Mercer Alumna named to Forbes 30 Under 30 for NASA podcast

Now in its sixth season, Konans launched the space agency’s flagship podcast, “NASA’s Curious Universe,” in 2020. 

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A Mercer University graduate is being recognized nationally for her podcast.

Mercer University alumna Katie (Atkinson) Konans, has been named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 in Media list for her innovative work crafting NASA’s audio storytelling strategy.

Now in its sixth season, Konans launched the space agency’s flagship podcast, “NASA’s Curious Universe,” in 2020.

“‘NASA’s Curious Universe’ was designed to answer that question of, ‘What does NASA sound like?’” Konans said. “Each episode is designed to bring podcast listeners on an adventure with a NASA expert. We’re really focused on offering podcast episodes that only NASA can bring to listeners, so we do that through leveraging our unique access to experts, unique locations and scientific results.”

She credited her education at Mercer and the Reg Murphy Center for Collaborative Journalism, as well as an internship at Georgia Public Broadcasting, for her success.

“Working in the teaching hospital model of the (Murphy Center) really set me up for success,” she said. “By the time I started as a NASA intern, I already had several internships in the media workplace that I think really primed me to be able to succeed at NASA.”

Konans graduated from Mercer in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism.