Student Life

Terrier Travels Podcast Gives Candid Advice About Studying Abroad

Produced by BU Study Abroad, episodes ditch the written FAQs for audio-driven storytelling with application and financial tips—and honest student stories

For Boston University students, the idea of studying abroad can come with a mountain of questions and anxiety. Now, a new multimedia initiative from the Study Abroad office aims to cut through the noise. 

Terrier Travels, a podcast launched on Spotify in November 2025 during International Education Week, helps students prepare for their international semesters by swapping text-heavy FAQs for audio-driven storytelling.

According to Yessenia Valencia, senior manager of university relations and campus outreach at Global Programs, the intention was to create a resource that connects with students more than typical information sessions. “It’s something more permanent that students can refer to as they go through any point in the study abroad experience,” Valencia says. 

Thang Ly (CAS’26) has hosted the podcast since its debut. He notes that the audio format seamlessly fits into a busy student’s schedule. “They can just listen to the episodes while getting ready in the morning, going on a walk or a run,” Ly says.

Terrier Travels currently has 11 episodes covering topics ranging from financial aid to the application process to and budgeting. 

However, Ly says, the heart of the podcast is its “Student Stories” episodes. These segments feature interviews with study abroad alumni who have traveled to places such as London, Shanghai, and Venice. According to Ly, these episodes offer a deep dive into the students’ daily life abroad and cover everything from “their academic course load to their social life to them working and navigating a nine-to-five for the first time.”

Ly, who has studied abroad five times, says that honesty is the podcast’s most important policy. “I always try to keep it as candid and real and honest as possible,” he says. “It’s not always going to be us hyping up the programs, because we need to talk about the realities of studying abroad.” He tells his guests, “You guys can say whatever you want.” 

Ly’s passion for the podcast stems from his background as a first-generation, low-income student. Initially, he was worried that studying abroad would not be possible for him, but with resources from BU Study Abroad, he achieved his dream. 

After the first time he went abroad, Ly found the experience transformative. “I realized, wow, I can really exist anywhere,” he says. “I gained a lot of confidence in knowing that if I can do it here, I can do it anywhere.” 

Valencia, who has worked closely with Ly since the podcast’s initial stages, affirmed his honesty philosophy. She says that, while some students have a near-perfect experience, it is equally important to highlight those who don’t, in order to improve the study abroad programs. Moreover, documenting challenges can help students learn something new, she says. 

“Even unexpected or negative aspects of your semester abroad can still really help you learn something,” Valencia says. “Students might redirect their intentions in a workplace or realize what they truly want from their future careers.”

As the initiative grows, the office has featured a wide range of perspectives on Terrier Travels, including staff members on site and even an RA who helped with dorm and housing abroad. 

Although Ly just graduated, he says BU Study Abroad plans to continue producing episodes during the fall 2026 semester with a new host. “I would love other students, especially first-gen students, to know that they can exist anywhere they want to,” he says. “And that they can be in spaces that usually are not afforded to them.”