CR’s August 8, 2025 Times Standard Education Matters Article—Free Speech with CR Podcast

Published on Aug 4 2025

Higher education institutions across the country find themselves in the unenviable position of navigating treacherous political and cultural waters, while maintaining their commitment to academic freedom, free speech, intellectual curiosity, and critical thinking. At CR, we feel it is vital to keep thinking about civil society and the role higher education plays in discourse and democracy, especially when both are embattled in today’s political climate.

We are acutely aware that the federal government is compelling us to change how we operate and restrict what we teach. In response, we are wading into the world of podcasting with Free Speech with CR. A monthly series that will highlight the rich intellectual life at CR and provide a platform to explore thoughts, ideas, and insights from CR’s faculty and staff and guests from the community. We’ll talk about pressing national issues like immigration and the politicization of the supreme court, local concerns like the threat to rural healthcare, and lighter topics like beekeeping – a remarkable subculture at CR. 

Our first guest will be Bethany Cseh, pastor at Arcata United Methodist Church and Catalyst Church. She is an author of several articles touching on topics from spirituality and religion to what it takes to be a good human being. Her most recent article Sarah and Hagar is moving, heartbreaking and especially apropos to us today because it talks about how the corruptive influence of power can lead to the dehumanization and abuse of others. She asks us to consider why we should be surprised when laughter surrounded the detention center built in Florida, why prayer circles were formed after a bill passed that takes from the poor to give to the rich, and why are we act surprised when families are ripped apart through deportation and disappeared by ICE agents. 

In our second episode, Dr. Stacy Ann Salinas, professor of ethnic studies and history at CR, will explore the politization of higher education, the assault on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in curriculum, and the importance of maintaining free speech on college campuses. This is a timely discussion, as the Department of Justice recently declared DEI programs and practices unlawful and discriminatory. We will also talk about Dr. Salinas’ academic work related to feminist theory and the colonization of the Philippines in the early twentieth century.

Next, CR philosophy professor John Johnson will sit down with us to talk about the importance of academic freedom - which allows scholars and students to express differing viewpoints without fear of censorship or retribution - and institutional autonomy to higher education. We will also talk about his recent book release, Introduction to Formal Logic.

In episode four, we will talk with CR professors Valerie Elder and Angela Stewart—avid beekeepers—about beekeeping and the plight of honeybees. Together, we’ll explore how beekeeping connects to food security, ecological health, and sustainability—and why it matters more than ever.

In episode five, we are excited to talk to celebrated local author, CR staff member, and alumna Jennifer Bailey. A bestselling, award-winning author and member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, Jennifer will share her personal stories, recovery from addiction, and the motivation behind her writing.

Joining us in the sixth episode is Dr. Ryan Emenaker, CR political science professor and author of Current Debates in American Government, for a conversation about the state of our democracy and the politicization of the Supreme Court. A nationally recognized expert and frequent contributor to Supreme Court scholarship, Dr. Emenaker brings insights into the intersection of politics, law, and civic life. 

In episode seven, we’ll sit down with local hospital leaders to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing healthcare in our region. The conversation comes in the wake of the recently signed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a law that will cut roughly $1 trillion from Medicaid, cost California $28.4 billion, and leave an estimated 3.4 million Californians without coverage.

We will invite students and community members who are impacted by the immigration policies to talk about how they are experiencing the government’s actions for our eighth episode. 

The guest for our nineth and final episode of the year will be Ryan Bisio. Ryan is a former collegiate and professional basketball player and Golden Valley Conference coach of the year awardee for back-to-back winning seasons as CR’s men’s basketball coach. Ryan is also an acclaimed singer and songwriter. We’ll talk about the creative process, team building, and how music and sports intersect.

The podcast will be aired on Access Humboldt radio and on their YouTube channel, (time and days TBD). We hope you will join us for these important and timely discussions.