An episode to begin the term, and one to close off. Thank you so much, and our deepest apologies, for our hiatus! It has been a great calendar year thus far, and also an exceptionally busy one. In today's episode, Tommy sits down with Dr. Samer Abboud, Associate Professor of Global Interdisciplinary Studies at Villanova University to chat about language. Tommy and Samer are old buddies and colleagues, and were able to catch up for the first time - in many years - at the recent International Studies Association Annual, which was held this year in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Tommy and Samer don't discuss privacy, or even Samer's research expertise in Middle Eastern politics. Rather, they talk about language. Born and raised in an Arabic speaking househould in Ottawa, Samer's personal and professional travels throughout the Arab speaking world have given him a number of valuable, interesting experiences when it comes to verbal and written communication. Given their mutual passion for interdisciplinary things, we hope you will enjoy their exploration of language - linguistic and academic. 

Follow the co-hosts: @Derekcrim | @whatsthatdata