Live from Chicago, National Public Radio Member Lulu Miller spoke remotely with members of Communication Professor Amy Loeffler’s podcasting class Fri. Oct. 10.
Loeffler met Miller while studying in Fairbanks, AL, where Miller was invited by two researchers studying arctic ground squirrels.
“I met Lulu in Fairbanks, AL in 2024 when I was working as a senior communications person for the Institute of Arctic Biology at the University of Alaska Fairbanks,” explained Loeffler.
Loeffler hoped that by combining their connection with the class, the students could receive real-world insight on the topic they have been studying all semester.
“My hope for the class is that students will get some good advice about a wide range of topics such as the best way to break into the industry,” Loeffler noted, “especially not living in a major metropolitan area as we do in Southwest Virginia.”
Loeffler also said she hopes the students get a sense of the value of networking and building relationships.
“Lulu is also mentioned in the podcasting book that we are reading for class that is authored by a prolific producer, and I think in more creative professions, networking is a big deal to get your first break,” Loeffler said.
One-by-one, the students in the class took turns asking Miller questions about her career, experiences, and life over the course of 30 minutes.
“What are some of the best parts about having your own show, and what are the worst parts about having your own show?” asked junior Eli Foutz.
“What does a day in the life look like?” inquired junior Jaylen Lee.
“What does the brainstorming process look like?” asked senior Stone Gibbs.
Miller shared what made her choose reporting and podcasting and happily answered the students’ questions about her experiences. She closed the meeting with a word of advice.
“I left journalism for three years,” she said, explaining a hard interview that had originally turned her away from the profession. “I was worried I would hurt people with my questions. I didn’t think I was meant for this profession.”
However, the words of a mentor changed her mind, bringing Miller to her career today.
“‘Lulu, if you didn’t have these worries, I’d be concerned, It’s the sound of your moral compass. You’re not meant to make it go away, you’re supposed to reframe it, and make it work.’ he told me.” stated Miller.
First-year Sarah Montgomery hopes to take Miller’s words into account as she travels into her future, as well as utilize her insight on her final project for the class.
“So we have this final project, and it’s essentially where we have to make an audio podcast,” Montgomery said. “I am doing a story on my cousin’s farm. I was asking Lulu how she has grown throughout the process of her career, and I was going to put this in my paper. “I was wondering, ‘what other angle could I get?’ and she was very insightful.”
