The Ackerman Center Podcast
Ackerman Center
The Ackerman Center Podcast provides a space for thoughtful and in-depth conversation about the Holocaust, genocide, and human rights studies. Launched in 2020, this podcast works to extend the conversation beyond academic audiences—providing an educational, engaging, and transformative experience. Through confronting the past, we work to promote solutions for global justice and peace in our world. Listen to all of the seasons of the Ackerman Center Podcast on Spotify, Google Podcasts, and RadioPublic.
Ep. 64 Humanities for New Publics: A Conversation with Dr. Irene Kacandes
In this special episode, Dr. Shilyh Warren, Associate Professor of Film Studies and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies in the Bass School at UTD, speaks with Professor Emerita, Dr. Irene Kacandes, The Dartmouth Professor of German and Comparative Literature at Dartmouth College until 2024, about her research trajectory and her commitment to extending the lessons and ambitions of the humanities to crucial controversies we face in and beyond the academy.Dr. Kacandes discusses her initiative, Human
Feb 26, • 56:31
Ep. 63 Walking Tour: Remnants of Terror in Auschwitz and Berlin
Join us for a compelling journey through the ruins of the Nazi reign of terror. In this walking tour episode Dr. Roemer leads Dr. Katie Fisher through the memorial site at Auschwitz and then the Topography of Terror memorial site in Berlin. Beginning in Auschwitz, they confront the horrors of the Holocaust, standing where so many suffered and perished and then in Berlin, they trace this terror back to its epicenter of control—the Topography of Terror—where the Nazi regime orchestrated its atroci
Feb 21, • 1:03:44
Ep. 62 A Conversation with Mr. Marc Masurovsky
In this episode Dr. Nils Roemer hosts an engaging conversation with Mr. Marc Masurovsky. Mr. Masurovsky is the the co-founder of the Holocaust Art Restitution Project (HARP) in September 1997 and served as its Director of Research. He explores the challenges of ownership, the role of museums, and how institutions should handle disputed artworks.
Feb 7, • 29:18
Ep. 61 The role of Physicians during the Holocaust with Dr. Stacy Gallin
We are honored to have Dr. Stacy Gallin, a renowned expert in ethics, law, and human rights, as our guest. Dr. Gallin is the Director of the Center to Combat Antisemitism and Reinforce Multicultural Acceptance, or CARMA, which was launched in October 2024. The center’s mission is to combat antisemitism and other forms of identity-based hate through education, advocacy, and moral leadership. In this episode, Dr. Gallin and Dr. Nils Roemer will be discussing the pivotal role of physicians during
Dec 3, 2024 • 31:48
Ep. 60 An Interview with Dr. Cuellar Cuellar
In this episode, we introduce the newest member of the Ackerman Center faculty, Dr. Cuellar Cuellar, who hails from El Salvador. Dr. Cuellar Cuellar, an assistant professor of history, is not only an academic; she is also a passionate Salvadoran international human rights lawyer with a PhD in history major and a minor in human rights from the University of Minnesota. Her research focuses on the modern and contemporary history of Latin America, delving deep into the pressing issues of human right
Oct 25, 2024 • 25:17
Ep. 59 A look at the Netflix series "Transatlantic" with Dr. Hanno Berger
In this episode, Dr. Hanno Berger and Belofsky fellow Angie Simmons explore the Netflix series "Transatlantic," which follows an American journalist in France during 1940-41 as he assists over 2,000 refugees in escaping danger. They discuss the historical context of these events and examine the challenges faced during this tumultuous time. Additionally, they consider how the series portrays historical figures and events, analyzing the interplay between artistic interpretation and factual accura
Oct 15, 2024 • 24:46
Ep. 58 Walking Tour: Freud's Vienna and the Echoes of War
