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HoW Ep.0 Bailey Basics · The Wesley Word

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to the Wesley Word.
• 0:15
  SPEAKER_00: Hello everyone, my name is Bailey Meehan, and today on Humans of Wesley, I'm joined by well, no one, I guess.
• 0:22
  SPEAKER_00: It's just me today.
• 0:23
  SPEAKER_00: So if you were looking to hear a crazed grad student talk to himself, you've come to the right place.
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_00: This is, I guess, kind of uh episode zero of the Humans of Wesley series, um, which will be a recurring series I'm looking forward to do on the Wesley Word.
• 0:42
  SPEAKER_00: Um so this will be kind of an introductory episode of that, introduction to myself, um, let you guys get to know me a little bit better, and give you kind of a behind-the-scenes tour of what's going on in these episodes and uh what they're gonna look like going forwards.
• 0:57
  SPEAKER_00: So um, just to begin, uh, like I said, my name is Bailey Mian.
• 1:01
  SPEAKER_00: I'm beginning my third year as a PhD candidate here at Clemson uh in materials science and engineering.
• 1:08
  SPEAKER_00: And I also did my undergrad here at Clemson in materials science as well.
• 1:12
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and I am a native of Clemson, South Carolina.
• 1:16
  SPEAKER_00: I'm from right here in Clemson.
• 1:18
  SPEAKER_00: Um, this series gets its inspiration from uh another Humans of Wesley series that Grace Ann Dukes, our previous assistant director at Wesley, um, used to do before our Sunday night Wesley worships.
• 1:33
  SPEAKER_00: She would video um students answering icebreaker questions and edit their answers together into a kind of silly little introductory video for our Wesley worships.
• 1:45
  SPEAKER_00: Um, it was great fun.
• 1:46
  SPEAKER_00: And so this is kind of a spiritual successor to that.
• 1:50
  SPEAKER_00: I'm looking forward to getting to know our students as well, but in a bit more kind of long form, in-depth format.
• 1:58
  SPEAKER_00: But to pay homage to our humans Wesley Roots, uh, these interviews will all start with a few icebreaker questions.
• 2:07
  SPEAKER_00: I haven't quite decided how I'm gonna select those for our guests, uh, whether I pick them or they're random or whatever, but for some, I guess, semblance of fairness, I uh have a list of icebreaker questions, and I'm going to use a random number generator to pick a few for myself.
• 2:27
  SPEAKER_00: So I'm going to start with my list of Clemson specific icebreaker questions, and we get number five, which is what is your favorite Clemson tradition?
• 2:42
  SPEAKER_00: That's a wholesome one.
• 2:43
  SPEAKER_00: Um so Clemson traditions.
• 2:47
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, all the football stuff is pretty cool, I guess.
• 2:49
  SPEAKER_00: No, no, okay, okay.
• 2:50
  SPEAKER_00: My favorite Clemson tradition are Clemson rings.
• 2:53
  SPEAKER_00: Clemson rings are great.
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_00: They're awesome.
• 2:55
  SPEAKER_00: I love that they essentially haven't changed in their entire kind of span of being, and they present your graduation year, which is kind of cool to see.
• 3:08
  SPEAKER_00: I guess they're especially special for me because I am from a family of a bunch of people that went to Clemson and everyone has the rings.
• 3:14
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and I've seen people like my parents get recognized for being Clemson people, do their rings as we're like traveling around and stuff.
• 3:22
  SPEAKER_00: So, yeah, Clemson rings.
• 3:24
  SPEAKER_00: Awesome tradition.
• 3:25
  SPEAKER_00: The ring ceremony itself doesn't do a whole lot for me, but the rings are really cool.
• 3:30
  SPEAKER_00: And then a couple four from our kind of normal list of icebreaker questions.
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_00: Number 24.
• 3:46
  SPEAKER_00: Number 24.
