Sound Judgment

The episode discussed on today’s Sound Judgment: The Heist: https://apps.publicintegrity.org/theheist/Episode 2: Mnuchin's World was reported and hosted by Sally Herships. Our editor was Curtis Fox, with help from consulting editor Alison MacAdam and Center for Public Integrity’s Tax Project editor Allan Holmes. Production help from Lucas Brady Woods, Brett Forrest, Camille Petersen, and Ali Swenson. Theme music and original score by composer Nina Perry and performed by musicians Danny Keane, Dawne Adams, and Oli Langford. Engineer is Peregrine Andrews. The Heist is executive produced by Sally Herships and the Center for Public Integrity’s Mei Fong. Sound Judgment episodes mentioned in today’s episode:Snap Judgment's Glynn Washington: Lessons from a Master StorytellerBone Valley: How to Create a True Crime Podcast That Makes a DifferenceHow to Pitch an Audio Documentary and the Unusual Origin of a This American Life Story with Katie ColaneriEmotional Bravery on Last Day with Stephanie Wittels Wachs***About Sally Herships:Sally Herships is an award-winning freelance audio journalist and Director of the Audio Program at Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism. Recently she covered the pandemic and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for NPR’s National Desk. She's a frequent contributor to the “Indicator," a daily economics podcast from NPR's Planet Money Team. Her reporting has been included in multiple shows and outlets including the BBC, The New York Times, Morning Edition, All Things Considered, WNYC and Studio 360. The Heist, an investigative series examining President Trump’s 2017 tax bill, which Sally hosted and co-Executive Produced, was honored as a finalist for the 2022 DuPont awards. The judges wrote: “A forensic review of the 2017 Tax bill, The Heist managed to be both an informative and wildly entertaining”Connect with Sally on LinkedIn or Twitter or at https://www.sallyherships.com/***Subscribe to Sound Judgment, the Newsletter, our twice-monthly publication about creative choices in audio storytelling. Follow Elaine on LinkedInHelp us find and celebrate today’s best hosts!Who’s your Sound Judgment dream guest? Share them with us! Write us: allies@podcastallies.com. Because of you, that host may appear on Sound Judgment.***Work with us!We make original podcasts for NGOs, purpose-driven brands, and universitiesWe also offer podcast strategy and consulting servicesOr contact us about our public media and individual training services for content creators and on-air talentVisit podcastallies.com or email us at allies@podcastallies.com for more information. ***Credits Sound Judgment is a production of Podcast Allies, LLC. Host: Elaine Appleton GrantProject Manager: Tina BassirSound Designer: Andrew ParrellaIllustrator: Sarah Edgell Improve your storytelling Check out our popular workshops on interviewing, story editing, story structure, longform narrative, audience engagement, guesting, scriptwriting and more. Hire Elaine to speak at your conference or company. Subjects include: Effective Storytelling; Communicating for Leaders; Communicating about Change; Mastering the Art of the Interview; Success in Guesting, and much more. Discover our strategic communication services and coaching for thought leaders using storytelling tools to make the world a better place. Serving writers, podcasters, public speakers, and others in journalism & public media, climate change, health care, policy, and higher education. Visit us at www.podcastallies.com. Subscribe to Sound Judgment, the Newsletter, our twice-monthly newsletter about creative choices in audio storytelling. Connect:Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram✉️ Email Elaine at allies@podcastallies.com💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify 🗣️ Share the show by word of mouth and on your socialsHelp us find and celebrate today’s best hostsWho’s your Sound Judgment dream guest? Email me: allies@podcastallies.com. Because of you, that host may appear on Sound Judgment. Credits Sound Judgment is a production of Podcast Allies, LLC. Host: Elaine Appleton GrantPodcast Manager: Tina BassirProduction Manager: Andrew ParrellaAudio Engineer: Kevin KlineProduction Assistant: Audrey Nelson

The episode(s) discussed on today’s Sound Judgment: This American Life Episode 776, “I Work Better on Deadline.” Segment: “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Quorum.”Reporter: Sarah Gibson, NHPRProducer: Chris BenderevHow to be a great host: Katie’s takeaways: What are your holy shit moments? We need holy shit moments. What are those surprises – in the story, or about the people in your story – that make you say, “Wow, you’re never going to believe this!” Holy shit moments help get your pitch accepted – and they generate word of mouth.In your pitch, identify people – characters – who have high stakes and are in conflict with each other. Make sure you have access to them, too. Care about these people and frame your story through their eyes – in the This American Life story we dissected here, why it matters that one man imagines an eight-year-old breaking a violin, and another is terrified at the prospect of paying thousands to send his kid to a public high school. Snowshoes and violins make important things memorable. Issues alone do not.Here’s a three step pitch process for longform narrative: First, write a text-based pitch. This can be a short query letter or a full-fledged slide deck. Then, produce a sizzle reel. Use your best tape from whatever you’ve collected so far. If audio production isn’t your strong suit, ask for help. Finally, get feedback from friends or colleagues. Choose good storytellers or folks who have a great understanding of your potential audiences. Revise as necessary.Editors and program directors in public media have tough decisions to make about podcasts. Done well, they can grow your audience enormously. 