Revisiting: Nausea and Forehead Mics - Reporting in Zero Gravity

Revisiting: Nausea and Forehead Mics - Reporting in Zero Gravity

Author: Rob Rosenthal/PRX/Transom.org May 5, 2026 Duration: 20:10
Almost every reporting trip has its pitfalls. Andrew Leland's story for Radiolab in 2022 had more than most including nausea, flying in the equivalent of zero gravity, and his blindness. On this encore episode of Sound School, Andrew lays out how he navigated it all. 

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
Old School Sound School – Concerning Breakfast [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:34
Whatever happened to handing tape decks to people so they can document their lives? These "radio diaries" offered an intimacy unavailable to most reporters. A perfect example is Annie Cheney's "Concerning Breakfast," pro…
Old School Sound School – 9/11 and The Sonic Memorial Project [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:36
Sound School is launching a new series, Old School Sound School featuring classic and rare documentaries 20-plus years old. The series begins by marking the 25th anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center in Sep…
Coming Soon: Old School Sound School [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:19
Rob has a small but mighty collection of old audio documentaries on CDs. And even more audio files crammed on his computer. "Bazillions," he says, "and it's time share the ear candy!" In September, Rob's launching a seri…
Revisiting: Remember to Breathe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:56
A breath may seem like the most insignificant detail in an audio story. But, actually, the opposite is true. For proof, all you have to do is listen to stories where the breaths are cut out. On this episode of Sound Scho…
Sounds Cool! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:58
Sounds Cool!
Elizabeth Arnold — Have Mic, Will Travel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:11
"(An) unstoppable, one-of-a-kind reporter." That's how NPR reporter Elizabeth Arnold is described in her recent obituary. Hear what that means in a story she reported at the North Pole, where she says "Nature doesn't wan…
Meditating with Platypuses, Penguins, and Wombats [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:41
Nocturnal Worlds is certainly a curious podcast. A unique mix of science, nature, meditation, and lush soundscapes from Audiocraft, an Australian production company. Why mix science education and meditation? Olivia O'Fly…
Deploy This One Tiny Maneuver to Improve Audio Essays [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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…
Witness to an Execution [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:27
How powerful can audio storytelling be? So powerful that distraught listeners stand-up, wave their arms, and yell "Turn it off! Turn it off!" That's how good the documentary we're featuring on Sound School is.
Jad and FayFay Talk "Fela Kuti: Fear No Man" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:52
Jad Abumrad and FayFay Odudu, drop some valuable audio storytelling reporting and production insights on the latest episode of Sound School. Jad and FayFay recently earned a Peabody Award for "Fela Kuti: Fear No Man," th…