The Zicast

Ryan Ziaks
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Comedy Interviews
  • Weekly

A podcast hosted by Ryan Ziaks and joined by friends. Get to know me while you get to know others. "Everyone has a story."

  1. Oct 23

    Episode 135: Jacinda Taggett—Translating Complex Neuroscience Into Accessible Storytelling

    On Episode 135, I'm joined by Former Neuroscientist & Science Communicator: Jacinda Taggett! We discuss her decision to step away from a traditional PhD program to pursue science communication full-time, the personal family inspiration behind her memory research, how diet and exercise combat cognitive decline, the science of dopamine and the "inverted U" curve of focus, why memory functions like a painting rather than a photograph, and her advice for students looking to bridge the gap between academic labs and the public. Hope you enjoy! Hosted by: Ryan Ziaks The Zicast Logo Designed by: Joe Flynn The Zicast Intro Designed by: Jose Sarango The Zicast Score Composed By: Sean Valutkevich Thumbnail Designed by: Patrick Sorbero Add The Zicast on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thezicast/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5KQj8MsxHQlcwjno1SEDRZ?si=c5f525d4c4324a9f Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thezicast?_t=8oqlOi6Xi0Y&_r=1 #Neuroscience #sciencecommunication #scicomm #brainhealth #memoryresearch #CognitiveHealth #alzheimersresearch #brainscience #dopamine #mentalhealth #phdchat #stemcareers #communication #scienceeducation #science #sciencefacts #brainpower #healthyhabits #cognitivedecline #neurodiversity #stem #ScienceStorytelling #podcastinterview #newepisodealert #trending 00:00 — Welcome to Episode 135! 00:37 — Moving from Neuroscience Research into Science Communication 01:43 — Choosing SciComm Over Lab Work 03:02 — Studying Memory, PTSD, & Cognitive Decline 04:22 — How Exercise & Nutrition Protect the Brain 06:26 — Translating Neuroscience to Social Media in 60 Seconds 10:16 — Leaving a PhD Program & The Stigma of Stepping Off the Academic Ladder 11:44 — College Students as the Bridge Between PhD Researchers & the Public 14:28 — Engaging Audiences Beyond the Lab 19:24 — "Memory Is a Painting, Not a Photograph" 21:47 — The Inverted U: How Dopamine Governs Motivation & Focus 26:16 — Dopamine Habits: Avoiding Doomscrolling & Balancing Caffeine 28:02 — Career Advice for STEM Students: Exploring Beyond Medicine & PhDs 29:28 — Get to Know You's 36:47 — Outro & Closing Advice on Overcoming Career Setbacks

  2. Oct 16

    Episode 134: Rain Hayles—Turning Sideline Freelancing Into A Career At ESPN

    On Episode 134, I'm joined by Freelance Content Producer & ESPN Production Assistant: Rain Hayles! We discuss how he founded Splash Productions at 17 to cover basketball across New England, shaping the visual branding and digital content for Yale Football as creative director during an Ivy League championship season, the high-pressure reality of cutting nightly highlights for SportsCenter on tight deadline. As well as his creative editing strategies to make standard game footage pop and elevate on-screen storylines. Hope you enjoy! Hosted by: Ryan ZiaksThe Zicast Logo Designed by: Joe FlynnThe Zicast Intro Designed by: Jose Sarango The Zicast Score Composed By: Sean Valutkevich Thumbnail Designed by: Patrick Sorbero Add The Zicast on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thezicast/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5KQj8MsxHQlcwjno1SEDRZ?si=c5f525d4c4324a9fTik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thezicast?_t=8oqlOi6Xi0Y&_r=1#espn #sportscenter #yale #sportsmedia #sportsbroadcasting #sportsvideography #videoproduction #contentcreator #contentcreation #videoediting #behindthescenes #sportsjournalism #sportshighlights #filmmaking #creativedirector #careeradvice #careermotivation #nevergiveup #workethic #hustle #dreamjob #collegefootball #basketball #sportsculture #motivation #inspiration #podcastinterview #newepisodealert 00:00 — Welcome to Episode 134! 00:25 — Founding Splash Productions & Covering New England Basketball 02:47 — Joining Yale Football & Winning an Ivy League Championship 05:11 — The Culture & Work Ethic Inside a Division I Program 07:44 — Day-to-Day Operations in College Creative Media 09:28 — Starting at ESPN: Sound Logs, Press Conferences, & Breaking News 12:03 — Pitching Storylines for SportsCenter at Night 13:39 — High-Pressure Turnarounds: Cutting Highlights on Live Deadlines 14:46 — Creative Editing Strategies to Enhance Sports Footage 18:40 — Advice for Breaking into Sports Content Creation 20:18 — Get to Know You's 23:42 — Outro & Closing Advice

