Vlogƽ has launched its first, daily podcast – “MercyMavCast” – hosted by students and created in a dedicated studio on its Manhattan Campus. The episodes, running Monday through Friday and accessible on multiple podcast outlets, highlight Mercy student life, athletics, alumni and academics. The podcast can be heard on Google, Spotify, and iHeart, and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts.
Monday episodes known as “MavLife” discuss student events and campus life; Tuesday is “MavSports” day; Wednesday is “MavSpotlight,” which highlights Mercy and CNR alumni; Thursday is “MavAcademics,” which showcases Mercy’s faculty. A fifth Friday segment – “MavMailBag” – answers questions from listeners and focuses on specific college-wide programs, including career and professional development, mental health initiatives, the PACT program, study abroad, and more.
“It is important Mercy adapt not only its curriculum but also its extracurricular activities to meet students where they are, and podcasts are a place where students are. This should help students, alums, faculty, and staff become more connected to this institution that is Mercy,” Scorpio Rogers, vice president of the Vlogƽ Manhattan and Bronx Campuses, says about the inspiration and goals for MercyMavCast.
In the first episode, speaks to student host Astriz Contreras ’22 about the decision to launch a podcast. “We spoke to a lot of students and they’re all listening to podcasts,” Rogers says. “There are many aspects of life at Mercy, including our events and what’s going in our clubs, that students don’t know about because they often don’t read their email or look at flyers. MercyMavCast gives us another communication tool to let everyone know what’s going on in the Mercy family and across our campuses. It also serves as a fun and meaningful activity for our students.”
There are episodes geared to every constituency in the College, says Rogers, and there’s no bad time of day to tune in. “When you wake up in the morning, let MavCast start your day. When you have some time at lunch, tune in to MavCast.”
For the student hosts, Rogers says MercyMavCast is both an experiment and an experience. He is looking for more student hosts who are interested in the different subjects or in learning more about podcast creation itself.
“We have a rich, vibrant history at Mercy and amazing alumni, so the podcast gives us the chance to share with students Mercy stories, traditions, and knowledge — and of course, keeps students up to date with how our sports teams are doing!”
Listeners with questions or students seeking to be involved with MercyMavCast can contact mavcast@mercy.edu.