Host Gary McCullough interviews three App State faculty members—Dr. Becky Battista, Dr. Rich Christiana, and Dr. Joy James—about their work promoting outdoor physical activity and health. They discuss their interdisciplinary research in the fields of exercise science, public health, and recreation management, emphasizing the health benefits of outdoor activity for children and adults. The group discusses their joint research efforts through the HOPE Lab, the process of implementing "prescriptions" for outdoor activities, and the potential for community partnerships to enhance access to nature for wellness. Battista and James also discuss their podcast, "Outdoorosity," which blends research insights and student experiences to encourage listeners to "get outside and keep going outside."

Dr. Alan Needle, Professor in the Departments of Rehabilitation Sciences and Public Health & Exercise Science, discusses his research on the neuromechanics of chronic ankle instability and its implications for a broader array of injuries, including injuries to the ACL. His research has investigated regulation of muscle tone in unstable ankles, neurmechanical coupling in the regulation of joint stiffness, neurological adaptations after ligamentous injury, the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on chronic ankle instability, and the effects of cognitive loading on motor behavior in injured individuals....among many others. He discusses implications for prevention and rehabilitation of injury.

Dr. Leah Hamilton is a Professor in the Department of Social Work at Appalachian State University. She is currently working with close to 1.5 million dollars in external and internal grant funding; she has published one solo authored book with Palgrave MacMillan and co-authored a second book with NASW press; she has published 28 peer-reviewed articles in quality journals and 22 other articles in various other publications with 5 more manuscripts under review); she has presented 47 papers and sessions nationally and internationally; she is a Faculty Affiliate of the Social Policy Institute of Washington University in St. Louis; she is a Senior Fellow of the Jain Family Institute; she is a Research Fellow of the Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness here at App State; and her work has received media coverage in publications and broadcasts including The Atlantic, The New York Times, Marketplace, CNBC, PBS News Hour, National Public Radio, the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and The Chicago Tribune. This level of publicity does not typically happen for faculty. However, Dr. Hamilton is not typical. Not only is she doing the hard work of conducting high quality research, publishing papers, presenting her work, and writing scholarly articles and books, she is doing work that has a significant and compelling impact on society. Her work focuses on how welfare policy prevents low-income families from reaching financial stability and explores alternative policies, such as universal basic income, that can alter the course of their lives.

In this episode, we interview Dr. Caroline Smith, Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health and Exercise Science at Appalachian State University, about her research in the areas of thermal physiology and environmental exposure. Dr. Smith and her colleagues employ a novel technique called intradermal microdialysis to investigate dermal absorption by firefighters even when wearing personal protective equipment. They have recently expanded their work with a grant from the Office of Naval Research to examine exposures to Navy divers in contaminated waters.