Podcasting and Education: Reflections on the Case of FreshEd

Abstract

New media formats such as podcasts are revolutionizing the production and dissemination of knowledge in and outside of higher education. One danger is the rise of EdTech companies that have used the pandemic as an opportunity to increase profits as more individuals and systems of higher education rely on digital platforms and products. This report explores the revolutionary potential of podcasts as an education technology that does not necessarily further the privatization of education. The case of the FreshEd podcast is highlighted. The concept of “infrastructuralism” is used to show how an ethos of Open Science can challenge many exploitative academic conventions and social relations. The main problem of a digital infrastructure that does not use the profit motive, however, is sustainable financing.