Lynx to the Past

Rhodes College

The "Lynx to the Past" podcast produced by Rhodes College's information services staff uses the college's digital and physical archives to tell stories about campus history, mysteries, and legends.

  1. MAR 3

    100 Years in Memphis: Moving a College

    Moving a college is no easy feat, especially when the state supreme court gets involved. In light of Rhodes' recent 100-year anniversary in Memphis, join Kahlila and Kenan as they reflect on the journey that led us out of Clarksville.

    28 min

  2. 08/28/2025

    Memphis, Tennessee Williams

    Tennessee Williams: he's just like us! Before he was a famous playwright, he was just Tom—a young man escaping a shoe factory job, discovering his voice, and falling in love with theater and life in Memphis. Young Williams visited Southwestern in 1935 looking for purpose in his life. Here, he found friends, inspiration. and a new passion for playwriting. Flash forward 90 years later, and Tennessee Williams is here with us again in the form of paintings (generously gifted by Kenneth Holditch). It's like he never left. In this episode, Kahlila talks everything Tennessee with special guests Rosie Meindl and Echo O'Connor. For more information on Williams, visit the website below (created by Echo O'Connor for the exhibition "Tennessee Williams: Paintings of Love and Loss"): https://sites.rhodes.edu/tennessee-williams

    21 min

  3. 01/30/2025

    Rite of Spring- the origin story

    Rites of Spring (originally named Rite of Spring) is an annual spring semester music festival held at Rhodes. These days, the events usually happen over two or three days: the first day has games and parties and the second day has the main headlining performer and other opening acts. All kinds of artists have visited our beautiful campus for Rites of Spring, with some key examples being Three Six Mafia, The Black Keys, and Waka Flocka. It all started in the 1970s. Back in the good old days when rotary phones and Third Term were still a thing and when Rhodes was called Southwestern. Music was everywhere with genres like jazz, disco, soul, county and reggae blasting on radios across the country. Lynx to the Past host Kahlila Bandele '27 is joined by Randy Robertson '76 and Neil Mara '77 to record the origin of this beloved campus tradition.

    18 min

  4. 10/30/2024

    Southwestern During World War II

    Step back in time with us to the 1940s. Picture air force cadets marching across campus, sororities tirelessly raising funds for war orphans, and classrooms buzzing with nationalistic fervor. WE WANT YOU to tune in as Kahlila and Maggie delve into the fascinating history of Rhodes College during World War II.

    20 min

  5. 10/16/2024

    Making the Grade

    Once upon a time in the 80s, a lazy trust-fund heir paid a New Jersey street hustler to take his place at prep school.  While Palmer Woodrow III was off partying in Paris, Eddie Keaton (played by Judd Nelson) attended the prestigious Hoover Academy. You might recognize the location setting as our very own Rhodes College! Put on your Madras plaid, pop the collar of your polo shirt and some corn. On this special summer extravaganza by Sam Monroe '25, we go behind the scenes with Carey Scott (Rand), Jonna Lee (Tracey Hoover) and "henchman" Vincent Lemorrocco, stars of the 1984 film Making The Grade.

    39 min

  6. 05/06/2024

    Diehl with the Devil

    Charles Edward Diehl served as president of Southwestern (now Rhodes College) for 32 years, leaving his legacy on the college through its architecture and liberal arts values. In his time as president, Diehl saw a fair share of issues, including being accused of heresy in 1931!   In this episode of Lynx to the Past, Kahlila and Professor Stephen Haynes discuss the details of the 1931 trial and answer the question "what's the Diehl with heresy?"

    24 min

  7. 04/18/2024

    Charlaine Harris: "A writer, more than anything else"

    On the newest episode of Lynx to the Past,  Maggie Kreis '24 gets to fulfill every creative writing student's dreams when she chats with alumna author Charlaine Harris, Class of 1973!  A prolific writer, her series include the Aurora Teagarden mysteries, the Lily Bard mysteries, the Sookie Stackhouse urban fantasies, the Harper Connelly urban fantasies, the Midnight, Texas novels, the Cemetery Girl graphic novels (with Christopher Golden), and the Gunnie Rose books, set in an alternate history America. Charlaine has also written many short stories, and together with Toni L.P. Kelner she edited seven themed anthologies. Her books have sold over 39 million copies worldwide! Charlaine Harris details how being a Rhodes alum has impacted her, shares stories from her time here and gives young writers her insight on the field and craft.

    30 min

  8. 04/03/2024

    Cold War Kids: Chinese students in the 1950s and American Cold War politics

    Kahlila Bandele continues to explore the history of international students on campus.  On this episode, Maggie and Kahlila discuss the relationship between Chinese students in the 1950s and American Cold War politics.  One of these students was David Wen-Wei Chang, class of 1955.  While researching this episode, we learned that Dr. Chang had published an autobiography titled "The Scholar and the Tiger".  We recently added this book to our collection if you would like to read more about Chang's life. Email us your questions, comments, and campus memories at lynxtothepast@rhodes.edu.

    9 min
See All (34)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

The "Lynx to the Past" podcast produced by Rhodes College's information services staff uses the college's digital and physical archives to tell stories about campus history, mysteries, and legends.

Information

  • Creator
    Rhodes College
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    34
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2023 Rhodes College. All Rights Reserved.
  • Show Website
    Lynx to the Past

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