Pod-Tone 292

Getting into Columbia is hard. Getting into its top finance clubs? Even harder. So what determines who gets in? What do these organizations do? And why is membership so coveted? Spectator audio reporter Antara Kshirsagar spoke to three finance club leaders about their ultra-competitive recruitment process, internal organization, and exclusive social networks that contribute to their professional g...

Walking through one’s college campus can evoke many memories. For this NSOP edition of Pod-Tone-292, Amelia Harris, BC ’25, and Rohan Soni, CC ’25, joined Spectator on a walk around Columbia, where they shared their college stories and advice for incoming Columbia students. Credits: • Reported by Melina Nath and Namya Manghnani • Edited by Luisa Sukkar • Produced by Melina Nath • Music from Eva Sc...

In this election edition of Pod-Tone 292, reporters Luisa Sukkar and Nicole Sandrik-Arzadi speak with the treasurer of Columbia Democrats, the largest political organization at Columbia University. They discuss uncommitted voters, the factors influencing students’ decisions to vote this election cycle, and the organization’s strategies to increase voter turnout. ​​ Credits • Edited by Sophia Cordo...

Embark on a journey underground with Columbia students sharing their subway escapades! In this episode of Pod-tone 292 , reporter Kelly Warner interviews Columbia students about their interesting subway experiences. ​​ Credits • Edited by Sophia Cordoba • Produced by Eesha Ramanathan & Claire Schnatterbeck • Music by Matthew Lucia & Eva Scholz-Carlson • Illustration by Conner Sud Follow us...

Navigating the transition to Columbia’s campus can pose challenges for its approximately 838 new transfer students annually. In this episode of the Pod-Tone 292 Miniseries “Columbia Crash Course,” host Nicole Sandrik-Arzadi welcomes six Columbia transfer students to share their experiences with prospective and incoming transfers. ​​ Credits • Edited by Lara-Nour Walton and Sophia Cordoba • Produce...

Since fall 2023, JJ’s Place has been open near-daily for 22 hours. This leaves plenty of time for fascinating conversations, from the students searching for post-party snacks to those who need fuel for study. Join Reporter Luisa Sukkar in hearing their stories from 9:30 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. Credits • Edited by Sophia Cordoba • Produced by Julia Hay • Music by Murat Gulcelik • Illustration by Conner S...

In this special Homecoming episode of Pod-Tone 292, senior staff reporter Alicia Theologides Rodriguez sits down with Columbia and Barnard students to uncover their feelings about school spirit. Are these Lions ready to roar at football games? Or would they rather find community in other ways? ​​ Credits • Script Edited by Claire Schnatterbeck • Produced by Julia Hay • Music by Murat Gulcelik • Il...

For this LGBTQ History Month special episode, reporter Natalie Goldberg highlights The Bush, New York City’s newest lesbian bar. Following up from last year’s “The Last Lesbian Locales in New York City,” Natalie reflects on the importance of queer bars as spaces for both fun and community building. ​​ Credits • Edited by Claire Schnatterbeck • Produced by Natalie Goldberg • Music by Eva Scholz-Car...

Columbia seeks to better students’ minds, but does it really? Columbia is rooted in an academically and socially rigorous culture that pervades all aspects of daily life and can be straining to students’ mental health—and it needs to be talked about more. What are the mental health experiences of Columbia students? In this episode of Pod-Tone 292, reporter Kelly Warner explores these questions. ​​...

International students face a variety of challenges, from adapting to different educational styles, to confronting language and cultural barriers, but navigating visa concerns is perhaps the most daunting. Audio reporter Abby Thayananthan speaks to four international students to understand some of the challenges they face and their experiences as international students considering their future. ​​...

Living in New York City, Columbia students are surrounded by vibrant and plentiful nightlife opportunities—but at a price. Going out and even staying in can get costly, prohibiting students from socializing in certain circles and spaces. In this Pod-Tone 292 episode, reporter Andrew Kirdahy speaks with Columbia students about the socioeconomic boundaries in their social lives. This episode was pro...

Every once in a while, there is a great professor who is not only able to teach content but able to demonstrate how to meaningfully engage with it. In this episode of the Pod-Tone 292 series “Office Hour,” reporter Aliza Abusch-Magder explores the pedagogy of professor George Chauncey, known for his pioneering work on queer U.S. history. Through talking with his students, we learn about what makes...