  3. Oct 9

    Episode 133: Debbie Horne—From Make-A-Wish To Special Olympics; 20+ Years Of Advocacy

    On Episode 133, I'm joined by the Senior Director of Marketing and Communications at Special Olympics Connecticut: Debbie Horne! We discuss her 20-year journey with the organization, transitioning from development to empowering over 60 athlete leaders as community ambassadors, the lifelong impact of Unified Sports and the Healthy Athletes initiative, what her early service work at Make-A-Wish Connecticut taught her about mission-driven storytelling, and her advice on how volunteering and internships open doors to meaningful careers in communications.Hope you enjoy!Hosted by: Ryan ZiaksThe Zicast Logo Designed by: Joe FlynnThe Zicast Intro Designed by: Jose Sarango The Zicast Score Composed By: Sean Valutkevich Thumbnail Designed by: Patrick Sorbero Add The Zicast on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thezicast/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5KQj8MsxHQlcwjno1SEDRZ?si=c5f525d4c4324a9fTik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thezicast?_t=8oqlOi6Xi0Y&_r=1#specialolympics #choosetoinclude #inclusionmatters #disabilityinclusion #disabilityadvocacy #intellectualdisabilities #athletes #makeawish #nonprofitleadership #nonprofitmarketing #nonprofit #publicrelations #strategiccommunications #missiondriven #storytellingmatters #communityoutreach #volunteeropportunities #volunteering #communityimpact #inclusivesports #adaptivesports #youthleadership #publicservice #socialimpact #inclusivehiring #leadershipdevelopment #podcastinterview #newepisodealert 00:00 — Welcome to Episode 133! 00:57 — About Debbie & Her Path to Special Olympics 02:25 — Training Athlete Leaders as Ambassadors 04:04 — Why Debbie Chose Nonprofit Work 05:48 — Evolving Roles & Putting Athletes in the Spotlight 07:49 — Career Lessons from Make-A-Wish Connecticut 11:24 — Special Olympics Mission: Unified Sports & Healthy Athletes 14:57 — Athlete Storytelling & Memorable Moments 18:18 — Addressing Misconceptions & Training Healthcare Providers 20:41 — Shifting Perceptions & Inclusive Hiring 22:27 — How to Get Involved: Volunteering, Coaching, & Donating 25:23 — Signature Fundraisers: Penguin Plunge & Over the Edge 26:55 — Advice for Aspiring Nonprofit PR Professionals 28:04 — Get to Know You's 30:31 — Outro & Closing Thoughts

  4. Oct 2

    Episode 132: Ava Graff—How Interning At WWE Sparked Her Career In Talent Relations

    On Episode 132, I'm joined by PR Professional: Ava Graff! We discuss her experience landing a dream internship with WWE running digital content and sourcing influencers, what it was like working on the floor at Madison Square Garden for a live event, her journey pivoting away from a pre-law track to study public relations, how earning her real estate license at 18 shaped her client communication skills, and her personal advice for overcoming imposter syndrome and building meaningful connections through networking. Hope you enjoy! Hosted by: Ryan ZiaksThe Zicast Logo Designed by: Joe FlynnThe Zicast Intro Designed by: Jose Sarango The Zicast Score Composed By: Sean Valutkevich Thumbnail Designed by: Patrick Sorbero Add The Zicast on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thezicast/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5KQj8MsxHQlcwjno1SEDRZ?si=c5f525d4c4324a9fTik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thezicast?_t=8oqlOi6Xi0Y&_r=1#wwe #wwenetwork #tko #madisonsquaregarden #msg #summerslam #sportsentertainment #prowrestling #wrestlingcommunity #bostonuniversity #publicrelations #prlife #students #talentmanagement #influencermarketing #celebritypress #entertainmentpr #strategiccommunications #mediarelations #socialmediamarketing #digitalstrategy #contentcreation#internship #internshiplife #advice #collegetocareer #careerpivot #careeradvice #networkingtips #impostersyndrome #youngprofessionals #womeninsports #womeninpr #podcastinterview #podcastepisode 00:00 — Welcome to Episode 132! 00:25 — About Ava 01:06 — Pivoting from Pre-Law to Public Relations at Boston University 04:14 — Applying PR Beyond the Classroom with PRSSA & Alpha Epsilon Phi 06:48 — Getting Licensed in Real Estate at 1811:26 — Interning at WWE19:18 — Working Live at Madison Square Garden & Curating SummerSlam PR Boxes 32:38 — Get to Know You's 37:24 — Outro & Closing Thoughts

