Continuing Studies: Higher Ed Podcasting

How do you build a podcasting culture in higher ed? Don’t start with the equipment.

In this episode of Continuing Studies, Neil records live from Helix at the University of Leeds with Abigail Harrison Moore, Krissie Glover, and Kerr Hunter for the final conversation in our three-part series on research podcasting. After exploring participatory research with Abigail and production support with Krissie, in this episode they share how Helix supported and helped shape the Whose Power? project, and what makes a university podcast studio truly welcoming, useful, and accessible. The big takeaway: the best podcast spaces ar...

Can podcasting make teaching more human, more connected, and more effective?

In the second live episode from Higher Ed PodCon, Neil and Jen sit down with Rudy Salo, a lawyer, law professor, public transportation geek, and co-host of Good Is in the Details. Rudy explains how a philosophy podcast about everyday life, dialogue, and critical thinking found its way into the syllabus and how it's helping students see the person behind the professor, and why that human connection changes what happens in the classroom. They also get into Socrates, student trust, law school, and why Rudy says...

How do great hosts create conversations that feel purposeful, natural, and worth staying with?

In this episode of Continuing Studies, Neil and Jen sit down with Sophie White from EDUCAUSE live at Higher Ed PodCon to talk about the art of hosting. Drawing from her work on EDUCAUSE Shop Talk, Sophie shares how purpose can shape everything from guest selection to audience focus, and how hosts can create the conditions for more thoughtful, candid conversations. They also discuss co-host chemistry, managing multiple guests, balancing rigor with fun, helping nervous guests feel at ease, and why podcasts can...

How do you turn a research idea into a podcast that is clear, credible, and actually doable?

In part two of our three-part series on how collaborative research podcasts get made, Neil and Jen talk with Krissie Brighty-Glover from Research Podcasts about the process they use to bring academic audio to life. Part one explored a real research podcast from the academic’s perspective; this episode looks at the production side, from shaping the initial idea to supporting funding applications, training researchers, booking guests, editing, distribution, and accessibility. They also get into the “beauty and the beast” of pod...

How can academics make their ideas easier to find, more engaging, and harder to misrepresent?

In this episode of Continuing Studies, Neil and Jen dig into the podcast, Archaeology Books for Fun with hosts Tristan Harrenstein and Barbara Clark. Barbara and Tristan excavate the ways they've used their podcast to reach an audience segment they were missing in their other public education programs, using a book club format, non-academic texts, playful branding, and eye-catching artwork. Take a listen to unearth practical tips on building a niche podcast, making expert knowledge approachable, and giving academics...

After 300+ interviews with Stanford experts, Russ Altman knows how to turn complex ideas into conversations people actually want to follow.

In this episode of Continuing Studies, Neil and Jen talk with Russ, host of The Future of Everything, about the craft behind engaging expert interviews. Russ shares how he keeps highly technical conversations clear and fun, why he sees himself as the “jargon police,” and how curiosity can be more useful than trying to know everything in the room. They also get into his practical interview strategies, from preparing “emergency topics”, to using a mid-interview break to refocus...

How can podcasting become more than a way to share research—and actually become part of the research itself?

In this episode of Continuing Studies, Neil and Jen talk with Abigail Harrison Moore from the University of Leeds about Whose Power, a podcast project created with the Preservative Party, a group of young curators at Leeds City Museum. Abigail shares how the project uses podcasting as a participatory research space—one built around trust, consent, listening, and shared authorship.

The conversation explores how podcasting can help break down gatekeeping in museums and academia, why audio can...

How can a podcast use academic research to help us make sense of today’s news?

Neil and Jen talk with Gemma Ware, head of audio at The Conversation UK and host/co-producer of The Conversation Weekly, about how the show brings academic expertise into the news cycle through narrative-produced audio. Gemma shares how The Conversation pairs academic rigour with journalistic flair, helping researchers explain complex ideas in a way that’s clear, accessible, and useful for a general audience.

The conversation also digs into the craft behind the show: structuring episodes around the question “How di...

25 years ago, MIT made a bold choice: share our knowledge with the world, free of charge. Eventually, out of this, Chalk Radio was born as one tool of MIT's OpenCourseWare to deliver that knowledge. 

