Episodes

  • Pitch Perfect: Real Clients, Real Results!
    May 19 2025

    Welcome to Media in the Mix, the only podcast produced and hosted by the School of Communication at American University. Join us as we create a safe space to explore topics and communication at the intersection of social justice, tech, innovation & pop culture. In this special episode of Media in the Mix, we spotlight a meaningful collaboration between students and professionals that blends passion, purpose, and public relations. Classical pianist and founder Christopher Schmitt joins us to discuss his new nonprofit, the Classical Arts Society—an organization dedicated to making classical music more accessible, inclusive, and community-centered.He’s joined by Professor Gemma Puglisi and her PR students, Sarah Ailor and Angelina Szkotak, who are helping shape the organization’s outreach and branding through their class project. Tune in to hear how this hands-on partnership is bringing Christopher’s vision to life and giving students real-world experience in the process.Check out the Classical Arts Society: classicalartssociety.orgLearn more about SOC in the links below. Graduate Admissions:http://www.american.edu/soc/admissions/index.cfmUndergraduate Admission:https://www.american.edu/admissions/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ausoc/Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/au_socFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ausoc/?hl=en

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    33 mins
  • Telling Stories That Stick With You with Jamie Sisley!
    Apr 30 2025

    Welcome to Media in the Mix, the only podcast produced and hosted by the School of Communication at American University. Join us as we create a safe space to explore topics and communication at the intersection of social justice, tech, innovation & pop culture. This week on Media in the Mix, we're joined by none other than, Jamie Sisley!

    Jamie Sisley is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker who recently wrote and directed "Stay Awake," a narrative feature film that premiered at the 2022 Berlin Film Festival, where it won the AG Kino Gilde Auteur Award and was Honorable Mention for the Crystal Bear. Starring Chrissy Metz ("This Is Us"), Wyatt Oleff (“IT," Netflix’s “I Am Not Okay With This," Apple’s “City on Fire”), and Fin Argus (Max’s “Queer As Folk,” “The Other Two”), "Stay Awake" is a personal exploration of the roller coaster ride that families go on while trying to help their loved ones battle addiction. The feature is based off a short film of the same name that Jamie also wrote and directed. The short film premiered at the 2015 Berlin Film Festival, won both the National Board of Review Film Prize and Slamdance Grand Jury Prize, and played over 120 film festivals around the world.In addition, Jamie received an Emmy Nomination for his feature documentary, "Farewell Ferris Wheel." Shot over the course of six years, "Farewell Ferris Wheel" explores how the U.S. Carnival industry fights to keep itself alive by legally employing Mexican migrant workers with the controversial H-2B guestworker visa. The film won the Creative Promise Award from the Tribeca Film Institute, received an Imagen Award Nomination for the positive portrayal of Latinos in entertainment, and was nationally broadcast on PBS and Netflix.Jamie’s work has been supported by the Sundance Institute, SFFILM, Tribeca Film Institute, Film Independent, ITVS, and The Smithsonian Institute. Prior to film, Jamie was an artist manager in the music industry at Red Light Management.Learn more about SOC in the links below. Graduate Admissions:http://www.american.edu/soc/admissions/index.cfmUndergraduate Admission:https://www.american.edu/admissions/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ausoc/Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/au_socFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ausoc/?hl=en

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    40 mins
  • Get in the Mix with Dean Marnel Niles Goins!
    Feb 28 2025

    Welcome to Media in the Mix, the only podcast produced and hosted by the School of Communication at American University. Join us as we create a safe space to explore topics and communication at the intersection of social justice, tech, innovation & pop culture.

    This week's episode of Media in the Mix is a special one! This entire podcast episode you’re hearing and watching today comes to you care of SOC students participating in our second annual Media in the Mix experiential learning demo! Their special guest on the podcast is our very own Dean Marnel Niles Goins! Since she's new to SOC, we loved getting an opportunity to learn more about her, whether talking about her time here at AU or her favorite sports movies!

    A team of six students worked together in our Media Production Center to produce the episode from lights to set design to sound to a 3-camera set-up. So, sit back, enjoy their hard work!

    A Special Shoutout to the SOC production team:

    Sophie Koz

    Gabi Lefkowitz

    Gislene Lima Nogueira

    Krystal Shaw

    Todd St Hill

    Hank Zakarin

    Learn more about SOC in the links below. Graduate Admissions:http://www.american.edu/soc/admissions/index.cfmUndergraduate Admission:https://www.american.edu/admissions/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ausoc/Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/au_socFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ausoc/?hl=en

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    34 mins
  • Balancing Books, Work, and Life with Sarah and Marley!
    Dec 19 2024

    Welcome to Media in the Mix, the only podcast produced and hosted by the School of Communication at American University. Join us as we create a safe space to explore topics and communication at the intersection of social justice, tech, innovation & pop culture. This week on Media in the Mix, we're joined by AUSOC superstars, Marley Jospeh and Sarah Ailor! Join us as we explore a blend of topics ranging from PR, Journalism, navigating the delicate balance of school and life, and the pursuit of acquiring new skills on campus! Learn more about SOC in the links below. Graduate Admissions: http://www.american.edu/soc/admissions/index.cfm Undergraduate Admission: https://www.american.edu/admissions/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ausoc/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/au_soc Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ausoc/?hl=en If you'd like to donate to AUSOC, go to giving.american.edu

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    31 mins
  • The Truth in Focus, with Guest Bill Gentile
    Nov 21 2024

    Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions and depictions of war, including themes of conflict and war photography, which some listeners may find distressing. Welcome to Media in the Mix, the only podcast produced and hosted by the School of Communication at American University. Join us as we create a safe space to explore topics and communication at the intersection of social justice, tech, innovation & pop culture. This week on Media in the Mix, we're joined by AUSOC's very own, Bill Gentile! Bill Gentile is an Emmy-winning independent journalist and documentary filmmaker whose career spans over four decades, five continents, and nearly every aspect of mass communication. Author of Wait for Me: True Stories of War, Love and Rock & Roll, he is a full-time professor at American University’s School of Communication (SOC) in Washington, DC, and the founder of the Backpack Journalism Project. A pioneer in “backpack video journalism,” Gentile authored the Essential Video Journalism Field Manual and its Spanish counterpart, and has conducted workshops worldwide. He is the creator and host of the documentary series FREELANCERS with Bill Gentile and has engineered key partnerships, such as SOC’s collaboration with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. Gentile has reported from Central America, the Persian Gulf, Iraq, and Afghanistan, among other regions, documenting conflicts, cultural shifts, and global challenges. His notable works include Afghan Dreams, Fire and Ice on the Mountain, and a three-part series on religion and gangs in Guatemala. Early in his career, he covered the Sandinista Revolution and U.S.-backed Contra War in Nicaragua as Newsweek’s Contract Photographer for Latin America. His book of photographs, Nicaragua, earned an Overseas Press Club Award. Gentile’s work has also examined topics like the U.S. nursing shortage, the effects of climate change, and Cuba’s unique cultural traditions, solidifying his reputation as a masterful storyteller and educator.

    If you'd like to donate to the School of Communication, go to giving.american.edu.

    Learn more about SOC in the links below. Graduate Admissions: http://www.american.edu/soc/admissions/index.cfm Undergraduate Admission: https://www.american.edu/admissions/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ausoc/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/au_soc Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ausoc/?hl=en

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    34 mins
  • Advice with SOC's very own, Erin McGoff!
    Oct 17 2024

    Welcome to Media in the Mix, the only podcast produced and hosted by the School of Communication at American University. Join us as we create a safe space to explore topics and communication at the intersection of social justice, tech, innovation & pop culture. This week on Media in the Mix, we're joined by SOC alum, Erin McGoff.

    Erin McGoff is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, director, and editor focused on impactful storytelling. After graduating from our very own School of Communication at American University in 2017, she received a Pulitzer Center fellowship for her debut feature documentary, THIS LITTLE LAND OF MINES (Amazon), which garnered festival accolades and international distribution. Erin has also directed other short documentaries like SOUTHERN SUSTAINABILITY (2018), and NEW YORK IS SILENT (Pulitzer Center, 2020), and commercial work with major brands like Google, Microsoft, and National Geographic.In 2021, she gained popularity on TikTok and Instagram for her career advice channel “AdvicewithErin”, amassing over 5 million followers. She has been featured in major publications like the New York Times, Business Insider, and Wall Street Journal. Based in New York City, McGoff founded Grey Films and launched a YouTube show called No One Knows What They’re Doing.

    If you'd like to donate to the School of Communication, go to giving.american.edu.

    Learn more about SOC in the links below. Graduate Admissions: http://www.american.edu/soc/admissions/index.cfm Undergraduate Admission: https://www.american.edu/admissions/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ausoc/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/au_soc Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ausoc/?hl=en

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    43 mins
  • From Punchlines to Timelines with Isaiah Headen!
    Sep 19 2024

    Welcome to Media in the Mix, the only podcast produced and hosted by the School of Communication at American University. Join us as we create a safe space to explore topics and communication at the intersection of social justice, tech, innovation & pop culture. This week on Media in the Mix, we're joined by double alum, Isaiah Headen!

    To give you a little background on our guest, Isaiah has built a career in broadcast postproduction as a senior creative editor for over a decade, combining his storytelling passion with his technical skills. Isaiah's work includes promos, documentaries, commercials, music videos, and short films for clients like GSA Public Buildings Service, American Heart Association, PBS, and the World Bank. Notably, he edited documentaries for the "Nation to Nation" exhibit at the National Museum of the American Indian and was the lead editor for the Bloomberg 2020 campaign. In his spare time, Isaiah is a still photographer and comedy writer!

    If you'd like to donate to the School of Communication, go to giving.american.edu Learn more about SOC in the links below. Graduate Admissions:http://www.american.edu/soc/admissions/index.cfmUndergraduate Admission:https://www.american.edu/admissions/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ausoc/Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/au_socFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ausoc/?hl=en

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    48 mins
  • *Flashback Episode* | The Man Behind the Lens with Matt Cipollone
    Aug 21 2024

    Welcome to Media in the Mix, the only podcast produced and hosted by the School of Communication at American University. Join us as we create a safe space to explore topics and communication at the intersection of social justice, tech, innovation & pop culture.

    This week on Media in the Mix, we're throwing it back to AUSOC Alumni Matt Cipollone! In his time at AU, he worked as a graduate assistant, participated in multiple experiential learning opportunities, and filmed, edited, and produced many varying visual media pieces with his professors.

    Currently a senior producer and cinematographer for Lens End Media, making documentaries/series centered around social awareness, Matt dives into it all!

    If you want to check out more of Matt's awesome work, go to:https://mattcipollone.com/

    If you'd like to donate to SOC, go to ⁠giving.american.edu ⁠

    Learn more about SOC in the links below!Graduate Admissions:⁠⁠http://www.american.edu/soc/admissions/index.cfm⁠⁠Undergraduate Admission:⁠⁠https://www.american.edu/admissions/ ⁠⁠


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    44 mins