Conversations with Cal Poly Authors

Kennedy Library’s Conversations with Cal Poly Authors launched in 2011. Encouraging informal discourse across disciplines, each conversation matches a Cal Poly author with a faculty member from another discipline. Topics have included film noir, Cal Poly trees, reproductive rights, Latinx writing in Los Angeles, baseball in Taiwan, and Buddhism in politics. The vibrant posters for the series highlight the creative talents of Kennedy Library’s student graphic designers, and on this site you can see the posters, listen to the podcasts, and view the transcripts of these heady and engaging conversations.

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Gerrymandering in America

Michael Latner

This is the podcast transcript of a discussion of the book, Gerrymandering in America: The House of Representatives, the Supreme Court, and the Future of Popular Sovereignty between its author Michael Latner of the political science department and Foaad Khosmood of the computer engineering department.
The Struggle for the Streets of Berlin

Molly Loberg

This is the podcast transcript of a discussion of the book, The Struggle for the Streets of Berlin between its author Molly Loberg of the History department and Christian Anderson of the World Languages and Cultures department.
Exiled: From the Killing Fields of Cambodia to California and Back

Katya Cengel

Katya Cengel, freelance writer and Journalism Lecturer at Cal Poly, discusses her new book, Exiled: From the Killing Fields of Cambodia to California and Back. Ms. Cengel has published in many venues, including the New York Times Magazine, the Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal. Dr. Margaret Bodemer, a specialist in Southeast Asia who teaches both Asian and American history at Cal Poly, serves as Ms. Cengel’s conversational partner.
Latinx Writing Los Angeles: Nonfiction Dispatches from a Decolonial Rebellion

Victor Valle

Victor Valle, Professor Emeritus in Journalism, and now serving in Cal Poly’s Ethnic Studies Department, discusses his 2018 edited volume, Latinx Writing Los Angeles: Nonfiction Dispatches from a Decolonial Rebellion. His conversational partner is Dr. José A. Navarro, Associate Professor in the Ethnic Studies Department.
From Strangers to Neighbors: Post-Disaster Resettlement and Community Development in Honduras

Ryan Alaniz

Dr. Ryan Alaniz, assistant professor in Sociology, discusses his 2017 book, From Strangers to Neighbors: Resettlement and Community Development in Post-Disaster Honduras with Dr. William Siembieda, professor in City and Regional Planning.
Lives Well Lived

Sky Bergman

Sky Bergman, professor in Art & Design, and Debra Valencia-Laver, Associate Dean in the College of Liberal Arts, engage in a lively exchange about Sky Bergman's experience producing and directing this film that celebrates the incredible wit, wisdom, and experiences of adults aged 75 to 100 years old.
Confucianism in Contemporary Politics: An Actionable Account of Authoritarian Political Culture

Ning Zhang

Ning Zhang, associate professor in Political Science, and Andrew Morris, professor in History, will discuss Dr. Zhang’s book, Confucianism in Contemporary Chinese Politics: An Actionable Account of Authoritarian Political Culture.

Dr. Zhang’s book, a volume in the Challenges Facing Chinese Political Development series published by Lexington Books, critically examines existing frameworks for understanding the Chinese political system. Drawing on a range of sources – surveys, interviews, archives, and Party Congress Reports, Dr. Zhang explores ways in which notions of authority, morality, reciprocity, and political legitimacy, as well as contemporary practices for connecting with the state, are rooted in traditional Confucian beliefs and practices.
Transnational Narratives from the Caribbean: Diasporic Literature and the Human Experience

Elvira Pulitano

Elvira Pulitano, professor in Ethnic Studies, and Karen Muñoz-Christian, associate professor of Spanish, discuss Pulitano’s book, Transnational Narratives from the Caribbean: Diasporic Literature and the Human Experience.

Dr. Pulitano’s book, published by Routledge in 2016, offers a timely window on issues of diasporic identity by affirming the importance of narrative as a discursive mode to understand the human face of contemporary migrations. She explores the work of four well-known writers currently living in the United States: Jamaica Kincaid, Michelle Cliff, Edwidge Danticat, and Caryl Phillips. Contesting restrictive, national, and linguistic boundaries when discussing literature originating from the Caribbean, Pulitano situates the transnational location of Caribbean-born writers within current debates of Transnational American Studies and investigates the role of immigrant writers in discourses of race, ethnicity, citizenship, and belonging.
Buddhism and Political Theory

Matt Moore

Matthew Moore, professor in Political Science, discusses his 2016 book, Buddhism & Political Theory, with Joe Lynch, professor in Philosophy. The conversation promises enlightenment as well as entertainment, as suggested by Dr. Lynch's chapter in The Big Lebowsky and Philosophy title "Buddhism, Daoism and Dudeism."
Superwoman Chicana

