Morgan Le Fay: Chivalry's Hidden Threat

Podcast Abstract:

On this podcast episode, Morgan Le Fay: Chivalry’s Hidden Threat, we will discuss the history of the mythological character Morgan Le Fay and analyze her position in the medieval poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. In this poem written by the author known as the Pearl Poet, Morgan creates a game to trick one of King Arthur’s knights, Gawain, and lead him astray from the ideals of chivalry. Morgan’s control over Gawain and the narrative of the story makes her the most powerful character in the poem; however, she is not revealed as the puppet master or even a character until the end, despite her being responsible for the entirety of the plot of the poem. Many readers have noted how this delayed revelation strategically overshadows Morgan's power and control over the narrative, attempting to obscure the fact that a female figure is responsible for defaming knighthood as an institution. In this episode, we will discuss why this obscurity is necessary to hide the reality of the weaknesses of knighthood and patriarchal dominance, both relying on women to be able to perform their duties. Morgan playing the role of the puppet master throughout this poem symbolizes the real threat to King Arthur’s court, knighthood, chivalry, and male power: women.

"Morgan Le Fay: Chivalry's Hidden Threat" with Annie Blevins

Student Bio:

My name is Annie Blevins, and I am from Violet Hill, Arkansas. I am majoring in English and Spanish, and I have served as an executive member of the Alpha Xi Delta sorority and The Wheelbarrow literary arts magazine during my time at Lyon. After graduation, I plan to attend graduate programs and pursue an MA and PhD in English Rhetoric and Composition.

"Checks and Balances"

Podcast Abstract:

On this episode of "Checks and Balances,” we explore a question that has severeimplications on the last 10 years of U.S. politics: How does social media proliferate extremistvalues?. Alongside the ever-expanding and seemingly impossible-to-avoid influence of socialmedia, there has been an observable uptick in violent extremism. As of 2025, 253 million socialmedia users reside in the United States, which accounts for 73 percent of the total U.S.population. Concurrently, the evolving accessibility of social media coincides with a rise inpolitical polarization, marking an extreme uptick in radicalization, violent extremism, and theerosion of democratic norms. In today's episode, we explore the notion that social media has adirect correlation with real-world political violence and influences the rate at which these acts ofviolence occur through the exploitation of social media as a weapon for spreading extremistvalues. We review some of the most significant examples of violent extremism in the UnitedStates over the last 5 years and how social media may have played a part in their manifestation.Additionally, we explore how a certain figurehead in right-wing extremist circles is on their way tobecoming a household name– and how he achieved this through the exploitation of socialmedia.

"Checks and Balances" with Madeline Cleaves

Student Bio:

My name is Madeline Cleaves, and I am from Maumelle, Arkansas. I will be graduating from Lyon in Political Science in Spring 2026! During my time in the political sciencedepartment, I have done research on the relationship between social media and violentextremism under Dr. Sung, and am currently conducting research on if the increasingimplementation of harm reduction legislation has had a positive impact on overdose mortalityrates in the United States. In addition to my research, I have stayed involved on campusthrough the Alpha Xi Delta Sorority: serving as Philanthropy Vice President, PanhellenicDelegate, and Chaplin during my four years of membership. Post-Lyon, I plan to attend LawSchool!

Depression Showdown: Discussing the Battle Over Depression’s Origins

Podcast Abstract:

Who will win? Clinical depression, also known as major depression or major depressive disorder(MDD), is defined as extensive feelings of sadness, emptiness or hopelessness with physical,social and emotional manifestations. Manifestations include irritable mood, loss of interest inactivities, anxiety, weight loss or gain, sleep disturbances, tiredness, and suicidal thoughts. In thisbattle royale podcast, we are going to pin two evolutionary theories of depression against eachother and determine which one reigns supreme! In one corner, representing MDD as an adaptivebenefit, is the Social Competition Hypothesis. This theory was proposed by Price and colleaguesthat the depressive state we witness today evolved as a strategy for an individual to accept defeat.In the other corner, also representing an adaptive feature for depression, is the Defense AgainstInfectious Disease Theory. This theory was proposed by Kinney and Tanaka, and they argue thatdepression prevents the spread of a disease and reduces energy expenditure. I will also toss myown theory into the ring that MDD is a maladaptive trait rather than adaptive. Understanding theevolutionary origins of depression would provide insight into improving treatment methods forthe disorder and further the understanding of mental illness. Join me as three theories enter: onlyone survives!

