Being The Change
Being the Change is the official podcast of James Madison University. It features members of the JMU community who are combining intellect with action to live lives of purpose and meaning. The podcast was conceived by Jim Heffernan (’96, ’17M), editor of Madison magazine, and Andy Perrine (’86), head of University Marketing and Branding. Thanks to Jenna Polk (’14, ’21M) and the team at Rose Library Studios, where the show is recorded by Steve Aderton (’19), Cody Troyer and Olive Santos (’20). Original music by Neal Perrine (’19). Voice talent by Ciara Brennan (’17).
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Episodes
Thursday Sep 11, 2025
Thursday Sep 11, 2025
Increasing numbers of students, faculty and staff are riding the bus to campus rather than driving their cars. Not only is this a big win for the environment, but it's also a huge stress reliever and a positive lifestyle choice.
Thursday Sep 04, 2025
Thursday Sep 04, 2025
Join us for part two of our conversation with JMU Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Tim Miller (’96, ’00M) and Kathryn Hunt ('25), Student Affairs Presidential Engagement Fellow, about helping students find their place at JMU and get the most out of their Madison Experience.
Thursday Aug 28, 2025
Thursday Aug 28, 2025
As a new school year begins, JMU Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Tim Miller (’96, ’00M) and Kathryn Hunt (’25), Student Affairs Presidential Engagement Fellow, offer some tips to help students get the most out of their Madison Experience.
Thursday Aug 21, 2025
Thursday Aug 21, 2025
In a time of great change in higher education, Jim Schmidt, JMU's seventh president, lays out his vision for the future.
Thursday Jun 05, 2025
Thursday Jun 05, 2025
Host Andy Perrine (’86) briefly reflects on the first two seasons of Being The Change as we pause publishing for the summer, returning in late August for Season 3.
Friday May 23, 2025
Friday May 23, 2025
Iraq war veteran and inspirational speaker Justin Constantine (’92) died in 2022, but his spirit lives on. Hear how first-year JMU student Samantha Cornell is benefiting from Justin’s legacy because of Dhalia Constantine’s generosity, and how Navy nurse Racheal Fletcher (’05) cared for Justin stateside before discovering they both were JMU alumni.
Wednesday May 14, 2025
Wednesday May 14, 2025
In the second episode in a series about JMU’s continued evolution as a research institution, Dr. Patrice Ludwig (’96, ’01M), biologist and interim assistant vice president of Research and Innovation, provides context on how research pervades the undergraduate experience at JMU, while students Corrinne Cullina (’25) and Tony Gelona (’25) describe their life-changing research experiences starting early in their careers at Madison.
Wednesday May 07, 2025
Wednesday May 07, 2025
From a teachers’ school for women, to a regional master’s-level university, to a national research institution, JMU certainly has evolved during its 117-year history. Dr. Anthony Tongen, vice president of Research, Economic Development and Innovation, and Dr. Rudy Molina, vice provost for Student Academic Success, discuss how this evolution continues to progress and what’s in JMU’s future.
Thursday Apr 24, 2025
Thursday Apr 24, 2025
Successful investors and entrepreneurs Don Rainey (’82), Rusty Shepard (’86) and Rick Kushel (’87) describe why the College of Business’ business plan competition is such a formative experience for JMU students and why their endowed scholarship fund, which distributes $53,000 annually in competition prizes, charges the competition with real-world high stakes.
Thursday Apr 17, 2025
Thursday Apr 17, 2025
Dr. Kara Dillard, executive director of the James Madison Center for Civic Engagement, discusses the recent conversation on campus between Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (’93) and Minority Leader Ryan McDougle (’93), and how these two JMU alumni from opposite sides of the political spectrum collaborate despite their differences.