The College Podcast Challenge highlights how a single opportunity can lead to unexpected career changes and personal growth for participants. I was in my final stretch of college during the height of the pandemic, isolated in my home in Colorado Springs, Colorado, when I received a life-changing call. NPR education reporter Sequoia Carrillo informed me that I had won the 2021 College Podcast Challenge. This victory opened the door to my first radio job at KNKX, an NPR member station in Seattle. Now, I’m a freelance journalist working on the next season of ‘Inheriting’ from LAist and NPR. My career has taken me across the country, reporting stories from places like Owens Valley, California, to New York City. Along the way, I’ve met unforgettable people.
Reconnecting with Family
Miriam Colvin, a freshman at Penn State University in 2021, was one of the winners of the inaugural College Podcast Challenge. Her podcast explored family lore surrounding a boxing match involving her grandpa’s friend and a teenage Muhammad Ali. Winning the challenge inspired her to pursue a career in stand-up comedy and playwriting. Colvin often returns to the elders in her life for creative ideas, drawing insights from her grandpa’s stories of his adventurous childhood in Indiana. She states, “These stories remind me we need to be out living, doing adventurous stuff with our loved ones, with our friends.” These narratives from her grandparents provide her a deeper understanding of her own experiences.
Bunmi Omisore faced the challenge of understanding her family stories while learning her parents’ native language, Yoruba. Her podcast, honored in 2025, documented this journey. Despite initial difficulties, her father began conversing with her exclusively in Yoruba over the phone, helping her learn the language. Her dedication paid off when she gained a deeper connection with her Nigerian family. She cherishes videos of her grandmother speaking Yoruba, cracking jokes, and exhibiting her humor—a revelation only possible after learning the language.
A Step Closer to Career Dreams
Bennett Cook, a self-described transitologist, entered the College Podcast Challenge in 2021 while at Buffalo State University. His podcast captured the unique musical sounds of subway trains, highlighting how machinery evokes musical notes. His recognition as a finalist in the competition motivated him to pursue a career in transit. Cook now works at the Chicago Transit Authority as a customer service assistant. His future goals include operating the trains and contributing ideas to expand Chicago’s transit system.
The College Podcast Challenge also launched Jo Strogatz into her dream job. In 2024, she won the contest while attending Salt Institute for Documentary Studies in Maine. Her podcast featured original music and an interview with a friend who had never experienced romantic relationships. Strogatz’s victory led her to a position at Radiolab, where she combines science and storytelling daily. “I can’t believe that I’m so lucky to have this opportunity to be at a place where I can do science and storytelling and learn from people every day,” she expresses.
Edited by: Janet Woojeong Lee and Nirvi Shah