I hate to dump on "The Daily". Apart from editing and producing our own shows, this brilliant New York Times podcast takes up more of my listening time than any other. For news junkies, "The Daily" is part of our weekday morning routine. The show's genial and ever curious host, Michael Barbaro, is like a … Continue reading Simple storytelling and the Radiolabification of podcasting.
Category: podcasting
The beauty of asking dumb questions.
How to ask questions (2). The third in a series on podcasting. As soon as I published some thoughts on how podcasters can do even better interviews than they record already (my previous blog), I started getting friendly feedback. Some of it comes from close to home. Miranda Shafer, the senior producer of “How Do … Continue reading The beauty of asking dumb questions.
“How do you feel”, “tell me more” and other smart interview questions.
How to answer questions. The second in a series on podcasting. “It was 1992. The closing days of the Presidential campaign and I was beginning to get a name for myself. Not in a good way. During crowded press conferences with the candidates all that year, I was the network radio reporter who would ask: … Continue reading “How do you feel”, “tell me more” and other smart interview questions.
“Thats a really good question” and other silly things guests say during podcasts.
This is the first of several blogs on making better podcasts. Today: how to be a great guest. The other day I was interviewing a young woman who wanted to work on a podcast project with us. About half of her answers began with the all-too-frequent comment, “that’s a really good question.” I wanted to … Continue reading “Thats a really good question” and other silly things guests say during podcasts.
Sometimes I love riding with NYC subway…
A number one train in motion ...Yeah, I know it’s a pain— especially in rush hour, at the weekends when there’s limited service, or if the guy sitting next to me is manspreading. But there are also times of unexpected delight on the New York City subway, when a stranger makes you smile. Friday nights … Continue reading Sometimes I love riding with NYC subway…
I swam with Muslims in The Sea of Galilee
The Sea of Galilee at sunset...Looking west Us versus them. Right against wrong. Accept the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement. Wag your finger and reject it outright. Far too often in our beautiful, colorful, chaotic and profoundly interesting world, political and moral arguments are reduced to simple either/or choices. My side good. Your side bad. In … Continue reading I swam with Muslims in The Sea of Galilee
Professors on Podcasts: A Rant.
It’s baseball season, thank goodness. So before I get into my windup and start hurling metaphors, let me say that I love interviewing professors on our podcasts . These learned souls are almost always thoughtful, highly intelligent, and often funny. Their bases are loaded with interesting ideas. Professors understand nuance and are good at reminding … Continue reading Professors on Podcasts: A Rant.
podcasts are so more than sound without the pictures.
I’m an audio guy. Always have been. One of my earliest memories was when I was five, sitting on the floor of my bedroom, loading a stack of orange, green and yellow 45 rpm vinyl records with a big hole in the middle, onto a kids’ victrola that my parents purchased to keep their easily distracted child … Continue reading podcasts are so more than sound without the pictures.
Beyond outrage and anger… Solutions. A podcast for our times.
We’re gearing up for another great year with more independent-minded, contrarian guests — kicking off this week with Claire Cain Miller of TheUpshot, the New York Times and economics site. After all the recent anger and outrage over sexual harassment our podcast team decided to do a show about how to reduce bullying and harassment in … Continue reading Beyond outrage and anger… Solutions. A podcast for our times.
FixIt: Abolishing Unbelievable.
We live in an age of hyperbole. “Amazing”, “incredible” and “wow!” are among the most glaring examples of over-used words. “Great” and “fantastic” are proclaimed when “good” would do nicely. “LOL” has replaced a smiley face, and “thank you” usually comes with “very much” attached, even if the sender doesn’t (really) mean it. But nothing … Continue reading FixIt: Abolishing Unbelievable.
Here Hear! 