To Broadcast Significant, Unconventional Student Thought at UVA
About Us
Coup de'Pod was formally born in the 2023 Fall semester when, after the recruitment of a select few co-hosts, episode production began. In the following months, a larger cohort of students was recruited. The group then appointed social media chairs, communications chairs, researchers, and a production crew. After receiving a slew of interest within the first month of organizational activity, we realized the grand potential of our project: to broadcast politically significant, sometimes unconventional, student thought throughout UVA Grounds and beyond. This was unique, especially for a new generation who wanted to go beyond the borders of partisan thinking - a generation that, for all their lives, have been spoken for rather than heard.
Over the course of the fall semester, we began to regularly release episodes, backed by the work of members actively participating in each journalistic report. In the spring semester, we once again began a recruitment cycle to grow our ever-expanding endeavor and were greeted with more eager, prospective members. Thus, that brings us to the current operation of our podcast. We continue to promote and preach the transformative power of the questioning of the status quo.
Meet the Team
Juliana (Juls) Paine
Codirector and Co Host for National Team
Juliana is a fourth year student at the University of Virginia, studying at the McIntire School of Commerce with concentrations in finance and marketing. She's from a small town located in southwest Virginia, where her favorite activities are to watch tractors, cow tip, and stalk the town's Facebook group to watch hot gossip go down in real time. Juliana is also the vice president and cofounder of Middle Grounds at UVA (a Bridge USA Chapter), which is funny because, like, shouldn't she be in some business related club? LOL! Juliana started Coup De Pod because she believes that student discourse on current events is a necessity, especially since most of the time people don't actually know what students believe, instead opting to disseminate blanket statements about a young, “doomed”, generation. She believes that, even though the apparent end of the world is approaching and nihilism is on the rise, these conversations between differing perspectives do, indeed, matter. Ruh roh.
Lily Bass
Codirector and Co Host for National Team
Lily Bass is a third year double majoring in English and Political Philosophy, Policy, and Law. She was born and raised in Washington D.C. and recently moved to the lovely Arlington, Virginia #InState. She has two English Springer Spaniels named April and June and she loves them more than life. Lily joined Coup De Pod because she loves talking and is sick and tired of all this fighting #IsSheRightOrIsSheRight? Lily also volunteers at the CASPCA and loves spending her time with the animals and cleaning their cages. She also is the social media chair for Middle Grounds at UVA and she makes really awesome posts for their instagram all the time. Lily is passionate about politics and having healthy and constructive conversations.
Nick Felsman
Co Host for short-form content
Nick is a first-year undecided student. He was born in Charlottesville and moved all over the world just to settle right back in Virginia. He has two dogs (alr that chill). Nick mains Rocket in the game Marvel Rivals - he just got Grandmaster (go Nick). He's going places. Nick is also a member of the amazing club middle grounds where he delves deep into interesting political topics with grace. Nick loves to wear his headphones on his head. Nick is currently in his winter arc (like an all-year thing?).
Jacob Rabin
Co Host for International Team
Jacob is a third year student at the University of Virginia, studying Foreign Affairs and History. He's from Raleigh, North Carolina, where he developed an interest in politics and foreign policy from an early age. Jacob is also a staff writer for the Virginia Review of Politics and the Virginia Journal of International Affairs, as well as serving as the Treasurer of Middle Grounds at UVA (a BridgeUSA Chapter). Jacob believes that a nuanced conversation on politics and foreign policy is incredibly important in an era of such polarization and controversy. He also thinks that we can learn much about the direction of the future by looking towards the past.
William "Berty" Avellar
Codirector and Researcher
Berty is a transfer student at University of Virginia seeking a bachelors in history. They're from Floyd, VA, famous for its bluegrass, music festival, and assorted trees - talking christmas trees! Berty transferred to University of Virginia from Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke, VA. They found the transition to be a bit of a shock at first but have come to love the beautiful scenery and palpable history on Grounds and in Charlottesville. In their spare time they like to read, write, hike, and go out with friends. On weekends you can either find them at home under a good book, or in DC at a gay-bar. Berty joined Coup de Pod because they felt empowered by the friendly atmosphere and inflamed by CDP's mission statement. In their time at CDP Berty feels privileged to have researched topics stretching from UVA's foreign investment to what role politics does and should play in the classroom - looking at topics from every angle and not shying away from the hard questions.
Josh Gao
Social Media Director
Josh is a third year student at the University of Virginia studying mathematics and computer science. He was born in upstate New York, a place that is renowned for not being New York City. In his spare time, he enjoys reading science fiction, practicing the cello, and playing rhythm games (ask him about osu!). Josh joined Coup de Pod because he believes in the power of humor and lighthearted-ness to make difficult, serious topics more accessible. In managing the social media accounts for the podcast, he has gained new perspectives on key issues surrounding UVA and U.S. politics as a whole. He hopes you apply to join Coup de Pod!
Henry Morris (Henry #1)
Producer and Director of Medium-Form Content
Henry Morris is a second-year Computer Science and Math student from Richmond, Virginia. After retiring from his Minecraft YouTube channel for a few years, Henry is excited to be a part of Coup de'Pod production team. He is passionate about computers and eager to work on editing and recording for Coup de'Pod. Henry works to make sure Coup de'Pod sounds clear and distinguishable. Outside of Coup de'Pod, He likes to play the cello, draw and paint, and learn languages (Italian at the moment).
Henry Becker (Henry #2)
Producer
Henry Becker is a third year majoring in Psychology and minoring in Philosophy. He is from Stafford, Virginia, a suburban town in NOVA. He is also a research assistant at the Virginia Affect and Interoception Lab (VAIL). As a producer at Coup de'Pod, Henry is excited to help facilitate political discussion on grounds.
