Murray State University airs first podcast called The Racer Alumni Podcast: Stories from the Finest Place We Know

Hosts Carrie McGinnis and Jordan Lowe connect with Murray State alumni around the globe in a bi-monthly podcast series

MURRAY, Ky. — Sponsored by the Murray State University Alumni Association (MSUAA) and hosted by Murray State director of alumni relations, Carrie McGinnis, and former Murray State student, Jordan Lowe, ‘19, The Racer Alumni Podcast: Stories from the Finest Place We Know gives the Murray State community a chance to connect with their alma mater and others within a global alumni family through a bi-monthly podcast series. To listen and subscribe visit murraystate.edu/podcast or find it on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible and more.

For a century, Racer alumni all over the world have been given the opportunity to accomplish what they pursue and enjoy a lifetime of success thanks to the unique and special college experience that they have received at Murray State. In the podcast, hear from administrators, faculty, staff and students about what is taking place on campus, learn about some of the amazing accomplishments fellow alumni are doing personally and professionally to make an impact on the world and fondly reminisce about the memories and moments that were cherished from times as a student.

"Murray State alumni are 80,000-strong all around the globe,” said McGinnis. “Only a small percentage of those alumni get the opportunity to return to campus at any given time throughout the year. The Racer Alumni Podcast provides the Murray State University Alumni Association with a wonderful opportunity to share with a global population of Racers all of the incredible things that their fellow alumni are doing, allows them the chance to spend about 30 minutes in the car, while they are cleaning or working out to reminisce about their time on campus and gives us a chance to commemorate 100 years of hope, endeavor and achievement together as a Racer family.”

McGinnis adds: “I worked in broadcasting prior to higher education, so it felt like a natural fit to put my old radio chops to good use interviewing alumni, University administrators, faculty, staff and students. My co-host, Jordan Lowe, is a 2019 journalism and mass communications graduate who resides in Benton, Kentucky. He is the one who initially approached me about launching a podcast for the MSUAA, and he has been a tremendous supporter of our efforts to get it produced and out to the masses.”

The first episode aired on July 1, featuring the fourteenth president of Murray State University and 1985 alumnus Dr. Bob Jackson. A discussion about his long history with Murray State dating back to his time as a student, the many roles he has had leading up to his presidency, his experience leading the institution through a global pandemic and the University’s one hundredth birthday celebration, including the upcoming release of a pictorial history of Murray State, which he co-authored, The Finest Place We Know: A Centennial History of Murray State University, 1922-2022, was all highlighted in the launching episode. 

In the second episode, which aired on July 15, Dr. Jeff McLaughlin, Murray State’s archives/museum director was featured to talk about the facts, lore and local characters who helped shape the history of the University. He also covers some of the epic shifts and challenges that Murray State and its administration weathered throughout our nation’s history, such as the Great Depression, WWll, Vietnam, Civil Rights and generations of students coming of age on campus. Jeff is also the co-author of the University’s upcoming pictorial book, The Finest Place We Know: A Centennial History of Murray State University, 1922-2022.

Episode 3, which is now available, is called Good call ref! It features Racer Football alumnus Jabir Walker, ‘00, who began his professional career playing arena football. Now, on any given Sunday he is the one making the calls. Jabir is at the top of the reffing fame, traveling across the country officiating NFL football and NCAA basketball. In 2021, he was asked to serve as an alternate on the Super Bowl LV officiating crew, reserved for the best of the best in a given season. Jabir talks about his experience as a Murray State student-athlete during the era of Hall-of-Fame coach Houston Nutt, what it takes to break into the upper echelon of officiating on the national level and much more.

Upcoming episode airing in the month of August include:

• Episode 4 (Aug. 15): Alumnus W. Earl Brown stars in the new Apple TV+ limited series, Five Days at Memorial. Murray native Earl Brown, '85, has been one of Hollywood's go-to character actors for more than three decades. With well-known roles in There's Something About Mary, Being John Malkovich, Deadwood, The Master, Scream and The Mandalorian lining his resume, Earl has proven to be a genre-crossing shape-shifter in television and film. His latest project for Apple TV+, which premiers Aug. 12, is based on tragic actual events that took place in the devastated New Orleans Memorial Hospital in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Earl talks about his long and steady career, seeing his Star Wars dream become a reality, his latest project and what's next. The trailer for Five Days at Memorial is out now.

New episodes will be released on the first and fifteenth of each month.

To learn more about The Racer Alumni Podcast: Stories from the Finest Place We Know and to listen to previous and new episodes please visit murraystate.edu/podcast or subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible, Libsyn, Podchaser and many more podcast services.