Best of CASE District VI Award
 

Institution: Colorado State University

Title of entry: The Audit: CSU launches new podcast series

About this entry: Just as auditing a class provides an opportunity to explore a new subject or field, The Audit podcast allows listeners to explore the latest research and works by Colorado State University faculty. Using conversations with CSU’s experts, the podcast is used not only as an educational tool for audiences, but as a way to highlight CSU’s vast array of experts.

The following two episodes highlight scientific and historical researchers in a relatable and fun way.

In “Don’t call it a ‘migration,’ Colorado’s tarantulas go on walkabouts,” CSU entomologist and Bug Zoo Director Maia Holmes dispels some of the commonly held myths about the annual trek tarantulas take during mating season. It also provided a unique opportunity to highlight the importance of tarantulas to our ecosystem and offer up CSU as a source for media on an annual story that has wide appeal.

With the timely Halloween episode “For this CSU professor, America’s connection to witches is less ‘Hocus Pocus,’ more historical,” the host spoke with CSU history professor Ann Little about our fascination with the witch trials and what a modern-day witch hunt could look like. The podcast was a way to highlight Little’s expertise in early North American history and the history of women, gender, and sexuality. It also was an opportunity to ride the increased wave of interest in witches thanks to the recently released film “Hocus Pocus 2.”