Tips for promoting your research on podcasts
Podcasting Tips with Rob Turrisi
May 6, 2026
By Sarah Buttikofer
For researchers looking to expand the reach of their work, podcasts offer something traditional academic spaces often cannot: a direct line to everyday audiences.
For Rob Turrisi, a professor of biobehavioral health and researcher at the Prevention Research Center, stepping into podcasting wasn’t a single breakthrough moment. It was a gradual evolution that started with other forms of media.
“I have been doing spots for radio as well as TV, ways that lend itself to people in the news wanting to explain things,” Turrisi said.
That visibility opened the door to podcast opportunities, but it also taught him an important lesson early on: communicating research to the public requires a completely different approach.
Tip #1: Learn to speak beyond academia.
One of the biggest adjustments for researchers is shifting how they communicate.
“They don’t want to know about your next big grant. They don’t want to know the article you just published. They want to know a sound bite that they can work from,” Turrisi said.
Unlike academic audiences, podcast listeners are not looking for methodological detail. They want clarity, relevance and something they can take away and apply to their own lives.
Turrisi learned this firsthand after a TV appearance where his research-based perspective conflicted with other interviewees.
“The police officer and judge said exactly the opposite of what I shared. They had the last word, and when you have the last word, that’s what people remember,” Turrisi said.
That experience pushed him to rethink not just what he says, but how he says it.
Tip #2: Think in stories, not just answers.
Podcasts offer more space than traditional media, but that doesn’t mean filling time with dense explanations.
Instead, Turrisi emphasizes storytelling.
“If you just take your time, you can answer in a way that the audience feels like you’re talking to you, not just the podcaster,” Turrisi said.
He also encourages researchers to resist the urge to rush.
“People often want to rush to answer questions, and I found that if you just take your time, you really get to do a better job,” Turrisi said.
Stories not only make information more engaging, they also give speakers time to think and shape stronger responses.
Tip #3: Know your audience before you say yes.
Not every podcast is the right fit, and Turrisi approaches invitations thoughtfully.
“I want to know if the messaging that I’m going to give them is really going to be helpful to their audience. And if it’s not going to be helpful, then it’s not a good fit,” Turrisi said.
Before committing, he often asks to connect with the host in advance. This helps ensure alignment between his expertise and the audience’s needs.
Even then, he’s selective.
“If I’m going to say no, it’s going to be because it’s probably not a good fit,” Turrisi said.
Tip #4: Treat it like teaching.
Turrisi approaches podcasting the same way he approaches the classroom: as an opportunity to connect and engage.
“If I’m not doing my A game, I’m gonna lose that audience,” Turrisi said.
That mindset keeps him focused on delivering clear, engaging takeaways, which is something listeners will remember and share.
“I want them to walk away with real take homes that they tell somebody else,” Turrisi said.
Tip #5: Build experience over time.
For researchers just starting out, Turrisi suggests beginning with smaller opportunities and building from there.
“There’s different levels of podcasts and you work your way up,” Turrisi said.
Practicing with smaller or emerging podcasts can help researchers refine their communication style and build a portfolio.
“You can have a little portfolio, and you could even send a previous podcast, “ Turrisi said.
Tip #6: Be engaging and human.
Turrisi said that at the end of the day, podcasts are about connection.
“You need to be entertaining in some way. You need to enjoy the experience,” Turrisi said.
That doesn’t mean performing, but it does mean being present, thoughtful and willing to engage beyond rehearsed answers.
“You don’t have to rush to provide the best answer, because it might not be the most interesting or entertaining one,” Turrisi said.
Why podcasting matters
For Turrisi, the value of podcasting goes far beyond visibility. It’s about impact.
“We usually don’t get trained to talk to everyday people about the things that we do,” Turrisi said. “I’d say the thing that I’ve gotten most out of that is being able to try and articulate what I do in a way that everybody understands something.”
That broader reach can create unexpected ripple effects, by reaching people who may never read an academic journal but can still benefit from the research.
“Maybe it’s a throwaway line that really has an influence and helps them,” Turrisi said.
Check out some podcasts with our researchers:
Teen Drinking: What You Need to Know. with Professor Rob Turrisi
The One Simple Thing You Can Do to Protect Your Kid from Alcohol Harm, with Professor Rob Turrisi
What Your Relationship with Your Sister or Brother Says About You, with Dr. Mark Feinberg
What kind of parenting helps children develop emotion regulation?, with Dr. Lisa Gatzke-Kopp
Is Empathy Possible Between Humans and AI?, with Professor Daryl Cameron
Why Are People Beating Up Robots?, with Professor Daryl Cameron
Penn State’s Professional Snowsports Education Program Certificate with Doctor Pete Allison
Recent News
Tips for promoting your research on podcasts
Podcasting Tips with Rob Turrisi
May 6, 2026
By Sarah Buttikofer
For researchers looking to expand the reach of their work, podcasts offer something traditional academic spaces often cannot: a direct line to everyday audiences.