96% of the NHPR Document feed’s audience is from outside New Hampshire (Katie corrected that figure post-production). But managed poorly, podcasts can rob newsrooms of talent and even hurt local news. As Katie says, the Daily News needs of the state are great. A longform project has to meet a high bar if we’re going to take a reporter out of the newsroom. The new greenlight process helps them decide how to vet story pitches and decide what’s worth listeners’ time - and reporters’ time. This process can help any newsroom, and any podcast network.About Katie ColaneriKatie Colaneri is the senior editor of New Hampshire Public Radio’s Document team, which produces longform narrative audio documentaries. The team’s most recent work includes season 2 of the acclaimed true crime podcast, Bear Brook. Before joining NHPR in February 2022, she was the assistant news director at WHYY in Philadelphia, where she helped lead the newsroom for about five years. During that time, Katie also grew the station’s podcast portfolio, launching a daily news podcast and leading production of the Peabody-nominated investigative series Half Vaxxed. Katie is a graduate of Wellesley College. Connect with Katie on LinkedIn Subscribe to Sound Judgment, the Newsletter, our twice-monthly publication about creative choices in audio storytelling. Share the show!Follow Elaine on LinkedInHelp us find and celebrate today’s best hosts!Who’s your Sound Judgment dream guest? Share them with us! Write us: allies@podcastallies.com. Because of you, that host may appear on Sound Judgment.Work with usWe make original podcasts for NGOs, purpose-driven brands, and universitiesWe also offer podcast strategy and consulting servicesOr contact us about our public media and individual training services for content creators and on-air talentVisit podcastallies.com or email us at allies@podcastallies.com for more information.    Credits Sound Judgment is a production of Podcast Allies, LLC. Host: Elaine Appleton GrantProject Manager: Tina BassirSound Designer: Andrew ParellaIllustrator: Sarah Edgell  Improve your storytelling Check out our popular workshops on interviewing, story editing, story structure, longform narrative, audience engagement, guesting, scriptwriting and more. Hire Elaine to speak at your conference or company. Subjects include: Effective Storytelling; Communicating for Leaders; Communicating about Change; Mastering the Art of the Interview; Success in Guesting, and much more. Discover our strategic communication services and coaching for thought leaders using storytelling tools to make the world a better place. Serving writers, podcasters, public speakers, and others in journalism & public media, climate change, health care, policy, and higher education. Visit us at www.podcastallies.com. Subscribe to Sound Judgment, the Newsletter, our twice-monthly newsletter about creative choices in audio storytelling. Connect:Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram✉️ Email Elaine at allies@podcastallies.com💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify 🗣️ Share the show by word of mouth and on your socialsHelp us find and celebrate today’s best hostsWho’s your Sound Judgment dream guest? Email me: allies@podcastallies.com. Because of you, that host may appear on Sound Judgment. Credits Sound Judgment is a production of Podcast Allies, LLC. Host: Elaine Appleton GrantPodcast Manager: Tina BassirProduction Manager: Andrew ParrellaAudio Engineer: Kevin KlineProduction Assistant: Audrey Nelson

Did you miss Part 1 of my conversation with Audio Branding's Jodi Krangle? Listen to it here. Takeaways from today's episode: 1. Imposter syndrome and the art of the interview When she started hosting, Jodi Krangle, who makes her living using her voice, had to overcome one big negative belief.  “I didn’t think I was a speaker of any kind!” she says. It was hard for her to speak her own words, believe she had something worth saying, and be passionate enough to get her thoughts across. That was all harder than she expected – but she persevered. All of this is learnable, and mindset is the first thing we often need to change.2. Why does sound matter?Let’s take a look at the advertising industry for some clues. They spend millions of dollars crafting the right sounds and voices. Why? Because they know that sound can create deeper connections with the audience. We don’t buy things because of logic, but because of emotion. Brands use sound to communicate something distinct, unique, and ownable – so how are you using audio to communicate just how special, and different, you are from the crowd? 3. Your sonic brand is worth millions.If you work for an organization or a brand, you may already have a podcast or be thinking about starting one. When you do, make sure your show not only integrates with the rest of your communications, but also that it’s as high quality as everything else you put out into the world. Audio creates a brand, just as much as your visuals do. Do you know we have a free Sound Judgment newsletter, full of guidance on how to make great creative choices in audio storytelling?Join subscribers from NPR, PRX,  PRPD, Stanford, Spotify and more. Subscribe here and become a more confident host, audio storyteller or producer today. If you want to know more about how sound influences our behavior and how creators in the audio branding world make their work,  follow Audio Branding. Both parts of this conversation are also running on Audio Branding. Thanks to Audio Branding editor Humberto Franco for his beautiful work in audio and video. To learn more about Jodi Krangle and connect with her, visit voiceoversandvocals.com.To watch shorts from this episode and other Audio Branding episodes, visit Jodi’s Youtube channel, JodiKrangleVO. Share this episode!Follow Elaine on Facebook | LinkedIn | InstagramHelp us find and celebrate today’s best hosts.Who’s your Sound Judgment dream guest? Share them with us! Write us: allies@podcastallies.com. Because of you, your favorite host may appear on Sound Judgment.For more information on Sound Judgment and Podcast Allies, our consulting, production and training company, visit us at www.podcastallies.com.Credits Sound Judgment is a production of Podcast Allies, LLC. Host: Elaine Appleton GrantProject Manager: Tina BassirSound Designer: Andrew ParellaIllustrator: Sarah EdgellWant to work with Elaine Appleton Grant or Podcast Allies? Visit the following for information on:Coaching  and workshops for individuals, public media, nonprofits and universitiesOnline courseProduction  Improve your storytelling Check out our popular workshops on interviewing, story editing, story structure, longform narrative, audience engagement, guesting, scriptwriting and more. Hire Elaine to speak at your conference or company. Subjects include: Effective Storytelling; Communicating for Leaders; Communicating about Change; Mastering the Art of the Interview; Success in Guesting, and much more. Discover our strategic communication services and coaching for thought leaders using storytelling tools to make the world a better place. Serving writers, podcasters, public speakers, and others in journalism & public media, climate change, health care, policy, and higher education. Visit us at www.podcastallies.com. Subscribe to Sound Judgment, the Newsletter, our twice-monthly newsletter about creative choices in audio storytelling. Connect:Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram✉️ Email Elaine at allies@podcastallies.com💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify 🗣️ Share the show by word of mouth and on your socialsHelp us find and celebrate today’s best hostsWho’s your Sound Judgment dream guest? Email me: allies@podcastallies.com. Because of you, that host may appear on Sound Judgment. Credits Sound Judgment is a production of Podcast Allies, LLC. Host: Elaine Appleton GrantPodcast Manager: Tina BassirProduction Manager: Andrew ParrellaAudio Engineer: Kevin KlineProduction Assistant: Audrey Nelson

