"Since 2018, the Harvard Kennedy School of Government had been without a podcast to highlight the vital, groundbreaking research and thought leadership of its world-renowned scholars during a crucial time in U.S. and global history. In 2019, longtime journalist and media producer Ralph Ranalli was hired to revive HKS PolicyCast as the official podcast of the Kennedy School.
Due to the complexity of world issues, such as the climate crisis, systemic racism, public health, human rights, and political governance, a 35- to 45-minute podcast is an indispensable tool to explore vital, complex issues and potential solutions in a way that a four-minute video or a 1,500-word story cannot. Aiming at an audience of policymakers, other academics, government officials, and staffers—but also the interested public—PolicyCast explores problems in detail and also highlights research-based solutions. Guests on the podcast include Harvard Kennedy School faculty members and select visiting scholars, including Nobel Prize laureates, MacArthur “Genius Grant” winners, former heads of state, high-ranking former government officials, and distinguished scholars who are acknowledged world-leaders in their fields of study.
The new version of PolicyCast was launched in 2019 with Harvard Kennedy School Associate Dean of Communications Thoko Moyo, a former radio presenter for the BBC’s Africa Service, as host. Ralph Ranalli, a former news producer for WGBH Television and a veteran newspaper writer and editor, took over the host chair in addition to his producing duties in mid-2021."
From the Judges
The costs to produce this look minimal, but they've been able to maximise their strength in reaching outstanding guests connected or not to HKS to produce intelligent, easy to understand, timely content. Many large institutions can still follow this model!