For Rob Turrisi, a professor of biobehavioral health and researcher at the Prevention Research Center, stepping into podcasting wasn’t a single breakthrough moment. It was a gradual evolution that started with other forms of media.
“I have been doing spots for radio as well as TV, ways that lend itself to people in the news wanting to explain things,” Turrisi said.
That visibility opened the door to podcast opportunities, but it also taught him an important lesson early on: communicating research to the public requires a completely different approach.
Tip #1: Learn to speak beyond academia.
One of the biggest adjustments for researchers is shifting how they communicate.
“They don’t want to know about your next big grant. They don’t want to know the article you just published. They want to know a sound bite that they can work from,” Turrisi said.
Unlike academic audiences, podcast listeners are not looking for methodological detail. They want clarity, relevance and something they can take away and apply to their own lives.
Turrisi learned this firsthand after a TV appearance where his research-based perspective conflicted with other interviewees.
“The police officer and judge said exactly the opposite of what I shared. They had the last word, and when you have the last word, that’s what people remember,” Turrisi said.
That experience pushed him to rethink not just what he says, but how he says it.
Tip #2: Think in stories, not just answers.
Podcasts offer more space than traditional media, but that doesn’t mean filling time with dense explanations.
Instead, Turrisi emphasizes storytelling.
“If you just take your time, you can answer in a way that the audience feels like you’re talking to you, not just the podcaster,” Turrisi said.
He also encourages researchers to resist the urge to rush.
“People often want to rush to answer questions, and I found that if you just take your time, you really get to do a better job,” Turrisi said.
Stories not only make information more engaging, they also give speakers time to think and shape stronger responses.
Tip #3: Know your audience before you say yes.
Not every podcast is the right fit, and Turrisi approaches invitations thoughtfully.
“I want to know if the messaging that I’m going to give them is really going to be helpful to their audience. And if it’s not going to be helpful, then it’s not a good fit,” Turrisi said.
Before committing, he often asks to connect with the host in advance. This helps ensure alignment between his expertise and the audience’s needs.
Even then, he’s selective.
“If I’m going to say no, it’s going to be because it’s probably not a good fit,” Turrisi said.
Tip #4: Treat it like teaching.
Turrisi approaches podcasting the same way he approaches the classroom: as an opportunity to connect and engage.
“If I’m not doing my A game, I’m gonna lose that audience,” Turrisi said.
That mindset keeps him focused on delivering clear, engaging takeaways, which is something listeners will remember and share.
“I want them to walk away with real take homes that they tell somebody else,” Turrisi said.
Tip #5: Build experience over time.
For researchers just starting out, Turrisi suggests beginning with smaller opportunities and building from there.
“There’s different levels of podcasts and you work your way up,” Turrisi said.
Practicing with smaller or emerging podcasts can help researchers refine their communication style and build a portfolio.
“You can have a little portfolio, and you could even send a previous podcast, “ Turrisi said.
Tip #6: Be engaging and human.
Turrisi said that at the end of the day, podcasts are about connection.
“You need to be entertaining in some way. You need to enjoy the experience,” Turrisi said.
That doesn’t mean performing, but it does mean being present, thoughtful and willing to engage beyond rehearsed answers.
“You don’t have to rush to provide the best answer, because it might not be the most interesting or entertaining one,” Turrisi said.
Why podcasting matters
For Turrisi, the value of podcasting goes far beyond visibility. It’s about impact.
“We usually don’t get trained to talk to everyday people about the things that we do,” Turrisi said. “I’d say the thing that I’ve gotten most out of that is being able to try and articulate what I do in a way that everybody understands something.”
That broader reach can create unexpected ripple effects, by reaching people who may never read an academic journal but can still benefit from the research.
“Maybe it’s a throwaway line that really has an influence and helps them,” Turrisi said.
Check out some podcasts with our researchers:
Teen Drinking: What You Need to Know. with Professor Rob Turrisi
The One Simple Thing You Can Do to Protect Your Kid from Alcohol Harm, with Professor Rob Turrisi
What Your Relationship with Your Sister or Brother Says About You, with Dr. Mark Feinberg
What kind of parenting helps children develop emotion regulation?, with Dr. Lisa Gatzke-Kopp
Is Empathy Possible Between Humans and AI?, with Professor Daryl Cameron
Why Are People Beating Up Robots?, with Professor Daryl Cameron
Penn State’s Professional Snowsports Education Program Certificate with Doctor Pete Allison
