Deploy This One Tiny Maneuver to Improve Audio Essays

Deploy This One Tiny Maneuver to Improve Audio Essays

Author: Rob Rosenthal/PRX/Transom.org June 16, 2026 Duration: 17:10
Cloe Axelson, a senior editor at WBUR, was feeling like the essays she produced that were written by listeners weren't sounding conversational enough -- until she deployed this one simple trick. It's a trick any producer could use to help narrators sound more like themselves.

Ever wonder how your favorite audio stories are actually put together? Sound School Podcast pulls back the curtain, offering a rare and detailed look at the craft behind compelling narrative audio. Host Rob Rosenthal, drawing from his work with Transom and PRX, doesn’t just play finished pieces; he breaks them down with the producers and editors who made them. You’ll hear the early drafts, the interview clips that didn’t make the cut, and the pivotal editorial choices that shaped the final story. Each episode feels like a candid workshop, dissecting the techniques of pacing, scoring, and interviewing that transform raw tape into emotional journeys. This isn't about abstract theory-it's a practical, behind-the-scenes examination for anyone curious about the how and why of audio production. Whether you're an aspiring creator or simply a dedicated fan of the medium, this podcast provides an invaluable education in the meticulous, often unseen, work that goes into great storytelling. Tune in for honest conversations about what works, what doesn’t, and why the process itself is as fascinating as the finished product.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Sound School Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Asking Dad Dicey Questions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:13
Zach Mack really put it to his father. For "Alternate Realities," a series from NPR's "Embedded" podcast, Zach asked his dad pointed questions about the conspiracy theories he believes in that are driving a wedge into th…
Writing Makes All the Difference: The Episode Handshake [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:04
There's a reason why serialized podcast episodes often start with "Last time on (insert name of podcast)" followed by a montage of quotes. It works. It's an effective way to help bring a listener back into a story. But i…
Revisiting - A Trip to the Dentist [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:50
A dear friend of Transom and all creative audio producers passed way last month -- Larry Massett. This episode of Sound School joins the chorus of voices on Transom marking Larry's passing. Rob presents "A Trip to the De…
Writing Makes All the Difference, Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:22
I don't care how much good tape you have. I don't care if the scoring and mixing are superlative. I don't care if the narrator is a solid storyteller. If a story lacks strong writing, the story will fall flat. Great writ…
Revisiting: My Kingdom for Some Structure [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:46
You've got all the good tape you need. Now what? How do you structure the story? Bradley Campbell has a few suggestions. He sketched them -- on cocktail napkins!
Champions of Old Radio [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:11
Take a short walk into deep radio history. Julia Barton and Sarah Montague join Rob to talk about two audio storytelling classics from the 1930s: "Seems Like Radio Is Here to Stay," an homage to radio by Norman Corwin, a…
Beware the Chicken Bomb [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:15
The best way -- sometimes the *only* way -- to describe an element in a story that is disruptive and distracting for listeners is this: chicken bomb. This year, 2025, is the 20th anniversary of "chicken bomb" entering th…
Amen, Chenjerai (Bonus Episode) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:38
In this bonus episode, Rob takes his conversation with Chenjerai Kumanyika one step further. He digs in a bit more to the big question from the last episode: Who is the "you" telling this story now?"