By Mary Jordan
Springdale Public Schools
Tiger Talk was the sole student-led podcast and the most-recognized production Nov. 14 at the Arkansas Podcast Collaborative ARKAST Awards at the Fayetteville Public Library.
The ARKAST Awards celebrate excellence in podcasting across the flyover states,” said Jennifer Boogaart, John Tyson Elementary School of Innovation EAST facilitator. “Tiger Talk, currently in its sixth season of production, was nominated for five ARKAST Awards.”
The student-led podcast is written and produced by John Tyson Elementary School of Innovation fourth and fifth graders, Boogaart said. The podcast earned the Best Education Podcast award and the Best Kids and Family Podcast recognition. Former Tiger Talk co-host Gabby George was also recognized as the Young Podcaster of the Year.
“We had thousands of submissions and votes from the public over the course of several months,” said Ti King, Arkansas Podcast Collaborative executive director, noting there were 32 award categories.
John Tyson Elementary fifth grader Emerie Johnson and Helen Tyson Middle School sixth grader Gabby George hosted the podcast together for two years and represented Tiger Talk at the award ceremony with the support of Boogaart.
“I felt really excited and surprised, because I didn't expect that we were going to win that many awards,” Emerie said. “When I first started Tiger Talk, I just kind of did because it was fun, and I felt like it would help me when I talked to adults.”
Gabby said she felt Young Podcaster of the Year was an important award to receive, adding she began hosting Tiger Talk as a fourth grader to have a reason to talk.
“I didn’t do podcasting to get awards,” Gabby said. “I did it because it was fun to me, and I enjoyed doing it, but then it can do so much more than just make me happy.”
Gabby, 11, said podcasts are a valuable way of communicating information and for using her voice.
“It's important because you can get the word out about things,” she said. “They really can just listen anywhere and get information that they like or just want to learn about.”
Emerie, 10, currently hosts Tiger Talk with John Tyson Elementary students Janet Perez and Roger Jello, while Gabby has moved on to co-host the state EAST Initiative’s Empowered podcast with co-host Ainsley Featherston of Dover High School.
Emerie and Gabby both said they can see podcasting as part of their futures as well.
“If I wanted to do something with sports, I would have a podcast about sports,” Gabby said. “If I'm a comedian, they don't have to watch the whole show. If they just want to hear some jokes, they could go to my podcast and just listen.”
Emerie said sports is part of her hopes for the future as well.
“I either want to be a podcaster, or I want to go to the WNBA to play basketball,” she said.
The students were sure to thank those who’ve contributed to Tiger Talk’s success.
“We all know that we couldn't have done the podcast without Ms. Boogaart,” Gabby said. “Ms. Boogaart is kind of what made this podcast possible.”
Boogaart said working with the students on the podcast is a remarkable experience.
“They are full of passion, and they want to tell their stories and learn more,” she said. “They're full of determination, because this isn't easy.”
Gabby said the podcast and the awards it received wouldn’t have occurred without the support of listeners on every continent but Antarctica as well.
“When I first started doing it, I was thinking maybe my parents and grandparents will listen,” Gabby said.
Boogaart noted the concept for Tiger Talk was inspired by Shelly Poage, John Tyson Elementary principal.
“She is the vision behind Tiger Talk,” Boogaart said, adding Poage shared the concept to empower students, help them develop presentation and literacy skills and empower them to have their voices heard.
The student’s growth has been exciting to observe, Boogaart said.
“It's just really been fun to watch them learn and to join them on this journey,” she said.