Revisiting: Goldstein on Writing, Fonts, and The Goldstein
Jan 2, 2024
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Guest Jonathan Goldstein, podcast host and writer, discusses the challenges faced by the podcast industry in 2023, the significance of audio beyond monetary gain, the practice of taking color notes, a hidden family secret, the process of putting together a story, and humorous anecdotes about rental cars and Minnesota translation.
Jonathan Goldstein's unique writing style combines short sentences, vivid visuals, active verbs, and clever phrasing to engage listeners.
Goldstein emphasizes the importance of prioritizing meaningful storytelling over financial gains, and encourages podcasters to reflect on their motivations and the impact their stories can have on listeners and society.
Deep dives
Podcast layoffs and cancellations in 2023
The year 2023 was rough for podcast makers, with many layoffs and show cancellations among major podcast companies. Spotify, in particular, laid off 200 people from its podcast division and cancelled shows like Heavyweight and Stolen. These shows, hosted by Jonathan Goldstein and Connie Walker respectively, were highly regarded and had a significant impact on their audiences. The podcasting community was angered by these decisions, with figures like Adam Davidson expressing their frustration. The cancellations and layoffs raise questions about the value of podcasting and the importance of art, culture, trust, community, journalism, and democracy in audio storytelling.
The impact of personal storytelling in Heavyweight
Heavyweight, hosted by Jonathan Goldstein, is known for its endearing, profound, and surprising personal stories. Goldstein's unique writing style combines short sentences, vivid visuals, active verbs, and clever phrasing to engage listeners. The Marshes episode explores Jonathan's encounter with Steve Marsh, who shares a family secret about his long-lost sister. Goldstein skillfully sets the stage by describing Steve as a St. Bernard, capturing his larger-than-life persona in a warm and affectionate way. The story unfolds with callbacks and Goldstein's ability to infuse emotions and vulnerability into his narration. Through his storytelling, Goldstein navigates the complexities of human relationships and reminds us of the purity of young love.
Jonathan Goldstein's writing process and techniques
Jonathan Goldstein's writing process involves constant tinkering and playing with sentences to find the right flow and emotion. He admits to being obsessive in his editing and often experiments with different ways of expressing ideas. Goldstein prefers to wait until the end of the editing process to choose his favorite font, using it as a sign that the story is ready for tracking. His essayistic approach to storytelling allows him to focus more on narration than tape, though he still ensures a coherent structure. Goldstein believes in knowing the direction of a story to create an engaging experience for listeners and alleviate his own anxieties about storytelling.
The significance of storytelling and finding meaning in audio
Jonathan Goldstein emphasizes that storytelling in audio goes beyond mere entertainment. It can advance art, culture, trust, community, education, journalism, and democracy when done right. He challenges the notion that audio should solely be driven by profit and growth, suggesting that its value lies in its ability to evoke emotions, connect people, and reveal the human experience. Goldstein invokes the analogy of conservation land being purchased for the sake of a healthy ecosystem rather than profit, highlighting the importance of prioritizing meaningful storytelling over financial gains. He encourages podcasters to reflect on their motivations, values, and the impact their stories can have on listeners and society.
While there were many great podcasts released in 2023, no one will remember the year as a good one for the people who make podcasts. There were far too many layoffs and cancellations including a show dear to our radio hearts at Transom, Heavyweight, hosted by Jonathan Goldstein. In honor of the show and Jonathan's remarkable writing, Rob revisits his chat with Jonathan where they talked about process, fonts, and a writing maneuver they jokingly dubbed "The Goldstein."
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