One Cool Story: Tales from the University of Oregon’s School of Communication and Journalism

In this episode of One Cool Story: Tales from the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC), host Peyton Gast sits down with Lily Hu, a graduate recruiter and advisor for the SOJC’s master’s programs.
Lily grew up in Wuhan, China, where high school meant studying from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. to prepare for the Gaokao, the national college entrance exam. She talks about adjusting to more open-ended U.S. classrooms, the D on her first exam at Florida State University that reshaped her approach to education, and why she believes communication skills will only grow in value as AI takes on more technical work.
Stick around for Lily’s one cool story about a ceramic painting session with her 2-year-old.
Listen to hear about:
The differences Lily noticed between Chinese and American education
Interviewing for her SOJC job while seven months pregnant
Why she sees the human side of recruiting as something a chatbot can’t provide
What prospective students should look for in a graduate program, and why the SOJC keeps its cohorts small
Subscribe to the One Cool Story podcast: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/podcastUO School of Journalism and Communication: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/Apply to the UO School of Journalism and Communication: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/admissions

In this episode of One Cool Story: Tales from the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC), senior journalism major Lily Reese sits down with Assistant Public Relations Professor Nikki McClaran, who researches behaviors around health messaging.
Nikki discusses her research on health messaging. She also reveals that she was a fan of “Criminal Minds” as a child and describes how the TV show ultimately led her into a PR and sociology career.
Stick around for Nikki’s one cool story to hear about the school’s PR study-abroad trip to London, where she spotted a certain Scottish icon while out to dinner. 
Listen to hear about:
Nikki’s career path and the ways she combined many of her childhood interests
The health research Nikki conducts outside of the classroom
The reason she loves teaching at the University of Oregon
Subscribe to the One Cool Story podcast: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/podcast 
Learn about the UO School of Journalism and Communication: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/ 
Apply to the UO School of Journalism and Communication: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/admissions
Stay until the end for her one cool story about the SOJC’s PR study- abroad trip to London, where she spotted a certain Scottish icon while out to dinner 👀

In this episode of One Cool Story: Tales from the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC), Multimedia Storytelling Master’s alum Kaiya Laguardia-Yonamine sits down with Kyle LaMontagne, a documentary filmmaker and colleague in her master’s program.
Kyle shares how his creative childhood in Eugene inspired a booming film career, his Emmy-winning start in California TV, and why he chose to come back to the Pacific Northwest for documentary work. We also hear a special tribute to his mentor, the late SOJC professor Mitchell Block, and the inspiration behind his newest—and wildest—feature film yet.
Stay tuned until the end for his one cool story: how a trip to the US-Mexico border inspired his thesis project, “The Great Divide”—and the intense standoff that happens next.
Listen to hear:
How film school showed Kyle his love for narrative screenwriting—and why he chose to switch to documentary
The lessons and influence of late mentor Mitchell Block, and his “Yoda-like” wisdom
A behind-the-scenes look at “The Great Divide” and the intense interactions at the border
 
Subscribe to the One Cool Story podcast: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/podcast  
Learn about the UO School of Journalism and Communication: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/  
Apply to the UO School of Journalism and Communication: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/admissions  
Learn about the Multimedia Storytelling Master’s program at UO Portland: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/academics/graduate-programs/multimedia-storytelling 
Watch the trailer for “The Great Divide”: https://vimeo.com/1112124289?fl=pl&fe=sh 
Check out more of Kyle LaMontagne’s work: https://klamontagne.com/