We’re doing something different on this episode. Jodi and I interview each other – and discover some real similarities and big differences between voice acting & hosting. One of the biggest similarities: As hosts and voice actors, we need to communicate emotion authentically. That’s where the joy and the success lies – and where many of the problems do, too. Parts 1 and 2 of this conversation with Jodi Krangle are running on Sound Judgment and also on Audio Branding. Thanks to Audio Branding editor Humberto Franco for doing beautiful work in audio and video. Follow Audio Branding here.To learn more about Jodi Krangle and connect with her, visit voiceoversandvocals.com.To watch shorts from this episode and other Audio Branding episodes, visit Jodi’s Youtube channel, JodiKrangleVO. Subscribe to Sound Judgment, the Newsletter, our once- or twice-monthly newsletter that will help you make creative choices in audio storytelling. Join subscribers from NPR, PRX, PRPD, Stanford, Spotify and more. Share the show! Follow Elaine on LinkedInHelp us find and celebrate today’s best hosts!Who’s your Sound Judgment dream guest? Share them with us! Write us: allies@podcastallies.com. Because of you, your favorite host may appear on Sound Judgment.For more information on Sound Judgment and Podcast Allies, our consulting, production and training company, visit us at www.podcastallies.com.How to be a great host: Jodi Krangle’s takeaways1. Sound needs to change as culture changes. Remember the old movie trailers with The Voice of God? We don’t hear those much any more, and for a good reason. Younger generations experience sound in a very different way – they want to be shown what’s will be on the movie screen, for instance, not told to. They do not want to be sold to at all. So if we’re not hearing the Voice of God from voice actors any more, we’re also not wanting that newscaster, anchor voice – the Walter Cronkite voice – in journalism and podcasting, either. 2. Emotional context is what sound does for us.I was surprised to hear Jodi say, when she’s recording a commercial, for instance – “If I don’t have a movie or play going on in my head, it’s hard for the person listening to understand the emotion that’s coming across.” Storytellers, when you’re using a script, this is key to avoiding sounding like you’re reading. We need to embody what we’re saying.  3. Hosting is strategic. We need to start treating it that way. In the advertising industry, directors often make the mistake of tacking on voiceover at the end of a production, rather than thinking about it strategically from the beginning. Many folks in Jodi’s industry mistakenly believe voice acting is just standing at a mic and talking. That’s my pet peeve as well.  We should be thinking about hosting – and creating an intentional sound for our shows – at the beginning of the process, not throwing in a voice at the end. Hosting well is how you engage listeners, and hosting poorly can lose them. Tune in next week for Part 2, a bonus episode.  Credits Sound Judgment is a production of Podcast Allies, LLC. Host: Elaine Appleton GrantProject Manager: Tina BassirSound Designer: Andrew ParellaIllustrator: Sarah EdgellWant to work with Elaine Appleton Grant or Podcast Allies? Visit the following for information on:Coaching  and workshops for individuals, public media, nonprofits and universitiesOnline courseProduction   Improve your storytelling Check out our popular workshops on interviewing, story editing, story structure, longform narrative, audience engagement, guesting, scriptwriting and more. Hire Elaine to speak at your conference or company. Subjects include: Effective Storytelling; Communicating for Leaders; Communicating about Change; Mastering the Art of the Interview; Success in Guesting, and much more. Discover our strategic communication services and coaching for thought leaders using storytelling tools to make the world a better place. Serving writers, podcasters, public speakers, and others in journalism & public media, climate change, health care, policy, and higher education. Visit us at www.podcastallies.com. Subscribe to Sound Judgment, the Newsletter, our twice-monthly newsletter about creative choices in audio storytelling. Connect:Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram✉️ Email Elaine at allies@podcastallies.com💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify 🗣️ Share the show by word of mouth and on your socialsHelp us find and celebrate today’s best hostsWho’s your Sound Judgment dream guest? Email me: allies@podcastallies.com. Because of you, that host may appear on Sound Judgment. Credits Sound Judgment is a production of Podcast Allies, LLC. Host: Elaine Appleton GrantPodcast Manager: Tina BassirProduction Manager: Andrew ParrellaAudio Engineer: Kevin KlineProduction Assistant: Audrey Nelson

If you like this episode, you’ll also like Episode 3: Cinematic Storytelling with Crime Show’s Emma Courtlandand Episode 1: Emotional Bravery on Last Day with Stephanie Wittels Wachs. Scroll down for takeaways you can use from today’s show.  About the creatorsGilbert King and Kelsey Decker are the team behind Bone Valley, a groundbreaking, 9-episode true crime podcast from Lava For Good. The series explores the case of Leo Schofield, a man convicted of murder in a gross miscarriage of justice. King, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Devil in the Grove, and Decker, a producer with a background in sociology and oral history, came together in a four-year quest to peel back the layers of Schofield’s case, uncovering startling new evidence and chilling confessions that are a call to action for long-awaited justice and redemption.Takeaways from Gilbert King and Kelsey Decker1. Does your idea need to be told in audio? Bone Valley did.  