Episodes

  • Selecting, maintaining and properly disposing of a real Christmas tree

    Selecting, maintaining and properly disposing of a real Christmas tree
    Nov 10 2025

    Bert Cregg is a professor of Horticulture and Forestry in Michigan State University’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

    Cregg talks about the Christmas tree industry’s place in Michigan’s economy and says there are plenty of trees available for those who want them this season. He talks about the latest MSU research on Christmas trees and says that climate change is likely already impacting the industry. And he shares his tips for selecting, caring for, and properly disposing of a real tree.

    Conversation Highlights:

    (0:29) - Talk about Michigan's Christmas tree industry and its economic impact in the state.

    (1:27) - What's your background, and how did you originally become interested in studying Christmas trees?

    (2:31) - What are your and MSU's research interests and activities in this area?

    (6:25) - How's the supply this year? Are there plenty of trees to go around for all who want them?

    (8:25) - Is climate change impacting the industry? If so, how?

    (11:30) - Compare and contrast real and artificial trees and their respective impacts on the environment?

    (14:53) - What are your tips for selecting, maintaining, and properly disposing of a real Michigan Christmas tree?

    (20:04) - What is the Michigan Christmas Tree Association?

    Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.
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    23 mins
  • MSU Green and White Council addressing state’s biggest challenges

    MSU Green and White Council addressing state’s biggest challenges
    Oct 31 2025

    The Green and White Council at Michigan State University includes some of Michigan’s foremost business and civic leaders coming together to champion bold initiatives that amplify MSU’s role as Michigan’s state university and address the state’s biggest challenges. The Council is one of President Guskiewciz’s signature initiatives.

    Harnessing MSU’s distinctive assets and the unparalleled expertise of its members while focusing on what matters most for Michigan, the Council will:

    • Develop talent for in-demand jobs across the state and equip Spartans with skills of the future.
    • Connect Spartans to great companies and careers in Michigan.
    • Leverage MSU’s cutting-edge research and intellectual property to propel Michigan’s economy.

    One of the members of the council is Ancor CEO Jose Flores.

    Conversation Highlights:

    (0:52) – Meet Jose Flores

    (1:31) – What’s the history and mission of Ancor?

    (2:13) – What made you accept the invitation of President Guskiewicz to join the council?

    (3:08) – Is there a disconnect between higher education and employer needs?

    (3:56) – What are the challenges and opportunities ahead?

    (4:54) – Have you seen some examples of regional or statewide collaborations that have been successful?

    (6:24) – How will we know if the council is successful?

    (6:47) – How do we go about keeping Spartans in Michigan when they graduate?

    (7:57) – How does Ancor go about talent development?

    (9:56) – What should we keep in mind about the Green and White Council and what it’s trying to do?

    Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.
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    12 mins
  • MSU Shares and United Way provide a “hand up” for local charities

    MSU Shares and United Way provide a “hand up” for local charities
    Oct 30 2025

    MSU Shares is a fundraising campaign to help local charities provide services to students and residents right in our own community. Donations from faculty, staff and students support charities that serve more than 120,000 people annually in our tri-county region. With the assistance of the United Way, employee volunteers from across campus seek donations from their peers and help spread awareness of this annual campaign.

    Here to discuss MSU Shares are MSU’s Vice President for Strategic Initiatives Bill Beekman and United Way President and CEO for United Way of South Central Michigan Chris Sargent.

    Conversation Highlights:

    (0:15) – Bill introduces Chris. Why is United Way important for our community?

    (2:14) – United Way supports young people who are interested in a college education.

    (5:41) – This is an important time to launch MSU Shares. What are the giving options?

    (9:35) – It’s really easy for MSU employees to give to the United Way through EBS.

    (11:30) – The name of the campaign - MSU Shares - is appropriate.

    Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.
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    16 mins
  • Tom Izzo previews the 2025/2026 Spartan Basketball season

    Tom Izzo previews the 2025/2026 Spartan Basketball season
    Oct 16 2025

    Michigan State University Spartans Head Basketball Coach Tom Izzo met with the media on October 16 to preview the coming college basketball season.

    Conversation Highlights:

    (0:00) – opening remarks

    (11:30) – How do you keep your team focused in the ever-changing world of college basketball?

    (15:24) – In college athletics today, are the expectations to win unrealistic?

    (17:09) – Is there a Jase Richardson on this year’s roster?

    (19:32) – Did last year’s success rejuvenate you?

    (22:23) – Compare and contrast Trey Fort and Kur Teng.

    (24:15) – Do you feel like with the guys you have returning that you’re being slighted?

    (28:06) – What makes this group of four captains special?

    (30:43) – What are your expectations for Coen Carr?

    (32:06) – Talk about your relationship with your players?

    (35:21) – What has surprised you about Cam Ward and Jordan Scott and what do you see their roles being on the team?

    (36:55) – What do you hope to learn about your team from the two exhibition games?

    (38:40) – How are the transfers settling in with the team?

    (41:34) – What traits do you look for in your players?

    (44:15) – closing thoughts

    Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.
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    46 mins
  • 2025 State of the University address from Michigan State University President Kevin Guskiewicz

    2025 State of the University address from Michigan State University President Kevin Guskiewicz
    Sep 30 2025
    Michigan State University President Kevin Guskiewicz delivered his 2025 State of the University address at the faculty investiture on September 30, 2025.SUMMARY KEYWORDSState of the University, new professors, leadership initiatives, enrollment record, US News rankings, federal policy changes, Jennison fund, budget adjustments, comprehensive campaign, experiential learning, strategic plan, One Health, research innovation, community partnerships, athletics.SPEAKERSSpeaker 1 00:00State of the University. Speaker 1 00:19So good morning again, and congratulations once again. I think they deserve another round of applause to our 2025, newly endowed professors and chairs. Your excellence truly elevates the capacity of our university to drive our work toward achieving our aspirations as a leading global public research university, and thanks to all my Spartan colleagues for joining us today, including several of our Board of Trustees members one year ago, almost to the day at my presidential investiture here at Wharton Center, I shared a Vision for Michigan State University, not just my own, but one shaped by conversations and collaborations with so many people around our campus and around the community and many of you who are here today together, we outlined big, bold goals, making Michigan State University the most inclusive, welcoming and safe environment it can be tackling grand societal challenges head on, and transforming Michigan State University into a truly next generation University. We also launched several leadership initiatives aimed at achieving those goals, and today, I'm excited to share the progress that we've made and a glimpse of what's ahead. Let's start with some great news, and there's so much that we could talk about and celebrate today, but I want to touch on a few things. First, we entered the new academic year, enrolling more undergraduate students than ever before in our 170 year history of Michigan State University, it's clear that students and families place their trust in us to provide an education that is practical, exceptional and accessible. Students come to us from 139 countries, all 50 states, and all 83 counties across the state of Michigan, we remain the top choice for in state students, with over 8200 Michiganders as part of this new class. And that's why I say that we are Michigan's State University and over 600 highly achieving incoming students join the Honors College, 30 of whom represent our inaugural class of the Williams scholars. 02:52Second, some good news from US News and World Report Speaker 1 02:58US News and World Report rankings just placed six of our undergraduate programs among the nation's top 25 two more than last year. Supply Chain Management ranked number one for 15 consecutive years. Service Learning and Education Abroad ranked number one among public universities, learning communities ranked number two nationally, and the list you could go on and on and on, but there's a lot to celebrate with regard to the incredible academic achievements and opportunities provided through our undergraduate and graduate students here at MSU. And I want to offer a huge congratulations to the faculty and staff who make these programs run, you know, on a daily basis, and, more importantly, to shine on a daily basis. So we're grateful for all that you do. However, not all developments this past year have been easy. Everyone here knows that federal policy changes have disrupted our operations and impacted our core mission of teaching, research and outreach. 04:05But Spartans don't back down. Speaker 1 04:09We mobilize teams to respond swiftly, to protect our research, support our people and continue serving the public, a responsibility that we hold and take very seriously as a leading global public research university, as we always have and will continue to do, I've taken our message to Washington DC and invited lawmakers here to see firsthand the value we provide through research, education and outreach. We've also taken action here at home, through the Jennison fund, we're investing $5 million per year for three years to support affected research programs. Just last week, we notified 37 recipients of this funding, and their work is nothing short of inspiring agricultural economist kajil Galati will be able to pivot from her international work in food safety and security toward applications in the United States, including examining lead testing policies on children's health and educational outcomes. The history department's Professor Walter Hawthorne can complete data integration, supporting scholarly and public access to the names and stories of more than 33,000 historically enslaved individuals on the unique MSU based enslaved.org platform. And graduate student Melina Ortez can continue preparing for a research for a career in research, a cancer research. Jennison funding will support 24 graduate students and restore our fellowships, allowing our continued ...
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    31 mins
  • SpartanXpress, MSU’s autonomous bus, is ready for rides and research

    SpartanXpress, MSU’s autonomous bus, is ready for rides and research
    Sep 21 2025

    Michigan State University has a new way for students, faculty, staff and visitors to get around campus for free while also contributing to the future of mobility research.

    The SpartanXpress is MSU’s autonomous and electric bus and is ready to roll around campus with a fresh look, new route and exciting research opportunities to explore.

