Happy Midterm Season to Alabama and beyond! Wouldn't it be nice if we could all cast our ballots and then all sides could group-hug at the end? That's not reality, though, as we all know-- A recent Gallup Poll found that 80% of Americans feel the nation is deeply divided on values and morals, which are often expressed through political speech and activism. It's one thing to disagree with someone on Facebook that you haven't talked to in years, but what do we do when that disagreement is sitting next to us while we watch political ads in our homes? How do we interact with parents, siblings, friends or maybe even life partners that we disagree with politically? We've likely all been there, with at least a few people we care about deeply, and it's one of the hardest parts of election seasons such as these.

This week, Don reviews The Foursome by Christina Baker Kline.

Will your pet dress up for Halloween? Some pets are okay with it, while others can be uncomfortable. Halloween may be a scary time but try to NOT scare your furry buddy.

In this episode of BrightPath, hosts Lisa Jones and Johnnie Aycock sit down with Dr. Katherine L. Chiou, Associate Professor of Anthropology at The University of Alabama and Co-director of the Artificial Intelligence Teaching Enhancement Initiative. They explore how AI is reshaping higher education, research, and the workforce. The conversation examines whether AI is helping humans think more critically or simply work faster, and what it means for learning when students rely on AI to write, research, and solve problems. Dr. Chiou also discusses the importance of responsible AI use and ethics as these technologies influence innovation, hiring, and everyday life.

Lacey and Dr. Jurgenson continue their chat about retirement planning, starting with audience questions and ending on what the professor wants everyone to know about retirement!

This week, Don reviews Her Name Was Judy by Tracie L. Blackmon.

You may think your cat understands you when you talk to it - and you may be right!

In this episode of BrightPath, hosts Lisa Jones and Johnnie Aycock welcome Dr. Jeremy Carr, Central Alabama Community College Chemistry Instructor, to the studio to discuss the power of student-driven discovery, why microgravity is the ultimate laboratory, and what this means for the future of scientific innovation. They dive into an incredible student-led research project happening right here in Alabama. From sparking curiosity in the classroom to designing and defending a real space experiment, they explore how undergraduate students are taking science from the lab bench to low Earth orbit.

A year ago, commentator Cam Marston was plotting his escape from a job he’d come to hate. This morning, he tells us what changed, and why it’s made these commentaries harder to write.

If the very mention of the phrase “retirement planning” makes you shudder, you’re definitely not alone—2026 survey data from the National Institute on Retirement Security says somewhere between 40 and 55 percent of Americans feel unprepared for or lack confidence in having stability in their retirement years. Another survey says 47% of America’s workers believe they’ll never be able to fully retire. Here to hopefully dispel some anxiety is Dr. Jesse Jurgenson, an Assistant Professor of Practice within the Texas Tech University School of Financial Planning. He formerly spent three years teaching at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa as a personal finance pro before heading to Lubbock.