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The RockCast

The RockCast is a college podcast made by Rockhurst University students for Rockhurst University students... and anyone interested in life at Rockhurst. Students hold discussions on current events, campus news and activities, advice for thriving at Rockhurst... and almost everything the listeners submit for discussion topics. You can find the RockCast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, and SoundCloud. To watch the Zoomcast, see our YouTube page.

Topic ideas or questions? Let us know!

LaTisha Davis, Rockhurst Director of Multicultural Belonging and Engagement
LaTisha Davis and Finding Your Person on Campus

Bri’Yana, Sydney, Katia, and Damian welcome one of Rockhurst's newest community resources for students, LaTisha Davis. Coming from KU, Davis talks about her role as the first-ever RU director for Multicultural Belonging and Engagement. Davis highlights her goals for the office and how they relate to students truly feeling like Rockhurst is a home for all. She also says it's important for each student to have someone on campus they trust who they can go to for advice, support, or to simply listen to them.



Also this week, the students talk about the first FOSA (Festival of Student Achievement) held in person since the pandemic began and how fulfilling the experience was this year.

emma rapp podcast director of student life
Emma Rapp: Your Experiences Matter

On the final day of Women’s History Month, the RockCast welcomes Rockhurst Director of Student Life and small business owner Emma Rapp. Emma talks openly about the uncertainty she had when graduating college through her journey to grad school, Creighton University, and eventually to a director at Rockhurst. Emma also talks with the group about her “random” (her word) small business that has been featured among the best in Kansas City.

Ashley Neybert cover graphic
Ashley Neybert: Making History for the Blind

In a special Women's History Month episode, we talk with Ashley Neybert. Ashley overcame some unimaginable challenges to transfer to Rockhurst and get her degree. As you’ll hear, while at another school she got the call one night that her family was in a serious car accident and was being life-flighted to a hospital. Ashley had to move with her family from Colorado to Kansas City to help them recover, but there was another challenge… Ashley was going blind.

Sandra Cassady introduced as the 15th president of Rockhurst University
It IS Happening Here

This was a big news week at Rockhurst with the naming of the University’s 15th president (and first female and lay president), Dr. Sandra Cassady. We give our reaction to the news, as well as dive into the global news of the week – Russia and Ukraine. For perhaps the first time ever, we have access inside the war through social media – and the images are heartbreaking.



Finally, we review Black History Month at Rockhurst and provide updates on upcoming events.

BSU members speak during the Stand for Solidarity event
Students Respond After Racist Attack

"What will you do when no one is watching?"

On February 3, a group of individuals tried to hijack a Rockhurst Black Student Union virtual event celebrating Black History Month. The call featured local Black business owners and was just getting started when the invaders started hurling racial epithets and derogatory statements, as well as displaying extremely inappropriate images of children. The virtual event was quickly terminated.



Local and federal investigations have been launched to find the offenders.



Longtime RockCast host Bri’Yana serves as BSU president and was on the call. She has invited to the podcast two additional BSU members who were on the call, as well as staff sponsor Alicia Douglas, to join her, Daniel, and Sydney to talk about what happened, the emotion everyone felt when it occurred, and what happened next.

Mariah Schneider, Rockhurst accounting student and future MBA graduate
Mariah Schneider & The Internship Process
Mariah Schneider has spent the last 10-plus years of her life as a server, bartender and manager at the popular Brookside, Kansas City, Mexican restaurant, Jalapenos. A few years ago she decided she would go back to school and eventually transferred to Rockhurst. Now, the new mom is on the verge of graduating with a bachelor's degree in accounting and will soon pursue an MBA.

Mariah talks with us about her decision to go back to school, how business classes have been for her, and her journey to choose not one, but two internships among the many presented to her as part of Rockhurst's career preparation strategies.
Winter 2021 graduates
2021 Winter Commencement Speakers

In this special edition of the RockCast, we hear from Winter Commencement speakers Berkley Hays (undergraduate), Nancy Miller (graduate), and Fr. Tom Curran (president).

RockCast 0206 Holiday Hot Takes
Fall Finals & Holiday Hot Takes
Season 2, Episode 6: This week, Bri'Yana and Sydney are back on the podcast talking about finals. How do you prepare? When do you start? Also, holiday hot takes: How to do Thanksgiving and the holiday season the right way (in our opinion), including road trips.
A Conversation with Beatrice Chambo
The RockCast, Season 2 Ep. 5: In a special edition of the RockCast, we talk with Rockhurst senior Beatrice Chambo. Beatrice came to the U.S. from Tanzania four years ago to attend college and become an expert in international relations for the purpose of working with refugees. She transferred to Rockhurst two years ago and has been working with Catholic Charities, helping refugees settle in the Kansas City area and across the country. She talks about her work with refugees, how she ended up at Rockhurst, and how she met her husband – also from Tanzania – in Kansas City.
Flying car prototype (Getty images)
The Future is Vibey
The RockCast, Season 2 Ep. 4:

This week on the RockCast we look back and we look forward. What will Rockhurst and the world be like in 20 years? 40? From flying cars to bringing back Justice t-shirts, the group talks about their predictions and hopes for the future. Looking back, outgoing president Fr Tom Curran gave his Student Senate "Last Lecture," which raised several questions for the student body. What stood out? And finally, in "I Wish I Knew," who in your life do you wish you appreciated sooner?

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