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

Episode 23: Maya Lazaro, Creative Chameleon & Student Supporter

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 

Episode 22: Austin Ota, Bay Area Broadcast Breakout & J-Grad ’25

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 

Episode 21: Slavka Eberhart-Garah, Authentic Advertising Advocate

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 
 

Episode 20: Heidi Stevenson, Curiosity-Driven Media & News Researcher ’25

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 

Episode 19: Andrew DeVigal, Community Connector & Legendary Listener

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 

Episode 18: Martha Tejeda, Fandom-Fueled Media Scholar con Corazón

In this episode of One Cool Story: Tales from the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC), senior journalism student Leo Heffron sits down with SOJC PhD student Martha Tejeda—an international student from Juarez, Mexico, a media scholar of K-pop and Disney fandoms, and a researcher exploring Mexican youth and narco culture.
Martha shares how crossing the border for school at the age of 12 shaped her identity, why studying what you actually love matters in academia, and how she transitioned from teaching middle school to guiding SOJC undergrads as a graduate employee. She also discusses navigating grief and mental health during her PhD, as well as why her dream job might be working for Disney in a nonprofit role.
Stay tuned to the end for her one cool story—how a conference trip turned into a first-ever visit to Walt Disney World, bringing her childhood (and adult) Disney dreams full circle.
Listen to hear:
How Martha turned her fandoms—K-pop, Disney, and more—into serious media research.
Why she’s studying Narco culture and fandoms—and what that reveals about youth and media.
Her advice on choosing research topics you care about and surviving the pressures of academia.
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

Episode 17: Lucas Castillo Delgado and Jon Sharpy, Behind-the-Scenes Storycrafters & Gear Gurus

In this episode of One Cool Story: Tales from the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC), senior journalism student Julia Boboc has an animated conversation with Jon Sharpy, creative technology manager, and videographer Lucas Castillo Delgado.
They share how their undergraduate experiences at the University of Oregon shaped their journeys to the SOJC, the Storycraft class curriculum they developed, and the lessons they’ve learned about technology and storytelling through their varied experiences.
Stay tuned until the end for their cool stories: how a friend from Jon’s past crashed his wedding, leading to … a band? And how Lucas hopes media and storytelling can change the world.
Listen to hear:
How Jon’s nontraditional undergraduate journey led him to become a problem-solver and studio specialist.
How Lucas’ background in GoPro and outdoor activity filmmaking led him to the SOJC twice!
How the two have worked together to develop the Storycraft curriculum and studios in Allen Hall, learning from each other along the way.
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

Episode 16: Polly Irungu, Creative Changemaker & Pro Photo-J Alum ’17

What does it take to go from being a student photographer to documenting history at the White House? 
In this episode of One Cool Story: Tales from the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC), fourth-year public relations student Symone Moore sits down with SOJC alum Polly Irungu ’17—photojournalist, founder of Black Women Photographers, a photographer for Governor Wes Moore of Maryland, and former photo editor for Vice President Kamala Harris.
Polly shares how a social media internship with NPR jumpstarted her career, why you don’t need to live in a big city to make it big, and how she’s built a global network that empowers creators of color.
Stay tuned to the end for her One Cool Story—a memorable brush with a huge celebrity at the Grammys.
Listen to hear:
How Polly turned a passion for storytelling into a national platform.
What it’s like working in the White House.
Her advice for aspiring photographers and communicators.
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://sojc.link/SOJC-applyLearn more about Polly: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/eric-allen-award/polly-irungu 

Episode 15: Danny Pimentel, XR Expert & Empathy Engineer

What does it take to turn childhood wonder into cutting-edge research?
In this episode of One Cool Story: Tales from the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC), journalism senior Julia Boboc sits down with Danny Pimentel, assistant professor of immersive psychology and director of the Oregon Reality Lab at SOJC Portland, for an inspiring and surprising conversation about the power of virtual and extended reality to shape communication professions.
Hear how an 8-year-old’s first virtual reality experience at Disney World led to a career exploring immersive media, nonprofit storytelling, and empathy through technology. Danny shares the story of his not-so-warm welcome to Eugene, his time at Sesame Street, and One Cool Story that takes us deep under the sea.
Tune in to learn:
How virtual reality is changing communication professions.
What drives immersive media research at the University of Oregon.
The path from graphic design to XR innovation.
Subscribe to the One Cool Story podcast: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/podcast Learn more about the Immersive Media Communication Master’s program at the UO School of Journalism and Communication: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/academics/graduate-programs/immersive-media 
Apply to the UO School of Journalism and Communication: https://sojc.link/SOJC-apply
Read a Q&A with Danny Pimentel: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/news/danny-pimentel-virtual-reality-careers 

Episode 14: Jackie Gutierrez, Goal-Getting Master's Grad ’21

How do you turn passion for soccer into a thriving media brand and a trip to the World Cup? 
In this episode of One Cool Story: Tales from the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC), journalism senior Sophie Fowler sits down with Jackie Gutierrez, SOJC journalism master’s alum and founder of Women Kick Balls, a website dedicated to women’s soccer coverage.
Jackie shares how she crowdfunded her dream trip to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in New Zealand, why she launched a coffee business inspired by soccer, and how she built a community for fans and journalists around the world.
You’ll also hear her One Cool Story behind the site’s name—and her one piece of advice for women breaking barriers in male-dominated fields.
Listen to hear:
How Jackie turned her UO master’s experience into a global platform.
Tips for women in sports media and entrepreneurship.
The story behind her dual passions for coffee and soccer.
Subscribe to the One Cool Story podcast: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/podcast Learn more about the UO Multimedia Storytelling Master’s program: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/academics/graduate-programs/multimedia-storytelling Apply to the UO School of Journalism and Communication: https://sojc.link/SOJC-applyGet to know more about Jackie: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/news/jackie-gutierrez