In this immersive walking tour episode, step into the streets of Vienna and walk alongside Dr. Shilyh Warren, Associate Professor of Visual & Performing Arts at UT Dallas. Joined by this episode's host, Dr. Katie Fisher, and research assistant Rachel Cattlet, Dr. Warren takes us on a guided tour through the city’s entangled history of anti-semitism while unraveling the complex story of Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, and Vienna’s turbulent history surrounding World War II. As you s
Sep 5, 2024 • 43:49
Ep. 57 Honoring Holocaust Remembrance Day
In recognition of Holocaust Remembrance Day, the broader UTD community—including faculty, staff, students, and community members—came together to read poetry, prose, and personal testimony in a variety of languages. This recording was produced in conjunction with the 2023 gathering and features readings and new translations of the poem "Cart Load of Shoes," a moving poem by Abraham Sutzkever. Through this and other poems, we honor and remember the past, ensuring that the voices of those who endu
May 3, 2024 • 49:04
Ep. 56 Arts Based Research - An interview with Dr. Charlotte Schallié
In this episode, Belofsky Fellow Katie Fisher sits down with Dr. Charlotte Schallié, an author and professor of German Studies at the University of Victoria, to discuss the importance of arts-based research. Dr. Schallié spoke at the Annual Scholar’s Conference about her collaborative research work with Holocaust survivors and graphic novelists which produced the novel "But I Live: Three Stories of Child Survivors of the Holocaust." What sets this project apart is its innovative format as a grap
Apr 16, 2024 • 43:42
Ep. 55 Echoes of Tragedy - An Interview with Father Patrick Desbois
In this episode, Dr. Nils Roemer sits down with Father Patrick Desbois, the esteemed founder of Yahad – in Unum, and they discuss his presentation of the 2024, Einspruch Lectures on the Holocaust and the mission of his organization in identifying Holocaust mass execution sites. The conversation centers on his acclaimed book, The Holocaust by Bullets, which earned him the National Jewish Book Award. Father Desbois shares insights into the atrocities of World War II, emphasizing the mass killings
Feb 15, 2024 • 37:03
Ep. 54 An Interview with Dr. Hanno Berger
In this episode, Dr. Nils Roemer hosts an an engaging conversation with our newest faculty member, Dr. Hanno Berger, an assistant professor in film studies at the Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology. Dr. Berger delves into his research on postwar German films, sharing fascinating insights into revolutions and their multifaceted impact. He offers a deep exploration of Hannah Arendt's influential book "On Revolution", which served as the foundation for his PhD thesis. Addi
Nov 28, 2023 • 23:16
Ep. 53 A look at Bollywood's First Exploration of the Holocaust with Dr. Mehak Burza
Join us as we take a close look at the unique Bollywood film, "Bawaal." Our guest, Dr. Mehak Burza, is an expert in Holocaust studies who teaches in the Department of English at University of Delhi (New Delhi, India). Dr. Nils Roemer and Dr. Burza speak about this film and her recent article "The State of Holocaust Awareness in India is Abysmal" where she points out that many people in India do not have in-depth knowledge about the Holocaust. Together they explore how "Bawaal" impacts Indian vie
Oct 30, 2023 • 23:46
Ep. 52 An Interview With Dr. Martin Dean
In this episode, Dr. Nils Roemer and Angie Simmons have a meaningful conversation with Dr. Martin Dean, a respected scholar and the 2023 keynote speaker at the Annual Scholar’s Conference. Dr. Dean's book, "Collaboration in the Holocaust: Crimes of the Local Police in Belorussia and Ukraine" provides us an understanding how different groups collaborated in committing crimes during the Holocaust. This work developed out of his years working alongside Scotland Yard. Dr. Martin Dean delivered the
Oct 30, 2023 • 23:17
Ep. 51 An Interview with Glenn Kurtz
In this episode of the Ackerman Center podcast, we speak with author and Annual Scholar’s Conference keynote speaker Glenn Kurtz about the adaptation of his book Three Minutes in Poland: Discovering a Lost World in a 1938 Family Film into a documentary film titled Three Minutes-A Lengthening. He discusses the path that led him to writing the book and discovering the film amongst his family’s home movies as well as the years of research that he has embarked on as a result. Glenn Kurtz delivered
