COM-versations has covered a lot in its first year. From faculty and student interviews to re-connecting with alumni, the podcast has grown exponentially.
Why did Reggie Redbird cross the road? To show the chicken how it’s done! Dr. Lance Lippert, professor of communication studies, brings a playful energy to every episode. Known for his classic Reggie Redbird jokes in each episode, he co-hosts the podcast along with Julie Navickas ’07, M.S. ’10, ’18, director of student success and recruitment.
“It’s honestly the best part of my job,” she said. “I’m lucky to have the opportunity to co-host with Dr. Lance Lippert. He brings the jokes and fun, and I reel him in and keep a lid on the nonsense. We make a great team.”
The School of Communication is always looking for new ways to connect with others, so launching a podcast was logical.
“One of my many roles in the School of Communication focuses on recruiting new Redbirds,” Navickas said. “And I thought, what better way is there to help future students get a feel for our culture and personality in communication than a podcast?”
The podcast serves as an archive, allowing listeners the opportunity to learn about all things School of Communication.
Dr. Steve Hunt, former director of the School of Communication and the very first guest on COM-versations, endorsed the project.
“The COM-versations podcast was an important addition to our efforts to communicate with students,” Hunt said. “This podcast was created to give students compelling insights on faculty, alumni, and other relevant events in the School of Communication. Together with Lance Lippert, Julie Navickas provides an entertaining and informative podcast that has been well received by all in the school.”
Dr. Aimee Miller-Ott, interim director of the School of Communication also likes the podcast. Miller-Ott was featured on episode three of season one.
“Every student needs to listen to this podcast,” she said. “You will learn about our majors, hear tips from current students, learn about ways to get involved in the school, and hear from recent graduates about how their Redbird experience set them up for success. And you can get all of that information while laughing at the hilarious exchanges between Lance and Julie.”
In one year, hosts Navickas and Lippert have provided an entertaining experience for guests and listeners alike. In honor of one year, here’s a recap of each season and its guests.
Season One
Season one of COM-versations was a “Redbirds-eye-view” of faculty/staff and their contributions to the school. Each guest talked about their lives outside of academics as well.
Dr. John Baldwin, professor of communication studies, was the guest on episode 12, the last episode of season one. “It was great being on the show,” he said. “It was nice sharing about our internationalization possibilities. I especially enjoyed interacting with Lance and Julie—it was a lot of fun.”
Season Two
Season two shifted gears and focused on student involvement in the School of Communication. Guests included students in registered student organizations (RSOs) and faculty advisors. The president of the Association for Women in Communications (AWC) Kenzie Reimers was featured on episode four.
“Julie and Lance were so fun to work with,” she said. “I am always happy to talk about AWC and bring awareness to those who don’t know about it. I hope students listen to COM-versations to learn more about their professors and the experiences of current and former students.”
Season Three
Season three (still in the works) focuses on School of Communication alumni and their lives post-graduation. As a guest speaker for the Career COM-petency program and a guest on episode three of the podcast, Paige Honegger ’19, made her mark in Fell Hall. Honegger is an accessibility design consultant for startup companies and works in user experience design for UL Solutions.
“Learning from other people’s experiences, successes, and failures helps you make better decisions,” she said. “If I have already figured out something, then I want to share it because I love the idea of helping people be better than me. This season is great because it’s past Redbirds so you can listen and know they started with the same educational background as you.”
There is still a lot to learn about the School of Communication, and Navickas and Lippert are just getting started.
“It’s pretty special,” Lippert said. “We get to talk about the School of Communication and how students can learn and grow. The podcast is a source of information and entertainment, and we get to share good news about the people we care about.”
The creation of the COM-versations podcast was a team effort. Kyah Joseph ’23 created the COM-versations logo and transcribes every episode along with Kate Boutilier ’07, M.S. ’10, academic advisor. David Allen ’23 and WZND created the intro and outro music.
Season four will focus on pedagogy. Listeners will learn more about the School of Communication’s faculty and their approach to teaching. Season four is expected to release in fall 2024.
COM-versations is available on Spotify and can also be found on the School of Communication website.
