During our chat, we talked about:

• How she fell in love with science and ended up Dr. Zakiya Whatley

• How she ended up in podcasting

• What she’s been up to in addition to Dope Labs

• Finding funding for science-related shows

• Teaching science and media literacy to young people

Tell us what you think! Are you curious about how to teach science to adults and young people? Do you want to know how to make an engaging science podcast? Let us know!

Leave a comment

Keep up with Zakiya’s work:

• SciComm Summer Camp is a three-week live virtual program where students in grades 6–12 build and present their own podcast episode. If you’ve got a teen in your life (grades 6–12), this one’s worth a look. SciComm Summer Camp is a three-week live virtual program where students take a science topic they’re curious about and turn it into a real podcast episode — researching, scripting, recording, editing in Descript, and presenting it live to an audience they invite. It’s audio as a skill for thinking clearly and being heard, taught by a PhD scientist and University of Maryland science-communication instructor.

  • Session 2 runs July 14 – August 1, 2026, live on Zoom, capped at 12 students. See what a day looks like: scicommlaunchpad.com/what-happens-at-camp

• Listen to Dope Labs podcast

• Listen to Breakthrough by Boston Children’s Hospital

• Upstream Solutions - Zakiya’s Company

  We help experts — individuals and organizations — make what they know demonstrable, shareable, and actually usable. Sometimes that’s a podcast. Sometimes it’s a training program, a grant that gets funded, a career pivot, a documentation system. The format follows the problem, not the other way around.

• Learn more about Zakiya at http://www.zakiyawhatley.com

🗓️ Upcoming #AudioForAction Lives

• July 9, 12:30-1:15 pm ET / 9:30-10:15 am PT - Interview with Jaha Avery, host of Threshold podcast season: The Corridor.

Get Reminder

📢 Announcement

• Join the 30-Day Podcast Challenge kicking off July 1st! 30 days of practical, actionable prompts to help you build a better podcast — one small improvement at a time. Led by .

Armchair Adventures is a fun-packed, adventure-filled podcast for kids aged 6-8. In each episode you can act, sing and move-along as you embark on a brand-new adventure. You’ll visit magical places, meet extraordinary people and understand the world around you a little better.

Listen

Andy Smith is the Artistic Director of Made by Mortals – the production company for Armchair Adventures, and Vic Elizabeth Turnbull is the Marketing Consultant for Armchair Adventures & Founder, MIC Media.

During our talk, we discussed:

• The kids podcast landscape

• The show’s unique intergenerational approach

• How the show evolved from season 1 to 6

• Partnering with community organizations and charities to develop content

• Marketing and distribution for kids’ shows

• And more!

Take a listen to our conversation and let us know what you think or share what questions you still have about making shows for kids!

Leave a comment

Also, Armchair Adventures will be partnering with the Cystic Fibrosis Trust on an episode. Learn more about the Trust from my newsletter spotlight last month.

Follow Armchair Adventures on: Facebook | Instagram

Keep up with the work of: Made by Mortals | MIC Media

🗓️ Upcoming #AudioForAction Lives

• TODAY! 6/24/26, 2-2:45 pm ET / 11-11:45 am PT / 7-7:45 pm BST - Interview with Zakiya Whatley about science communication in podcasting and beyond.

  Join the conversation!

Some of the things we discussed include:

• Why Saadia started Immigrantly

• Building a media ecosystem

• Finding funding in our current environment

• Audio vs. pivot to video

• Creating an app that helps people belong

We would love to hear your thoughts and questions!

Leave a comment

Check out Immigrantly Media online:

• Website: http://immigrantlypod.com

• Belonging–On Your Own Terms (BOYOT) App: http://studio.com/saadia

🗓️ Upcoming #AudioForAction Lives

• 6/24/26, 2-2:45 pm ET / 11-11:45 am PT - Interview with Zakiya Whatley about science communication in podcasting and beyond.

Get Reminder

We look forward to you joining us for this session! But if you can’t make it live, no problem. Lives are recorded and available for watching afterward. However, if you would like to ask questions—whether for the live or because you can’t attend—please submit in advance by commenting.

Leave a comment

Some of the things we discussed include:

• How they got into audio and impact

• Radio Workshop’s approach to storytelling

• The South African just transition

• What an impact campaign is

• How they built the campaign for “Just Enough Light”

Have you ever created an impact campaign? Chime in about your experience in the comments. And if you have questions about how to build one, let us know!