  5. Sep 25

    Episode 131: Carlos Calo Rodríguez—Balancing Content Creation, Coaching, and Community

    On Episode 131, I'm joined by Sports Media Creative and Coach: Carlos Calo Rodríguez! We discuss his journey from growing up in Puerto Rico to working with their professional basketball league, his diverse background spanning sports writing, photography, and content creation, the unfiltered reality behind building a career in sports media, and his personal advice for young creators trying to find their footing in the industry.Hope you enjoy!Hosted by: Ryan ZiaksThe Zicast Logo Designed by: Joe FlynnThe Zicast Intro Designed by: Jose Sarango The Zicast Score Composed By: Sean Valutkevich Thumbnail Designed by: Patrick Sorbero Add The Zicast on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thezicast/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5KQj8MsxHQlcwjno1SEDRZ?si=c5f525d4c4324a9fTik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thezicast?_t=8oqlOi6Xi0Y&_r=1#sportsmedia #sports #contentcreator #sportsphotography #sportscoaching #collegesoccer #youthcoaching #puertorico #quinnipiac #quinnipiacuniversity #sportsindustry #careerjourney #mediareality #behindthescenes #creativeprocesses 00:00 — Welcome to Episode 131!00:27 — About Carlos01:15 — Growing Up in Puerto Rico & Shifting from Fan to Media05:42 — Wearing Many Hats: Writing, Photography, & Content Creation10:18 — How His College Experience Influenced His Coaching Style15:35 — Working with Puerto Rico's Professional Basketball League21:10 — The Reality vs. Glamour of the Sports Media Industry28:45 — Advice for Aspiring Creators34:20 — Get to Know You's41:05 — Outro & Closing Thoughts

  6. Sep 18

    Episode 130: Sam Bloch—Scaling Big Tech Safety Operations And Standing Out In A Saturated Job Market

    On Episode 130, I'm joined by Tech & AI Builder: Sam Bloch! We discuss his journey from starting out in desktop IT support to overseeing YouTube Trust & Safety operations across 800+ global moderators, how adopting a "heads-up" mindset and "getting on the balcony" unlocks career mobility, the realities of building AI tools to combat illicit content online, his experience founding Quinnipiac University's "Level Up" program at Google Los Angeles, and his actionable framework for leveraging LinkedIn and digital portfolios to stand out in today's competitive job market.Hope you enjoy! (The views expressed by Sam Bloch are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of his employer or Google). Hosted by: Ryan ZiaksThe Zicast Logo Designed by: Joe FlynnThe Zicast Intro Designed by: Jose Sarango The Zicast Score Composed By: Sean Valutkevich Thumbnail Designed by: Patrick Sorbero Add The Zicast on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thezicast/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5KQj8MsxHQlcwjno1SEDRZ?si=c5f525d4c4324a9fTik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thezicast?_t=8oqlOi6Xi0Y&_r=1#youtube #google #googlelabs #quinnipiac #michiganstate #trustandsafety #contentmoderation #qualityassurance #programmanagement #onlinesafety #PlatformSafety #childsafety #aiethics #artificialintelligence #ai #generativeai #aitools #googlegemini #techcareers #breakintotech #techjobs #jobhunt #jobsearchstrategy #earlycareer #collegetocareer #classof2025 #classof2026 #recentgraduates #careergrowth #careerstrategy #jobhuntingtips #professionaldevelopment #mentorship #resumetips #portfoliobuilding #digitalportfolio #uxdesign #selfadvocacy #personalbranding #linkedintips #networkingmatters #leadershipdevelopment #futureofwork #workplaceculture #techinnovation #quantumcomputing #cybersecurity #podcastcommunity #podcastinterview #newepisodealert #youtubeshorts 00:00 — Welcome to Episode 130! 00:41 — About Sam05:14 — Job Hunting During COVID & The Diminishing Value of Degrees 10:23 — Heads-Up vs. Heads-Down Work 16:48 — "Getting on the Balcony" to Solve Workplace Problems 22:48 — Scaling Empathy Across 800+ Global Moderators 24:42 — Trust & Safety Operations at YouTube 28:09 — Quinnipiac's "Level Up" Program at Google LA 34:52 — Job Market Realities & Owning Your Brand on LinkedIn 40:37 — Building with AI & Platform Defense Realities 48:10 — Job Search Advice 52:13 — Get to Know You's 58:38 — Outro & Closing Thoughts

  7. Sep 11

    Episode 129: Sydney Bezelik—Translating an Athlete’s Intuition into Photographing the NBA and WNBA

