Continuing Studies: Higher Ed Podcasting

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...

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 insp...

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 strateg...

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 lightheart...

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 t...

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 ed...

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...

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 teacher...

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 prog...

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...

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 Com...

A student-led podcast amplifying disabled students' voices in higher education. Tim Roe and Matthew Whiteman share the story behind One in Five , a podcast created by disabled students for disabled students. The name represents the one in five people in the UK who have a disability, and the show dives into their lived experiences navigating university life—from the application process to academic...

Uni Taster Days redefines university decisions with authentic student voices. Jon Cheek , founder of Uni Taster Days and co-host of The Uni Guide podcast, shares his journey of creating a go-to resource for UK students exploring university options. He reveals how his podcast evolved from focusing on parents and teachers to becoming a platform driven by students, for students—putting authentic voic...

The global impact of the Humanities Podcast Symposium and the future of scholarly podcasting. Rebecca Barry, coordinator of the Illinois Scholars at Risk Program and a passionate podcaster, joins the show to discuss the Humanities Podcast Network and its flagship event, the Humanities Podcast Symposium. Rebecca shares the network's mission to elevate podcasting as a scholarly medium and highlights...

Building a podcast network to unite voices and transform academia. Michelle Daniel shares her journey from podcasting skeptic to champion, detailing her work in creating the Texas Podcast Network at the University of Texas at Austin. Drawing on her experiences as a graduate student and musician, she recounts her unexpected entry into podcasting, driven by a desire to foster global connections thro...

How The Virginia Audio Collective fosters creativity, collaboration, and impactful storytelling. In part two of this episode, Mary Garner McGehee and Sage Tanguay discuss The Virginia Audio Collective at the University of Virginia, showcasing how a podcast network can thrive by combining creativity, community, and collaboration. With resources from WTJU community radio and a supportive infrastruct...

How traditional radio is evolving. Mary Garner McGehee and Sage Tanguay from the University of Virginia's WTJU and Virginia Audio Collective visit the Continuing Studies podcast to explore the evolving role of radio and podcasting in higher education. In part one of this two part episode, they share how WTJU, with its storied past in the punk rock scene, has transformed into a dynamic podcasting h...

Step into the world of podcast analytics and discover tools from Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. If you're a podcaster, understanding the differences between downloads, listens, and views is crucial. Focus on metrics like average consumption percentage and total listen time to get a clearer picture of your podcast's success. Find out how analytics can help you compare episode performance, re...

How The Poison Lab podcast brings together experts in the medical community. Dr. Ryan Feldman, clinical toxicologist and host of The Poison Lab podcast, delves into the power of podcasting to connect niche experts across fields and share critical insights into rare toxicology cases. Dr. Feldman discusses how his podcast bridges the gap between specialists in toxicology and a wider audience, offeri...

Can you tell a story through sound? Sam Harnett and Chris Hoff, creators of Ways of Knowing , discuss their journey of blending sound and academia in this captivating episode. Frustrated with the repetitive nature of public radio, they shifted focus to sound as a central storytelling tool, using it to evoke emotions and memories in ways traditional narratives can't. Their project, Ways of Knowing...

Website insights and essentials from Brenden Mulligan of Podpage. Brenden Mulligan, founder of Podpage, shares his journey from the music industry to podcasting, highlighting the importance of owning your platform through a dedicated podcast website. He discusses common mistakes podcasters make with their online presence, the value of SEO for improving discoverability, and the benefits of offering...

Intersection of video games and literary studies. Jason Boyd and Patrick Dolan from the Playable Stories: Unarchived podcast discuss their innovative approach to integrating video games into literary studies at Toronto Metropolitan University. They explore the Playable Stories Archive, a resource designed to help educators incorporate narrative-rich games into their courses, and explain the distin...

Creating Stanford GSB’s Flagship Podcast If/Then. "Why does it have to be a podcast?" Jenny Luna from Stanford Graduate School of Business returns to Continuing Studies to discuss the deliberate choices behind launching their flagship show, If/Then and why podcasting, among other communication channels, was the ideal platform to amplify the impactful research of Stanford GSB faculty. Jenny shares...

Happy Anniversary! Continuing Studies reflects on year one of the podcast. Neil and Jen celebrate one year of podcasting by sharing some of the lessons they've learned and the challenges they've overcome. They reflect on their conversations with higher education podcasters, sharing tips on consistency, flexibility, interview techniques, titling strategies, and the exciting possibilities of Podcast...

The intersection of gaming technologies with educational and social initiatives. Neil and Jen welcome Dr. Emma Vossen from the University of Waterloo's Games Institute on this episode of the Continuing Studies podcast. Dr. Vossen shares insights into her role as the Knowledge Mobilization and Research Impact Officer, detailing the interdisciplinary work of the Games Institute and its innovative ap...