Hybrid learning is still normal here at Shoreline College, and teachers are expected to have the equipment required for recording online lessons. But access to a decent camera, a good microphone, or even a quiet space to record can be hard to find when you’re juggling multiple responsibilities. Seeing the need for an audiovisual space, Justin Baggott, an Instructional Designer for eLearning at Shoreline, initiated creating Shoreline’s new podcast studio, The Pod.

“Maybe if you’re an acting student and you want to do a practice audition in front of a camera or…for faculty, that can also be classroom lectures…for their online classes…Really, it’s kind of open-ended right now what people want to use it for,” Baggott said.

The studio itself was funded by a $9,994 College Innovation Grant awarded to Shoreline in the 2024-2025 school year. The majority of the grant went towards sound treating the studio and equipment. Sound treating means padding the walls and using other techniques to muffle sound in a recording studio.

The Pod is located on the second floor at the campus library near the writing studio.

Students and faculty will have access to two podcast and lapel microphones, a green screen, a projector screen, professional studio lighting, and a Canon camera for any projects they desire to use the studio for.

Trained student workers will operate the podcast studio’s equipment during each session. For those interested in learning to operate the equipment, Baggott can be reached for further information.

While the studio isn’t entirely sound proof, it is sound treated, and students and staff are encouraged to take advantage of the privacy and the equipment for any creative endeavors they want to explore.

Booked sessions can range from 30 minutes to an hour and 30 minutes. Reservations can be made online with the same sign up program used for study rooms. Those wanting to learn more about The Pod and its scheduling can visit their website.

“I would love to see people…sharing cool things. Student clubs, especially, if they want to come in here and do promotional stuff to talk about the cool things they’re doing in their clubs. Really, just to create that mixed modality experience so students—that maybe aren’t coming to campus—can see the cool things through the videos, and maybe that’ll encourage people to come to campus,” Baggott said.