In this episode I'm joined by Professor Alexis Franzese  and we explore the themes in her recently published book Why the Magic Matters, her academic work, and broader ideas such as authenticity, magic in learning, study abroad experiences, and Disney as a vehicle for edutainment. 

Prof. Alexis Franzese is the Department Chair and an Associate Professor for the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Elon University, and a licensed psychologist with a small private practice. With academic training in the fields of sociology and psychology, her teaching and research interests are at the intersection of these fields and her main area of expertise is within issues of self, identity, and well-being.  She is especially passionate about her study of authenticity- being one’s true self - and is currently conducting research on authenticity and identity within travel and tourism, with Disney as a strategic domain of focus. Her work has been published within edited volumes and other peer-reviewed collections, including journals that span the breadth of her scholarly interests. She is a graduate of Union College (B.A.) and Duke University where she completed two separate doctoral degrees, in sociology and in psychology (clinical).  She loves debating the ethics of authenticity and tries to incorporate her knowledge into her own approach and adventures.

https://www.authenticaf.me

https://www.elon.edu/u/academics/undergraduate-research/dr-alexis-franzese/