# Podcasting and Blogging as Tools to Engage with the Public on the Topic of Cancer: Experience and Perspectives of the Public Interest Group on Cancer Research

## TL;DR

A group used podcasts and blogs to share cancer knowledge and experiences, finding it effective but facing challenges with guest compensation.

## Contribution

The paper presents a practical model for public engagement in cancer research through podcasting and blogging, highlighting systemic barriers to equitable participation.

## Key findings

- Podcasting and blogging were cost-effective tools for public engagement on cancer topics.
- Guest compensation was hindered by institutional policies, affecting equitable participation.
- The initiative involved diverse contributors and led to positive experiences for most participants.

## Abstract

Our group launched a podcast and guest blog series in 2024 to communicate knowledge about cancer, including lived experiences of cancer, clinical care, research, advocacy, and public engagement. In this paper, we reflect on our experience with this podcast and guest blog series. With the help of 36 guests, we generated 13 blogs and 28 podcast episodes in a remarkably cost-effective way. Generally, this experience was positive for both our team and our guests. However, we also encountered barriers—notably, challenges related to guest compensation. For example, in some cases, guest compensation was not possible because of federal or university policies or practices. Despite these challenges, we used our learnings to improve our and guests’ experience whenever possible. In conclusion, our model may offer guidance to other public-academic partnerships and knowledge mobilization efforts. Crucially, governments and institutions must do more to ensure equitable participation by enabling appropriate compensation for all contributors.

We (Public Interest Group on Cancer Research) started a podcast and guest blog series on cancer in 2024. Our objective in this Commentary is to describe our experience with this series, insights gained, adjustments made to our approach, and our recommendations for future series. Our group identified and invited guests to contribute a blog or podcast episode on cancer, lived experience of cancer, cancer care and research, or advocacy. The podcast episodes were recorded using the WebEx platform (version 45.9.0.33069) and edited using the Kdenlive software (version 23.08.4). The blogs and podcasts were edited, finalized, and posted online for public access. In this manuscript, we utilized descriptive statistics to define and summarize information about the podcast episodes, guest blogs, and categorical responses to guest feedback survey questions, while we presented the responses to open-ended survey questions as quotes and summaries. As a result, during the period of January 2024–July 2025, we aired 28 podcast episodes and 13 guest blogs involving 36 guests. Guests included people from various backgrounds (such as people with lived experience, advocates, scientists, and healthcare providers) and members of equity-deserving communities (such as women, Indigenous and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities). We contemplated and learned as we proceeded with this project and implemented changes to address the issues that arose. In most cases the guests had positive experiences; however, in rare cases, university practices or federal policies prevented guest compensation, creating an unusual barrier. In conclusion, podcasting and blogging are practical public engagement instruments that provide space for sharing messages and knowledge to communicate with members of the public. Systematic barriers, such as policies that hamper guest compensation, need to be fixed for equitable participation, compensation, and engagement. As there is an increased interest in public engagement and knowledge mobilization activities, our learnings shared in this commentary may help other groups initiate or improve their public engagement practices.