The team behind the winning podcast — “Red County, Blue County, Orange County,” — from left: Han Parker, Dean Jon Gould, Mike Madrid, Mimi Ko Cruz and Matt Coker. Photo by Greg Andersen
Host Mike Madrid, Dean Jon Gould and communications team honored
UC Irvine School of Social Ecology’s podcast — “Red County, Blue County, Orange County” — won the 2025 Orange County Press Club award for Best Audio Storytelling/Podcast and a silver award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).
What the OC Press Club award judges said:
“It's encouraging to see academia seize the power of podcast storytelling like this. There's long been a gap between what academics have learned and the ability to communicate that to the wider public in compelling and digestible ways. This podcast features great sound design, a knowledgeable guide who provides important context and history, and smart interviews with experts to draw even deeper insights.”
What the CASE judges said:
“Red County, Blue County, Orange County delivers exceptional production quality, while focusing on a broader audience beyond campus boundaries. As we noted, this podcast "was not just about the university but how the university connects to the area," presenting a timely exploration of regional political evolution with national relevance. The series skillfully transforms UCI's academic expertise into accessible storytelling. The result demonstrates how higher education institutions can use creative media to connect campus insights to community context, thus adding to the public discourse.”
The special six-episode podcast, hosted by the school’s Senior Fellow Mike Madrid, delves into how Orange County has changed over the decades and where it’s heading. It aired last year on the school’s website and on Politicology.
Madrid, a veteran political consultant and a cofounder of The Lincoln Project, interviews Democratic State Senator Tom Umberg, Republican Huntington Beach City Councilman Tony Strickland, Los Angeles Times columnist Gustavo Arellano, Nguoi Viet TV host Christina Bich-Tram Le, former Orange County Register and Los Angeles Times political reporter Jean Pasco, political consultant Stuart Spencer and School of Social Ecology Dean Jon Gould.
The podcast’s guests talk about Orange County’s future and how it is a microcosm of political change happening in the rest of the country.
“Orange County is a look into the future,” says Madrid, who named the podcast. “What we’ve learned through this podcast series is that the future is neither a red county, blue county or an orange county. It’s truly a purple county.”
Gould agrees, adding that the podcast offers lessons for the country. “What we’re seeing is the future of America right here in Orange County,” he says. “If you want to have a sense of what may be happening elsewhere in the country in the years ahead, pay attention to what’s been happening here and is still happening here today.”
He says the podcast shines a spotlight on the county as a microcosm of political change and it exceeded his expectations, “thanks to Mike Madrid and our school's communications team who produced the highly educational program.”
Credits
The podcast producers were Madrid, Mimi Ko Cruz, director of communications, and Han Parker, digital media manager. Cruz, Parker and Matt Coker, social media manager, served as the podcast editors.
Episodes
Listeners can tune in to Red County, Blue County, Orange County on the podcast website, as well as on Politicology.
Episode 1 — “Orange is the New Purple”
Episode 2 — “Reagan Country”
Episode 3 — “A Dangerous Proposition”
Episode 4 — “Age of Transformation”
Episode 5 — “High-Tech Anxiety”
Episode 6 — “The Collapse of the Orange Curtain”
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