Third Coast Audio Library

Our vast and ever-growing collection contains thousands of carefully curated audio stories, episodes from Third Coast podcasts, educational sessions on craft from the best makers on the planet, and more.

We’ve also featured some incredible audio work beyond this audio library, in other ways and using other formats: don’t miss the 2021 Web Showcase, featuring a more in-depth look at the winners, judges and even a list of 40 finalists from the 2021 Third Coast/RHDF Competition.

Loose Tongues

Narrative deceptions, perverse fictions, audio portraiture: this conversation between feature-makers Natalie Kestecher and Susan Stone explores the interplay of story, character, and music, as well as the delights of creative ambiguity and communication in Kestecher's luminous, protean work.

  • 2003
  • 58:52

The Wonders of Narcissism

Let's face it: you're funny and cunning and smart and insightful; disarming, direct, and hopelessly attractive. Why not give the people what they want -- more you! Sure you're not what the story is about.

  • 2007
  • 01:20:54

The Diary of Leanne Wolfe

Leanne Wolfe, an 18-year-old schoolgirl in Cork, Ireland, committed suicide in March, 2007. On the morning of her funeral, her older sister Treena discovered Leanne's diaries.

Ear to Ear

David Isay and Dan Collison play excerpts of their radio documentary work and discuss specific challenges, triumphs, and surprises encountered while producing various stories.

  • 2001
  • 59:50

Taking Risks in Radio

Producing "outside the box" is a challenge to the formulaic landscape of public radio, whether you're producing a sound art parody or poetic essay or a show bent on surprising its listeners.

  • 2001
  • 01:27:40

D.I.Y. Radio

Do it yourself! This session is geared toward non-professionals and young people who want to learn more about telling stories for radio.

  • 2001
  • 01:03:27

New Voices in Radio

Who's talking to the next generation of public radio listeners? This session, moderated by Ellin O'Leary, turns the mic over to some of the young producers who are busy expanding the audio documentary form by bringing energy and fresh ideas to the world of radio.

  • 2001
  • 01:20:16

Keyboard Audio

This panel, moderated by Melissa Giraud, brings together two producers (Jay Allison and Elizabeth Meister) who were among the first in public radio and audio production to bring their innovation to the Internet, for a conversation about translating radio stories onto the Web and creating new art forms altogether.

  • 2001
  • 01:11:00

Making Waves: The Impact of Radio

In times of crisis the impact of radio coverage on peoples' lives is easy to assess. But day in and day out, how does radio touch the communities or subjects it portrays, and the audience it reaches?

  • 2001
  • 01:09:04

American Icons: The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald's tale of old money, new money, drinking, and adultery - a thin little book that critics panned - is still the best novel about the American Dream and its discontents.

2007 TC Audio Luminary: Peter Leonhard Braun

The Third Coast Audio Luminary Award is presented annually to an individual who is greatly admired for his or her significant and ongoing contributions to the field of radio. Hats off to the 2007 Audio Luminary - widely esteemed producer, teacher, and mentor Peter Leonhard Braun.

The Sonic Memorial Project

The Sonic Memorial Project is an intimate and historic documentary commemorating the life and history of the World Trade Center and its surrounding neighborhood, through audio artifacts, rare recordings, voice mail messages, and interviews.

Come Back to Afghanistan

In the summer of 2002, 17-year-old Hyder Akbar traveled from California with his father to their home country of Afghanistan. He took a tape recorder along on the trip to record his thoughts and experiences.

Talking Story

The Kitchen Sisters skillfully lead this panel about creative and unusual approaches and techniques for producing compelling radio stories, including what can be learned from other media, like television and film.

  • 2001
  • 01:00:09

Megaphone

How do documentary producers and artists address the most common issues in the news and shed new light on them?

  • 2003
  • 01:25:45

Once Upon a Time . . . The End

So, you've got your assignment. You've done your research, you've collected your tape, and now it's time (oh god) to write. In this panel discussion, moderated by Robert Krulwich, we examine the Everest and K-2 of story telling: How to Begin and (assuming you can get past that one) How to End.

  • 2002
  • 01:23:00

To Err (on the Air) Is Human

No one likes to make mistakes, but the difference between you (brilliant producer) and the guy next to you (average producer) is in learning how to use those mistakes to your advantage.

  • 2003
  • 01:13:12

The Music of Voices

Creative sound projects are increasingly blurring the lines between radio, audio documentary, sound art, and music.

  • 2003
  • 01:32:08