In this episode, Neil and Jen talk with Brett Paci, producer of the Chalk Radio podcast and Assistant Director of Media Production at MIT OpenCourseWare, about how that mission has evolved over 20+ years. From static course materials, to YouTube lectures, to short-form clips, to narrative audio, and now to full podcast and video formats. What makes their approach stand out is that it’s n...

What are the core skills that make a great podcast host? Before podcasting, there was broadcasting, and there’s still a lot to learn from it.

This week, Neil and Jen go back to school, well, Jen's school that is. They head to BCIT’s broadcasting studios to host Jen’s former instructors, Kathryn Stewart and Kevin Ribble, now co-hosts of Ignite My Voice. Kat and Kevin share what podcast hosts can learn from broadcast training, using your breath to manage nerves on the mic, how to keep an audience engaged, storytelling & listening, and letting go of impost...

What does it take to turn rigorous scientific research into stories millions of people actually want to listen to?

This week, Neil and Jen sit down with Blythe Terrell, executive editor of Science Vs., to learn how one of the world’s most popular science podcasts blends deep research, narrative storytelling, and a bit of humour to reach millions of listeners. Science Vs. certainly doesn't opt for the path of least resistance, Blythe walks Jen & Neil through the realities of making a weekly narrative show and their extensive fact-checking and citation practices.

The conversation also ex...

How can podcasting bring diverse voices and forms of academic work to a larger audience?

Neil and Jen sit down with Will Brehm, creator of FreshEd, to talk about how a decade of academic podcasting has evolved from a simple interview show into a broader platform for research, storytelling, and new voices. Will shares how FreshEd grew into a multi-show network, why moving beyond English-language content matters, and what he’s learned experimenting with formats like narrative series and audio journals.

The conversation digs into bigger questions, too: what it would take for po...

Can you actually study podcasting at university—and does it lead to a career?

Neil and Jen talk with Chloe Sackur and Max’ed Aadan, recent graduates of the MA in Podcasting program at City St. George’s, University of London, about what it’s really like to learn podcasting in a university setting. They share how the program blends technical training, storytelling, pitching, and industry placements—and how that hands-on approach helped them move directly into podcasting careers. From a Spotify scholarship to producing a UN podcast series and industry roles after, Chloe and Max walk throu...

What happens when a classroom podcast turns into peer-reviewed scholarship, an AI teaching tool, and its own academic platform?

When Dave Keighron and Dr. Gelareh Farhadian first launched Innovation Fuel, the goal was simple: bring real entrepreneurial stories into the business classroom. Five years later, that idea has grown into something much bigger.

In this episode, Neil and Jen catch up with Dave and Gelareh to talk about how their podcast evolved into published peer-reviewed podcast episodes and papers, and now an AI-powered classroom tool called Innovation Fuel Studio. They share how they’re turning po...

As universities face pressure to evolve, podcasting is emerging as an unexpected catalyst and channel for change.

Carola Boehm first caught Neil’s attention with her EPOD abstract suggesting the ivory tower might be starting to crack — a bold (and maybe slightly controversial) take that kicked off this conversation about how podcasting is reshaping the way knowledge gets created and shared in higher education. So this week, Carola “schools” Neil and Jen on her “University 3.0” idea — universities losing their place as the sole gatekeepers of knowledge toward more open, collaborative learning spaces — and what podcasting has to do with that shi...

A thoughtful look at how podcasting is expanding the ways academic work is created and shared.

Jim Ambuske, historian and producer, is back to share his thoughts on where audio is going in the academic world and what it’s going to take to have it recognized as a scholarly medium. Jim gets into his new work on the In Pursuit project, what he’s seeing in the world of digital archives and oral history, and why he believes audio and video are important ways to share academic work beyond the page. They also dig into the real...

Start your 2026 inspired and ready for what’s next in higher ed podcasting—straight from the people building it.

What’s ahead for higher ed podcasting in 2026? This episode rounds up predictions from creators and educators around the world, spotlighting the trends shaping the year ahead. Hear why podcasting may gain more academic credibility, how universities could lean on audio as a PR and outreach channel, and why short mini-series and binge-drop formats are on the rise. The conversation also explores a major shift toward research storytelling that highlights process (not just results), the growing role of podcas...

