YDN Podcast Desk

Host Amiya Vashi speaks to Yale English professors and students about what it means to tell a story through creative writing. This episode uncovers the way Yale preserves the tradition of storytelling through the popular class English 1020. As a literary essay class that centers on personal narrative, how does it strengthen students’ ability to write, communicate and engage? Guests: Jennifer Stock...

Host Esmeralda Vasquez-Fernandez speaks to psychiatrist Paul Desan about Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as SAD. As Yale students hunkered down over the Fall and early Spring due to extreme cold and snow days, Desan delves into the science behind how weather changes and the winter darkness affects our moods. Desan also shares strategies for coping during these periods, and Vasquez-Fernande...

In this episode, Amiya Vashi ’29 speaks to Jeremy Oldfield, Farm Manager of Field Academics at the Yale Farm. The Yale Farm and greater Yale Sustainable Food Program, YSFP, are integral parts of the Yale community, providing spaces for not only agricultural work but also food systems learning. This episode will cover what the YSFP brings to Yale, as well as ways to get involved.  Guests: Jeremy Ol...

Host Esmeralda Vasquez-Fernandez will be talking about veganism at Yale and the group responsible for tabling across campus - the Allied Scholars For Animal Protection. Vasquez-Fernandez sits down with the Yale Chapter President Hannah Owens Pierre ’28, and Events Coordinator Allie Ruiz ’28 to discuss the organization and their tabling strategies. Vasquez-Fernandez also goes out on the field to ga...

This episode uncovers the varied experiences and challenges of transfer students when making their shift to Yale. Host Esmeralda Vasquez-Fernandez sits down with Hana Tilksew ’28, Armando Encinas ’28 and Danielle Kabboul ’28 who share their transfer journeys thus far. They also discuss the opportunities they are delving into on Campus and the mix of reactions they receive from other students when...

Evelyn Jiang ’26, a former Production & Design Editor at the News, and Maxwell Kiekhofer ’26 are frocos in Silliman College and Morse College respectively. Listen in as host Joanne Lee ’26 talks with Evelyn and Maxwell about their experiences as frocos, reflect on their time at Yale, and offer advice to Yale’s Class of 2029. Edited and Hosted by Joanne Lee, produced by Andre Fa'aoso.

Steven Rourick '27, a sophomore in Silliman, is best known as the "Taylor Swift guy" for singing Taylor Swift songs as he walks around campus. Join us as host Xavier Guaracha '25 talks with Steven about the origins of his music walks, his relationship with Taylor Swift's music, and the current musical landscape. Producers: Xavier Guaracha '25 and Joanne Lee '26 Music:...

Ivana Ramirez ’25 is a member of Whim and Rhythm and the group's rush manager. Join us for an episode where host Xavier Guaracha '25 speaks with Ivana about her a capella career, the history of Whim and Rhythm, and her most significant memories as a member of Yale’s acapella community.  Producers: Xavier Guaracha '25 and Joanne Lee '26 Music: Blue Dot Sessions

In this episode, Andre Fa'aoso '27 and Gemard Guery '28 speak to Tina Li '27, who wrote an article about anxiety amongst First Generation Low-Income students at Yale who have to interact with the Yale Financial Aid Office for hardship and emergency grants. It is a difficult process that has issues, and we want this episode to elaborate on those hardships and the wider difficulties...

Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at Woolsey Hall in 1959. At a time when Yale was highly segregated, King challenged students to resist complacency and protest the unjust conditions of segregation. How did Yale answer his call? This episode examines how Yale students, administration, and alumni engaged with King and the civil rights movement. Written and produced by Jonas Losel '27, with productio...

In 1969, Yale planned to demolish the Hill neighborhood to build a parking lot. Residents stepped in and protested the proposal. This Footnotes episode examines two urban renewal plans and asks: How did Yale shape the landscape of New Haven in the 1950s and '60s? And who did these changes serve?  Written and produced by Hannah Mark ’25, with production help and editing from Grace Ellis ’25 and...

Will Walker ’26 , a sophomore in Ezra Stiles, is best known around campus as the “Bubble Guy” for his regular bubbling sessions on Cross Campus. Join us for a special on-site episode where host Joanne Lee ’26 and Will discuss the behind-the-scenes process behind making bubbles, his potential plans for expanding his bubbling endeavors, and what inspires Will to bubble so frequently. Producers: Joan...

