In this age, it is not unusual for college professors to have their own podcasts. But “Steps to Thrive” is more than an intellectual exercise. It is the passion project of Dr. Matthew Weathers, Bob Jones University’s beloved “Iron Man” and chief enrollment officer.
Until recently, Dr. Weathers served as director of the Center for Leadership Development for over a decade, working with students and student leaders on a regular basis. While he enjoys his new role in enrollment, he doesn’t meet with students as often as he did before. The main reason he began a podcast was because he missed talking with them.
“I was thinking, I’ve got to do something from a personal passion standpoint, to continue investing in the next generation,” Dr. Weathers said. “So, I had the idea, ‘Why not a podcast?’ Because when I have met with students for so long, … they start asking questions about life and leadership and all sorts of different topics, and we have great conversations.”
The purpose of “Steps to Thrive” is to answer questions that young people are asking, while encouraging them to live Christ-centered lives. The podcast’s runtime is four-to-seven minutes, and new episodes are uploaded every Tuesday. People can submit questions to Dr. Weathers through text, email or the show’s Instagram page. The show also has a website that includes a link to the podcast and a form to submit questions.
What kinds of questions is Dr. Weathers looking for? Every kind: academics, anxiety, identity, involvement, leadership, physical fitness, relationships and a host of others. Virtually no topic is off the table.
“I’m a few years down the road, and I’ve made a lot of mistakes,” Dr. Weathers said. “And if I can share some of the mistakes I’ve made to save students today from making those same mistakes, that’s awesome. And I’m happy to be transparent with my mistakes and with things I wish I would have done differently.”
Dr. Weathers said he chose a podcast as his format because of the low production cost and because podcasts have a better chance of reaching a wide audience in the internet age.
“It’s a platform that young people and even middle-aged people, are increasingly utilizing to learn information,” Dr. Weathers said, “and interact with people who maybe they won’t ever meet one day in person, but they can still learn through this platform.”
Dr. Weathers is the one-man production team, he said.
“I am the team,” he said, laughing. “I mean, I talked to buddies and friends who have done this before to get their feedback. But as far as recording and producing… it’s my iPhone.”
Dr. Weathers records episodes with a microphone in a home closet that he converted into a studio. He records each episode to his phone, then sends the file to his computer to be edited and published. It is an efficient, streamlined process. At publishing time, hundreds of people already listened to the first three episodes. For example, the most recent episode lists Dr. Weathers’ recommended books for aspiring leaders to study.
Dr. Weathers may be starting small, but he hopes to expand to the podcast someday. One of his goals is to feature guest speakers on his podcast.
“I don’t have all the answers, of course,” Dr. Weathers said. “But I have a lot of friends who would also be eager to share and talk to them. I would love to have guests on the podcast as well… But in time, as I learn, I want to get better. And so, part of this is a personal journey for me in learning and growing, because I love trying new things and exploring ways to encourage people, and this is an avenue I’m trying.”
