In January 2021, OCU’s Mass Communications department began creating and releasing the podcast OCU Star Beat. The podcast’s description states its purpose is “Providing stellar student to student insights about the Oklahoma City University community.”
Since its beginning, there have been ten total episodes released.
Episodes feature a wide variety of topics and students from varied majors. Episodes have featured leadership advice, conversations with members of SGA, the experiences of campus athletes, student perspectives on mental health, as well as others.
Jane Goto, senior marketing and management major, hosts the podcast. Goto provided information about the podcast’s origin, its creative process, content selection, production, and future.
Asked why she began hosting, Goto said “I was asked if I would like to host the Star Beat Podcast and I jumped at the opportunity because hosting a Podcast is something I have always wanted to do as a content creator.”
Goto, who is the primary creator of podcast content, explained how she selects new episode topics. Goto said “I decide which topics to talk about based on what I feel OCU students struggle with and need to hear. Sometimes it’s the things nobody is talking about that need the most conversation.”
Goto also selects OCU students to interview for each podcast episode. “I decide which students to interview based on someone I believe has a lot of knowledge and a lot to say on that given topic,” Goto said.
Dr. Beth Adele supervises Goto’s work but has granted Goto creative freedom in selecting episode topics and preparing the interviews.
Asked about how each podcast is created, and how long recording and production requires, Goto said “Recording each episode takes about 45 minutes maximum and then editing each episode can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on the episode.”
Finally, Goto described her vision for the future of the OCU Star Beat Podcast. Goto said “My vision for the future of this Podcast is to continue having tough, yet inspiring and relatable conversations that hit home for many students.”
Goto continued, “I want the podcast to help them know they are not alone, and they are not the only ones struggling. It is amazing how much you can relate and learn from someone you have never spoken to. College is a fun, crazy, yet challenging time, but we’re all in this together.”
Click here to access the podcast: Star Beat
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