collage image of seniors and podcast graphics

Senior Year Podcast Ideas You’ll Actually Want to Make

I have to admit, I’m a little jealous that you have the chance to create a podcast during your senior year. It would’ve been so fun to have this as an activity back in the day. I know it can feel a bit overwhelming, but you don’t need a fancy studio, a producer, or Joe Rogan’s Spotify deal to start a senior year podcast.

All you really need is a phone (or literally any recording device), a quiet-ish corner, and a format you can repeat with some consistency. To get started, keep it short, keep it consistent, and make the premise so obvious your grandma would get it.

Podcast Ideas You Can Record Between Classes

1. Hall Pass

10-minute hallway hits between classes. Grab a friend, ask one spicy question, done. You could also do this at lunch in the cafeteria.

2. The Roast of Senior Year

Gently roast senioritis, AP exams, broken vending machines, mystery cafeteria meat. Equal parts hilarious and cathartic.

3. Senior Superlatives Unhinged

New categories weekly: Most Likely To Become A Meme, Most Likely To Forget Their Pants at Graduation. Even more fun if you go around asking everyone who their vote would be for each category.

4. Confession Booth

Anonymous confessions via a box or Google Form, read in dramatic voices. Add goofy foley for flair.

5. High School Movie vs Real Life

Compare teen movie tropes with what actually happens at your school or how they’re the same.

6. The Parent Episode

Interview parents about their senior year. Expect perms, mullets, and no Wi-Fi. Come up with a variety of topics to discuss to make each episode a comparison of then and now.

7. Dear Freshman Me

Advice you’d give 9th-grade you. You can also interview your friends, teachers, coaches, counselors for this one as well.

8. Teacher Tales

Teachers share their funniest safe-for-air stories. Protect identities as needed.

9. Senior Year Time Capsule

This week’s slang, songs, obsessions, TikTok trends. Open it at your 10-year reunion. You could also incorporate some of these other ideas into this one as well.

10. Hot Takes Only

Each guest brings one unpopular opinion about school life. Let the debates rage.

11. Detention Diaries

A “live from detention” episode. Or just the vibes.

Easy Podcast Prompts for Senior Year

  • “Best lunch-table conspiracy right now?”
  • “One hill you’ll die on about prom.”
  • “Three things you’d tell your freshman self.”
  • “Most chaotic school announcement of the year.”
  • “Teacher quote that lives in your head rent-free.”
boy wearing headphones listening

Creative Senior Year Podcast Names

This is the fun and creative part that you can create yourself or with your group of other podcast buddies. You can also name it something related to your school and year of graduation if you plan on it being retired after you graduate. But just in case you need some name ideas here are a few to get ya thinking.

Hall Pass Radio
Last Bell FM
Senioritis Sessions
The Homeroom Feed
Mic Drop Monday
The Late Bus
Study Break Radio
Cap and Gown Cast

Quick production tips

  • Audio > everything. If you’re going for the studio setup, record in a small room, face away from hard walls, toss a blanket over a table for a DIY sound booth. If you’re doing a more interactive hallway or lunch interview, just make sure you have decent mics that pick up the person you’re talking with.
  • Keep it short. Tight episodes are easier to make and more importantly to help you just get started. If taking on a new project feels intimidating see if you and your friends can trade off doing different weeks.
  • Mind permissions. Get consent before recording classmates/teachers, skip copyrighted music, and avoid sharing private info.
  • Batch it. Record 2–3 episodes in one sitting so you’re not scrambling.

Make it look legit

Create simple cover art and episode thumbnails that match your vibe. If you’re in Austin and want album-cover-style portraits for your show artwork, I do senior sessions that pair perfectly with this kind of project.

Bonus: first-week launch plan

  • Pick one format and the name.
  • Write 5 recurring questions.
  • Record a 30-second trailer + Episode 1.
  • Post to a free podcast host, then share to IG/Stories and your class Discord/GroupMe.
  • Ask three friends to send voice notes for Episode 2.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! It has a clear scope, consistent output, and a real audience. You could even add a reflection paper and analytics for your rubric.

You’re the creator, so that’s totally up to you! They could be short and sweet like 15 minutes, or closer to an hour. There are no rules, just be sure to think through what it would take for you to do the shorter or longer episodes so it fits into something you can easily manage.

Nope! Unless you have some huge sponsors lined up to help cover the cost of the fancy gear, just use what you have or you can look into renting or borrowing.

How to Record a Podcast Without a Phone at School

I live in Texas, and with the new phone law that bans the use of cell phones in school, you might have to get creative. Here are some options to consider if you’re unable to use a phone to record the audio.

  • Library/Computer Lab Setup → Most schools have computers with mics (or you can bring a cheap plug-in USB mic). They can record directly into free software like Audacity or GarageBand if it’s a Mac.
  • Borrow School Media Gear → Some schools have AV clubs or journalism programs with audio equipment students can check out.
  • Handheld Recorder → Old-school voice recorders are allowed in class settings where phones aren’t. You will have to transfer the audio files and upload later.
  • Partner with Yearbook/Journalism → This is probably the best route so you can get it approved. Record interviews through a school club so the school is more likely to allow it.

Record Your Podcast at Home

Can’t record at school? Don’t let that stop you! This project can also happen at home. These are some ideas to make it a bit more fun.

  • Theme Nights → Record in pajamas, or set up a “mock radio studio” with snacks and silly props.
  • Round-Table Style → Invite a few friends over, sit around with snacks, and make it more of a hangout than a formal podcast.
  • Background Atmosphere → Add lo-fi beats, jingles, or even random sound effects (like a game show buzzer) to make it playful. Maybe your school’s fight song?