Inside the Podcast Studio
At Keene State College, creativity and innovation extend far beyond the classroom—and across disciplines. Inside the Media Arts Center sits the podcast studio where students, professors, and others align their passions and coursework to produce different kinds of content.
Equipped with professional microphones, lighting, headsets, and recording technology, the podcast studio provides access to tools commonly found in professional media environments. For seniors Brooke Reilly and Matt Sturtevant, the studio has offered two different, but equally impactful, ways to turn ideas into high-quality content.
Progression Through Coursework: Podcasting in the Classroom
Brooke Reilly, a senior social media major with a minor in multimedia journalism, has used the podcast studio primarily through coursework. In a sports broadcasting class, she was given the opportunity to select an athlete and produce a podcast focused on their story.
“I did an interview with a sophomore volleyball player from California,” Brooke explained. “It was a cool experience because the podcast studio creates a laid-back interview environment. It felt different from other classes—I could go off script and really get to know the athlete on a less formal level.”
The professional but comfortable atmosphere of the studio helped Brooke develop and strengthen her interviewing skills, while the advanced equipment allowed her to focus more on storytelling and connection. Experiences like this highlight how hands-on opportunities at Keene State translate into meaningful, real-world learning.
“I think especially for Keene, when it comes to the athletic side of things—which is what I use it for—it’s very obvious that our athletic journalism is head and shoulders above other schools,” Brooke said. “A lot of that has to do with the podcast studio. We have a whole YouTube segment, and it gives our athletes a chance to be out there, as well as our interviewers.”
Turning Passions into Podcasts
For Matt Sturtevant, a senior mathematics major with minors in statistics, data analysis, and business management, the podcast studio became a creative space outside of the classroom. He first learned about the studio through word of mouth from a journalism major friend and quickly realized it could support a passion project of his own.
Matt and his friend Ryan launched Rough Draft Sports, a podcast they initially recorded using basic equipment in their room. Transitioning to the podcast studio significantly improved the quality of their production and helped elevate their work.
“Keene State’s podcast studio really helps our podcast,” Matt shared. “When we go home, we don’t have good sound or lighting like we do in the studio. You can even change the colors of the lights, and the sound quality from the microphones is amazing.”
What makes Matt’s experience unique is that his time in the podcast studio isn’t tied to any required coursework. Instead, it reflects how the studio supports students from all majors who want to explore creative projects on their own time. The space offers students the freedom to experiment, build technical skills, and pursue interests beyond their academic requirements.
Giving Students a Voice
The Podcast Studio serves multiple purposes across campus. It acts as a classroom resource, a creative outlet, and a place where students can collaborate across majors to produce professional-quality content. Whether students are completing assignments, highlighting athletics, or building independent projects, the studio provides them with the tools they need to express themselves and grow.
Although Brooke and Matt use the podcast studio for different reasons, their experiences demonstrate the same outcome: access to a shared, interdisciplinary resource that supports creativity, confidence, and success. The studio reflects Keene State’s commitment to providing students with opportunities that extend beyond traditional learning environments.
To learn more about Keene State College’s Podcast Studio, visit:
👉 https://www.keene.edu/academics/journalism