WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:02.790 --> 00:00:05.670 Neil McPhedran: Welcome to Continuing Studies, a podcast for higher education 00:00:05.910 --> 00:00:07.890 podcasters to learn and get inspired. 00:00:07.980 --> 00:00:12.840 I'm Neil McPhedran, founder of Higher Ed Pods and Podium Podcast Company. 00:00:13.020 --> 00:00:15.810 Jennifer-Lee: And I'm Jennifer-Lee, founder of JPod Creations, 00:00:15.810 --> 00:00:17.310 podcasting is broadcasting. 00:00:17.310 --> 00:00:19.005 And we want you to know you're not alone. 00:00:19.635 --> 00:00:22.665 In fact there are many of you higher ed podcasters out there and 00:00:22.665 --> 00:00:24.705 we can all learn from each other. 00:00:25.095 --> 00:00:25.845 Neil McPhedran: That's right, Jen. 00:00:25.845 --> 00:00:33.765 And this episode to kick off 2026 is a great example of that, where we are 00:00:33.765 --> 00:00:41.115 drawing from a number of voices and people that we've chatted with previously and 00:00:41.144 --> 00:00:47.445 we've asked them to give their predictions for 2026 for higher ed podcasting. 00:00:48.255 --> 00:00:51.135 Jennifer-Lee: I'm really excited about it because after we grabbed the 00:00:51.135 --> 00:00:55.485 clips, I didn't realize like how many people around the world we talk to. 00:00:55.905 --> 00:01:00.015 And it's really neat to see that it's not just in North America, that the 00:01:00.015 --> 00:01:04.635 higher ed space is like very worldly and some of them have become our friends. 00:01:04.635 --> 00:01:08.025 So I think it's a really cool thing to check back. 00:01:08.025 --> 00:01:11.835 And of course there's so much knowledge that they have and there's 00:01:11.835 --> 00:01:14.625 so many new things coming up, so I'm excited to hear what they say. 00:01:15.045 --> 00:01:15.615 Neil McPhedran: Exactly. 00:01:15.615 --> 00:01:22.575 So the following is some hot takes we gathered from various friends of ours, 00:01:22.605 --> 00:01:31.035 as you so rightly say, either focused on generally what they see as predictions for 00:01:31.065 --> 00:01:33.675 the higher ed podcasting space in 2026. 00:01:34.365 --> 00:01:37.485 Or some of them more specifically are going to tell us what 00:01:37.485 --> 00:01:43.425 they are specifically doing on their podcasts in 2026. 00:01:43.425 --> 00:01:44.535 So this is great. 00:01:44.535 --> 00:01:48.075 I think when we say off the top to learn and get inspired, this is a 00:01:48.075 --> 00:01:51.375 classic learn and get inspired episode. 00:01:51.765 --> 00:01:52.335 Jennifer-Lee: Love it. 00:01:52.575 --> 00:01:57.555 Neil McPhedran: Okay, so first we're gonna lead off with a British voice. 00:01:58.215 --> 00:02:02.175 So this first clip is from Carl Hartley. 00:02:02.385 --> 00:02:07.575 Carl is full-time lecturer in journalism at the University of Leeds, where he 00:02:07.575 --> 00:02:10.485 teaches broadcast and digital journalism. 00:02:10.515 --> 00:02:14.445 He's also the academic integrity lead within the School of 00:02:14.445 --> 00:02:15.945 Media and communication. 00:02:15.945 --> 00:02:17.925 So lots of podcasting in there. 00:02:18.375 --> 00:02:23.255 And if that's not enough, Carl is also freelance senior journalist at 00:02:23.285 --> 00:02:31.114 BBC where he regularly reads the news for 5 Live on weekends and holidays. 00:02:31.565 --> 00:02:34.924 Jennifer-Lee: Another fun fact is doing this podcast, we didn't realize 00:02:34.924 --> 00:02:40.084 how many people are connected to each other and he actually works with Brett. 00:02:40.084 --> 00:02:42.364 Spencer, who's coming up in the next few clips. 00:02:42.801 --> 00:02:43.191 Neil McPhedran: That's right. 00:02:43.366 --> 00:02:44.866 . Let's listen to Carl's take. 00:02:45.616 --> 00:02:46.906 Carl Hartley: Hello, I'm Carl Hartley. 00:02:46.906 --> 00:02:49.996 I'm a lecturer in journalism practice at the University of Leeds. 00:02:50.381 --> 00:02:54.881 I'm also the producer of The Sound of Politics podcast, hosted by Professor 00:02:54.881 --> 00:03:00.701 Stephen Coleman, and my prediction for higher education at podcasting in 2026 00:03:01.151 --> 00:03:06.101 is that academic leaders will start at giving podcasting more recognition. 00:03:06.611 --> 00:03:12.041 Now, it might not yet match the same status as books and journal articles, 00:03:12.431 --> 00:03:18.816 but it will gain real value throughout 2026, almost like a new academic currency. 00:03:19.541 --> 00:03:24.731 And if books in this new world are worth around a hundred pounds, podcasts might be 00:03:24.731 --> 00:03:31.721 worth around 50 pound currency in academia circles, with the hope that one day with 00:03:31.721 --> 00:03:37.151 peer reviewing podcasts that could be worth the same in the eyes of the academy. 