Above: Kenton Adler, the director of advancement for Scottish Heritage at Lyon College and the host of “Celtic Crossroads” podcast.
Kenton Adler, director of advancement for Scottish Heritage at Lyon College and host of the popular podcast “Celtic Crossroads,” won the 2024 Arkast Award for Best Male-Hosted Podcast at a ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 14, at the Fayetteville Public Library. Lyon College’s KILT Studios also brought home the 2024 Arkast Award for Best Podcast Production Company. KILT adviser is Dr. Radek Szulga.
The awards, sponsored by the Arkansas Podcast Collaborative (APC), honored “…Adler’s contributions to Celtic music and culture through his weekly program on Lyon College’s internet radio station, KILT, and recognized the KILT production team’s success in creating engaging podcasts for the campus and public audiences alike,” said a Lyon College release announcing the double wins.
“Winning this award is a tremendous honor and a tribute to the beauty and depth of Celtic music,” said Adler. “Through ‘Celtic Crossroads,’ I’m able to share the music and stories of our heritage with people from all walks of life, and it’s rewarding to see the passion resonate with listeners. I’m incredibly grateful to Lyon College, the Arkansas Podcast Collaborative, and all our listeners for their support.”
The release said “Celtic Crossroads” has gained a devoted following with Adler’s eclectic and insightful approach to showcasing Celtic music from around the globe since debuting in January.
“His dynamic hosting style and knowledge of Celtic heritage and music have made the show a favorite among fans of the genre,” Adler is quoted as saying in the release.
“Celtic Crossroads” is made possible in part by a generous gift from the estate of Robert Lewis Campbell, The Duke of Earle, and by the Scottish Heritage Program at Lyon College.
In addition to his podcasting achievements, Adler is an accomplished bagpiper and a proud member of the Lyon College bagpipe band. He regularly performs at events and services across the United States, sharing the rich sound of the bagpipes and promoting Scottish heritage to diverse audiences.
Jimmy Bell, director of Scottish Heritage at Lyon College, praised Adler’s dedication to promoting Celtic heritage.
“Kenton’s work on ‘Celtic Crossroads’ exemplifies the spirit of Lyon College’s commitment to preserving and sharing Scottish culture,” Bell said. “This award reflects his enthusiasm and expertise, which have made a real impact on listeners and on our community. We’re proud of his accomplishments and look forward to more great programming.”
Dr. Radek Szulga, associate professor of economics and KILT adviser, praised Adler and the KILT team for their accomplishments.
“In addition to ‘Celtic Crossroads,’ KILT Studios produces several other podcasts, including ‘Career Pathways,’ which highlights career development insights, and ‘Psych’d,’ a student-led exploration of psychological topics,” Dr. Szulga said. “Over the years, KILT has been home to nearly 50 different shows, with topics ranging from music to sports to storytelling.”
Patrick Lynch, director of the Lyon College Center for Career and Professional Development and host of “Career Pathways,” expressed his pride in the KILT team.
“Dr. Szulga and I are so proud of our entire KILT Studios team – Jayson Nichols, Cheyenne Anderson, Gavin Brunson, Tyrese Hargove, Hannah Farrar, Hanna Young and Cari Meeks. They have created some great podcasts and have opened the door for future Lyon students to create their own podcasts,” Lynch said.
“I’m so grateful for the amazing team that we have built at KILT. I am so proud of myself to begin with for the countless hours of computer struggles, podcast corruptions and recording failures that I overcame to help shape KILT into what it is today,” said producer Jayson Nichols, a sophomore at Lyon College.
“When I first started working at KILT I was determined to leave a footprint at Lyon that would allow the school to acknowledge the amazing work and creativity of the students who want to express themselves throughout the world of podcasting, and right now I feel we are on track to leave a footprint at Lyon larger than any faculty, staff or student could’ve imagined,” Nichols said.
The Arkast Awards are part of the APC’s mission to empower local podcasters. Founded in 2023 as a nonprofit, the APC supports and promotes Arkansas’s podcasting community through training, networking, and resources to help podcasters succeed. The annual ARKAST festival celebrates podcasting culture in Arkansas, bringing together creators and listeners alike.
To listen to “Celtic Crossroads” and other KILT podcasts, visit the KILT Studios YouTube channel at youtube.com/@KILTStudios1. Listeners also are invited to join the “Celtic Crossroads” Facebook Group for show updates, artist highlights and community discussions.
Image provided by Lyon College
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