Barry McKnight once again heads to McCall Hall on the Troy campus, where this month he talks with Dr. Brian Helms of the Department of Biological and Environmental Science. Dr. Helms is passionate about his active, hands-on research about the removal of the Elba Hydroelectric Dam’s effect upon the Pea River populations of indigenous fish and mussels, and he shares that passion (and another exciting project) on the latest Trojans Talk Research Podcast.
Barry McKnight once again heads to McCall Hall on the Troy campus, where this month he talks with Dr. Brian Helms of the Department of Biological and Environmental Science. Dr. Helms is passionate about his active, hands-on research about the removal of the Elba Hydroelectric Dam’s effect upon the Pea River populations of indigenous fish and mussels, and he shares that passion (and another exciting project) on the latest Trojans Talk Research Podcast.
In this episode, Troy alum and producer Jack Anderson discusses his time at Troy Public Radio: reporting for NPR at the Selma Bridge reenactment, hosting podcasts, covering science lectures, and producing human-interest sports pieces.
Jack also shares how his athletic background, journalism degrees, and music with the band Speakeasy shape his storytelling.
Katy Ganaway worked at Troy Public Radio back in 2014 before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Then, she moved back to her hometown of Huntsville, Alabama and took up a position as host and program director at WLRH, Huntsville’s public radio station. She has worked as a local host and producer on shows like All Things Considered, Morning Edition and her very own creation, Arts Underground.
Matthew Monson is the director of operations, maintenance, and safety for Ozark City Schools.
On this selection from the “Growing the Forest and the Trees” podcast, he tells us why some teachers are ditching the traditional, regimented classroom and taking a messier approach.
The first podcast subject of 2026 is Dr. Joel Campbell of Troy’s Department of Political Science, who discussed with Barry McKnight the research and recent publication of his book ‘“Television’s Golden Age: Politics and International Relations in the Era of HBO and Streaming TV”on the latest Trojans Talk Research Podcast.
Think back to your schooldays. Were you expected to sit in a neat row of desks? Did you raise your hand when you needed to ask a question?
Matthew Monson is the director of operations, maintenance, and safety for Ozark City Schools. He’s also a former teacher and principal. Today on the Growing the Forest and the Trees podcast, he’ll talk about why he encourages teachers to ditch the traditional, regimented classroom and embrace the mess.
This week marks what would have been Rosa Parks’ 113th birthday. As we remember the Civil Rights icon, let’s take a look back at this conversation about how the the Rosa Parks Museum got its start. Ray White is currently serving as special project coordinator for Troy University, but 26 years ago, in a previous role at the University, he set out to establish the Rosa Parks Museum on the site of her 1955 arrest. In this conversation from the Culture and Belonging podcast, he shares candid reflections on his work to build trust as he worked with Mrs. Parks and her family, collected materials, and consulted with Civil Rights experts to build the interpretive museum and children’s wing as it exists today.
Episode 3 of Season 5 of the IDEA Vault Podcast takes listeners inside the IDEA Bank Incubator Program, a specialized track within the IDEA Bank membership made possible through funding from Innovate Alabama. In this episode, we sit down with our incubator tenants—Jared Hester of Studio 207, a local design firm; Jessica Goolsby of Goosehead Insurance, an independent insurance broker; and JoJo Meredith, owner of a local real estate company. Each bringing a unique perspective to entrepreneurship in Pike County. With dedicated office space inside the IDEA Bank and access to resources like printing and copying, internet, networking, and ongoing support, they share their individual paths to business ownership, the challenges that tested them, and how the IDEA Bank stepped in during pivotal moments. A recurring theme echoes throughout the conversation: “The result that you are wanting is in the work you are avoiding.”
The episode pulls back the curtain on the everyday realities of owning a business—the long hours, the sacrifices, and the small stepping stones that lead to real progress. From “If you want a day off, I have to work to earn it” to “It’s exciting to see our little town grow,” these founders reflect on what it truly takes to build something sustainable. Their stories highlight the power of simply showing up, pushing past comfort zones, and taking that first leap of faith. As they remind us, growth begins just outside your comfort zone—sometimes you just have to take a deep breath and jump, and most importantly, just start—that’s the first step.
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As AnnaBrooke Rainey reports, changes are incoming as Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has approved $203,404,327 in funding for Alabama’s first year of the Rural Health Transformation Program.
You can read the written version of this story here:
https://www.tropnews.com/post/changes-incoming-following-alabama-s-new-rural-health-transformation-program