00:03:37.421 --> 00:03:40.931 And looking ahead at, to an individual project, uh, something that Professor 00:03:40.931 --> 00:03:45.341 Stephen Coleman and I will focus on is that using podcasting to 00:03:45.341 --> 00:03:50.456 improve political literacy, oracy, and media skills in schools. 00:03:50.786 --> 00:03:54.416 So during the first half of 2026, we're gonna be working with teachers 00:03:54.416 --> 00:03:58.816 in secondary schools in the UK on this project, which we'll see school, 00:03:58.816 --> 00:04:04.556 pupils creating their own podcast episodes, The Sound of Politics Gen 00:04:04.556 --> 00:04:06.476 Z, that's what we're gonna call it. 00:04:07.016 --> 00:04:11.516 And I'll be sharing some of our early findings at the education group podcasting 00:04:11.516 --> 00:04:16.496 conference that I'm organizing at the University of Leeds in June, 2026. 00:04:17.606 --> 00:04:22.226 But the one thing I do know is that academic podcasts are growing and 00:04:22.226 --> 00:04:25.466 2026 is just gonna be an amazing year. 00:04:26.246 --> 00:04:27.476 Jennifer-Lee: I love his voice. 00:04:27.566 --> 00:04:27.896 Neil McPhedran: Yeah. 00:04:27.956 --> 00:04:32.006 Well, there's a reason he's still reading the news on the BBC. 00:04:32.436 --> 00:04:32.666 Jennifer-Lee: I know. 00:04:32.686 --> 00:04:33.406 Perfect. 00:04:33.406 --> 00:04:38.921 And I love what he said about schools recognizing podcasts, and I think they 00:04:38.921 --> 00:04:42.821 need to learn to do that more because I know that we discussed that some 00:04:42.821 --> 00:04:44.771 people even bake it into case studies. 00:04:44.771 --> 00:04:46.121 So good prediction. 00:04:46.241 --> 00:04:51.101 Neil McPhedran: Yeah, I think this is one I'm really interested in in '26, 00:04:51.161 --> 00:04:54.821 and if I was gonna do a prediction myself, I think this would be something 00:04:54.821 --> 00:05:00.791 along this lines of academia, I like how he calls it a currency, trying to 00:05:00.791 --> 00:05:02.711 figure out podcasting as a currency. 00:05:02.711 --> 00:05:08.741 And it really speaks to the publish or parish dilemma or, you know, 00:05:08.801 --> 00:05:13.061 focus that a lot of academia and scholarship is based around. 00:05:13.061 --> 00:05:17.381 And how does podcasting work into that mix? 00:05:17.951 --> 00:05:20.441 Versus just a book or a monograph. 00:05:20.471 --> 00:05:22.271 So great prediction from Carl. 00:05:22.451 --> 00:05:26.831 Okay, so the next one is from Jenna Spinelle. 00:05:27.041 --> 00:05:31.961 And Jenna is the adjunct professor at Penn State University and 00:05:32.081 --> 00:05:35.531 McCourtney Institute of Democracy. 00:05:36.416 --> 00:05:37.466 And let's roll Jenna. 00:05:38.336 --> 00:05:41.276 Jenna Spinelle: This is Jenna Spinelli from the Democracy Works Podcast and 00:05:41.276 --> 00:05:43.346 the Democracy Group Podcast Network. 00:05:43.646 --> 00:05:48.536 My prediction for higher ed podcasting in 2026 is that we'll see more universities 00:05:48.686 --> 00:05:51.056 looking to podcast as a PR vehicle. 00:05:51.086 --> 00:05:55.546 A place to get their faculty out there to talk about their research, their 00:05:55.546 --> 00:05:58.816 books, their papers, their articles, the things that they're working on 00:05:58.816 --> 00:06:00.796 to further their scholarly research. 00:06:01.186 --> 00:06:04.696 I know there are some folks who are doing this and have been doing it for a 00:06:04.696 --> 00:06:09.736 while, but my sense is also that there are quite a number of university PR shops 00:06:09.736 --> 00:06:15.511 who are focused on getting articles or interviews or op-eds placed in mainstream 00:06:15.511 --> 00:06:20.371 media and those kinds of things, rather than harnessing the power of niche 00:06:20.371 --> 00:06:25.231 media to reach audiences who are already interested in that particular topic 00:06:25.231 --> 00:06:27.091 that the faculty member is working on. 00:06:27.091 --> 00:06:31.901 So I hope that for university's sake and for podcaster's sake, that we 00:06:31.901 --> 00:06:36.581 see more of this type of outreach and collaboration happening in 2026. 00:06:37.331 --> 00:06:38.591 Neil McPhedran: I like this one from Jenna. 00:06:38.651 --> 00:06:42.671 It's different from what Carl's saying, but along the same lines 00:06:42.761 --> 00:06:50.166 of higher education, academia, the institutions using podcasting as 00:06:50.171 --> 00:06:56.201 more of a vehicle, putting more credence and importance into it. 00:06:57.061 --> 00:07:01.771 In Jenna's case, she's talking about it from a PR vehicle, which I think is great. 