Featured speaker
Blythe Terrell
Executive Editor, Science Vs.
Adjunct Instructor, NYU
Official Announcement • Boston 2027
July 14 & 15, 2027 · Boston, MA
Higher Ed PodCon 2027
MIT Samberg Conference Center
The premier international gathering for higher education podcasters, university storytellers, and audio creators returns. Two days of hands-on audio craft, institutional strategy, and community overlooking the Charles River.
Cambridge, MA
Host Venue Spotlight
MIT Samberg Center
Positioned on the 6th and 7th floors of MIT's historic Sloan building with floor-to-ceiling panoramic glass views of the Boston skyline and Charles River.
Keynote Speaker
Hear from practitioners, producers, and partners who are actively running higher ed podcasts—sharing specific playbooks, not just theory.
Blythe Terrell is the Executive Editor of Science Vs, the Spotify Studios podcast that takes on fads, myths and hot-button questions to find out what the research actually says. Science Vs reaches millions of listeners, and its episodes have been featured on shows including Radiolab, 99% Invisible and Today, Explained.
Blythe leads the show’s editorial process, which pairs deep reporting and rigorous fact-checking with sharp storytelling and plenty of jokes. She compares each episode to an undergraduate thesis in the amount of research that goes into it. The show publishes its citations and transcripts, and it has worked with university researchers on peer-reviewed studies that grew out of its episodes.
Blythe is also an Adjunct Instructor at New York University. There she teaches podcasting in the Science, Health & Environmental Reporting Program, helping students turn complex research into stories that reach a broad audience.
Call for presentations
Present at Higher Ed PodCon 2027
We invite proposals from faculty, staff, students, higher education professionals, and others in the higher ed podcasting community who use podcasts to teach, tell stories, and strengthen institutional connections. Whether you’re an experienced producer or just getting started, share practical insights, creative approaches, and the new technologies shaping podcasting across higher education.
Sessions should be interactive rather than lecture-style. Co-presenters are welcome. Sales pitches are not.
Submit a proposal- Proposals due
- February 26, 2027
- Decisions by
- March 19, 2027
- Format
- 45-minute sessions, in person
- Presenter perk
- 20% off registration
Choose one of 4 tracks
- Beginners Track
- Teaching and Learning
- Marketing, Strategy, and Stakeholder Development
- Video, Technology, and Production
Community in Motion
12 Defining Moments from Higher Ed PodCon
Hover or tap any moment to pause the reel. The energy, intimacy, and collaboration from past conferences carry directly into Boston 2027.
Opening Address & Vision
Setting the tone for campus audio craft, institutional voice, and creative ambition.
Podcasting at PodCon
Numerous podcasts recorded episodes with guests they met at PodCon.
Vulnerable and Honest
Unfiltered conversations and idea exchanges between peer university producers.
More Than a Mic
Building a podcast ecosystem for equity and belonging.
Collaborative Presentations
Sharing expertise and insights from live events to student empowerment.
Hosts With the Most
Growing hosting skills and creating human connection.
From Idea to Impact
Sharing the blueprint for launching and growing a top-ranked pniversity podcast.
The Prove-It Pedagogy
Empowering student reporters, intern editors, and student sound designers.
Relationships Forged
Community established and networks formed with each new friendship.
Institutional Honors
Recognizing outstanding achievement and sustained impact in campus podcasting.
Inspirational Keynotes
Dr. Michael A. Baston set the tone infusing energy into the conference.
The PodCon Family
A national community of collegiate creators coming together.
Opening Address & Vision
Setting the tone for campus audio craft, institutional voice, and creative ambition.
Podcasting at PodCon
Numerous podcasts recorded episodes with guests they met at PodCon.
Vulnerable and Honest
Unfiltered conversations and idea exchanges between peer university producers.
More Than a Mic
Building a podcast ecosystem for equity and belonging.
Collaborative Presentations
Sharing expertise and insights from live events to student empowerment.
Hosts With the Most
Growing hosting skills and creating human connection.
From Idea to Impact
Sharing the blueprint for launching and growing a top-ranked pniversity podcast.
The Prove-It Pedagogy
Empowering student reporters, intern editors, and student sound designers.
Relationships Forged
Community established and networks formed with each new friendship.
Institutional Honors
Recognizing outstanding achievement and sustained impact in campus podcasting.
Inspirational Keynotes
Dr. Michael A. Baston set the tone infusing energy into the conference.
The PodCon Family
A national community of collegiate creators coming together.
Get Involved in Boston
Three Ways to Join Higher Ed PodCon 2027
Capacity at the MIT Samberg Conference Center is strictly capped at 350 seats. Choose your pathway below to lock in early access, pitch a session, or explore partnership packages.
Capacity Capped at 320
Register now for Early Bird pricing
Early Bird pricing ends on May 14th, 2027. Register now to secure your spot.
Register now
Secure checkout. Tickets are emailed as soon as your order is complete.
The 2027 Host Destination
MIT Samberg Conference Center
Perched on the top floors of MIT's Morris and Sophie Chang Building , the Samberg Center pairs world-class academic prestige with sweeping views of the Boston skyline and Charles River.
Charles River Panorama
Floor-to-ceiling glass wrapping around the 6th and 7th floors offers an unobstructed panoramic vantage point over the water into Boston’s Back Bay.
Sunset Rooftop Terrace
Enjoy outdoor Cambridge air during the evening reception as the sun sets over the river and the Boston city lights turn on.
MIT Samberg Conference Center (Building E52)
50 Memorial Drive · Cambridge, MA 02142Open in Google Maps
50 Memorial Drive · Cambridge, MA 02142Open in Google Maps
What people are saying on LinkedIn
Public posts from attendees, speakers, and partners. Slide to see more.
About Us
Higher Ed PodCon values the voices of higher education. We want our universities and colleges to tell their stories and engage their listeners. We have created the space for higher education podcasters to share their expertise and learn from each other in service of that goal. It was founded in 2025 by Elvin Freytes, Gregg Oldring, Dean Hoke, Joe Sallustio, and Neil McPhedran to bring together members of the higher education podcast community. This unique community is communicating with stakeholders, sharing knowledge, engaging in participatory research and teaching the craft of podcasting. Today, the organizing committee has come to include Kate Young and Kylé McPhedran from Purdue University and Podium Podcast Co.
Chicago, 2025
The inaugural Higher Ed PodCon hosted 130 attendees from schools big and small across the continent.
Cleveland, 2026
The second PodCon launched the Higher Ed PodCon Awards and grew to 170 attendees from North America and Europe.
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