Podcasts: Listening, Research, and a Publicity Tool

By John Bond

Podcasting is fifteen plus years old.  Whether you have been in it from the start, or it is new to you, listen up.  It is a valuable medium for published authors, aspiring writers, academics, and interesting people.

If you are not a devotee, you likely have a friend or colleague that says frequently, “I was listening to a podcast recently about…” Or they say, “Do you listen to XYZ podcast? You really should.”  I admit to being that guy.

Podcasts now cover archaeology, the Royal Family, ice hockey, the Tudors, Indian cooking, and everything in between.  I’d be interested in any topic that isn’t being covered in podcasts.

If you are new or newish to podcasting for entertainment or research but want to know more, read on. There is something here for everyone, and I have my top tip at the end!

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Productivity and Confidence

By Dave Harris, PhD

The August 2024 TAA Conversation Circle on productivity reminded me of how much productivity depends on confidence. This insight can guide us: confidence can be built through practice. I offer some suggestions on building confidence, and thus productivity, through practice.

Degrees of self-confidence and behavior

Speaking generally, emotions shape our behavior: the optimist behaves as if things will work out, while the pessimist behaves as if things will not. Metaphorically speaking, the optimist will buy a lottery ticket, and the pessimist will not. The optimist submits a draft for publication, where the pessimist does not.

Self-confidence varies for each person, and, generally, the optimal degree of self-confidence lies between the extremes: too little self-confidence leads to paralysis; too much leads to arrogance and an inability to learn.  Ideally, a scholar has enough self-confidence to move forward with their projects and to present their work to others while also remaining open to correction when errors arise.

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Chemeketa Press Seeks Textbook Proposals

Chemeketa Press, a nonprofit textbook publisher located in Salem, Oregon that makes affordable, effective, engaging, and accessible textbooks, is seeking submissions of new textbook proposals and faculty editor grant applications through October 15, 2024.

Chemeketa Press publishes textbooks across a variety of disciplines.In this reading period, textbook proposals for original material or OER adaptation are sought, as well as faculty editors for two public domain series, the American Voices Collection and Primary Text Editions, and themed anthologies.

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2025 TAA Conference Bookstore Featured Book: ‘Becoming the Writer You Already Are’

Why is writing so terrifying? Dr. Michelle R. Boyd’s Becoming the Writer You Already Are explains why being afraid of writing is neither strange nor shameful. And introduces the Writing Metaphor, a tool that illuminates what you already know about overcoming writing challenges. Becoming shows you how to consult, trust, and follow that process. So you can live a pleasurable, productive, satisfying writing life.

Purchase in the 2025 TAA Conference Bookstore

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Top Hat Announces Debut of ‘Higher Listenings’ Podcast

Top Hat announced the debut of Higher Listenings, a podcast “where we connect with leading thinkers, authors and educators shaping the future of learning.”

Their first three episodes feature interviews with Dr. José Antonio Bowen, author of “Teaching with AI,” Terrell Strayhorn, PhD, a world-renowned expert on student belonging, and Top Hat’s very own Dr. Bradley Cohen.

Top Hat’s Managing Director of Learning Solutions, Donna Battista, is a TAA Board Member. Subscribe

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Larson Texts and Big Ideas Learning Unify Under a Single Brand Identity

Larson Texts and Big Ideas Learning, founded by TAA member and multiple TAA Textbook Award winner Dr. Ron Larson, announced the unification of its two brand identities to Big Ideas Learning, a Larson Texts Company.

Both companies are leaders in K-Higher-Ed math education. According to a September 20, 2024 press release, Larson’s “contribution to mathematics education is monumental. From the publication of his first Calculus textbook in 1978 to the foundation of Big Ideas Learning, his vision has always been to make math accessible and engaging for students.”

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