HigherEd PodCon Announces Finalists for Inaugural Higher Education Podcasting Awards

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.

Category 1: Outstanding Podcast Series

This award recognizes a podcast that demonstrates excellence in storytelling, consistency, audience engagement, and overall impact in higher education communications.

“Where What If Becomes What’s Next” — Carnegie Mellon University

Hosted by James Zackal

Explores how breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, robotics, healthcare, and energy are shaping the future, while making complex research understandable and relevant to everyday audiences.

“Lab Coat Optional” — Arizona State University Knowledge Enterprise

Hosted by Pete Zrioka

Focuses on translating publicly funded research into accessible conversations that help strengthen scientific literacy and public trust in higher education research.

“Policy and Governance Perspectives” — George Mason University

Hosted by Philip Wilkerson

Brings policy discussions to life through conversations with national leaders, public officials, and scholars, helping listeners better understand government, public service, and policymaking.

Category 2: Episode of the Year

This award recognizes an individual podcast episode that demonstrates exceptional storytelling, creativity, impact, and audience engagement.

“Individual Choices, Challenges, and Social Changes” — Good Is In The Details

Hosted by Gwendolyn Dolske (Cal Poly Pomona) and Rudy Salo (Chapman University)

Explores how major social problems are often framed as matters of individual responsibility, while encouraging listeners to think more deeply about structural change, public policy, and civic engagement.

“Sounds of College Life with Stage Left” — Sounds of College Life Podcast, Miami University

Hosted by Maggie Snee

Uses immersive audio storytelling to place listeners inside a student-run theater production, capturing the creativity, risk-taking, and sense of belonging that define the college experience.

“Rest Matters” — Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Hosted by Colleen Wamback

Features Stacy Shaw, Assistant Professor of Social Science and Policy Studies, exploring the importance of rest, well-being, and preventing burnout with research-based insights especially relevant for students.

Category 3: Outstanding Student-Led Podcast

This award recognizes podcasts in which students play a leading role in content creation, production, storytelling, and audience engagement.

“Major Insight” — Miami University

Submitted by James Loy

Places students at the center of the storytelling process, with students serving as hosts, producers, and creative contributors while sharing authentic conversations about college life, personal growth, and campus experiences.

“The Bridge” — University College London

Submitted by Indianna Dimmer

Produced through the UCL Student Union, with students selecting topics, hosting conversations, coordinating guests, and leading promotional efforts across the university community.

“Madison Science Mystery Tour” — WSUM, University of Wisconsin–Madison

Submitted by Nalina Cherr

Hosted, edited, and directed by a student, the podcast makes scientific research approachable and engaging while highlighting the diverse experiences and passions of researchers across campus.

“Curing the Curriculum: Students’ Take on Medical Education” — University of Groningen, Netherlands

Submitted by Ulf Ebeling

Produced entirely by medical students, the podcast explores medical education through student-led interviews, research, editing, publishing, and social media engagement.

Category 4: Podcaster of the Year

This award recognizes an individual whose leadership, creativity, storytelling, and overall contribution have had a significant impact on higher education podcasting.

Garret Castleberry, Mid-America Christian University

Host of “Special Topics in Media”

Through innovative teaching, multimedia storytelling, and podcast-driven classroom engagement, Garret has helped position podcasting as both an educational tool and a platform for student and faculty voices.

Kimberlé Crenshaw, Columbia Law School and UCLA School of Law

Host of “Intersectionality Matters!”

Her podcast explores structural inequality, social justice, and intersectionality through thoughtful conversations that connect academic scholarship with public discourse.

Lolita Cummings, Eastern Michigan University

Host of “Enlighten U”

Created in response to growing student mental health concerns following the pandemic, the podcast combines student stories and expert perspectives to promote awareness, support, and well-being across campus communities.

Maria Welch, Purdue University

Host of “This Is Purdue”

Through strategic storytelling, audience engagement, and innovative digital production, Maria has helped expand the podcast’s reach to millions of listeners and viewers worldwide while elevating Purdue’s voice in higher education.

Category 5: Outstanding Institutional Podcast Network

This award recognizes a higher education institution that has built a cohesive, strategic podcast ecosystem demonstrating institutional commitment, a diversity of voices, and meaningful impact both on campus and beyond.

Dragon Podcasts — Howard Community College

What began as a passion project has grown into an award-winning network of eight active shows built around a student-first mission. By employing work-study interns in scriptwriting, digital marketing, and engineering, Dragon Podcasts serves as both a storytelling platform and a career readiness pathway.

This Is UIC Podcast Network — University of Illinois Chicago

Built around the question “What’s your why?”, the network elevates t...