The inaugural Higher Education Podcast Conference (HigherEd PodCon) took place in Chicago, Illinois, on Saturday, July 12th.
RSS.com was not only a founding sponsor of the event, but our own Head of Relationships, Greg Wasserman, was in attendance and also spoke at the conference.
Over 150 people attended the one-day event, held at the University of Illinois Chicago’s campus in the West Loop.
There were 18 sessions, one powerful keynote, one live podcast recording (of course), and plenty of networking and conversations about how podcasting is being leveraged and how it can be leveraged further in Higher Education.
University of Illinois Chicago Executive Vice President and Provost for Student Success and Belonging, and podcaster, Dr. Aisha El-Amin delivered the opening keynote address.
Her powerful message highlighted how podcasting provides a voice, brings communities together, and leaves a lasting legacy.
The event also featured a live recording of the Continuing Studies Podcast for Higher Ed, including a conversation with Stanford professor and host of the popular Think Fast, Talk Smart podcast, Matt Abrahams. He was joined by event co-organizer and podcast producer Neil McPhedran, along with podcast producer and agency owner Jennifer-Lee Gunson.
Matt shared insights into his unexpected journey, remarking that he never imagined becoming an “influencer” at his age or with his background. Yet, the power of podcasting has helped him reach a wide global audience.
With 18 sessions throughout the day, there was plenty to soak in.
Pictured above is Greg Wasserman and Rob Durant, Adjunct Professor at Northeastern University, host and producer of two podcasts (Salestv Live and The Digital Download), and U.S. CEO of The Institute of Sales Professionals, led an incredible session titled “Why Everyone Should Have a Podcast.” They emphasized the power of shifting your mindset from being “just a podcaster” to seeing yourself as a brand.
Speaking to an audience of professionals working in Higher Education, they highlighted why podcasting is a valuable tool for everyone.
Students, they suggested, should have a podcast to build their resumes, expand their networks, open doors to job opportunities, and sharpen their communication skills.
Professors can use podcasting to become thought leaders in their fields, foster connections across shared interests, grow their personal brands, and offer students valuable supplemental content.
They also discussed how universities and departments can leverage podcasting to strengthen relationships with alumni, engage industry partners, amplify internal voices, and much more. The potential impact and return on investment that podcasting offers to the Higher Ed landscape are truly limitless.
In their session titled “Smarter Metrics,” Neil McPhedran and Gregg Oldring broke down how five different listening platforms each define a follow, download, play, and listen differently.
They also shared how to leverage consumption data, especially from platforms like Apple Podcasts, to better understand your audience, their behaviors, and how to interpret the metrics in a meaningful way.
Katie DeFiore, who leads Penn State University’s Dare to Disrupt, a podcast about Penn State alumni, and Alex Greenwood, who hosts the University of Central Missouri’s Central Speaks, a podcast that highlights the people who help propel the university forward, shared valuable insights from their experiences.
They reinforced the perspective presented in Greg Wasserman and Rob Durant’s session that success doesn’t have to be measured by downloads. Instead, the true value of a podcast lies in the relationships you build and the stories you tell. Both podcasters emphasized the power of affinity and how collaborating with other university departments can boost visibility, foster alignment, and share the workload.
They also encouraged creators to rely on their guests, not just for compelling content, but for promotion and community-building. In fact, they argued that a podcast’s greatest value may be the guests themselves. Offering someone a platform and showcasing their story can strengthen relationships, build pride, and create ripple effects throughout the campus and beyond.
Presenters Sarah Holtan and Chris Lewis shared their expertise on the art and strategy of podcast storytelling within higher education. Sarah, host of Get Down to College Business, and Chris, director of graduate programs at the University of Michigan-Flint and host of Victors of Grad School, explored how storytelling can transform institutional podcasts from routine Q&A formats into engaging, purpose-driven conversations.
Key takeaways included the importance of defining a podcast’s strategic goal, using semi-structured questions to foster authentic dialogue, actively listening to guests to uncover richer narratives, and remembering that compelling storytelling not only informs but also humanizes campus voices which ultimately building a stronger brand and deeper listener connection.
Kate Young and Maria Welch took the stage to share their experiences growing and innovating This is Purdue, Purdue University’s flagship podcast.
Kate, serving as the host and executive producer, and Maria, who manages various cross-functional creative and social elements, walked the audience through their journey from campus-wide field shoots to launching a dedicated, state-of-the-art podcast studio.
Key takeaways included their strategic pivot to YouTube as a central distribution channel, the importance of creating timely, SEO-informed content, and practical tips for using affordable tools for production and management.
They emphasized the value of flexible, collaborative processes, the power of vertical video across platforms, and the impact of aligning content releases with culturally relevant moments.
For new or small teams, their advice was to prioritize one or two platforms rather than trying to be everywhere. This approach, they suggested, allows for maximum reach and engagement while still encouraging experimentation and celebrating the unique stories found within higher education.
The event was organized by Elvin Freytes and Joe Sallustio from The EdUp Experience, Gregg Oldring and Neil McPhedran from Podium Podcast Co., and Dean Hoke from Edu Alliance. It was a strong inaugural gathering filled with insightful panels, meaningful connections, and a shared sense of momentum.
The conference clearly demonstrated that the podcasting space is growing. More institutions are exploring how to tell their stories, build community, and create new opportunities through audio.
