“Life is basically a giant podcast, just sometimes you’re not recording”
By Anna Ritchotte
Zachary Barnett, a senior majoring in Communication Studies, has had his own podcasting company called Sixth Man Podcast for three years. He took IUPUI’s Audio Production and Podcasting during the fall semester because he thought the class could help improve his skills.
Barnett has been in radio for five years but learned more about editing a podcast, such as how to monitor audio levels and reduce noise. He said there’s always background noises in your recording environment but it’s all about how to push past it.
“Probably the most important thing I learned was being able to see sound waves in audio production programs,” he said.
The course, which was developed and first taught by instructor Jon Greenhoe in Fall 2021, was the first course at the university that dealt exclusively with podcasting. When instructor David Plough continued the course in Fall 2022, he had no idea of the level of the students’ experience when the class began. The class ended up being divided in half in terms of editing experience.
A student listens to instruction in David Plough’s Podcasting course · Photo by Myra Kivett
“My goal was just at the end of the semester,” Plough elaborated, “that you would feel confident in your abilities to record something, get it on tape, and then feel confident in your ability to lay it together to create a cohesive, coherent product.”
Plough plans to teach the podcasting course again during the fall 2023 semester.
The course, JOUR-J360, is cross listed with Communication Studies (COMM-M465). It will be taught Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:30-2:45 p.m.
DeeDee Gaddie, a senior majoring in Applied Theatre, Film, and Television, said she was glad she took the course.
“It was a great experience,” she said. “I’m glad I took it because it made me get used to my own voice. My classmates and I had a good time together.”
Gaddie said it’s one of the best classes you can take. She learned about editing and measuring how well a podcast is doing. In all, she felt that if she were to begin her own podcast, that she would be equipped.
Reflecting on the class, Barnett remembers a lot of diverse interests among his peers like horror movies, basketball, and talking to people about their careers. He said allowing people to talk about what they want is really cool.
“The class helps you make connections,” he said. “Especially if you struggle making friends, it helps.”
Barnett suggests taking the class as you get a lot of resources out of it and opportunities to discuss your own artistic voice.
“Podcasting is something that anybody can do,” Barnett says. “If you’re someone with a voice and a mic then anybody can do it.”
Anna Ritchotte is a senior majoring in Communication Studies.