Introduction and Inspiration:
Hello! My name is Mallory Safsten, and as I reflect on my time at BYU-I, I’m deeply grateful for the memories I’ve created here. These experiences came from embracing the resources and activities available to students. As a senior in communications with a focus on strategic organization, I’ve grown immensely through these opportunities.
What I cherish most about BYU-Idaho is its unique mission: to develop disciples of Jesus Christ who are leaders in their communities, homes, and the Church. Students come to Rexburg to expand their knowledge and improve their well-being—socially, physically, mentally, and spiritually. After more than eight semesters, I’m still discovering new programs and resources that support these critical aspects of life.
I wish I’d known about many of these opportunities as a freshman. That’s why I created The Health That BYU-Idaho Offers You Podcast as part of my senior project. This podcast on Spotify highlights the many resources BYU-Idaho provides to help students maintain balance across four key areas: Spiritual, Social, Physical, and Mental health. These principles, as taught by our prophet, are essential to thriving in college and beyond.
Project Overview:
My podcast explores the incredible opportunities BYU-Idaho offers to support student health and balance. Divided into four topics—Physical, Mental, Spiritual, and Social health—each section features three episodes. I interviewed campus experts, uncovered hidden gems, and shared actionable insights to help students improve their well-being.
Each interview was carefully planned and supported by in-depth research into BYU-I resources and broader health studies. From fitness programs to mental health workshops, temple attendance to student activities, every podcast was crafted to ensure students could find ways to enrich their lives.
Podcast Topics:
Physical Health
– Fitness Classes
– Outdoor Resource Center (ORC)
– Fit4Life
Mental Health
– HOPE Council
– THRIVE Program
– Counseling, Therapy, and Workshops
Spiritual Health
– Temple Attendance
– Devotionals
– Religion Classes, Institute, and Callings
Social Health
– Blue Crew
– Student Activities
– I-Serve
Objectives:
– Educate: Show current and future students how BYU-I offers more than just an academic education. Highlight opportunities to grow holistically instead of sacrificing health for academic success.
– Research: Compile comprehensive information on campus resources and share them widely to inspire greater student participation.
– Serve: Support students who feel lonely, stressed, or uninvolved. Encourage them to explore new hobbies, strengthen their faith, and find support for mental or physical health challenges.
Podcast Creation:
The podcast production involved:
1. Researching campus resources and related health topics.
2. Identifying and inviting knowledgeable interviewees.
3. Writing interview scripts based on thorough research.
4. Recording in the communications studio.
5. Editing with Audacity, including adding music and refining sound quality.
6. Publishing episodes to Spotify.
Skills Used:
Throughout this podcast, I have used skills learned during my time at BYU-Idaho as well as new skills developed specifically for this project.
- Interviewing: For each person interviewed, I followed the same protocol of making all questions available prior to recording an episode. During each episode, I asked specific questions based on my research medically and program details offered. After each question was asked, follow-up questions were used to get the full scope and detail on the particular program or activity being discussed. While interviewing careful discretion was used on how to continue the conversation and move onto the next question. I also made aware of the availability for interviews to pause and start over if needed during the interview.
- Audio Editing: I learned new software (Audacity) to edit and enhance each episode. Incorrect portions or empty spaces within each podcast were taken out to keep a consistent flow of speech, and voices were leveled to maintain a similar volume throughout the episode. Music was added to the beginning and end to make each podcast have a more professional tone.
- Researching: Each segment of the podcast required different amounts of research and from different sources. Prior to each episode, I narrowed down the main details I wanted to focus on in the program and what research and information I wanted to share to the listening audience.The discussion health topics for the physical, mental, and social segments were researched medically and many clinical studies and data were reviewed which related specifically to college age students. For the spiritual segment, many devotional speeches and historical facts were used based on the history of BYU-Idaho.
- Writing Interviews: All episodes began by finding someone to interview prior to writing the script. Once confirmed, each script was written for the position of the person being interviewed. The script was also determined by the amount of information already displayed on their platforms. Questions were written in the format of allowing interview participants to share their first hand knowledge of the program activities available, new ones coming up, how to get involved, who to contact, where they take place and how the program has benefited them and other students on campus.
- Networking: All of the people I interviewed work on campus and were asked individually to participate in the episodes. As I decided which programs and activities to interview for, I went through the supervisors and department offices to get contacts and referrals for those who might be interested and available to interview on the podcast. Once I had a confirmation of interest and ability to participate, I wrote out the questions so that they would be available for review by the participant and to allow them to prepare their thoughts and answers. For most of the episodes, it required many calls, emails, and texts to find people available to interview due to students’ busy school and work schedules. I met and talked to many people in each organization by phone and in-person.
- Project Management: Throughout this entire process, I kept a detailed spreadsheet of each episode’s progress including; script written, record date, date actually completed, episode edited, episode uploaded. At each point throughout the semester, I was in contact with programs and working on multiple episodes which required careful planning to not overlap recording times and to have spaced out days to write scripts and edit.
Audience Analysis:
The podcast is tailored to BYU-Idaho’s on-campus students. Each episode addresses specific health challenges or interests, offering actionable advice and resources.
For example:
– Struggling physically? Explore fitness classes, outdoor activities, or Fit4Life.
– Feeling mentally drained? Join HOPE Council, participate in THRIVE, or seek counseling.
– Seeking spiritual growth? Attend the temple, devotionals, or institute.
– Want to make friends? Get involved with Blue Crew, Student Activities, or I-Serve.
No matter the challenge, students can find support and opportunities to grow.
Project Outcome:
This podcast serves as a guide for freshmen and all students navigating the wealth of resources at BYU-I. It’s a lifeline for those in health crises, offering knowledge, support, and inspiration. In a world where technology can isolate, this project empowers students to take control of their college experience, foster connections, and achieve balance. The Health That BYU-Idaho Offers You Podcast is a resource for anyone seeking to thrive.
Project Links:
The Podcast on Spotify:
Bibliography: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CQBeq9iGt4IYmzpdJqHEX4lyMfOqeJQj/view