Leave a comment

More Resources:

• Power to Change: Learning Brief (“Just Enough Light” impact campaign case study)

• How to host a “Listening Party”

• Radio Workshop (FREE) tools and guides

• Climate Story Fund

• Impact Production Guide

And, as Dhashen mentioned, Radio Workshop is partnering with Resonate Podcast Festival to host a festival in Cape Town, February 19-20, 2027. Tickets go on sale July 1st. Learn more about the Resonate Podcast Festival in Cape Town.

🗓️ Upcoming #AudioForAction Lives

• Thursday, June 9th, 1-1:45 pm EST / 10-10:45 am PST Founder & CEO / Host Saadia Khan on building Immigrantly Media.

Get Reminder

• Thursday, June 16, 10-11 am EST / 3-4 pm GMT+1 Andy Smith, Artistic Director of Made by Mortals (creator of Armchair Adventures) and Vic Elizabeth Turnbull, Marketing Consultant for Armchair Adventures & Founder, MIC media on creativity in kids podcasting.

Get Reminder

We discussed:

• The current state of climate and environmental podcasts

• How they each chose to approach climate storytelling

• Challenges facing environmental journalism and podcasting more broadly, and

• Opportunities for climate/environmental shows

We would love to know your thoughts! And if you have more questions, please ask!

Leave a comment

Keep up with Andrea:

• Name & Fame, with Andrea Learned: https://www.andrealearned.com/tag/name-fame-podcast/

• Living Change (2023) podcast archive: https://www.andrealearned.com/tag/living-change-2023/

• Newsletter/Site: https://www.andrealearned.com/

• Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/AndreaLearned

• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/andrealearned.bsky.social

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrealearned/

Keep up with Jordan:

• “Hazard NJ,” a production of NJ Spotlight News/NJ PBS: https://www.njspotlightnews.org/podcasts/hazard-nj/

• “Hazard NYC,” in collaboration with THE CITY: https://projects.thecity.nyc/hazard-nyc/

• Hazard Podcasts website: https://hazardpodcast.com/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jgasspoore/

• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jgasspoore.hazardpodcast.com

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordangasspoore/

🗓️ Upcoming #AudioForAction Lives

• TOMORROW | Tuesday, May 19th, 9:30-10:30 am EST / 3:30-4:30 pm SAST Radio Workshop’s Clémence Petit-Perrot and Dhashen Moodley on the impact campaign for Just Enough Light. Sign up for a reminder.

• Thursday, June 9th, 1-1:45 pm EST / 10-10:45 am PST Founder & CEO / Host Saadia Khan on building Immigrantly Media.

🌎 Happy Earth Day!🌍

This is the perfect day to drop the recording of the interview I had last week with Liz Neeley, Founding Partner at Liminal and co-creator of the USC Storymakers Fellowship, and John Asante, Founder and Creative Director of JKB Wash and Dry Productions, as well as audio instructor for the USC Storymakers Fellowship. More about our guests here.

Some topics we discussed include:

• How the USC Storymakers Fellowship runs

• The challenges facing scientists and faculty interested in creative work

• Misconceptions about public trust in science

• How the fellowship approaches audio storytelling

• Tips for scientists and administrators on how to embrace storytelling

It’s a great conversation, and as you can see from the thumbnail, there’s laughter! Let us know what you think.

Leave a comment

Coming Up from our Guests

• John is teaching a Radio Bootcamp Class on creating an interview podcast in June.

• Liz and the team at Unbreaking publish a weekly newsletter.

  • “Unbreaking is a sensemaking project. We exhaustively follow and fact-check emerging news to build timelines of events. Then we cross-reference and compare our own understandings with in-depth reports and analyses to explain what seems to be happening and why.”

USC Storymakers Program Participant Projects to Check Out

• Dr. Scott Taylor’s podcast ‘Okay, But...Birds’

• Ambika Kamath’s book Feminism in the Wild

• Merritt Turetsky’s book Boglands, which is coming out this fall

• Sue Pierre discussed Critical Ecology Lab on Ologies w/Alie Ward

• Bill Deverell’s podcast Western Edition

• Ben Halpern’s book Blue Gold. The book doesn’t have a web presence yet, but you can learn about his work on Ologies w/ Alie Ward.

