
Sound School Podcast
The Backstory to Great Audio Storytelling, hosted by Rob Rosenthal, for Transom and PRX.
Latest episodes

Apr 9, 2024 • 23min
Thanks, NPR. That Was Satisfying.
NPR reporters discuss shifting radio styles, storytelling in journalism, lambing season at Plow and Stars Farm, and the emotional impact of Gaza's historic site destruction. Moments of spontaneity, humor, and poignant storytelling highlight the podcast.

Mar 26, 2024 • 15min
The Um, A Deep Dive
Talia Augustidis noticed her boyfriend 'ummed' when lying, sparking a 'radio story' deep dive. Importance of 'ums' in conversations explored, authenticity in speech emphasized. Pitch for BBC podcast transformed into intimate narrative, reflecting honesty nuances. Symbolic significance of boyfriend's arms in artwork discussed, creative process influenced by Rick Rubin.

Mar 12, 2024 • 19min
Revisiting: Should I or Shouldn’t I — Recording in Stereo
Former NPR engineer Flawn Williams discusses the benefits of stereo recording over mono, showcasing examples of immersive sound experiences. The podcast explores stereo recording techniques, a documentary on prison boxing, trends in field reporting, and personal insights on production work.

Feb 27, 2024 • 51min
Small, Random, and Meaningful
Exploring short, creative sound portraits in podcasts. Delving into stories from the ultra-conservative Jewish community in Brooklyn and the struggles of balancing tradition with personal choice. Reflecting on Virgo zodiac signs, self-adaptation, and embracing identity post-autism diagnosis. A chaotic cat rescue mission and a comedic account of cat theft mishaps.

Feb 13, 2024 • 18min
For the Love of Radio, Get Out of the Studio!
In honor of World Radio Day this week, The Sound School Podcast is celebrating with a story that exemplifies the power of radio to evoke striking images — a story reported from a remote hillside in Slovenia.

Jan 30, 2024 • 20min
A Triple Whammy
Katz Laszlo says writing and tracking for herself is complicated enough. But it's an even greater challenge writing for and tracking with the two co-hosts of The Europeans podcast. Katz lays out how she and the hosts wrangle it all on the latest Sound School.

Jan 16, 2024 • 24min
Tracking Partners
The podcast explores a tracking session for a narration about Prime Minister Maurice Bishop's execution and the invasion of Grenada, with discussions on the emotional journey of creating a creative project, enunciation techniques, and the collaborative script writing process.

5 snips
Jan 2, 2024 • 42min
Revisiting: Goldstein on Writing, Fonts, and The Goldstein
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.

Dec 19, 2023 • 12min
Which Is the Better Open?
Rob takes himself to task on this episode. He felt the beginning of the last episode of Sound School was so boring, he rewrote it. Compare the old version with the new version be sure to tell us at Transom which is the better open.

Dec 5, 2023 • 20min
Reporting Out at the Edge
Theo Greenly reports for a public radio station in the far-flung Aleutian Islands in Alaska. When he started, about two and a half years ago, he thought he'd hit the ground running reporting in-depth, documentary-style pieces. Instead, he learned he really needed to get his bearings first and just report the news. His stories about how to report -- and navigate all the transportation challenges -- in such a remote location are fun and insightful.