00:07:02.071 --> 00:07:04.921 Jennifer-Lee: It's what I've been saying all the time this past year 00:07:04.921 --> 00:07:08.521 to a lot of different clients, and it's the fact that you're 00:07:08.521 --> 00:07:10.321 creating your own media station now. 00:07:10.321 --> 00:07:15.841 Because traditional media is going and things like promoting your school 00:07:16.051 --> 00:07:19.651 on traditional television stuff is not as much of a thing anymore. 00:07:19.651 --> 00:07:24.526 So I had this conversation with someone, they said, I want to have a podcast 00:07:24.556 --> 00:07:29.116 so we can control the narrative of what we do and give ourself exposure. 00:07:29.116 --> 00:07:31.186 So I think she's right on the money. 00:07:31.456 --> 00:07:32.056 Neil McPhedran: That's great. 00:07:32.476 --> 00:07:35.536 Okay next we have Kate Young. 00:07:35.926 --> 00:07:36.826 Jennifer-Lee: We love her. 00:07:36.826 --> 00:07:38.746 One of our originals, OGs. 00:07:38.866 --> 00:07:39.376 Neil McPhedran: That's right. 00:07:39.406 --> 00:07:42.286 Kate I think was on episode two, I believe. 00:07:42.316 --> 00:07:46.846 Kate is host, writer and producer of the This is Purdue podcast. 00:07:47.516 --> 00:07:50.306 Let's hear what Kate has to tell us about 2026. 00:07:51.116 --> 00:07:52.046 Kate Young: Hey Neil and Jen. 00:07:52.046 --> 00:07:53.006 Kate Young here. 00:07:53.306 --> 00:07:57.746 Something our This is Purdue podcast is focusing on in 2026 is experimenting 00:07:57.746 --> 00:07:59.696 with episode length and formatting. 00:07:59.756 --> 00:08:04.286 So we're gonna plan to do a four part mini series with shorter 15ish minute 00:08:04.286 --> 00:08:08.966 episodes that will be dropped all at once as a binge play on our podcast 00:08:08.966 --> 00:08:10.886 RSS feed and our YouTube channel. 00:08:10.946 --> 00:08:14.726 So we're really excited to get into this different type of storytelling and 00:08:14.726 --> 00:08:16.976 experiment with our first binge drop. 00:08:17.501 --> 00:08:18.521 I'll give you a little hint. 00:08:18.581 --> 00:08:22.991 This series is focused on a world famous aviator with huge Purdue ties. 00:08:23.681 --> 00:08:27.936 This also helps with our strategic goals of reaching a more global audience. 00:08:28.661 --> 00:08:33.341 And just enhancing produce brand awareness overall, because this story is one of the 00:08:33.341 --> 00:08:35.651 greatest mysteries of the 20th century. 00:08:35.861 --> 00:08:37.751 So cheers to 2026. 00:08:38.381 --> 00:08:41.441 Jennifer-Lee: I love this idea because micro casts are becoming 00:08:41.501 --> 00:08:43.451 a big thing in many genres. 00:08:43.451 --> 00:08:47.141 So again, I think Kate is seeing the future and the fact that they're 00:08:47.141 --> 00:08:50.381 doing 15 minutes, and I love the fact that they're dropping them all 00:08:50.381 --> 00:08:52.001 at once, so we don't have to wait. 00:08:52.481 --> 00:08:53.201 Neil McPhedran: Yeah, this is great. 00:08:53.291 --> 00:08:57.581 It really speaks to one of the things that I've come around in my thinking, 00:08:58.166 --> 00:09:02.516 I guess, in 2025 and really sort of one of the things that I'm looking 00:09:02.516 --> 00:09:08.576 forward to with the podcast that we work with in '26, is thinking about 00:09:08.606 --> 00:09:15.266 the short form elements that can come out of that long form episode. 00:09:15.691 --> 00:09:18.391 Some of the parts equally more than the whole, basically. 00:09:18.751 --> 00:09:22.831 So previously my thinking was we have this long form piece of content. 00:09:22.831 --> 00:09:25.771 We create some shorter forms pieces of content out of it, and 00:09:25.891 --> 00:09:29.191 to create discovery and drive to that longer form piece of content. 00:09:29.221 --> 00:09:32.131 And I've kind of changed my thinking that it's like all of it 00:09:32.161 --> 00:09:33.481 that we should really think about. 00:09:33.481 --> 00:09:38.366 There's gonna be an audience out there who's only gonna listen to or come across 00:09:38.366 --> 00:09:42.476 maybe those shorts, two or three or four of those shorts from that episode, 00:09:42.776 --> 00:09:48.146 which is just as important or is just as valuable, I guess, as if someone was gonna 00:09:48.146 --> 00:09:50.216 tune into that long form piece of content. 00:09:50.216 --> 00:09:55.256 So it really speaks to giving options for an audience versus 00:09:55.256 --> 00:09:58.616 trying to get them all to come to this long form piece of content. 00:09:58.766 --> 00:10:02.186 Okay, let's move on to our next prediction. 00:10:02.621 --> 00:10:07.121 We're going back to the UK and we are gonna get our prediction 00:10:07.121 --> 00:10:09.761 next from Brett Spencer. 00:10:09.881 --> 00:10:14.591 And Brett Spencer is the senior lecturer and director of the Center of 00:10:14.591 --> 00:10:19.581 Podcasting and Excellence at the city, St. George's University of London. 