Trying a new skill is often something you look for when applying to a new job, and this was no different when I came into my position as a content creator for the OLC last January. I was super excited to start, as I felt like I was putting the culmination of my studies into a career, and in one that allowed me to express my creative side in a way I never had before. The possibilities to me felt endless at the time, and I wanted to break out of my comfort zone and do something that I'd never done before. This came in the form of a podcast project, something I thought combined my technical abilities with my love for talking for extended periods of time.

I wanted to break new ground and tackle topics that you often don't hear about with school podcasts in a different format than usual, so I took the time to listen to the amazing collection of Podcasts found on the OLC. Getting a good idea of where they were, I made notes on what I felt was missing from a student's perspective and began to work from there. The best angle to tackle things, I thought, was to highlight the stories of students and what makes their unique experience special while being students at SFU, as a student's life on campus is only a fraction of their true identity. It would provide casual conversations with members of SFU, to the point where it would feel as if you're catching up with a friend. The aim was to show that everyone on campus has a story to tell and we would shine a spotlight on them.

Now that the concept was figured out I just needed a format. Since I didn't want it to feel like an interview, I felt as if a one on one format wasn't quite the right call. Luckily, help came in the form of my co-host, Chelsie, who was a work-study student at the time with an interest in podcasting. Against all odds, we clicked instantly and together we were able to refine the idea and format to be a conversation between us two and our guest. The OLC provided us with the resources and training required to be able to use recording software, and the SFU Media Makers Commons helped us with learning how to use the hardware.