• Lisa Graumlich’s Substack Thin Places

Thin Places

Where climate science and moral courage meet

By Lisa Graumlich

• Nyeema Harris’s episode of PBS Wild Hope - “Learning to Coexist with Detroit’s Urban Wildlife”

Looking for more content for Earth Day, check out last week’s newsletter:

Last week, I spoke with Steph Colbourn, Founder & CEO of editaudio and Camille Laurente, Co-Founder & CEO of Hueman Group Media, about building mission-driven audio companies.

Some of the topics we discussed:

• How They Both Got Started in Audio

• Building a Business Around Values

• The Reality of Running a Social Impact Media Company

• Creating a Mission-Aligned Work Culture

• The Future of Podcasting: Video, Discovery, and Creative Reinvention

Our conversation was the perfect way to end the official Women’s History Month. I hope you’ll check out my conversation with these impactful business leaders!

Curious about running a podcast company, especially one that is mission-driven? Submit questions below!

Leave a comment

ICYMI: Back in November, I moderated a panel featuring Camille and Joni Deutsch, SVP of Marketing & Audience Development at Podglomerate, about The State of Social Impact Podcasting. There are some great insights and resources, and the conversation is free to access when you sign up for SoundPath. Unfortunately, Regina Larko could not make the recording but shared some helpful resources.

From Hueman Group Media:

Check out the latest video podcast from Hueman Group Media!

Are you searching for good vibes on the go? Bad news slowing you down? Take a trip with us on the Feel Good Fastlane— your quick ride to a world that doesn’t suck. Join hosts Eliot Schiaparelli and JoiAshanti Watkis as they deliver smile-worthy stories from around the globe. Each episode will leave you feeling good, and knowing good news fast.

From editaudio:

Well…Adjusting was recently featured on Apple Podcasts. Learn more and check out the show!

Join author, actor, and funny lady Robin Hopkins as she helps guests manage stress, set some boundaries, find a new apartment, and save a dime or two. And that’s important because social security is probably gonna be gone by the time you get there. Robin’s disarming, connected, and forthcoming style allows her guests to open up about what’s really behind all that self-sabotaging. Well…Adjusting is not NPR. It’s not credentialed. But it is honest talk about real problems Gen Z’ers and Millennials face today. And did we mention it’s funny?

🗓️ Upcoming #AudioForAction Lives

Save the dates for April Lives!

• 4/17, time TBC - Turning Science Research into Podcast Media with Liz Neeley, Founder of Liminal and co-founder of Unbreaking, and John Asante, Founder and Creative Director of JKB Wash & Dry Productions

• TBC - Podcasting to Save the Planet

Some of the topics we discussed:

• The growing ecosystem of conferences, communities, and initiatives dedicated to podcasting in higher education.

• How professors are integrating podcasts into classrooms.

• The role alumni can play in supporting podcasting at institutions.

• How student podcast opportunities are helping the next generation learn journalism, storytelling, and civic engagement.

• Why podcasting might play a unique role in strengthening democracy in the modern media landscape.

Do you have any higher education-affiliated podcasts to recommend? Are you using podcasts as a teaching tool? Do you think podcasts can help save democracy?

Leave a comment

📑 Resources

Check below to explore the projects, programs, and communities mentioned in this conversation:

• Democracy Works – A podcast from The McCourtney Institute for Democracy exploring how democracy functions and how it can be strengthened, featuring scholars, practitioners, and reformers.

  • Jenna was previously interviewed for Sounds Like Impact about the podcast, When the People Decide, a series also affiliated with The McCourtney Institute. Check it out!

• The Democracy Group – A collaborative network of podcasts focused on civic dialogue and democratic engagement across different perspectives. They are also now on Substack!

  The Democracy Group

  The Democracy Group is a network that creates educational content about democracy. We aim to provide content that can increase curiosity and empathy and use our platform to share the good work of those taking action to strengthen democracy.

• Higher Ed PodCon – A gathering focused on how universities use podcasts for education, outreach, research translation, and alumni engagement.

• H-Net – A scholarly network that hosts conferences and discussions on academic and scholarly podcasting.

• PBS Student Reporting Labs – A national program that trains high school students in journalism and storytelling.

• Democracy Group Student Fellows Program – A mentorship program where high school and college students learn podcasting and produce their own shows about democracy.

• Podcast Brunch Club – A global community that organizes podcast listening groups, similar to a book club for podcasts.

🚨Community News

CALLING ALL PODCASTERS: There is still time to register your podcast for Podcasthon! Podcasthon takes place March 14-20, 2026, and is the perfect opportunity to use podcasting to help a nonprofit and the cause(s) you care about.

