Seton Hall’s Career Center is piloting a new, student-led podcast designed to connect current students with alumni by sharing career journeys and professional insights.
The podcast, titled “Conversations,” is led by student interns Andrew Dalton, a sophomore communications major, and Gabriela Gonzalez, a sophomore global supply chain management major. The pair serve as hosts, researchers and producers.
The initiative gives students hands-on experience in media production while creating a platform for alumni storytelling, Jorge Rivera, director of the Career Center, explained. The idea originated in 2023 as a way to expand networking opportunities for students.
“There’s a lot of alumni out there that have great stories,” Rivera said. “[“Conversations”] is a way to connect our students with them.”
Dalton and Gonzalez are responsible for identifying and booking guests, often reaching out to alumni through LinkedIn or existing university connections.
“Together we think of a few possible guests. We then ask the guest if they are interested,” Dalton said. “Next, we hold a pre-interview with them to be able to craft our questions and get to know them a bit.”
Gonzalez said meeting guests beforehand also helps determine whether the alum would be a “good fit” and if their story would resonate with students. So far, she said, the process has led to engaging conversations.
“It’s been really easy having conversations feel natural, and I think it’s because of the people we picked,” Gonzalez said. “In the four episodes we filmed, there was never an awkward silence because the professionals helped keep the conversation flowing.”
Unlike more structured interview formats, “Conversations” is designed to feel organic. While student hosts prepare questions, episodes are intended to flow naturally, allowing guests to “speak holistically,” Rivera said.
Each episode begins as a longer discussion, typically around 30 minutes, which is then edited down in the Innovation Hub into a concise 10-minute segment. Clips from episodes will also be shared on social media to broaden reach and accessibility.
“We ask our questions and let the conversation flow from there,” Gonzalez said.
Dalton said that, through this experience, he has learned how to ask “thought-provoking” questions and have meaningful conversations.
Gonzalez added that the hosts try to balance professional questions with more personal ones.
“Getting to know our interviewees personally definitely helped with breaking the ice,” she said. “Separating the individual from their job is super important because we also wanted to get to know who they were.”
Additionally, Gonzalez said the podcast has left her with “a newfound respect” for broadcast media.
“It’s easy to have a conversation off camera, but once it goes on, there’s pressure that’s created,” she said. “It’s easy to choke up and freeze, but you have to know how to overcome that in a matter of seconds.”
Dalton and Gonzalez agreed that working on “Conversations” has strengthened their networking skills.
“This experience has shown me [that] I need to start utilizing my connections more,” Gonzalez said. “I’ve always been intimidated because I don’t know where to start. This has taught me that many professionals are willing to give up a single hour of their day to give back to students.”
Furthermore, Dalton said he’s learned the importance of teamwork.
“It has strengthened my ability to work with others to complete a shared goal,” he said.
The podcast is currently in a pilot phase, with early recordings already underway at the Innovation Hub. An official release date has yet to be decided upon.
Ultimately, “Conversations” aims to center student voices both behind the microphone and in shaping the project’s direction.
“It’s been a great opportunity to see something grow from the ground up,” Gonzalez said.
Megan Pitt is the head editor of The Setonian’s News section. She can be reached at megan.pitt@student.shu.edu.
