The Bulldog Mindset – Season 3, Episode 1

New Faces, New Ideas: Meet Three New Gardner-Webb Faculty

A new season. A new host. And three new faculty members ready to make their mark at Gardner-Webb University.

The Bulldog Mindset returns for Season 3 with Dr. Robert Prickett, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, stepping behind the microphone as the show's new host. For his first conversation, Robert welcomes three new members of the Gardner-Webb faculty: Wayne Durr, Assistant Professor of Finance; Dr. Christina Johnson, Assistant Professor of Biology; and Dr. Tyler Thomas, Assistant Professor of Computer Science.

Their disciplines couldn't be more different, and neither could the paths that brought them to Boiling Springs.

Durr brings a career spanning military service, the corporate world, and higher education—and a passion for financial literacy and entrepreneurship. Johnson brings extensive experience in plant biology, microbiology, and research connected to NASA, along with a commitment to active, collaborative learning. Thomas specializes in cybersecurity, software engineering, and computer science and wants students to understand technology by getting their hands on it, breaking things safely, and learning how to build them better.

Along the way, the three professors share the unexpected "plot twists" that helped shape their careers, what students can expect inside their classrooms, and what excites them most about beginning this new chapter at Gardner-Webb.

There's also coffee, a decades-old Army Code of Conduct card, NASA keys, a mysterious spinning top, and at least one rock that apparently must remain in a professor's pocket.

It's an energetic, funny, and surprisingly personal introduction to three educators—and the perfect way to launch a new chapter of The Bulldog Mindset.

🎧 Subscribe to The Bulldog Mindset and discover more stories from the faculty, students, and staff who make Gardner-Webb University what it is.

🎵 Music featured in The Bulldog Mindset: “Beatnik Brew” by Rueger and “Quarantini Time” by Kelley Williams

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For nearly five decades, U2 has wrestled with some of life’s biggest questions: faith and doubt, justice and grace, love and loss, brokenness and hope.

In the premiere of Hearing Hope, host Noel T. Manning II welcomes theologian and author Dr. Steve Harmon to explore the spiritual imagination running through U2’s music. Steve and Noel share first encounters with the band, why albums such as War, The Unforgettable Fire and The Joshua Tree left a lasting impression, and how songs including “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” express a faith that continues to seek, question and hope.

The conversation also considers why U2 has connected with listeners both inside and outside the Christian faith—and what it means to hear the band’s music as an invitation to imagine the world not simply as it is, but as it could be.

Hearing Hope is a limited podcast series hosted by Noel T. Manning II and created as a companion to Steve’s book, U2’s Theological Imagination: A Guide for Pilgrims on the Way. Listeners can also explore the music discussed throughout the series through the companion playlist on Spotify.

Theme music: “Hopeful Dawn,” composed and performed by Steve Harmon.

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Parrott’s Perch returns for Season 2 with a conversation about faith, identity, athletics, and discovering purpose beyond the uniform.

Host Dr. Josh Parrott welcomes Jaquan Lynch, Gardner-Webb University’s Associate Minister to the University for Athletic Ministries, to talk about his calling to serve student-athletes and the experiences that shaped his approach to ministry.

Lynch shares how his background in psychology and mental health counseling informs the way he approaches discipleship and spiritual care, the importance of creating spaces where students feel safe asking difficult questions, and some of the identity challenges facing college athletes today.

The dialogue also explores what competition can teach us about faith, why service matters in spiritual formation, and what Lynch hopes to bring to Gardner-Webb as he begins walking alongside Runnin’ Bulldog student-athletes.

Noel T. Manning II serves as producer—and occasionally jumps into the conversation from the sidekick chair.

About Parrott’s Perch

Recorded in the historic Elliott House on the campus of Gardner-Webb University, Parrott’s Perch creates space for conversations about faith, calling, leadership, and the unique ways God shapes our lives for impact.

Looking for more Gardner-Webb podcasts? Visit gardner-webb.edu/podcast.

To learn more about Christian Life and Service at Gardner-Webb, visit gardner-webb.edu and search “Christian Life and Service.”

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