Around 46.1% of undergraduates take part in study-abroad opportunities at Chapman University.One of the newest resources for students that are interested in going abroad comes from the university’s Center for Global Education (CGE) in the form of a study abroad podcast. This audio resource premieres new episodes monthly and covers a wide area of topics regarding the subject. 

The CGE provides information for students interested in traveling abroad and details the different options that are available. With the podcast, students can learn more about abroad programs, international internships and travel courses.

Some of the episodes that are available now are “Black & Abroad,” “Latinx & Abroad” and “First Gen Abroad.” These episodes and more can be found on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other platforms. 

Roxy Aguilera, a junior sociology and political science major, was recently a guest on the podcast. In the fall 2022 semester, she studied abroad in Seville, Spain and shared this experience on the show to listeners.

“I think that it is very interesting to hear about other people’s experiences from previous episodes and to learn about some of the places I did not know you could travel to through Chapman,” Aguilera said to The Panther. “I think that if I had not studied abroad yet, I would have appreciated to know that there was an option to listen to what the experience was like for other students.”

Originally, the podcast began in early 2021 and then took a year-long break due to a change in hosts. The show then resumed in January 2023 and began releasing monthly episodes. 

Henry Carey, the host and producer of the show, currently serves as a global education advisor for the Argyros School of Business and Economics at Chapman. He shared how this podcast has been helpful for students who are interested in potentially studying abroad.

“The show gives students the opportunity to hear from their peers directly, and it allows them to connect and relate with different topics that are useful at any point of the study abroad process,” Carey told The Panther. “Whether students are freshmen and beginning to consider going abroad, whether they are accepted students about to depart for their program or whether they are study abroad alumni, I believe that students at any phase in the process can find an episode that relates to their interests or identity.” 

Angelique Acuna is an administrative assistant for the Center of Global Education at Chapman and was a guest for an episode discussing first-generation students and their study abroad experiences.

“Being a staff member in the office, I always tell students about the podcast,” said Acuna, who graduated from Chapman last year with two bachelor’s in film studies and art history. “Yes, you can look up YouTube videos and other podcasts about people talking about their abroad experience, but Chapman students listening to other Chapman students speak about their abroad experience makes it a more intimate experience.”

In the future, the podcast hopes to generate more of an audience to help students become more comfortable and confident in studying abroad.