As storytellers, we have many formats to choose from. So how do you know when your idea is well-suited to audio, versus a book, a film, or a video? As an author, King’s first instinct was to write a longform article about Leo Schofield’s case. But as soon as he and Decker talked with Leo, they realized that the story begged for audio. “The power of their voices made us pivot,” King says. “I don't think they would have been the same in print. I love the way their voices break and crackle and emote.”2. Start with a sound visionSecond, you may have noticed that King and Decker had a pretty clear “sound vision” for Bone Valley. I always remember producer John Barth saying, in episode 2, “You have to have a distinctive sound vision.” When he develops a new show, he imagines the kind of listener he wants to attract. That determines what the show needs to sound like. In Bone Valley, the two producers made sure to simply lay out fact after fact, so the listener couldn’t escape the conclusion or emotion. They used both sound design and language to create a work of narrative nonfiction and made sure not to sensationalize or cheapen the story. Furthermore, Decker could hear how the narration should sound in her head. She and other  producers directed King to voice the narration to match that sound. And sound designer Britt Spangler attended story conferences – and helped shape the scripts from the start.3. Podcasts are a team sportGilbert King won a Pulitzer for his book Devil in the Grove. So you might imagine he had nothing else to learn as a writer. But he’d never done a podcast before. His early drafts were written for the page, with too much narration, and quotes, which don’t work in audio. When he and Decker hooked up with the production company Lava for Good, he learned from their producers how to write for the ear. Subscribe to Sound Judgment, the NewsletterWant more of this kind of audio storytelling analysis? Sign up for our Sound Judgment newsletter and join subscribers from NPR, PRX, PRPD, Stanford, Spotify and more. Connect with Gilbert KingOn his websiteOn FacebookOn TwitterConnect with Kelsey DeckerOn TwitterThe episode discussed on today’s Sound Judgment:Bone Valley, Episode 5: Bam BamA note about Sound Judgment: We believe that no podcast host does good work alone. All hosts rely on their producers, the hidden hands that enable a host to shine. We strive to give credit to every podcast producer whenever it’s possible to do so. Bone Valley’s team is: Executive Producer Kevin WortisProducers Kara Kornhaber and Britt SpanglerSound designer Britt SpanglerStory editor Ruxandra GuidiBone Valley is produced by Lava for Good. Connect with Sound JudgmentElaine welcomes genuine connections on LinkedIn.Visit Podcast Allies to learn about our individual and team training; podcast development consulting; podcast production services; podcast host coaching; and podcast producer coaching. Speaking: To hire Elaine to speak at your event, email allies@podcastallies.com.Help us find and celebrate today’s best hosts!Share your Sound Judgment dream guest with us. Who’s your favorite podcast host? Drop us an email at allies@podcastallies.com. Because of you, that host may appear on Sound Judgment.Say Thank YouLeave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.On the show page on your phone, scroll to the bottom of the episodes. Click on the stars to rate; click on “Write a Review” to tell us what you think! Credits Sound Judgment is a production of Podcast Allies, LLC. Host: Elaine Appleton GrantProject Manager: Tina BassirSound Design and Audio Editing: Andrew ParrellaIllustrator: Sarah Edgell  Improve your storytelling Check out our popular workshops on interviewing, story editing, story structure, longform narrative, audience engagement, guesting, scriptwriting and more. Hire Elaine to speak at your conference or company. Subjects include: Effective Storytelling; Communicating for Leaders; Communicating about Change; Mastering the Art of the Interview; Success in Guesting, and much more. Discover our strategic communication services and coaching for thought leaders using storytelling tools to make the world a better place. Serving writers, podcasters, public speakers, and others in journalism & public media, climate change, health care, policy, and higher education. Visit us at www.podcastallies.com. Subscribe to Sound Judgment, the Newsletter, our twice-monthly newsletter about creative choices in audio storytelling. Connect:Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram✉️ Email Elaine at allies@podcastallies.com💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify 🗣️ Share the show by word of mouth and on your socialsHelp us find and celebrate today’s best hostsWho’s your Sound Judgment dream guest? Email me: allies@podcastallies.com. Because of you, that host may appear on Sound Judgment. Credits Sound Judgment is a production of Podcast Allies, LLC. Host: Elaine Appleton GrantPodcast Manager: Tina BassirProduction Manager: Andrew ParrellaAudio Engineer: Kevin KlineProduction Assistant: Audrey Nelson

Juleyka Lantigua is the Founder/CEO of LWC Studios, which received a Peabody Award nomination and won a Third Coast Award “Director’s Prize.” A Fulbright Scholar and Tory Burch Fellow, Juleyka holds a Master’s in Journalism and an MFA in Creative Writing. Connect with Juleyka at LWCStudios.com. The episode discussed on today’s Sound Judgment:How to Talk to [Mamí and Papí] About Anything, Episode 112, “Convincing Mamí My Depression is Not About Her.”A note about Sound Judgment: We believe that no podcast host does good work alone. All hosts rely on their producers and editors, the hidden hands that enable a host to shine. We strive to give credit to every podcast team member whenever it’s possible to do so.The team at How to Talk to [Mamí and Papí] About Anything includes:Producer  Virginia LoraManaging Producer Paulina VelascoLead Producer Kojin Tashiro Scroll down for takeaways you can use from today’s show.  Congratulations to our Name Our Listeners Contest Winners!  Almost 30 of you entered our contest to name our listeners, offering at least twice that many name suggestions. Congratulations to winners Carolyn Kiel and Áine Pennello, who both suggested our prize-winning entry: “storytellers.”  