José García Moreno’s “Advocate” is a podcast series telling stories with sound about prominent faculty, staff, and students at LMU. This show opens doors to understanding diverse faiths, races, and ideologies. It seeks those who are overlooked or considered less traditional. The aim of the show is to cherish our history and simultaneously share vibrant experiences within our campus-wide community and beyond.
LMUTW: What is the purpose of this podcast?
José García Moreno: “Advocate” wants to humanize others through their own stories. It is a meditation on life at Loyola Marymount University.
LMUTW: What speakers have you covered? Do any stick out to you?
JGM: What jumps out at me is the diversity of ideologies we feature on our show. A religious scholar of Islam told us to watch “Ms. Marvel” and listen to Mos Def. We expressed an urgency for people to shun being illiterate to grief with a prominent faculty member. Our first episode documented a live event about the [Supreme Court’s] Dobbs decision, which included a group of panelists who expressed strong differences about abortion. “Advocate” is interested in reflecting upon these differences. An unexamined life isn’t worth much. Archiving these ideas through audio means preserving the soul of LMU, with all its differences and similarities, and through extraordinary conversations. “Advocate” intends to be a tool for discernment.
LMUTW: Why do you encourage folks to check this out?
JGM: The abundance of journeys that lead people to this podcast necessitates a mindset that nothing is simple. Human beings’ complex differences create a hierarchy we might not shed in our lifetime. Check out our podcast if you want an insightful toolkit against narratives that higher education is declining. “Advocate” isn’t saving our community with audio. We are an archive to remind others the fight never ends.
LMUTW: Where do you imagine it will go in the future?
JGM: We take it one episode at a time. We focus carefully on content. Humanizing others through life stories heals and helps to drop the masks of intolerance and prejudice.
LMUTW: How is this in line with LMU’s mission?
JGM: We illuminate the unspoken by engaging with the creative potential that every member of our community holds. If social justice is navigating change, the LMU mission is always transforming. Energy is never destroyed, and capturing momentary life forces makes a brighter world.
LMUTW: What is vital about recording with the LMU Community?
JGM: The LMU community cultivates competitive minds and empathetic hearts. As a professor, I believe universities survive because curiosity always starts with a question. Our collective intrigue is unstoppable, and conquering the fears that tear us apart will make us stronger.
