IPA staff members are always open to exploring new ideas, research, and technology. When the threat of COVID-19 cleared our schedules and sent our staff to work from home, they took the opportunity to take on a new endeavor: a podcast.
“When we launched in early spring 2020, a basic goal was to carry on networking with our partners while physical distancing was required," said Troy Mix, Associate Director of IPA who led the initiative. “Pulling back from the immediate crisis, we also want to shed light on the often-overlooked public policy, economic, and organizational development work of IPA and our partners while convening conversations on topics important to Delaware's future." He shared the idea with his colleague, Sean O'Neill, who was on board to experiment with the new medium.
“I'm a podcast person myself and I listen to them a lot," commented O'Neill, who was the first staff member to jump into the project. “What is so great about them from my point of view is that you can find one on almost any topic. However, we are one of the only podcasts focused on public policy in Delaware, and I see that as a big opportunity for us."
Since March, 36 episodes of First State Insights have been recorded and published ranging from quick 15-minute chats to hour-long deep dives. More than seven IPA staff members and two students have gotten involved in the podcast highlighting all project areas from COVID-19 response, town management, and trucking to conflict resolution and craft beverages.
“Having never done a podcast, it was exciting to try something new—particularly around topics that I am most interested in and have the most knowledge about," shared Julia O'Hanlon, IPA staff member who interviewed Sue Getman from the Mid-County Senior Center about the impact of COVID-19 on senior centers. “Isolation is real, particularly for older adults right now. The interview was a new way of communicating and sharing information about important policy topics we work on."
The podcast has also been an opportunity for IPA Public Administration Fellows to get involved in a new way and acquire relevant skills. Recent IPA alumna Dabney Brice recorded an episode on how to deal with difficult people while she was finishing her MPA.“I learned more about the planning process behind a podcast," Brice said of the experience. “It's more than just turning on a mic and having a conversation. You have to come up with engaging questions and a general outline of how the conversation will go prior to hitting the recording button."
In the new year, listeners can expect to continue hearing authentic conversations about important and timely topics that affect Delawareans today from the future of Delaware's economy, community resilience, and adaptation to the need to address social justice in businesses, communities, and organizations across the state.
“I want First State Insights to tell the story of how we built the Delaware of today," Mix shared, “and how all of us—from business leaders and policy wonks to community members and public servants—will work toward a better Delaware tomorrow, next month, and five years from now."
Visit the First State Insights podcast page on SoundCloud, or wherever you listen, to catch up on our latest episodes and subscribe.
Article by Jessica Velez
