DAVIS, Calif. – The Edwards Family Athletics Center has provided UC Davis Athletics with many pieces that have led to Aggie success in the classroom and in competition, one of those pieces is the addition of the Dr. Heather L. Hunter '96 Podcast Room, an exciting new location fully equipped with the tools Aggie student-athletes need to host their own podcasts and grow personal brands.
 
"The opportunity to donate to a transformational athletics facility for our student-athletes was a priority for me," said Cal Aggie Hall of Famer and Senior Associate Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator Heather Hunter. "I am grateful that I was able to play a small part in a podcast room becoming a reality and my hope is that this room can continue to be a resource for our student-athletes to share content that will be helpful to their peers as they navigate their athletic and academic journey and prepare for a successful launch after graduation."
 
The room has already been in use, with two podcasts currently being recorded and produced. The UC Davis Student-Athlete Advisory Committee hosts a podcast called "Aggie Chats" – a podcast for student athletes by student athlete and the UC Davis EVO program hosts a program of their own.
   
Aggie student athletes will also have the opportunity to use the room to secure National Image and Likeness deals or to promote their own personal podcasts. The Aggie student athletes can also use the room to start their own podcasts that could lead to NIL opportunities and a growth of their own brands.
 
"SAAC are extremely excited about the opportunity to use the podcast room for our podcast, Aggie Chats," said SAAC president and current equestrian senior Kayla Wolfe. "So far it has been another great way to feature and recognize our fellow student athletes at UC Davis.
 
"The podcast room allows students to practice another form of communication with other athletes and share their unique stories and experiences. We are grateful for UC Davis Athletics to provide these unique opportunities to grow as individuals along as athletes."
 
Aggie student athletes can take part in SAAC's "Aggie Chats" or the EVO podcast, where Associate Athletics Director, Leadership and Professional Development Michael Lorenzen sits down with recent Aggie grads as they talk about their lives after UC Davis and how the EVO program helped them "launch" post-grad.
 
"One of the foundations of the Aggie EVO System is teaching athletes the art of personal storytelling," said Lorenzen. "It's critical that they learn how to articulate the remarkable value they have to offer to employers and graduate schools because of the investment they've made in their athletic lives. The next logical step in storytelling in the current era is building a personal brand based on careful reflection about values, priorities, and perspectives. A podcast is a very easy and friendly place to experiment with storytelling and brand building and I'm hopeful that more athletes will take advantage of this resource."
 
Fans can check out the UC Davis YouTube page in the fall to listen to the latest episodes of "Aggie Chats" and the EVO podcasts.

This story is an example of UC Davis Athletics' commitment to the Ignite Strategic Plan Pillar of "Competitive Excellence" by supporting student-athletes in their pursuit of NIL opportunities as part of UC Davis' comprehensive NIL plan for the Department. Read more about our strategic plan here; IGNITE