From vaccine hesitancy to saving the amazon rainforest to migration policy: the Willy Brandt School Bulletin Podcast covers it all and more. The Bulletin Podcast is a space for current students to interview alumni, professors, and their fellow students about their experiences and the issues they are passionate about. Listeners of the Bulletin Podcast are exposed to a variety of voices from around the world and are challenged to broaden their perspectives and learn something new. The Bulletin Podcast, along with the Blog, is run by Willy Brandt School Students, with the aim of allowing student voices to be heard and connecting current students with alumni and professors on today’s pressing policy issues. Since the first episode of the podcast launched in 2018, 23 podcasts have been published covering a wide range of topics and interviewing a wide range of interesting people. In the most recent episode, students were joined by Dr. Gbadebo Collins Adeyanju to discuss vaccine hesitancy, and what policymakers can do to encourage hesitant communities around the world to get vaccinated. In addition to current events and policy challenges, the podcast also aims to catch a glimpse of students’ lives at the Willy Brandt School and beyond. Several first-year members of the Bulletin Podcast team weighed in on what made them want to join the podcast, what their favorite episode is, and what upcoming episode they are looking forward to. Their answers highlight not only the diversity of content covered by the bulletin but also the importance of audio-based programming.

What made you want to join the podcast?

I have always been an avid listener of audio-based content. Music has been my source for language learning for several years and podcasts are a way to catch a glimpse on several topics which have more potential to be shared through a conversational format. Listening to podcasts on a regular basis, mostly in my morning routine or while cooking, has encouraged me to participate in the process of creating them. – María José Quirola

For me, podcasts are one of the best ways to learn. They provided me with so much knowledge, and realizing the impact on myself, made me want to contribute to one as well. I also learned about the Willy Brandt School via podcast before deciding to enroll here. The podcast discussions covered a variety of public policy subjects, which I found really inspirational. – Novita Dwi Andari

I enjoy listening to podcasts and I find them a great way to learn something new. Plus, they are so much more practical, for example when you go for a walk or are travelling. I personally wanted to get involved in the podcast because I enjoy having conversations with people and hearing different perspectives plus, I also like getting into the nitty gritty of an issue which you can do on a podcast. – Alyssa McIntyre

I love discussing ideas, concepts and even trending ‘hot’ topics from around the globe as it gives me a chance to not only share but also listen to new insights, facts, and opinions from people with different backgrounds. I also want to learn a few new tech skills and how to use tools tied to editing a podcast. – Tracy Shimoli  

What is your favorite episode of the podcast?

The one interviewing Dr. Pau Palop Garcia and alumni Eva Serrano about the Venezuelan migration in Latin America. I liked both the format and the attention paid to Migration Perception, a topic for which I worked previously back in Ecuador, my home country. – María José Quirola

I have to mention the 14th episode, "The 'Hack' of Wall Street." I am really interested in finance, and this episode explained how the financial market may be irrational leading to instability. It also discussed how investors frequently purchase undervalued stock as a result of information asymmetry, which occurs repeatedly in the stock market. As a public policy student, it piqued my interest in learning how to prevent it through policy. – Novita Dwi Andari

My favourite episode so far was episode #20. The Global North and Global South responses to the war in Ukraine. The war in Ukraine is a European crisis but this podcast highlighted the perspectives of countries in other regions. – Alyssa McIntyre

Episode 18 on Labor Violations Against Migrants in Mega-Events with a particular focus on the World Cup in Qatar was quite interesting. Despite what can be deemed as a ‘successful’ event, the rights of mostly migrant workers were violated with many getting sick, injured and in fatal cases death. It dived into the role of the different organisations and countries, that are party to various international labour policies, in turning a blind eye to these violations by letting the event go on with little to no consequences to the Qatari government. – Tracy Shimoli

What is an upcoming episode you are looking forward to?

Currently I am really excited about an episode planned with Dr. Alejandra Ortiz-Ayala and the concept of peace-making. I would also be glad to introduce the topic of mental health public policy into the podcast in the future. – María José Quirola

I don't want to give spoilers, but the next episodes are going to be incredible. We are also preparing to have more collaboration with other students. But again, that is all I can say, no spoilers and stay tuned! :D – Novita Dwi Andari

In the next few months, we will be having some podcasts that display the variety of life at the Brandt School. It's not just policy, policy, policy. In fact, we may learn more outside of the classroom than in it. We will have podcasts about being an international student here in Germany, the difficulties but also the benefits and having some conversations with our Alumni. – Alyssa McIntyre

I look forward to podcast discussions about gender justice and race relations across the board. Whether talking about climate, wages or even mobility, these two areas are key in understanding how our perceptions of each other translate into positive or negative policies depending on one’s place on the spectrum. – Tracy Shimoli

The Brandt School Bulletin Podcast is available on Spotify, iTunes, and Google Podcasts. Listen with an open mind, be prepared to learn something new, and keep an ear out for a new jingle coming soon created by our own Willy Brandt School’s students!

~ The views represented in this blog post do not necessarily represent those of the Brandt School. ~