Jul 17, 2023 • 31:30
Ep. 50 "Learning from the Germans - Race and the Memory of Evil" with Susan Neiman
This interview with Susan Neiman—Philosopher, Author, and Director of the Einstein Forum—and Dr. Nils Roemer was recorded in April 2021. The two discuss her book "Learning from the Germans" which delivers an urgently needed perspective on how a country can come to terms with its historical wrongdoings. It has been edited to better fit a podcast format. -- In the wake of white nationalist attacks, the ongoing debate over reparations, and the controversy surrounding Confederate monuments and the
May 26, 2023 • 1:00:58
Ep. 49 Holocaust Memorials in Everyday Berlin Life
Join Dr. Nils Roemer and Belofsky fellows Angie Simmons and Katie Fisher on a walking tour of a few memorials scattered around Berlin. This episode dives into the locations and historical context around 5 prominent local Holocaust memorials in Berlin with a focus on what happened after the end of WWII. Throughout the episode noise of the contemporary cityscape blends with historical references provided by Dr. Nils Roemer. Find out more about each of these memorials at the links below. The Desert
Mar 27, 2023 • 28:19
Ep. 48 Walking Tour: Berlin Memorial Sites
Join Dr. Nils Roemer and Belofsky fellow Katie Fisher on a walking tour of three memorials in Berlin—the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, the Memorial to Homosexuals Persecuted Under Nazism, and the Memorial to the Sinti and Roma Victims of National Socialism. This auditory experience captures the sound of the present-day cityscape with its traffic and tourist chatter and is layered with historical context and references provided by Dr. Nils Roemer. Find out more about each of these memo
Jan 30, 2023 • 40:15
Ep. 47 An Interview with Film Director Sabina Vajrača
In this episode, Dr. Emily-Rose Baker, assistant professor of film studies at UT Dallas, interviews Sabina Vajrača an award-winning film director from Bosnia and Herzegovina who immigrated to the US as a war refugee at the age of 14. Her work deals with representations of inter-ethnic conflict particularly pertaining to the Bosnian war and genocide—as well as the Holocaust. Watch Variables here: https://vimeo.com/337351085 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/a
Dec 21, 2022 • 43:54
Ep. 46: Kristallnacht - Night of Broken Glass
On November 9, 1938, a day that has come to be known as Kristallnacht, the Nazis orchestrated an attack against Jews, their businesses, synagogues, and their homes. This was followed by mass arrests and deportations to camps. In this episode, Dr. Roemer and Angie Simmons discuss the events that lead up to the attack, as well as the significance of this day and what would follow. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ackermancenter/message
Nov 7, 2022 • 23:23
Ep. 45 A Conversation with Dina Porat
Dr. Dina Porat, professor emerita of modern Jewish history at the Department of Jewish History at Tel Aviv University and the chief historian of Yad Vashem, presented the Einspruch Lecture Series at the Ackerman Center this year. Her recent work focuses on debates around the definitions of antisemitism. In this episode, she and Dr. David Patterson sit down for a conversation. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ackermancenter/message
Oct 13, 2022 • 28:08
Ep. 44 Walking Tour: Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site
Join Dr. Nils Roemer and Belofsky fellow Katie Fisher on a walking tour of the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site outside of Munich, Germany. This auditory experience captures the sound of the present-day landscape with its birdsong and tourist chatter and is layered with historical context and references provided by Dr. Nils Roemer. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ackermancenter/message
Aug 2, 2022 • 44:23
Ep. 43 The Forgotten Battle
