Many of us have been asked about our favorite podcasts recently, given the medium has become evermore popular during the pandemic, when a plethora of new podcasts popped up for stay-at-home consumption. Now, Hotchkiss has its very own resident podcast host, rising lower mid Axel-Ryan Nzi ‘24.

Nzi first came up with the idea of starting his own podcast, Y? With Axel-Ryan Nzi in November 2020 while engaged in discussions during philosophy class that, in his words, he wanted to emulate. “I loved asking questions that led the class discussion to discover deeper meanings in the texts we’d read,” he said. 

“I sought help from my parents in order to make this idea a reality. My father became just as passionate about podcasting as I am and we discussed different shows and editing skills at the dinner table. My mother has always been supportive of what I did and she often gave her own insight on my episodes before they were released,” he explained. 

Nzi consulted YouTube and Google to research the required equipment to produce a podcast and practiced his editing skills using the digital audio application, GarageBand. He also learned how to use a microphone and a mixer. 

A series of episodes called Y We Love Hotchkiss was a collaboration between Nzi and the Office of Admission. Due to the pandemic, Hotchkiss was unable to hold its usual campus Revisit Days in the spring, so Nzi stepped up and created informative podcasts for newly admitted students. 

“I realized that it was important for new students to see success from a prep such as myself. I am thankful that Mr. Mitchell (Dean of Admission) gave me full creative license over the direction of the admissions series. I was able to reconnect with members of my orientation group and I was also able to speak to faculty members that I remembered from my own application process. I wanted to show the most honest experience at Hotchkiss that I’ve had to the best of my ability.”

Since releasing his first episode, which he describes as a “big leap of faith,” the community’s reaction has been positive, which has inspired Nzi to continue. He has spoken with members of the School’s radio station, WKIS, about putting his podcasting talent to use as an integral part of station programming, which he is eager to combine with the goals of improving his editing skills, conducting in-person interviews as COVID restrictions ease, and formatting episodes in creative ways to deliver the most satisfying listening experience for his audience. “I am excited for what is to come,” he said.

As for the ubiquitous question: What’s your favorite podcast...? An avid sports fan, Nzi recommends I AM Athlete, hosted by former NFL players Brandon Marshall, Chad Johnson, Fred Taylor, and Channing Crowder. Their wide-ranging discussions covering an array of subjects with a diverse roster of guest athletes serve as added inspiration for producing episodes of Y?