In the finale of POLKcast’s sixth season, host Jarrod Jones sits down with a very special guest – his wife, Dr. Shanique Jones, a Polk State Nursing alum. Her educational journey brought her from Jamaica, through Polk State’s renowned and rigorous Nursing Program and ultimately to the University of Florida to complete her doctorate and become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).

Together, they reflect on Shanique’s path, her time at Polk State and the challenges of pursuing an advanced degree while raising four young children. The conversation offers an honest, inspiring look at resilience, family and the power of long-term goals. From working the front lines in the intensive care unit during the COVID-19 pandemic to navigating graduate school with a newborn, Shanique’s story highlights both the grit of Polk State alumni and the transformative impact of education on individuals and their families.

This heartfelt finale closes the season with gratitude and a celebration of perseverance – both in the classroom and at home.

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In this episode of POLKcast, host Jarrod Jones sits down with longtime colleagues and mentors Chris Fullerton and Courtlann Thomas – the directors of Polk State’s Winter Haven and Lakeland campus libraries and tutoring and testing centers, respectively.

They talk about growth, change and what it means to find purpose in one’s work. Together, they explore how librarianship has evolved from card catalogs to artificial intelligence, how technology and learning intersect and why curiosity and adaptability are at the heart of every meaningful career.

For students, this episode offers more than a behind-the-scenes look at the library. It’s a conversation about how to build a fulfilling professional life, navigate inevitable change and stay passionate about learning.

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This spooky season, Polk State College’s Winter Haven Campus Library transformed into a haunted house crawling with cryptids, creatures and folklore, all in support of student clubs. The Art Club, Book Club and International Circle collaborated with the guidance of their advisors and library staff to create an unforgettable experience for FallFest-goers.

Host Jarrod Jones sits down with student Sidney Inman, President of the Art Club and the International Circle Club, to talk about her creative vision and how inspiration from a POLKcast episode brought the eerie experience to life. The haunted house drew more than 300 guests and raised funds to support students and their club activities. Tune in to hear how collaboration, creativity and a touch of the supernatural turned the haunted house into a FallFest hit.

Photos by photography student Liz Black

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In the latest episode of POLKcast, Librarian Jarrod Jones sits down with student worker Sunny Charles for an insightful and often hilarious conversation about the ever-evolving world of social media, from MySpace nostalgia to TikTok rabbit holes.

Jones reflects on his journey through early platforms like “the Facebook” in his college days, and recounts the moment Snapchat made him officially feel “old.” Meanwhile, Charles shares her Gen-Z perspective, from middle school Kik chats to hours on ASMR livestreams.

Together, they explore the impact of social media on mental health, how platforms work in education, cultural moments that keep us scrolling, FOMO and more. This is a must-listen for students, educators and anyone curious about how digital life is reshaping college culture and generational perspectives.

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What do the Yeti, the Chupacabra, and the Skunk Ape have in common with thesis statements and academic databases? In this episode of Polk State College’s podcast, host Jarrod Jones welcomes Professor Jacci Rizzo to discuss a unique and imaginative research project that’s helping English language learners engage deeply with both the research process and their own cultural heritage.

Professor Rizzo, who teaches English and student success courses at Polk State, shares how she introduced her students to the world of cryptozoology — the study of creatures whose existence is unproven, like Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster. This episode takes listeners through everything from dictionary definitions and scholarly databases to personal childhood fears and pop culture obsessions (including a spirited defense of The Meg and even Ghost Shark). Jones and Rizzo explore how cryptids can serve as powerful tools for understanding cultural anxieties, shared mythologies and the global nature of storytelling.

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In this episode of POLKcast,  host Jarrod Jones sits down with Brandon Amato, Simulation Lab Program Specialist at Polk State College, for a fun and insightful conversation about the growing role of virtual reality in education. They explore how immersive technologies like virtual reality(VR) and augmented reality (AR) are transforming learning experiences, from interactive simulations in nursing and engineering to virtual field trips using apps like National Geographic Explore.