    Thanks to the university’s latest three-year partnership with ADASTEC, a leading software company that specializes in automated driving solutions, the full-size, 21-seat bus travels a 5.12-mile loop around campus with stops at the Wharton Center for Performing Arts and Anthony Hall.

    The bus will run Monday through Friday between 10:05 a.m. and 3:25 p.m. No pass is required for the SpartanXpress. Ridership is free and open to students, faculty, staff, campus visitors and community members.

    For the complete schedule and to learn more about MSU’s live, connected mobility ecosystem, visit the MSU Mobility website.

    Judd Herzer is MSU’s director of MSU Mobility and Innovation. Cemre Kavvasoglu is product management director, North America for ADASTEC Corp.

    Conversation Highlights:

    (1:20) – What is the Spartan Xpress?

    (1:58) – Why did ADASTEC want to get involved in this program?

    (2:40) – Describe Spartan Xpress safety and technology features.

    (4:54) – What kind of research is happening on the bus?

    (9:07) – What do you hope to learn from the initial research?

    (14:13) – How does MSU define mobility?

    Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.
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    16 mins
  • NPR's Scott Horsley inaugurates MSU lecture series covering food and economic policy

    NPR's Scott Horsley inaugurates MSU lecture series covering food and economic policy
    Sep 9 2025
    David Ortega is Professor and Noel W. Stuckman Chair in Food Economics & Policy in the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics at Michigan State University.Part of the outreach David does is the Stuckman Lecture Series at Michigan State University, which brings leading voices in food and applied economics to campus, fostering critical discussions on the economic forces shaping our food systems and global markets. As the inaugural speaker, Scott Horsley sets the stage for an ongoing dialogue on the intersection of food, economics, and policy. Scott is NPR's Chief Economics Correspondent. He reports on ups and downs in the national economy as well as fault lines between booming and busting communities.Conversation Highlights:(1:02) - David, describe the work you do at MSU. What is food economics?(1:48) - Who is Noel Stuckman and describe the mission of the series. Why are these discussions important?(2:47) - Scott, what do you see as the key issues in food economics, and what are you focused on reporting?(4:28) - What messages do you hope to leave with the audience?(5:37) – When it comes to food economics, is there a fact you would like to reinforce or a myth you would like to dispel?(8:32) - What’s the mood at NPR after cuts? What’s ahead?(10:13) – What will you be reporting on and researching in the coming months?Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.Conversation Transcript:Russ White (00:00):Well, David Ortega is professor and Noel W Stuckman chair in Food Economics and Policy in the Department of Agricultural Food and Resource Economics at Michigan State University. David, great to have you back on MSU today.David Ortega (00:15):Thanks, Russ. Happy to be here.Speaker 1 (00:17):In a moment, we're going to talk to NPR Scott Horsley because part of the outreach David does in the Stockman lecture series that is inaugurating today with us, Scott. It's bringing together leading voices in food and applied economics to campus, fostering critical discussions on the economic forces shaping our food systems and global markets. As the inaugural speaker, Scott Horsley sets the stage for an ongoing dialogue on the intersection of food economics and policy. Scott is NPR'S Chief Economics correspondent. He reports on the ups and downs in the national economy. Scott, great to have you at MSU.Scott Horsley (00:53):It's great to be here in Michigan.Speaker 1 (00:56):David, first a little bit about the work you do. What do you mean by food economics and what does the department do?Speaker 2 (01:02):Yeah, so I'm a food economist and that's really a subdiscipline of economics where we look at how food goes all the way from farm to table and all of the people that are involved in producing the food, distributing that food. But we also look at what affects the food on its journey shocks, and we look at prices and economics as sort of an outcome. And there's been a lot of factors that have really converged over these past few years that have led to significant increases in the price of food. Also teach both at the undergraduate and graduate level, teach food marketing management for undergrads, but also food policy at the graduate level to our masters and PhD students.Speaker 1 (01:42):So David, who is Noel Stuckman and describe the mission of this lecture series. Why are these discussions important?Speaker 2 (01:49):Yeah, so Noel Stuckman is a graduate of Michigan State University who went on to have a very distinguished 30 year career with Michigan Farm Bureau working with leaders across the state. And really it was his vision and generosity that made both the chair but also the lecture series possible. And the lecture series came about from a need to have a broader conversation about some of the challenges that are facing both the agricultural and food sector issues like the high price of food and the tremendous policy uncertainty at the moment that are affecting not only decisions on the farm and in agribusiness boardrooms, but also around kitchen tables across the country. And so I think it's an important time to have this discussion and I'm very excited to have Scott to kick us off with the lecture series.Speaker 1 (02:39):And Scott Horsley, why are you interested in these issues and what do you see as the key issues right now in food economics that you're reporting on?Speaker 3 (02:47):Well, it's a great honor to be kicking off this lecture series. I'm flattered that David thought of me. He's been a great resource for us. We've relied on his expertise many times on the radio to help explain what's going on with our food supply. And I hope to maybe repay the favor a little bit. We've seen at the macro level, we've seen grocery prices more or less level off. I mean, they haven't gone down by and large, but they're not going up the way they were a number of years ago where we had for a little while we had ...
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    12 mins
  • MSU 2030: Excellence for Global Impact unveiled

