This class will give you the chance to try your hand—and voice—at telling the kinds of stories you love to listen to on This American Life, Radiolab, and other great podcasts. We’ll cover the basics of technical production as well as the craft of audio storytelling. How is writing for the ear different from writing for print? How does Ira Glass conduct such compelling interviews? What kind of stories can best- or only- be told through sound?
Over the course of six weeks, you’ll workshop two short audio pieces. Along the way, you’ll practice pitching, recording, narrating, editing, and using music and other found-sounds. We’ll also do in-class audio exercises to experiment and play with the medium, listen to and discuss the creative choices of other audio makers, and read essays (and a graphic novel) about the art of sonic storytelling.
This course welcomes all kinds of storytellers, from poets to memoirists to journalists. No technical background in audio required, just an interest in learning the basics of editing software!
Aubrey Calaway is a freelance audio producer and writer. She has worked as the executive producer on The Brightline Podcast and Riskland/Riesgolandia, as well as published audio essays for outlets like Black Mountain Radio, the Climate One Podcast, and WMPG. She received a graduate certificate in Radio & Podcasting from the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies.