From classrooms to streaming platforms, the partnership ensures the next generation of HBCU storytellers are seen, heard, and celebrated.
When students at Southern University & A&M College sit down behind the microphone, they’re no longer just creating classroom projects—they’re making history. This fall, Southern becomes the first historically Black university to distribute student-produced content through the ALIVE Podcast Network, streaming on Roku, Apple TV, and Fire TV.
For generations, Southern has nurtured young talent. Earlier this year, students earned an Emmy Award for their documentary The Hidden Sport, proof of the high-caliber storytelling already emanating from the Baton Rouge campus. Now, thanks to the new partnership with ALIVE, those voices will reach far beyond Louisiana’s borders, standing shoulder to shoulder with some of the world’s most established creators.
Chancellor John K. Pierre sees the impact clearly: “This expands the university’s footprint… more importantly, it equips our students with real-world experience writing, producing, and distributing content that reflects their unique perspectives.”
The significance of this moment extends beyond Southern. It reflects a shift in how media platforms are built, shared, and owned. At the center of that shift is ALIVE Podcast Network, the first Black woman–owned podcast network with proprietary technology. Founded by Howard University graduate Angel N. Livas, ALIVE was created to amplify marginalized voices and give creators control over their narratives.
“Students across all disciplines now have access to a distribution platform that has the power to put their work in front of millions,” Livas says. “As an HBCU alumna, this moment is especially meaningful. I know firsthand the innovation, talent, and cultural impact that lives within our institutions.”
The first program to launch will be the SU Ag Podcast, produced by Southern’s College of Agricultural, Family and Consumer Sciences. Once limited to Apple Podcasts, it will now stream across Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, ALIVE’s mobile app, and others.
But this is only the beginning. ALIVE has plans to bring more HBCUs onto its platform, creating a pipeline where student creators are not only heard but also equipped to compete in an industry that often overlooks them.
In the broader landscape of higher education, this partnership signals something bigger: the merging of tradition and innovation. Southern University, steeped in legacy, is embracing technology to amplify the voices of its students. And ALIVE Podcast Network is ensuring those voices won’t just echo on campus—they’ll resonate across the globe.
Ashley Todd
ALIVE Podcast Network
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