The Search Bar

Is work-life balance a reality?

People talk about work-life balance, but what does it even mean? And is it possible to truly find alignment between the two?     Guest: Neil MacKinnon [https://www.cmich.edu/about/university-leadership/office-president/presidents-biography], president at Central Michigan University [https://www.cmich.edu/]  It's the 50th episode of The Search Bar and host Adam Sparkes welcomes Central Michigan University President Neil Mackinnon to the show. The two sit down to discuss the balancing act between your personal and professional life. President MacKinnon shares some insight into how he finds balance, the importance of mentorship and other thoughts on how you can better find work-life harmony.

The blurred line: Where art meets photography

With the ubiquity of smartphones, who's a photographer when everyone's a photographer? And what separates photography from art?  Guest: Kris Sanford [https://www.cmich.edu/people/KRIS-L-SANFORD], professor of photography at Central Michigan University    Summary  In this episode of The Search Bar, Adam Sparkes welcomes Kris Sanford to the show. The two discuss what makes a photographer truly great, the blurred line between art and photography, the pros and cons of artificial intelligence in the photography industry – and more.

Breaking Barriers: The intersection of hearing loss, advocacy and innovation

Ahead of National Speech-Language-Hearing Month in May, join us for a conversation focusing on the intersection of hearing loss, advocacy and innovation.  Guest: Stacey Lim [https://www.cmich.edu/people/STACEY-R-LIM], associate professor of audiology at Central Michigan University [https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/herbert-h-grace-a-dow-college-of-health-professions/departments/communication-sciences-and-disorders-organizations/audiology-post-baccalaureate-program]    Summary  In this episode of The Search Bar, Adam Sparkes welcomes Stacey Lim to the show. Stacey shares her personal journey that led to a career in audiology, her love of fashion as it relates to hearing accessibility, stigma surrounding hearing loss and advice for young people considering a career in audiology.

How beer kick-started economic recovery during The Great Depression

National Beer Day isn’t just a made-up holiday by the beer industry. There’s real, historical significance with the legalization of beer having economic ripple effects across the country during The Great Depression.    Guest: Jason Taylor [https://www.cmich.edu/people/JASON-E-TAYLOR], professor of economics at Central Michigan University [https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/college-business-administration/departments-schools/economics] and author of The Brew Deal: How Beer Helped Battle the Great Depression [https://www.amazon.com/Brew-Deal-Helped-Battle-Depression/dp/3031731328]    Summary  In this episode of The Search Bar, host Adam Sparkes welcomes Jason Taylor back to the show how beer helped save a struggling U.S. economy during The Great Depression, and how New Beer’s Eve and National Beer Day came to be.

Phone down, life up: Being present in a world obsessed with sharing

Sometimes it feels like we’re scrolling through life more than we’re living it.   Guest: Kirsten Weber [https://www.cmich.edu/people/KIRSTEN-MARIE-WEBER], professor of communication at Central Michigan University [https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/college-arts-media/departments-schools/communication-journalism-media]    Summary  In this episode of The Search Bar, host Adam Sparkes and Kirsten Weber, professor of communication at Central Michigan University, discuss how documenting our lives for social media affects our ability to fully experience the moment. They also provide ways we can find a balance between capturing memories and staying present in the moment.