The 2020 Dutch World War II film, The Forgotten Battle, follows the actions of three young characters: a Dutch Axis soldier, a British glider pilot, and a woman affiliated with the Dutch Resistance, as events unfold during the battle in which Allied forces attempted to regain control of German-occupied Zeeland. In this episode, Dr. Emily-Rose Baker and Angie Simmons discuss the film’s representation of this historical event and the Dutch resistance movement. --- Send in a voice message: https:/
Jun 30, 2022 • 19:38
Ep. 42: 1945 Death Marches and the end of The Reich
As it became increasingly clear the Nazis would not overcome the Allied forces and would lose WWII, the Nazis forced survivors of the death camps to march toward the heart of German territory with the idea that they would restart their efforts to exterminate Europe's Jews. In this episode, Dr. Nils Roemer and Belofsky Fellow Angie Simmons discuss the ways in which the death marches signed the end of the Nazi reign of terror but also how it was just the beginning of figuring out what had unfolded
Jun 10, 2022 • 24:09
Ep. 41: 1944 Shifting Focus and Dismantling of Gas Chambers
Near the end of 1944, Himmler ordered the halt of the Final Solution and the destruction of the gas chambers at Auschwitz-Birkenau. As Allied troops carried out Air Raids on Germany, citizens felt the effects of war on their daily lives forcing the Nazis to shift their focus. In this episode, Dr. Nils Roemer and Belofsky Fellow Angie Simmons discuss the Posen Speeches and the Nazis shifting their focus. The series, "A Year in the Third Reich," explores significant events that took place througho
May 26, 2022 • 18:43
Ep. 40: 1943 Liquidation of Jewish Ghettos
In 1943 expectations about the outcome of WWII began to point toward the defeat of the Third Reich. Despite growing awareness about the coming fall of the Nazis, they would still go on to kill another 3 million more Jews. In this episode, Dr. Nils Roemer and Belofsky Fellow Angie Simmons discuss pivotal events in 1943 and highlight the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. The series, "A Year in the Third Reich," explores significant events that took place throughout the years of Hitler's Third Reich. In each
May 9, 2022 • 16:21
Ep. 39: 1942 Deportations and Death Camps
In 1942 the events associated with the Holocaust began in earnest and grew in scale moving toward a continental genocide. This episode focuses on the building up of death camps, the mass deportations of Jews, and the start of gassing at killing centers. The series, "A Year in the Third Reich," explores significant events that took place throughout the years of Hitler's Third Reich. In each episode, we refer to specific primary sources such as newspaper articles, photographs, and maps. To access
Apr 11, 2022 • 20:28
Ep. 38 Ukraine and Russia's War of Aggression
We are all looking for ways to make sense of the news about the war in Ukraine. In this episode, Dr. Nils Roemer and Dr. Emily-Rose Baker have a conversation with Dr. Yuliya Komska—a cultural historian and native Ukrainian who currently teaches at Dartmouth. Dr. Komska shared with us about the need to protect and rescue cultural heritage as Russian bombs threaten major sites and people flee the conflict. She also talks about the challenges facing Ukrainians who don't want to leave their communit
Mar 28, 2022 • 55:04
Ep. 37 Munich the Edge of War
The fictional Netflix film "Munich the Edge of War" depicts an attempted plot to remove Hitler. The film plays with the question of what if an attempt like this had been successful. In this episode, Angie Simmons and Dr. Emily-Rose Baker discuss the film and how it deals with representing WWII and the Holocaust. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ackermancenter/message
Mar 4, 2022 • 19:11
Ep. 36: 1941 Operation Barbarossa
The attack on the Soviet Union launched on June 22nd, 1941 marked a turning point in the war and also in the racial politics of the Third Reich. Operation Barbarossa ultimately depleted the German army and lasted much longer than Hitler had anticipated. In the fall of 1941, Hitler conceived of The Holocaust and then began to implement it. The series, "A Year in the Third Reich," explores significant events that took place throughout the years of Hitler's Third Reich. In each episode, we refer to
