The University Comms Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

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The University Comms Podcast

Gareth Hughes

Business

Frequency: 1 episode/49d. Total Eps: 8

A podcast about the stories, strategy and occasional chaos behind how universities communicate. The University Comms Podcast takes you inside the real work of higher education communications – from student campaigns and staff engagement to media relations, internal messaging, and crisis response. Hosted by UK higher ed comms nerd Gareth Hughes, each episode features comms teams who are doing the job - talking honestly about what worked, what didn’t, and what we’re all still figuring out. For higher education communications professionals, marketers, media teams and anyone trying to keep up.

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Data updated on 02/09/2026

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https://www.uwe.ac.uk/news/new-film-promotes-positive-masculinity
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Score global : 11%

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Building An Internal Comms Network That Actually Works

Season 1 · Episode 8

Thursday, June 18, 2026 • Duration 22:41

Beth Lloyd and Sara West are Internal Communications Managers at Imperial College London, where they run a staff communications network of 400 people across 11 campuses. In this episode we talk about how they built it, how they've used it to drive brand consistency and coordinate sensitive all-staff campaigns, and what other universities could learn from their approach. If you work in higher education communications and you're thinking about how to connect a fragmented institution, this one's for you.

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3,000 Students Joined This Uni Discord in 3 Weeks

Tuesday, March 31, 2026 • Duration 28:05

In this episode, I’m joined by Emma Kelly, Communications and Marketing Officer in The University of Manchester's accommodation, to talk about she used Discord to rethink student induction.

Faced with low engagement on Facebook, rising comms fatigue, and inboxes receiving more than 400 emails a day, they trialled a new approach built around real-time, two-way communication.

We explore how the server was set up, how students actually used it, and what happened when thousands joined and started asking questions, sharing information, and supporting each other.

Emma also reflects on what worked, what didn’t, and what they’re changing for the next intake.

We cover:

Why previous induction comms weren’t working
Moving from one-way channels to two-way conversation
Launching and managing a Discord server at scale
The impact on student experience and staff workload
Challenges around moderation, volume, and out-of-hours demand
What’s next for 2026

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The Spotify Paradox: Why Universities Are Still Organising Like Blockbuster Video

Season 1 · Episode 6

Monday, January 12, 2026 • Duration 23:14

In this episode, Gareth Hughes is joined by digital experience and AI consultant Tom Noble-Sabokbar to explore why so many university websites still feel like Blockbuster in an age of Spotify.

They discuss how universities continue to organise digital content around internal structures, while students search by intent, questions, and need, and why that mismatch is costing institutions attention, trust, and applications.

The conversation looks at how students actually behave online, the role of search and discovery in recruitment and engagement, and what it really means for universities to design digital experiences around student journeys rather than org charts.

Tom also shares practical steps universities can take to improve their digital experience, including how AI and conversational search tools can help students find the answers they need faster, without a full website rebuild.

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University Comms Predictions for 2026

Season 1 · Episode 5

Tuesday, December 2, 2025 • Duration 28:34

Universities are heading into a year of major shifts in communications. Gareth and Josh Patmore break down the three trends that will shape 2026: the rise of university owned video formats, how attention fragmentation is changing audience behaviour, and why storytelling is becoming an essential skill for comms teams.

This episode offers clear insights for anyone working in university communications, marketing or content who wants to understand what is coming next and plan with confidence.

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How AI Is (And Isn't) Changing The Way Prospective Students Apply For University

Season 1 · Episode 4

Wednesday, November 5, 2025 • Duration 21:28

Students are using AI tools like ChatGPT to decide where to study, compare universities, and check entry requirements - often before they ever reach your website.

Flo Vincent from the University of Edinburgh shares what she’s learned from researching how applicants are using AI, what it means for content and recruitment teams, and how universities can prepare for what’s next.

How students are really using AI in the application process
Why university content can confuse AI - and students
What comms and marketing teams can do to stay visible

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Rebuilding Trust Between Students and Leaders

Season 1 · Episode 3

Sunday, September 28, 2025 • Duration 35:37

What happens when a Vice Chancellor sits down with students to tackle their toughest questions - on camera?

In this episode of The University Comms Podcast, Gareth Hughes speaks to Jules Maclachlan, who has led a step change in leadership engagement. From the award-winning Oxford Road Chats video series to “Ask Me Anything” open meetings, we explore how real dialogue, unscripted conversations, and visible leadership are reshaping the relationship between students and their university.

We talk about the risks, the reactions, and the results - and what other institutions can learn if they want to build trust in challenging times.

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Why Psychology Is The Secret to Better University Comms

Season 1 · Episode 2

Monday, August 11, 2025 • Duration 27:17

Host Gareth Hughes talks with Michelle McMahon from the University of Limerick’s marketing team about using psychology to make communications pop. Learn how Limerick taps into ideas like emotional connection and the exposure effect to create stories that hit home, not just on social media but everywhere. From their student-driven content to building a sense of belonging, Michelle shares simple, practical tips for comms pros who want to engage audiences and tell stories that stick.

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Positive Masculinity - How Do Universities Talk About It?

Season 1 · Episode 1

Monday, July 7, 2025 • Duration 35:32

In this episode of The University Comms Podcast, Gareth Hughes speaks with Siobhan Stayt and Jas Whiting about a campaign at UWE Bristol that promotes positive masculinity. They discuss the complexities of defining masculinity, the research that informed their campaign, the creative process behind their video, and the challenges they faced in launching it. The conversation highlights the importance of student engagement, the need for ongoing dialogue about masculinity, and the lessons learned from their experience.

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The University Comms Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

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The University Comms Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other1

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Other1