In this episode of One Cool Story: Tales from the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication, senior journalism major Peyton Gast chats with Julia Boboc, a brand-new SOJC alum and the former host of One Cool Story. 
Julia looks back on her two experiences competing in the Hearst Journalism Awards National Audio Championship and the interesting ways those stories tied into her work for Oregon Public Broadcasting and KLCC. Julia also shares her college path, from the classes she took to the mentors she relied on the most.
You won’t want to miss Julia’s colorful recounting of the time she interviewed an AI chatbot for her second Hearst Audio Championship in San Francisco.
Listen to hear:
How Julia broke through a creative block on the streets of San Francisco
The way one story opened the door to more audio opportunities
How she felt about passing the torch to the new One Cool Story host
Subscribe to the One Cool Story podcast: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/podcast 
Learn about the UO School of Journalism and Communication: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/ Apply to the UO School of Journalism and Communication: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/admissions 

Every student’s journey through the UO School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC) looks different. 
In this episode of the SOJC’s podcast One Cool Story: Tales from the UO School of Journalism and Communication, host Julia Boboc, a graduating journalism student, brings together four SOJC seniors from each major to shed light on what those journeys look like, how they have unfolded in Allen Hall, and the many lessons learned along the way.
Amarion Akinsanya, an advertising transfer student, shares his experience as a UO videographer, describes how SOJC staff and alumni connected him to scholarships and an internship, and offers his views on imposter syndrome.
Mirandah Davis-Powell, a journalism student headed to the Seattle Times after graduation, talks about how she found a passion for food studies within journalism, the classes that impacted her most, and the advice she would give her younger self.
Adrian Garcia, a public relations student and Unidos president, shares how he “faked it until he made it” at the SOJC, the skills he gained that led him to success, and his hopes for a future in the Big Apple.
Mik Mattei, a media studies student and UO Athletics intern, talks about the project that helped her realize she could bring her interests into research, the variety of classes she has taken, and how her first-year self would react to her work now.
Subscribe to the One Cool Story podcast: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/podcast 
Learn about the UO School of Journalism and Communication: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/ Apply to the UO School of Journalism and Communication: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/admissions 

In this episode of the podcast One Cool Story: Tales from the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication, junior journalism student Peyton Gast catches up with Maya Lazaro, an SOJC alum and the self-titled “creative nerd” who keeps her alma mater interesting.
Officially, Maya is the exhibits, publications, and student competitions coordinator for the SOJC. But she reveals so much more. Maya reflects on the glory days of the internet when she designed web comics and wrote short stories. She reveals the blood, sweat, and tears that went into creating a nationwide web course, and she shares how she manages all the hurdles involved with planning the SOJC’s commencement ceremony.
Stick around for Maya’s one cool story involving holiday cards, a teeny-tiny church, and the Cheeto dust covering all of it.
Listen to hear:
How Maya became the SOJC’s student awards guru.
What she learned as a sheriff’s office intern.
Why she switched majors from journalism to public relations and finally to advertising.
Subscribe to the One Cool Story podcast: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/podcast 
Learn about the UO School of Journalism and Communication: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/ 
Apply to the UO School of Journalism and Communication: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/admissions 

What does it look like to say yes to every opportunity and turn uncertainty into a career in sports broadcasting?
In this episode of the podcast One Cool Story: Tales from the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication, fourth-year journalism student Ethan Donahue sits down with Austin Ota, a recent journalism graduate whose love of sports led to a passion for storytelling and shaped his path to sports media.
Austin shares how he got into broadcasting and how joining KWVA on his first day at the University of Oregon set everything into motion. From learning the technical side of journalism to stepping into leadership roles, he reflects on how hands-on experience, mentorship, and a willingness to accept challenges pushed him to grow beyond play-by-play into a more versatile journalist.
He also discusses the realities of breaking into the industry, from navigating internships with little structure to sending hundreds of emails in pursuit of freelance opportunities, and how persistence and adaptability ultimately helped him build a career he loves.
Stay until the end for Austin’s one cool story, a chaotic KWVA trip that tested his instincts, challenged his comfort zone, and pushed his adaptability in new ways.
Listen to hear: • How saying “yes” to everything at KWVA helped Austin find his place in journalism. • Why learning skills outside your comfort zone can shape your career in unexpected ways. • What it really takes to break into sports broadcasting, and why persistence matters.
Subscribe to the One Cool Story podcast: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/podcast 
Learn about the UO School of Journalism and Communication: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/ 
Apply to the UO School of Journalism and Communication: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/admissions 

In this episode of the podcast One Cool Story: Tales from the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC), fourth-year public relations student McKenzie Leary speaks with pro-tem instructor Slavka Eberhard-Garah, an advertising professional who grew up in Bulgaria, built a career spanning multiple countries, and found her way to the SOJC by following her curiosity.


