It’s a story so familiar to many that you may not even realize there’s more to be discovered. The Bible describes an event that led so-called wise men to Jesus.

Scripture calls it a star, but what was it really? That’s the question Grant Mathews, director of the Center for Astrophysics at Notre Dame, set out to answer. He believes the Christmas star was actually a planetary alignment. He shares his research with us for this episode of Notre Dame Stories.

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Show links:

• Watch on YouTube
• Episode page
• Royal Beauty Bright

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Notre Dame Stories is the official podcast of the University of Notre Dame. It was created by the Office of Public Affairs and Communications and hosted by Jenna Liberto with Executive Producer Andy Fuller. It was produced by Jenna Liberto, Josh Long, and Staci Stickovich. Videography was done by Zach Dudka, Josh Long, Tony Fuller, and Michael Wiens. Original music was provided by Alex Mansour. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode of Notre Dame Stories, Nitesh Chawla, Founding Director of the Lucy Family Institute for Data and Society, discusses the transformative potential of artificial intelligence. Amid growing concerns about AI’s societal impacts, Chawla emphasizes a proactive and inclusive approach to leveraging this technology for good. From addressing biases in AI systems to creating global solutions for healthcare and poverty, his work exemplifies Notre Dame’s mission to advance the human condition through interdisciplinary collaboration.

He also discusses how Notre Dame’s holistic educational approach empowers students to use data and AI ethically and responsibly to tackle complex global challenges.

Listen to discover how Notre Dame is driving innovation in data and science to create meaningful societal impact.

Show links:

• Watch on YouTube
• Episode page
• Notre Dame Strategic Framework
• Lucy Family Institute for Data and Society
• Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez study

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Notre Dame Stories is the official podcast of the University of Notre Dame. It was created by the Office of Public Affairs and Communications and hosted by Jenna Liberto with Executive Producer Andy Fuller. It was produced by Jenna Liberto, Josh Long, and Staci Stickovich. Videography was done by Zach Dudka, Josh Long, Tony Fuller, and Michael Wiens. Original music was provided by Alex Mansour. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode, Micki Kidder, vice president of undergraduate enrollment, highlights Notre Dame's new no-loan financial aid packaging and expanded need-blind admissions as part of the new Pathways to Notre Dame initiative, ensuring that students from all financial backgrounds can access a Notre Dame education without the burden of debt.

As a Notre Dame alumna, staff member, and now a Notre Dame parent, Kidder shares her personal insight into the University’s mission to provide an unparalleled educational experience rooted in Catholic values.

Show links:

• Watch the podcast interview on YouTube
• Watch Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C. announce the Pathways to Notre Dame initiative
• Learn more about Pathways to Notre Dame
• View Notre Dame 2033: A Strategic Framework

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Notre Dame Stories is the official podcast of the University of Notre Dame. It was created by the Office of Public Affairs and Communications and hosted by Jenna Liberto with Executive Producer Andy Fuller. It was produced by Jenna Liberto, Josh Long, and Staci Stickovich. Videography was done by Zach Dudka, Josh Long, Tony Fuller, and Michael Wiens. Original music was provided by Alex Mansour. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode of Notre Dame Stories, we go deep on a topic featured in the University’s award-winning series, “What Would You Fight For?” In an in-depth conversation, Sarah Mustillo, the I.A. O’Shaughnessy Dean of Notre Dame’s College of Arts and Letters, discusses the bold University initiative around mental health. She talks about her own research into childhood trauma, and how it helps to inform her approach.

 In this episode, we also meet Austin Wyman, a Notre Dame doctoral student. Austin has his own personal story of how he became interested in studying quantitative psychology.

Watch on YouTube

Learn about the University’s commitment to combat America’s mental health crisis.

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Notre Dame Stories is the official podcast of the University of Notre Dame. It was created by the Office of Public Affairs and Communications.