00:10:20.486 --> 00:10:24.326 And is also an executive editor at BBC. 00:10:24.326 --> 00:10:27.776 So like Carl's keeping a foot there in the BBC. 00:10:27.896 --> 00:10:29.546 Let's roll Brett's prediction. 00:10:30.596 --> 00:10:33.596 Brett Spencer: A prediction for higher education podcasting. 00:10:33.596 --> 00:10:34.736 Well, it's exactly that. 00:10:35.156 --> 00:10:39.451 More podcasting usage in higher education and more podcasting courses. 00:10:40.376 --> 00:10:42.776 I think we're still at the very beginning of the journey 00:10:42.776 --> 00:10:44.276 for podcasting in this space. 00:10:44.606 --> 00:10:48.386 I know I've been inspired by many of the guests on this show this year to 00:10:48.386 --> 00:10:52.046 do new things and I think there is an exciting road map ahead for all of us. 00:10:52.166 --> 00:10:55.526 I'm recording this on the morning after the, the shooting of Bondi, the 00:10:55.526 --> 00:10:58.991 shooting at Brown University and the death of Rob Reiner and his wife, and 00:10:58.991 --> 00:11:00.656 the world seems a very dark place. 00:11:00.746 --> 00:11:03.866 And one of the projects I'm working on next year is just something that's 00:11:03.866 --> 00:11:09.136 really fun and I think the podcasting world in 2026 will respond in these 00:11:09.136 --> 00:11:14.506 darkened times with projects that are fun, provide escape, and spread humor and joy, 00:11:14.506 --> 00:11:17.476 whether they be audio or video or both. 00:11:18.526 --> 00:11:20.236 Neil McPhedran: Okay, so I like this one from Brett. 00:11:20.296 --> 00:11:26.686 Similar to ones we heard previously he's talking about the increasing importance 00:11:26.716 --> 00:11:32.326 of podcasting in higher education, but coming at it from another angle, which is 00:11:32.836 --> 00:11:39.391 podcasting, being part of the educational journey of university academia. 00:11:39.931 --> 00:11:44.071 I just love how we're seeing so many of these predictions being about the ever 00:11:44.071 --> 00:11:48.601 increasing importance of podcasting in the higher education journey. 00:11:49.601 --> 00:11:54.581 Jennifer-Lee: He brings a lot of great points and that I just, you know, I think 00:11:54.581 --> 00:11:58.241 what Brett does as a whole, and I really say go back and listen to his episode, 00:11:58.241 --> 00:12:03.911 because I think what he's teaching the students in this kind of new space for 00:12:03.941 --> 00:12:08.531 journalism is really important on ways we tell stories so that like he's saying, 00:12:08.531 --> 00:12:13.631 more use of podcasting in the higher education space, I think is really great 00:12:13.661 --> 00:12:17.741 because more people that share their stories or are able to investigate things 00:12:17.741 --> 00:12:22.051 and bring it to the forefront through this medium of podcasts is a great thing. 00:12:22.621 --> 00:12:23.121 Neil McPhedran: Excellent. 00:12:23.181 --> 00:12:25.081 Yeah, you make a good point there, Jen. 00:12:25.081 --> 00:12:30.271 We'll be sure to drop links to each of these folks who are giving us predictions. 00:12:30.271 --> 00:12:34.861 We'll be sure to drop links in the show notes to their episodes that they actually 00:12:34.891 --> 00:12:36.451 joined us for their full episodes. 00:12:36.451 --> 00:12:38.881 You can hear more in entirety if you haven't already. 00:12:39.098 --> 00:12:39.578 Okay, Jen. 00:12:39.578 --> 00:12:43.748 So next up we have Marta Perrotta, who is the associate professor at 00:12:43.748 --> 00:12:46.328 the University of Roma Tre Italy. 00:12:46.968 --> 00:12:54.888 And she is also director of Roma Tre Radio, the web radio of the university. 00:12:55.188 --> 00:12:56.088 We're heading to Italy. 00:12:57.258 --> 00:13:01.038 Marta Perrotta: Hi, my name is Marta Perrotta, and next year I'm launching 00:13:01.038 --> 00:13:03.918 a new podcast at Roma Tre University. 00:13:04.128 --> 00:13:08.448 It's a research diary built around a major ERC funded project in our 00:13:08.448 --> 00:13:10.758 department of mathematics and physics. 00:13:11.253 --> 00:13:13.263 The name of the project is Swim. 00:13:13.683 --> 00:13:17.283 We have built a unique laboratory dedicated to the search for 00:13:17.293 --> 00:13:20.853 extraterrestrial liquid water and for environments that 00:13:20.853 --> 00:13:22.683 might be favorable to life. 00:13:22.713 --> 00:13:25.513 The mayor researcher of this project is Elena Pettinelli. 00:13:26.873 --> 00:13:32.433 My prediction for higher education, podcasting in 2026 is this, the 00:13:32.433 --> 00:13:37.803 most impactful university podcasts won't try to just explain results. 