University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR) extension agents are stepping behind microphones and using podcasts to educate their communities.
Livestock Walaʻau
The Livestock Walaʻau podcast was launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, when in-person events were halted, and extension agents like Associate Extension Agent Melelani Oshiro noticed a fatigue developing with traditional online formats.
“We did some webinars, and started to realize that, you know, you get fatigued with too many Zooms and webinars,” Oshiro said. “Podcasts are a convenient way to continue our programs and deliver information focused on the needs of Hawaiʻi’s livestock community.”
Download the Livestock Walaʻau podcast.
The Orchid Pod
For horticulturalists and plant enthusiasts, The Orchid Pod has offered deep-dive conversations on one of the state’s most popular flowers for more than three years. Co-host and Associate Extension Agent James Keach noted the show’s mission is to bridge a gap in public curiosity and knowledge about the plant’s remarkable history.
“Somene in Hilo I had never spoken to before came up to me and said he was really enjoying listening to the pod as he re-pots his orchids,” said Keach.
Co-hosted by local entrepreneur Rafaell Rozendo and American Orchid Society judge Caleb Houck, the podcast has built an organically grown audience every month by sharing in-depth growing knowledge and history. It reaches thousands of listeners across Hawaiʻi, the continental U.S. and more than 50 counties around the world.
