MEDIA, Pa. – Penn State Brandywine launched its second season of student-run podcast “We Are Chattin’” on Sept. 2. The podcast tells the stories of the students, faculty, staff and alumni that make Brandywine so special. Episodes run about 20-30 minutes and are released weekly throughout the fall and spring semesters.
Managed through the Office of Strategic Communications, “We Are Chattin’” is co-hosted by Mary Kate Cosgrove, a business major with a focus in marketing, and Natalie DiMario, a communications major, both of whom work part-time for the office.
“I’m super excited to be back for another season of We Are Chattin’. Having the opportunity to build on what we started last fall is truly special, and I can’t wait to bring new ideas and perspectives to season two,” said DiMario.
“Having the podcast gives us another platform to highlight the people, stories and experiences that make Brandywine such a special place," DiMario added. "I hope that with our upcoming season, we can continue building a strong foundation for the podcast and create something that can continue for years to come.”
The podcast is available for streaming on most platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify and YouTube. Links are available on the Penn State Brandywine website.
“Last year, I was just a transfer student trapped in the mundane cycle of going to classes and then going straight home," Cosgrove said. "Then, I learned about the Office of Strategic Communications during an in-class presentation, and that one class has given me indispensable opportunities.
“I am so excited to be co-hosting this season of 'We Are Chattin'' with Natalie!" Cosgrove added. "Fostering a platform where we are able to interview alumni, faculty and students for everyone to see is an amazing experience. Having a campus podcast is a great tool for showing students, especially those who may also be trapped in that same cycle, all that Brandywine has to offer.”
In the first episode of season two, Cosgrove and DiMario talk with Dana Hallahan, assistant director of alumni relations at Penn State Brandywine and alumna of the campus. The episode delves into why Hallahan chose to attend Penn State Brandywine, how she went from being a biology major to working in alumni relations, and what a day looks like in her role.
“I originally really thought I was going to do the 2+2 program," Hallahan said. "Being here at Brandywine, I thought it would be a great way to start off and kind of get my footing, learn more about the campus, all the different systems that we needed to use, as well as just having some smaller class sizes and then moving on and kind of growing with myself into University Park, where it'd be a lot bigger.
“I would have the opportunity to do football games, maybe some research, but then I pretty much new within the first week that I was going to be staying, just based on the faculty and staff here on campus. I just felt like they really cared deeply about my success, and just within those first interactions, and it just led me to stay all four years.”
“We Are Chattin’” is recorded and filmed in the Brandywine LaunchBox’s on-campus Maker Space. The Maker Space, which opened in fall 2025, features a podcast studio, a 3D printer room and more — all amenities for students to use for free.