Navigating Personal and Professional Tensions in the Production of a Sexual Health Education Podcast
Open Access
- Author:
- Gyorke, Allan
- Graduate Program:
- Lifelong Learning and Adult Education
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- April 22, 2022
- Committee Members:
- Stuart Selber, Outside Unit & Field Member
Craig Campbell, Co-Chair of Committee
Jose Cossa, Major Field Member
Roy Clariana, Co-Chair & Dissertation Advisor
Heather Toomey Zimmerman, Program Head/Chair - Keywords:
- podcasting
sexual health education
presentation of self
independent podcasters
minority podcasters
non-formal education
risk mitigation
lifelong learning
social presence - Abstract:
- As independent minority podcasters attempt to use podcasting to address unmet needs in their communities, they may experience a tension between their desire to share their thoughts and experience with listeners and the potential consequences that can arise from sharing too much. This qualitative case study explores this tension by examining The Sex Wrap, a sexual health education podcast hosted by two members of the LGBTQ community and supported by a team of interns. The sources of data used in this study include podcast episodes, social media posts and messages, internal documents, and interviews with the two hosts and five current or former members of the intern team. The data were analyzed using the constant comparative method to identify themes and tensions. The findings indicate that The Sex Wrap is intended to address the needs of diverse listeners, including people between the ages of 14 and 24, parents, teachers, members of the LGBTQ community, and people of color. The producers perceive risks related to career harm, negative reactions from family members, social media harassment, harm to listeners, and the exclusion of underrepresented perspectives. The producers mitigate these risks through strategies such as limiting the use of explicit materials and language; avoiding details about their sex lives, families, and partners; protecting the interns’ identities; relying on evidence-based practices; presenting the risks associated with sexual behaviors; and leveraging guests to increase inclusivity. This study concludes with a discussion of the motivations of podcasters and how they mitigate risks through different presentations of self. The discussion includes a heuristic, composed of five questions intended to help independent podcasters make choices related to the risks associated with the podcast, considerations for their target audience, what they are willing to share, and the consequences of their podcast being heard by everyone.