Students in the Longmont High School of BusinessTM program are taking their learning outside of the classroom and into the studio where they are producing a weekly podcast and gaining experience in content creation and communication.
Led by Business Teacher James Giveans, the podcast is part of the school’s business track, which students begin as freshmen and continue through their senior year. The curriculum is structured to equip students with the skills and confidence needed to excel in college business administration programs or to start their own businesses after graduation. “I’ve learned a lot of social skills, such as how to think on the fly, how to come up with responses quickly, and how to interact with people in a fluid and thoughtful way,” said senior Harlow Horan.
During the podcast, students interview business professionals, many of whom they worked with at an internship. The episodes cover a variety of topics, from solar energy to voice acting in video games, and offer a glimpse into the personal journeys of accomplished individuals. “Students have the opportunity to find out how someone became a CEO, which isn’t always a predefined goal,” said Giveans. “It typically involves a unique story, which our students learn about through these interviews.”
The podcast’s reach extends beyond the walls of Longmont High School, with episodes broadcast on platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon. Students use tools like GarageBand and Zoom to produce high-quality audio content, complete with a custom musical intro that was written and recorded by the school’s band.
Volunteer Matt DiOrio, a Longmont graduate and IT professional who also produces a gaming podcast, has been helping students produce episodes every week. He teaches them how to use the equipment, helps them craft meaningful interview questions, and educates them about non-disclosure agreements, legal requirements, marketing, analytics, and more. “What I’ve been stressing with them about podcasting is not to worry about the numbers because you get imposter syndrome if you’re not doing as well as somebody else,” said DiOrio. “Once you forget the numbers, you start having more fun with it.”
DiOrio’s involvement has provided students with industry expertise in the podcasting process and guided them through the ins and outs of developing engaging content. ‘One of the students decided she had so much fun doing this that she’s starting her own podcast, so last week we did her teaser trailer, and I helped get her going by telling her, “Hey, these are the things you’re going to need to do and where to go for it,”‘ shared DiOrio.”
In addition to improving students’ understanding of business practices, the podcast also provides them with networking opportunities and real-world connections in a variety of fields. “Businesses in any industry can benefit from podcasts,” said Giveans. “I try to point out to my students that it’s a huge marketing opportunity. A lot of businesses produce them because it gives people who are interested in their products some buy-in.”