In the end, sifting through a wide variety of creative and often pun-inspired names, the simplest seemed to us the best. You wouldn’t be here if you weren’t all storytellers. Many of you work in sound. Some make films and TV. Others are writers. A handful speak on stage, or want to. And an increasing number work across many media. What holds us all together is a devotion to creating and presenting stories and conversations in ways that magnetize listeners, viewers, and readers. Carolyn Kiel hosts Beyond 6 Seconds. Her podcast features personal stories from neurodivergent entrepreneurs, creators, and advocates that shatter misconceptions, break stigma and showcase the vibrance of neurodiversity. Áine Pennello (AWN-YA Pen-nell-low) is a documentary film and radio producer. She recently worked on the Hulu series "Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields," which premiered at Sundance this year. The other big win for us? You offered up 30 of your favorite hosts as dream guests for Sound Judgment. Thank you! Connect Subscribe to Sound Judgment, the Newsletter, about creative choices in audio storytelling. Elaine welcomes genuine connections on LinkedIn.Speaking: To hire Elaine to speak at your event, email allies@podcastallies.com.Visit Podcast Allies to learn about:— Radio show development services and talent, producer and editor training for public media— Podcast development consulting for nonprofits, social impact businesses and higher ed— Full-service podcast production services— Training, coaching and online courses for individual creators. Say Thank YouLeave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.On the show page on your phone, scroll to the bottom of the episodes. Click on the stars to rate; click on “Write a Review” to tell us what you think!  Credits Sound Judgment is a production of Podcast Allies, LLC. Host and Executive Producer: Elaine Appleton GrantProject Manager: Tina BassirSound Design and Audio Editing: Andrew ParellaIllustrator: Sarah Edgell Juleyka’s Takeaways (To read a more comprehensive discussion of all of these takeaways, visit our blog.) You are not simply delivering content to your listeners; you are creating and fostering a community—what Juleyka calls a “shared space” with listeners.Test every original show idea with two questions for your avatar: Will they listen to it? Will they share it?The editor is the listener's advocate; the producer is the sound advocate.Non-narrated pieces may sound easy, but they’re hard to do well.Why choose a non-narrated approach?When jobseeking, amplify your cultural competence—your lived experience.When hiring, diversify your content teams to expand perspectives and opportunities. Determine the importance of cultural competence to your show, and add it to hiring criteria when relevant.Cultivate failure in order to succeed. Stop rejecting yourself first.Don't succumb to doom and gloom over the current podcast industry headlines. Focus on how you are serving your audience.* * * Improve your storytelling Check out our popular workshops on interviewing, story editing, story structure, longform narrative, audience engagement, guesting, scriptwriting and more. Hire Elaine to speak at your conference or company. Subjects include: Effective Storytelling; Communicating for Leaders; Communicating about Change; Mastering the Art of the Interview; Success in Guesting, and much more. Discover our strategic communication services and coaching for thought leaders using storytelling tools to make the world a better place. Serving writers, podcasters, public speakers, and others in journalism & public media, climate change, health care, policy, and higher education. Visit us at www.podcastallies.com. Subscribe to Sound Judgment, the Newsletter, our twice-monthly newsletter about creative choices in audio storytelling. Connect:Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram✉️ Email Elaine at allies@podcastallies.com💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify 🗣️ Share the show by word of mouth and on your socialsHelp us find and celebrate today’s best hostsWho’s your Sound Judgment dream guest? Email me: allies@podcastallies.com. Because of you, that host may appear on Sound Judgment. Credits Sound Judgment is a production of Podcast Allies, LLC. Host: Elaine Appleton GrantPodcast Manager: Tina BassirProduction Manager: Andrew ParrellaAudio Engineer: Kevin KlineProduction Assistant: Audrey Nelson

Dinner Sisters Producer and Co-Host Betsy Wallace is an editorial director for podcasting at WebMD. Her career pivot into podcasting started in 2018 with the first episode of the Dinner Sisters, a cooking podcast she produces and co-hosts with her sister, Kate. Through the Dinner Sisters, Betsy has cooked and reviewed more than 500 recipes from popular food blogs, interviewed dozens of New York Time bestselling cookbook authors and competed on Season 15 of The Food Network’s Great Food Truck Race. Together, Betsy and her sister, Kate Schulz, prepare three recipes each week, compare experiences and informal reviews, and run the Dinner Sisters Facebook Group.When they're not cooking or recording, they can be found hunting through the millions of online recipes and food blogs to discover timeless classics (Smitten Kitchen’s Oven Braised Beef with Tomatoes and Garlic, anyone?) and hidden gems just waiting to be cooked up. Kate lives and works in Atlanta, Georgia. She loves collecting regional jams and jellies, recipes that claim to be THE BEST or WORLD CHANGING and baking overly complicated German holiday cookies.Betsy lives and work in Atlanta, Georgia and cooks dinner for five. She has three kids with lots of opinions. She’s a fan of one-bowl baking recipes and is significantly better at making dinner since starting this podcast.For takeaways from today's episode about purpose, structure, values, building a successful Facebook community, and podfading, visit www.podcastallies.com/blog.The episode discussed on today’s Sound Judgment:Dinner Sisters Episode 210: Spinach Lasagna Dinner PartyA note about Sound Judgment: We believe that no podcast host does good work alone. All hosts rely on their producers, the hidden hands that enable a host to shine. We strive to give credit to every podcast producer whenever it’s possible to do so. Betsy and Kate produce and host Dinner Sisters on their own. Kate plans episodes and meals; Betsy handles the post-production. Connect Subscribe to Sound Judgment, the Newsletter, about creative choices in audio storytelling. Elaine welcomes genuine connections on LinkedIn.Work with us. Visit Podcast Allies to learn about our show development services, podcast development services, host and editor training and coaching for public radio stations and mission driven-organizations, including NGOs and higher ed.  