More than meets the eye

Student-produced podcast features personal narratives from the USD community

Catherine Silvey / Feature Editor / The USD Vista

Last year, the University of San Diego Humanities Center debuted a project they had been developing for years — “There’s More,” a fusion of the traditional podcast format and live monthly storytelling shows created by and for the USD community.

The podcast offers an opportunity for storytelling during which faculty members and students alike are welcome to come share their personal narratives. Their stories are recorded during the event and later edited by the podcast’s team of producers, which is led by Jonathan Bowman, Ph.D., a professor of Communication Studies and the faculty producer of the series.

Bowman emphasized the importance of storytelling within a community, and the impact it can have on both the storyteller and the listener.

“The whole goal with narrative storytelling is to let people better understand and know one another by sharing our stories,” Bowman said. “Stories help us to make changes in our lives, stories change how we interact with other people, and stories influence our connection to a bigger, more important story that moves through our culture.” 

Bowman supervises a production team consisting of five students from a variety of backgrounds and prospective career paths. The team diligently works to transform student narratives into finalized podcasts accessible on listening platforms such as iTunes, the Apple Podcasts app, and the USD “There’s More” website. 

Sophomore Lily Yates shared how she became a student producer when she saw and responded to an advertisement for the podcast.  

“Immediately, I knew to apply because I absolutely love podcasts and I have a lot experience with different software, but not with sound software,” Yates said. “I was really interested and I applied and was later interviewed with Dr. Bowman and Dr. Keeling. Now, I’m part of the team and it’s awesome.” 

Daryan Gomez, a senior and  student producer, recognized learning about and sharing stories from the USD community as a deeply fulfilling component of her position.

“I absolutely love being a part of the producing team,” Gomez said. “I get the opportunity to hear so many different stories from so many different people who do not necessarily have the same background. To have a podcast series where different people could come to share their stories is important because the stories that are told are very unique and are very powerful to hear, especially when the stories are coming from members of our tight-knit community.”

Senior student producer Ryan Gentry explained the podcast’s mission to include perspectives from as many different individuals of the USD community as possible.

“I think college is a unique social setting because it combines so many different people in one centralized location,” Gentry said. “You have bright-eyed teenagers, grad students that have grown as people and adults, professors trying to pass on both academic knowledge and life experience, and so many others. ‘There’s More’ shows exactly what its name is — there’s more to the college experience than just the perspective of one type of student. Each student and professor brings something unique to the table.”

Professor Bowman agreed with this sentiment, emphasizing the podcast’s ability to represent both unique and shared experiences of USD students.

“The best part of this program is that it features our local community with stories that have impact and importance beyond our community,” Bowman said. “Although the message is important to everyone, it holds particular weight for people affiliated with the University of San Diego.”

The “There’s More” storytelling events are held once a month in the Humanities Center in Saints Tekakwitha and Serra Hall Room 200 and are open for all to attend. The theme for November’s show is “Call.” Stories from previous live events can be found on iTunes, the Apple Podcasts app, or the “There’s More” website.