What If the Main Character Narrates?

What If the Main Character Narrates?

Author: Rob Rosenthal/PRX/Transom.org January 13, 2026 Duration: 19:25
We're starting the new year with an antidote to 2025 -- two episodes featuring inspiring early-career producers. On this episode, 28-year-old Anna Van Dine from Vermont who deployed an unusual storytelling maneuver that Rob hasn't heard in years. 

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
Amen, Chenjerai [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:05
Chenjerai Kumanyika delivered the goods. Rob interviewed Chenjerai on stage at the recent On Air Fest where Chenjraie was passionate, animated, and electric as he talked about a question he sees as essential for anyone i…
Revisiting: The Longest Shortest Time [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:04
Just recently, Hillary Frank relaunched her popular podcast The Longest Shortest Time. This archive episode takes us back to Hillary's early days, when she was just finding her way in podcasting -- as we all were.
The Layered Approach - Interviewing for Scenes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:44
You want scenes in your story. But, reporting in the field isn't an option. What then? Simon Adler, a senior producer at Radiolab has an answer: interview for scenes using "the layered approach."
The Backstory to "Our Ancestors Were Messy" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:21
Nichole Hill pitched her show idea again and again. And, again and again, podcast companies said "no." But, that didn't stop Nichole. She said "I'm doing it myself!" Our Ancestors Were Messy, a podcast featuring hidden s…
All Hands On Deck - NPR and the Nixon White House [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:54
Just over 50 years ago, in 1974, NPR took to the airwaves for a 25-hour-broadcast that Rob thinks may be one of the most tedious recordings he's ever heard and one that was also an incredible broadcast service. What is i…
Revisiting: First, Tell Them an Anecdote [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:04
Rob's interview with Misha Euceph is one of his favorites. As he says, she's very clear, engaging, and insightful about the craft of audio storytelling. On this archive episode of the show from 2019, they discuss why Mis…
Dissection - Daniel Alarcón's Writing Maneuvers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:09
Let's state the obvious: Daniel Alarcón is a gifted writer. It's evident from the writing in "The Good Whale," the latest series from Serial that Daniel wrote and hosted. Rob put his writing under the microscope and hear…
Fingers Crossed, Twice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:31
Nothing seems guaranteed these days for creative audio makers. "Short Cuts" was recently cancelled and "Pretendians" is seeking funding for a second season, two shows on this episode of Sound School that are high on Rob'…
Please Keep WCAI Right Where It Is [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:08
WCAI, the public radio station for Cape Cod, has been told it needs to move -- to leave the home it broadcasts from. An actual home. A former captain's house. News that the house had been sold startled the station staff…