• 3:47
  SPEAKER_00: Would you rather run at 100 miles per hour or fly at 10 miles per hour?
• 3:53
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, I guess flying is pretty unique, but 10 miles per hour is kind of slow.
• 3:57
  SPEAKER_00: Uh yeah, I think I'd I think I'd pick run at 100 miles per hour.
• 4:00
  SPEAKER_00: That's pretty fast.
• 4:02
  SPEAKER_00: Um you can do some fun kind of flash stuff with that.
• 4:05
  SPEAKER_00: So I'll pick I'll pick run at 100 miles per hour.
• 4:10
  SPEAKER_00: And finally we get number four.
• 4:14
  SPEAKER_00: Number four.
• 4:16
  SPEAKER_00: What is the best TV show or movie you have seen in the last month?
• 4:21
  SPEAKER_00: What have I watched recently?
• 4:23
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, okay.
• 4:24
  SPEAKER_00: So after probably years of recommendations by some of my friends, I finally watched uh Drive to Survive, the Netflix documentary about Formula One racing.
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_00: Um, if you're unfamiliar with the series, for the past, I guess, four years or so, um, Netflix people have been filming everything that happens at the races, and they like mic people up randomly, and they interview drivers and team principals and stuff, and then after the season is over, they cut all of that footage together into a super over-dramatic, uh like 10-episode mini-series about the season, and they tell all these stories and stuff, and it's great.
• 5:04
  SPEAKER_00: And if you're looking to get into a new sport, uh Formula One's really cool, and I think you should check it out.
• 5:11
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, so um then moving into kind of the bulk of these interviews will be me just talking with my guest um about their lives, where they come from, important things that have happened to them, important people in their lives, their college careers, their future careers, um, hopes and dreams, hobbies, whatever.
• 5:35
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, just to try to get to know them a little better.
• 5:39
  SPEAKER_00: So to get to know me.
• 5:41
  SPEAKER_00: Um, like I mentioned, I am a grad student in materials science and engineering.
• 5:46
  SPEAKER_00: Um, so I work in a lab and I do research.
• 5:49
  SPEAKER_00: Um, my research is on glass, uh, specifically for optical fiber and fiber lasers.
• 5:56
  SPEAKER_00: So I work in a lab, like I said, I operate big pieces of industrial machinery and make glass.
• 6:01
  SPEAKER_00: Um, we try to make fibers and lasers better uh by making an amount of cool stuff.
• 6:07
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I love science.
• 6:09
  SPEAKER_00: Uh the reason I'm in grad school is because I love science so much.
• 6:12
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and I want my career to be science heavy enough that it requires me to have a graduate degree.
• 6:19
  SPEAKER_00: Um and yeah.
• 6:23
  SPEAKER_00: Uh like I mentioned, I am from Clemson, South Carolina.
• 6:27
  SPEAKER_00: Lived here my whole life, um, which you know has some ups and downs.
• 6:31
  SPEAKER_00: It's a great place to grow up, um, great kind of small town family atmosphere.
• 6:37
  SPEAKER_00: Um, the university brings some really kind of unique opportunities and diversity to what would otherwise be uh middle of nowhere, South Carolina.
• 6:47
  SPEAKER_00: So cool place.
• 6:48
  SPEAKER_00: I almost didn't go to Clemson University as a student because I lived here my whole life and I kind of wanted to get out, explore something new.
• 6:57
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I guess part of me kind of still regrets not doing that, but I've been a Clemson fan my whole life.
• 7:03
  SPEAKER_00: I've, you know, can count on both hands how many Clemson home football games I've missed in my life.
• 7:09
  SPEAKER_00: Uh so um it would have been hard to leave.
• 7:12
  SPEAKER_00: And also money talks.
• 7:15
  SPEAKER_00: And I that, you know, all that scholarship money, hard to turn down.
• 7:18
  SPEAKER_00: So um I'm here, and luckily it's turned out uh well.
