Closing the Classroom Doors: UEN Homeroom Podcast Says Goodbye

After seven years of sparking meaningful conversations in education, the UEN Homeroom podcast aired its final episode on May 8. 

Since its inception in 2018, the podcast has been a beacon for educators, offering thought-provoking discussions on the evolving landscape of education.

Longtime host Dani Sloan, alongside producer Fernando Lara, has brought engaging and insightful content to listeners, making complex topics digestible and compelling. Reflecting on the journey, Sloan shared, "UEN Homeroom has been an amazing opportunity for me to grow as an educator, storyteller and podcast host. I’ve enjoyed the research and preparation for each episode, but the best part in my opinion has been all the educators I’ve been able to connect with – We have incredibly innovative educators in Utah!"

What started as a Genius Hour project between Jared Covili and Dani Sloan quickly grew into one of Utah’s first education-focused podcasts. The early podcast episodes were recorded on laptops in a rented studio at the University of Utah’s Marriott Library, but later found its permanent home in a dedicated podcasting studio at Eccles Broadcast Center.

The podcast’s journey has been shaped by contributions from past hosts Jared Covili, Matt Winters, and Jared Fawson, whose efforts helped establish UEN Homeroom as a trusted resource for educators. Over the years, the show has featured distinguished guests, including Utah First Lady Abby Cox, digital learning expert Richard Culatta and education innovation leader Tami Pyfer, offering listeners insightful discussions on key educational issues.

From artificial intelligence and personalized learning to instructional design, professional growth, and digital literacy, UEN Homeroom tackled cutting-edge topics. With a dedicated audience of 100 to 1,000 listeners per month and over 34,000 downloads in its lifetime, the podcast’s impact extended far beyond its numbers, shaping conversations and inspiring change in classrooms across Utah.

As UEN Homeroom rings its final bell, it leaves behind a legacy of connection, inspiration and forward-thinking dialogue that has helped shape Utah’s teaching community for nearly a decade.

In the final episode, listeners will be treated to a trip down memory lane with past hosts, reflecting on the podcast’s journey and discussing current topics in artificial intelligence. Don’t miss this special episode, listen to it and revisit all past conversations on the UEN Homeroom webpage.

 

Return to home page