An academic history podcast becoming a massive hit sounds unlikely. But Dr. Greg Jackson’s success shows that depth, consistency, and craft can find a huge audience.

In this episode of Continuing Studies, Neil and Jen talk with Dr. Greg Jackson, creator and host of History That Doesn’t Suck, about taking history beyond the ivory tower without sacrificing rigour. Greg shares how storytelling, consistency, and a clear sense of purpose shape his long-form, deeply researched approach. They also get into the work behind the show, resisting podcast trends, and why making knowledge more accessible doesn’t have to mean making it less substantial.

Episode Links:

• Listen to History That Doesn't Suck
• Connect with Greg Jackson
• Buy Greg's Book: Been There, Done That: How Our History Shows What We Can Overcome

Connect with Us:

• Share Feedback & Ask Questions: hello@continuingstudiespodcast.com
• Learn More: Continuing Studies Podcast
• Follow: Continuing Studies LinkedIn Page
• Join LinkedIn Group: University Podcasters Network
• Connect w/ Jen: LinkedIn or jpodcreations@gmail.com
• Connect w/ Neil: LinkedIn or neil@podiumpodcastco.com
• Twitter: @namcphedran / @podiumpodcastco
• Youtube
• HigherEdPods

Chapters:

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (03:18) - Meet Dr. Greg Jackson
• (03:40) - Media disruption and the rise of podcasting
• (06:18) - The episode production process
• (06:41) - From tenure track to podcasting
• (08:42) - Taking history beyond the ivory tower
• (10:43) - Making rigorous history accessible
• (13:06) - What drove the show’s growth
• (16:56) - Scaling the show with a small team
• (18:41) - Writing, research, and production
• (21:19) - Why following the rules can make you generic
• (22:16) - Staying true to your strengths
• (25:35) - Advice for academics starting a podcast
• (27:01) - Using popular culture to spark historical curiosity
• (28:43) - Conclusion

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 Lounge
• Connect with Emily

Connect with Us:

• Share Feedback & Ask Questions: hello@continuingstudiespodcast.com
• Learn More: Continuing Studies Podcast
• Follow: Continuing Studies LinkedIn Page
• Join LinkedIn Group: University Podcasters Network
• Connect w/ Jen: LinkedIn or jpodcreations@gmail.com
• Connect w/ Neil: LinkedIn or neil@podiumpodcastco.com
• Twitter: @namcphedran / @podiumpodcastco
• Youtube
• HigherEdPods

Chapters:

• (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 DELTA
• Connect with Mary Ellen Wiltrout
• Listen to Beyond Biology
• Listen to our episode with Brett Paci of MIT OpenCourseWare

Connect with Us:

• Share Feedback & Ask Questions: hello@continuingstudiespodcast.com
• Learn More: Continuing Studies Podcast
• Follow: Continuing Studies LinkedIn Page
• Join LinkedIn Group: University Podcasters Network
• Connect w/ Jen: LinkedIn or jpodcreations@gmail.com
• Connect w/ Neil: LinkedIn or neil@podiumpodcastco.com
• Twitter: @namcphedran / @podiumpodcastco
• Youtube
• HigherEdPods

Chapters:

• (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 belong

Episode Links:

• Learn more about Helix at the University of Leeds
• Connect with Kerr, Abigail or Krissie
• Listen to Part 1 with Abigail Harrison Moore
• Listen to Part 2 with Krissie Brighty-Glover
• Listen to the Whose Power Podcast

Connect with Us:

• Share Feedback & Ask Questions: hello@continuingstudiespodcast.com
• Learn More: Continuing Studies Podcast
• Follow: Continuing Studies LinkedIn Page
• Join LinkedIn Group: University Podcasters Network
• Connect w/ Jen: LinkedIn or jpodcreations@gmail.com
• Connect w/ Neil: LinkedIn or neil@podiumpodcastco.com
• Twitter: @namcphedran / @podiumpodcastco
• Youtube
• HigherEdPods

Chapters:

• (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 Rudy
• Good is in the Details

Connect with Us:

• Share Feedback & Ask Questions: hello@continuingstudiespodcast.com
• Learn More: Continuing Studies Podcast
• Follow: Continuing Studies LinkedIn Page
• Join LinkedIn Group: University Podcasters Network
• Connect w/ Jen: LinkedIn or jpodcreations@gmail.com
• Connect w/ Neil: LinkedIn or neil@podiumpodcastco.com
• Twitter: @namcphedran / @podiumpodcastco
• Youtube
• HigherEdPods

Chapters:

• (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 ShopTalk
• Connect with Sophie White

Connect with Us:

• Share Feedback, Suggestions, & Ask Questions: hello@continuingstudiespodcast.com
• Learn More: Continuing Studies Podcast
• Follow: Continuing Studies LinkedIn Page
• Join LinkedIn Group: University Podcasters Network
• Connect w/ Jen: LinkedIn or jpodcreations@gmail.com
• Connect w/ Neil: LinkedIn or neil@podiumpodcastco.com
• Twitter: @namcphedran / @podiumpodcastco
• Youtube
• HigherEdPods

Chapters:

• (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

How do you turn a research idea into a podcast that is clear, credible, and actually doable?

In part two of our three-part series on how collaborative research podcasts get made, Neil and Jen talk with Krissie Brighty-Glover from Research Podcasts about the process they use to bring academic audio to life. Part one explored a real research podcast from the academic’s perspective; this episode looks at the production side, from shaping the initial idea to supporting funding applications, training researchers, booking guests, editing, distribution, and accessibility. They also get into the “beauty and the beast” of podcasting, why good support can help researchers focus on their expertise, and how collaborative podcasting can elevate voices, create impact, and make research more accessible beyond traditional academic outputs.

Episode Links:

• Research Podcasts
• Connect with Krissie Brighty-Glover
• Listen to Part 1 with Abigail Harrison Moore

Connect with Us:

• Share Feedback & Ask Questions: hello@continuingstudiespodcast.com
• Learn More: Continuing Studies Podcast
• Follow: Continuing Studies LinkedIn Page
• Join LinkedIn Group: University Podcasters Network
• Connect w/ Jen: LinkedIn or jpodcreations@gmail.com
• Connect w/ Neil: LinkedIn or neil@podiumpodcastco.com
• Twitter: @namcphedran / @podiumpodcastco
• Youtube
• HigherEdPods

Chapters:

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (03:37) - Research Podcasts’ model
• (06:12) - Funding and impact
• (08:00) - Training researchers
• (10:23) - Production support
• (12:10) - The Editing Process
• (13:53) - Podcast literacy for researchers
• (15:27) - Co-creation in research
• (17:35) - Podcasts as research outputs
• (18:26) - Rethinking impact
• (20:14) - Centralizing university podcasts
• (24:33) - Networks and discoverability
• (25:38) - Advice for researchers
• (27:49) - Conclusion

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 Fun
• Follow Archaeology Books Are Fun
• Connect with Barbara
• Connect with Tristan

Connect with Us:

• Share Feedback & Ask Questions: hello@continuingstudiespodcast.com
• Learn More: Continuing Studies Podcast
• Follow: Continuing Studies LinkedIn Page
• Join LinkedIn Group: University Podcasters Network
• Connect w/ Jen: LinkedIn or jpodcreations@gmail.com
• Connect w/ Neil: LinkedIn or neil@podiumpodcastco.com
• Twitter: @namcphedran / @podiumpodcastco
• Youtube
• HigherEdPods

Chapters:

• (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