Amato shares how Polk State ended up with 120 VR headsets, how they’re being integrated into classrooms and libraries and the potential for cost-saving, hands-on learning across disciplines. The discussion highlights the accessibility of VR for students and faculty, addressing common fears and emphasizing how simple it is to get started. With national spending on educational VR projected to grow into the billions, this episode dives into what the future could look like at Polk State, and how instructors can start experimenting today.

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In this episode of POLKcast, host Jarrod Jones sits down with Instructional Designer Katie Ragsdale to explore the growing impact of gamification in online education. From badges and leaderboards to interactive modules and syllabus quizzes, gamification strategies are transforming how students engage with digital learning environments.

Ragsdale shares insights from her own educational journey as both a designer and student. Well-crafted gamification can support motivation, engagement and retention in online courses. The conversation explores trends in distance learning, student needs, evolving technologies like AI and VR and even a few personal gaming confessions.

Whether you are a student engaging in this gamification of online learning or an educator curious about integrating gamified elements in your class, this episode offers a thoughtful and entertaining look behind the screen.

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Polk State College has launched its sixth season of POLKcast, the College’s official podcast that brings the voices of Polk State to campuses and communities across Polk County. Hosted this season by Librarian Jarrod Jones, listeners can expect smooth sounds and engaging conversations that dive deep into the connections among students, resources and innovation at Polk State.

In the season’s premiere, Jones and Office of Communications and Public Affairs members Leah Bartholomay and Madison Fantozzi revisit the origins of POLKcast, founded on the simple yet powerful idea of connecting the College community. This sets the stage for a season filled with discovery, insight and inspiration.

Listeners will hear from a range of guests, all united by the mission of supporting student success. Topics include the timely and tech-forward, like artificial intelligence and research, to the fun and fascinating, like “weird majors” and “strange careers.” Whether on the way to class or tuning in from home, POLKcast is a go-to source for stories that not only inform but also celebrate what makes Polk State College unique. Catch new episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and polk.edu.

About this season’s host, Jarrod Jones

Jones has served as a librarian in the College’s Winter Haven Campus Library for more than a decade, and his newest role as POLKcast host is not his first experience with Polk State fame. In fact, his episode of POLKcast from Season 2 with Winter Haven Library and Teaching Learning Computing Center Director Chris Fullerton remains the most-listened-to episode in the podcast’s history.

Jones spearheaded the creation of the Student Learning Innovation Centers – better known as the SLIC rooms – that serve as specialized technological hubs for students in both the Winter Haven Campus Library and Lakeland Campus Teaching Learning Computing Center (TLCC).

The Winter Haven native attended Jewett School of the Arts and Lake Region High School before graduating with his bachelor’s in History from the University of Florida. He also holds a master’s degree in Library and Information Sciences from the University of South Florida.

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In this season finale of POLKcast, President Dr. Angela Garcia Falconetti, Academic Coach and Recruitment Specialist Jeannette Grullon, Professor of Nursing Viridiana Coyt, and Professor of Biology and Phi Theta Kappa Xi Pi Advisor Anthony Cornett discuss the value in connecting coursework to career and life goals. Missed Part 1? Listen here.

POLKcast’s fifth season was developed by the students and advisors of Polk State College’s award-winning Phi Theta Kappa Xi Pi Chapter. It tackles the pressing challenges faced by students with insights drawn directly from a survey conducted by the Xi Pi Chapter. Each episode explores various topics, from emotional and mental stress to the cost of attending college and preparing for classes. With a focus on raising awareness and providing actionable solutions, the Xi Pi Chapter invites a range of expert guests and community leaders to offer valuable resources and guidance for student success.

POLKcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and polk.edu.

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In this first episode of a two-part finale of POLKcast’s fifth season featuring Phi Theta Kappa Xi Pi, Professor and Advisor Anthony Cornett facilitates a productive conversation with Polk State President Dr. Angela Garcia Falconetti, Academic Coach and Recruitment Specialist Jeannette Grullon, and Professor of Nursing Viridiana Coyt connecting coursework to career and life goals.

This episode delves into why some students may struggle to see the value in their classes, offering insights from experts on how general education courses can align with long-term aspirations, even when the immediate connection to a future career isn’t clear. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding how coursework contributes to developing real-world skills and emphasizes the significance of finding relevance in every aspect of academic life, regardless of the specific subject matter.

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