According to Forbes magazine, legal sales of cannabis in the U.S. hit a record $17.5 billion in 2020. With job growth projected to increase 161 percent by 2029, there’s a clear need for educated employees to work in a variety of cannabis-related fields.

That’s why Edinboro University professor Dr. Sam Claster, from Sociology, has worked tirelessly over the past few years to develop a new certificate program in Cannabis Science. In today’s episode, we talk about some of the truths and myths behind the cannabis industry and how it can revolutionize the modern American economy.

We’ll also chat about the new program, which combines the science of medical cannabis with the science of growing and manufacturing of the product and critical policy and compliance issues that the industry faces.

Recent government data show that nearly three out of every four children under the age of 18 participate in some sort of youth sport. With those numbers remaining steady through 2021, some professionals are taking a closer look at youth sport safety.

As professional leagues such as the NFL and NBA become more physical and oftentimes aggressive, some parents have noticed youth athletes adapting to more advanced playing style. And that concerns athletic training professionals like Dr. Amy Eperthener from Edinboro Athletics – whose career is based on keeping athletes safe and healthy.

In today’s episode of “Tartan Talks” we discuss issues and advancements in youth sports safety and where we go from here.

Hear the entire episode at www.edinboro.edu/tartantalks or wherever you listen to podcasts.

In one year, Dr. Jim Roberts ran 7 marathons. He once completed marathons on 3 consecutive days. He has run a marathon in all 50 states – 49 of which he finished in less than 4 hours.

Only one question comes to mind when chatting with a seasoned marathon runner like Dr. Roberts: Why?

Whether it’s a test of personal perseverance or a hobby with friends, Dr. Roberts has found several reasons to complete the 26.2 mile race over and over again. On today’s episode, we discuss the reason he started running and how he trains and prepares himself for the grueling race.

Hear the entire episode at www.edinboro.edu/tartantalks or wherever you listen to podcasts.

If you’re an artist, sometimes looking back on your earliest work can be – well – somewhat embarrassing. But as Edinboro University professor Karabo Legwaila explains in today’s episode of “Tartan Talks,” that’s one of the best ways to improve as an artist.

Karabo Legwaila joined the Art Department in the fall of 2016 as a professor of Computer Animation. Prior to that, he spent 10 years as a lead technical animator and dynamics specialist. Originally from Botswana, Karabo received his Master of Fine Arts degree in Computer Animation at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

He discusses what it’s like seeing your work in front of millions of people and how the field of animation has come a long way with inclusive culture.

Hear the entire episode at www.edinboro.edu/tartantalks or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Information is out there. Look no further than the mobile device in your hands. In an instant, you have access to news stories and scientific research about topics from climate change to virus pandemics. But what happens when we encounter science and research that doesn’t fit with our own beliefs or preconceptions? Are we rigid to change? What will it take to reconsider our own opinions when presented with new information?

Dr. Peter McLaughlin, from Edinboro’s Psychology Department, teaches critical thinking and research among his many classes for undergraduate students. He joins us today to discuss why some folks refuse to believe science and why some simply don’t know how or where to find reliable sources. He also gives us some advice on how to think critically about ideas that are presented to us.

We all have our hobbies. Some of us enjoy music and writing, others partake in woodworking or fashion. A growing percentage of Americans spend their downtime playing games on video gaming systems, computers and mobile phones. For nearly 10% of these gamers, the hobby has become more than recreation – it’s become an addiction.

Dr. Stephanie Diez-Morel, from Edinboro’s Social Work Department, joins us to discuss how we can identify and assess gaming disorders and how we can maintain healthy screen habits in a screen-dependent societyt. In addition to her work at Edinboro, Diez-Morel also owns and operates Reboot & Recover – a public charity dedicated to lessening the negative impact of technology in society. Learn more at https://rebootandrecover.org.

For the last 20 years, we have been warned not to believer everything we see or read on the internet. Today’s “Tartan Talks” guests explores that concept in today’s deep dive. Dr. Larry Downey has taught mathematics at Edinboro University since 2012. But in his research, he developed a software program that can detect false or doctored images that appear on the internet and in academic research. Dr. Downey joins us to discuss the field of image forensics and provides some examples of viral images that have turned out to be 100% fake. To view the video portion of the podcast – and see these images up close – visit the link in the notes.

Although you can't tell because of the snow squalls and sub-freezing temperatures, we are quickly approaching spring in Northwestern Pennsylvania. And with the anticipation of warmer weather, birds chirping and leaves returning to trees, many of us hit the books to recall the words of our favorite nature poets. Dr. Bob Hass, from Edinboro University's English & Philosophy Department, joins us today to discuss his lifelong quest to understand Robert Frost, his penchant for living outdoors and writing about it, and his predictions for the future of poetry. Hass is the author of "Going by Contraries: Robert Frost’s Conflict with Science" and the poetry collection, "Counting Thunder". He is currently co-editing "The Letters of Robert Frost" with Edinboro colleague Donald Sheehy for Harvard University Press.

It's Black History Month, and we're delivering you a special episode from Edinboro University's Black History Month programming. Although the Civil Rights Movement resulted in monumental legal changes for a country just 100 years removed from slavery, African Americans continue to experience bias, discrimination and prejudice at all levels of society. LGBTQ African Americans often live at the intersection of racism. In 2020, there was an unprecedented number of murders of trans or gender non-conforming people - the majority of which were black transgender women. This presentation will explore the intersection of gender and race and the implications for the social justice movement. This chat features Dena Stanley (CEO & founder TransYOUniting), Dr. Will Koehler and Dalen Hooks (Central Outreach Advocacy) and Dr. Adrienne Dixon (Edinboro Counseling Department). Find more programming at www.edinboro.edu/bhm.

It's a new year and a new opportunity to reach our goals and meet our personal expectations. However, in 2021, we are still in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and the number of individuals impacted by this virus are still climbing. Not only that, but people around the globe are facing increasing mental health issues like stress, anxiety and depression. Dr. Julaine Field, from Edinboro's Counseling, School Psychology and Special Education – and a licensed professional counselor, joined us for "Tartan Talks" to discuss these concerns and some of the coping mechanisms we can adopt to get through this pandemic together. Edinboro University students who would like to make an appointment with on-campus Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), visit www.edinboro.edu/caps or call (814) 732-2252.

Erie is much more than the fourth largest city in Pennsylvania. From the food to the entertainment to the small businesses, Erie possesses a certain charm that ignites the spirit of locals and piques the nostalgia of those who have moved away. Dena Rupp and Corrine Kraus, two Edinboro University graphic design graduates, started a business to capture this spirit – Flagship City Press. The pair of entrepreneurs joined us on "Tartan Talks" to discuss their stationary and gift business and what it means to be competitive in the current marketplace. To view their entire catalogue of products and to learn more about their story, visit https://flagshipcitypress.com.