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.

The Invisible Narrator

This session explores "found narration" - archival tape, interviews, audio diary entries - and sound that can all be used to perform the job of the narrator. What do you gain and what do you give up when you throw away the script?

  • 2006
  • 01:17:32

Bring Extra Batteries

Attention new producers! Before heading out into the world with headphones on and mic facing forward, what do you need to know? Here's where you find out.

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 Tyranny of Good Talkers

Often, the first question a show or editor will ask you when you pitch them an amazing story is whether your subject is "a good talker."

  • 2017
  • 01:36:12

Bringing Together Narrative and News

The Daily podcast has brought rich sound production and narrative storytelling together with daily news and New York Times journalism.

  • 2017
  • 01:38:46

Stand Tall

The best "real time" radio sounds live and spontaneous, but requires forethought and structure. This session focuses on how to do "stand up" in the field -- what works and what doesn't.

  • 2007
  • 01:18:03

She Launched Channel Zero

In a time when commercial interests continue to stake a claim to audiences' attentions on the Internet, artists continue to explore the narrowcast as a vehicle for simultaneously cultivating an audience and developing a body of work.

  • 2007
  • 01:21:35

Secrets, Whispers, and Lies: Crafting a Personal Documentary

Everyone's telling their story these days –- in blogs, podcasts, on YouTube. But what makes one story a yawn or self-indulgent and another one compelling? How do you tell a personal story as a radio documentary?

  • 2007
  • 01:32:25

Options and Futures: Teenagers on the Radio -- Part Two

Listen in as teen producers from around the country present a survey of their work, with bonus features: the sounds they love to listen to, with commentary on why, and tape that didn't make the final cut in production, with commentary on why not.

  • 2007
  • 01:29:25

Options and Futures: Teenagers on the Radio -- Part One

Listen in as teen producers from around the country present a survey of their work, with bonus features: the sounds they love to listen to, with commentary on why, and tape that didn't make the final cut in production, with commentary on why not.

  • 2007
  • 01:23:31

Making a Scene: The Use of Verite to Show, Not Tell, Your Story

A well-crafted scene, heard on the radio, opens a window onto a new world and allows the listener to fly right in. Claire Schoen explores the process of creating scenes -- showing real people living their lives -- for an audio documentary.

  • 2007
  • 01:34:06

With a Bird's Eye

Flying across the last 50 years of international feature production is like looking out of an aircraft at night. Looking down you see the illuminated cities, the many shining villages, but far more than everything else you see the sparkling spots of individual talent.

  • 2007
  • 01:25:14

The Amazing Radio Vertikalisator

Inspired by a Lego time machine her son built, Iceland-based independent producer Rikke Houd created a tool to help producers take advantage of the vast space radio offers.

  • 2014
  • 01:10:25

Finding Your Visual Voice

How do you take your storytelling instincts and translate them into the land of photography?

  • 2014
  • 01:31:43

Three Shows/Three Techniques

NPR reporter Alix Spiegel incites a riot among audio producers... in praise of stealing others' storytelling techniques and adapting them to create a style of one's very own.

  • 2014
  • 01:13:20

Found in Translation

Someday they'll figure out how to make radio with subtitles.

  • 2010
  • 01:16:54

"In the Moment" Radio

Up a tree. Circling a mountain. Hitchhiking down a dusty road.

  • 2010
  • 01:29:07

Small + Big = Dynamite

Back in 2009, one German documentary won both of Europe's most coveted radio prizes – the Prix Italia and the Prix Europa.

  • 2010
  • 01:35:39