In the second episode of “The Grownups are Talking,” reporter Abby Thayananthan, CC ’24, invites Narayan Kini, CC ’24 , and Maya Nalawade, CC ’24, to reflect on their experiences working over the summer. In many ways, interning over the summer involves adapting to a lifestyle that is very foreign to us as college students but very normal to adults. We learned that adulting requires skills such as...

In this episode of the Pod-Tone 292 series “Fake Names, Real Love,” host Natalie Goldberg interviews “Sarah,” a junior at Barnard, about the particular difficulties of feeling unwelcome in queer spaces as a result her relationship with her current boyfriend. They delve into topics like internal versus external validation, how unique it is that Columbia can feel like a place where being gay is the...

As the summer of 2022 waned, reporter Lilienne Shore Kilgore-Brown invited fellow Columbia students to call her on Spectator’s new late-night call line, Sleepless Somewhere. Their conversations drifted from discussions of magic grandmothers to the ethereal blue color of glaciers and reminded us of the quiet beauty and intimacy that our slowed down, sleepy moments can hold. This episode was produce...

In this special episode of Pod-Tone 292, reporters Natalie Goldberg and Avery Reed document the last lesbian locales left in New York City for LGBTQ History Month. They speak with Columbia and Barnard students about their opinions on and experiences in these establishments. They also reflect on our city’s rich queer history and why we need to preserve queer spaces and prioritize queer joy. This ep...

Professors can make or break a class, and sometimes can even make your college experience. There are a number of highly esteemed professors at Columbia and Barnard who have developed cult followings of students. So who are the magnetic personalities shaping our community culture and their fields of study? Why have they gained traction? How did they become the person they are known as? What influen...

As college students, we’re approaching the weird and wonderful period of our lives that is adulthood. But the label “adult” is one that carries so much weight and we are often afraid to assign it to ourselves. In this episode of “The grownups are talking,” reporter Abby Thayananthan invites fellow students and young “adults” Ruby Lark Mendelsund and Anna Olivia Sommer to share their personal stori...

In this episode of the Pod-Tone 292 series “Fake Names, Real Love,” host Natalie Goldberg interviews “Jamie,” a Columbia College sophomore, about being outed to her conservative Catholic parents during her first relationship with a woman. She describes the imbalance of desire within her relationship, the extreme reaction that her parents had after finding out she was a lesbian, and her take on dat...

In this episode of the Pod-Tone 292 series “Fake Names, Real Love,” host Natalie Goldberg interviews “James,” a Columbia College sophomore, about what hooking up with his boarding school roommate taught him about his own sexuality. He describes the buildup to the moment and the covert hands in a dark room, and plays up the scandal—they were both in long-term relationships with women. In listening...

In this episode of the Pod-Tone 292 series “Fake Names, Real Love,” host Natalie Goldberg interviews “Serena,” a Columbia College junior, about her experience dating an older man she met on Seeking Arrangement. Serena tells us about the extravagant dates that he takes her on, the benefits of dating older men, and whether or not “daddy issues” play a role in her dating preferences. In listening to...

In this episode of the Pod-Tone 292 series “Fake Names, Real Love,” host Natalie Goldberg interviews Georgia, a sophomore at Barnard, about her recent experience getting ghosted. Georgia discusses how her parental trauma and abandonment issues inform the way that she interacts with men, and offers a fascinating perspective on how to deal with losing someone you care about. This episode contains me...

While Columbia students were stuck at home because of the pandemic during the past year, many had to turn to the Internet for meeting new friends and engaging with the Columbia community. As campus opens back up, friends are reuniting for the first time in person. In this episode of Pod-Tone 292, host Claire Schnatterbeck explores the question: Are these online connections translatable to the offl...

Overwhelmed by the prospect of joining clubs and activities at Columbia? Then this is the podcast for you! In this episode of the Pod-Tone 292 miniseries Columbia Crash Course, host Avery Reed, BC ’24, brings on a variety of Columbia students to discuss how to navigate the school’s daunting club scene. Credits: • Hosted by Avery Reed • Produced by Sam Hyman • Music by Matthew Lucia • Illustration...

Craving a good slice of pizza? How about the best slice of pizza? Host Sam Hyman brings on Michael Sepulveda to talk about the finest pizza joints both near campus and in New York City. Credits: • Hosted by Sam Hyman • Produced by Sam Hyman • Music by Matthew Lucia • Illustration by Carlos Ochoa