Podcasting in a pandemic: reflecting on two years of learning and sharing knowledge through the Canadian Mountain Podcast

This episode explores the behind-the-scenes work that goes into producing a CPI series: the Canadian Mountain Podcast.

As the Canadian Mountain Podcast completed its fourth season in Spring 2022, the series had officially spent half of its time recording remotely in a pandemic. What the team hoped would be a temporary means of production became a well-oiled machine over the past two years, with the podcasting team producing at least a dozen podcast episodes over the past two years that have reached thousands of listeners in more than 100 countries worldwide. For the podcast team’s outgoing senior students, the vast majority of their work was remote since joining the team in Summer 2020. In this podcast episode, they reflect on the technical and editorial skills learned in developing and producing a podcast in a pandemic, the role of podcasting in knowledge mobilization, and the unexpected ways they’re using their remote skills outside of making podcasts.

To learn more about the Community Podcast Initiative, you can visit the website at thepodcaststudio.ca or on social media at @communitypodyyc.

Panelists

Meg Wilcox (senior producer, roundtable host)

Meg Wilcox is an assistant professor in the School of Communication Studies at Mount Royal University and co-director of the Community Podcast Initiative.

Kyle Napier (senior producer)

Kyle Napier is a Dene/nêhiyaw Métis university instructor, media-maker, researcher and PhD student from Tthebacha, Denendeh beyé (Fort Smith, Northwest Territories).

Gabrielle Pyska (research assistant & podcast producer)

Gabrielle Pyska is a graduate of MRU’s Journalism and Digital Media program and is currently working as MRU Library’s Podcasting and Media Support Specialist.

Eric Tanner (research assistant & podcast producer)

Eric Tanner is a graduate of MRU’s Journalism and Digital Media program, currently freelancing in journalism and audio production.

Ethan Ward (research assistant & podcast producer)

Ethan Ward is a graduate of Mount Royal University’s Journalism and Digital Media program and currently working as a research assistant at MRU, investigating COVID-19’s influence on Canada’s park systems.