Sound School Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Show The Girls The Snakes May 17, 2016

Show notes

Three early pieces from The Kitchen Sisters circa 1980, stories sparked by mistakes and chance encounters. Their DIY approach is inspired.

First-Person Reporting Apr 19, 2016

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Sean Corcoran is a reporter's reporter. Straight-forward. Unbiased. Ethical. So why did he break some of his own rules on a story about opiate addiction?

Still More Buried Treasures: Student Work Apr 05, 2016

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Two more classics from Rob's vault of student-produced stories including one from 2003 by NPR's Gregory Warner, long before he became the network's east Africa correspondent.

Tinkering With Sound Design Mar 22, 2016

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How does your brain react when you drive through an intersection? Martine Powers answers that question and explains her clever sound design in her story "Driving In Circles."

Producing Personal Pieces Mar 08, 2016

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It's rare when a reporter turns the mic on themselves. Stephanie Foo's essay "The Favorite" for This American Life is an excellent example of why it should happen more often.

What Do You Do When The Rooster Dies? Feb 23, 2016

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When an interviewee is too nice, getting what you need as a reporter can be a challenge. Monika Blackwell relates how she navigated the "reporter/subject relationship" (& death of a rooster) during a Transom Traveling Workshop in the Virgin Islands.

Should I Or Shouldn’t I: Recording In Stereo Feb 09, 2016

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Rob and his guest, audio engineer Flawn Williams, attempt to answer the question: Should I record in stereo?

Magical Realism In Radio Jan 26, 2016

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Here's something you don't hear very often when talking about radio documentaries: magical realism. Producer David Weinberg talks about how he used magical realism in his doc "Grace of the Sea."

Interviewing With Your Skeptical Brain Jan 12, 2016

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Transom Story Workshop student Sally Helm talks with Rob Rosenthal about learning the value of being skeptical and pushing back during interviews. Also featured in this episode, her excellent story about the 1977 Martha's Vineyard secession movement.

Frank Langfitt’s Unusual Voicing Method Dec 29, 2015

Show notes

Reporter Frank Langfitt shares a surprising trick for sounding natural while narrating radio stories.