Maker Sessions
Dive into scores of talks, workshops, and audio manifestos offering wisdom on everything from production skills to journalistic ethics from the best audio producers and makers on the planet.
These Are a Few of Dean Olsher's Favorite Things
Arthur Godfrey had it. So did Bob and Ray. And Ken Nordine has it, too. "It": the magical quality that makes you feel they're talking to you and you alone.
- 2003
- 01:02:21
The Sound of Breaking News
You’re sent to cover breaking news – a natural disaster or a large-scale accident or crime. You don’t have much time, or much warning. How do you bring back sound-rich, interesting tape, that makes listeners perk up their ears?
- 2016
- 01:15:56
The Bigness of the Small Story
From the 2016 Third Coast Conference... celebrated author, filmmaker and radio journalist Alex Kotlowitz talks about the power of a finely crafted intimate narrative.
- 2016
- 01:16:42
First Off... This is in Really Good Shape
In this session for editors - or anyone who wants to help someone else shape a story – Gimlet Media’s Jorge Just explores the delicate art of making good things better.
- 2016
- 01:28:46
Truth on Stage
When facts cannot plumb the depths, shall we lie? In this session, producers listen to and discuss radio documentaries that use fiction and dramatic elements to get to the truth.
- 2004
- 01:19:44
Human vs. Robot: How to track and still sound like your actual self
Great tracking is the difference between a piece that immediately moves you and one you immediately forget.
- 2017
- 01:30:04
Deadline Radio
Most producers and reporters spend their days "feeding the machine" -- cranking out short-form work on a daily, sometimes hourly deadline, with no time for second guesses. However, a lot of news coverage is formulaic and, frankly, dull.
- 2004
- 01:18:25
The Audible Picture Show
Matt Hulse presents short audio works by a diverse range of inventive audio artists and filmmakers, created specifically for "a darkened cinema."
- 2004
- 01:24:35
The Fact-checker
There’s an old journalism adage that says “if your mother says she loves you, check it out.” This American Life’s Christopher Swetala is the fact-checker who calls her to ask, and then let’s you know if it’s true… or not.
- 2017
- 01:36:40
Gen Next: Youth Producers Share Their Work - Part Two
It's common enough to learn about youth culture through the observations of experts and adults, but so much more intriguing to hear it straight from the hearts and minds of the teenagers navigating through their own worlds.
- 2004
- 01:21:09
Gen Next: Youth Producers Share Their Work - Part One
It's common enough to learn about youth culture through the observations of experts and adults, but so much more intriguing to hear it straight from the hearts and minds of the teenagers navigating through their own worlds.
- 2004
- 01:17:20
Voice
The three legs of the tripod of radio —- voice, text, and sound -— are interdependent, and all contribute to the "voice" of any radio piece. Independent producer Karen Michel presents work that demonstrates different styles of voice and discusses what makes each one unique.
- 2002
- 01:21:07
Points on a Curve: Radio in Its Own Time and Place
Alan Hall focuses on radio's capacity to evoke a sense of place that exists uniquely in a non-visual, linear dimension.
- 2001
- 01:07:14
Complicated Characters
Dov Charney, the founder and ex-CEO of American Apparel, built the company through his charisma and force of will...
- 2017
- 0
Chapter and Verse
A guide to constructing a serialized narrative from Julie Snyder, co-creator of Serial and former senior producer of This American Life . (NOTE: Audio will not be available.)
- 2016
- 0
How to Make Your Listener Levitate & Other Magic Tricks
You don’t want your audience to listen half-heartedly – you want them to be so deeply engaged, they’re a little surprised when they bump down to earth at the end.
- 2016
- 01:07:54
The Only Ten Words that Matter
What separates a “good” program from a “great” program is often the clarity of its vision: what is the show and who is it trying to speak to?
- 2016
- 01:01:26
Under the Skin: Making Audio Visceral
Can a documentary make you dance? Turn you on? Make you jump in fear? We get under the skin of documentary's visceral possibilities, exploring how we edit to impact the listener's body as much as their mind.
- 2016
- 56:21
Embrace the Chaos
The world of podcasting has become a crowded one. With a bevy of competing styles and purviews, having a unique voice is an increasingly valuable commodity... both artistically and financially.
- 2016
- 01:27:15
Blockbuster Sound
Danish-based producer Tim Hinman, of the podcast Third Ear, finds inspiration for his exquisite sound design at the movies, and in this session he shares how it’s done.
- 2016
- 01:20:32
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
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
These Are a Few of Jacki Lyden's Favorite Things
Jacki Lyden has been an NPR contributor and host for more than two decades, reporting on vital issues at home and abroad and winning numerous awards for her work.
- 2004
- 01:23:47
Explaining the World in Four Minutes
When David Kestenbaum tells people he covers science for NPR, they often say something like "it must be hard explaining such complicated ideas in such a short amount of time!" Well, it is.
- 2005
- 01:11:34
Just Listen to Yourself
A bad editor is a curse. Having a good editor is a blessing but can often be a luxury. Deborah George explains how to work effectively with the editor you've been dealt and how to be your own editor if you don't have one.
- 2008
- 01:16:31