• 7:24
  SPEAKER_00: Living as a college student in Clemson is pretty different from living as a community member in Clemson.
• 7:29
  SPEAKER_00: So I've had a good time.
• 7:30
  SPEAKER_00: Um and getting to know people from all over the place that aren't from here uh made me realize how much cool Clemson stuff I was taking for granted.
• 7:38
  SPEAKER_00: And so um I've learned to enjoy it.
• 7:42
  SPEAKER_00: Also, having all of the professors be people that I know from the community or like my friends' parents or whatever has uh some kind of fun privilege to it too.
• 7:52
  SPEAKER_00: Also, I told myself I would go somewhere else for grad school, and obviously that didn't work out.
• 7:59
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but again, I think it's for the best.
• 8:01
  SPEAKER_00: I the reason I decided to stay here at Clemson for grad school is because I got um connected with Dr.
• 8:07
  SPEAKER_00: John Bellato, um, one of those professors that I knew uh from being a community member in Clemson.
• 8:12
  SPEAKER_00: Um Dr.
• 8:13
  SPEAKER_00: Balato is a great scientist and hard worker, and he's built a really great team with a lot of great uh resources here at Clemson, and uh we get to, you know, be essentially the best in the world at what we do and do some really awesome research that will uh hopefully make the world better.
• 8:32
  SPEAKER_00: So it turned out that the opportunity was just too good to turn down, and so I'm still here.
• 8:38
  SPEAKER_00: Uh in my free time, I really like playing games, video games, especially board games.
• 8:44
  SPEAKER_00: Uh I'm big into, I guess, frisbee sports.
• 8:47
  SPEAKER_00: I play a lot of Ultimate Frisbee and disc golf.
• 8:49
  SPEAKER_00: I'd say disc golf is probably the hobby that I put the most energy into at the moment.
• 8:56
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but I guess if there's, you know, I I'm open to pretty much any hobby.
• 9:01
  SPEAKER_00: I'm interested in pretty much everything.
• 9:03
  SPEAKER_00: Uh there's one thing you want to know about me, it's that I guess my real hobby is learning about hobbies.
• 9:09
  SPEAKER_00: Um maybe there's a little ADHD in that, but um I love talking strategy, you know, listening to people who are really good at uh different hobbies, talk about the best way to do them or what the best strategy is or form, or uh I always like doing uh things the best.
• 9:29
  SPEAKER_00: So I guess I'm kind of a jack of all trades, master of none, but I guess my life goal is kind of to be a jack of all trades, master of everything.
• 9:37
  SPEAKER_00: But that doesn't really work out for me all that often.
• 9:42
  SPEAKER_00: Outside of Wesley, uh as a student, I guess things I was involved in most was student government, uh definitely more so as an undergraduate than a graduate student.
• 9:53
  SPEAKER_00: Um but I love student government.
• 9:54
  SPEAKER_00: I love getting to meet all these people who really care about the university, are really involved in a bunch of things.
• 10:00
  SPEAKER_00: Um, a lot of, you know, everyone from different majors and stuff that I wouldn't have met otherwise.
• 10:05
  SPEAKER_00: Um I love kind of getting to see a little bit behind the scenes of how the university works and getting to advocate for students and try to make everyone's lives uh a little bit better while they're here.
• 10:17
  SPEAKER_00: Then I guess somewhere in these interviews, I'm doing will kind of transition into Wesley.
• 10:22
  SPEAKER_00: Um always got tied back to Wesley, right?
• 10:24
  SPEAKER_00: It's a Wesley podcast.
• 10:26
  SPEAKER_00: So I've been in Wesley now for six years.
• 10:30
  SPEAKER_00: Um I got started in Wesley because uh, well, of course, I grew up in Clemson.
• 10:36
  SPEAKER_00: Uh my family did not attend CUMC, but when I was a teenager, uh, CUMC had by far the best youth group in town.