Host: Jenna Liberto

Executive Producer: Andy Fuller

Producers: Jenna Liberto, Josh Long, Staci Stickovich

Videographers: Zach Dudka, Josh Long, Tony Fuller, Michael Wiens

Music: Alex Mansour

In October, it was announced that Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., would step down from his role as the 17th president of the University of Notre Dame. He has shaped and grown the University and its impact over the past 19 years in research, global engagement and by attracting super faculty and the highest caliber students, just to name a few.

In this special episode of Notre Dame Stories, Father Jenkins reflects on his tenure with host Jenna Liberto.

Watch the interview

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Notre Dame Stories is the official podcast of the University of Notre Dame. It was created by the Office of Public Affairs and Communications. Hosted by Jenna Liberto with Executive Producer Andy Fuller, content coordination by Staci Stickovich, edited by Michael Wiens and Jessica Sieff, and videography by Tony Fuller and Zach Dudka. Original music by Alex Mansour. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

The University of Notre Dame has experienced transformational growth in research over the past decade. The evidence is everywhere on campus, both in the talent of the faculty and the resources devoted to making Notre Dame a leading research institution.

In this episode of Notre Dame Stories, host Jenna Liberto talks to Vice President of Research Jeff Rhoads who shares his plans for expanding the University's impact globally.

Watch the interview

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Notre Dame Stories is the official podcast of the University of Notre Dame. It was created by the Office of Public Affairs and Communications, written and produced by Andy Fuller, with content coordination from Staci Stickovich. This episode was edited by Michael Wiens with videography by Tony Fuller and Zach Dudka. Original music is by Alex Mansour. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

What comes to mind when you think about the Department of Theology at the University of Notre Dame? Likely, an image of traditional Roman Catholicism. But the Church is a global body with diverse traditions and people who lead them. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the life story of the chair of Notre Dame’s Department of Theology, Father Khaled Anatolios.

In this episode of Notre Dame Stories, we explore one way the University embraces and advances its Catholic character in the global context.

 Watch the interview

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Notre Dame Stories is created by the Office of Public Affairs and Communications. Hosted by Jenna Liberto. Written and produced by Andy Fuller with content coordination from Staci Stickovich. Edited by Michael Wiens and Jessica Sieff with videography by Tony Fuller and Zach Dudka. Original music is by Alex Mansour.

Kate Biberdorf is a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Texas. These days, she's better known as Kate the Chemist. Her explosive and entertaining experiments have taken her from the college campus to network television. In this episode of Notre Dame Stories, host Jenna Liberto talks with Kate about her passion for teaching audiences of all ages to fall in love with scientific discovery and what she plans to share at the College of Science's annual Christmas lecture.

Watch the interview

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Notre Dame Stories is the official podcast of the University of Notre Dame. It was created by the Office of Public Affairs and Communications, written and produced by Andy Fuller, with content coordination from Staci Stickovich. This episode was edited by Michael Wiens with videography by Tony Fuller and Zach Dudka. Original music is by Alex Mansour. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode, we look at the relationship between the great Catholic intellectual, G.K. Chesterton, and the University of Notre Dame. Chesterton spent a semester on campus in 1930, lending his intellectual prowess and good humor to the Notre Dame community. Today, a collection of his personal belongings is adding a new dimension to the University's presence in London.

We know that a good night’s sleep can help you at work…but what role do dreams play in your 9-to-5? We sat down with Casher Belinda, assistant professor for management at the Mendoza College of Business, to discuss a new study that shows how the emotions we experience at night can help us during the day.

One of the more popular stories we've produced is on the origin of the University's athletics nickname, the "Fighting Irish." As the football team prepares to open its season in Dublin, Ireland, for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, we revisit that history to open the new season of Notre Dame Stories.

Guest narration by Brian Ó Conchubhair of the Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies. Explore the University's relationship with the Emerald Isle with the limited podcast series East and West: Notre Dame in Ireland.