Feb 18, 2022 • 20:52
Ep. 35: 1940 Tripartite Pact
In this episode of the series "A Year in the Third Reich," Dr. Nils Roemer and Angie Simmons (Belofsky Fellow) take a look at the Tripartite Pact, signed by Japan, Germany, and Italy on Sept. 27, 1940, took aim at the United States and had implications for how the war would progress. Along with embargos, this pact increased tensions between the United States and Japan in the time leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor. The series, "A Year in the Third Reich," explores significant events that
Feb 3, 2022 • 19:43
Ep. 34: 1939 The Establishment of the Ghettos
Returning to our series "A Year in the Third Reich," Dr. Nils Roemer and Angie Simmons (Belofsky Fellow) discuss the establishment of the ghettos in Poland and the introduction of armbands for the Jewish population. They consider a newspaper article from Paris that was published in the New York Times. In asking the question, "What is the defining event of 1939?" we look back with historical hindsight. Many who lived through the events of the Holocaust and the rise of the Third Reich, however, mi
Jan 20, 2022 • 17:53
Ep. 33 Catching up with Dr. Gonzalez
Join Dr. Nils Roemer as he catches up with Dr. Pedro Gonzalez Corona about his new position with the Ackerman Center and what he's looking forward to teaching in the spring semester. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ackermancenter/message
Jan 4, 2022 • 18:02
Ep. 32 Welcoming Dr. Baker
Meet Dr. Emily-Rose Baker the new visiting assistant professor. In this episode, she and Dr. Nils Roemer talk about her research on the Holocaust by bullets and central and eastern European film studies. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ackermancenter/message
Dec 3, 2021 • 19:09
Ep. 31: 1938 Eichmann and the "Office of Jewish Emigration"
In the season finale of "A Year in the Third Reich," professors Dr. Sarah Valente and Dr. Nils Roemer discuss the quickly changing landscape in 1938. During that year, the Nazis ramped up their effort to enforce removal of Jews from German and Austrian society and mobilized to remove Jews from these countries through a so-called emigration program led by Adolf Eichmann in Vienna. This episode is part of a new series, "A Year in the Third Reich," where we explored significant events that took pl
May 30, 2021 • 29:33
Ep. 30: 1937: The Pacific War: The Rape of Nanking
In today's episode, professors Dr. Sarah Valente and Dr. Nils Roemer discuss the Japanese invasion of China in 1937, beginning the Pacific War, and the complex role of Nazi John Rabe in the Nanking Safety Zone. They also discuss the involvement of the Third Reich in the Spanish Civil War and new forms of increasing violence abroad, as well as in Nazi Germany, with the opening of the Buchenwald concentration camp. This episode is part of a new series, "A Year in the Third Reich," where we expl
May 30, 2021 • 28:09
Ep. 29: 1936: The Olympics in Berlin
In today's episode, professors Dr. Sarah Valente and Dr. Nils Roemer discuss the Olympics in Berlin of 1936, which set the Third Reich in the world's center stage. This episode is part of a new series, "A Year in the Third Reich," where we explore significant events that took place throughout Hitler's Third Reich. In each episode, we refer to specific primary sources such as newspaper articles, photographs, maps, etc. To access and download the Primary Sources Handout for this episode, please
Apr 25, 2021 • 29:31
Ep. 28: 1935: The Nuremberg Laws
In today's episode, professors Dr. Sarah Valente and Dr. Nils Roemer discuss the Nuremberg Laws of 1935. This episode is part of a new series, "A Year in the Third Reich," where we explore significant events that took place throughout Hitler's Third Reich. In each episode, we refer to specific primary sources such as newspaper articles, photographs, maps, etc. To access and download the Primary Sources Handout for this episode, please visit: https://ackerman.utdallas.edu/virtual-outreach/. ---
Mar 28, 2021 • 32:49
Ep. 27: 1934: Hitler and Mussolini meet in Venice
