EMU Today

YPSILANTI — On Thursday, March 20, from 2:30 to 4 p.m. “Enlighten U,” Eastern Michigan University’s award-winning mental health podcast for students, is filming its first live episode. The taping will take place at Sponberg Theatre in the Judy Sturgis Hill Building, located at 1030 E. Circle Drive. The event aims to encourage students to be more involved with the show, even allowing them to ask questions live. The episode will cover the topics of self-care and life balance.

Students who attend can watch a live taping of an episode, ask questions, participate in giveaways, see performances by EMU’s mascot Swoop, pick up free goodie bags, and more. Attendance also counts for LBC credit for students who sign in upon arrival.

The episode will be co-hosted by EMU public relations professor Lolita Cummings and EMU executive director of media relations and social media, Melissa Thrasher. Also joining the show will be resident mental health therapist and assistant professor in EMU’s Department of Leadership and Counseling, Aesha Mustafa, Ph.D., and special guest FOX 2 anchor/reporter and EMU alum Josh Landon.

Well on its way into the second season, “Enlighten U” has been creating episodes since September 2023. Having co-hosted for over a year, Cummings is more excited than ever to be able to record an episode in front of a live audience.

“Students have been wanting an opportunity to see a show live and ask questions for a long time,” Cummings said. “We’re listening, and we’re so excited to finally be able to take the leap and host this taping.”

Though the show has touched on a similar topic in an episode released last year, Thrasher said self-care can never be talked about enough.

“Self-care is an important topic when it comes to mental health,” Thrasher said. “Taking care of ourselves is often something we forget to do, so talking about it and giving tips is incredibly beneficial for both us at the show and our audience.”

The show will also put emphasis on audience questions in order to provide students with an opportunity to get answers from a mental health professional. If attending, it’s recommended to come prepared with some questions on the topic or mental health in general. 

For more information, please contact Lolita Cummings at lcummin2@emich.edu or Melissa Thrasher at mthrashe@emich.edu. To submit a topic idea or to be a guest, please contact the show directly at Enlighten_U@emich.edu. 

About “Enlighten U”
“Enlighten U” is an Eastern Michigan University-produced, award-winning podcast for college students as they experience unique stressors, including academic pressures, personal growth, social challenges, and more. EMU executive director of media relations and social media Melissa Thrasher and EMU public relations professor Lolita Cummings serve as co-hosts. Each episode is released each month and welcomes a student or alum and a subject-matter professional. Episodes of “Enlighten U” address mental health topics like imposter syndrome, financial strain, grading anxiety, adjustment to campus life, social media harms, social justice, and more.

About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, EMU is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves nearly 13,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and its graduate school. National publications regularly recognize EMU for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. Visit the University’s rankings and points of pride websites to learn more. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website. To stay up to date on University news, activities and announcements, visit EMU Today.