Course Stories, Season 6, Episode 1: MCO 375: Pod-ception!

Roddy Nikpour is a Phoenix native and ASU alum. He teaches classes primarily in audio production and helps administer online courses for the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. He has worked on the mic and in production at public radio stations across the country, including KJZZ, KRDP, Maine Public Radio, KUER, and KEXP. Some of the podcasts he’s produced have earned national and international accolades, such as KUER’s State Street and KEXP’s 50 Years of Hip-Hop series. He also contributes original music to help move storytelling forward.

DeAnna Soth, Director of Instructional Design at ASU Online EdPlus, has designed higher education curriculum for over 15 years, in a wide variety of disciplines. She has two master’s degrees, in Adult Education and in Liberal Studies. DeAnna is also an ASU alumni and a first generation college graduate.  

DeAnna has taught and co-designed ASU101, a one-credit class about student success, and has co-taught Master Class for Teaching Online for over a decade. Her teaching experience also involves corporate training and activism. 

DeAnna is a doctoral student in the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College conducting research on the efficacy of educational media.

Ricardo Leon is a Media Developer for EdPlus and is a co-creator and co-host of Course Stories. He has developed a number of other podcasts and various other forms of instructional media. In 2021, Ricardo was on a team that received The President’s Award, which formally recognizes successful solutions in innovation, for his work on the Study Hall project with Crash Course.

Mary Loder is the Manager of Professional Development and Training on the EdPlus Digital Learning team at EdPlus. She is also the co-creator and co-host for Course Stories, a podcast highlighting and showcasing the talents of our faculty and staff at ASU.

Elizabeth Blythe-Lee, a Senior Instructional Designer at ASU Online - EdPlus, is the creative force behind Course Stories. An ASU alumna with a BA in English Literature and a Masters of Education from NAU, Elizabeth has been a part of the ASU community since 2009. Her expertise in crafting accessible online courses is enhanced by her passion for storytelling and a unique flair for adding a touch of Disney magic to her work. A history and literature enthusiast, Elizabeth's background in writing shines through in every course narrative, making learning an enchanting journey.