The BIG Read Audio Show
“Let’s Talk BIG with Jane and Jen”
About the Audio Show
Join Jane Berger and Jen Hazel as they “talk BIG” about The BIG Read with various guests throughout the semester on this enthralling audio show.
Radio Air Times
Thursday and Friday: 7 a.m. | 10 a.m. | 7 p.m. | 10 p.m.
Sunday: 9 a.m.
YouTube Air Times
Thursday: 6 a.m.
Owens Community College Radio, RSS.com or the OCCR YouTube Channel.
Episodes
Let’s Talk Big, Fall 2026 | Episode 1, Week 1 | Aug. 27, 2026
In this episode of Let’s Talk Big, hosts Jen Hazel and Jane Berger explore ideas connected to Sarah Jaquette Ray’s A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety. The conversation examines the fear, grief, uncertainty and helplessness that can accompany climate change while considering how education, reflection, community and meaningful action can help transform climate anxiety into resilience, hope and a greater sense of empowerment.
Production Crew
Director – Rob Thomas
Technical Director – Edwin Lopez
Audio Engineer – Cindy Hunt
Graphics Operator – Breanna Sisler
Floor Manager | Lighting | Cameras | Teleprompter – Elie Louis
Show Prod 04 | August 11, 2026
Let’s Talk Big, Fall 2026 | Episode 2, Week 2 | Sept. 3, 2026
In this episode of Let’s Talk Big, guest Ann Sergent joins the conversation about A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety and the emotional challenges that can accompany learning about climate change. The discussion explores how educators can acknowledge feelings such as anxiety, grief, and helplessness while creating supportive learning environments that encourage hope, participation, and a sense that individual voices and actions can make a difference.
Production Crew
Director – Rob Thomas
Technical Director – Vera McLuckie
Audio Engineer – Cindy Hunt
Graphics Operator – Breanna Sisler
Floor Manager | Lighting | Cameras | Teleprompter – Elie Louis
Show Prod 01 | August 5, 2026
Let’s Talk Big, Fall 2026: Episode 3, Week 3 | Sept. 10, 2026
In this episode of Let’s Talk Big, guest Anna Burwell joins the conversation about A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety by Dr. Sarah Jaquette Ray and the relationship between climate concerns, information, and emotional well-being. The discussion explores how digital and information literacy, evaluating trustworthy sources, open educational resources, and access to reliable information can help people move from feeling overwhelmed by climate change toward greater understanding and empowerment.
Production Crew
Director – Rob Thomas
Technical Director – Vera McLuckie
Audio Engineer – Cindy Hunt
Graphics Operator – Breanna Sisler
Floor Manager | Lighting | Cameras | Teleprompter – Elie Louis
Show Prod 02 | August 5, 2026
Let’s Talk Big, Fall 2026: Episode 4, Week 4 | Sept. 17, 2026
In this episode of Let’s Talk Big, Dr. Genesis Downey explores how language and storytelling can help us understand the difficult emotions surrounding climate change. The conversation examines eco-grief, the importance of acknowledging and naming those feelings, creating safe spaces for reflection and discussion, and how understanding our emotions can help transform climate anxiety into thoughtful action and hope for an uncertain future.
Production Crew
Director – Rob Thomas
Technical Director – Vera McLuckie
Audio Engineer – Cindy Hunt
Graphics Operator – Breanna Sisler
Floor Manager | Lighting | Cameras | Teleprompter – Elie Louis
Show Prod 03 | August 5, 2026
Archive
Fall 2025 Episodes
- Fall 2025: Ep. 1, August 28, 2025
- Vlog version
- Hosts Jen Hazel and Jane Berger share a passage from the Big Read book, A Little Less Broken, by author Marian Schembari, and discuss a passage from Chapter 1, Page 11 with Angie McGinnis, Owens Community College manager of Transfer and Career Services.
- Fall 2025: Ep. 2, September 4, 2025
- Vlog version
- Hosts Jen Hazel and Jane Berger share a passage from the Big Read book, A Little Less Broken, by author Marian Schembari, and discuss a passage from Chapter 3, Page 27 with Vickie Heck, the director of Counseling Services at Owens Community College.
- Fall 2025: Ep. 3, September 11, 2025
- Vlog version
- Hosts Jen Hazel and Jane Berger share a passage from the Big Read Book, A Little Less Broken, by author Marian Schembari, and discuss the passage from Chapter 4, Page 40 with Chris Hendricks, manager of the Disability Resource Center at Owens Community College.
- Fall 2025: Ep. 4, September 18, 2025
- Vlog version
- Hosts Jen Hazel and Jane Berger share a passage from the Big Read book, A Little Less Broken, by author Marian Schembari, and discuss a passage with Owens Community College student Wes Nelson.
- Fall 2025: Ep. 5, September 25, 2025
- Vlog version
- Hosts Jen Hazel and Jane Berger speak with Professor of English Genesis Downey about a passage from The BIG Read book, A Little Less Broken, by Marian Schembari.
- Fall 2025: Ep. 6, October 2, 2025
- Vlog version
- Hosts Jen Hazel and Jane Berger host Owens Community College student Kendra Wampler as they discuss a passage from The BIG Read book, A Little Less Broken, by Marian Schembari.
- Fall 2025: Ep. 7, October 9, 2025
- Vlog version
- Let’s Talk Big hosts Jen Hazel and Jane Berger speak with Owens Community College Professor of English Cory Hoover about a passage in Chapter 9, page 102 from The Big Read’s A Little Less Broken by author Marian Schembari.
- Fall 2025: Ep. 8, October 16, 2025
- Vlog Verson
- Part II of the interview with Owens Community College Professor of English Cory Hoover.
- Fall 2025: Ep. 9, October 23, 2025
- Vlog version
- Hosts Jen Hazel and Jane Berger speak with Joe Duda, Owens Community College Philosophy instructor, about the upcoming screening of the 2012 romantic comedy-drama film Silver Linings Playbook, starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence. Silver Linings Playbook, written and directed by David O. Russell, is about a man with bipolar disorder who is released from a psychiatric hospital and moves back in with his parents. The film received eight nominations at the 85th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress, and with Lawrence winning the Academy Award for Best Actress.
- Fall 2025: Ep. 10, October 30, 2025
- Vlog version
- In this episode of Let’s Talk Big, hosts Jen Hazel and Jane Berger sit down with James Zeller to discuss a passage from A Little Less Broken by Marian Schembari (Chapter 10, p. 114). Together, they explore the themes of vulnerability, growth and self-discovery that make this Big Read selection such a powerful reflection on resilience and identity.
- Fall 2025: Ep. 11, November 6, 2025
- Vlog version
- This episode is Part II of the interview with James Zeller.