Gloria Velásquez

Gloria Velásquez, novelist, poet, pioneering Chicana activist, and professor in Modern Languages and Literatures, discusses her work and its inspiration with Robert Inchausti, professor of English.
Governed Through Choice: Autonomy, Technology, and the Politics of Reproduction

Jennifer Denbow

Join us to discuss Governed Through Choice: Autonomy, Technology, and the Politics of Reproduction, a book by Jennifer Denbow, published by New York University Press. Brian Beaton of the College of Liberal Arts joins the author in conversation.
Scientists at War: The Ethics of Cold War Weapons Research

Sarah Bridger

Join us to discuss Scientists at War: The Ethics of Cold War Weapons Research, a book by Sarah Bridger, published by Harvard University Press. Shelley Hurt joins the author in conversation.
Collaborations in Architecture & Engineering

Clare Olsen and Sinéad Mac Namara

Join us to discuss Collaborations in Architecture and Engineering, a book by Clare Olsen and Sinead Mac Namara.
Hard Time at Tehachapi: California's First Women's Prison

Kathleen A. Cairns

Join us to discuss Kathleen Cairns’ book, Hard Time at Tehachapi: California’s First Women’s Prison. The author is joined by Ryan Alaniz in conversation.
Wild Girls

Mary Stewart Atwell

Join us to discuss Mary Stewart Atwell’s new book Wild Girls on April 18, 2014. Elizabeth Adan joins Mary in conversation.
Remember Love

Jody Lisberger

Join us to discuss Jody Lisberger’s book Remember Love published by Fleur-de-Lis Press. Jody Lisberger is joined by Debra Valencia-Laver in conversation.
BDSM in American Science Fiction and Fantasy

Lewis Call

Join us to discuss Lewis Call’s new book, BDSM in American Science Fiction and Fantasy, published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2013. Lewis Call is joined by Jane Lehr in conversation.
Judicial Review in an Age of Moral Pluralism

Ron Den Otter

The topic of conversation is Ron Den Otter's book, Judicial Review in an Age of Moral Pluralism, published by Cambridge University Press in 2009. Ron is joined by Jude Egan in this exploration of constitutional theory, public reason, and related topics.
From Serra to Sancho: Music and Pageantry in the California Missions

Craig Russell

The topic of conversation is Craig Russell's book From Serra to Sancho: Music and Pageantry in the California Missions, published in 2009 by Oxford University Press. Craig is joined in conversation by Dan Krieger, professor emeritus and local historian.
Dive Deeper: Journeys with Moby Dick

George Cotkin

The topic of conversation is historian George Cotkin's book, Dive Deeper: Journeys with Moby Dick, published by Oxford University Press in 2012. George is joined in conversation by Catherine Waitinas of English.
Local Climate Action Planning

Michael Boswell, Adrienne Greve, and Tammy Seale

The topic of conversation is Local Climate Action Planning, a book co-authored by Michael Boswell, Adrienne Greve, and Tammy Seale, published in 2011 by Island Press. The three authors are joined in conversation by Elizabeth Lowham of Political Science.
A Californian's Guide to the Trees Among Us

Matt Ritter

The topic of conversation is Matt Ritter’s book, A Californian’s Guide to the Trees Among Us, published by Heyday in 2011. Matt is joined in conversation by Enrica Costello of Art & Design.
Neo-Noir: Contemporary Film Noir from Chinatown to The Dark Night

Doug Keesey

The topic of conversation is Doug Keesey’s book, Neo-Noir: Contemporary Film Noir from Chinatown to the Dark Knight, published in 2010 by Kamera Books. Doug is joined in conversation by Josh Machamer of Theatre and Dance.
Colonial Project, National Game: A History of Baseball in Taiwan

Andrew Morris

The topic of conversation is the engrossing cultural history of baseball in Taiwan in Professor Morris’ book Colonial Project, National Game: A History of Baseball in Taiwan, published in 2010 by the University of California Press. Andrew is joined in conversation by John McKinstry of Social Sciences and College of Liberal Arts librarian Brett Bodemer.
Michigan Family Farms and Farm Buildings: Landscapes of the Heart and Mind

Hema C. Dandekar

Our inaugural event features Professor Dandekar’s book Michigan Family Farms and Farm Buildings: Landscapes of the Heart and Mind, published in 2010 by the University of Michigan. The author begins with an informal talk about the book’s themes and her writing process, followed by conversation between the author and the invited respondents, and with other attendees.