Speaking: To hire Elaine to speak at your event, email allies@podcastallies.com.Help us find and celebrate today’s best hosts!Share your Sound Judgment dream guest with us. Who’s your favorite podcast host? Drop us an email at allies@podcastallies.com. Because of you, that host may appear on Sound Judgment.Say Thank YouLeave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.On the show page on your phone, scroll to the bottom of the episodes. Click on the stars to rate; click on “Write a Review” to tell us what you think! Credits Sound Judgment is a production of Podcast Allies, LLC. Host: Elaine Appleton GrantProject Manager: Tina BassirSound Design and Audio Editing: Andrew ParellaIllustrator: Sarah Edgell Improve your storytelling Check out our popular workshops on interviewing, story editing, story structure, longform narrative, audience engagement, guesting, scriptwriting and more. Hire Elaine to speak at your conference or company. Subjects include: Effective Storytelling; Communicating for Leaders; Communicating about Change; Mastering the Art of the Interview; Success in Guesting, and much more. Discover our strategic communication services and coaching for thought leaders using storytelling tools to make the world a better place. Serving writers, podcasters, public speakers, and others in journalism & public media, climate change, health care, policy, and higher education. Visit us at www.podcastallies.com. Subscribe to Sound Judgment, the Newsletter, our twice-monthly newsletter about creative choices in audio storytelling. Connect:Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram✉️ Email Elaine at allies@podcastallies.com💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify 🗣️ Share the show by word of mouth and on your socialsHelp us find and celebrate today’s best hostsWho’s your Sound Judgment dream guest? Email me: allies@podcastallies.com. Because of you, that host may appear on Sound Judgment. Credits Sound Judgment is a production of Podcast Allies, LLC. Host: Elaine Appleton GrantPodcast Manager: Tina BassirProduction Manager: Andrew ParrellaAudio Engineer: Kevin KlineProduction Assistant: Audrey Nelson

Scroll down for takeaways you can use from today’s show. Enter the Sound Judgment Listener Name Contest! On Standing Ovation, Jay calls his listeners “clappers.” Glynn Washington of Snap Judgment calls his listeners “snappers.” What Should I Read Next? host Anne Bogel talks to her “readers.” What should we call you? Enter our contest, inspired by Jay Baer. Here’s how it works: Submit your ideas (as many as you would like) here.Deadline: Saturday, February 4. Prize: We’ll choose the best, most fun name from the entries. Jay Baer,  the second most popular tequila influencer in the world, will send the winner a bottle of tequila from his personal stash. We’ll also promote you in our newsletter, on an episode of Sound Judgment, in our show notes and on our social channels. Don’t wait! Jay Baer Hall of Fame keynote speaker Jay Baer has lost count of the number of podcasts he has produced and hosted. He is also a New York Times bestselling author of six books and founder of five multi-million dollar companies. Filled with real-world case studies, Jay’s programs teach companies how to turn customer experience, customer service, and marketing into their biggest business growth advantage. Jay has advised Caterpillar, Nike, IBM, Allstate, The United Nations, and 32 of the FORTUNE 500. He is the founder of Convince & Convert, a strategy consulting firm that owns the world’s #1 content marketing blog and the world’s top marketing podcast. He is also a tequila sommelier and the second most popular tequila influencer in the world.Connect with Jay at Jaybaer.com and thebaerfacts.com.The episode discussed on today’s Sound Judgment:Standing Ovation, David HorsagerA note about Sound Judgment: We believe that no podcast host does good work alone. All hosts rely on their producers, the hidden hands that enable a host to shine. We strive to give credit to every podcast producer whenever it’s possible to do so. Jay both produces and hosts Standing Ovation on his own.  Connect Subscribe to Sound Judgment, the Newsletter, about creative choices in audio storytelling. Elaine welcomes genuine connections on LinkedIn.Visit Podcast Allies to learn about our individual and team training; podcast development consulting; podcast production services; podcast host coaching; and podcast producer coaching. Speaking: To hire Elaine to speak at your event, email allies@podcastallies.com.Help us find and celebrate today’s best hosts!Share your Sound Judgment dream guest with us. Who’s your favorite podcast host? Drop us an email at allies@podcastallies.com. Because of you, that host may appear on Sound Judgment.Say Thank YouLeave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.On the show page on your phone, scroll to the bottom of the episodes. Click on the stars to rate; click on “Write a Review” to tell us what you think! Takeaways from this episode1. Your story could be worth millions of dollars. Why aren’t you analyzing what makes it good? Like the typical podcast host, the typical speaker—no matter how successful— doesn’t know why their material is good. They’re just operating on instinct. Which also means you don’t know how to improve your work. As Jay said, a good keynote speaker tells the same story many, many different times a year, often for several years. As he says, that means their “signature story” could be worth millions and millions of dollars. He’s dumbfounded by the lack of insight most speakers have about these extraordinarily valuable stories. “To not know how or why it’s good, or how it’s gotten better over time, is amazing,” he says.That’s one reason he started Standing Ovation and a big reason why I started Sound Judgment and am on a quest to identify the universal skills of hostiness. While you’re not likely to make millions directly from your podcast, if you use it as the linchpin of your business or your social impact organization, you could count its value in the millions. That’s just one of many superb reasons to keep learning. Dissect your own episodes, on your own or with a guide. Also, deconstruct podcasts you love. You’ll learn a ton and your work will become far more valuable in the process.  2. Bob Ross had it right. Remember the painting instructor on PBS? Millions of people watched his show, because he instructed while he painted pictures – and made the process understandable through example. Jay Baer loves what I call “living case studies” because they do what Bob Ross did – they entertain while they inform. Everybody tuning into a show like Standing Ovation, or Bob Ross, envisions themselves practicing the craft themselves. It’s vicarious, which is fun, and inspiring. And, as Jay says, if you’re asking someone to invest their very precious time listening to your show, “you darn well better both entertain them and improve them in some way.” That’s especially true for business, personal development, and educational shows of all kinds. 3. When and why should you tell a personal story, if your podcast isn’t personal? Say you run a podcast for small business owners, fitness enthusiasts, or fly fishermen? There are two tests: Is it relevant to your ideal listener? Can you tie a lesson back to the topic at hand? Two, does it elicit an emotion? As Jay said, if you barrage listeners with one piece of data after another, they won’t remember it. But they will remember how you make them feel, as Maya Angelou so famously said. 4. Name your listeners! It’s a great way to create a community. When we’re identified by a name we feel good about, we feel like we’ve made it into a special club. It’s a metaphorical shirt we can put on.  