Watch a short video about the initiative from co-founder Jeremie Mani in our previous newsletter.

🗓️ Upcoming #AudioForAction Lives

Save the dates for some of our March lives!

• 3/25, 3-3:45 pm ET / 12-12:45 pm PT - Interview with Kristen Hayford and Lisa Koolhoven, creators of Beb & Bob | Collateral Damage

• 3/31, time TBC - Building Mission-Driven Podcast Companies with Steph Colbourn, CEO of editaudio and Camille Laurente, CEO of Hueman Group Media

• Why searching Google is one of the worst ways to find grants (and what to do instead).

• How to rethink your identity as a creator to qualify for far more grants.

• The times of year when funders are most eager to give away money — and how to position yourself to take advantage.

• Steps you can take to find grants and apply.

What has been your experience with grants? Do you have questions? Watch the video and tell us your thoughts!

Leave a comment

🚨Community News

CALLING ALL PODCASTERS: Due to unforeseen circumstances, I was unable to hold a Substack Live with Jeremie Mani, the co-founder of Podcasthon. However, he recorded a short video (~9 minutes) to share about Podcasthon, a fundraising initiative bringing together podcasters and nonprofits.

Podcasthon takes place March 14-20, 2026.

Watch the video to learn more and then participate! https://podcasthon.org/

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🗓️ Upcoming #AudioForAction Lives

Save the dates for some of our March lives!

• 3/25, 3-3:45 pm ET / 12-12:45 pm PT - Interview with Kristen Hayford and Lisa Koolhoven, creators of Beb & Bob | Collateral Damage

• 3/31, time TBC - Building Mission-Driven Podcast Companies with Steph Colbourn, CEO of editaudio and Camille Laurente, CEO of Hueman Group Media

• What Marketing Really Means in Podcasting

• Aligning Promotion With Impact Goals

• Why Social Media Isn’t For Growing Audiences

• Buzz-Building, Podcast Swaps & Live Events

• Budgeting for Promotion (Even If You Have $0)

Do you have marketing questions or insights to share?

Leave a comment

To keep up with Will and Andreea:

• Will Coley | Website - LinkedIn

• Andreea Coscai | Website - LinkedIn

You may also want to check out our friends at and follow for other great advice.

🌟ICYMI

My conversation with on finding funding and making a game plan for grants will also publish this week. Make sure to subscribe to get notified, and share with a friend who has a project that they want to realize!

Subscribe now

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🗓️ Upcoming #AudioForAction Lives

Save the dates for some of our March lives!

• 3/5, 1-1:45 pm ET / 10-10:45 am PT - Podcasting in Higher Education, with Jenna Spinelle, Host and Producer of Democracy Works Podcast

• 3/25, 3-3:45 pm ET / 12-12:45 pm PT - Interview with Kristen Hayford and Lisa Koolhoven, creators of Beb & Bob | Collateral Damage

• 3/31, time TBC - Building Mission-Driven Podcast Companies with Steph Colbourn, CEO of editaudio and Camille Laurente, CEO of Hueman Group Media

• Karen’s career in public radio and podcasting

• What ethical storytelling is and how Karen does it

• Her new show What Takes Root

• …and more!

From Karen

• Karen wrote about Ethical Journalism in her newsletter, Narrative Beat

• Karen shared this Search Engine episode about Trigger Warnings

Other Resources

• Global Center for Journalism and Trauma

• Trans Journalist Association Styleguide

• Solutions Journalism

• Society for Professional Journalists: Reporting Safely and Ethically

Listen to the trailer for What Takes Root: Stories of Resistance and Reclamation and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

And keep up with Karen’s work: LinkedIn | Website

Watch our conversation and let us know what you think!

Do you have any questions or tips related to ethical storytelling? Is there a show you think has done this well?

Leave a comment

🌟ICYMI

Today (2/26), I spoke with Danielle Desir Corbett, podcaster and publisher of about finding and applying to grants. The conversation will be available next week.

