From the Nominator

Berkeley Voices is a podcast produced in UC Berkeley’s Office of Communications and Public Affairs by Anne Brice, the producer and host. The podcast explores the work and lives of fascinating UC Berkeley faculty, students, staff, and visiting scholars and artists. It aims to educate listeners about Berkeley’s advances in teaching and research and to build awareness and community across our diverse campus. In addition, the podcast sparks curiosity about the deeper layers of American history that are explored by our prominent scholars. For the 2024-25 academic year, Berkeley Voices is exploring in eight episodes the theme of transformation—of ideas, of research, of perspective. New episodes come out on the last Monday of each month, from October through May. The two podcast episodes in this CASE Circle of Excellence submission are the following: “As Crises Escalate, so Does Our Fascination With Cults” and “Think You Know What Dinosaurs Were Like? Think Again.” The episodes highlight transformation in the work of two professors—one who studies the power of cults and the conditions that give rise to our fascination with them and another who studies fossils to understand our changing perception of how dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals lived and what they looked like.

From the Judges

This podcast impresses with its seamless blend of interviews and scripted narrative, guided by a smart, engaging host who skillfully leads the conversation. Its unique distribution through the Berkeley website, featuring article-style presentations, transcripts, and well-designed episode pages, with key takeaways and related links, creates a rich, accessible experience. With compelling topics and polished production, this standout podcast earns a well-deserved silver for its innovative format and thoughtful execution.