Slavka reflects on what drew her to advertising, the international path that shaped her career, current communication trends she’s noticed, and the importance of alignment in authentic brand advertising. She also shares how she leads with playfulness and experimentation, from the classroom to Allen Hall Advertising.
Stay tuned for Slavka’s one cool story at the end. Let’s just say she has a gift for noticing what others walk right past.
Listen to hear:
What first sparked Slavka’s fascination with advertising and how her curiosity has guided her career.
Her thoughts on performative advertising and what authenticity looks like.
Why playfulness and analogue work might be making a comeback.
 
Subscribe to the One Cool Story podcast: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/podcast 
Learn about the UO School of Journalism and Communication: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/ 
Apply to the UO School of Journalism and Communication: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/admissions 
 

What does it look like to discover your academic calling after taking an unexpected path to college?
In this episode of One Cool Story: Tales from the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC), fourth-year journalism student Ethan Donahue sits down with Heidi Stevenson, a recent SOJC graduate whose journey took her from community college in Pennsylvania to presenting original research at national journalism conferences.
Heidi shares how a cross-country move during COVID, a transfer-student seminar, and her work with the SOJC’s Catalyst Journalism Project sparked a shift from journalism to media studies, opening the door to research on how people engage with news in new and interactive ways. From studying global vaccine coverage to designing experiments on news games, Heidi explains how curiosity and supportive mentors reshaped her career goals.
She also reflects on navigating imposter syndrome, finding community through the SOJC Honors Program, and why she’s pursuing pre-doctoral research before applying to PhD programs.
Stay to the end for Heidi’s one cool story—a moment of hope and reflection at a national academic conference.
🎧 Listen to hear:
How research for the Catalyst Journalism Project helped Heidi pivot her career path.
What news games are and why they’re changing how audiences experience journalism.
How SOJC’s culture of mentorship and support helped her thrive.
Subscribe to the One Cool Story podcast: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/podcast 
Learn about the UO School of Journalism and Communication: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/ 
Apply to the UO School of Journalism and Communication: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/admissions 

In this episode of One Cool Story: Tales from the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication, master’s student Kaiya Laguardia-Yonamine catches up with Andrew DeVigal, director of the Agora Journalism Center and co-director of the Multimedia Storytelling Master’s program at UO’s Portland campus.
Andrew reflects on his 30-year career in journalism, from his early days at the Contra Costa Times in California to shaping visual and interactive storytelling at the Chicago Tribune, the Poynter Institute, and the New York Times. He shares what community-centered storytelling really means, the mission behind Agora, and why investing in local news is investing in the future of journalism.
Stay tuned until the end for Andrew’s one cool story—a behind-the-scenes look at how an award-winning piece at the Times came to be, and why saying “yes” can change everything.
Listen to hear:
How Andrew’s career evolved from software programming to multimedia leadership at the New York Times.
Why community trust, collaboration, and listening matter more than ever in journalism.
How the Agora Journalism Center works with communities to fill information gaps across Oregon.
What a New York Times story about an avalanche taught him about risk, innovation, and collaboration.
Subscribe to the One Cool Story podcast: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/podcast 
Learn about the UO School of Journalism and Communication: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/ 
Apply to the UO School of Journalism and Communication: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/admissions 
Discover the Agora Journalism Center: https://agorajournalism.center/ 
Learn about the Community Storytelling Podcasting Microcredential: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/academics/graduate-programs/multimedia-storytelling/microcredentials#podcasting