The Critic and Her Publics Ben Calhoun: "Close Listening"
May 20, 2025
Ben Calhoun, the executive producer of The Daily, brings a wealth of experience from This American Life and Serial. He discusses the art of storytelling in daily podcasting, emphasizing the balance between engaging narratives and journalistic integrity. Listeners will delight in his amusing culinary investigations, revealing deeper themes of identity. Moreover, Calhoun shares insights on crafting humor in underdog stories, reflecting on the importance of authentic exchanges and the emotional power behind audio storytelling.
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Ben's Early Radio Passion
- Ben Calhoun fell in love with public radio at age 12 while listening to Terry Gross interview Ted Hawkins.
- He pursued radio passionately, even driving with no brakes while delivering pizzas to listen to This American Life episodes.
Categorizing Audio Genres
- Ben categorizes audio into news, polished nonfiction, chat, and miscellaneous avant-garde forms.
- This framing helps him navigate the jostling genres in the evolving audio landscape.
Hand Logging to Edit Audio
- Use hand-logged scripts to visually map audio with keywords and speakers for structure.
- Mark boredom, confusion, and pacing to fine-tune the story's flow during group editing.