A year of sound 📻

Audio lessons to be grateful for

Welcome to The Audio Storyteller: tips and ideas for audio producers. Subscribe to get the full list of jobs, courses and other fun stuff straight to your inbox.

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Hi there audio storytellers, 

As 2020 mercifully draws to a close, I’m reflecting on a year in audio. Silver linings are tricky business, but the fact is: I have a good deal to be grateful for. 

I’ve spent the year filling my ears with stories and sound. I feel like I’ve been to more classes and workshops than during my undergrad. I’ve ‘met’ audio producers from across the world, collaborated with people in different cities. I’ve had access to ideas, lessons and conversations that I wouldn’t have had if it weren’t for our collective existence on Zoom. 

I wanted to share a few of the resources that have inspired and educated me most throughout 2020… 

🧡 Community: if there’s one thing that’s helped me the most this year, it’s radio listservs. Love being part of these supportive hiveminds, whether we’re sharing gigs or gripes about ProTools. See also: audio/podcasting Facebook groups, Slacks etc.  

📝 Training: there’s been a wealth of organisations offering training and workshops in 2020 — many of them for free. It’s been such a gift to hear the wisdom of some very clever audio pros. Special shout-out to AIR for their webinars (highly recommend becoming a member), and of course the life-changing (not exaggerating) Transom. 

🎨 Creativity: a few voices this year inspired me to think more imaginatively when it comes to the potential of sound. Including: Ariel Mejia, who said she likes to think of audio as paint in this Scripps series on the future of audio; Here Be Monsters and their surreal sound poetry; and pretty much everything on Short Cuts, but especially the Miniatures ep. 

🎵 Music: thinking of music as integral to a podcast. Misha Euceph talks here about collaborating with composers to distinguish a show. She points out that TV and film use scores to set the mood, establish characters and make you feel something — while podcasting has barely scratched the surface. I’ve used Epidemic and Blue Dot Sessions for music this year, and I’m working on a list of composers I love (hmu with any suggestions!). 

✨Intuition: this seems to be the advice I keep hearing and returning to, whether it’s trusting your gut when cutting tape; really listening to interviewees; or following your curiosity in pursuing stories.

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🎧 What I was listening to

Thought I’d do something a bit different this time and share the shows that have impacted me most this year. 

🔊 Moonface: I don’t listen to that much fiction, but this was dazzling. Sharp writing, memorable characters, beautiful use of sound. 

🔊 You’ll Do: BBC podcast about real-life love: snappy concept, cheering conversations. 

🔊 No Feeling is Final: Honor Eastly’s staggeringly intimate memoir about her struggles with mental health. 

🔊 How I Found My Voice: insight into the personas and work of creatives, writers and public figures. Especially liked the Rose McGowan episode. 

🔊 How Sound: every episode teaches me something new about audio and the people working in it. 

🔊 Catch and Kill: Ronan Farrow’s podcast following his investigation into Harvey Weinstein boasts excellent writing and some heart-stopping tape. 

🔊 The Dream, season two: a masterclass in making a dense and potentially dry subject like the wellness industry vivid, alive and gripping. 

🔊 Dolly Parton’s America: this roaming, sound-rich adventure takes in feminism, country music, migration, #MeToo and everything in between. 

Thanks for your support of the newsletter this year! I’m always open to your suggestions and comments. And wherever you are, however you’re marking the end of the year, I hope you’re able to take some time for yourself...maybe with a brilliant piece of audio. 🎧🌟