Hot Off The Pod The Daily Nexus

This episode marks the second part of our special collaboration series focusing on the Unmasking Isla Vista reporting project spearheaded by the Daily Nexus and KCSB. 

First, we sit down with Atmika Iyer (Daily Nexus) and Ashley Rusch (KCSB) to talk about their reporting on Testing & Vaccines. Later, Katherine Swartz (Daily Nexus) and Alex Goldberg (KCSB) join us to discuss Local Businesses. Stay tuned for the next and final episode of our Unmasking Isla Vista collaboration.

Hosts: Melanie Ziment and Emily Kocis

Producers: Toni Shindler-Ruberg and Syd Haupt

Music: Alan Kocis

Logo Design: Daniela Gomez

Follow us on Instagram @hotoffthepod to stay up to date with all that’s hot.

Developed with support from the University of California National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement. Views expressed on the podcast do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Nexus, UCSB, or KCSB.

Today’s episode launches a special collaboration series focusing on the Unmasking Isla Vista reporting project spearheaded by the Daily Nexus and KCSB. Unmasking Isla Vista is a collaborative multimedia series documenting the ways in which UC Santa Barbara and Isla Vista community members have had to adjust almost all aspects of their lives to help mitigate the spread of Coronavirus. On these episodes of Hot Off The Pod, the reporters behind these stories take their reporter hats off and share their own experiences and opinions on the topics.

First, we sit down with Asumi Shuda (Daily Nexus) and Jennifer Yoshikoshi (KCSB) to talk about their segment, Human Struggle. Later, Sindhu Ananthavel (Daily Nexus) and Ashley Rusch (KCSB) join us to discuss University & Students. Stay tuned for the next episode of our Unmasking Isla Vista collaboration.

Hosts: Melanie Ziment and Emily Kocis

Producers: Toni Shindler-Ruberg and Syd Haupt

Music: Alan Kocis

Art: Luca Disbrow

Logo Design: Daniela Gomez

Follow us on Instagram @hotoffthepod to stay up to date with all that’s hot.

Developed with support from the University of California National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement. Views expressed on the podcast do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Nexus, UCSB, or KCSB.

On the Season 2 premiere of Hot Off The Pod, the HOTP team (Melanie Ziment, Emily Kocis, Toni Shindler-Ruberg and Syd Haupt) reassembles in the Nexus offices to discuss everything from LGBTQ+ representation in literature to changes in LA’s Little Tokyo, to the impact of tourism on Hawaiian communities to Gen-Z allegedly destroying email.



Hosts: Melanie Ziment and Emily Kocis

Producers: Toni Shindler-Ruberg and Syd Haupt

Music: Alan Kocis

Art: Daniela Gomez

Follow us on Instagram @hotoffthepod to stay up to date with all that’s hot.

Developed with support from the University of California National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement.

What do cheerleaders, critical race theory and internet smear campaigns have in common? They’re all related to some of the most talked about issues involving free speech today. For the Season 1 finale of Hot Off The Pod, Michelle Deutchman, Executive Director of the UC National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement, updates us on the latest First Amendment news. In one case, a high schooler’s leaked Snapchat reaches the Supreme Court, raising questions about student speech in the social media age. Trump may be out of office, but his opposition to diversity education lives on in the form of state legislation banning critical race theory in schools. In higher education, the quotation of racial slurs in educational settings is a topic of fierce debate. Finally, we touch on the Associated Press’ recent firing of Emily Wilder for her history of college activism and what this means for a generation of journalists who have grown up documenting their lives and opinions online.

For more hot headlines, check out the links below:

https://dailynexus.com/2021-05-22/a-s-senate-vegetarian-bill-delayed-after-critique-and-controversy/

https://dailynexus.com/2021-05-18/niki-and-dominic-fike-headline-extravaganza-2021/

https://dailynexus.com/2021-05-23/how-the-2014-isla-vista-tragedy-spurred-safety-and-self-governance/

This week we explore the UCSB Library program UCSB Reads, the annual bookclub ran by and for students. Talking with Lupita Barragan, a group leader for the program and UCSB alumnus, we unpack this year’s book selection, When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Patrisse Cullors and asha bandele. From reflections on identity to in-depth literary analysis, we discuss the importance of UCSB Reads' role in facilitating student-led spaces for vulnerable conversations sparked by this incredible book. To virtually attend the program’s author talk with Patrisse Cullors, reserve a free ticket at artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

For more hot headlines, check out the links below:

https://dailynexus.com/2021-05-04/ucsb-should-send-you-a-900-check-now-heres-why/

https://dailynexus.com/2021-05-08/students-staff-and-faculty-participate-in-work-stoppage-day-to-demand-cops-off-campus/

https://dailynexus.com/2021-05-03/tracks-of-the-month-april-2021/

On this week’s episode, we sit down with the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County’s marketing assistant and UCSB alumna Megan Halpin to tackle food insecurity in Santa Barbara. A staggering 48% of UCSB undergraduates and 38% of graduate students lack consistent access to or cannot afford nutritious food. We talk about how this hunger can affect student’s performance, the stigma around getting food help and the amazing food literacy and distribution programs that are provided by the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County. To donate to or learn more about the Foodbank’s efforts you can visit https://foodbanksbc.org/.

For more hot headlines, check out the links below:

https://dailynexus.com/2021-04-23/spring-2021-commencement-to-feature-virtual-keynote-address-from-oprah-winfrey-and-in-person-grad-walk/

https://dailynexus.com/2021-04-22/a-s-spring-quarter-election-results-2021/

https://dailynexus.com/2021-04-24/breaking-the-silence-opinion-staff-writers-speak-up-after-2021s-day-of-silence/