8 DEC 2023 · In this final episode, Shannon Finck, Lisa Vallen, and Em Gates discuss the Southern Labor Archives, Writing Across the Curriculum at GSU, and the design and development of this Honors ENGL 1103 course. Image courtesy of Georgia State University Library's Archives and Special Collections

8 DEC 2023 · There is a hidden, and often overlooked side of the creativity industry, ranging from entertainment industry to the artistic industry, there is unseen and unnoticed labor. However, one of the similarities in these fields is the disadvantages, underappreciation, and inadequate recognition of those hidden under the surface of what you see every day. In this episode, “The Hidden Creative Industry,” Nia, Kayley, and Jacob bring these people and professions into light, and discuss their struggles, their actions, and what it took for them to bring back what they lost. Photo by Alina Grubnyak on Unsplash.

8 DEC 2023 · In “Raising the Curtain on Women in Theater”, Jayda Holsey, Lily Jolles, and Cedriyana Simmons first detail the emergence of the feminist theater movement. They then transition to uncover an artifact hidden only within the GSU archives, bringing to life a piece of forgotten history of the feminist theater movement in Atlanta. This culminates in the hosts divulging the impact that the movement currently has on women in the entertainment industry. Jayda, Lily, and Cedriyana also dive into the current state of labor and discuss its relevance to the modern entertainment industry, providing a relevant viewpoint as young women who are entering the male-dominated film industry. Photo by Javad Esmaeili on Unsplash.

8 DEC 2023 · Scott, Mahi, and DeAngelo researched the history of labor in the aviation industry. They first look into the PATCO strikes of 1981 and examined them and their picketing protests for better conditions. They compare these strikes to today’s aviation industry and the American Airlines flight attendants' picket lines for better conditions, pay, and time off as well. Although PATCO went on strike, the flight attendants couldn’t due to federal laws and mediation going on. While both picket lines and strikes happened at different times, these hosts compare the two and look into similarities and differences. Photo by https://unsplash.com/@lukassouza?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash on https://unsplash.com/photos/a-tall-tower-with-clouds-in-the-background-kvN8BBoZFT8?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash.

8 DEC 2023 · In this episode, Brittany and Ethan explore the historical change of teacher evaluations by focusing into Mary Lou Romaine's experiences in the 1970’s Georgia education system. We highlight differences between past and current teacher qualifications, such as transcripts and evaluation criteria. Mary Lou’s story, as a teacher focused on advocating for educationers as whole, becomes a focal point. Some concern was discussed about the unfair forms of early teacher evaluations, which focused on appearance and personal opinions, where it compared to the more objective methods used today. Later we interviewed a teacher on her view on previously mentioned topics. Podcast was concluded with a conclusion of Mary Lou’s accomplishments. Cover Photo: "Southern Summer School for Workers." L2001-05_112, Ross Photo Album - Labor Photos (1940s-1950s) [folder 2 of 2], Organizing and Arbitration, 1930-1955, M. H. Ross Papers, L2001-05, Southern Labor Archives. Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University, Atlanta, https://www.canva.com/link?target=https%3A%2F%2Fdigitalcollections.library.gsu.edu%2Fdigital%2Fcollection%2Flabor%2Fid%2F2250%2Frec%2F1&design=DAF1ZK7UsKo&accessRole=owner&linkSource=comment. Accessed 5 December 2023.

8 DEC 2023 · This episode is hosted by Prince Azaan-Wells and Ore Olayinka. The episode focuses on the struggle that Georgia's healthcare workers faced throughout the early 1900s. Healthcare workers went on strike as a way to advocate for better wages, benefits, and working conditions. A strike was a last resort for these employees. Especially since they had previously expressed their grievances and concerns as a way to reach an agreement with the administration, so that drastic measures, like strikes, could be avoided. Photo by De an Sun on Unsplash.

7 DEC 2023 · This episode considers the widespread phenomenon of burnout among healthcareworkers, particularly in the case of nurses and for women in the profession especially. The hope of this podcast is to raise awareness to the problems affecting nurses and provide possible solutions to them. Among several stark realities of caring professions like nursing that this episode will cover in brief, these hosts will discuss in detail incidents of nurse suicides and recent strikes by Kaiser-Permanente Employees. The episode will also cover key issues ranging from, gender inequality, nurse strikes and the impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic. To conclude the episode, Lauren and Blessing offer possible solutions to help ease some of the burdens facing nurses. Cover Photo: "Kentucky Nurses Association Nursing Exhibit." L1978-20_01, Kentucky Nurses Association Records, Southern Labor Archives, Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University, Atlanta, https://www.canva.com/link?target=https%3A%2F%2Fdigitalcollections.library.gsu.edu%2Fdigital%2Fcollection%2Flabor%2Fid%2F1616%2Frec%2F1&design=DAF1ZK7UsKo&accessRole=owner&linkSource=comment. Accessed 5 December 2023.

7 DEC 2023 · In the first episode of season two of A Work(place) in Progress, Sadik, Eva, and Hannah discuss the UFW. The United Farm Workers was a union founded by Cesar Chavez to fight against mistreatment by their employers. The UFW tried plenty of things to try and obtain better working conditions such as sending Chavez on a trip around Europe to gather support from foreign nations, organizing strikes, and staying strong even while they were beaten by the police. However, the UFW eventually had a falling out with Chavez, many of the union members disagreed with how they should move forward as a union. In our podcast, we discuss the highs and lows of the UFW and how we can learn from their mistakes to inform unions in the future. Photo: Moore, Jacob Ridgeway, "Steers with Boys at Grist Mill." L1984-59_06, Faceville, Georgia, Photographs, Southern Labor Archives. Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library, https://www.canva.com/link?target=https%3A%2F%2Fdigitalcollections.library.gsu.edu%2Fdigital%2Fcollection%2Flabor%2Fid%2F1819%2Frec%2F1&design=DAF1ZK7UsKo&accessRole=owner&linkSource=comment. Accessed 5 December 2023.

7 DEC 2023 · In the final episode of season one, Alex Hess, Harshini Mahesh, and Maymuna Sabree discuss automation and AI’s relationship to labor by unpacking a 1964 speech by a Representative for the International Association of Machinists titled “America’s Response To The Challenge Of Automation”. This speech, an artifact from the Southern Labor Archives, unveils America’s reaction to automation at a time when technological advancements were at the forefront of societal concern, an incredibly relevant topic as we experience a similar cultural uproar with AI today. Referencing quotes from the artifact, hosts discuss topics ranging from the dichotomy between automation and AI, taking jobs but also creating jobs, to societal fear of technology and its merits, to idealistic theories that maybe automation/AI could help America shift how we relate to labor. Photo by Andrea De Santis on Unsplash.

7 DEC 2023 · This episode starts with a history of the first large union in the entertainment industry, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. It talks about how the union started and how it ended up with over 170,000 members today. It then focuses on the SAG-Aftra and WGA strikes that occurred this year, broadly outlining the reasons the strike started and how it ended for the screen actors and screenwriters. Finally, it wraps up by spending some time on the problems that still affect the entertainment industry, like how the rise of AI is attacking writers’ jobs. Photo by Felix Mooneeram on Unsplash.