'The Draft' Presents: First Takes (Conversations from the Podcast Incubator)

Four future podcasters. Four ideas worth hearing before they become finished products.

In this special mini-series of The Draft, host Dr. Reine Azzi sits down with four emerging podcasters as they take their first steps from concept to conversation. Developed through the Writing and Communication Center's Podcast Incubator, these pilot interviews showcase projects that seek to inform, preserve, and inspire.

Meet Dr. Zahy Ramadan, who explores the challenges and opportunities of strategic planning in higher education; Dr. Samar Aad, who advocates for making research accessible and impactful through clear, plain-language communication; Ms. Manale Abou Dagher, who examines how the Sustainable Development Goals can shape communities and institutions; and Ms. Maya Nahra, who highlights the importance of recording oral histories before valuable personal and collective memories are lost.

These conversations offer listeners a behind-the-scenes look at ideas in development while demonstrating the power of podcasting as a tool for scholarship, storytelling, and public engagement. Each episode reflects the spirit of The Draft: celebrating ideas in progress, meaningful conversations, and the value of sharing knowledge beyond traditional boundaries.

Join us as we meet the next generation of podcasters and discover the questions, stories, and conversations they believe are worth bringing into the world.