'The Mayo Lab Podcast' Builds Community Through Talk

Students helping students and learning from one other is what it is all about.

Part of the William Magee Institute for Student Wellbeing, the Thomas Hayes Mayo Lab was created in 2022, following Mayo's death from fentanyl poisoning. It launched "The Mayo Lab Podcast" in February 2023. Listenership for the fourth season is up 32%, putting it on track as the best performing season thus far.

The podcast initially included only experts' voices and focused on substance abuse and mental health. Barber wants to widen the focus to reach more students with topics ranging from depression and social media to ADHD and substance misuse and everything in between.

"It could be anything from academic struggles to something going on at home that's affecting a student's ability to be present as a student – just anything that a student could possibly be going through; that's what we want to talk about," Barber said.

Because Barber is a student working on his second bachelor's degree in finance, the Tupelo native knows the podcast's target audience and orchestrates it accordingly. Each episode of the podcast features two parts.

"Part one is always going to be with the student because that's our core audience," he said. "And then part two, we try to have a researcher from the university that can give a little bit more insight into what the student is going through because it's always good to hear somebody else's perspective."

Braxton Laster, a graduate student in journalism and new media from Little Rock, Arkansas, videotapes each podcast. The production is a true team effort, Laster said.

"It may seem like it's just someone talking to a microphone in front of a camera but there's a lot that goes on behind the scenes," he said "Whether that's setting up cameras, making sure the mics and audio is working properly, coming up with questions to ask your guest and editing the podcast afterwards, it's a lot of work that goes into putting together a podcast."

Being student-centered is essential to the program's success. The team also holds tabling events around campus and light-hearted "Motivation on Monday" social media interviews with students.

"Since we're putting a big emphasis on student voices, I learned that many students encounter similar things while being enrolled in school when it comes to mental health," Laster said. "One of the things I love about the podcast is that we get to hear about students' experiences and that could possibly help someone who isn't as comfortable with sharing theirs."

One student who has shared her voice is Betsy Vise, an international studies and Arabic major from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She enjoyed the opportunity to serve as a resource.

"We talked about having balance in your life between a variety of things," she said.

"I've always been a lover of good conversation, diving into topics, deep or not, with my friends and family. Replicating that joy, this time with the Mayo Lab, felt like a chance to be a small part of something good happening through our campus resources."

Barber wants students to continue the conversations they hear on the podcasts.

"I'm hoping that people listening gain a sense of comfort about whatever they are going through," Barber said. "We're all different, but I hope that after listening to our podcast, that the student listening will think 'I'm not alone.'"

Vise agrees.

"Hearing from people who walked in the same Grove as you, ate in the same Union and have now crossed the Pavilion stage adds depth to the Ole Miss experience," she said.

"Students have stories to tell and insight to provide. The Mayo Lab is providing a connection to that wisdom."

Anyone who would like to share their experience with the podcast as a guest can complete the form on The Mayo Lab's website.

Top: Tyler Barber (left), an Ole Miss senior and host of 'The Mayo Lab Podcast,' interviews Betsy Vise, a senior international studies and Arabic major from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on the podcast. Part of the William Magee Institute for Student Wellbeing, the podcast is in its fourth season and is produced by students to help fellow students.