Season Five Trailer: Into the woods

About this episode

The Ampersand returns for season five, exploring the intersection of history and identity through storytelling and myth.

We love to explore the stories we tell about ourselves—paying special attention to the way they change over time, what that shift says about where we are and who we hope to become. The Ampersand is back for season five! In a year when the University of Colorado Boulder turns 150, we're asking questions that anniversaries make possible: What stories have we told? Which ones still hold up? And what do the myths we carry say about the future toward which we aspire? This season, we're exploring the space between history and identity, where facts become folklore and where reflection and reclamation on these mythologies drive fresh creativity. Join us as we walk into these many woods. --- Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley. Original music composed by Nelson Walker. Recorded at Interplay Recording and Multimedia. Music: Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46 - IV. In the Hall Of The Mountain King. Recorded, produced and released to the public by The Musopen Kickstarter Project. The Ampersand is a production of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder.

People in this episode

Host: Erika Randall

Topics covered

• identity
• history
• mythology
• storytelling
• creativity
• reflection

Keywords

• stories
• anniversaries
• folklore
• reflection
• reclamation
• creativity
• University of Colorado Boulder

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Colorado Boulder, Interplay Recording and Multimedia, Musopen Kickstarter Project, College of Arts and Sciences

Books & works: Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46 - IV. In the Hall Of The Mountain King

More episodes of The Ampersand

• An ear to the stones: Paul Chinowsky · June 3, 2026 · 1h 3m
• What makes a Grimm Brothers fairy tale? With Ann Schmiesing · April 16, 2026 · 46 min
• To become a wild thing: Season Four finale with Joanna Lambert · September 7, 2025 · 40 min
• Embracing (Family) Feud: Megan Stephenson · August 31, 2025 · 30 min
• An optimist's guide to biological competition: Ed Chuong · August 10, 2025 · 31 min
• The craft of a human moment: Nick Houy · July 27, 2025 · 28 min