‘Forward Together’ podcast amplifies the many voices of Shocker Nation
President Rick Muma
Storytelling is one of the best ways to understand the heart of Wichita State, and our “Forward Together” podcast has become a steady source of those stories. I’ve really enjoyed making the podcasts, chatting with members of our campus community and partners, and talking about the topics that really matter to Shocker Nation.
Since launching in December 2021, the podcast has grown into a front-row seat to the ideas, people and partnerships shaping Shocker Nation’s future. We’ve now released 38 episodes, each one offering a glimpse into the momentum carrying our university forward.
A few highlights stand out:
- For our most recent episode, I interviewed Grammy-award winning mezzo-soprano and alumna Joyce DiDonato. Joyce studied music at Wichita State in the 1990s and has since gone on to perform on some of the grandest stages in the world.
- I’ve also had the chance recently to catch up with some of our Shocker coaches, including men's basketball coach Paul Mills, women’s volleyball coach Chris Lamb and women’s basketball coach Terry Nooner to hear about their seasons and what it means to be part of Shocker Nation.
- By far, our most popular and most talked-about episode has been with Jonna Mendez, former CIA chief of disguise. Her path from Wichita State to the highest levels of intelligence work is a reminder of how far curiosity and grit can take our students.
- We had a lot of fun when Drs. Rocio Del Águila and Enrique Navarro, both Wichita State faculty members, brought food to the podcast studio for me to try as we celebrated “LatinX Food and Culture in Wichita.”
- One of our most meaningful episodes features the GoBabyGo team, whose work adapting ride-on toy cars for children with disabilities gives families more than mobility. It gives them freedom, connection and a reminder that innovation is at its best when it lifts people up.
- Our conversation with Justin Rorabaugh, director of the School of Digital Arts (SODA), dives into how the rapidly growing SODA program and Shocker Studios are equipping students with cutting-edge creative tools and immersive, hands-on learning experiences.
- In a meaningful episode with Dr. Nick Solomey, we explore our NASA-linked physics research — including developing a neutrino detector — and what it means for student engagement and global scientific reach at Wichita State.
If you’re looking for a window into the work happening across Shocker Nation — from research breakthroughs to community-centered innovation — I hope you’ll give “Forward Together” a listen. It’s a standing invitation to meet the people building Wichita State’s future.
Go Shockers!
Rick Muma
President, Wichita State University