CDI College: Pivoting your Podcast

Unpack the lessons learned from a college podcast's strategic pivot and adapting to change. Join hosts Jennifer-Lee Gunson and Neil McPhedran in a thought -provoking conversation with Laura Guzman, the director of Community Relations for Campus Support at CDI College. Explore their strategic pivot of the "Pick Me Up Podcast," from a covid-era mental health focus into "Career Buzz", which highlights different career options accessible through CDI’s programming. Learn about the strategic integration of their podcast into their campus app, creating a more accessible platform for students and faculty to discover and listen. Explore the power of podcasting as a tool for evergreen content creation and discover the significance of leveraging diverse distribution channels to engage students and beyond.Laura's candid story of her journey with CDI’s podcast offers wisdom for aspiring podcasters and higher education professionals seeking innovative ways to bridge connections and share impactful stories.Chapter Time Stamps(00:00:00) IntroductionHosts Jennifer-Lee and Neil McPhedran welcome listeners and  provide a brief overview of the topics covered in this episode.(00:01:22) Introduction to Laura GuzmanJen introduces Laura Guzman, the Director of Community Relations for Campus Support at CDI College, and  Laura shares the origins of CDI College's podcast as a mental health platform during the pandemic and how it evolved into the insightful "Career Buzz."(00:04:29) Strategic Rebranding and Target Audience ShiftLaura discusses the decision to rebrand the podcast, based on data-driven insights that highlighted successful episodes featuring alumni and industry professionals.(00:08:30) Unique Programming at CDI CollegeJen & Laura chat about the market - based programs available at CDI, and the opportunities they provide students with.(00:11:21) Integration of Podcasts into Campus AppThe conversation shifts to the innovative integration of the podcast into CDI College's campus app.(00:12:18) Making Podcasts Accessible on Multiple PlatformsLaura & Neil emphasize the importance of making the podcast available on various platforms, ensuring accessibility to both the CDI College community and the general public.(00:14:16) Tips for Starting a Podcast in Higher EducationLaura shares valuable insights for aspiring higher education podcasters, emphasizing the significance of professional expertise and product quality.(00:17:27) Strategic Distribution ChannelsNeil asks about the strategy and variety of distribution channels to amplify engagement.(00:20:00) Wrap-up and ConclusionJen & Neil highlight their key takeaways from the episode (00:00) - Introduction (01:22) - Introduction to Laura Guzman (04:29) - Strategic Rebranding and Target Audience Shift (08:30) - Unique Programming at CDI College (11:21) - Integration of Podcasts into Campus App (12:18) - Making Podcasts Accessible on Multiple Platforms (14:16) - Tips for Starting a Podcast in Higher Education (17:27) - Strategic Distribution Channels (20:00) - Wrap-up and Conclusion Join us at Higher Ed Pod Con in Cleveland, OH, July 16 - 17 2026Sign up by May 29 for Early Bird Pricing