"Depression Showdown: Discussing the Battle Over Depression’s Origins" with Hannah Davison

Student Bio:

I am a senior biology major with a pre-medical concentration and a psychology minor. I am amember of the Lyon College Concert and Marching band. I am involved in the Honor Council,Mortar Board, Chemistry Club, Honors Fellows, French Club, Alpha Chi, Psi Chi, Bible CollegeMinistries and research on campus. After graduation, I plan to attend medical school.

Sweet Science, Bitter Results

Podcast Synopsis:

In recent years artificial sweeteners have become a large part of the human diet. One of which is sucralose, or Splenda, a non-calorie synthetic sweetener, that is about 600 times as sweet as regular sugar. It is often marketed as a “lite or diet” option because it cannot be broken down by the human body. Thus these combined properties as well as its increased stability across a wide pH range make it incredibly useful in the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. Sucralose has been determined safe for consumption in more than sixty countries, but studies in recent years have determined it to inhibit bacteria in the environment as well as in the human gut. Using the knowledge of these inhibitory effects, we attempted to develop new derivatives of the sucralose molecule and determine their antibacterial properties. Due to the unpredictable nature of “sugar chemistry,” we were unable to synthesize and purify any of the derivatives that we hoped to create. Although we were ultimately unsuccessful in synthesizing a bacteria-inhibitory drug from sucralose, we were still able to advance the science of drug synthesis by showing people what has been tried and what results came from that.

"Sweet Science, Bitter Results" with Zane Fountain

Student Bio:

My name is Zane Fountain and I am a biology and chemistry double major from Calico Rock, Arkansas. After completing my degree at Lyon, I plan to go to optometry school to pursue a career as an optometrist. While at Lyon, I have been a part of the Honors Fellows Program, TKE, SGA, Honor Council, Mortar Board, and Chemistry Club. I have also been a research student in Dr. Irosha’s research lab since Fall 2023. I hope you enjoy my podcast!

Kolmogorov–Arnold Networks for Tabular Data Synthesis

Podcast Synopsis:

Synthetic data is becoming increasingly important in today’s AI-driven world,especially in sensitive domains where using real data raises privacy or ethicalconcerns. In this podcast, I present my research, which investigates a new way togenerate high-quality synthetic tabular data. Traditional synthetic data genera- tor models use standard neural networks called Multilayer Perceptrons (MLPs). My project explores what happens when we replace those with a new type of neural network called Kolmogorov-Arnold Networks (KANs), which aims to capture more complex patterns in the data. To evaluate this idea, I created six KAN-based models and tested them against their traditional versions. I looked at three key aspects: how well they reproduce the structure of real data (statistical fidelity), how useful the synthetic data is for training machine learning models (ML utility), and how efficient the models are in terms of memory and speed. The results show that KAN-based models can outperform traditional ones in quality and utility, but they’re more computationally expensive. The models are available as an open-source Python package called KAN-synth.

"Kolmogorov-Arnold Networks for Tabular Data Synthesis" with Cristian Del Gobbo

Student Bio:

My name is Cristian Del Gobbo, and I am from Pedaso, a little town on theAdriatic Sea in Italy. I am majoring in Mathematics, Computer Science, andData Science. During my time at Lyon, I have been involved in several academicand leadership organizations, including serving as the President and Founderof the Bitcoin Club, President of the International Student Association, andVice President of the Consulting Club. I have also been inducted into honorsocieties such as Alpha Lambda Delta, Mortar Board, and Alpha Chi, and haveworked as a Supplemental Instructor and math tutor. After graduation, I planto pursue a Master’s degree in Applied Mathematics or a related field.

