FRISCO, TEXAS – In recent years, podcast culture has skyrocketed, leading many to believe that anyone can pick up the microphone. However, with an influx of podcasts on just about any topic, it’s easy to lose authentic and informed opinions. For Centennial seniors Naomi Adigwe and Saige Tanner, this is not the case.
Their new podcast, The Psych Files: Saige and Naomi’s Take, branches into a new field in the podcast community: pop culture and the psychology behind it, with fresh ideas and takes reinforced with research.
While the podcast’s first episode aired on Sept.13, the original idea was sparked toward the end of the 2024-2025 school year. Wanting an outlet to share her voice, Adigwe originally planned to write a book, so she pitched the idea to her long-time friend, Tanner. However, it was Tanner’s insight that transformed the theoretical book into a podcast, and what was once a solo project quickly became a duo.
“Because when she [Adigwe] originally said the idea, I was like, ‘okay, that’s really good,’ but then she was kind of like, ‘Yeah, but I don’t know if I should do this or do something else?’ That’s when I peeped game,” Tanner shared.
Adigwe added her own perspective.
“We talk a lot just in general. If you listen to just five minutes of our FaceTime call, we’re talking about anything under the sun,”
Being such great friends, conversation between the pair flows easily, but the duo understood the importance of structure when handling delicate and sometimes controversial subjects.
“So it took a lot of researching on how to get it up. You always see podcasts… but you never think about what goes on behind the scenes. So, we had to take initiative and watch YouTube videos and watch tutorials on how to actually make our idea come to life,” Adigwe shared
When putting together an episode, the girls begin by researching their topic, and from there, they can build the episode outline. With these outlines, they can keep the conversation structured and factual while not sounding completely scripted. The pair typically uploads on Wednesdays and Saturdays with a fresh topic to discuss. Topics that they base on their own interests and the conversations they have.
“It’s whatever we’re interested in. It’s kinda of random in that way. We have an idea, we think about that idea, and if it works, we use it, and if it won’t, we’ll scrap it,” Adigwe said. “Yeah, we just think of random things, and we’re like, can we talk about this and take it to the next level, or can we talk about it and just graze upon the service,” Tanner added.
The Psych Files: Saige and Naomi’s Take is innovative, insightful, and a great listen for those interested in psychology and current events. Each episode is filled with laughs accompanied by great points, and the passion in this project is apparent to listeners. The duo’s work isn’t done yet, and they are filled with aspirations and high hopes for the future.
“For right now, we still feel like we have to say. So until we feel like we’ve met where we want to go, that’s probably when we’ll start to phase out of here,” Adigwe shared.
Listeners can keep up with Adigwe and Tanner on Instagram at @thepyschfilespod, and the pair is developing a TikTok. All episodes of The Psych Files: Saige and Naomi’s Take are available on Spotify and will soon be available on Apple Podcasts as well.
