Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone: Creating My First Podcast

 Podcasts have never really been my thing. Despite their growing popularity, I’ve always found myself going more towards music or silence, especially during long drives or study sessions. However, my dad is a different story. He’s a BIG podcast fan, constantly tuning into various shows, especially when we’re in the car together. So, when I got the assignment to create a podcast for my communications class, I found myself in unfamiliar territory.

At first, I thought it would be a great idea to interview my dad. After all, he’s been working in the field of public engagement for a long time and has a lot of knowledge and experience. When I approached him with my idea, he was super supportive but suggested something that pushed me out of my comfort zone: he encouraged me to interview someone I’d never met before. His advice was simple and true —making connections and putting yourself out there is crucial in fields like PR or communications.

Taking his advice to heart, I decided to reach out to one of his colleagues, Jamal Kheiry, who works in crisis communications at Marathon Petroleum Corporation. The thought of interviewing someone new was a little scary, (even though I love to talk), but I sent him an email, kindly asking if he’d be willing to participate in my college project. Jamal responded positively and agreed to the interview.

When the day of the interview arrived, I actually had a lot of nerves. However, as we began talking, I quickly realized how valuable this experience would be. Jamal was incredibly insightful, offering all kinds of different advice and information. Our conversation flowed so well that it ended up lasting over 40 minutes—quite a bit longer than the 10-minute limit for my podcast assignment.

Editing down such a rich, strong and informative interview was a challenge. There was so much valuable content that I didn’t want to leave out. However, I managed to trim it down while preserving the essence of our conversation. The final product is something I’m proud of, and I hope it resonates with others as much as it did with me.

Jamal shared so many gems during our interview, from navigating the complexities of crisis communications to the importance of building and maintaining professional relationships. His insights were not only relevant to my assignment but also provided me with a clearer understanding of a field I am considering stepping into.

As someone who doesn’t typically listen to podcasts, creating one was a fun and challenging experience. It pushed me to step out of my comfort zone, make new connections, and gain valuable insights that will undoubtedly help me in my future career. I’m grateful for my dad’s encouragement to seek out this opportunity and for Jamal’s willingness to share his knowledge.

For those of you tuning in, I hope you find the interview as enlightening as I did. Whether you’re interested in crisis communications, Public Relations or just looking for some career advice, there’s something in this podcast for everyone. The link will be posted below! Thank you for listening, and I look forward to sharing more experiences with you all in the future.

Communicate and Elevate: The mvelasquez1’s Podcast - Interview with a PR Pro | Free Listening on Podbean App