Continuing Studies: Higher Ed Podcasting

How can academics make their ideas easier to find, more engaging, and harder to misrepresent?In this episode of Continuing Studies, Neil and Jen dig into the podcast, Archaeology Books for Fun with hosts Tristan Harrenstein and Barbara Clark. Barbara and Tristan excavate the ways they've used their podcast to reach an audience segment they were missing in their other public education programs, using a book club format, non-academic texts, playful branding, and eye-catching artwork. Take a listen to unearth practical tips on building a niche podcast, making expert knowledge approachable, and giving academics a clearer voice in the public conversation.Episode Links:Listen to Archaeology Books Are FunFollow Archaeology Books Are FunConnect with BarbaraConnect with TristanConnect 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 Barbara Clark and Tristan Harrenstein (03:04) - How Archaeology Books for Fun got started (05:28) - Finding the audience public outreach often misses (06:37) - Why archaeologists need a seat at the media table (07:48) - Making a “dry” subject feel inviting (08:51) - Turning non-academic books into podcast conversations (11:00) - A different path beyond guest interviews (13:30) - Reading with a critical archaeological lens (14:08) - What strong branding does for a niche show (18:13) - Small changes that helped the show grow (21:01) - Letting audience data guide the next dig (23:38) - Podcasting as long-term public education (26:37) - Conclusion Join us at Higher Ed Pod Con in Cleveland, OH, July 16 - 17 2026Sign up by May 29 for Early Bird Pricing

After 300+ interviews with Stanford experts, Russ Altman knows how to turn complex ideas into conversations people actually want to follow.In this episode of Continuing Studies, Neil and Jen talk with Russ, host of The Future of Everything, about the craft behind engaging expert interviews. Russ shares how he keeps highly technical conversations clear and fun, why he sees himself as the “jargon police,” and how curiosity can be more useful than trying to know everything in the room. They also get into his practical interview strategies, from preparing “emergency topics”, to using a mid-interview break to refocus, check in with the guest, and steer the episode toward a strong ending. A smart, fun, and practical listen for anyone trying to make expert knowledge more accessible.Episode Links:Connect with RussThe Future of EverythingConnect 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 (03:33) - From SiriusXM to podcasting (05:02) - Returning to the show’s original purpose (07:20) - Making science relatable (08:47) - Interviewing beyond your expertise (11:38) - Why not knowing everything can help (14:17) - The no pre-interview rule (17:43) - Emergency topics and interview prep (19:21) - The mid-interview break (24:59) - Video, shorts, and audience reach (28:31) - Advice after 300+ episodes (31:06) - Conclusion Join us at Higher Ed Pod Con in Cleveland, OH, July 16 - 17 2026Sign up by May 29 for Early Bird Pricing

How can podcasting become more than a way to share research—and actually become part of the research itself?In this episode of Continuing Studies, Neil and Jen talk with Abigail Harrison Moore from the University of Leeds about Whose Power, a podcast project created with the Preservative Party, a group of young curators at Leeds City Museum. Abigail shares how the project uses podcasting as a participatory research space—one built around trust, consent, listening, and shared authorship.The conversation explores how podcasting can help break down gatekeeping in museums and academia, why audio can capture things that written research often misses, and what it takes to create a safe space where young people can lead the conversation. Abigail also explains why the project is staying audio-only, how voice, accents, pauses, and emotion became part of the research, and why participatory work requires much more preparation than simply turning on the mics.It’s a thoughtful look at how podcasting can open doors, shift power, and help researchers learn with communities—not just speak about them.Episode Links:Listen to Whose Power? Professor Abigail Harrison Moore Learn more about The Preservative Party Research PodcastsConnect 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 (02:01) - Abigail Harrison Moore and Whose Power (03:04) - The origins of Whose Power (06:14) - Gatekeeping, museums, and youth voice (08:16) - Why podcasting became part of the project (10:00) - Podcasting as participatory research (10:58) - The podcast studio as a participatory space (12:37) - Trust, safety, and preparing the space (14:11) - Accents, pauses, and what audio reveals (15:38) - The emotional work of participatory research (17:05) - Why this project stays audio-only (19:08) - Non-negotiables before recording (21:49) - History, power, and who gets represented (24:18) - Podcasting as a research method (26:31) - What’s next: Research Podcasts and EPOD (27:23) - Conclusion Join us at Higher Ed Pod Con in Cleveland, OH, July 16 - 17 2026Sign up by May 29 for Early Bird Pricing

