Seeking Contributors to Launch EcoCast: The Official ASLE Podcast

ASLE is seeking both co-hosts and interview participants for a new podcast, please see the calls below:

Co-Host

The Association for the Study of Literature and the Environment (ASLE) is currently accepting applications for a co-host on the in-development podcast series, EcoCast. The podcast will be a place for scholars, educators, and creators doing work related to ecocriticism, environmental and social justice, service learning, and any other topic that falls under the purview of ASLE’s vision.

The role of the co-host will be to help the host organize, schedule, and develop initial outlines for the podcast. Additionally, the co-host will participate in each podcast episode helping to ask questions, maintain the conversation, and offer additional insight and perspectives.

Participation as co-host need not be in person, as most, if not all, episode recordings will happen remotely via Skype. Technical questions can be answered via email. A stable internet connection and Skype account are all that is required of the co-host. All recording and technical elements will be handled by the host, Brandon Galm. 

Ideally, this co-host will be someone who can serve in this role for at least one year, if not longer. We understand that things change, but are hoping to find someone who can provide some long term stability and cohesion to the podcast, especially as it develops its audience. The current plan is to record one episode per month, but the frequency might increase or decrease depending on interest. Anticipate each recording session to take around an hour to an hour and a half, with 30-40 minutes for the actual recording and the rest of the time as set-up/preparation, as well as leeway for any issues that might arise.

The co-host should love learning across disciplines and engaging with all of the wonderful work that ASLE’s members are creating. They should be someone with strong communication and listening skills. Any current member of ASLE may apply to serve as co-host. We encourage applications from individuals from groups underrepresented in the academy and from individuals with proficiency in languages other than English. Though the podcast will launch in English, we would like to identify potential co-hosts who are able to record interviews in other languages for future episodes.

If you would like to be considered for this co-host position, please send an abbreviated CV and one-page letter of interest explaining why you feel you would be a good fit and what ideas or perspectives you would hope to bring to a podcast such as this one. Email the above materials to ASLE.EcoCast@gmail.com no later than March 31, 2020. Applicants will be contacted to schedule a Skype conversation/test podcast with the host by April 30, 2020.

Interview Participants

The Association for the Study of Literature and the Environment (ASLE) is currently accepting proposals for participants to be featured on an in-development podcast series, EcoCast. Scholars and educators doing work related to ecocriticism, environmental and social justice, community-based learning, and any other topic that falls under the purview of ASLE’s vision are welcome to submit proposals for participation in the podcast. Proposals can come from individual scholars or small groups (3-4), with preference given to scholars proposing topics that have not been discussed on an episode before. Though the podcast will launch in English, we are open to proposals for a podcast episodes in other languages if there is interest in doing so and a co-host available.

The purpose of this podcast is to keep the members of ASLE, as well as those broadly interested in the scholarship surrounding literature and the environment, informed and connected in between biennial conferences by giving scholars and teachers a space to share their research, teaching, and activism in an informal, wide-reaching way.

Podcast topics might include (but are not limited to):

  • Current scholarship in environmental literature and art
  • Environmental justice activism
  • Community-based and service learning
  • Environmental justice pedagogy
  • Problems/Issues facing environmental justice and ecocritical scholarship, activism, and/or pedagogy
  • Creative works (published or yet to be published) dealing with environmental concerns

Participation need not be in person, and the podcast can be recorded remotely via Skype. Any technical questions will be addressed in the FAQ sent to all accepted proposals. Those participants in and around the Central Kansas region can record in person or remotely, based upon the preference and schedule of the host and participant(s). Upon acceptance, participants will be contacted via email to schedule possible days and times to record and will receive a rough outline of the episode (including possible questions for discussion), instructions and technical guidelines, and a list of frequently asked questions at least one week prior to recording, so they might prepare effectively for recording.

We anticipate each podcast will run 30-40 minutes on average. Participants should plan to schedule 1-1.5 hours for the full recording session, to allow for time to resolve any technical issues that might arise.

Podcast topic proposals should be emailed to ASLE.EcoCast@gmail.com or brandonjgalm@gmail.com. Proposals should be 250-300 words and include (1) a brief abstract of the topic to be discussed, including an explanation of its value or contribution(s) to ASLE’s Vision and Community goals, and (2) name, contact information, and brief biography of participant.. Proposals for episodes with more than one participant should also include a short description for what each person specifically plans to discuss related to the topic.