It's the season 2 finale! Brooke Luger (Hubbard, Cohort 13) and Eva Deng (Cohort 25) join Jazz to talk about starting and running their own businesses in graduate school.
Mentioned in the episode:
Changes in Privacy for App Tracking in iOS14 | AI Summer Academy at Comm Lead | Rob Salkowitz | Visual Storytelling: From Comics to Transmedia | Susan MacLaren | Foster Business School - Women Entrepreneurial Leadership program | Generative AI UX Studio | Foundations of Video Storytelling | Anita Verna Crofts | Professional Long-form Writing
Connect with Eva Deng:
LinkedIn | International Charity Artists Association (https://www.artgiving.org/)
Connect with Brooke Luger:
LinkedIn | MB Media (https://maggiebrookes.com/)
Connect with Comm Lead:
Website (https://commlead.uw.edu/) | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/commlead/) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/commlead) | LinkedIn | Facebook | Events
28 Apr 2026
Dating in Grad School
Sydney (https://sydney-horen.com/) and Evelyne (https://www.linkedin.com/in/evelynekuo/) join Jazz to talk about falling in…and out of love while in grad school.
Mentioned in the episode:
Italian Brainrot
Connect with Comm Lead:
Website (https://commlead.uw.edu/) | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/commlead/) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/commlead) | LinkedIn | Facebook | Events
21 Apr 2026
Parenting in Grad School
Niharika and Kathryn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathrynkamin) join Jazz to talk about the joys and travails of parenting while in grad school.
Mentioned in the episode:
Lauren Kessler | Anita Verna Crofts (https://commlead.uw.edu/person/crofts/) | WA Laws about breastfeeding | Kathryn's Podcast
Connect with Comm Lead:
Website (https://commlead.uw.edu/) | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/commlead/) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/commlead) | LinkedIn | Facebook | Events
14 Apr 2026
Writers' Room with Jazz & Jess - Live episode!
Join host Jazz Espiritu and producer Jessica Partnow for a behind-the-scenes conversation about podcast production and Jazz's secret Twitch streaming fame!
Mentioned in the episode:
Jazz Espiritu: A Standard Love | Generation Putin | Jessica's story about the International
Connect with Comm Lead:
Website (https://commlead.uw.edu/) | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/commlead/) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/commlead) | LinkedIn | Facebook | Events
7 Apr 2026
The International Grad Student Experience with Stef and Ella
Today we're talking with Ella and Estefania, two international grad students, about the joys and challenges of moving to a new place for grad school, building community, and making friends.
Mentioned in the episode:
Beijing Meets Seattle
Connect with Comm Lead:
Website (https://commlead.uw.edu/) | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/commlead/) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/commlead) | LinkedIn | Facebook | Events
15 Sept 2025
Road to Orientation: Connecting with your Career
Starting grad school often brings up anxiety about their careers. Take a deep breath, exhale, and join Assistant Director for Outreach Liyao Zhao and Associate Director Alex Stonehill for a conversation about connecting your passions to your career path, and making the most of the many opportunities to grow while in the Comm Lead program.
Connect with Comm Lead:
Website (https://commlead.uw.edu/) | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/commlead/) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/commlead) | LinkedIn | Facebook | Events
8 Sept 2025
Road to Orientation: Connecting with your Classes
What classes should you take in grad school? Are there other ways to make the most of your learning?
Associate Director Gretchen Ludwig and Assistant Director of Academic Services Heather Werckle give advice for following your passions in choosing courses, and charting a path through Comm Lead that supports your goals.
Connect with Comm Lead:
Website (https://commlead.uw.edu/) | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/commlead/) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/commlead) | LinkedIn | Facebook | Events
1 Sept 2025
Road to Orientation: Connecting with your Community
It's very likely that when you walk through the doors at your grad school orientation, you won't know a single other person. How do you make friends? How important is that?
Assistant Director for Outreach Liyao Zhao and Associate Director Alex Stonehill join for a conversation about the many opportunities to connect with community at Comm Lead.
Connect with Comm Lead:
Website (https://commlead.uw.edu/) | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/commlead/) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/commlead) | LinkedIn | Facebook | Events
25 Aug 2025
Road to Orientation: Connecting with your Campus
How can incoming students make the most of a small graduate program at a big university? Associate Director Gretchen Ludwig and Assistant Director of Academic Services Heather Werckle offer insights on how to get oriented, and share the best things about UW, from activities to facilities.
Mentioned in the episode:
IMA (https://www.washington.edu/ima/) | UW Libraries (https://lib.uw.edu/) | Grad student housing
| Recording studios: COM * Odegaard (https://it.uw.edu/guides/technology-facilities/sound-studio/) * Open Scholarship Commons | Handshake | Career Center, Wardrobe Checkout & Headshots
Connect with Comm Lead:
Website (https://commlead.uw.edu/) | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/commlead/) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/commlead) | LinkedIn | Facebook
11 Aug 2025
First Generation (Grad) Students
Today we're talking with Margarita Aguado and Michelle Rojas, two students who are the first in their families to attend grad school.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Leading the Way
02:53 Meet Margarita Aguado and Michelle Rojas, today's guests and first generation students
20:52 The role of mentors and advocates
41:41 Pursuing grad school as a first generation student
1:14:22 How grad schools can support first gen students
Mentioned in the episode:
College Bound Scholarship (https://wsac.wa.gov/college-bound)
Connect with Comm Lead:
Website (https://commlead.uw.edu/) | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/commlead/) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/commlead) | LinkedIn | Facebook
21 Jul 2025
Using Grad School to Change Careers
Today we're talking with Dane Garfield and Gautam Malyala, two students who have and are using grad school to shift careers.
Chapters
0:00 Welcome & Introductions
2:22: Dane's journey
7:18: Gautam's journey
19:50 the value of networking and real-world applications
41:10 navigating grad school challenges
50:59 Advice for prospective grad students
1:10:26 final thoughts and farewell
Connect with Comm Lead:
Website (https://commlead.uw.edu/) | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/commlead/) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/commlead) | LinkedIn | Facebook
21 Jul 2025
Grad School and Mental Health
Welcome to our very first episode of Leading the Way! Today we're talking with Amy Niu and S'Morr, two students about to finish graduate school, about their mental health journeys through the Comm Lead program.
Chapters
00:00 Intro to Leading the Way
04:40 Amy's Story
7:15 Imposter Phenomena
20:45 S'Morr's story
36:45 Mental Health Practices that work
Mentioned in the episode:
Mental Health at UW | UW Counseling Center | UW Crisis Services (https://wellbeing.uw.edu/crisis-services/)
Connect with Comm Lead:
Website (https://commlead.uw.edu/) | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/commlead/) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/commlead) | LinkedIn | Facebook
17 Jul 2025
Trailer: Leading the Way
A podcast guidebook for navigating grad school, from the University of Washington's Communication Leadership Master's Program. Leading The Way is your guide to making the most of your graduate school experience. Hear how students are navigating everything from career drama, to mental health, to visa regulations, and more to find their own unique path to success.
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
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