00:13:37.863 --> 00:13:40.503 They have to document processes. 00:13:40.908 --> 00:13:43.938 People outside academia keep asking the same questions. 00:13:43.968 --> 00:13:45.648 Why does research take so long? 00:13:45.948 --> 00:13:48.648 What do you actually do all day in the lab? 00:13:48.828 --> 00:13:51.708 We have been surprisingly bad at answering that. 00:13:52.368 --> 00:13:55.968 This podcast is about showing how research is built from scratch. 00:13:56.148 --> 00:13:58.218 Most days aren't about breakthroughs. 00:13:58.248 --> 00:14:03.043 They're about designing instruments, building simulation tanks, fixing 00:14:03.193 --> 00:14:06.888 what breaks, repeating measurements, and listening literally to the 00:14:06.888 --> 00:14:08.928 sound of machines running for hours. 00:14:09.483 --> 00:14:14.343 In 2026, I think audiences will trust universities more when we stop 00:14:14.343 --> 00:14:19.923 presenting science as fast or heroic and start presenting it as a slow, 00:14:20.013 --> 00:14:22.023 careful, and deeply human process. 00:14:22.788 --> 00:14:26.328 Before you can answer big questions about life beyond earth, you have to spend a 00:14:26.328 --> 00:14:30.708 lot of time in a room building the tools and let you ask those questions as all. 00:14:30.978 --> 00:14:33.078 That's the story we are going to tell. 00:14:33.768 --> 00:14:34.548 Jennifer-Lee: I love this. 00:14:34.548 --> 00:14:38.538 Again, this is the great thing about podcasting is when people come up with 00:14:38.538 --> 00:14:43.938 these ideas to explain things, the fact that they are gonna do more podcasts 00:14:43.998 --> 00:14:48.768 about how research is actually done, because I think sometimes people don't 00:14:48.768 --> 00:14:54.233 realize the lengthy process for research, especially when it comes to science. 00:14:54.233 --> 00:14:56.993 I think everyone thinks that it just magically happens overnight, 00:14:56.993 --> 00:14:59.738 so I love the fact that they're doing a specific series on this. 00:15:00.893 --> 00:15:04.353 Neil McPhedran: Yeah, what they're working on in 2026 is sort of what 00:15:04.353 --> 00:15:09.723 Carl talked about off the top, which is actually infusing podcasting, or 00:15:09.723 --> 00:15:14.763 maybe a better way to put it, is the output, the research, the scholarly 00:15:14.763 --> 00:15:17.433 research, the output is the podcast. 00:15:17.913 --> 00:15:23.943 And in this case, to your point, is just fantastic how they're bringing 00:15:23.943 --> 00:15:32.493 people along from outside of academia to hear about the research and what the 00:15:32.493 --> 00:15:37.953 outcomes are gonna be of this research instead of it being squirreled away in 00:15:37.953 --> 00:15:42.843 some journal that a handful of people read, it makes it way more approachable. 00:15:42.873 --> 00:15:43.593 This is excellent. 00:15:43.593 --> 00:15:48.543 This is exactly what Carl off the top was predicting and Marta is working on. 00:15:48.543 --> 00:15:49.113 I love it. 00:15:49.323 --> 00:15:51.623 Okay, next up we have Elvin Freytes. 00:15:51.878 --> 00:15:58.208 And Elvin is co-host and co-founder of the Ed Up Experience podcast, where they 00:15:58.208 --> 00:16:02.768 interview and share insights from college presidents, ed tech innovators and thought 00:16:02.768 --> 00:16:05.078 leaders in the higher ed podcast space. 00:16:05.108 --> 00:16:11.058 And he's also one of our co-founders of the Higher Ed PodCon. 00:16:11.198 --> 00:16:16.443 Gotten to know Elvin quite well in '25, and I am really looking 00:16:16.443 --> 00:16:23.303 forward to our PodCon in July, this upcoming July in this year, 2026. 00:16:24.693 --> 00:16:27.123 Okay, let's hear what Elvin has to say. 00:16:27.393 --> 00:16:30.723 Elvin Freytes: Hey everybody, this is Elvin Freytes, co-founder of the Ed Up 00:16:30.813 --> 00:16:37.173 Experience, and my hot take for 2026 in regards of higher education podcasting, 00:16:37.203 --> 00:16:38.313 here's where I think's gonna happen. 00:16:38.613 --> 00:16:42.843 I think we are going to see podcasting basically a part 00:16:42.903 --> 00:16:45.033 of the entire student journey. 00:16:45.093 --> 00:16:45.873 Yeah, that's right. 00:16:45.903 --> 00:16:51.183 From recruitment, enrollment to retention, to graduation, to, uh, 00:16:51.183 --> 00:16:55.953 teaching and learning, to career services, to alumni services, you name it. 00:16:55.983 --> 00:16:58.743 I think we're gonna see podcasting embedded throughout 00:16:58.743 --> 00:17:00.423 that whole student lifecycle. 00:17:00.813 --> 00:17:04.323 And who knows, we may even have podcasting live events, more live 00:17:04.323 --> 00:17:06.243 events on different campuses. 