When Funny Points to Truth

When Funny Points to Truth

Author: Rob Rosenthal/PRX/Transom.org October 21, 2025 Duration: 24:49
Neena Pathak produced a very touching story about grieving the death of her father. She says the humor in the story wasn't uncouth. It was how she captured the truth. 

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: 100

Sound School Podcast
Podcast Episodes
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…
Keep the Universal in Mind for Local Stories [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:50
The story from Slovenia on this episode of Sound School is hyper-local -- so local, you might not catch all the cultural references. But, the reporter, Ajda Kus, says that's okay. The key to telling a great local story i…
Revisiting: A Stranger With a Microphone [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:51
When should a reporter turn around a leave? At what point do should they say "I won't report on these people. They need their space, not a stranger with a microphone." Jay Nathan faced that exact situation some years ago…
Revisiting: Who Are You As a Storyteller? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:14
Robert Krulwich, formerly of Radiolab, once said "how you write is basically who you are." It's a profound statement, a kind-of koan. It requires a little bit of thought. Krulwich can be that way. But, it leads to an ess…
Retreat! And Make Stories with Friends [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:11
"To play and to fail and to get to know each other and to celebrate the craft of making audio... What's better than that," Jasmin Bauomy asks. When inspiration struck, Jasmin put together a four-day audio retreat for abo…
We Do It For the Ears, Right? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:02
We tell stories in sound for many, many reasons. For our listener's hearts and minds. For community. For self-expression. For the democracy. For listener's ears. Yes. Their ears. On this episode of The Sound School Podca…
To Swear or Not to Swear in Narration [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:26
Say you're listening to a great narrative podcast. The host has really grabbed your attention and you're pulled in. Then, out of nowhere, the narrator swears. Not once. Not twice. But three times. Including f-bombs. Is t…
Gaining Access While Preserving Anonymity in Medical Settings [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:48
Patient privacy in medical settings is essential. So, how does a reporter convince a facility to let them in with a microphone and assure anonymity of the patient? Selena Simmons-Duffin has answers. She is a health polic…
Revisiting: Robot Babies and Radio Luck [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:44
There are four kinds of luck. Unlucky. No luck. Lucky. And radio luck. On this archive episode of Sound School, Hillary Frank digs into the *incredible* radio luck she encountered reporting a story about teens and their…
Revisiting: Magical Realism in Radio [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:38
David Weinberg pulls off a real radio feat mixing fantasy and reality in his documentary called "Grace of the Sea." In this archive episode, David explores the value of "magical realism" in audio storytelling.