The latest episode of NetVUE’s podcast Callings features political philosopher Jason Blakely, discussing his book, Lost in Ideology, which explores the impact of ideology on political understanding. He emphasizes the significance of critically engaging with different perspectives and the interplay between ideology and vocation in shaping meaning in life.
Parker Palmer emphasizes that educators embody their teachings through appreciation. Jeff Frank discusses how fostering appreciation enhances connections with students, encouraging them to embrace their interests. He argues that this approach can bridge divides, promoting ethical understanding and enabling educators to create a supportive environment for all students, regardless of their backgrounds.
Jeff Frank
Parker Palmer is well-known and respected for his insight that “we teach who we are.” One of the most important dispositions we can cultivate as educators is a stance of appreciation. Teachers who appreciate their students become dependable, showing through their very presence that they want their students to do well. When I enter a classroom and teach who I am, my students experience being in the presence of someone who enjoys expanding the limits of his appreciation. They see me as someone who appreciates being held accountable and actively risks not knowing in the hopes of forging connections to new ideas, new people, and new values. In all these ways, appreciation has become central to how I see my vocation as an educator.
At Friends University, pre-health students engage in professional shadowing to gain real-world experience and clarify their vocations and career paths. These activities have shown to be instrumental, helping students assess their interests and capabilities in various healthcare professions. Reflections from these experiences often reveal significant insights into their vocational choices.
Prince Agbedanu
As pre-health students wrestle with doubts about the paths they’ve chosen or struggle to find their place within the healthcare sector, vocational exploration is more crucial now than it ever has been. In our pre-health programs at Friends University, students want to engage in activities that give them real-life experience to help them navigate these challenges. These students want to know that their learning is useful and applies to their careers—to see with greater clarity their professional futures as they begin their training for it. In short, they want experiential learning.
The first episode of season five of NetVUE’s podcast Callings features an interview with John Inazu, a distinguished professor of law and religion. Inazu discusses his book, Learning to Disagree, emphasizing empathy in disagreements. He reflects on his experiences as a lawyer and teacher, advocating for understanding and honoring differences in diverse environments.
John Inazu
NetVUE’s podcast Callings has released its first episode of season five, which features hosts John Barton and Erin VanLaningham’s interview with John Inazu, the Sally D. Danforth Distinguished Professor of Law and Religion at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Prior to teaching law, Inazu clerked for Judge Roger L. Wollman of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit and served as an associate general counsel with the Department of the Air Force at the Pentagon.
In this episode, he reflects on his vocation as a lawyer and teacher, and shares insights and examples from the classroom to the courtroom. He highlights the importance of honoring the humanity of others and explores how we can all improve in our abilities to navigate diversities and disagree well. As we do so, he encourages us to hold things loosely and honor our particularities. In his view, engaging difference might be as central to vocation as finding common beliefs with which to identify.
Click hereto listen to the episode featuring John Inazu titled “Learning to Disagree.”
