Lowkey Confused?
HSS Explains!

What is conversion therapy? Sunni and Shia Muslims - are they the same? How will artificial intelligence change the way we live and work? What does the future of national parks mean for local communities? How does global oil transportation affect the country we live in?

These questions are just some examples of the kinds of questions students are already asking and the questions faculty experts tackle in Lowkey Confused?: HSS Explains!

Launched in 2025 by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the social media series and podcast connects student curiosity with our very own faculty experts to explore the issues shaping our rapidly changing world. Each episode breaks down complex issues to provide the context needed to better understand today's headlines. From pop culture to history, from politics to geography, the series has one goal: to make it make sense.

Recent episodes have explored topics ranging from recent supreme court decisions to artificial intelligence, social media, and the historical roots of divisions within Islam. By drawing on expertise from faculty across multiple disciplines, the podcast helps listeners connect classroom knowledge with real-world events and conversations.

But the podcast serves a broader purpose as well. It highlights HSS faculty as trusted experts and demonstrates the depth of knowledge available throughout the college. Through accessible conversations and timely topics, Lowkey Confused?: HSS Explains! showcases the scholarship, research, and public engagement taking place across HSS while providing a platform for conversation to students, community members, and fellow faculty. 

The podcast started during a period of significant change in society. We realized that our students are increasingly seeking knowledge from trusted sources to help them navigate issues and form their open opinions. 

Rather than telling listeners what to think, faculty experts help explain why issues matter, how they developed, what questions we should be asking next, and bring to light the quiet voices on the other side of an issue. The goal is simply to encourage curiosity and critical thinking on topics that will then lead to informed discussion while making complex subjects more accessible to students and the broader community.

At its core, it embodies one of the college's central missions: helping people better understand the world around them. By bringing faculty expertise beyond the classroom and into public conversations, the podcast encourages listeners to engage with complex issues thoughtfully, ask better questions, and approach today's challenges with greater understanding.

Because sometimes we're all a little lowkey confused.