It's a brave thing to share the outtakes from a tracking session. All the blemishes are right there. But Martine Powers and Rennie Svirnovsky from the audio team at The Washington Post have graciously done just that. They invited Sound School's Rob Rosenthal into their studio to witness Martine at work voicing an episode of The Empty Grave of Comrade Bishop, with assistance from Rennie. Hearing how they work as tracking partners is a real gift for anyone who wants to perform better in the mic booth.
Today on Sound Judgment, we’re excited to share this instructive, hilarious episode of Sound School. If you’ve spent much time behind a mic yourself, you know that tracking an episode – that is, narrating it – takes time, coaching, practice, a good ear, humility, a good sense of humor— and a great producer.
*Update! Martine Powers won the 2024 Ambie Award for Best Host at The Podcast Academy's the fourth annual awards for excellence in audio.
You will be a better narrator and a better in-studio producer after listening to this episode.
Sound School is produced by Rob Rosenthal for PRX and Transom.
Join Us for New Sound Judgment Workshops!
Improve your storytelling, interviewing, writing, producing, hosting and guesting skills! Sign up for new Sound Judgment workshops today at www.podcastallies.com/workshops.
April 5, 2024: Mastering the Art of the Interview. Interviews are the foundation of all good storytelling, but we don’t get much instruction on the art and science of them. In this workshop, you'll get ten proven, transformative strategies that you can apply to your own work right away.
April 11,2024: Success in Guesting: Be a Great Guest, Get a Great Guest
Learn how to curate great guests and what it takes to be a phenomenal guest yourself. Learn how NPR producers curate and book guests – and how you can set yourself up for success no matter whether you're making a show — or seeking to be a guest yourself.
***
Sound School (formerly HowSound) is a bi-weekly podcast on audio storytelling produced by Rob Rosenthal for PRX and Transom. Listen to more episodes and follow the show at https://transom.org/topics/soundschool/
The episode featured on Sound Judgment: https://transom.org/2024/tracking-partners/
About Rob Rosenthal
Rob Rosenthal is a freelance story editor, podcast producer/reporter, and a teacher. Longform, documentary podcasts are his sweet spot. He offers workshops for podcast companies and public radio stations. He hosts the Sound School Podcast, a joint project of PRX and Transom, on audio storytelling.
Rob has been interviewing reporters, producers, editors and artists about the craft of audio storytelling since he began making his show in 2008 under the name How Sound. Rob says he still learns something every time he interviews someone.
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 socials
Help us find and celebrate today’s best hosts
Who’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 Grant
Podcast Manager: Tina Bassir
Production Manager: Andrew Parrella
Audio Engineer: Kevin Kline
Production Assistant: Audrey Nelson
Behind The 13th Step, Part 2: The best defense is the truth
How to find the truth: Behind the blockbuster investigative series The 13th Step
How to Grow Your Show — Without Social Media
Courage vs comfort: Is it finally time to pursue your dreams?
Six Proven Storytelling Strategies to Engage Your Audience
Storytelling Secrets, Part 6: Specifics
Storytelling Strategies, Part 5: The Missing Ingredient
Storytelling Strategies, Part 4: Surprise!
Storytelling Strategies, Part 3: Scenes
Storytelling Strategies to Grow Your Audience: Part 2, Structure
New Series: Storytelling Strategies to Hook & Keep Your Audience, Part 1
How Storytelling Can Heal Your Life
Drama! Characters! Conflict! History podcasts have them all, with American History Tellers' Lindsay Graham
Should you tell your own story? Navigating the tricky art of memoir
The Art of True Curiosity with Kelly Corrigan of Kelly Corrigan Wonders
Introducing Podcast Perspectives: Audience Growth Lessons from Lemonada
Secrets of Hosting In-Studio and Live from the Queen of Book Podcasts, Anne Bogel (Best-of Show)
How to Track a Liar with Believable: The Coco Berthmann Story Showrunner Karen Given
How to Capture an Audience with Near Death’s Nikki Boyer
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Navigating Life After 40
LifeBlood
Science of Reading: The Podcast
The Minimal Mom
How To!