The evolution of Think Fast, Talk Smart and what it teaches higher ed about communication and connection.

To close out the year, Continuing Studies revisits one of its most popular episodes — the first-ever live recording from the inaugural Higher Ed PodCon in Chicago. In this special conversation, Matt Abrahams, Stanford GSB lecturer and host of the globally acclaimed podcast Think Fast, Talk Smart, shares the remarkable evolution of his show — from its early DIY production with his sons to becoming the #1 careers podcast worldwide.
With more than 68 million plays across 125 countries, Matt reflects on building comm...

How podcasting fits into modern scholarship and the evolving goals of higher education.

Barry Lam—philosopher, professor, and creator of the acclaimed narrative podcast Hi-Phi Nation — joins the show to explore how audio storytelling can bridge the worlds of scholarly research and public engagement. This wide-ranging conversation traces the evolution of narrative academic podcasts, the craft behind building compelling audio stories, and how philosophy can come alive when paired with documentary-style narrative. The discussion also uncovers the shifting landscape within academia—where traditional scholarly outputs like monographs still dominate—and how podcasting is beginning to challenge those norms. H...

How a podcast amplifies Black voices and their journeys of excellence at UIC.

Dr. Aisha El-Amin, Executive Associate Vice Provost of Student Success and Belonging at the University of Illinois Chicago, reflects on the power of storytelling to create belonging, visibility, and momentum for students. She shares how the Black Excellence Podcast began as a 28-day project and grew into an award-winning platform that helps students see themselves in the stories of alumni, faculty, and peers. Aisha also opens up about her own journey—from military service to teaching to higher-ed leadership—and how authentic conversations can...

How a college podcast network builds community across the campus.

Ryan Record, Podcast Network Manager at Howard Community College, shares how Dragon Media Podcasts evolved from a digital radio station into a thriving, community-driven podcast network. He discusses building a diverse slate of shows spanning student life, literature, film, and public health—each designed to connect campus and community voices. Ryan reflects on leadership transitions, creative collaboration, and the importance of vetting new shows with educational and community value in mind. He also offers practical advice for building a podcast network from the ground up, gaining institutional su...

A strategic new content pillar from Knowledge at Wharton, extending the brand’s reach through podcasting.

Dee Patel, Director of Content in Wharton’s Marketing and Communications department, shares how her team transformed the school’s long-standing Knowledge at Wharton brand into a new podcast network designed to make faculty research more accessible. Drawing on her background in broadcasting, Dee explains how the initiative evolved from a single show, Ripple Effect, into a growing network featuring programs like This Week in Business, Marketing Matters, Moneyball, and Where AI Works. With strategic focus and creative collab...

How a campus network bridges broadcast and podcast to engage students.

At BYU Radio, podcasting is reshaping how students and educators share stories of faith, creativity, and connection. Senior producer Heather Bigley offers an inside look at how a traditional university radio network transitioned toward a podcast-first model—empowering students to produce their own shows, experiment with storytelling formats, and reach audiences far beyond campus. From the interfaith conversations of In Good Faith to the youth-driven energy of Take a Leap, the conversation explores how hands-on learning, collaboration, and digital innovation are transforming higher ed media. Heather di...

A campus podcast that is a stage for student voices, faculty wisdom, and the spirit of community.

Dr. Greg Pillar shares how The Bulldog Mindset podcast grew from an idea into a thriving campus podcast that amplifies the voices of students, faculty, and the broader Gardner-Webb community. Through thoughtful preparation, creative questions, and a commitment to authentic conversation, he reflects on lessons learned from the first season, the importance of consistency, and the surprising ways podcasting builds confidence and connection. His insights reveal how a single show can capture the energy of academic life while leaving a...

How a higher ed leader built a podcast on her own terms.

Sarah Holtan, Assistant Provost of Academic Affairs at Carroll University and creator of Get Down to College Business, shares her journey as a “lone wolf” podcaster building a show outside of institutional walls. She discusses the advantages and challenges of separating her passion project from her day job, the legal and practical steps she took to protect her work, and the lessons she’s learned about setting goals, building her network, and sustaining momentum. With insights on ownership, consistency, and professional growth, this c...

