The following video programs are previously recorded OLLI courses. Learn at your own pace, on your own time and at your convenience. Over 40 hours of programming is available for a single cost of $30. After registration, you will receive an email with a “Join Code” and instructions on how to access programming.
All programming originates from OLLI at UNL.
Rural America: Wasteland or Reason for Hope – OLLI Fall, 2024 Symposium (2 sessions)
The United States seems to be divided into two different countries – an urbanized “Blue” region of social and cultural liberalism and the “Red” rural regions rebelling against social and demographic change and resenting coastal elitism. It seems everyone has an opinion about rural America. Is it gripped in a tragic decline? Or is it on the cusp of a glorious revival? Is it the key to understanding America today? Perhaps, we’re missing the real question…is rural America even a thing? Prominent experts examine this supposed divide from a social, economic, and political perspective. Presenters include: Steven Conn, W.E. Smith Professor of History, Miami (OH) University; Jena Ochsner, Double O Farms, Sutton, NE; Brad Lubben, Extension Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, UNL; Cheryl Burkhart-Kriesel, Extension Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, UNL; L.J. McElravy, Associate Professor of Ag Leadership, Education and Communication, UNL; Ronnie Green, Chancellor Emeritus, UNL; Erin Schoenberg, Development Manager, Center for Rural Affairs; Jillian Linster, Policy Director, Center for Rural Affairs.
The Women of the Manhattan Project (4 sessions)
Instructor: Lynn Roper
The secrecy of the project hid the roles of women, leaving the perception that it was done by a few brilliant male scientists. Learn the stories of women who served as physicists, chemists, mathematicians, and lab technicians. Forbidden to talk about their work, thousands of young women never knew what purpose their tasks would accomplish. Thousands of men, women and children endured hardships in their everyday lives sequestered inside Los Alamos. They lived in hastily built barracks and had to lie to their families about where they were and what they were doing as they disappeared for years.
The Early Days of Nebraska Volleyball (4 sessions)
Instructors: John Mabry, Vicki Highstreet
Volleyball has been a part of the UNL athletic landscape for more than a century, but the sport didn’t gain much notoriety until the early 1970s, when the Huskers began to put together a program that is now known worldwide.Learn how its reputation grew from its humble beginnings, reaching a pinnacle in August 2023, when Volleyball Day put 92,003 in Memorial Stadium stands. Meet some of the players who made it possible from those early Title IX days at Mabel Lee Hall and the Coliseum.
Religion in Society: Exploring Its Influence (6 sessions)
Instructor: Dr. Jonathan Redding
Obtain a comprehensive understanding of the complex and often contentious relationship between religion and contemporary society. Examine the intersection of religious beliefs, practices, and institutions with key societal domains, including the legal system, public education, LGBTQ+ rights, economics, and responses to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Minimizing Radon Health Danger in Nebraska (1 session)
Instructor: Adrienne Moody
Naturally occurring Radon can gather in Nebraska homes. It increases the risk of lung cancer but can be easily mitigated. Learn the best testing practices and how to make informed decisions on mitigating your home or not. We will dispel myths of radon and focus on the clear facts of the invisible gas.
Politics of Punishment: Implications of Being the World’s Largest Jailer (4 sessions)
Instructor: Dr. Kevin Smith
Why does the United States lock up more of its citizens than any other liberal democracy? How does having the world’s largest incarcerated– and formerly incarcerated – population influence the social, economic and political life of the nation? The key takeaway is that incarceration levels are rooted in struggle to manage a growing violent crime problem during a historical period marked by social changes that include widening economic inequality, increasing racial diversity and sharpening ideological divides. That struggle has produced several unintended and under-explored consequences affecting everyone in society.
Walking in the Footsteps of Our Ancestors (5 sessions)
Instructor: Christina Goodson
The Otoe-Missouria people once called south and eastern Nebraska home before they were forcibly removed to Indian Territory, present- day Oklahoma. They now reside in Red Rock, Oklahoma, the headquarters of the tribe. Learn the origins and history of the tribe, along with their migration from Minnesota and Iowa, the split from the Ho-Chunk, as well as their removal within Nebraska and further removal into Indian Territory.
Welcome to Medicare: Avoiding Confusion and Empowering You (1 session)
Instructor: Jonathan Burlison
Are you confused about Medicare? Nebraska’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) educates people about Medicare, empowering older adults and people with disabilities to make informed decisions about health care. Become more educated with Medicare so you can identify and report possible Medicare scams, errors, or waste. Learn more regarding your health insurance options, benefits, and choices.
Because the System Isn’t Broken – Non- Profits, Grant Money and White Saviors: Poverty Pimping in North Omaha (1 session)
Instructor: Schmeeka Simpson
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This session critically examines the complex dynamics among non-profit organizations, philanthropic funding, and the perpetuation of systemic inequities within North Omaha. It delves into how well-intentioned charitable initiatives often inadvertently reinforce existing power imbalances and contribute to a cycle of dependency rather than fostering genuine empowerment and community-driven change. Explore the impact of "poverty pimping" – the phenomenon where poverty is commodified for financial gain – and listen to discussions on alternative approaches to creating sustainable, equitable solutions.
Democratic Partners (1 session)
Instructor: Mike Lux
Mike Lux, a political consultant who provides a variety of services for candidates and political organizations, is founder of Democracy Partners, a political consulting firm with offices in Washington D.C., Maine and California. He was born and raised in Lincoln and is a graduate of Lincoln Northeast High School. Lux was a White House employee during the administration of President Bill Clinton, served on the Obama- Biden presidential transition team and was also a staffer for the 1988 Joe Biden Presidential campaign. He discusses his career and the types of services his firm provides (e.g. fundraising, messaging, campaign services, etc.) and trends he sees from his three decades in national politics.
Podcasts: Free, Fun and Customized for You (2 sessions)
Instructor: Kelli Bohling
Podcasts are on-demand, user-selected audio content that allows listeners to go beyond radio's geographic and temporal restrictions and listen to content at their leisure. More than 50% of Americans over 12 have listened to a podcast, and 22% consider themselves regular podcast listeners. But what are they listening to? That’s the cool part: Whatever they want! News, music, stories, comedy, history, theatre, and more are ready and waiting for you 24/7. What will you listen to? Learn from an avid fan of podcasts, specifically true crime, about how this new information source came to be, how to get started enjoying podcasts, and her recommendations for a few to try in different genres. Come prepared to be wowed by this new media option.