    On Episode 129, I'm joined by sports photographer: Sydney Bezelik! We discuss her journey from training as an elite gymnast to photographing courtside at NBA and WNBA games, the intricate technical work behind arena strobes and remote camera rigging, her time working inside the photo archives at NBA headquarters, and her advice for young creatives on building authentic industry relationships. Hope you enjoy!Hosted by: Ryan ZiaksThe Zicast Logo Designed by: Joe FlynnThe Zicast Intro Designed by: Jose Sarango The Zicast Score Composed By: Sean Valutkevich Thumbnail Designed by: Patrick Sorbero Add The Zicast on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thezicast/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5KQj8MsxHQlcwjno1SEDRZ?si=c5f525d4c4324a9fTik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thezicast?_t=8oqlOi6Xi0Y&_r=1#sportsphotography #sportsphotographer #nba #wnba #basketball #basketballphotography #courtside #washingtonwizards #washingtonmystics #lebronjames #jmu #gettyimages #behindthescenes #sportsmedia #freelancephotographer #creativeadvertising #lacrosse #gymnast #photographypodcast #podcastinterview #behindthelens #athlete #athletics #linkedin #linkedintips #networking #media #advice #trending #youtubeshorts #youtube 00:00 — Welcome to Episode 129! 00:29 — About Sydney & Interning at NBA Headquarters 01:29 — Retiring from Elite Gymnastics & Picking Up a Camera 03:33 — Shadowing Her First NBA Game as a High School Senior 04:38 — Building a Client Roster Through Cold Outreach & LinkedIn 07:22 — Photographing Lacrosse vs. Basketball10:51 — Learning Under Team Photographer Steven Gosling 15:11 — What Photographing an NBA Game Actually Looks Like19:42 — Digging Through Historic NBA Film Slides & Digital Archives 24:21 — Capturing LeBron James’ Iconic Chalk Toss 28:58 — Photographing the WNBA & Lessons in Mentorship 32:25 — Handling Sensitive Assets, Embargoes, and Establishing Trust 35:41 — Advice for Aspiring Photographers37:43 — Get to Know You's 45:36 — Outro & Closing Thoughts

  8. Sep 4

    Episode 128: Kaitlin La Du—Why The Human Touch Still Outperforms The Algorithm

    On Episode 128, I'm joined by Social Media and Communications Professional: Kaitlin La Du! We discuss the evolving tension between AI and human craft in creative marketing, leading a team of 30+ students on an award-winning NFL advertising campaign, her journey pitching and launching the first TikTok account for Snowmass Village, how shadowing global photographer David Yarrow reshaped her perspective on the meticulous effort required to create standout content, and her personal advice on networking for recent graduates. Hope you enjoy!Hosted by: Ryan ZiaksThe Zicast Logo Designed by: Joe FlynnThe Zicast Intro Designed by: Jose Sarango The Zicast Score Composed By: Sean Valutkevich Thumbnail Designed by: Patrick Sorbero Add The Zicast on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thezicast/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5KQj8MsxHQlcwjno1SEDRZ?si=c5f525d4c4324a9fTik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thezicast?_t=8oqlOi6Xi0Y&_r=1#socialmediamarketing #contentcreation #storytelling #brandstrategy #aimarketing #ai #artificialintelligence #socialmediastrategy #socialmediamanager #digitalmarketing #marketingpodcast #nfl #football #advertising #digitaladvertising #tiktok #tiktokmarketing #mccann #marist #linkedin #linkedintips #networkingtips #careeradvice #postgraduates #agencylife #confidence #behindthescenes #creativedirection #impostersyndrome #communicationskills 00:00 — Welcome to Episode 128! 00:10 — About Kaitlin 03:38 — Pitching & Launching the Snowmass Village TikTok Account 06:51 — Behind the Scenes with David Yarrow & Interning at McCann NYC 12:32 — Finding a Niche at Marist & Taking Over University Socials 17:33 — Creating the Media Manager Role at Shakespeare on the Sound 22:33 — Getting People on Camera & The Art of Adapting on the Fly 25:28 — Leading 30+ Students in the NSAC Campaign for the NFL 29:42 — Stepping into Leadership & Overcoming Imposter Syndrome 40:22 — What People Misunderstand About Working in Social Media 42:19 — AI Slop vs. The Value of Human Craft50:26 — Strategic Trend-Hopping & Why Brands Must Understand Their "Lore" 55:26 — Get to Know You’s 1:09:22 — Outro & Closing Thoughts

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About

A podcast hosted by Ryan Ziaks and joined by friends. Get to know me while you get to know others. "Everyone has a story."

Information

  • Creator
    Ryan Ziaks
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    139
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Ryan Ziaks
  • Show Website
    The Zicast