A student-teacher collaboration driving a podcast that answers real college questions and empowers students and families.

Dr. Catherine Ross, professor of English at the University of Texas at Tyler and host of Ask Dr. Ross, shares her journey into podcasting and how she uses it to demystify higher education for students and parents alike. Alongside her co-host and producer, Ashley Worley, Dr. Ross tackles pressing questions about preparing for college, avoiding debt, and thriving academically while challenging common misconceptions about university life. They discuss the evolving role of podcasting in education, the power of storytelling to bridge...

From broadcasting to academia, using podcasting to make research and teaching accessible.

Former CBC producer and journalist Jeff Goodes shares his journey from public broadcasting to the world of higher education podcasting, offering insights on using podcasts as powerful tools for connection, storytelling, and learning. Drawing on his experience with shows like White Coat, Black Art and his work with institutions such as McMaster University, Jeff discusses how podcasts can demystify academic paths, humanize professors, and make research more accessible to students and the public. From leveraging podcasting for teaching, community building, and even fundraising, to understanding...

How podcasting reshapes journalism through multilingual co-productions and academic collaboration.

Marta Perrotta, Associate Professor at Roma Tre University and director of Roma Tre Radio, shares how podcasting is reshaping journalism, education, and cross-cultural storytelling. From her leadership in the WePod project—a European Commission-funded initiative producing multilingual investigative podcasts—to her academic work exploring podcasting’s journalistic potential, Marta offers deep insight into the power of sound media. She also highlights her recent podcast uncovering the forgotten stories of trailblazing women in Italian radio, and reflects on how podcasting can bridge trust gaps, engage young audiences, and challe...

Matt Abrahams, host of the globally acclaimed podcast Think Fast, Talk Smart, joins the Continuing Studies podcast in this special live episode recorded at the inaugural Higher Ed PodCon. With over 68 million plays and a reach across 125 countries, Matt shares the origin story of his show, the creative evolution behind its massive growth, and the lessons he's learned on building community, experimenting with video, leveraging AI, and staying relentlessly audience-focused. From DIY beginnings with his sons to launching "Chat Matt" and planning multilingual expansions, this candid conversation is packed with insights for anyone passionate about higher ed podcasting and...

How formal education is transforming podcasting into a professional, industry-ready craft.

Brett Spencer, senior lecturer in podcasting at City St. George's, University of London, shares how his innovative master’s program is bridging the gap between podcasting education and industry demands. With deep experience from the BBC and Spiritland Productions, Brett unpacks the practical skills students need—from media law and pitching to production and promotion—and why podcasting is more than just making a show. He also discusses groundbreaking projects like broadcasting podcasts live to cinemas and partnering with the UN, all while emphasizing the power of rel...

How Great Pods is transforming podcast discovery with critic-driven reviews and smarter categorization.

Imran Ahmed—better known as “Captain Ron”—founder of Great Pods, a platform dubbed the “Rotten Tomatoes for podcasts,” joins Neil and Jen to unpack how curated, critic-led reviews are reshaping podcast discovery. Imran shares his journey from college radio to startup founder, revealing the inspiration behind Great Pods and the importance of trust, transparency, and accurate genre tagging. The conversation dives into how higher education podcasters can better position their shows, improve discoverability, and benefit from tools like Great Pods to reach wider audiences. W...

AI Jen and Neil preview Higher Ed PodCon, where campus podcasters unite to explore the future of educational audio.

Neil and Jennifer-Lee hand the mic to their AI counterparts to preview the very first Higher Ed PodCon—a brand-new conference built specifically for podcasters and digital media creators in higher education. AI Jen and AI Neil walk through what to expect: standout sessions on strategic communication, multimedia content strategies, and budget-friendly podcast production, with insights from leaders at Stanford, Purdue, and more. With over 40 speakers and representation from 25+ institutions, PodCon marks a major milestone for the campus po...

How two science-savvy professors turned stats and storytelling into a compelling educational podcast.