🎙️Upcoming #AudioForAction Lives

• 3/3, 4:30-5 pm ET / 1:30-2 pm PT - Using Podcasts to Fundraise for Nonprofits, with Jeremie Mani, Co-Founder of Podcasthon

• 3/5, 1-1:45 pm ET / 10-10:45 am PT - Podcasting in Higher Education, with Jenna Spinelle, Host and Producer of Democracy Works Podcast

• 3/25, 3-3:45 pm ET / 12-12:45 pm PT - Interview with Kristen Hayford and Lisa Koolhoven, creators of Beb & Bob | Collateral Damage

• 3/31, time TBC - Building Mission-Driven Podcast Companies with Steph Colbourn, CEO of editaudio and Camille Laurente, CEO of Hueman Group Media

Some topics we cover in our conversation:

• When a podcast is (and isn’t) the right fit for a nonprofit organization.

• How mission-driven organizations can integrate podcasting into their core programming rather than treating it as a marketing add-on.

• What it takes—financially, operationally, and creatively—to launch and sustain a high-quality nonprofit podcast.

• The behind-the-scenes process of developing a show concept, shaping seasons, and evolving the format over time.

• Real-world lessons on audience growth, paid promotion, partnerships, and stakeholder buy-in.

Looking for more insights? Emily put together a case study about her work with Disrupting Peace. Feel free to reach out to Emily or leave comments with questions.

Have you worked on a nonprofit podcast or are you thinking of starting one? Let us know your thoughts or questions!

Leave a comment

The next season of Disrupting Peace is now publishing!

Season 4 Trailer: Dismantling Misinformation to Get to Peace

Also, check out this episode from the previous season, which was referenced in our conversation: US: Fighting for Academic Freedom in Higher Education.

🌟ICYMI

Today (2/24), I spoke with PodVision Co-Founder Andreea Coscai and Strategist & Producer Will Coley about marketing for social impact podcasts. The conversation will be posted next week!

🎙️Upcoming #AudioForAction Lives

• 2/26, 3-3:45 pm ET / 12-12:45 pm PT - Danielle Desir Corbett: Fund Your Media

• 3/3, 4:30-5 pm ET / 1:30-2 pm PT - Using Podcasts to Fundraise for Nonprofits, with Jeremie Mani, Co-Founder of Podcasthon

• 3/5, 1-1:45 pm ET / 10-10:45 am PT - Podcasting in Higher Education, with Jenna Spinelle, Host and Producer of Democracy Works Podcast

• 3/25, 3-3:45 pm ET / 12-12:45 pm PT - Interview with Kristen Hayford and Lisa Koolhoven, creators of Beb & Bob | Collateral Damage

Some topics we cover in our conversation:

• The definition of mission-driven podcasts

• The leaner and more competitive ecosystem in which podcasters are operating

• The Biggest Challenges: Money, Discoverability, and Support

• How the ROI for social impact shows is different

• The new funding pathways that are emerging

Rekha also shares a bit about a current project she is working on to help mission-driven creators, so you will definitely want to listen for more details.

To follow Rekha’s work, you can visit her website and LinkedIn. Also, if you want to know more about Rekha’s endeavor, Creator Slate, feel free to reach out to her via email at rmurthy@rmurthy.com.

Watch our conversation and let us know what you think!

What are you seeing in the social impact podcast space? What’s been your experience? What support do you think these types of shows need?

Leave a comment

🌟ICYMI

Today (2/17), I spoke with podcast producer Emily Shaw and Bridget Conley, host of Disrupting Peace, about developing podcasts for nonprofits. The conversation will be posted next week!

🎙️Upcoming #AudioForAction Lives

Links to come, but save the dates for our February lives!

• TOMORROW | 2/18/26 - Karen Given: Ethical Storytelling

• 2/24/26 - Will Coley & Andreea Coscai: Social Impact Podcast Marketing

• 2/26/26 - Danielle Desir Corbett: Fund Your Media

I spoke with Wave Maker Media Founder, Adriana Cargill, host of the recently released The Palisades Fire: A Sandcastles Special.

Listen to the trailer and follow wherever you get your podcasts!

You can also follow Wave Maker Media on Instagram @ https://www.instagram.com/wavemaker_media

🎙️Upcoming #AudioForAction Lives

Links to come, but save the dates for our February lives!

• 2/12/26 - Rekha Murthy: Pitching Social Issue Shows

• 2/17/26 - Emily Shaw: Developing Shows for Nonprofits, featuring Bridget Conley - Host of Disrupting Peace

• 2/18/26 - Karen Given: Ethical Storytelling

• 2/24/26 - Will Coley & Andreea Coscai: Social Impact Podcast Marketing

• 2/26/26 - Danielle Desir Corbett: Fund Your Media