have escalated into full-blown violence.

The conflict is swiftly resulting in a large-scale refugee emergency as tens of thousands of Sudanese fl
University of Denver •

On Thinness and Fatphobia: Our Tumultuous Relationship with Bodies

How does that sentence make you feel? Are you disgusted? Excited? Exhausted?

However you react to the idea, there’s no question that the ideal body portrayed in the media is evolving once again.

Let’s look at the Kardashian family. Last spring, Kim reportedly lost more than 20 pounds in the span of just a few weeks to fit into Marilyn Monroe’s famous dress before attending the Met Gala. And whether or not you believe that the sisters have enhanced their figures with implants—and removed them—t
University of Denver •

Alex Murdaugh and the Controversial Justice of the Death Penalty

Lawyer Alex Murdaugh, who came from a powerful South Carolina family of litigators, was recently found guilty of murdering his wife and son.

The ruling is just the latest in a winding series of tragic incidents involving the Murdaugh family. The New Yorker described the saga as one rife with “embezzlement, drug trafficking, money laundering, a faked murder attempt, a failed assisted suicide, and the deaths of three other individuals.”

Though Murdaugh’s crimes were nothing short of heinous, the
University of Denver •

Why Living Together Before Marriage Won’t Actually Doom Your Relationship

It’s Valentine’s Day—a day for expressing love to those closest to you, especially romantic love. What happens when you love someone, like, love, love? Generally—but not always—you meet, attraction leads to interest, and interest leads to sex and commitment.

And for many people, commitment means moving in together—cohabitating is the more scientific term for it.

That’s what it means for my boyfriend and me. We’ve lived together for almost three years. So when I recently saw some research that
University of Denver •

Artificial Intelligence: The New Wave of Content Creation or an Ethical Nightmare?

Okay, so I’m at OpenAI in their beta… [typing noises] “Write a podcast intro about the use of artificial intelligence to create art and other content.”

Here’s what it says.

“Welcome to the AI Creatives Podcast, where we explore the fascinating world of artificial intelligence and its potential to create art and other content. From AI-generated music to AI-generated paintings, we’ll be discussing the implications of this technology and how it’s changing the way we create and consume art. We’ll
University of Denver •

Gifting in 2022: Budgets, Wishlists & Shopping, Oh My

...and Matt Meyer. Welcome, friends, to a special holiday bonus episode of RadioEd for all about gifts. We're changing things up a little bit and hosting a roundtable on economics and cultural differences of gift giving. I'm Matt Meyer and you'll also hear Emma Atkinson joining us in studio alongside professors Melissa Akaka and Ali Besharat from the Daniels College of Business.

Welcome, Melissa and Ali, can you both describe a little bit more about what you do at the University of Denver?

Sur
University of Denver •

Kanye West and the Science of Cancel Culture

Kanye West is a name synonymous with many things: Music, fashion, art and pop culture. But in the last few years, the artist and designer has become known for more controversial things—and more specifically, for his comments about politics, race and minority groups.

Kanye has been open about his struggles with mental health, specifically bipolar disorder, and has attributed some of his behavior and language to the condition. But criticism about Kanye has mounted in the last few months, with som
University of Denver •

Meeting in the Metaverse: The Future of Work?

By now, we’re all familiar with Zoom. Like, really familiar. Many of us have spent hours sitting in front of our computers, watching our bosses and colleagues—from the shoulders up, of course—speaking and laughing and presenting. It’s been an interesting task, to say the least, to adjust to these kinds of interactions.

And now, there’s another kind of virtual communication approach on the horizon—well, not exactly on the horizon. The technology has actually been around for quite some time. I’ll
University of Denver •

The Colorado River: A Political Climate Crisis

The Colorado River is drying. And that’s a significant problem, not just for Coloradans, but for residents of the seven states that make up the Colorado River Basin—and even Mexico. The river feeds two major reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, that provide these states with hydroelectric power and general water usage.

The seven Colorado Basin states—Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, Arizona, California and Nevada—have failed to settle on a plan to reduce their water consumption. The state