On Day 2 of the Advent calendar, we turn our attention from generative AI to the use of podcasting. Students from the University of Glasgow reflect on their experience of group podcasting and the key insights learned in creating one. There is a link to the podcast here and also at the end of the post.
Empowering Youth Voices: Student-Led Podcasts Advocating for Nature Rewilding
Jesse Wynn, Hui En Reiko Chua, Tabitha McLean, Yixin Zhang and Mack Belch (University of Glasgow Economics students)
In this blog post, we reflect on our experience and key insights we gained from our group podcast project for the course Environmental Economics (ECON4011) taught by Dr Paulina Navrouzoglou. Tasked with discovering and documenting a real-world example of nature’s remarkable recovery, our goal was to produce an inspiring audio documentary that highlights themes of hope and renewal, encouraging listeners to think critically about similar initiatives by posing the question: “Why Not Us?”.
Creating our podcast improved our communication and organization skills, enhanced our ability to host engaging discussions, and refined our digital skills. Storyboarding helped us structure a story logically, while engaging the audience emotionally incorporating pivotal episodes to resonate with listeners. Unlike traditional written assessments, podcasts require spontaneity and adaptability, allowing to showcase our personal style and voice. This makes podcasts a much more engaging assessment format, as openly discussing the various processes involved in creating a podcast with peers fostered a deeper understanding. The less strictly structured format also provided a chance to express creativity. Additionally, the need to directly connect with listeners is not something offered in many traditional assessment styles, honing another aspect of effective communication skills. By incorporating multiple viewpoints in our story, we captured listeners’ attention and made them feel part of the conversation. Resonating emotionally with them required creativity in audio, so we added depth by incorporating protagonist’s inner thoughts, using distinct voices to reflect their non-native English background and distinguish them from the narrator. Background sounds, such as bird calls and flowing water, enhanced their emotional immersion. These elements ultimately shaped a meaningful narrative and strengthened our commitment to sustainability advocacy.
Working in a group of diverse peers fostered collaboration, testing our communication skills and encouraging a deeper exploration of our topic. We discovered each team member’s strengths and delegated tasks accordingly: with some team members focusing on editing, while others took on hosting and narrating. This enhanced our overall teamwork and significantly helped us develop more efficient and harmonious ways to communicate and work with others, ultimately improving both our experience and the outcome.
Creating the podcast also provided a unique platform to voice our perspectives and engaged with critical topics like nature rewilding. We found podcasts to be an ideal medium for reaching a young audience—being far more dynamic and engaging than reading an article or textbook. The experience was impactful and gave us a new perspective on the power of individuals to impact sustainability. We explored inspiring examples of nature’s resilience, from Jadav Payeng’s forest project to everyday actions like using reusable bags. These stories reinforced our hope that positive change is possible, as long as we’re willing to try. It’s therefore essential for young people to have a voice on these issues, as they will ultimately face the consequences of today’s environmental decisions. Early engagement with such issues can help build a lasting commitment to the planet, empowering young people and future generations to advocate for positive change.
Creating a group podcast was not only an informative experience but also an enjoyable and collaborative project that strengthened our team’s bond. We encourage other educators to incorporate group podcast assessments—it’s a fantastic way to dive deeply into challenging topics, sharpen communication skills, and develop digital skills. Beyond these benefits, the process of creating podcasts with peers is fun and rewarding, offering a unique platform to share perspectives and make meaningful contributions to society.
We invite you to let your students choose a topic they’re passionate about and record a podcast on it—you may be surprised by how much they learn and achieve in the process. You can listen to our podcast here.
Festive Song: White Christmas
On Day 2, we go with White Christmas for our festive song. This time Ella Fitzgerald injects a little jazz swing into the traditional version. 🎷🎵
Lead editor: Colin Mack
Editors: Louise Sheridan, Shaun Bremner-Hart & Edward Beggan