OCTOBER 24, 2024   |   1-5pm

ICA @ VCU 

Undergrad and grad students from Virginia and beyond will convene at the ICA for a day of presentations and career development at Student Podcast Day. This free event will introduce students to the fine details of professional podcast production. This is where you can learn what it really takes to make it in podcasting. 


Production companies will be on-site to review student portfolios, provide feedback and hire interns. Review slots are limited. Are you interested in having your graphic design, journalism or podcast audio editing portfolio reviewed by a professional? Apply below with a link to your portfolio and we’ll notify you if it’s selected for a review. Portfolio submission deadline is Oct. 15.

THURSDAY October 24th

1:00 PM 

Mallory Noe-Payne - Just Make the Dang Thing

Sometimes when you have a great idea, the hardest part is just to start. So, how do you take what’s in your head and translate it into a real live audio file other people can listen to? Mallory breaks down the audio production process, alongside tips and tricks for getting the momentum started.  Let’s get you ready to take your great ideas, and make them into something tangible you can share with an audience.

2:00 PM 

Lynn Casper - Choose Your Own Adventure: Navigating Careers in Audio 

Welcome to your career journey, where countless paths await your exploration. Which one will you choose? In this session, you’ll discover the diverse opportunities available within the audio industry. Together, we’ll explore the unique routes others have taken and delve into the tools, resources, and communities that can help guide you toward a fulfilling and meaningful career.

3:00 PM 

Max Wasserman - Networking Doesn't Have to be a Dirty Word

If you’re like me, the word “networking" conjures up mixed feelings. Embarrassment, actually. I’ve humiliated myself repeatedly throughout my career. But along the way, I’ve learned important lessons about what does and doesn’t work when it comes to cultivating professional connections. Things like, what does networking actually look like? What are we getting wrong about it? And how can you make it feel less boring? We’re told it’s not what you know, but who you know. This talk unpacks some clear dos and don’ts in an attempt to make the “who” a touch less awkward.

4:00 PM 

Ellen Horne - Kick The Door Open


How do you go from obsessed listener to a career in podcasting? From volunteer to Executive Producer, Ellen's career trajectory offers some lessons for the aspirational job seeker. Once she arrived at her first dream job, she recruited, selected and cultivated more than a few of today's big names in the world of audio journalism. She shares her insights as a podcasting talent scout, mentor and hiring manager -- tips that might help do more than simply get a foot in the door.

PRESENTERS

Lynn Casper is a Program Manager at the Association of Independents in Radio (AIR) focused on supporting and empowering independent audio producers and podcasters. In this role, Casper leads fellowship programs and membership initiatives that provide valuable resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities for creators in the audio industry. Casper is also the founder of the long-running queer music podcast, Homoground, which is now an incubator for queer creatives across the globe. Outside of the digital realm, Casper resides in Raleigh, NC and enjoys being in nature and water. 
Mallory Noe-Payne is a radio journalist based in Richmond. She's covered policy and politics from the state capital for Virginia’s NPR stations since 2016. She was a 2020-2021 recipient of the Fulbright Young Journalist Award. She spent a year in Munich, Germany researching memory, justice, and how a society can collectively confront its sins, then creating the acclaimed podcast Memory Wars. Her Virginia-based coverage of home healthcare workers, voting rights, and Richmond’s Slave Trail have all won national news awards.
Max Wasserman is a freelance audio producer based in Richmond, VA. His audio journey began while recording a 1500-pound wind chime on the roof of his college campus. Since then, he’s helped produce podcasts for Audible, South by Southwest, Audiation, The Oliver Sacks Foundation, and NPR affiliates. Currently, he teaches intro to podcasting at Virginia Commonwealth University. He is also the lead producer on RVAs Got Issues, a current affairs podcast from Virginia Public Media. When he’s not working, Max loves to be outdoors, make pizza, and give smoochies to his dog, Cookie.

Ellen Horne is the director of NYU’s audio journalism master’s program. A founding producer of Radiolab, she played a key role shaping its groundbreaking sound before departing in 2015 to launch Audible’s Originals. Ellen’s work spans investigative reporting, international podcasting—particularly in China—and creative production, with a focus on expanding the boundaries of narrative audio. She is a multi-disciplinary storyteller, blending her expertise as a reporter, producer, theatrical director, and story editor to craft compelling narratives across genres. When not working, she can be found covered in clay, hunched over a pottery wheel.

THANKS TO OUR STUDENT PODCAST DAY PARTNERS AND SPONSORS