My Journey as a Podcast Host: Bridging Academia and Conversations at FSS Lounge
By Abhinav Banerjee, June 2024
Hello everyone, I'm Abhinav Banerjee, currently in my second semester of the Masters in International Relations and European Politics. As a student ambassador for the program, I've had the unique opportunity to engage with a diverse community of professors and students. Today, I'd like to share my experience as a host for the student podcast, FSS Lounge, and the incredible journey of interviewing professors and students from our department.
Setting up a podcast had been a top agenda of mine ever since I started the 5th semester of my bachelor's; however, the ideas never came to fruition until I started pursuing my master's. It was a great opportunity, and I had always sought a “student ambassador” podcast to bridge the gap between the different English programs being taught at FSS. This was only made possible by the efforts of the other student ambassadors, who are also the co-hosts of the FSS lounge.
The FSS Lounge podcast aims to create an informal yet insightful platform where we discuss various aspects of international relations, European politics, and the experiences of those within our academic community. It's a space where academic discourse meets personal stories, making complex topics accessible and engaging for a broader audience.
Hosting the FSS Lounge is one of the most enriching experiences I could have asked for during my studies at Masaryk University. Each interview is a learning experience, requiring thorough preparation, active listening, and the ability to steer conversations in meaningful directions. Interviewing can be challenging since how you conduct an interview depends on how comfortable you are with the interviewee.
Interviewing professors from the Department of International Relations and European Politics has been an eye-opener. These conversations delve into their areas of expertise, current research, the broader implications of their work, and what exactly brought them into academia.
These discussions not only enhance our understanding of complex political dynamics but also highlight the human aspect of academia – the passion, dedication, and curiosity that drive scholarly pursuits.
Interviewing students from FSS has been equally fascinating. These sessions often revolve around their academic journeys, research interests, and personal experiences within the program. It’s is a good experience to listen to the podcasts since they can provide crucial advice to incoming and current students on how to make their stay and studies in Brno much more fun and relaxing. These conversations can also provide insights into upcoming student club activities like the Masaryk University Model UN.
There have been a few interviews which I often recommend everyone to listen to, these being the interview of Dr. Monika Brusenbauch Meislova and the interview of Nicolas Navas, the student ambassador for Cultural Sociology.
Each episode is a testament to the collaborative spirit of our department. Preparing for interviews, recording, and editing involves a dedicated team of students who share a common goal – to turn a podcast led by amateur students into something worthwhile!
On that note, I would recommend that all those with a story to share or a unique topic they find interesting related to their fields of study contact us. I would, and the other co-hosts would be extremely excited to interview you!
If you are interested in being a part of the student podcast group or share your story or discuss a specific topic, please contact Michaela Nespěchalová from the International Relations Office at 63272@muni.cz.