In this episode, Andre Fa’aoso ‘27 is joined by Yale College Council (YCC) President Julian Suh-Toma ‘25 to discuss the role of students in the search for Yale’s next University President, as incumbent Peter Salovey intends to step down at the end of the 2023-24 academic year. Also, Diego Alderete ‘25 joins Fa’aoso for an exclusive on-the-street interview segment where Yale students share their pe...

Note for listeners: this episode contains discussion of eating disorders. Susan Burton '95 is the writer, reporter, and co-producer of The Retrievals, a podcast exploring the shocking case of the Yale Health fertility center, where a nurse repeatedly stole Fentanyl from patients undergoing egg retrievals. She's a longtime reporter at This American Life and the author of the memoir Empty ,...

Jodi Kantor is a Pulitzer Prize winning investigative reporter at the New York Times. She's also the co-author of the bestselling book She Said , which goes behind the scenes on her and Megan Twohey's investigation into Harvey Weinstein. Join Lily Isaacs as she talks with Jodi about the writing that inspired her, finding a career you love, and the importance of seeking the truth. Produced...

Ngozi Ukazu '13 is the Harvey-award winning cartoonist behind Check, Please! and the upcoming graphic novel Bunt! Join host Suraj Singareddy as he talks with Ngozi about how she got into comics, almost got her Yale admissions rescinded because of an obsession with Star Trek, and about how we interact with the institutions we're part of. Produced by Suraj Singareddy '25 and Xavier Guara...

In this episode of Footnotes, we explore the controversial career and personal life of Yale graduate Lee de Forest, who is best known for inventing the part that made early radio and television possible. Was he really the “father of radio” or was he just a great storyteller? Hosted by Hannah Mark '25. Produced by Hannah Mark '25 and Grace Ellis '25. Music: Delicates by Blue Dot Session...

In this episode, Xavier Guaracha '25 sits down with Evan Gorelick '25 to discuss a recent faculty report revealing the average Yale College GPA and grade distributions by subject. Join us as we discuss the key takeaways from Gorelick's article, and what comes next. Guest: Evan Gorelick '25 Producers: Xavier Guaracha '25, Alyssa Michel '24 Music: Blue Dot Sessions

Ryann Schaffer ‘27 is the first female member of the Alley Cats – a traditionally male acapella group on campus. Join us for an episode where host Joanne Lee ‘26 and Ryann discuss the highs and lows of college acapella, directed studies, and high school merchandise. Producers: Xavier Guaracha '25 and Joanne Lee '26 Sound Engineer: Devin Grooms-Lee '27 Music: Blue Dot Sessions

In this episode, Andre Fa'aoso '27 sits down with Erin Hu '27 to discuss a recent study which researched the gender pay gap among physicians. Join us as we discuss why the physician pay gap exists and how it can be remedied.  Guest: Erin Hu '27 Producers: Andre Fa'aoso '27, Alyssa Michel '24 Music: Blue Dot Sessions

Each Sunday at 9:00PM, the candles at Christ Church are lit, the incense is released, and the choir begins to sing. People come in and sit in near-darkness — listening to music and looking at the tiny flames. This is Compline. It's a weekly church service that attracts both Christian and non-Christian attendees. How did it begin? And what makes it so special? Reported and Produced by Suraj Sin...

Footnotes is a new history podcast from the Yale Daily News. In this episode, Rishika Veeramachaneni '25 and Zawadi Kigamwa '25 cover the history of affirmative action. Rishika then speaks with the Asian American Student Association's Naina Agrawal-Hardin '25 and Tony Ruan '25 about protest and cross-cultural solidarity. This episode was recorded in May of 2023, prior to the Su...

Carter King '24 talks with Suraj Singareddy '25 about how he began designing costumes, working as an indigenous dress consultant on a TV series, and doing research in museum archives. Plus, tips for dressing well from one of the most stylish people on campus! Produced by Suraj Singareddy '25. Music by Blue Dot Sessions. 

Two students discuss how their distinct high school experiences prepared them for the academic and social extremes at Yale. Producers: Ashley Choi, Caleb Dunson, Nick Vilay Guests: Kalvin Verner Jr. Music: Blue Dot Sessions

Sanjena Sathian '13, author of  Gold Diggers , talks with Serena Puang '23 and Suraj Singareddy '25 about being a debate kid in high school, writing about Atlanta from memory, working with Mindy Kaling, and the Asian-American films and books she loves right now. This is part 2 of a 2-part interview. Produced by Suraj Singareddy '25 and Serena Puang '23. Music by Blue Dot Sessio...