Meet ‘Niner Nation Podcast’ host Evan Nazareth

Evan Nazareth, a senior mechanical engineering major and host of the “Niner Nation Podcast,” has built his college experience around innovation, leadership and connection.

Born in New Hampshire and raised in Cary, North Carolina, Nazareth has expanded his horizons while at UNC Charlotte. This summer, he completed his second study abroad experience, a faculty-led trip to Germany focused on precision engineering and metrology. On this trip, he also traveled to the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands. 

On campus, Nazareth has been involved with the Global Engagement Scholars Program, the Office of Leadership and Community Engagement and recently graduated from the William States Lee College of Engineering Leadership Academy. He founded the Advanced Technologies Club and has participated in club rocketry and archery, giving him a broad student experience.

His path into podcasting was unexpected. As president of the Advanced Technologies Club, Nazareth was approached to host a technology-focused show for Niner Media. As the idea developed, he drew from his own diverse experiences to create the “Niner Nation Podcast” — a weekly show that spotlights members from across campus.

The podcast provides an unscripted look into the minds of campus leaders. Each episode offers insight into experiences, challenges and influences that have guided students, faculty and staff to achieve success. 

Learn more about Nazareth and the “Niner Nation Podcast” in the Q&A below.

Are you a big podcast listener?

I hadn’t listened to many podcasts prior to preparing for the “Niner Nation Podcast.” Now, I find them very interesting, because there are so many ways to listen. I think it’s a great medium, especially for students, because it’s very personal, and you get to hear the different details and moments of how someone can progress to accomplish great feats. Podcasts like mine help listeners realize that at the end of the day, we’re all just people who are presented with opportunities and challenges. How we respond is what matters, and that is built by trying new things and gaining experience.

What was it like hosting the podcast for the first time?

I was asked to be a guest on some podcasts previously, so I’ve been on the other end and saw how that sequence works. But those were done via Zoom, so I had to learn how to approach an in-person podcast interview as a host.

It’s been great to learn how the process works from set up to recording, to pacing and preparation. I would say my public speaking experience and the fact that I was familiar with a lot of the different things on campus helped make becoming the host natural and seamless.

Describe the preparation that goes into a “Niner Nation Podcast.”

I make a list of all the different topics and people that I think would make a good episode. Then, I break the list down into what would fit into which week. I talk with the guest for a few minutes before to get a good idea of their background beyond the surface. I also reach out to see if there’s anything that they want to share or topics that they want to hit on.

I make a list of prepared questions ahead of time, and then we’ll go into the recording session. As we record, I will go off ideas I have and choose questions that work best at the moment. Nothing is scripted other than the intro and outro so that we can get to experience what exactly is in that person’s head.

What is that like for you sitting on the other side and having personal conversations with campus leaders?

It’s exciting because we get to see how people think and hear about their experiences and perspectives on a range of topics. It’s really inspiring to see the passion they have and convey it to our listeners. I like that we are able to go into more detail on a subject beyond what you may read in an article, for example.

Tell me about the experience of interviewing Chancellor Gaber on the podcast.

I was really excited that Chancellor Gaber decided to make time to come on, and it really showed her appreciation of student involvement. I was immediately impressed with how well she treated the students and the faculty that she interacted with prior to and after the recording, and that she made time to ask them questions and get to know them.

People were asking beforehand if I was nervous, and honestly, I wasn’t. I think we’re all human beings at the end of the day, and I was fortunate enough to be able to have that time to talk with her. I think a lot of relatability came out of that conversation. I found it greatly impactful learning about her leadership style and experiences and sharing that with other students, so they’re able to be inspired by her story.

Are there any other conversations or interviews that stand out in your mind?

I always love the interviews we have with club presidents or student researchers. I like that our podcast can showcase the opportunities, leadership and impact that these leaders have. It’s really amazing that I’ve been able to see these people progress over time into greater leaders within the community. Recently, we had a listener reach out to be on the show, which I thought was an incredible moment. I love that the show has grown to the point that we have listeners who engage and show interest in the guests and the campus opportunities they represent.

You have abroad experiences, on-campus leadership and internships that support your career pathway in engineering. You also host a podcast. As you reflect on all you’ve accomplished at Charlotte, how does the “Niner Nation Podcast” fit in?

I think a great goal for people to always have is a wide range of experiences, because everything contributes to something. My experience with podcasting has helped me a lot with preparation and communication, which are important soft skills to have as a worker, a student and an engineer. I think it definitely is something that enhances my experiences. It’s important to have experiences that are outside of your direct career path so you’re able to understand how other careers function. While being a podcast host may not seem like it directly helps with my career development, it definitely does.

What’s next for the show?

We’re working on a renovation of the studio, which is going to make it a much nicer setup. Hopefully, that will be done shortly after the fall semester begins. Now that we’re more established, I’m excited to see how many more people we’re able to impact, because I’m sure our opportunities for outreach and development will be far greater. Overall, I’m super grateful for the people who are listening and who have reached out.The last thing I could add is the Niner Nation Podcast is available on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts and really anywhere else you can stream. We’re also available on YouTube under the ”Niner Times Podcast.”