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.

ALL STORIES ARE STORIES ABOUT POWER: Radical narrative storytelling
Two moments are colliding: An oppressive politics of hate and repression, and a boom in narrative storytelling. So how do we use one to confront the other?
- 2025
- 01:31:51

Writing for the Ear to See
We make stories for the ear, but there’s no escaping the highly visual nature of the work we produce...
- 2025
- 01:08:25

Podcasting Without a Net(work) (Day 1)
Individual podcasters working with slim budgets and strained resources share how they create their best work while trying to grow audiences and raise money, often while holding down another full time job...
- 2025
- 58:35

These Are A Few Of Kaitlin Prest's Favorite Things
Kaitlin Prest, audio artist, radiophile, creator of The Heart with Radiotopia and The Shadows with CBC, talks about what has inspired her to push the boundaries of audio making...
- 2025
- 47:03

Who You Talkin' To? Audience & Your Authentic Voice
Come hang with journalists Leila Day and Hana Baba, co-hosts of The Stoop Podcast: stories from across the Black diaspora....
- 2025
- 01:37:32

Immersion Reporting: How to stay in one place and get deeper stories
Are you a reporter with the soul of a documentary-maker? Take a deep dive into a place or issue with immersive reporting...
- 2025
- 01:27:40

Tales of the Tools
New developments in both hard and software are making audio production much more affordable, flexible, and convenient.
- 2010
- 01:38:39

Audio in Space
Producing great audio experiences becomes challenging in entirely new ways when you go beyond the stereo field, and add the dimension of actual physical space (say, a person with an iPod in Central Park.)
- 2010
- 01:17:06

We'll Drive Till We Find An Exit
A session about the joy and fear of pursuing stories without any idea of how they're going to succeed, or if they're going to succeed at all.
- 2016
- 01:15:41

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

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

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

The Sounds Inside
In certain radio stories, sounds exist only in the mind of the storyteller and can't be physically recorded -- like dreams, memories, and predictions. How do you create a soundscape that brings "the sounds inside" to life?
- 2007
- 01:22:47

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

When and How to Sell Out
It's hard enough to pitch a story to a public radio show -- are you willing to risk rejection from a whole new set of people? Daniel Sternberg talks about taking all of your talents, training, and neuroses and applying them to the world of podcasting.
- 2007
- 01:13:52

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

Presenting the 2006 TCF ShortDocs: 99 Ways to Tell a Radio Story
For the 2006 ShortDocs Challenge, the Third Coast was inspired by and collaborated with cartoonist and illustrator Matt Madden.

These Are a Few of Robert Krulwich's Favorite Things
What inspires those who inspire us? Robert Krulwich reveals a few especially memorable pieces, presenting a sampler of radio stories that he adores, has learned from, and wants to share.
- 2006
- 59:35
- Robert Krulwich

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.
- 2006
- 01:33:11
- Rob Rosenthal

Die, Mediocrity, Die!
Do your own radio scripts ever bore you? Or frustrate, confuse, and deflate you?
- 2006
- 01:15:26

Let Your Sounds Do the Talking
So you're a great writer, and you've pretty much got interviewing down, but something's just... missing. Sound. The sounds we use and how we use them can say so much in a radio story, but often that potential goes untapped.
- 2006
- 01:11:58

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

Mission Possible: Finding Grants for Independent Productions
Nearly 68,000 foundations in the U.S. together give away more than $30 billion per year. So how can you get some of it?
- 2006
- 01:19:48

Radio Norway
Kari Hesthamar demonstrates the distinctive sound of Norwegian radio features by playing and talking about some of the most important elements of her own work -- creating small films for listeners' ears, capturing the true essence of a scene, and producing stories that come alive through the use of the present tense.
- 2006
- 01:30:25

The Sounds of Madness: A Survey of the Bizarre, the Unconventional, and the Just Plain Annoying
Kenneth Goldsmith explores the audio interstices between sound art, found sound, and the full gamut of noises that humans make.
- 2006
- 01:23:55