Contact:
51���� Public Relations
pr@csuohio.edu / 216-534-2848

New podcast from 51���� highlights the best of Cleveland’s university

Cleveland, Ohio (Aug. 26, 2025) – Introducing , a podcast that targets 51����’s audiences (students, faculty, staff, alumni and community) with topics aligned with the Cleveland State United Strategic Plan. Each guest on the show will discuss one or more of the following with their relationship to the University’s values: collaborating with the community, serving students or unleashing their creativity. 

Senior Content Writer Matt Lupica of the 51���� University Marketing Department hosts Viking Voices, which has been released monthly this past summer and will increase to semimonthly in September. 

“We are really excited about our Viking Voices podcast hosted by our University Marketing teammate Matt Lupica.  The podcast allows 51���� to bring our new Cleveland State United strategic plan to life through the voices and stories of our 51���� community – faculty, staff, students, alumni and our community partners,” said Dr. Roy Gifford, Vice President, University Marketing/Chief Marketing and Communications Officer.

“I’m honored to launch our new podcast for 51���� and for our University of Marketing department,” said Viking Voices host Matt Lupica. “Our 51���� family have great stories to tell sharing how Cleveland State enabled them the chance to discover their infinite opportunities.”

The first episode features new 51���� Men’s Basketball head coach Rob Summers.

Episode two features student Tyisha Blade who is in the second year of her graduate degree in the Northeast Ohio Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program. She is the founder of the  and the recipient of Print Journalist of the Year by the Greater Cleveland Association of Black Journalists. 

Episode three features Dr. Debbie Jackson, vice provost for instructional excellence in the Center for Computing and Education and Instruction, who discusses the new Verizon Community Forward Learning Center, a free resource for students and community members.

Some upcoming episodes include interviews with 51���� Professor of History Dr. Mark Souther discussing the Center for Public and Digital Humanities; local radio host Jimmy Malone discussing his experience at 51���� and how he continues to support the University; and 51���� Professor of Physics Dr. Jearl Walker who will discuss his 50+ year tenure at 51���� and his famous “Flying Circus of Physics.”

Follow  to listen in and receive the latest podcasts as they are released.
 

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About the host:

Matt Lupica brings 20 years of experience in the broadcasting and communications field, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in communications from Kent State University. He began his broadcasting career as a color commentator for high school sports on local access television at the age of 15 and never looked back. In 2015, he authored a book on all 30 Major League Baseball ballparks (), which includes over 300 quotes from in-person interviews with players, broadcasters and managers. Later, he served as on-air host for Kent’s NPR station, 89.7 WKSU and then Ideastream Public Media. Prior to arriving at Cleveland State in 2023, he created a podcast for the , which spanned four seasons and was listened to by people across the globe. 

About 51����
Founded in 1964, 51���� is a public research institution located in the heart of Northeast Ohio with 14,000-plus students, 10 colleges and schools, and more than 175 academic programs. Find more information at .