One Cool Story: Tales from the University of Oregon’s School of Communication and Journalism

What does it look like to say yes to every opportunity and turn uncertainty into a career in sports broadcasting?

In this episode of the podcast One Cool Story: Tales from the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication, fourth-year journalism student Ethan Donahue sits down with Austin Ota, a recent journalism graduate whose love of sports led to a passion for storytelling and shaped his path to sports media.

Aus...

In this episode of the podcast One Cool Story: Tales from the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC), fourth-year public relations student McKenzie Leary speaks with pro-tem instructor Slavka Eberhard-Garah, an advertising professional who grew up in Bulgaria, built a career spanning multiple countries, and found her way to the SOJC by following her curiosity.



Slavka reflects on what drew her to adve...

What does it look like to discover your academic calling after taking an unexpected path to college?

In this episode of One Cool Story: Tales from the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC), fourth-year journalism student Ethan Donahue sits down with Heidi Stevenson, a recent SOJC graduate whose journey took her from community college in Pennsylvania to presenting original research at national journali...

In this episode of One Cool Story: Tales from the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication, master’s student Kaiya Laguardia-Yonamine catches up with Andrew DeVigal, director of the Agora Journalism Center and co-director of the Multimedia Storytelling Master’s program at UO’s Portland campus.

Andrew reflects on his 30-year career in journalism, from his early days at the Contra Costa Times in California to sha...

In this episode of One Cool Story: Tales from the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC), senior journalism student Leo Heffron sits down with SOJC PhD student Martha Tejeda—an international student from Juarez, Mexico, a media scholar of K-pop and Disney fandoms, and a researcher exploring Mexican youth and narco culture.

Martha shares how crossing the border for school at the age of 12 shaped her ide...

In this episode of One Cool Story: Tales from the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC), senior journalism student Julia Boboc has an animated conversation with Jon Sharpy, creative technology manager, and videographer Lucas Castillo Delgado.

They share how their undergraduate experiences at the University of Oregon shaped their journeys to the SOJC, the Storycraft class curriculum they developed, and...

What does it take to go from being a student photographer to documenting history at the White House? 

In this episode of One Cool Story: Tales from the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC), fourth-year public relations student Symone Moore sits down with SOJC alum Polly Irungu ’17—photojournalist, founder of Black Women Photographers, a photographer for Governor Wes Moore of Maryland, and former phot...

What does it take to turn childhood wonder into cutting-edge research?

In this episode of One Cool Story: Tales from the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC), journalism senior Julia Boboc sits down with Danny Pimentel, assistant professor of immersive psychology and director of the Oregon Reality Lab at SOJC Portland, for an inspiring and surprising conversation about the power of virtual and extend...

How do you turn passion for soccer into a thriving media brand and a trip to the World Cup? 

In this episode of One Cool Story: Tales from the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC), journalism senior Sophie Fowler sits down with Jackie Gutierrez, SOJC journalism master’s alum and founder of Women Kick Balls, a website dedicated to women’s soccer coverage.

Jackie shares how she crowdfunded her dream tr...

Who is the new interim dean leading the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication? 

In this episode of One Cool Story: Tales from the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC), journalism senior Julia Boboc sits down with Regina Lawrence, the SOJC’s new interim dean—and a nationally recognized scholar of political communication.

Before leading the SOJC, Regina dreamed of becoming a pro...

In March 2025, journalism major Sophie Fowler had the opportunity to chat virtually with Heather Davis, CEO of the Portland Timbers. The Timbers are an professional soccer club based in Portland, Oregon, and Heather’s job is to ensure they succeed both as a sporting organization but as a business. Listen in and learn how she found herself at the SOJC, what life is like as the leader of the Timbers, and how hard work helped her reac...

Brian Bull is freelance reporter for KLCC and NPR, substitute host for National Native News, and Nez Perce tribal member. Bull was also a professor at the SOJC, but decided to pursue his passion for reporting and tribal advocacy as a Senior Reporter for Buffalo's Fire shortly after this interview. His career is a fascinating one that spans several states. Listen in and learn all about it as he looks back over the career that led hi...

In this episode, journalism major McKenzie Leary sits down with fellow journalism major and senior Malya Fass, morning broadcaster at local NPR affiliate KLCC and member of this year’s cohort of the Charles Snowden Program for Excellence in Journalism. The two talk about how Malya became interested in journalism, what it’s like to be a morning broadcaster, how she’s pursuing her new passion in audio broadcasting via the Charles Sno...

In this episode, public relations senior and UOPRSSA president Jill Gray is joined virtually by SOJC alum Alex Horwitch, director of digital marketing for DreamWorks Animation. Horwitch reached notoriety when his acapella group became a viral sensation on the internet during the very early years of social media. After being discovered via Youtube, Horwitch’s career took off in a direction that he wasn’t expecting. It took more than...

Welcome to Season 3 of One Cool Story: Tales from the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication! Get a taste for this season's episodes by listening to this teaser!

Each term, One Cool Story shares stories and experiences from a handful of SOJC faculty, students, staff, and alumni about life in Allen Hall, at SOJC Portland, and beyond. New episodes release each term, so be sure to subscribe wherever you’re liste...

In this episode, journalism major Sophie Fowler speaks with Camilla Mortensen, Pro Tem Instructor at the SOJC and new editor and owner of the Eugene Weekly. The two discuss Mortensen's post-grad career, how she arrived at the Eugene Weekly, what it's like being an SOJC instructor, the 2024 disaster that almost ended the Weekly, and the outpouring of support from across the nation that came after. 

Each term, One Cool Story shares s...

In this episode, advertising major Zakary Christen-Cooney talks with Carmelli Hess '24, an Advertising and Brand Responsibility Masters' alum who also earned her undergraduate advertising degree at the SOJC. The two discuss Hess' time at the SOJC, how she found herself drawn to the world of advertising, and her award-winning capstone project on Latinx and Filipino representation in luxury fashion.

Each term, One Cool Story shares s...

In this episode legendary storyteller Peter Laufer, SOJC Professor and James N. Wallace Chair of Journalism, speaks with journalism major Ethan Donahue about his early career in publishing and radio, his life as a journalism professor at the SOJC, heated debates with media faces, and much more!

Each term, One Cool Story shares stories and experiences from a handful of SOJC faculty, students, staff, and alumni about life in Allen Ha...

In this episode we speak with Andy Wilson, a Media Studies and Communication PhD student at the SOJC. In a conversation with journalism senior Sydney Seymour, he shares his journey to the SOJC, what it’s like to teach students (often alongside his own professors), why you should consider joining the school’s PhD program, and insights from his dissertation on internet memes.

Each term, One Cool Story shares stories and experiences f...