With the holiday season in full swing, CU Boulder experts can speak with media about a wide range of holiday-related topics.

On the holiday blues: June Gruber, an assistant professor in the department of psychology and neuroscience, can discuss what drives depression and anxiety around the holidays and how to beat it. Her research suggests that striving too hard for happiness can have its downsides and that “emotional diversity” is often the best recipe for mental health.
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On music and caroling: Thomas Riis, director emeritus of the American Music Research Center, can discuss the role of music and caroling during the holiday season. Riis says the carol originated as a dance song, and he traces the origins of modern door-to-door caroling to the 19th century. Download audio here.
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On shopping tips: Donnie Lichtenstein, a marketing professor in the Leeds School of Business who has studied holiday sales for decades, can discuss how to get the best deals and avoid picking bad gifts. Download soundbites for TV or audio clips for radio
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On worship in the digital age: Stewart Hoover, director of the Center for Media, Religion and Culture can discuss how digital technologies like Bible apps, confession apps, virtual pilgrimages and digital prayer mats have changed the way people worship. 
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On the promise and perils of “smart” gifts: Computer Science Professor Dan Massey can discuss the potential pitfalls of internet-enabled gifts like smart speakers and home security cameras and what consumers can do to keep them from being hacked. Prior to joining CU Boulder, Massey was a program manager in the Cybersecurity Division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where he focused on cybersecurity for automobiles, medical devices and building controls.  

On the history of Christmas and Hanukkah: Samuel L. Boyd is an assistant professor in Religious Studies and the Program for Jewish Studies with an expertise in the Bible, ancient Judaism, and ancient Christianity. He can discuss the origins and early history of Christmas and Hanukkah.