The Vandal Theory

The Vandal Theory episode examines Nathan Sheely's University of Idaho research into engineering stronger tendon tissue after nearly 33,000 annual Achilles ruptures in the United States.

The Vandal Theory’s 'Episode 11.6: How an old Constitution applies to modern life' has University of Idaho law professor Richard Seaman explain how a 200-plus-year-old document still shapes speech, punishment, privacy, and government power.

Brett Wilder describes Idaho’s 2025 agricultural economy as a “tale of two economies,” with record $12.1 billion cash receipts alongside sharply different livestock and crop conditions.

Aaron Cordell Johnson describes plein air painting as taking your gloves off and “shaking nature’s hand,” because the light, weather, sound, and temperature can change the scene in about an hour.

The Vandal Theory interviews William Tai of the University of Idaho’s Doceo Center about using generative AI for lesson planning, the 5E instructional model, and classroom safeguards.

The Vandal Theory features University of Idaho wildlife ecologist Simona Picardi explaining how GPS movement data can reveal animal behavior beyond migration.

The Vandal Theory episode “Episode 11.1: Protecting Idaho potatoes from fungi with new tools” features University of Idaho researchers developing new fungicides for potato pathogens.

Brian Small, director of the University of Idaho’s Aquaculture Research Institute, explains how trout breeding, plant-based feed, fish health, and genomics support Idaho’s aquaculture industry.

The Vandal Theory features Duff Berquist, director of the University of Idaho's Barker Capital Management and Trading Program, describing how students manage approximately $150,000 across digital currency, equities, commodities, energy, and fixed income.

Christine Parent, a University of Idaho evolutionary biology professor, studies more than 80 documented land-snail species in the Galápagos, with likely more than 100.

The Vandal Theory examines horror cinema with Russ Maefe, a University of Idaho professor who researches media, genre films, and horror.

The Vandal Theory hosts Danae Lenz and Leigh Cooper interview University of Idaho humanities librarian Rochelle Smith about why gods, goddesses, fairies, elves, and kami are repeatedly portrayed as makers.

Tyler Bland, a clinical assistant professor in the University of Idaho’s WAMI medical program, uses Pokémon-style Medimon to teach pharmacology, physiology, diseases, and diagnostic criteria.

The Vandal Theory episode on building a sustainable wardrobe features University of Idaho instructor and alterations specialist Chelsea Bird Llewellyn.

Liz Bajent estimates that Idaho has about $1 billion in wastewater and drinking-water infrastructure needs, with roughly two thirds attributed to wastewater.

The Vandal Theory interviews University of Idaho law professor David Pimentel about how Bosnia, Romania, Sudan, and the Netherlands challenged his assumptions about justice and parenting.

The Vandal Theory host Leigh Cooper interviews University of Idaho wildlife ecologist Ryan Long about antelope coexistence, elephant evolution, and conservation in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique.

The Vandal Theory’s “Politics and polarization” features University of Idaho political scientist Markie McBrayer explaining how voters punish or reward incumbents through ideology, war, presidential tenure, and lived economic pressures such as housing and food costs.

Barry Robeson says a University of Idaho tool reduced grant award-letter extraction from a process that can take two months to 20 seconds.

The Vandal Theory episode “Solutions to life’s mechanical problems” features University of Idaho mechanical engineering professor John Kripo, whose projects include a nuclear-powered Mars Hopper and redesigned medical devices.

The Vandal Theory examines beef science with Phil Bass, a University of Idaho meat science professor who explains cattle growth, dry aging, food safety, and meat-industry economics.

The Vandal Theory hosts Danae Lenz and Leigh Cooper interview University of Idaho wildlife ecologist Janet Racklow about pygmy rabbits and declining Idaho moose.

The Vandal Theory episode examines Rebecca Schofield's research on women riding horses, bicycles, motorcycles, mechanical bulls, and dragons across American history.

The Vandal Theory’s Episode 8.8 examines why University of Idaho researchers still cannot reliably domesticate huckleberries despite established blueberry cultivation.

The Vandal Theory's Episode 8.7 examines how Idaho can plan for rising water and energy needs as its population approaches 2 million.

The Vandal Theory host Danae Lenz and science writer Leigh Cooper interview Sonia Meyer, curator of the University of Idaho’s Layla Old Historic Costume Collection, which contains about 18,000 clothing artifacts.

The Vandal Theory examines breastfeeding, infant immune development, and how maternal stress, sleep, inflammation, and milk composition may interact.

Leontina Hormel discusses Syringa Mobile Home Park near Moscow, Idaho, where Idaho DEQ found unsafe E.

This episode explores how tree rings reveal past climate conditions and help predict future climate trends.

The episode discusses how Ukraine used soccer jerseys to make a political statement about Crimea, then introduces the podcast and hosts.

This episode explores the connection between water irrigation and energy use in Idaho, featuring a discussion on state rankings and aquifer depletion.