Kristin Sainani and Regina Nuzzo—co-hosts of Normal Curves: Sexy Science, Serious Statistics—join Neil McPhedran and Jennifer-Lee to celebrate the 50th episode of Continuing Studies. Kristin and Regina share the story behind launching their podcast, which blends scientific rigor with lighthearted storytelling to make complex topics like epidemiology and statistics approachable and fun. They reflect on how their long friendship, backgrounds in journalism, and love of teaching shaped the show’s voice and format. From managing remote production across time zones to naviga...

How Purdue’s podcast expanded its reach with strategic use of video, SEO, and timely content planning.

Kate Young returns to Continuing Studies to share how Purdue’s This Is Purdue podcast has grown from an alumni-focused show into a wide-reaching content hub. She breaks down the strategic shift toward video, the role of short-form clips across platforms like YouTube and Instagram, and how her team uses SEO and timely relevance to plan episodes. Kate also reveals how AI supports their prep process, and previews her upcoming talk at Higher Ed PodCon, offering practical insig...

An update on the Higher Ed PodCon—where higher education podcasters will come together to connect, learn, and grow

Neil McPhedran and Jennifer-Lee are joined by Gregg Oldring, original producer of the Continuing Studies podcast and creator of the Higher Ed Pods Directory, to share an inside look at the upcoming Higher Ed PodCon, happening July 12th in Chicago. Designed specifically for higher education podcasters, this inaugural one-day event features keynote speaker Matt Abrahams and three focused tracks on strategy, content, and tech tools. The trio discusses how the conference is tailored to the real-world challenges of hi...

R2 Studios on turning serious history into compelling podcasts.

Jeanette Patrick and Jim Ambuske of R2 Studios join the Continuing Studies podcast to discuss the intersection of history, storytelling, and podcasting. They share how R2 Studios was founded with a mission to democratize history through engaging audio content, supported by academic rigor and creative production. From the challenges of building a podcast network within a university setting to the importance of funding, audience development, and cross-promotion, this conversation offers a candid look at what it takes to create compelling educational podcasts. Jeanette and Jim also reflect on...

What if professional development was as accessible as your favorite podcast?

Dr. Lindsay Persohn shares her experience as a literacy scholar, podcast host, and educator using audio to transform professional learning and classroom engagement. From founding Classroom Caffeine to launching innovative “pod clubs,” she reveals how podcasting can make research more relatable, foster autonomy for teachers, and support asynchronous, differentiated learning. With examples from her teaching and research, she demonstrates how storytelling deepens understanding, builds connection, and opens up new possibilities for integrating podcasts into academic and professional spaces.

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The future of journalism, podcasting’s role in education, and the challenge of misinformation in digital media.

Carl Hartley, a journalism lecturer at the University of Leeds and a BBC Five Live journalist, delves into the rapidly changing world of journalism education and the increasing role of digital media in shaping the industry. He shares insights on how universities are adapting their programs to equip students with multimedia skills, from traditional broadcasting to podcast production and social media storytelling. Carl outlines the growing concerns around misinformation in podcasting, the debate over potential regulation, and the responsibility of co...

Turning historical research into immersive audio storytelling.

Daniel Story, a digital scholarship librarian at UC Santa Cruz, discusses his work in digital storytelling and podcasting as a scholarly medium. He shares insights into Stories from the Epicenter, a ten-part documentary on the 1989 Santa Cruz earthquake, and History in Focus, a podcast from the American Historical Review that brings historical scholarship to life. The conversation explores the power of narrative storytelling in academia, the role of podcasts in making scholarly work more accessible, and the importance of community engagement in historical research. The discussion highlights the role of...

A university podcast exploring what happens if we change, and what happens if we don’t?

Monash University’s What Happens Next podcast, hosted by Dr. Susan Carland, takes on bold and complex issues, exploring the challenges shaping our world and the transformative solutions that could redefine our future. In this episode, Dr. Carland and Fabian Marrone, Monash’s Chief Marketing, Admissions, and Communications Officer, discuss the university’s approach to tackling “wicked problems” through podcasting. Together, they share the power of storytelling, academic freedom, and the impact of high-quality production in engaging a global audience. From climate chan...