By Eva Rachert – Contributor

The first event of the 2024-2025 Morris House Lecture Series took place last Thursday, on October 31st. This is the 20th year of the Lecture Series, organized by Dr. Linda Morra of the English Literature department. The Lecture Series is intended to provide Bishop’s students with the opportunity to hear from and ask questions of successful writers from both Quebec and around the world. In previous years, the Lecture Series has hosted writers such as Heather O’Neill, author of the Scotiabank Giller finalist book “The Girl Who Was Saturday Night,” and Kim Thúy, winner of the Governor General’s Award for French-language fiction. All lectures are free and open to the public. 

This year’s first lecture was given in the Cleghorn Faculty Lounge by Marco Timpano, an award-winning podcaster, voiceover artist, and author of the book “25 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started My Podcast”, which has been translated into three languages and upon which he presented. Timpano’s work has been featured in The Globe and Mail, CTV Morning Live, and on Sirius XM Radio, among other outlets, and he has lectured at colleges such as Simon Fraser University and Dalhousie University. 

On the 31st, Timpano connected with Bishop’s students over Zoom, providing a background for students interested in starting their own podcasts. He began his lecture with a selected reading from “25 Things…”, reading chapters 24 and 25. In chapter 24, Timpano described his experience with imposter syndrome, likening it to a kraken on his back. He advised that imposter syndrome is best dispelled through conversation with others, who can validate a creator’s experience and help them in clarifying their work. He further emphasized the goal of a podcast — that a person does not need to be an expert on the topic they discuss, and it is instead their passion for their subject that will garner audience engagement. 

After his reading of chapter 25, in which he discussed the ways that his training as a voice actor has helped him be comfortable talking into a microphone, Timpano explained his entry into podcasting. Timpano began podcasting in the early 2010s, and at the time there were very few resources for aspiring podcasters to learn the technical and marketing aspects of the medium. Timpano advised several people as to the specifics of podcasting before attempting to create a document that would serve as a guidebook for starting a podcast — this document became “25 Things…”. 

Throughout the lecture, Timpano emphasized the importance of podcasting as a medium accessible to all people as both consumers and creators. He concluded with a reminder of the importance of making one’s voice heard. 

The Morris House Lecture Series will continue through the rest of the 2024-2025 school year. Students interested in attending future lectures should monitor the BU Events Page and check relevant social media accounts to find the events.