MCC Made Podcast Gives Voice to People Behind College Stories

As listeners tune in to Metropolitan Community College’s “MCC Made” podcast, they are hearing more than just a conversation about the College. Launched at the end of last year, “MCC Made” is hosted by Emma Frazier and Katherine Riggs. The bi-weekly podcast highlights MCC stories through interviews with alumni, students, faculty and community partners.

Known for their humorous and insightful discussions, Frazier and Riggs have undeniable chemistry that puts guests at ease and helps them join in the fun while sharing their impactful experiences at MCC. Their banter is effortless, stemming from a friendship that began when Frazier joined the College’s marketing team in 2022 before becoming strategic factotum for the President’s Office at the close of 2024.

Riggs, who serves as internal communications coordinator for MCC, bonded with Frazier over a love of pop culture, current events and anything with a hint of scandal. That familiarity and trust is a key part of the show.

A pre-podcast tradition of sharing their weekly “pick” every Monday of something they either loved or strongly disliked has evolved into the cold open of their hour-long podcast, bringing their dynamic energy to a wider audience.

“We’re so comfortable with each other, and we’re not afraid to sound weird or goofy because we know the other person will match it or go over the top,” Riggs said.

With 19 episodes now released and several more in production, the series is produced internally on the Fort Omaha Campus and distributed by Hurrdat Media. Under the leadership of Nannette Rodriguez, executive producer for the podcast and College marketing officer, and with the technical skill of Nate Tweedy, senior video production specialist, the show achieves high production value and has quickly hit its stride.

To develop the podcast, Frazier and Riggs worked closely with the President’s Office, ensuring it aligned with the College’s goals while providing a new format to share in-depth stories of impact that give listeners a picture of the breadth, accessibility and reach of MCC programs.

“These are stories that help you get to know the people in our programs,” Riggs said. “We feature people who help make the College run, who make it successful or are successful because of what they’ve learned at this College. We’re just trying to spread that far and wide.”

Through “MCC Made,” Frazier and Riggs share information about innovative programs like the College’s Mobile Device Repair Academy, the Math Readiness Project and Sponsorship for the Trades programs. The podcast follows alums who found their footing at MCC and are making valuable contributions to their communities. Each episode brings an opportunity for discovery, detailing opportunities to access education, resources and experiences available to learners of all ages.

Frazier and Riggs’ journalistic skills are also an asset to the show. Riggs, who previously worked for the Omaha World-Herald and the Ralston Recorder, contributes an innate curiosity. Frazier, meanwhile, has a knack for steering conversations naturally, never relying too heavily on prepared questions.

“I will have questions, but nothing is a gotcha,” Frazier said. “This is a conversation, a chat, not an interview.”

This approach is exactly what sets “MCC Made” apart. While the podcast covers informative topics, Riggs said the goal is to tell uplifting, positive stories in a conversational style rather than sounding like a formal “60 Minutes” interview.

As a journalist, Riggs values how the podcast conveys a person’s meaning through verbal tone, unlike written storytelling, where context can sometimes be lost.

“You can hear someone’s personality without worrying if it’s going to translate to the written word,” Riggs said. “I think that’s a big one because sometimes somebody will say something jokingly, and you think, ‘I’d love to include that, but reading that flat on the page, the intended meaning can get lost.’ Well, if you listen to it, you can tell it’s a joke, and there’s more spontaneity in this format.”

In this regard, the podcast allows people to learn about MCC through the co-hosts’ lively dialogue.

“You get to know us better, and then you start to trust us with talking to people who are doing really cool things. I think it just adds an authentic familiarity to our programs. Some of them feel more tangible by hearing directly from people participating in them,” Frazier said.

As they continue their podcast, Frazier and Riggs are excited to feature more MCC voices. Their dream episode is a “Hot Ones”-style interview with Brian O’Malley, dean of Culinary, Hospitality and Horticulture. To spice up the conversation, culinary students would craft custom hot sauces intensifying in heat for Frazier, Riggs and O’Malley to sample with wings, adding an MCC twist to the popular YouTube series.

Whether guests are MCC graduates or simply have a connection to the College, Frazier and Riggs are eager to share their stories with the College community in an accessible format.

“Higher education can tend to be very serious, stuffy and buttoned-up. I think the podcast gives us a way to get news about things happening here in a much more relaxed, approachable way,” Riggs said.

In each episode, Frazier and Riggs also emphasize the value of community colleges and their role in helping people gain skills, certificates or degrees. From interior design to restaurant service and welding, “MCC Made” explores the wide range of courses and opportunities available at MCC.

“I don’t know that we go a single episode without talking about how great community colleges are, or specifically Metropolitan Community College,” Frazier said. “Four-year colleges are great and absolutely have their place, but community colleges are also amazing and are really the backbone of the community. Whether you’re getting an associate degree or a certificate to get a promotion at work, the opportunities for people at a community college are endless. There’s something for everybody here.”

Check out the latest episodes of "MCC Made" on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. If you've got an idea or question for the show, email mccmade@mccneb.edu.