00:17:06.873 --> 00:17:11.373 Think of an admissions crew having a podcast live at a high school instead 00:17:11.373 --> 00:17:13.098 of a regular recruitment event. 00:17:13.743 --> 00:17:17.883 So yeah, look out for more podcasting throughout the whole lifecycle 00:17:17.883 --> 00:17:20.253 and more podcast events happening. 00:17:20.253 --> 00:17:22.833 So that's my hot take for 2026. 00:17:22.833 --> 00:17:25.923 This is Elvin Freytes co-founder of Ed Up Experience. 00:17:25.923 --> 00:17:29.033 And please feel free to learn more about Ed Up at EdUpExperience.com. 00:17:30.363 --> 00:17:31.033 That's EdUpExperience.com 00:17:33.498 --> 00:17:34.308 Jennifer-Lee: I love this. 00:17:34.308 --> 00:17:40.248 He's predicting that podcasting is gonna be included in everyday student 00:17:40.248 --> 00:17:45.648 life, which I actually think is really something that, not just higher ed 00:17:45.648 --> 00:17:47.838 is doing, but in a lot of industries. 00:17:47.838 --> 00:17:52.698 And I love the fact that he says more live events on different campuses. 00:17:53.148 --> 00:17:58.338 Thinking of it as part of like a recruitment process too, because of course 00:17:58.413 --> 00:18:02.523 specifically in the States, they do that day where you go, or like it's weeks where 00:18:02.523 --> 00:18:04.113 you travel to the different campuses. 00:18:04.113 --> 00:18:08.073 So I can definitely see this for new students as a recruitment tool. 00:18:08.643 --> 00:18:09.033 Neil McPhedran: Yeah. 00:18:09.123 --> 00:18:14.073 Again, Elvin is really playing into this theme that I see sort of coming 00:18:14.073 --> 00:18:19.473 out of a lot of these predictions, is this continuing elevation 00:18:19.533 --> 00:18:24.663 of the importance of podcasting within higher education overall. 00:18:24.663 --> 00:18:30.153 So we've seen that everything from, uh, the actual research of academia 00:18:30.153 --> 00:18:34.803 to, as Elvin is saying here, just in general, the whole experience. 00:18:34.803 --> 00:18:40.603 So let's take a lot of the nuts and bolts of higher education, if you will, 00:18:40.603 --> 00:18:43.663 of how prospective students decide where to go, et cetera, and all the way 00:18:43.663 --> 00:18:49.213 through that experience and infusing podcasting into all those components 00:18:49.213 --> 00:18:50.923 and corners of higher education. 00:18:51.403 --> 00:18:51.973 Excellent. 00:18:52.033 --> 00:18:55.303 Really good and I love the theme that we're seeing coming out 00:18:55.303 --> 00:18:56.743 of all of these predictions. 00:18:57.373 --> 00:19:02.353 Okay, so next step we have Jim Ambuske and he is Director of 00:19:02.413 --> 00:19:05.653 Digital History at More Perfect. 00:19:06.103 --> 00:19:12.163 He also is producer and host of a number of history related podcasts, which 00:19:12.163 --> 00:19:13.633 he sort of talks about off the top. 00:19:13.633 --> 00:19:14.803 So let's hear what Jim has to say. 00:19:16.103 --> 00:19:16.283 Jim Ambuske: Hey 00:19:16.283 --> 00:19:16.604 everyone. 00:19:16.604 --> 00:19:18.533 I'm Jim Ambuske, the narrator of 00:19:18.533 --> 00:19:22.793 Jim Ambuske: Worlds Turned Upside Down, the co-host of Revolutions in Retrospect, 00:19:22.883 --> 00:19:25.103 and the producer of Finding Jane Austin. 00:19:25.883 --> 00:19:30.683 I think in 2026, podcasters in higher ed and beyond are going to have to grapple 00:19:30.683 --> 00:19:33.383 with the rise of AI in podcast production. 00:19:33.443 --> 00:19:37.643 For good or ill, AI has rapidly become part of our everyday lives, 00:19:37.643 --> 00:19:42.143 and in podcasting, AI can repair and enhance audio in ways that would 00:19:42.143 --> 00:19:44.303 normally take a person several hours. 00:19:44.793 --> 00:19:48.633 Potentially freeing them up to do other creative and intellectual work. 00:19:49.173 --> 00:19:53.433 And it can help us create social media clips to help amplify our stories. 00:19:54.303 --> 00:19:59.703 But the question is, I think how far do we push it, especially in the humanities? 00:20:00.453 --> 00:20:03.003 Should we use AI to produce scripts? 00:20:03.153 --> 00:20:06.543 Should we use AI generated voices to narrate series? 00:20:07.023 --> 00:20:10.503 Or vocalize primary sources of figures, long dead. 00:20:11.223 --> 00:20:14.853 Should we allow the artificial echo to triumph over the human voice? 00:20:15.813 --> 00:20:21.303 I think we'll be grappling with those questions about AI in 2026 and far beyond. 