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...
Jun 30, 2025•35 min•Ep. 52
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 insigh...
Jun 16, 2025•13 min•Ep. 51
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 r...
Jun 02, 2025•34 min•Ep. 50
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 proce...
May 19, 2025•36 min•Ep. 49
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 fo...
May 05, 2025•12 min•Ep. 48
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 devel...
Apr 21, 2025•35 min•Ep. 47
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, ...
Apr 07, 2025•32 min•Ep. 46
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 a...
Mar 24, 2025•36 min•Ep. 45
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 ac...
Mar 10, 2025•32 min•Ep. 44
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 podcast...
Feb 24, 2025•35 min•Ep. 43
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 support and accessibility. Tim and Matthew discuss the importance of student-led storytelling, the c...
Feb 10, 2025•36 min•Ep. 42
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 voices at the center of the conversation. From navigating the complexities of university applications to...
Jan 27, 2025•37 min•Ep. 41
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 the symposium’s global reach, with over 300 participants and presenters from around the world, deta...
Jan 13, 2025•35 min•Ep. 40
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 through storytelling, and offers insight on building institutional buy-in, balancing content quality wit...
Dec 30, 2024•34 min•Ep. 39
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 infrastructure, the collective empowers aspiring podcasters to bring their ideas to life, from concept to produ...
Dec 16, 2024•25 min•Ep. 38
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 hub, emphasizing the student-run station WXTJ, where DJs have the freedom to explore diverse music ge...
Dec 02, 2024•31 min•Ep. 37
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, revealing which topics and formats resonate most with your audience. Dive into insights about your lis...
Nov 18, 2024•26 min•Ep. 36
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, offering a platform for experts to share their unique experiences in managing complex and often high-stake...
Nov 04, 2024•33 min•Ep. 35
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 , challenges how academic knowledge can be conveyed through immersive audio, collaborating with univ...
Oct 21, 2024•39 min•Ep. 34
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 multiple platforms for listeners. The conversation also covers how higher education podcasters can ...
Sep 30, 2024•39 min•Ep. 33
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 distinction between games that are archived for direct teaching use and those featured on the Unarchived p...
Sep 16, 2024•34 min•Ep. 32
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 the strategic decisions that shaped the show—from selecting the right host with deep institutional k...
Sep 02, 2024•34 min•Ep. 31
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 Podcasting 2.0. Neil and Jen explore the importance of collaboration within and across institutions, the ri...
Aug 19, 2024•28 min•Ep. 30
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 approach to gaming research. They discuss the power of podcasting as a tool for knowledge mobilization...
Aug 05, 2024•40 min•Ep. 29
Sam Sethi shares Podcasting 2.0 advancements and their impact on higher education. In this episode of Continuing Studies , hosts Neil and Jen join Sam Sethi , CEO of TrueFans and co-host of Pod News Weekly, to discuss the growing world of Podcasting 2.0. Sam outlines innovative features aimed at solving key podcasting challenges such as discovery, interactivity, and monetization. He also shares the impetus behind his TrueFans app, the importance of passion over monetization in podcasting, and te...
Jul 22, 2024•43 min•Ep. 28
The advantages of podcasting over traditional, in-person events. Neil and Jen join Joy Poliquin from the University of Victoria's Cooperative Education Program and Career Services Office. Joy discusses the "Work It" podcast, which explores alumni career paths and provides career development advice.The conversation covers the podcast's evolution, its dual focus on alumni stories and practical career tips, and the advantages of podcasting over traditional events in terms of engagement and accessib...
Jul 08, 2024•38 min•Ep. 27
How Yale and Harvard came together to create a podcast. Neil and Jen join guests Kristi Jobson and Miriam Ingber, Deans of Admissions at Harvard and Yale Law Schools and hosts of “Navigating Law School Admissions”. They share the origin of their podcast, a collaboration between prestigious schools, and how it has evolved and impacted prospective students. They also debunk competitive myths and outline the benefits of detailed podcast preparation. Additionally, Neil discusses how to incorporate P...
Jun 24, 2024•46 min•Ep. 26
The benefits and features of Podcasting 2.0 for higher education podcasters. In this episode of the Continuing Studies podcast, hosts Neil McPhedran and Jennifer-Lee welcome James Cridland , an expert in the podcasting industry, to discuss the advancements and potential of Podcasting 2.0 . They discuss the inception of Podcasting 2.0, moving to its potential to transform how educational content is created and consumed. Learn about the new features that enhance accessibility, improve content mana...
Jun 10, 2024•40 min•Ep. 25
Building partnership & keeping alumni engaged through podcasting. Katie DeFiore shares her journey from a passionate podcast listener to becoming a key player in the educational podcasting scene at Penn State. She frames the creation and development of “Dare to Disrupt,” detailing the strategic planning, marketing, and alumni engagement that have shaped its success. The conversation also explores the significance of integrating podcasting with university programs and the impact of live podca...
May 27, 2024•30 min•Ep. 24
Step inside the Yale Admissions Office with Hannah Mendlowitz and Mark Dunn from " Inside Yale Admissions Office " podcast. As senior admissions officers, Hanna and Mark share an in-depth look the innovative ways they use podcasting to demystify the college admissions process. They discuss the motivations behind starting their podcast, its impact on various audiences including students, parents, and educational counselors; and address common misconceptions about Ivy League admissions. The conver...
May 13, 2024•30 min•Ep. 23