Glynn Washington calls Snap Judgment listeners Snappers; Jay calls his Standing Ovation listeners Clappers.What should I call you? What metaphorical shirt do you want to wear?We are running a contest, inspired by Jay. Whomever comes up with the best, most fun name for yourself and your fellow listeners will get a bottle of tequila from Jay’s personal stash. That’s really cool, because in addition to being a marketing guru, Jay is the second most popular tequila influencer in the world.Here's the link again to enter. Submit your ideas now. The deadline is Saturday, February 4, 2023. Winners will get a shoutout in our newsletter, on the podcast and in our social channels. Credits Sound Judgment is a production of Podcast Allies, LLC. Host: Elaine Appleton GrantProject Manager: Tina BassirSound Design and Audio Editing: Andrew ParellaIllustrator: Sarah Edgell   Improve your storytelling Check out our popular workshops on interviewing, story editing, story structure, longform narrative, audience engagement, guesting, scriptwriting and more. Hire Elaine to speak at your conference or company. Subjects include: Effective Storytelling; Communicating for Leaders; Communicating about Change; Mastering the Art of the Interview; Success in Guesting, and much more. Discover our strategic communication services and coaching for thought leaders using storytelling tools to make the world a better place. Serving writers, podcasters, public speakers, and others in journalism & public media, climate change, health care, policy, and higher education. Visit us at www.podcastallies.com. Subscribe to Sound Judgment, the Newsletter, our twice-monthly newsletter about creative choices in audio storytelling. Connect:Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram✉️ Email Elaine at allies@podcastallies.com💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify 🗣️ Share the show by word of mouth and on your socialsHelp us find and celebrate today’s best hostsWho’s your Sound Judgment dream guest? Email me: allies@podcastallies.com. Because of you, that host may appear on Sound Judgment. Credits Sound Judgment is a production of Podcast Allies, LLC. Host: Elaine Appleton GrantPodcast Manager: Tina BassirProduction Manager: Andrew ParrellaAudio Engineer: Kevin KlineProduction Assistant: Audrey Nelson

Before creating the Snap Judgment radio show, Glynn worked as an educator, diplomat, community activist, actor, political strategist, fist-shaker, mountain-hollerer, and foot stomper. Snap Judgment is heard on about 500 public radio stations in the U.S. and on podcasts everywhere. Scroll down for takeaways you can use from today’s show.The episode discussed on today's show"Zoo Nebraska," a Snap Classic, Season 13, Episode 18.The story of a chimpanzee and a man whose dream brought disaster to a small American town.This story details violence against animals. Sensitive listeners, please be advised.Read more about Zoo Nebraska in Carson’s book, Zoo Nebraska: The Dismantling of an American Dream.Additional thanks to Patti Ragan from the Center for Great Apes.Produced by John Fecile and Carson Vaughan, original score by Renzo GorrioAdditional production by Jesse Dukes and Pat Mesiti-MillerArtwork by Teo DucotInterested in protecting Great Apes? Learn more at the Center for Great ApesSubscribe to Sound Judgment, the Newsletter, our once- or twice-monthly newsletter about creative choices in audio storytelling. Share the show! Follow Elaine on  Facebook | LinkedIn | InstagramHelp us find and celebrate today’s best hosts!Who’s your Sound Judgment dream guest? Share them with us! Write us: allies@podcastallies.com. Because of you, that host may appear on Sound Judgment.For more information on Sound Judgment and Podcast Allies, our production and training company, visit us at www.podcastallies.com.Takeaways from today's show: 1. What you’re doing is taking the listener on a journey with you. That takes intention. From the very beginning of any episode, Glynn is thinking about how to persuade the listener to go on a journey with him. He’s taking you into a different world, introducing you to the interior lives of the characters in these stories. He wants you to be curious, surprised, to feel things. He asks this question: “What piece of myself can act as an avatar for this journey I want to take people on? What piece of me can do that? That’s the hostiness of it all.” 2. To have hostiness is to be animated by a question – and the question that lights you up will be different than the one that lights me up. Snap Judgment is all about empathy - how to evoke, how to get listeners to walk in someone else’s shoes for  a little while. But Jad Abumrad of RadioLab’s animating force was curiosity. What animates you? Stay true to that. 3. To Glynn, the best characters are not the famous and successful.  They’re the people who’ve made mistakes; who don’t want to face the ramifications of their actions, who’ve had some hard knocks – like Dick, the zookeeper in Zoo Nebraska who didn’t want his story told. Rarely – if ever – are people villains on purpose. 4. You don’t have to be Batman to have a good story to tell. In fact, you may be able to tell an amazing story about walking across the street, if we learn what it took for you to get from one side of the street to the other, and how high the stakes are. 5. And five…Don’t leave out the washing machine. It’s the ordinary details of life – even when they happen in the middle of a chimp escape – that make stories real for listeners.      Improve your storytelling Check out our popular workshops on interviewing, story editing, story structure, longform narrative, audience engagement, guesting, scriptwriting and more. Hire Elaine to speak at your conference or company. Subjects include: Effective Storytelling; Communicating for Leaders; Communicating about Change; Mastering the Art of the Interview; Success in Guesting, and much more. Discover our strategic communication services and coaching for thought leaders using storytelling tools to make the world a better place. Serving writers, podcasters, public speakers, and others in journalism & public media, climate change, health care, policy, and higher education. Visit us at www.podcastallies.com. Subscribe to Sound Judgment, the Newsletter, our twice-monthly newsletter about creative choices in audio storytelling. Connect:Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram✉️ Email Elaine at allies@podcastallies.com💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify 🗣️ Share the show by word of mouth and on your socialsHelp us find and celebrate today’s best hostsWho’s your Sound Judgment dream guest? Email me: allies@podcastallies.com. Because of you, that host may appear on Sound Judgment. Credits Sound Judgment is a production of Podcast Allies, LLC. Host: Elaine Appleton GrantPodcast Manager: Tina BassirProduction Manager: Andrew ParrellaAudio Engineer: Kevin KlineProduction Assistant: Audrey Nelson