00:20:22.713 --> 00:20:27.303 Jennifer-Lee: Jim is talking about the hottest topic of 2025, and of 00:20:27.303 --> 00:20:31.623 course as now we enter into 2026, I don't think it's slowing down at all. 00:20:31.713 --> 00:20:36.963 AI and how it involves itself in podcasting and specific here, 00:20:36.963 --> 00:20:40.373 higher ed podcasting, and this is something that we all grapple with. 00:20:40.673 --> 00:20:45.563 Yes, we gotta figure out how to use it properly, but what parts do you 00:20:45.563 --> 00:20:47.423 use it in and what parts do you not? 00:20:47.663 --> 00:20:47.873 Neil McPhedran: Yeah. 00:20:47.873 --> 00:20:52.643 I think this speaks to education and higher education in general of 00:20:52.643 --> 00:20:58.283 how AI is disrupting and how that works its way into it, in general. 00:20:58.343 --> 00:21:03.663 But I love his take of sort of what does that mean for higher education podcasting? 00:21:03.723 --> 00:21:06.153 And his prediction on that too is great. 00:21:06.453 --> 00:21:11.213 Okay, so our last prediction here is from John Boccacino. 00:21:11.403 --> 00:21:17.133 He is the Senior internal Communication Specialist at Syracuse University, 00:21:17.703 --> 00:21:23.823 where he is the host and producer of the 'Cuse Conversations podcast. 00:21:24.093 --> 00:21:27.273 So let's hear what John has to say for 2026. 00:21:28.653 --> 00:21:33.423 John Boccacino: Hi, I'm John Bacino, host of the 'Cuse Conversations podcast. 00:21:33.723 --> 00:21:38.463 This past year we explored out of this world discoveries involving gravitational 00:21:38.463 --> 00:21:43.308 waves and black holes, met passionate student leaders dedicated to making 00:21:43.308 --> 00:21:46.668 a difference in their community, and even introduced you to a father 00:21:46.668 --> 00:21:50.808 and son broadcasting duo, taking the sportscasting world by storm. 00:21:51.078 --> 00:21:54.408 Those were some of the Syracuse University success stories 00:21:54.528 --> 00:21:56.298 that we told on the podcast. 00:21:56.478 --> 00:21:59.463 While this upcoming year, we plan ongoing even deeper. 00:22:00.208 --> 00:22:04.438 From advances in the STEM fields and the humanities, to developing and 00:22:04.438 --> 00:22:08.578 building the next breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, Syracuse 00:22:08.578 --> 00:22:13.108 University is producing problem solvers who will become the next generation 00:22:13.108 --> 00:22:15.628 of leaders in their respective fields. 00:22:16.053 --> 00:22:19.563 We all know attention spans are decreasing, but of point of pride 00:22:19.563 --> 00:22:24.873 here on the podcast, every episode has a completion rate of at least 60%. 00:22:25.143 --> 00:22:30.003 We wanna capitalize on that attentive and engaged audience by spotlighting 00:22:30.003 --> 00:22:34.233 the impact of our talented students, decorated faculty, dedicated 00:22:34.233 --> 00:22:36.243 staff, and accomplished alumni. 00:22:36.498 --> 00:22:40.008 They're really making a difference on campus and around the world, and 00:22:40.008 --> 00:22:44.358 I hope you'll join me next year for more orange stories that matter on 00:22:44.358 --> 00:22:46.548 the 'Cuse Conversations podcast. 00:22:47.238 --> 00:22:51.048 Jennifer-Lee: John still bleeds orange, and I love the fact that he 00:22:51.078 --> 00:22:55.368 talks about orange stories that matter on the 'Cuse Conversations podcast. 00:22:55.668 --> 00:22:59.508 Of course, that is their school colors and they say they bleed orange, so I 00:22:59.508 --> 00:23:00.918 love that he's bringing it back to that. 00:23:01.348 --> 00:23:04.648 Also, it's interesting he is talking about attention spans because even 00:23:04.648 --> 00:23:08.488 though podcasting, most people listen to long form content, it is starting 00:23:08.488 --> 00:23:12.058 to deteriorate a little bit and we're going to more shorter content, 00:23:12.058 --> 00:23:15.688 which some of our previous guests have mentioned in these predictions. 00:23:15.688 --> 00:23:18.328 So I love the fact that they're still trying to work with the 00:23:18.328 --> 00:23:21.148 long content because they still see a lot of fruit from that. 00:23:21.148 --> 00:23:22.708 So I'm excited about that. 00:23:23.133 --> 00:23:23.763 Neil McPhedran: Yes, agreed. 00:23:23.763 --> 00:23:28.743 Jen and I, I think what's interesting is similar, I guess, to a couple 00:23:28.743 --> 00:23:33.213 of the other ones we've heard about previously here, is diving more into 00:23:33.213 --> 00:23:37.743 the storytelling of the actual research. 00:23:38.133 --> 00:23:43.083 So whether that's scientific STEM advances or in the humanities even. 00:23:43.653 --> 00:23:48.573 But going beyond the storytelling of the individuals and the school 00:23:48.573 --> 00:23:54.723 spirit, digging more into the actual work that's done at the university and 00:23:54.723 --> 00:23:56.913 featuring that, which I think is great. 