Fairfield Students Step Inside The Fifth Column Podcast Studio

Ahead of The Fifth Column’s November 12 live event at Fairfield University’s Quick Center for the Arts, Fairfield arts interns had an exclusive opportunity to visit the podcast’s Manhattan studio, meet its hosts, and get a behind-the-scenes look at its free-ranging conversations on politics, culture, and intellectual independence.

The Fifth Column offers a break from partisan and the hyper-tailored news driven by social media algorithms. It offers an idiosyncratic view of today political landscape. The Fifth Column is joining Fairfield University’s Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts for a live podcast recapping the midterm elections, as part of the John Charles Meditz College of Arts & Sciences Enduring Questions Series on Thurs., November 12, at 7:30 p.m.

The Fifth Column features journalists Kmele Foster, writer and co-founder of digital media platform Freethink; Michael Moynihan, investigative journalist and former managing editor of Vice; and Matt Welch, editor-at-large of Reason Magazine. It has become an intellectual gathering place for those “in the know.” From White House staffers to New York Times op-ed writers, news junkies and policy wonks agree that The Fifth Column offers an important point of view. For instance, a single episode can jump around from the foibles of the Trump administration to Milton Friedman’s philosophy on human freedom, then bounce to the impact of Lou Reed.

Recently, Fairfield University undergraduates and Arts & Minds Schola media interns Peter Pond ’28 and Zachary O’Connell ’29 had the opportunity to interview the podcast’s hosts and receive a behind-the-scenes look at their lower Manhattan studio.

“Podcasts seem to magically appear on our phones, but after the tour… the numerous cameras, production assistants, and sound equipment hinted at the intensive work that goes into every episode,” said Pond. “Media literacy is a privilege. It is a privilege to have broadcasts like The Fifth Column that synthesize relevant information, and it was an even greater privilege to witness their process in person.”

For the early October episode that Pond and O’Connell saw, the hosts interviewed Sam Roberts, the veteran former political and city editor for the New York Daily News and reporter for The New York Times.

Moynihan, one of the hosts, was particularly interested in Roberts’ reporting on one of the most consequential revelations about Soviet espionage in the history of the United States. During the landmark trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg in 1951, co-defendant Morton “Marty” Sobell maintained his innocence. Throughout his 18 years in prison, he protested the government for what he characterized as overreach. However, at 91, Sobell sat down with Roberts and admitted that as an employee of General Electric, he had passed along classified radar and artillery information to the USSR. This scoop dramatically shifted how historians and politicians viewed the Rosenberg case. While the accused were previously viewed by many as victims of the oppressive “red scare,” Roberts’ reporting reinforced the conclusion that Julius Rosenberg, as well as Marty Sobell, were, in fact, deeply entrenched Soviet agents. 

Following their discussion with Roberts, the hosts sat down for 45 minutes with our students for a conversation about their careers, and the issues facing news media today. The discussion covered the shifting media landscape before delving into the impact of artificial intelligence on creativity and originality. They explained why they are excited to visit the Fairfield campus, saying, the “natural exchange of ideas and open dialogue are the bedrock of an educated society.”

Fresh off the midterm elections, The Fifth Column brings its signature blend of sharp political commentary, irreverent humor, and spirited debate to Fairfield University’s Quick Center for the Arts on November 12—joined by Yemisi Egbewole, former Chief of Staff in the press office of U.S. President Joe Biden and founder of Podium Strategies, for an evening of lively, unfiltered conversation. Don't miss your chance to experience the podcast live! Use promo code COLUMN10 for $10 tickets.

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