• 10:44
  SPEAKER_00: Um, due mostly to their phenomenal youth minister at the time, Jad Taylor, um, one of my heroes.
• 10:50
  SPEAKER_00: He's great.
• 10:51
  SPEAKER_00: Um when I talk about, you know, wanting to be uh Jack of all trades, master of everything, that's who Jad Taylor was.
• 10:59
  SPEAKER_00: Uh he was phenomenal at everything.
• 11:00
  SPEAKER_00: He could talk to anyone about anything and make you feel like you were the coolest person in the world.
• 11:05
  SPEAKER_00: Um and he really had a big impact on my life, especially at the end of high school.
• 11:10
  SPEAKER_00: And so when I came to Clemson, he got me hooked up with Clemson Wesley and haven't looked back.
• 11:15
  SPEAKER_00: Uh Wesley's been a huge part of my college experience.
• 11:20
  SPEAKER_00: Um really, really great group, uh wholesome group of people that care about me a lot, um, that have you know supported me through everything in college, um, kept my faith, I guess, a big part of my life while I'm a student, and uh always trying to welcome more people in and grow together.
• 11:43
  SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, we're not always perfect at everything, but we're always striving to get better, and I really respect that.
• 11:49
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and I really want to kind of help that.
• 11:52
  SPEAKER_00: I've had great opportunities to lead in Wesley, especially like small groups.
• 11:58
  SPEAKER_00: I was a freshman small, or I guess freshly leader.
• 12:01
  SPEAKER_00: Um I led the men's ministry small group, had a great time with that.
• 12:06
  SPEAKER_00: I also have a great time uh at Wesley getting to play in the worship band.
• 12:11
  SPEAKER_00: Um, it's about the only time I get to play music anymore, and we have some phenomenal musicians here in Wesley, um, and I love getting to play with them.
• 12:19
  SPEAKER_00: Uh speaking of music, uh hopefully at the beginning of this episode you've heard an absolutely bangin' theme song.
• 12:25
  SPEAKER_00: Um I have some ideas, but and I have a uh a free version of Ableton that came with something I bought before.
• 12:32
  SPEAKER_00: Um, so I'm gonna try to figure something out with that, but I've never, I guess, composed music before.
• 12:38
  SPEAKER_00: So we'll see how that goes.
• 12:41
  SPEAKER_00: And now I'm trying this new thing, this uh podcast thing.
• 12:46
  SPEAKER_00: So, you know, bring this new uh type of ministry to Wesley.
• 12:51
  SPEAKER_00: So um I guess if you're asking uh Bailey, why did you want to make a podcast for Clemson Wesley?
• 12:58
  SPEAKER_00: Um, well, I guess to start off with, I just love podcasts.
• 13:03
  SPEAKER_00: Um I think podcasts are a really kind of unique form of media in that, like, I don't think a whole lot of people just sit down to listen to a podcast.
• 13:14
  SPEAKER_00: Um, usually do it while you're driving or or doing something else or something.
• 13:18
  SPEAKER_00: And I guess the the engineer in me kind of loves the uh efficiency of that multitasking.
• 13:24
  SPEAKER_00: Um but I also just think the uh kind of restriction of a podcast being just sound only is kind of a unique kind of limitation that kind of drives a lot of creativity.
• 13:35
  SPEAKER_00: And people come up with some really, really cool stuff on podcasts.
• 13:38
  SPEAKER_00: And then I guess, you know, being in the middle of a pandemic uh and being distant, it's kind of a uh way um that we can take our Wesley activities and kind of spread them out to people who can't physically meet together was also a a pretty big um kind of drive for me to make a podcast.
• 14:01
  SPEAKER_00: Um I won't go into, I guess, why, but if you're just curious as to why I like podcasts and want to know some great recommendations, I would suggest 99% invisible, uh Dear Hank and John, Reply All, Song Exploder, Armchair Expert, uh, and I especially love pretty much anything by the McElroy family.
• 14:21
  SPEAKER_00: Um, my brother, my brother, and me, AdventureZone, besties, etc., etc.
• 14:26
  SPEAKER_00: Um And so I had this idea um to make a podcast, uh, some selfish reasons for making this podcast as well.
• 14:35
  SPEAKER_00: Um I don't particularly think I'm super great at talking to people or making connections with people.
• 14:41
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and so this is kind of a way to force myself to practice that, um, get better at that.
• 14:47
  SPEAKER_00: A big part of grad school and my career ahead will be communicating with people um, with scientific information via presentations, reports, etc.
• 14:57
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and it's something that I would really, really like to get better at.
• 15:01
  SPEAKER_00: Um, like I mentioned with uh Jad Taylor being a big inspiration to me as youth minister, um he could talk to anyone and make them feel like they were the coolest person in the world.
• 15:10
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, and I'd really, really love that to be me.
• 15:12
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm not quite there yet, but maybe as we uh go through this podcast journey, I will kind of start working my way that direction.
• 15:21
  SPEAKER_00: And so um for those of you who are not familiar with Clemson Wesley, we have this mission statement.
• 15:29
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and it's it's a bit longer than this.
• 15:31
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I would really suggest you go check our website and read it.
• 15:34
  SPEAKER_00: Um, it gives you a big kind of overview of what Clemson Wesley is about, but we often abbreviate it on t-shirts and things to be all are welcome, treated like family, challenged to grow, and encouraged to love.
• 15:48
  SPEAKER_00: So I view this podcast is my ability to kind of spread the Wesley message and content to a larger audience, welcome more people in, um, give them kind of an intimate view into the people in Wesley and what we have going on in Wesley.
• 16:07
  SPEAKER_00: Um, so treat them like family.
• 16:09
  SPEAKER_00: And then it's a huge challenge for me uh because uh making a podcast is hard and I'm not good at it uh yet.
• 16:17
  SPEAKER_00: So um it's definitely a way for me to improve myself and challenge myself and encourage myself to hype other people up, uh, show you, show off all the awesome things our community have going on, love on them.
• 16:31
  SPEAKER_00: So that kind of challenge to grow and encourage to love.
• 16:34
  SPEAKER_00: And I hope to be able to share that or challenge uh the other people that come on the show and uh help me out with everything we have going on.
• 16:47
  SPEAKER_00: So that's all from me for now.
• 16:49
  SPEAKER_00: I'll keep it brief.
• 16:50
  SPEAKER_00: I'm sure you guys will be hearing way too much of me on this podcast, and I'm sure you'll learn more about me as I talk to all my great friends that come on the show.
• 17:00
  SPEAKER_00: And so I am going to end uh each of these episodes um with an opportunity for my guests to kind of promote themselves in whatever way they see fit.
• 17:13
  SPEAKER_00: Um so for all of you students that are listening uh who know me in real life, if you want to talk to me about some cool science thing you learned, or teach me about your hobby, or ask me questions about grad school, I would love to talk to you.
• 17:28
  SPEAKER_00: I know I'm kind of the weird old guy uh at Wesley uh being a grad student, but I promise I'm not scary, uh at least I hope not.
• 17:36
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and I would love to talk to you.
• 17:38
  SPEAKER_00: If you have any ideas for the podcast or feedback, or want to participate, or just don't know how else to contact me, then you can email podcast at ClemsonWesley.org.
• 17:49
  SPEAKER_00: And uh I'm really excited about uh where this podcast could go.
• 17:54
  SPEAKER_00: So I hope you enjoy all the future episodes of Humans of Wesley.
• 17:58
  SPEAKER_00: The Wesley Word is a production of the Clemson Wesley Foundation.
• 18:01
  SPEAKER_00: For more information about Clemson Wesley, check out our website or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
• 18:06
  SPEAKER_00: Until next time, get out there and love your neighbor.