In today's episode, professors Dr. Nils Roemer and Dr. Sarah Valente discuss Hitler's meeting with Mussolini in Venice in 1934. This episode is part of a new series, "A Year in the Third Reich," where we explore significant events that took place throughout Hitler's Third Reich. In each episode, we refer to specific primary sources such as newspaper articles, photographs, maps, etc. To access and download the Primary Sources Handout for this episode, please visit: https://ackerman.utdallas.edu/
Feb 28, 2021 • 26:19
Ep. 26: 1933: The Reichstag Fire & The Enabling Act
On January 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany. In today's episode, professors Dr. Nils Roemer and Dr. Sarah Valente discuss the Reichstag Fire and the Enabling Act of 1933. This episode is part of a new series, "A Year in the Third Reich," where we explore significant events that took place throughout Hitler's Third Reich. In each episode, we refer to specific primary sources such as newspaper articles, photographs, maps, etc. To access and download the Primary Sources Handout
Jan 31, 2021 • 25:18
Season 2: A Year in the Third Reich
Tune in next Sunday, January 31 at 10am for the first episode of our new podcast season. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ackermancenter/message
Jan 24, 2021 • 0:45
Ep. 25: Creative Research ft. Jane Saginaw
In the first season finale, Dr. Sarah Valente and Dr. Nils Roemer invite Jane Saginaw, an outstanding PhD student in the Humanities program at UT Dallas, to read a few poems from her collection, "A Shift in Wind: Ten Poems of Women and the Holocaust," which she wrote as a creative research paper for Dr. Valente's graduate history course on Women and the Holocaust. Listen as Jane shares her deeply-moving poems and speaks about the women who inspired them, as well as the powerful mechanisms of res
Dec 13, 2020 • 38:04
Ep. 24: Remembering for the Future
In this episode, Dr. Roemer and Dr. Valente discuss how the current pandemic changes the ways in which we engage with the past, history and Holocaust memory. #kristallnacht #remembrance #future --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ackermancenter/message
Nov 22, 2020 • 19:50
Ep. 23: Nuremberg Trials: Truth, Justice, and Memory
Dr. Sarah Valente and Dr. Nils Roemer reflect on the Ackerman Center's annual Einspruch Lecture Series, which took place on October 25 and featured Ben Ferencz. As the last living prosecutor for the US Army at the Einsatzgruppen Trial, one of the twelve military trials held by US authorities at Nuremberg, Germany, at 100 years old, Ben Ferencz shares words of wisdom with all of us. Listen to this special episode and share with those who are interested in truth, justice, and memory. --- Send in
Nov 1, 2020 • 25:25
Ep. 22: Drawing Lessons from History
In this episode of the Ackerman Center Podcast, Dr. Sarah Valente interviewed Dr. Nils Roemer about the op-ed published in the Jewish Forward this week. Dr. Roemer together with other four German-born directors of Holocaust and genocide centers at American universities wrote the article "It is not too late for American Democracy — yet." You can also read the article at https://forward.com/scribe/455419/it-is-not-too-late-for-american-democracy-yet --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters
Oct 4, 2020 • 30:45
Ep. 21: L'dor V'dor From Generation to Generation
In Episode 21: L’dor V’dor From Generation to Generation, Dr. Nils Roemer and Dr. Sarah Valente talk about the virtual celebration that took place last month to honor Dr. Zsuzsanna Ozsváth on the eve of her retirement from UT Dallas. They also remember the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and discuss a 2004 speech she gave at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum about antisemitism and how the Holocaust fueled her quest for justice. Considering the alarming results of the Claims Conference surve
Sep 27, 2020 • 27:24
Ep. 20: Navigating Unscripted Times
