Key Elements of A Great Alumni Podcast

Alumni podcasts are an incredible way of bringing your alumni community together. They’re a medium that offers the perfect mix of engagement, connection, and storytelling. At a time when everyone’s chasing attention, podcasts offer a flexible and relaxed high-impact way to reach your alumni community where they already are: listening on their own time.

More than that it is a way to connect more intimately. A newsletter may get a bit lost in the content pile, but a podcast is content they opt to listen to, and opt to give their time to.

The rise of podcasts has been unstoppable for over a decade. Edison Research continues to find podcast awareness and listenership have been growing steadily, and they’re not slowing down. Plus, a 2020 VAESE Alumni Relations Benchmarking Study reported that 87% of alumni professionals feel they need to improve engagement and 90% say they need to do more to attract young alumni. Podcasts are one of the most effective ways to make those connections happen.

But as with all effective content, you’ve got to make it right. The great alumni podcasts don’t just share information—they build a sense of community. They tell stories that spark memories, inspire action, and make alumni feel part of something bigger.

So, let’s break down what makes alumni podcasts great, the elements that bring your community even closer together.

The Key Elements of a Great Alumni Podcast

So, when it comes down to it, what really makes a great alumni podcast?

Of course, you may have different goals when setting out to launch a podcast for your alumni community. Maybe you want to show off how far your students have gone, or inspire a community for more donations. But no matter your goals, there are a few key ingredients that make a great podcast for your community. 

Here’s what makes the difference:

Strong Stories

One of the best ways to engage listeners and capture attention is with great storytelling. Listeners want to opt in to content that makes them feel something, and those feelings lead to supportive action for your school.

Map out your episodes and seasons beforehand to make sure you have stories that have emotional pull, and a clear arc. If you opt to have guests on the show, build rapport before hitting record so they can open up and share honest, human moments. A good story is what makes a podcast stick.

High-Quality Audio

Bad sound is a really dealbreaker. Your listeners won’t be sticking around for long if the audio is tough to comprehend. Invest in decent recording gear and space, or work with a professional production agency to make sure your podcast sounds crisp. Clear, professional audio keeps your listeners tuned in and coming back for the next episode.

Consistent Format and Schedule

Whether you go with interviews, narrative storytelling, or a mix, set a clear format. Listeners like to know what to expect. It’s also important to set yourself a schedule so that listeners will know when to tune in. Whether it’s every week, biweekly, or monthly, stick to it. Consistency builds trust and anticipation.

Engaging Hosts and Guests

A great host doesn’t just read a script; they bring energy, humor, and warmth. They make guests feel at ease so the conversation flows naturally. Bring in a mix of voices—alumni, faculty, students, even industry leaders—to keep the content fresh and relevant. Diverse perspectives add depth.

Value-Driven Content

A great alumni podcast balances a nostalgia for the alma mater with fresh, forward-thinking ideas. While stories can drive engagement and listening, adding takeaways and lessons for the bigger picture can keep audiences coming back. Share updates from campus or feature alumni who are making waves in their fields. Deliver real value that your listeners can use.

Accessibility and Distribution

An alumni podcast could be private for your community only, or it could be made available for a wider audience. Either way: don’t make listeners hunt for your show.  If you opt for a private podcast, make sure you create a strategy for reaching your listeners.

If you are choosing to make it public, make it easy to find and tune in on major platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Use transcripts and captions to ensure accessibility. 

Promote episodes through email, social media, and your alumni website. Make sure your alumni know where and when to listen.

Feedback Loops

A great podcast isn’t a one-way conversation; it opens up a route for you and your alumni to come closer together. Ask for listener feedback through surveys, social media, or email. Make it easy for your audience to share what they love—or what could be better. Then actually use that input to shape future episodes. It’s a simple way to make your alumni feel heard and valued.

Bonus: Tips from the Pros

Want your alumni podcast to really reach your goals? Here are a few hard-earned lessons from the podcasting trenches:

Don’t Run Out of Steam

A lot of new podcasts launch with big energy, then hit a wall a few episodes in. You can avoid this by building a backlog of episodes before you launch. That way, you’re not scrambling to record week to week. Stay ahead, and you’ll stay consistent.

Sound Quality Isn’t Optional

We’ll say it again: bad audio kills engagement. If you don’t have the gear or the skills to nail clean, professional sound, consider working with a podcast production partner (like us!). A production team will handle strategy, tech, and the hard work, so you can focus on your community.

Use Humor, Music, and Nostalgia

Alumni podcasts don’t need to be all business. Humor makes your show relatable. Music sets the tone and keeps things moving. Nostalgia taps into those college memories that connect listeners to your institution. Mix it all together for a podcast that’s entertaining and memorable.

Examples of Great Alumni Podcasts

To give you an idea of what other universities are doing, here are a few examples of great alumni podcasts. 

Skydeck: The Harvard Business School Alumni Podcast
This show features interviews with HBS alumni who are making an impact across industries — from entrepreneurship to social change. Each episode explores alum’s personal stories of leadership, innovation, and growth.
Why it works: It highlights the real-world impact of alumni while reinforcing the school’s global influence and strong network.

Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs Invites
Another great example from Harvard. This podcast spotlights conversations with Harvard-affiliated entrepreneurs and innovators, unpacking how they built their ventures and what they’ve learned along the way.
Why it works: It gives alumni a platform to share thought leadership, while inspiring listeners with stories of ambition and success.

’Cuse Conversations
Hosted by Syracuse University’s internal comms team, this show shares stories from students, faculty, staff, and alumni, focusing on life on campus and beyond.
Why it works: It brings the entire university community together, giving alumni a reason to stay connected to the evolving story of their alma mater.

Princeton Alumni Weekly Podcasts (PAWcast)
A weekly show by Princeton’s independent alumni magazine, featuring interviews on books, work, and topics that matter to the Tiger community.
Why it works: It’s editorially independent and values-driven, building trust and relevance with curious alumni.

WGU Alumni Podcast
This podcast highlights inspiring stories from WGU’s 350,000+ graduates, while also sharing perks, resources, and ways to stay engaged.
Why it works: It blends recognition with utility, celebrating alumni achievements while offering real benefits and community touchpoints.

Bruin Success
UCLA alumni open up about their career journeys, the lessons they've learned, and advice for Bruins looking to follow in their footsteps.
Why it works: It’s relatable and aspirational, spotlighting the diversity of post-college paths while creating a sense of forward momentum for listeners.

WCMS Alumni Frogcast
This show from Western CUNA Management School taps into the unique spirit of credit union leadership. Alumni and faculty discuss professional challenges, the cooperative mission, and fond memories from campus.
Why it works: It deepens a niche community’s connection to shared values and history, making professional development feel personal.

Executive Education Conversations
Produced by Fisher College of Business, this podcast explores the impact of executive education through firsthand stories from alumni, students, and faculty.
Why it works: It’s a smart recruiting tool that builds credibility by showing—not just telling—how executive programs transform careers.

The Oswego Alumni Podcast
Hosted by alum Dee McGowan Perkins ’85, this show shares stories across generations of Oswego graduates—from campus days to career milestones.
Why it works: With a warm, conversational tone, it reinforces alumni pride while capturing the richness of the Oswego experience.

Wrapping it Up

A great alumni podcast isn’t just about sharing updates or asking for donations outright. You ought to be creating a space where alumni feel connected, valued, and heard. With real stories, solid production, and a touch of nostalgia, your podcast can strengthen community ties and spark lasting engagement. Whether you’re building it in-house or teaming up with pros, remember: your alumni podcast is a conversation that keeps your alumni connected with you year after year.