Media and Communications students were treated to an inspiring visit from English Language graduate Mia Thornton.
Since completing her degree in 2019, Mia has carved out an impressive career, having held roles in the BBC, working for CBBC and ultimately launching her acclaimed podcast series, Instrumental: Black British Trailblazers.
During her talk, Mia shared the story of her journey in audio, from her first recordings at the University’s student radio station to her acceptance into the BBC Sounds Audio Lab, the BBC’s prestigious accelerator programme for emerging podcasters and audio creatives. She spoke about the nine-month process of creating her podcast, which celebrates the pivotal contributions of Black artists to Britain’s most beloved music genres.
Mia’s dedication has not gone unnoticed, earlier this year, she received the Rising Star award at the British Podcast Awards; a remarkable achievement.
Senior Lecturer in media and communications Salman Al-Azami said: "Mia was my student in English Language here at Hope, and it gives me immense pleasure and pride to see how well she has done in her short career so far, and how far she can go in the years to come. She worked very hard during her stay here, and I can see how much effort she put in to attain this success. Our current students can take inspiration from her story that, through hard work and having a creative mind, the whole world is open for them to explore when they finish their studies."
The session was both insightful and motivating. Mia offered practical advice on what makes a podcast truly compelling, shared tips for capturing and keeping an audience’s attention, and highlighted the wide range of career opportunities available in the growing podcasting industry.