Intertwined with Misogyny: The Origin of the Weaponization of Biblical Texts

Podcast Synopsis:

"Intertwined with Misogyny: The Origin of the Weaponization of Biblical Texts" explores how the English translation of the Bible commissioned by King James I continues to shape religiousand cultural attitudes toward women and marginalized groups. The first segment of the podcastfeatures a conversation with Dr. Melissa Johnson, who provides background information onKing James’s rise to power, his role in the witch trials, and his political motivations behindproducing an English Bible translation. Together, we examine how the King James Version(KJV) intertwined political ambition, gendered power, and theological authority to justifymisogyny under the guise of divine order. We break down how the translation process reflectedKing James’s desire to solidify his authority, align himself with the Protestant movement, andembed his own patriarchal and anti-women perspectives into a religious text. In the second halfof the podcast, my second guest, Bryanna Rosario, and I discuss how remnants of thismisogynistic framing persist in modern religious discourse, particularly within ChristianNationalist movements that use scripture to rationalize discrimination. By tracing the historicalroots of biblical weaponization to King James’s personal and political agenda, this podcastinvites listeners to critically re-examine how sacred texts can be manipulated to perpetuateinequality and exclusion. Additionally, the podcast urges listeners to reconsider the ethical andcultural implications of accepting sacred texts without interrogating their origins. The goal ofthis podcast is not to discredit faith, but to foster a more informed and criticalunderstanding of how religious texts have been interpreted and weaponized over time.

"Intertwined with Misogyny: The Origin of the Weaponization of Biblical Texts" with Madeline Hopson

Student Bio:

My name is Madeline Hopson, and I am graduating in December 2025. I was born in Henderson, Texas but moved to Flippin, Arkansas during middle school. I am double majoring in Political Science and Psychology with a Pre-Law concentration. My involvement at Lyon includes being a four-year member of the Lyon Volleyball team, numerous honor societies, Executive Editor for the Wheelbarrow, Writing Center Tutor & Supplemental Instructor/Observer for the MAC, Year One Mentor, Lyon College Ambassador, and lastly, co-founder and president of the Lyon College Young Progressives. Additionally, I am a member of several clubs on campus, such as the Political Science Club, Law Students' Association, Sand Volleyball Club, and the Gardening Club. I have presented three research projects at numerous conferences. After Lyon, I plan on attending law school in August of 2026.

Cover to Cover

Podcast Synopsis:

Literature lies at the heart of a society's culture, providing an intimacy into the everyday lives of ordinary individuals. Although sometimes limited, translation serves as a mechanism to bridge the gap between worldviews, crossing the boundaries created by the complexity of language. Literary translation has long impacted the way I see the world as since childhood I have benefited from reading pieces from around the globe. My first hand experience with physical translation began the spring semester of my sophomore year when I began aiding in the initial translation of the 2023 Nicaraguan novel, Desventura, by Karly Gaitán Morales from Spanish to English and the subsequent editing process. On a basic level, the story revolves around the murder of a young woman and the ensuing search to locate her killer, but within its pages an important historical context is revealed. Beginning in the late 1970s, the growing conflict between the Somozas and Sandinistas in Nicaragua erupted into a full scale political revolution. The plot follows the recurring historical implications of this event on everyday lives. This experience has helped me to better understand not only the impact, but the difficulty of crossing a language barrier. Every story provides a unique viewpoint, and translation ensures that this primary message can be enjoyed by a wider readership.

"Cover to Cover" with Natalya Kaza

Student Bio:

My name is Natalya Kaza. I grew up in Little Rock, AR and I am a double major in Biology and Spanish with a pre-veterinary concentration. My campus involvement includes serving as the president of the Honors Fellows Program, Vice President of the Honor Council, Vice President of Mortar Board, and as a member of SAAC, SGA and the Women’s Basketball Team. After graduation, I plan to attend veterinary school.

The Economical Impact on Domestic Violence

Podcast Synopsis:

In a world of unpredictability, econometrics is a tool that many economists value and utilize intheir everyday research. Econometrics is the union of mathematics, economics, and statistics thatallow the cross analyzation of data to predict theoretical political and economic trends andpolicies. This application can be utilized by economists, researchers, politicians, and everydaypeople alike to predict future movements in an ever changing world. In today’s episode, we willdive into the intersection between poverty levels and domestic violence rates throughout theUnited States by cross-analyzing a state’s economic environment (education levels andunemployment rates) with their reported domestic violence cases. Using data sources that crossanalyze a state’s domestic violence rates with the economic factors that contribute to a state’swealth and prosperity level, we can see if there is any true correlation between the two. Thispodcast will show the ways in which econometrics can be used to predict relationships betweentwo aspects, and show the ways in which policies can be formed by these predictions.

