Ann Arbor Times

Eastern Michigan University's podcast "Enlighten U" is set to host its first live taping on March 20. The event will take place from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at Sponberg Theatre in the Judy Sturgis Hill Building, located at 1030 E. Circle Drive. This live episode aims to increase student engagement by allowing them to ask questions during the show. The focus of the episode will be on self-care and life balance.

Attendees will have the opportunity to watch the live taping, participate in giveaways, see performances by EMU's mascot Swoop, and receive free goodie bags. Students who sign in upon arrival can also earn LBC credit.

The episode will be co-hosted by Lolita Cummings, an EMU public relations professor, and Melissa Thrasher, EMU's executive director of media relations and social media. Joining them will be Aesha Mustafa, Ph.D., a mental health therapist and assistant professor at EMU, along with special guest Josh Landon, a FOX 2 anchor/reporter and EMU alum.

"Enlighten U," now in its second season since starting in September 2023, has been co-hosted by Cummings for over a year. She expressed enthusiasm about recording an episode in front of a live audience: "Students have been wanting an opportunity to see a show live and ask questions for a long time," Cummings said. "We’re listening, and we’re so excited to finally be able to take the leap and host this taping."

Thrasher emphasized the importance of discussing self-care: "Self-care is an important topic when it comes to mental health," she said. "Taking care of ourselves is often something we forget to do, so talking about it and giving tips is incredibly beneficial for both us at the show and our audience."

The event encourages students to prepare questions related to mental health for discussion during the taping.

For more information or inquiries about participation or topics for future episodes, contact Lolita Cummings at lcummin2@emich.edu or Melissa Thrasher at mthrashe@emich.edu. Suggestions can also be sent directly to Enlighten_U@emich.edu.

About “Enlighten U”: This award-winning podcast produced by Eastern Michigan University addresses various mental health topics relevant to college students facing academic pressures and personal growth challenges.

Eastern Michigan University was founded in 1849 as Michigan's second oldest public university. It serves nearly 13,000 students across various disciplines through multiple colleges offering over 300 programs.