Podcast Club Connects U of A Students Through Audio Storytelling
UAZ Podcast members Seliat Ojelabi, Nicole Camacho and Rebecca Ursule.
University of Arizona senior Nicole Camacho hoped to keep her passion for audio storytelling alive when she arrived on campus as a transfer student double majoring in journalism and law.
Through UAZ Podcast, a student organization she co-founded, Camacho has interviewed people from throughout Arizona while helping other students learn the skills needed to create podcasts of their own.
The idea for the club began before Camacho and co-founder Rebecca Ursule transferred to the university. The two met at Pima Community College through its student media club, where they worked together producing podcasts.
Ursule, a political science major, became the first president of UAZ Podcast before graduating from the university.
“The day after we graduated [from Pima], we met and started planning our name, mission and logo,” Camacho said.
Founded in the summer of 2025, UAZ Podcast has grown from two members to about 10 students from different disciplines, including philosophy and cybersecurity. The club has produced more than 60 episodes featuring local politicians, educators, entertainers and business leaders, and has helped students develop podcasts of their own.
The club produces its shows in the Severson Family Broadcast and Podcast Studio in the School of Journalism, where members learn about interviewing, recording and other aspects of audio production.
“You don’t have to be studying journalism to join,” Camacho said. “We all have different backgrounds, which I love because we all bring different ideas.”
The club’s first guest was then-ASUA Student Body President Adriana Grijalva. Since then, members have interviewed guests from a range of backgrounds with stories to tell.
“We interview anyone we feel has experiences to share that students can learn from,” Camacho said.
Assistant Professor Josh Anderson serves as UAZ Podcast's faculty advisor. His research interests include podcasting, which initially drew him to the student organization's work.
“The students have done a lot to generate really strong community engagement within the campus community and outside of it that were both interesting guests and were valuable contributors to their conversations,” Anderson said.
As the club has grown, its activities have expanded beyond producing the UAZ Podcast. Members have attended campus events such as Bash at the Rec to introduce students to the organization and have hosted live panels and podcast recordings in journalism and honors classes.
Nicole Camacho moderates a "Student Empowerment Panel" event hosted by UAZ Podcast on Nov. 4, 2025.
The club also helps students develop podcasts of their own. “Mariachi Mic,” the second podcast created through the organization, gives students another opportunity to take an idea from concept to production.
Anderson said he has been encouraged by the organization's growth.
“I’m excited seeing growth in their membership and scope of mission,” he said. “For the long term, that’s what sustainability looks like.”
Camacho plans to continue expanding the club's opportunities for students by organizing workshops with local multimedia journalists and podcasters who can share advice about interviewing, production and professionalism.
She also hopes the organization can eventually collaborate with students at other universities on podcast projects.
“I want this club to serve as a stepping stone for students,” Camacho said. “It’s important to make connections in your community.”