Louisiana Tech (Pt 1): Purpose-Driven Podcasting

Learn about a podcast that’s unlocking the untapped potential of academic studies, distilling complex research into digestible, practical advice for industry experts. Dr. Craig Van Slyke, a passionate higher education podcaster and professor, shares his podcasting journey as the creator and host of three podcasts, emphasizing the vital importance of having a clear purpose to create & sustain meaningful content. Join hosts Jennifer-Lee Gunson & Neil McPhedran as they discuss The Cyber Ways Podcast with Craig, which explores the ever-evolving realm of cybersecurity; decoding complex academic research for real-world application, for cyber security professionals in the field. Learn how Craig successfully navigates the balance between academic rigor and audience engagement, and why quality content and a passionate, niche audience matter more to him than chasing numbers. Craig shares his experiences, challenges, and the rewards of podcasting in higher education. Whether you're an academic looking to amplify research or a podcast enthusiast, this episode offers practical tips and a fresh perspective on the art of podcasting. Chapter Timestamps: (00:00:00) Introduction Jenn & Neil introduce today’s guest, Dr. Craig Van Slyke, and introduce his podcast Cyber Ways that is the focus of part one of a two part series with Craig (00:04:38) Overview of the Podcasting Journey Craig, a seasoned podcaster and professor, walks us through his podcasting journey and the story behind each of his three podcasts. (00:06:59) Defining Your Podcast's Purpose The importance of clearly defining your podcast's purpose and understanding your target audience to create engaging and purpose-driven content. We dig into the specific purpose of the Cyber Ways, bridging the gap between academia and the professional cybersecurity community (00:10:30) Appreciating & Knowing Your Audience Jen & Craig discuss the idea that impact cannot always be measured by number of downloads, but rather the significance of getting this academic research into the hands of the people who can implement it, the professional cyber security community. (00:14:10) Privacy & the Digital Footprint The unique challenges posed by cybersecurity and privacy with an online presence & data collection, and Craig reminds the audience that although this information is out there, we should still be taking the necessary security precautions. (00:20:59) Preparing for an Interview Craig walks us through his preparation process with a run of show document to help keep everyone in the right balance between in-depth content and audience accessibility. (00:23:06) Quality Over Quantity in Podcasting The importance of prioritizing quality over quantity when producing podcast episodes and the potential drawbacks of excessive length. (00:24:56) The Unique Value of Podcasting Craig talk about faculty support and highlights his motivation to deeply engage with a dedicated audience and deliver purpose-driven content (00:27:27) Closing Neil & Jen share their takeaways and wrap it up. (00:00) - Introduction (04:38) - Overview of the Podcasting Journey (06:59) - Defining Your Podcast's Purpose (10:30) - Appreciating & Knowing Your Audience (14:10) - Privacy & the Digital Footprint (20:59) - Preparing for an Interview (23:06) - Quality Over Quantity in Podcasting (24:56) - The Unique Value of Podcasting (27:27) - Closing