00:23:57.183 --> 00:24:06.543 So again, similar to this theme of using podcasting as part of the academic 00:24:06.543 --> 00:24:12.588 tool of surfacing what typically could be squirreled away, as I said, in a 00:24:12.588 --> 00:24:19.218 journal or in a dense academic research paper that very few of us lay folks 00:24:19.218 --> 00:24:23.928 are going to access, but bringing all this amazing stuff that's happening, 00:24:24.138 --> 00:24:31.383 in this case for John at Syracuse, out into the open for the wider world to 00:24:31.533 --> 00:24:33.453 learn about, which I think is great. 00:24:34.593 --> 00:24:34.953 Okay. 00:24:34.983 --> 00:24:35.583 That was awesome. 00:24:35.583 --> 00:24:40.773 Thank you so much to everyone who submitted their predictions for 2026. 00:24:40.833 --> 00:24:42.993 I am so excited about this year. 00:24:43.473 --> 00:24:47.043 Jen, you and I have been focused on the higher education podcast 00:24:47.043 --> 00:24:49.293 space for a number of years. 00:24:49.293 --> 00:24:51.423 We've been doing this podcast for three years. 00:24:52.038 --> 00:24:58.578 I just personally have been incredibly motivated to see just how much more 00:24:58.578 --> 00:25:03.378 important podcasting has become with some of the podcasts I've 00:25:03.378 --> 00:25:04.908 worked with for a number of years. 00:25:05.238 --> 00:25:08.448 But just, you know, in general, as we just heard from almost every single one 00:25:08.448 --> 00:25:12.978 of these folks we just listened to, just how important and the ever increasing 00:25:12.978 --> 00:25:18.838 importance of podcasting in the academic world and for the actual academic 00:25:18.838 --> 00:25:20.518 and research work that's being done. 00:25:20.998 --> 00:25:23.908 So I just, I'm really excited for this year ahead. 00:25:24.328 --> 00:25:25.078 Jennifer-Lee: Yeah, I am too. 00:25:25.078 --> 00:25:29.073 I can't believe we've been doing this for three years and as of August, I've 00:25:29.073 --> 00:25:33.273 known you for four years and whoever thought we'd go on this journey together 00:25:33.663 --> 00:25:35.883 when we met each other back in Dallas. 00:25:35.883 --> 00:25:40.353 So I'm really excited to keep exploring and, and it's really neat. 00:25:40.353 --> 00:25:42.783 I think the thing that I'm taking away this year is like when we go to 00:25:42.783 --> 00:25:47.283 different conferences, even if they're not higher ed specific, people know our 00:25:47.283 --> 00:25:51.123 podcast and it's really cool to see, even though I might not believe them and 00:25:51.123 --> 00:25:53.133 make them pull it up on their app, but. 00:25:54.513 --> 00:25:54.753 Neil McPhedran: I love it. 00:25:54.783 --> 00:25:57.933 Okay, so Jen, we'll be at a few conferences this year and obviously 00:25:57.933 --> 00:26:01.413 we've got Higher Ed PodCon in July. 00:26:01.773 --> 00:26:07.473 We are also going to be going to the London Podcast show. 00:26:07.953 --> 00:26:09.043 Jennifer-Lee: Yeah, I bought my ticket. 00:26:09.043 --> 00:26:09.393 Neil McPhedran: Bought your ticket. 00:26:09.393 --> 00:26:09.633 Good. 00:26:09.633 --> 00:26:14.973 When this episode comes out is during Pod Fest in Orlando. 00:26:15.093 --> 00:26:15.753 Jennifer-Lee: Are you going? 00:26:16.023 --> 00:26:17.223 Neil McPhedran: I'm going to that. 00:26:17.523 --> 00:26:19.143 So hope to see you all there. 00:26:19.143 --> 00:26:20.373 Let us know where you're going. 00:26:20.403 --> 00:26:23.913 'Cause we'll come and we'd love to meet you in person. 00:26:24.483 --> 00:26:27.733 Otherwise, Jen, why don't you read us out. 00:26:28.093 --> 00:26:28.513 Jennifer-Lee: Perfect. 00:26:29.113 --> 00:26:32.053 Thank you for tuning into the Continuing Studies podcast, a podcast 00:26:32.053 --> 00:26:33.793 for higher education podcasters. 00:26:33.793 --> 00:26:37.093 We hope you found this episode informative and inspiring. 00:26:37.393 --> 00:26:40.753 If you enjoyed the show, we encourage you to follow and subscribe to our 00:26:40.753 --> 00:26:44.083 podcast on your preferred platform, so you'll never miss an episode. 00:26:44.083 --> 00:26:47.323 But if you found this episode particularly valuable, please consider 00:26:47.323 --> 00:26:50.303 sharing it with your friends and colleagues who also might be interested 00:26:50.303 --> 00:26:51.893 in higher education podcasts. 00:26:52.103 --> 00:26:55.973 We also invite you to join your peers on HigherEdPods.com, where you can connect 00:26:55.973 --> 00:26:59.843 with other podcasters in higher education and learn from others in the field. 00:26:59.843 --> 00:27:01.733 Thank you for being part of our community. 00:27:01.793 --> 00:27:05.003 We look forward to continuing to bring you valuable insights and conversations 00:27:05.003 --> 00:27:06.713 around higher education podcasts. 00:27:06.743 --> 00:27:08.033 See you in the next episode.