In this episode, Dr. Valente and Dr. Roemer discuss the beginning of new fall semester and navigating academic life under these unscripted times of the current pandemic. They also discuss the film When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, which was featured at the 2020 Jewish Film Festival of Dallas, a first time virtual film fest. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ackermancenter/message
Aug 23, 2020 • 31:04
Ep. 19: "Portraits of World War II" featuring Dr. Zsuzsanna Ozsváth
We are excited to present the third and last episode of "Portraits of World War II." This special three-part series features beloved professors, brilliant scholars, and longtime UTD legends, whose childhoods and lives were marked by World War II. Today's special guest is Dr. Zsuzsanna Ozsváth, Professor of Literature and History, the Leah and Paul Lewis Chair of Holocaust Studies, and the founder and director of the Holocaust Studies Program at UTD, which is one of the distinguishing hallmarks o
Aug 16, 2020 • 1:50:20
Ep. 18: "Portraits of World War II" featuring Prof. Frederick Turner
We are excited to present the second episode of "Portraits of World War II." This special three-part series features beloved professors, brilliant scholars, and longtime UTD legends, whose childhoods and lives were marked by World War II. Today's special guest is Prof. Frederick Turner, Founders Professor of Literature and Creative Writing, poet, and renowned translator. #poetry #literature #history #translation #worldwarII #England --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/
Aug 9, 2020 • 1:11:55
Ep. 17: "Portraits of World War II" featuring Dr. Rainer Schulte
We are excited to present the first episode of a special three-part series, "Portraits of World War II," which features longtime legends of the University of Texas at Dallas, beloved professors in the School of Arts & Humanities, and brilliant scholars, whose childhoods and lives were marked by World War II. Today's special guest is Dr. Rainer Schulte, endowed professor of arts & humanities, founder and director of the UTD Center for Translation Studies, editor of Translation Review, and co-fou
Aug 2, 2020 • 55:14
Promo: Portraits of WWII
The Ackerman Center Podcast presents a special new series "Portraits of World War II". This new three-part series features beloved professors, brilliant scholars, and longtime UTD legends Dr. Rainer Schulte, Dr. Fred Turner, and Dr. Zsuzsi Ozsváth as they address WWII's impact in their childhoods and lives. Tune in this Sunday, August 2 at 10am for the first episode of this special three-part series. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ackermancenter/message
Jul 29, 2020 • 0:40
Ep. 16: New Connections ft. Björn Krondorfer
Listen to our insightful conversation with Dr. Björn Krondorfer, director of the Martin-Springer Institute and Endowed Professor of Comparative Religious Studies at Northern Arizona University. We touch on topics of reconciliation, mutual understanding, and necessary new approaches to Holocaust, Human Rights, and Genocide Studies education. Dr. Krondorfer provides what Dr. Roemer calls, "a measured message of hope in the age of pessimism." --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify
Jul 26, 2020 • 39:50
Ep. 15: Anne Frank Parallel Stories
Please join Dr. Nils Roemer and Dr. Sarah Valente for a live conversation about the newly-released documentary Anne Frank Parallel Stories. Oscar-winning actress Helen Mirren retraces the life of Anne Frank through the pages of her diary and introduces us to the stories of five other Holocaust survivors. We invite you to watch this documentary, which is available on Netflix, prior to our conversation. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ackermancenter/message
Jul 19, 2020 • 34:26
Ep. 14: New Connections ft. Adam Strom
In the "New Connections" series, Dr. Sarah Valente and Dr. Nils Roemer meet with directors of Holocaust and Human Rights centers, organizations, and museums around the world. Our featured guest today is Adam Strom, the Director of Re-Imagining Migration in Boston, and the former Director of Scholarship and Innovation at Facing History and Ourselves. Resources developed under his direction have been used in tens of thousands of classrooms and experienced by millions of students around the world.
