- by The Walrus LabThe Walrus Lab Updated 11:39, Oct. 4, 2024 | Published 13:54, Jul. 4, 2023This article was published over a year ago. Some information may no longer be current.
In 2018, Jay Famiglietti received the Canada 150 research chair in hydrology and remote sensing, and became executive director of the Global Institute for Water Security (GIWS). The GIWS has been around since 2011. It wanted to increase its awareness both within the University of Saskatchewan and externally as leaders in water policy and research. It also wanted to increase the profile of its new executive director.
Our Approach
We knew Jay Famiglietti had strong public communications skills and had been a frequent media contributor. So, we built a podcast around him, placing him as the host. The podcast would also later become the centrepiece for all marketing efforts from the GIWS.
What we did
We created and launched a podcast with season one of Let’s Talk About Water launching in 2019 (we changed the name to What About Water? With Jay Famiglietti in 2021).
We’ve completed four seasons of the podcast and featured guests from around the world.
We published digital custom content on The Walrus website, featuring a Q&A with Famiglietti.
In 2022, we hosted The Walrus Leadership Dinner on groundwater, featuring key stakeholders, leaders, and experts in Ottawa.
All of this increased Famiglietti visibility of as executive director.
Results
4.7 out of 5 rating on Apple Podcasts
Top 10% of all podcasts for downloads
Average consumption rate for episodes is 70.5%
60% increase of subscribers on Apple podcasts from Season 3 to Season 4
Ranked in Top 10 of Earth Science podcasts in Canada and the U.S., according to Chartable
Season 4 concluded in March 2023. Plans underway for Season 5
Featured guests from around the world
Each season has increased participation from Indigenous and BIPOC experts in the field of climate science
Podcast is key feature of GIWS marketing tools
Host Jay Famiglieti makes regular appearances on other climate-change-related podcasts
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Canada, are you freaking out? Here’s something you can do about it.
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Jennifer Hollett
Executive Director, The Walrus
Canada, are you freaking out? Here’s something you can do about it.
If you answered yes, you are not alone. Democracy and civil dialogue are in retreat around the world. In the past few weeks, we have been forced into a tariff war, seen the death of diplomacy on live TV, heard threats of Canada becoming the 51st state of the United States, and have felt ripple effects of axed international aid, public health, and immigration changes well beyond our borders. At best, these are confusing and worrying times. At worst, the future of civil society is at stake.
At The Walrus, we have never been more committed to fact-checked, paywall-free reporting on Canada. These are no ordinary times, and we need your help. Support The Walrus with a donation today so that we can continue to deliver independent journalism that responds to and makes sense of the most critical issues at hand.