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 and communications team honored
UC Irvine School of Social Ecology’s podcast — “Red County, Blue County, Orange County” — this week won the Orange County Press Club award for Best Audio Storytelling/Podcast.
What the 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.”
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.”
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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