S7. Ep8. Switchboard: A Year in the Life

In the final episode of this season of Switchboard, we catch up with some of the sporting community in Cambridge to talk about all things Varsity competitions. From boxing to taekwondo and women's blues football we learn about the preparations for the competition against Oxford and what it's like balancing work with training. We also hear from our very own Senior Sport's Editor at Varsity, Liam, about what it's like covering sports at both the college and university level and the importance of sports for the Cambridge community. Transcripts available here! .................................................................................................................................... Meet this term's team! Producers: Olivia Young & Isabella Todini Audio Engineers: Laleh Bergman Hossain & Joe Bray Writers: Matilda Sidel and Gwilym Hubbard Outreach Manager: Lucy Rostant Graphic Designer: Sam Benatar

This week, Switchboard celebrates International Women’s Day by sitting down with women of Cambridge and chatting about the projects, campaigns, and art they are part of, as well as all the ways they work to empower women and work towards gender equality. With the special addition of a live reading of a poem, and three brilliant guests, this episode is worth the listen. Tune in to hear reflections on careers, inclusion, body acceptance, and so much more! Transcripts available here! .................................................................................................................................... Meet this term's team! Producers: Olivia Young & Isabella Todini Audio Engineers: Laleh Bergman Hossain & Joe Bray Writers: Matilda Sidel and Gwilym Hubbard Outreach Manager: Lucy Rostant Graphic Designer: Sam Benatar

In this episode, we learn about various student campaigns around Cambridge. We hear about the U Bus Campaign to increase accessibility around the city for different colleges, Cambridge Period Project in their fight against period poverty in the university and beyond, and the Demilitarise Cambridge campaign aimed to shed light on the university investment ties to arms companies. You're guaranteed to leave feeling proud and inspired by all the amazing student activism in Cambridge! Transcripts available here! .................................................................................................................................... Meet this term's team! Producers: Olivia Young & Isabella Todini Audio Engineers: Laleh Bergman Hossain & Joe Bray Writers: Matilda Sidel and Gwilym Hubbard Outreach Manager: Lucy Rostant Graphic Designer: Sam Benatar

In a slightly different format than previous episodes this season, Liv and Izzy sit down with a group of vegan and veggie Cambridge students, to hear about a variety of experiences with bringing a plant-based lifestyle to uni. Tune in for a panel-style discussion about cooking in college gyps, ways college dining halls could do better, and recipe favorites from all of our guests. This one is a tasty one!  Transcripts available here! .................................................................................................................................... Meet this term's team! Producers: Olivia Young & Isabella Todini Audio Engineers: Laleh Bergman Hossain & Joe Bray Writers: Matilda Sidel and Gwilym Hubbard Outreach Manager: Lucy Rostant Graphic Designer: Sam Benatar

...or, The Queer, The Corporate, and The Christian. In this episode, we dive into what Valentine's Day really means, who it's for (and who is left out), and how people are celebrating their love outside of the heteronormative imagining of February 14th. This one is a heart-warmer; stories of love, joyful first dates, and nonromantic expressions of love overflow from our guests this week. We also challenge the commercialization of Valentine's Day, and ask whether there might be better ways to show and share our love. Transcripts available here! .................................................................................................................................... Meet this term's team! Producers: Olivia Young & Isabella Todini Audio Engineers: Laleh Bergman Hossain & Joe Bray Writers: Matilda Sidel and Gwilym Hubbard Outreach Manager: Lucy Rostant Graphic Designer: Sam Benatar

Just in time for the start of Pink Week 2022 (and the Pink Week Ball happening tonight, Feb 5!!) comes an episode about the history of Pink Week, from its conception years ago to its resounding success today. Our very own host, Liv, is Pink Week President this year, so she gives us the scoop on what Pink Week really is, and how she's managed to balance being president with a Cambridge degree. Our guests have each played a different role across Pink Week's history, each with their own insights and reflections on their experiences with the cause - so settle in and enjoy!  Learn more about Pink Week!  Transcripts available here!  .................................................................................................................................... Lent Term Team:  Producers: Olivia Young & Isabella Todini Audio Engineers: Laleh Bergman Hossain & Joe Bray Writers: Matilda Sidel and Gwilym Hubbard Outreach Manager: Lucy Rostant Graphic Designer: Sam Benatar

In the first episode of a brand new season of Switchboard, our hosts Liv and Izzy bring you student voices from across the university reflecting on and chatting about their experiences throughout the past two years. Tune in to hear from Yasmin, Tara, and Ayomide as they unpack their covid considerations, plus a special treat at the end in collaboration with Varsity's AskVulture.  Transcripts available here! .................................................................................................................................... Meet this term's team!  Producers: Olivia Young & Isabella Todini Audio Engineers: Laleh Bergman Hossain & Joe Bray Writers: Matilda Sidel and Gwilym Hubbard Outreach Manager: Lucy Rostant Graphic Designer: Sam Benatar

To close out the term, and the academic year, Izzy, and guest host (and Varsity head editor!) Liz Haigh sit down with the previous four hosts of Switchboard to reflect on the past year and their time as producers and hosts of the podcast. 

Izzy and her guest host Laleh Bergman Hossain chat about their experiences with online exams and hear about a variety of different exam conditions across the university, as well as some predictions and opinions about exams going forward. 

Izzy and her guest host Alex Oxford discuss the North/South divide and how this affects the Cambridge experience, exploring both the UK and Italy.