As part of our "Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning" co-curriculum series, our tour of the UK brings us to Edinburgh, Scotland where we visit the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. We speak to bartender Euan Willis about the Whisky Society and about single malt whiskys more generally. We learn tips for mixing cocktails with these sometimes bullying spirits and taste a few along the way.

For the conclusion of our UK tour, Kurt interviews actual real graduate students, Anna Drummond Young and Eleanor Mackay of Oxford University's Physical and Theoretical Chemistry program. They talk about what it is like to actually do science as a graduate student rather than what professors always pretend science is. Anna and Eleanor take a quiz to find out how well they know each other and we talk about what geologist fashion is (despite the fact that none of us is a geologist). Finally, we drink a lumpy cocktail through a straw. What a great ending to our tour across the pond!

As we continue our tour of the UK, we speak with Alice Thorneywork, Associate Professor of Physical Chemistry at Oxford University. Alice speaks about her research, what it is like to teach at Oxford University, and how her current career path in the sciences was largely set by a children's book. She answers a hard quiz that, perhaps, only Kurt really enjoyed and makes the case for more women in science to wear dresses (if they want to). Finally, we enjoy a refreshing drink on a scorching day to finish out our time together. Hopefully, you can grab your own refreshing drink and come along with us.

In this episode, we turn to the dark side to talk Star Wars with our special guest, Dr. Chris Kempshall. Chris talks to us about establishing his career as a leading WW1 historian, a video games consultant, and a historian for Star Wars. He also talks about how all of this great work got him ruthlessly expelled from the academy. We then give him a very challenging WW1 x Star Wars quiz followed by a discussion of geek chic fashion. Finally, Kurt mixes a Star Wars-themed shot to drink after a hard day in the space hangar. Join us you will!

In this on-location episode, we join Professor Jocelyn Swigger in her piano-filled office. Jocelyn is Professor of Music and Coordinator of Keyboard Studies for the Sunderman Conservatory of Music at Gettysburg College. Jocelyn introduces us to a wonderful composer few have heard, Agnes Tyrrell. She also talks about what it is like teaching piano in a conservatory at a small liberal arts college. In our fashion segment, we find out why musicians wear black in concerts—and why Jocelyn chooses differently when out and about on campus. Finally, the three of us raise a glass in honor of Agnes Tyrrell. It's our most musical episode yet!

In this episode, we speak with Bruce A. Larson, Professor of Political Science at Gettysburg College. Bruce speaks to us about his work on campaign finance issues in the U.S. government and how it is definitely super easy to fix. Bruce also takes us on a winding journey through his path to academia—a route marked by romantic pursuits and rock bands—and reflects on how, given the state of things these days, staying in the band might've been the better choice. As usual, we quiz him on his political science knowledge and in our fashion segment ask him about the difference between dressing as a political scientist and dressing to be in a hair band. Finally, we end with an expensive cocktail that was definitely not used to buy favorable policies for Ian and me at the college.

Now with fewer hosts! In this episode, Ian switches sides of the Attic to talk with Kurt about his new book, The Battalion: Citizen Soldiers at War on the Western Front,. They kick off the new season by talking about how defeat can sometimes look a lot like victory, why writing about war during a global pandemic might not be the best way to pass the time in quarantine, and about Ian's love of playing with toy soldiers.

From there, the conversation turns to military fashion, as Kurt tries his best to get Ian to name history's best and worst uniforms. Finally, they raise a glass and chat about the late Queen Elizabeth II over a well-earned cocktail.

Give it a listen—we promise this won't be an episode of attrition!

In case our previous episode did not provide solace, we have a backup plan. Join Kurt and R.C. Miessler as they talk about how to go about enjoying whiskey! Sometimes words help and sometimes it's a quick tipple that makes life a bit more bearable. So grab a finger or two of your favorite brown liquor and join us for a tasting!