Jul 12, 2020 • 37:51
Ep. 13: America: Multitude of Many
On this Fourth of July weekend, listen to Dr. Nils Roemer and Dr. Sarah Valente discuss the contributions of Jewish-Americans Emma Lazarus and Irving Berlin to American culture. #GodBlessAmerica #GiveMeYourTiredYourPoor --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ackermancenter/message
Jul 5, 2020 • 19:23
Ep. 12: Operation Barbarossa
Join Dr. Sarah Valente and Dr. Nils Roemer to learn about Operation Barbarossa, the creation of the word "genocide" by Raphael Lemkin, and be inspired by new music by Max Richter that appeals to our common humanity. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ackermancenter/message
Jun 28, 2020 • 19:25
Ep. 11: Landmark Decisions
In this new episode, Dr. Valente and Dr. Roemer discuss an exciting upcoming lecture on Operation Barbarossa, the Teacher Institute workshop, which will be hosted virtually by the Ackerman Center this week, and the beautiful concert "We Are Here" (you get to enjoy a few musical fragments from the concert). The professors also reflect on this past week's monumental landmark decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court on LGBT rights, and on protection for young immigrants. They consider how historically t
Jun 21, 2020 • 18:05
Ep. 10: Moment of Reckoning
In this episode Dr. Valente and Dr. Roemer discuss Deeyah Khan's 2017 Emmy-winning documentary White Right: Meeting the Enemy, and the historical parallels in the rise of anti-Semitism in moments of crisis in Germany in the 1930s and during the current COVID-19 pandemic. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ackermancenter/message
Jun 14, 2020 • 27:26
Ep. 9: Joachim Prinz: We Shall Not Be Silent
“The most important thing that I learned in my life is that bigotry and hatred are not the most urgent problem. The most urgent, the most disgraceful, the most shameful and the most tragic problem is silence." Rabbi Joachim Prinz Prinz was a rabbi of the Jewish community in Berlin under the Hitler regime and victim of the Holocaust who spoke minutes before Martin Luther King, Jr. took the stage to deliver his famous “I Have a Dream” speech in the 1963 March on Washington. His words are a timely
Jun 7, 2020 • 20:58
Ep. 8: New Connections ft. Morgan Blum Schneider
In this new series, "New Connections," Dr. Sarah Valente and Dr. Nils Roemer meet with directors of Holocaust and Human Rights centers and museums around the world. Our first special guest is Morgan Blum Schneider, the director of the Jewish Family and Children's Services Holocaust Center in San Francisco. Listen to find out about meaningful new ways of connecting and supporting Holocaust education in our communities during these difficult times. To learn more about our guest and the JFCS Hol
May 31, 2020 • 31:53
Ep. 7: Season Finale: World on Fire
In this episode, Dr. Roemer and Dr. Valente discuss the ending of the PBS series World on Fire. They consider the lacking historical considerations by the show when it came to showcasing the abrupt disruption to Jewish life during the occupation of Poland and France by the advancing Nazis. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ackermancenter/message
May 24, 2020 • 15:42
Ep. 6: War on Hold: World on Fire
In this episode, Dr. Nils Roemer and Dr. Sarah Valente discuss the various storylines that develop while the war itself seems to be put on hold, as the Nazis march through and occupy Paris. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ackermancenter/message
May 17, 2020 • 15:11
Ep. 5: Dunkirk Spirit: World on Fire
In this episode, we celebrate the successful conclusion of teaching the Spring 2020 semester, where we all came together to make it to the finish line. And, we also discuss the significance of the Battle of Dunkirk and its memory as it appears in the fifth episode of World on Fire. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ackermancenter/message
May 10, 2020 • 16:48
Ep. 4: Rapid Changes: World on Fire
Join Dr. Roemer and Dr. Valente's conversation reflecting on the end of the spring semester, and the rapid changes in the storyline of the PBS series World on Fire. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ackermancenter/message
May 3, 2020 • 15:16
Ep. 3: Moral Dilemmas: World on Fire
Listen to Dr. Nils Roemer and Dr. Sarah Valente discuss exciting Ackerman Center events and the moral dilemmas that start to emerge on the third episode of PBS's World on Fire. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ackermancenter/message
Apr 26, 2020 • 16:54
Ep. 2: Historical Considerations: World on Fire
Listen to Dr. Nils Roemer and Dr. Sarah Valente discuss on-going Ackerman Center events and the historical background to the second episode of World on Fire. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ackermancenter/message
Apr 19, 2020 • 16:15