"The Economical Impact on Domestic Violence" with Katelyn Mace

Student Bio:

My name is Katelyn Mace, and I am from Little Rock, Arkansas. I will be graduating from Lyonwith a Business degree and Economics minor. As a student, I have served as an executivemember of the Alpha Xi Delta Zeta Iota chapter and run as treasurer for the International TravelClub, promoting the Lyon Poland Trip that I myself have attended. After I graduate, I intend togo to Law School.

The Grey Area

Podcast Synopsis:

Efforts to grant rights to the environment are inherently complex, intertwining ethical considerations with legal frameworks. While the United States legal system has traditionally prioritized human needs to the detriment of other species, many societies conceptualize nature as a network of social beings in reciprocal relationships with humans. This perspective, combined with increasing environmental destruction, has motivated activists and legal scholars to advocate for Rights of Nature (RoN)—the extension of legal rights to biotic entities. This podcast examines the research question: Can the important ethical reasoning behind the Rights of Nature (RoN) approach be translated into a workable legal paradigm that is effective as an environmental protection strategy? Rather than providing a purely theoretical critique, the podcast explores how RoN functions in practice across national contexts, including Ecuador and New Zealand, considering where it succeeds, where it falls short, and why. Using an analytical method grounded in political and legal theory, I assess three areas that present challenges for translating RoN into statutes: scope and precision, the creation of boundaries, and question of adjudication. Additionally, I will further analyze RoN from diverse perspectives, featuring guests to facilitate this discussion: one with a background in political science and mathematics, and another with an exercise science major with an interest in wildlife and nature. Together, we examine how different cultural worldviews shape understandings of the human-nature relationship and influence the plausibility of RoN strategies. This discussion invites listeners to reconsider what we mean by rights, responsibility, and the natural world itself.

"The Grey Area" with Zoe Papazoglou

Student Bio:

My name is Zoe Papazoglou and I am from Long Island, New York. I am double majoring in Political Science and Psychology with a pre-law concentration. At Lyon, I have been the captain of the women's soccer team, president of the Student Government Association, a Residential Assistant, a Year One mentor, as well as a Supplemental Instructor and Peer Academic Coach for the MAC. Additionally I have held membership in multiple organizations on campus including Alpha Lambda Delta, Alpha Chi, Mortar Board, Social Council, and the Honors Fellow program. After graduation, I intend on going to law school.

Perception and Economic Voting Theory

Podcast Synopsis:

This podcast will delve into the possibility that the actual state of the economy has significantly less impact on presidential elections than voters’ perceptions of the economy. Using the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index, it will explore how emotion, bias, and the other aspects of bounded rationality impact real world political outcomes as much or more than figures and facts. While traditional models used in the harder social sciences, such as political science and economics, still primarily rely on rational choice theory—which, in this case, leads to economic voting models relying on GDP measures and unemployment rates, this research supports that voters more so rely on subjective evaluations, which leads to the perceived economic performance diverging from the hard economic data. This podcast draws on decades of data and theory in behavioral economics to explain this. It is a deep dive into the impact of bounded rationality on American democracy, showing that while elections are largely still determined by the economy, how individuals perceive the said economy is just as or more important. This podcast will connect the dots between numbers and narratives and attempt to better the understanding of political decision-making.

"Perception and Economic Voting" with Beau Turner

Student Bio:

My name is Beau Turner, and I’m from Mountain View, Arkansas. I’m a member of the Lyon Scots baseball team, and I’m currently pursuing a double major in political science and economics, along with a minor in French. I’m a member of the Lyon College Honors Fellowship program and am involved in several campus organizations, including the French Club, Chess Club, and Alpha Chi and Pi Sigma Alpha honor societies. After graduating from Lyon, I plan to attend graduate school to study public policy, with the long-term goal of contributing to meaningful change in society through research, analysis, and leadership.

We can't wait to meet you

Honors Fellows Program Capstone Podcast Projects