    MSU 2030: Excellence for Global Impact unveiled
    Sep 6 2025
    Michigan State University unveiled a new strategic plan -- MSU 2030 – in September 2021, articulating a shared vision for the university and six bold priorities for continuous improvement. As originally planned, and now under the leadership of President Kevin Guskiewicz, the strategic plan is being refreshed to reflect on lessons learned, adjust course and make progress toward becoming a more contemporary institution focused on cross-cutting priorities and solutions – with “synergy unleashed.” The refreshed, reframed and reimagined strategic plan, MSU 2030: Excellence for Global Impact, reaffirms leadership’s commitment to a shared vision for the university through the end of the decade. Here to discuss the evolution of MSU 2030 are MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz and MSU Vice President for Strategic Initiatives Bill Beekman.Conversation Highlights:(1:15) – Kevin, you’ve said that the compelling vision of an institution taking on the challenges of the 21st century is among the things that attracted me to Michigan State. How so?(2:08) – Bill, you’ve been involved with the plan’s development and implementation since the start. What strikes you about the plan’s refresh?(4:11) – Kevin, you’ve often referred to MSU 2030 as a roadmap. Why is it important for MSU to have this plan and to refresh it now? And what do you mean by “synergy unleashed?(6:24) - The newly revised MSU 2030 plan maintains as foundational elements six strategic and cross-cutting themes and priorities — Student Success, Staff and Faculty Success, Discovery and Innovation for Impact, Sustainable Health, Stewardship for a Sustainable Future, and Access, Opportunity and Excellence.Let’s talk about the cross-cutting themes that are injecting new energy into these ongoing efforts and uniting key areas. How do they complement the themes? How and why were they developed and elaborate on what you mean.First, Grow Talent for Michigan and Beyond.(9:10) - Drive Health Transformation.(11:27) - Enroll for the Future.(14:27) - Build Community Together.(17:05) - Achieve Next-Generation Operations and Organization.(18:50) - Access, Opportunity and Excellence.(20:15) - What’s next? How will implementation proceed, and how will we measure progress and success?(21:48) – Final thoughts.Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.Conversation Transcript:Russ White:Michigan State University unveiled a new strategic plan MSU 2030 in September, 2021, articulating a shared vision for the university and six bold priorities for continuous improvement as originally planned. And now under the leadership of President Kevin Kasowitz, the strategic plan is being refreshed to reflect on lessons learned, adjust course and make progress toward becoming a more contemporary institution focused on cross-cutting priorities and solutions. With Synergy Unleashed, the refreshed, reframed, and re-imagined strategic plan MSU 2030 Excellence for Global Impact reaffirms leadership's commitment to a shared vision for the university through the end of the decade. Here to discuss the evolution of MSU 2030, our MSU President, Kevin Guskiewicz and MSU, vice President for Strategic Initiatives, bill Beekman and Kevin and Bill, great to have you back in the state of the art studios of Impact Radio here on campus. And Kevin, you've said that the compelling vision of an institution taking on the challenges of the 21st century is among the things that attracted you to Michigan State. How so, and why?Kevin Guskiewicz:Well, Michigan State University is a proudly public university, one that fills a commitment to the people of Michigan. We rely on taxpayer dollars to transform the lives and improve the quality of life for Michiganders. And so much of the work that's done here through our teaching research and outreach is about the common good. I mean, the new strategic plan that we're here talking about, it's woven throughout the entire roadmap. It's about all that we do is for the public good, the common good. And we felt that the first time we touched down here in East Lansing. And 18 months in, I feel even better about where we're headed than what I did two years ago when I started exploring the opportunity.Speaker 1:And Bill, you've been involved with the plan's development and implementation from the start. What strikes you about the refresh?Bill Beekman:Well, I think one of the most important things about the refresh is the fact that we're actually doing it. So often you have strategic plans that get built and there's inordinate amounts of time spent working on them, and then they sort of drift away. And I think what's really wonderful about the creation of this plan and those that were there at the start, is that they very intentionally decided that we should have a refresh that about a third 40% of the way into the implementation of the plan, that we should pause, take a ...
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    23 mins