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

Episode 24: Senior Roundtable, Clever, Curious, & Creative Class of 2026

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 [https://journalism.uoregon.edu/podcast]  Learn about the UO School of Journalism and Communication: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/ [https://journalism.uoregon.edu/] Apply to the UO School of Journalism and Communication: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/admissions [https://journalism.uoregon.edu/admissions]

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 [https://journalism.uoregon.edu/podcast]  Learn about the UO School of Journalism and Communication: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/ [https://journalism.uoregon.edu/]  Apply to the UO School of Journalism and Communication: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/admissions [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 [https://journalism.uoregon.edu/podcast]  Learn about the UO School of Journalism and Communication: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/ [https://journalism.uoregon.edu/]  Apply to the UO School of Journalism and Communication: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/admissions [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 [https://journalism.uoregon.edu/podcast]  Learn about the UO School of Journalism and Communication: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/ [https://journalism.uoregon.edu/]  Apply to the UO School of Journalism and Communication: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/admissions [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 [https://journalism.uoregon.edu/podcast]  Learn about the UO School of Journalism and Communication: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/ [https://journalism.uoregon.edu/]  Apply to the UO School of Journalism and Communication: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/admissions [https://journalism.uoregon.edu/admissions]