Catalyst is a Creative Industries podcast, from Chapman University. Each episode features Chapman students who have completed a Podcasting course through the Center for Creative and Cultural Industries at the university. Students who had no podcasting experience or technical ability in the genre before taking the course were able to contribute all the segments to Catalyst this season with the goal being that they will take this ‘hands-on’ experience and carry it over to the launching of their very own series. Each episode of Season 9 will feature one to two different interviews conducted by CCI students, exploring different aspects of the Creative and Cultural Industries.

To begin our episode this week Sami Frias conducts an interview with the Head of Marketing Communications at Taco Bell, Matt Prince. Prince and Frias discuss how Public Relations and Marketing work to create the culture of an organization and how it is essential for establishing a company’s public voice and image. They dive into what the job entails, and how Prince incorporates creativity into his daily responsibilities and tasks. They go over highlights and challenges that Prince has experienced throughout his career with the company, including contributing to commercials, and even a Taco Bell Wedding! Prince leaves our listeners with insight into the importance of adapting to new trends and ideas in the world of PR to keep up with relevant and exciting concepts within our society.

Our second interview this week is brought to us by Nicki Koerwer. Koerwer connected with Sara Zaghi to talk about Sara’s role as Senior Director at Michele Marie PR including what a typical day looks like for her and how creativity is fostered in her work. They delve into what it means to be a full-service fashion and beauty PR agency specializing in press, celebrity/VIP as well as fashion PR securing third party credible content through offices in LA and NYC. The pair talk about what a Communications degree does for an individual in the PR field, and Sara mentions the ways in which she sees creativity in the office setting and in her coworkers outside of the work that she does for the company. They wrap the interview by discussing Sara’s plans for the future in terms of her career and further schooling.