
How can podcasting bring diverse voices and forms of academic work to a larger audience? Neil and Jen sit down with Will Brehm, creator of FreshEd, to talk about how a decade of academic podcasting has evolved from a simple interview show into a broader platform for research, storytelling, and new voices. Will shares how FreshEd grew into a multi-show network, why moving beyond English-language content matters, and what he’s learned experimenting with formats like narrative series and audio journals. The conversation digs into bigger questions, too: what it would take for podcasting to be recognized as legitimate scholarly output, how institutions can start to value non-traditional research, and why building an audience is just as important as creating the work itself. It’s a thoughtful look at where academic podcasting is today and where it needs to go. Episode Links: Connect with Will | Bio | LinkedIn FreshEd Connect with Us Share Feedback & Ask Questions: hello@continuingstudiespodcast.com Learn More: Continuing Studies Podcast Follow: Continuing Studies LinkedIn Page Join LinkedIn Group: University Podcasters Network Connect w/ Jen: LinkedIn or jpodcreations@gmail.com Connect w/ Neil: LinkedIn or neil@podiumpodcastco.com Twitter: @namcphedran / @podiumpodcastco Youtube HigherEdPods Higher Ed Pod Con Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction (04:31) - Fresh Ed’s Mission and Making Research Accessible (08:15) - Will & Fresh Ed’s Journey (14:42) - Flux and Putting Students at the Center (14:56) - The Thinking Ear and the Idea of an Audio Journal (19:13) - Funding, Open Access, and Staying Ad-Free (22:22) - Advice for Recognizing Podcasting as Research Output (25:44) - Lessons Learned After 10 Years of Podcasting (27:51) - What Needs to Change for Podcasting in Academia (32:45) - Conclusion Join us at Higher Ed Pod Con in Cleveland, OH, July 16 - 17 2026 Sign up by May 29 for Early Bird Pricing