On Monday September 22nd, SMCC’s Phi Theta Kappa launched the “Pack Perspective Podcast.” Their podcast team will be coming out with a new, engaging episode every Friday for students to listen to. 

Phi Theta Kappa is an international two year honors society for community college students whose purpose is to provide opportunities for leadership and recognition for academic achievements.

 Here at SMCC, the Alpha Chi Nu chapter of Phi Theta Kappa is currently focused on cultivating a stronger sense of inclusivity and deeper sense of belonging for all students. 

 In my interview with Kamy Dube, President of the Alpha Chi Nu Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, she discusses the intentions and goals of this new podcast, including a new “Gossip Girl” segment coming out next week. Dube also highlights what it means to her to be part of Phi Theta Kappa and the deep sense of community it provides. 

What was it like for you to join Phi Theta Kappa as a new student?

When I joined, I didn’t really know what it was. I was thinking I should join because I wanted to get more involved. I decided to join Phi Theta Kappa not only as the honors society that it is, but also to become more of an active member of our chapter on campus. 

Honestly, at first it was hard transitioning because I’m going into this new organisation where I don’t know anyone and at that moment didn’t feel like I really belonged at SMCC. I had no community, and not many friends. In the Spring, I decided to start speaking up more and participating, and then we slowly really became a strong community. 

How would you say PTK is viewed by those who don’t know much about it?

Saying “honors society” to someone is passing – they’re really put off by it. I just like to say that we’re an organization. Because our chapter is under Phi Theta Kappa, but the things we do as a student organization are much more than just what scholarship and leadership opportunities you can get. The events we throw are within our own passions. I feel like out of all the organizations I’m in, this one is most like a little family. 

What is the main purpose/goal of the Pack Perspective Podcast?

We want to give students a platform to share their voices. We want to balance educational and genuine stories; showing the honest truth of SMCC in both good and bad ways. But really it is about just spotlighting student voices. We want people to know more about the organizations on campus and what’s out there. Our tagline is “Real stories, real voices, real belonging”, and that’s honestly the main goal. 

What is some upcoming content for the podcast you’re excited about?

We’re filming a Gossip Girl segment today, which will be really fun. We’ve collected anonymous stories from people at SMCC and we’re going to tell them with a Gossip Girl-style intro. We’re hoping this will be more of the engaging content instead of just like “oh here are all these organizations”, where people might lose interest. Even though they’re really great episodes, they can be hard to approach. We’re trying to build credibility by being relatable but also having these be for a purpose. 

Whether looking for entertainment, education, or just a way to feel more involved in the SMCC community, there’s something for everyone with the Pack Perspective Podcast. The podcast is now accessible through the “student life” page on the SMCC website. Make sure to stay tuned for weekly episodes every Friday.