The Booce Teaches Podcast

Episode 1: Emerging Luminary with Tyshaun Brewer

Season 2 opens with podcast host, one of Dr. Tanya Boucicaut's forever students, Tyshaun Brewer, a college senior, who shares how Norfolk State shaped his voice and why civic engagement, social justice, and community. Tanya and Tyshaun revisit his experience in the Courage Summer Program (youth summer theater program) and explore how mentorship and artistic expression shaped Tyshaun’s path from performance to social work and civic activism. He discusses leading on campus, organizing in the community, speaking at forums, and choosing social work so that he can serve communities while advocating for policies that support them. We sit with mentorship, purpose, and the power of the HBCU family. This conversation feels like home and a call to keep showing up for each other. *Note: Still learning about recording and editing.

Episode 20: Celebrating Wonder with Kait Boss

This episode concludes this almost four-year journey to recording and editing the first season of the Booce Teaches Podcast. We end this season with wonder. Kait Boss, current development consultant, content strategist, and creative producer, shares her journey to the role at the time of timing in 2021 as the Director of Children’s Television. She shares her early love for English and the arts as a student. Kait recounts the poignant advice that her poetry professor offered artists after the tragedies of 9/11 and how artistry helps with sense-making during the most difficult times in human history. Through joy and wonder, Kait provides insight into how the skills she gained in school learning about video and audio editing would serve her well in her journey as an entertainment executive. As always, the conversation concludes with the Top Five with an on-brand twist—movie scores!

Episode 19: Recovering Memories with Tom Bannard

Recovery is a process. Tom Bannard almost immediately opens this conversation with his journey through recovery. He offers a blunt and candid view into his life as a student and later the Rams in Recovery Coordinator. He shares the impact of having too much time on one’s hands as a college student. He then chronicles how, with support, he has been able to redirect his life and support others in their recovery journeys, beginning at two nonprofits, CARITAS and the Healing (prior to their combination), and later at Virginia Commonwealth University. As always, the conversation concludes with the Top Five, with a stark difference between the 90s and early aughts and more recent (circa 2021) artists. Trigger warning: substance use discussion.

Episode 18: Beauty for Ashes: The Open Book with Rev. Paula Watson

In this faith-inspiring episode, especially for theological students, Chaplain Paula Watson reflects on her Houstonian journey as a student, mother, teacher, minister, and children’s hospital chaplain. With an open book perspective, she shares the important moments in her life and the mentors who have guided her along the way. Chaplain Watson reveals how her personal experiences enable her to support others as a compassionate bridge during their own struggles. She also emphasizes the vital role her family has played in shaping her path. As always, the conversation concludes with the Top Five.

Episode 17: Connected and Listening: Embracing Wellness in the Heart of Tidewater

This is another theology-inspired conversation, especially for theological students, with Pastor, counselor, and soon-to-be Dr. Lucretia Mason Underdue. Pastor Mason Underdue invites us into her journey as a counselor, beginning as a teenager by being a listening ear and offering advice to her friends and loved ones. Not only does she share her complicated college story, but she also offers advice to check in with our well-being and motivation. Through laughter and joy, Pastor Mason Underdue reminisces about her love of music and even being a part of a girl group. Like the others, the conversation concludes with a Top Five journey into her love of gospel and R&B music.