Continuing Studies: Higher Ed Podcasting

Build the studio, and they’ll come… right? Not necessarily. A successful podcast studio starts with solving a real need and giving people the support to actually use the space.In this episode of Continuing Studies, Neil and Jen talk with Emily Sikora from Penn State about how she built the Podcast Lounge by starting with the user experience, not the technology. Emily shares how simple onboarding, hands-on support, and thoughtful planning help students and faculty feel confident creating, keeps them coming back, and is building podcasting culture across Penn State.Episode Links:Learn more about the Podcast LoungeConnect with EmilyConnect with Us:Share Feedback & Ask Questions: [email protected] More: Continuing Studies PodcastFollow: Continuing Studies LinkedIn PageJoin LinkedIn Group: University Podcasters NetworkConnect w/ Jen: LinkedIn or  [email protected] Connect w/ Neil:  LinkedIn or [email protected]:  @namcphedran / @podiumpodcastcoYoutubeHigherEdPodsChapters:(00:00) - Introduction (03:32) - Empowering students to record (04:34) - Inside Penn State’s Podcast Lounge (08:41) - Building the studio around a problem (11:25) - Getting people through the door (12:21) - Why they keep coming back (15:18) - Designing for confidence and independence (19:35) - Supporting editing and production (21:21) - Building a campus podcasting ecosystem (23:15) - A Podcast Lounge success story (25:58) - Conclusion

How does podcasting fit into MIT’s goal of reaching one billion learners?In this episode of Continuing Studies, Neil and Jen talk with Mary Ellen Wiltrout from MIT about MIT Learn, open learning, and how podcasts can make world-class expertise feel more accessible and human. Mary Ellen shares how MIT is experimenting with podcasts, short videos, and other formats to reach learners beyond traditional courses, and why audio can help audiences connect with the people behind the research. They also discuss Beyond Biology, storytelling in science, measuring impact beyond downloads, and how podcasting can spark curiosity, open doors, and remind listeners that even MIT experts are real people with unexpected paths.Episode Links:Learn more about MIT DELTAConnect with Mary Ellen WiltroutListen to Beyond BiologyListen to our episode with Brett Paci of MIT OpenCourseWareConnect with Us:Share Feedback & Ask Questions: [email protected] More: Continuing Studies PodcastFollow: Continuing Studies LinkedIn PageJoin LinkedIn Group: University Podcasters NetworkConnect w/ Jen: LinkedIn or  [email protected] Connect w/ Neil:  LinkedIn or [email protected]:  @namcphedran / @podiumpodcastcoYoutubeHigherEdPodsChapters:(00:00) - Introduction (02:35) - Meet Mary Ellen Wiltrout (02:58) - From biology to online learning (08:21) - What is MIT DELTA? (10:12) - MIT’s one billion learners goal (12:39) - Where podcasting fits in (14:04) - Making MIT feel more human (16:20) - Building the MIT Learn Podcast Network (18:51) - Beyond Biology (21:23) - Measuring impact beyond downloads (24:41) - Conclusion

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 aren’t defined by the gear. They’re built through trust, safety, support, and people who help others feel like they belongEpisode Links:Learn more about Helix at the University of LeedsConnect with Kerr, Abigail or KrissieListen to Part 1 with Abigail Harrison MooreListen to Part 2 with Krissie Brighty-GloverListen to the Whose Power PodcastConnect with Us:Share Feedback & Ask Questions: [email protected] More: Continuing Studies PodcastFollow: Continuing Studies LinkedIn PageJoin LinkedIn Group: University Podcasters NetworkConnect w/ Jen: LinkedIn or  [email protected] Connect w/ Neil:  LinkedIn or [email protected]:  @namcphedran / @podiumpodcastcoYoutubeHigherEdPodsChapters:(00:00) - Opening the door to the university (00:58) - Introduction (04:24) - Recording live from Helix (04:49) - What is Helix? (05:46) - Building a programmed podcasting space (06:39) - Podcasting as assessment and experiential learning (07:57) - Making campus feel welcoming (10:35) - Helix as a gateway to the university (12:04) - Co-creation, flexibility, and shared ownership (14:51) - Podcasting, access, and institutional trust (16:46) - Podcasting as research output (19:04) - Bringing participant voices to the front (21:56) - Building trust, safety, and community (25:57) - Transcripts, reflection, and the limits of the written word (28:36) - Start with people, not equipment (33:46) - Closing reflections (35:19) - Conclusion

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, Better Call Saul is the most accurate legal show.Episode Links:Connect with RudyGood is in the Details Connect with Us:Share Feedback & Ask Questions: [email protected] More: Continuing Studies PodcastFollow: Continuing Studies LinkedIn PageJoin LinkedIn Group: University Podcasters NetworkConnect w/ Jen: LinkedIn or  [email protected] Connect w/ Neil:  LinkedIn or [email protected]:  @namcphedran / @podiumpodcastcoYoutubeHigherEdPodsChapters:(00:00) - Introduction (01:43) - Meet Rudy Salo (01:50) - A philosophy podcast about everyday life (03:34) - Using dialogue to think better (06:44) - Curiosity, humility, and critical thinking (07:50) - What “podcasting as pedagogy” means (08:31) - Turning conversations into course material (10:30) - Bringing audio into law school (13:45) - How podcasts humanize professors (17:15) - Building connection beyond the classroom (19:30) - Using episodes to clarify hard concepts (21:03) - Letting teaching uses emerge organically (22:15) - When a podcast becomes a course idea (24:12) - What legal dramas get wrong (26:30) - Conclusion

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 be a powerful way for higher education organizations to add context, personality, and connection to their work.Episode Links:Listen to EDUCAUSE ShopTalkConnect with Sophie WhiteConnect with Us:Share Feedback, Suggestions, & Ask Questions: [email protected] More: Continuing Studies PodcastFollow: Continuing Studies LinkedIn PageJoin LinkedIn Group: University Podcasters NetworkConnect w/ Jen: LinkedIn or  [email protected] Connect w/ Neil:  LinkedIn or [email protected]:  @namcphedran / @podiumpodcastcoYoutubeHigherEdPodsChapters:(00:00) - Introduction (02:13) - Meet Sophie White (02:34) - EDUCAUSE Shop Talk (04:24) - Topics and guests (07:30) - Purposeful hosting (10:18) - Co-host chemistry (14:21) - Trust and communication (16:34) - Rigor and fun (19:05) - Managing multiple guests (23:18) - Tricky guest dynamics (24:21) - Helping guests relax (26:40) - Being human on mic (27:32) - Podcasts as engagement (30:42) - Conclusion