HigherEd PodCon today announced the finalists for its inaugural HigherEd PodCon Awards, recognizing outstanding achievement across five categories in higher education podcasting. The announcement marks a significant milestone for the growing community of educators, administrators, students, and independent creators who are using audio storytelling to advance the mission of higher education.
Organized by the co-founders of HigherEd PodCon, of which Dean Hoke of Small College America is a co-founder, created the awards program to formally recognize the innovation and impact of higher education podcasting. The response from the community was exceptional: 155 nominations were received, representing the higher education podcast community.
Outstanding Podcast Series
“Where What If Becomes What’s Next” (Carnegie Mellon University) - Randy Scott
“Lab Coat Optional” (Arizona State University Knowledge Enterprise) - Pete Zrioka
“Policy and Governance Perspectives” (George Mason University) - David Ramadan
Episode of the Year
“Individual Choices, Challenges, and Social Changes” Series: Good Is In The Details - Gwendolyn Dolske (Cal Poly Pomona) and Rudy Salo (Chapman University)
“Sounds of College Life with Stage Left” Series: Sounds of College Life Podcast, (Miami University) - Maggie Snee
“Rest Matters” (Worcester Polytechnic Institute) - Colleen Wamback featuring Stacy Shaw.
Outstanding Student-Led Podcast
“Major Insight” (Miami University) - Submitted by James Loy
“The Bridge” (University College London) - Submitted by Indianna Dimmer
“Madison Science Mystery Tour” (WSUM, University of Wisconsin–Madison) Submitted by Nalina Cherr
“Curing the Curriculum: Students’ Take on Medical Education” (University of Groningen, Netherlands) - Submitted by Ulf Ebeling
Podcaster of the Year
Garret Castleberry, (Mid-America Christian University) - Host of “Special Topics in Media”
Kimberlé Crenshaw, (Columbia Law School and UCLA School of Law) - Host of “Intersectionality Matters!”
Lolita Cummings, (Eastern Michigan University) - Host of “Enlighten U”
Kate Young, (Purdue University) - Host of “This Is Purdue”
Outstanding Institutional Podcast Network
Dragon Podcasts (Howard Community College)
This Is UIC Podcast Network (University of Illinois Chicago)
Wharton Podcast Network (Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania)
LCC Connect — (Lansing Community College)
About HigherEd PodCon
HigherEd PodCon is the premier conference dedicated to podcasting in higher education. The event brings together creators, educators, communications professionals, and institutional leaders to share best practices, explore innovation, and celebrate the power of audio storytelling in advancing higher education’s mission.
Award winners will be announced at HigherEd PodCon 2026, taking place July 16–17 in Cleveland, Ohio at Cuyahoga Community College. For more information and to register, visit www.higheredpodcon.com.
What is Small College America?
Small College America is a podcast series that presents critical discussions at the forefront by interviewing small college higher education leaders, policy experts, and innovators. The podcast will delve into the evolving role of small colleges, their economic impact, innovative strategies for sustainability, and how they can continue to provide a highly personalized educational experience. The series is co-hosted by Dean Hoke, Co-Founder of Edu Alliance Group and a Senior Fellow with the Sagamore Institute, and Kent Barnds, Executive Vice President for Strategy & Innovation and Vice President of Enrollment & Communication for Augustana College.