The Letters and Science Exchange

Episode 34: Approaches to Teaching with Historian Brandon Bloch

In this episode, we speak with Brandon Bloch, Assistant Professor of History and winner of the 2026 William H. Kiekhofer Distinguished Teaching Award [https://news.wisc.edu/meet-the-2026-distinguished-teaching-award-winners/] at UW-Madison. He shares how he engages students in their own areas of interest while teaching challenging subjects in the age of AI. He also discusses the many influences on his teaching practice and recommends resources for other instructors.   See the transcript for this episode. Episode 34: Supporting First-Year Students [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tCezTCChBBZbg0e22YvhNXY6X4pLdram3DvLYyy5NNI/edit?usp=sharing] The L&S Exchange Podcast is brought to you by L&S Teaching & Learning Administration [https://teachlearn.ls.wisc.edu/] and produced by the Instructional Design Collaborative [https://idc.ls.wisc.edu/]. This podcast is recorded on ancestral Ho-Chunk land, a place their nation has called Teejop (day-JOPE) since time immemorial.

Episode 33: Supporting First-Year Students

In this Article Remix, IDC team members Maria Widmer and Molly Harris chat about their recent L&S Design for Learning article “Supporting First-Year Students [https://idc.ls.wisc.edu/ls-design-for-learning-series/supporting-first-year-students/].” They share tips from research literature and examples from L&S instructors on how to support first-year students’ academic and social transition to college. Find inspiration and consider how you might incorporate these strategies into your own classroom. See the transcript for this episode. [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RcaWRG-O2r6KahoVG86sSTqXXxh-xKNWKHuv9P8f3ls/edit?usp=sharing] The L&S Exchange Podcast is brought to you by L&S Teaching & Learning Administration [https://teachlearn.ls.wisc.edu/] and produced by the Instructional Design Collaborative [https://idc.ls.wisc.edu/]. This podcast is recorded on ancestral Ho-Chunk land, a place their nation has called Teejop (day-JOPE) since time immemorial.

Episode 32: Reflections on Teaching & Learning with Composer-Pianist Daria Tennikova

We talk with pianist, composer, and L&S Teaching Assistant Daria Tennikova about her expansive teaching experience. From private piano lessons to group music theory and composition courses to a YouTube channel with thousands of subscribers, Daria brings a commitment to helping others enjoy learning. In this episode, she shares her approaches to teaching and provides insights into practice, feedback, and creativity that can be brought into any discipline. See the transcript for this episode. [https://docs.google.com/document/d/18ybnjY-4Mtgga96drqnT5rJQIn7fzpWBip3B5g85gyc/edit?usp=sharing] The L&S Exchange Podcast is brought to you by L&S Teaching & Learning Administration [https://teachlearn.ls.wisc.edu/] and produced by the Instructional Design Collaborative [https://idc.ls.wisc.edu/]. This podcast is recorded on ancestral Ho-Chunk land, a place their nation has called Teejop (day-JOPE) since time immemorial.

Episode 31: Maximizing Impact: Effective Strategies for Large Lectures

In this Article Remix, IDC team members Laura Schmidli and Molly Harris chat about their recent L&S Design for Learning article “Maximizing Impact: Effective Strategies for Large Lectures [https://idc.ls.wisc.edu/ls-design-for-learning-series/strategies-for-large-lectures/].” They share examples from their research and from L&S instructors for fostering belonging, engaging students, and promoting learning in a large course environment. How might you embrace the challenges of a lecture hall and turn numbers into an asset? See the transcript for this episode. [Link] The L&S Exchange Podcast is brought to you by L&S Teaching & Learning Administration [https://teachlearn.ls.wisc.edu/] and produced by the Instructional Design Collaborative [https://idc.ls.wisc.edu/]. This podcast is recorded on ancestral Ho-Chunk land, a place their nation has called Teejop (day-JOPE) since time immemorial.

Episode 30: What Instructors Can Learn from Music Educators

We kick off Season 4 with a conversation about music, creativity, and the art of learning. We hear from two UW-Madison music educators, Assistant Professors Amy Lewis and Jesse Rathgeber, as well as L&S students. They share stories of curiosity, improvisation, and connection that can inspire us all as instructors.  See the transcript [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Z3XG5ICVTtZenudh5DY8km81WQdXSC-GG22_6RZ38gQ/edit?usp=sharing] for this episode. The L&S Exchange Podcast is brought to you by L&S Teaching, Learning, and Academic Planning [https://teachlearn.ls.wisc.edu/] and produced by the Instructional Design Collaborative [https://idc.ls.wisc.edu/]. This podcast is recorded on ancestral Ho-Chunk land, a place their nation has called Teejop (day-JOPE) since time immemorial. Join the Conversation How did this episode make you think? What’s on your mind about inclusive teaching? Send us an email [idc@ls.wisc.edu]. We may ask to feature your contribution in this or a future episode.