How can a podcast use academic research to help us make sense of today’s news?Neil and Jen talk with Gemma Ware, head of audio at The Conversation UK and host/co-producer of The Conversation Weekly, about how the show brings academic expertise into the news cycle through narrative-produced audio. Gemma shares how The Conversation pairs academic rigour with journalistic flair, helping researchers explain complex ideas in a way that’s clear, accessible, and useful for a general audience.The conversation also digs into the craft behind the show: structuring episodes around the question “How did we get here?”, working with academics on mic, sustaining a weekly production schedule, and thinking strategically about multimedia, video, and discoverability. It’s a thoughtful look at how higher ed podcasters can translate expertise into stories that help listeners better understand the world around them.Episode Links:The Conversation WeeklyThe ConversationGemma Ware ProfileConnect 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 (02:59) - What is The Conversation? (04:45) - The Editing Process (06:07) - From The Anthill to The Conversation Weekly (10:08) - The “How did we get here?” structure (12:21) - Turning current affairs into academic storytelling (14:12) - Sustaining a weekly podcast (15:37) - Helping academics communicate clearly (18:58) - Building a global audio network (21:12) - Podcasting, multimedia, and discoverability (27:19) - Leaning into niche expertise (29:56) - How long should the story be? (30:45) - Closing reflections (31:33) - Conclusion Join us at Higher Ed Pod Con in Cleveland, OH, July 16 - 17 2026Sign up by May 29 for Early Bird Pricing

25 years ago, MIT made a bold choice: share our knowledge with the world, free of charge. Eventually, out of this, Chalk Radio was born as one tool of MIT's OpenCourseWare to deliver that knowledge.  In this episode, Neil and Jen talk with Brett Paci, producer of the Chalk Radio podcast and Assistant Director of Media Production at MIT OpenCourseWare, about how that mission has evolved over 20+ years. From static course materials, to YouTube lectures, to short-form clips, to narrative audio, and now to full podcast and video formats. What makes their approach stand out is that it’s never been about chasing formats; it’s about following the audience. Brett shares how the team experiments constantly, and adapts based on how people actually consume content, whether that’s a 30-second clip, a full lecture, or a long-form conversation. It’s a practical look at how one of the world’s most recognizable institutions continues to evolve, not by sticking to one format, but by constantly adapting to meet learners where they are.Episode Links:Contact Brett Paci on LinkedInMIT OpenCourseWareChalk Radio PodcastMIT OpenCourseWare on YouTubeWhere in the World are Jen & Neil:Higher Ed Pod ConThe Podcast Show (London) EPOD ConferenceConnect 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) - Who is OpenCourseWare For? (01:06) - Introduction (03:49) - Brett Paci and The Origins of OpenCourseWare (06:56) - From Course Materials to YouTube Growth (07:14) - Expanding Beyond What to Teach to How to Teach (08:26) - From Short Clips to Full Podcast Conversations (09:29) - Building an Audience Before Launching a Podcast (10:57) - Why Format Should Follow the Audience (13:19) - From Narrative Production to Conversational Podcasting (18:09) - Returning to Video and Experimenting with Format (21:24) - Testing Content: Full Episodes, Clips, and What Performs (26:00) - Treating Video as a Pilot and Learning What Works (30:10) - Conclusion Join us at Higher Ed Pod Con in Cleveland, OH, July 16 - 17 2026Sign up by May 29 for Early Bird Pricing