The Six Biggest, Most Surprising or Useful Lessons our Hosts Identified in 20221. The host defines the brand of your show.2. Hosting changes the host—not just as a storyteller and performer, but as a human being. 3. Great performances are valuable, whether that's a million-dollar signature story in a keynote speech or the captivating storytelling and connection skills of a great host.  4. We must challenge unconscious bias about the kinds of voices that are perceived as acceptable. 5. Narrative isn't simply important, it's the way we experience the world, define our identities, and make meaning. Sharing stories builds empathy. When we revise our own stories, we change our lives. 6. To stand out from the competition, we need to constantly think of how to be "better than good," as Jay Baer puts it. BONUS: Podcasting is a team sport—not simply because of the variety of skills and tasks involved in producing a great show, but because collaboration with colleagues who make you feel safe enables courageous, vulnerable creativity. We will almost always do better work in collaboration than we will completely alone. The episode(s) discussed on today’s Sound Judgment:The Host Defines the Brand with John Barth, Sound Judgment Ep. 2A Host on a Mission with Quien tu Eres host Pabel Martinez, Sound Judgment Ep. 6Finding Your Voice with Shelter in Place Host Laura Joyce Davis, Sound Judgment Ep. 5A "Yes, And" Approach to Cohosting with Pantsuit Politics, Sound Judgment Ep. 3Cinematic Storytelling with Crime Show's Emma Courtland, Sound Judgment Ep. 4The podcast Standing Ovation with host Jay Baer: A sneak peek of a Season 2 Sound Judgment episode The podcast Snap Judgment with host Glynn Washington: A sneak peek of Season 2, Episode 1, coming January 12, 2023Sound Judgment Ep. 1, “Emotional Bravery on Last Day with Stephanie Wittels Wachs”Subscribe to Sound Judgment, the Newsletter, our once- or twice-monthly newsletter about creative choices in audio storytelling.Captivate Your Listeners, Improve Your Hostiness and Grow Your Show in 2023!What’s it like for you to face the blank page of your script – or that "blank tape" on the mic? As any writer knows, a blank page is intimidating. It can be even harder when we’re using our voice  – because we only have 30 seconds or so to hook new listeners. That’s a lot of pressure. There’s a lot that goes into starting your episode with a bang, keeping listeners enthralled throughout, and especially providing enough value that they’ll come back again and again.Don’t stay stuck! Get a half-price Hook Your Listener Audit now. As a veteran story and program editor, producer and host, I’ll work with you personally to get over the stress of the "blank page" and help you improve your hostiness. You'll send us  a link to one episode ahead of time, and in one 45-minute session, I’ll identify several ways that you can tune up your show fast, painlessly, and without any extra cost – so you can get critical acclaim and, most importantly, grow your show. In just one session, we’ll uncover and build on your unique strengths. You'll tune up the sound and promise of your show. You’ll be more likely to captivate listeners. And most importantly, you’ll quickly feel – and sound – more confident! Now through January 31, you can get a personalized Hook-Your-Listener Audit for half price — only $149. We've only set aside a handful of these packages (we give them a lot of time and attention in addition to our face-to-face 45-minutes session). And because they're so affordable, they’re going fast. Click here to purchase your own HYL Audit now. But if you still have questions, no worries! Email us at allies@podcastallies.com for answers. Help us grow!Rate and review the show or your favorite episode on Apple Podcasts Connect with Elaine on LinkedInCelebrate today’s best hosts!Who’s your Sound Judgment dream guest? Share them with us! Write us: allies@podcastallies.com. Because of you, that host may appear on Sound Judgment.Help lift up indie podcast hosts and producers! Bring untold stories to our ears with this worthy causeWe’re delighted to support the Podcasting, Seriously Awards Fund. LWC Studios launched the fund to support independent BIPOC, Queer and Trans audio producers in submitting high-quality work to media/journalism awards and receiving production education and training. Diversifying audio storytelling enriches all of us. Please support the fund in whatever way works for you.  Credits Sound Judgment is a production of Podcast Allies, LLC. For more information on our production, launch and training services for social impact organizations and mission-driven individual creators, visit us at www.podcastallies.com. Host: Elaine Appleton GrantProject Manager: Tina BassirSound Designer: Andrew ParrellaIllustrator: Sarah Edgell Improve your storytelling Check out our popular workshops on interviewing, story editing, story structure, longform narrative, audience engagement, guesting, scriptwriting and more. Hire Elaine to speak at your conference or company. Subjects include: Effective Storytelling; Communicating for Leaders; Communicating about Change; Mastering the Art of the Interview; Success in Guesting, and much more. Discover our strategic communication services and coaching for thought leaders using storytelling tools to make the world a better place. Serving writers, podcasters, public speakers, and others in journalism & public media, climate change, health care, policy, and higher education. Visit us at www.podcastallies.com. Subscribe to Sound Judgment, the Newsletter, our twice-monthly newsletter about creative choices in audio storytelling. Connect:Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram✉️ Email Elaine at allies@podcastallies.com💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts🟢 Leave a rating on Spotify 🗣️ Share the show by word of mouth and on your socialsHelp us find and celebrate today’s best hostsWho’s your Sound Judgment dream guest? Email me: allies@podcastallies.com. Because of you, that host may appear on Sound Judgment. Credits Sound Judgment is a production of Podcast Allies, LLC. Host: Elaine Appleton GrantPodcast Manager: Tina BassirProduction Manager: Andrew ParrellaAudio Engineer: Kevin KlineProduction Assistant: Audrey Nelson