The Sound School Podcast

The Sound School Podcast The Sound School Podcast is the bi-weekly show on audio storytelling produced by Rob Rosenthal for and . Formerly HowSound

The Sound School Podcast is a bi-weekly show presenting the backstory to great audio storytelling. From fieldwork and recording techniques to narrative and ethics, Sound School Podcast explores the ins-and-outs of radio production. Each episode highlights the work of producers such as Al Letson, Alex Blumberg, Noel King, Leila Day, Saidu Tejan-Thomas, Jr., Phoebe Judge, David Isay, and Susan Stamb

erg, as well as emerging producers from podcasts and local NPR stations around the country. Rob Rosenthal is the host. Rob launched and directed the radio program at the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies for eleven years. He was the lead instructor for the Transom Story Workshops for ten years. He’s an audio guy through and through producing podcasts, documentaries, features, multi-media, and audio tours. He now works mostly as a story editor and still teaches from time to time.

My ears perked up listening to "Ghost of a Chance" from The Minnesota Star Tribune. What caught my attention was the rel...
09/23/2025

My ears perked up listening to "Ghost of a Chance" from The Minnesota Star Tribune. What caught my attention was the relationship between the host (Melissa Townsend) and the reporter (Eric Roper). I thought "Hmmmm.... I think that's a new approach." Have a listen. PRX. Transom.org.

Host Sits Down With a Reporter - Transom

One of my hopes (one of MANY) is that when you listen to Sound School you say to your self "Hunh. That's interesting. I ...
09/22/2025

One of my hopes (one of MANY) is that when you listen to Sound School you say to your self "Hunh. That's interesting. I should try that." Serial. The New York Times. PRX Transom.org.

Writing Like TV in a Podcast - Transom

Writing like it's a television drama complete with instructions for a camera operator. That's an unusual maneuver for a ...
09/09/2025

Writing like it's a television drama complete with instructions for a camera operator. That's an unusual maneuver for a podcast. One I'd never heard before. Neither had Susan Burton until she wrote that way herself for from Serial and The New York Times. PRX Transom.org.

Writing Like TV in a Podcast - Transom

I write and write and write and write and then..... I get to the end and "p**f" -- I ain't got nothin'. I'm stuck. How t...
08/26/2025

I write and write and write and write and then..... I get to the end and "p**f" -- I ain't got nothin'. I'm stuck. How the hell will I end this story?!

Robert Smith of NPR's Planet Money has the same problem. Robert says he arrives at the end of a story with "empty pockets."

As a fix, he created at taxonomy (word of the day?) of memorable endings.

PRX. Transom.org.

Fill Your Pockets with Endings - Transom

At the risk of not making any friends, I find this approach to sound design cheesy:"I flew to Los Angeles...." (sound of...
08/12/2025

At the risk of not making any friends, I find this approach to sound design cheesy:

"I flew to Los Angeles...." (sound of jet taking off)

"A dog barked in the distance..." (sound of dog barking in distance)

"The crowd cheered..." (sound of cheering crowd)

Let's talk about how to avoid this.

PRX, Transom.org, Radiolab.

Don't Say Rabbit, See Rabbit - Transom

A constant piece of advice for producers is "Find a good talker." But what about shy people? They may not be great talke...
07/30/2025

A constant piece of advice for producers is "Find a good talker." But what about shy people? They may not be great talkers but they may have a good story to tell. The question is: How do you help shy people open up? Erika Lantz and her sister Elin Lantz Lesser, producers of The Turning podcast, have answers. Good ones. PRX, Transom.org.

Revisiting: Interviewing Shy People - Transom

It takes a brave father to answer pointed questions and a brave son to ask them. Sally Herships of Radio Boot Camp takes...
07/16/2025

It takes a brave father to answer pointed questions and a brave son to ask them. Sally Herships of Radio Boot Camp takes the mic on this episode of Sound School. She asks producer Zach Mack how he approached talking to his dad about his unwavering belief in the conspiracy theories that are dividing the family. NPR. PRX. Transom.org.

Asking Dad Dicey Questions - Transom

"The Great Withering" continues. Pineapple Street Studios, gone. Also, 45 staffers at WGBH Radio and TV, laid off. Inclu...
07/01/2025

"The Great Withering" continues. Pineapple Street Studios, gone. Also, 45 staffers at WGBH Radio and TV, laid off. Including my friend Steve Junker, the Managing Editor at WCAI. This episode from the archive is for Steve. PRX Transom.org

Revisiting: Think of a Radio Station (or Podcast) as a Musical Instrument - Transom

"Oh. This is award-winning reporting." I had that exact thought listening to Leila Fadel on NPR reporting from Syria aft...
06/18/2025

"Oh. This is award-winning reporting." I had that exact thought listening to Leila Fadel on NPR reporting from Syria after the fall of Assad last December. Listen to how Leila musically weaves scenes, stand-ups, narration, & translations. PRX, Transom.org.

Writing Makes All the Difference: Beautifully Braiding Scenes, Stand-ups, and Narration - Transom

"Last time on..." "Last time on...." "Previously, on...." "Last time on..." Oy. Such a cliche. Can't we write better? Th...
06/04/2025

"Last time on..." "Last time on...." "Previously, on...." "Last time on..." Oy. Such a cliche. Can't we write better? The answer is yes. Hear an example from Basia Cummings in the "Pig Iron" from Tortoise Media. PRX Transom.org

Writing Makes All the Difference: The Episode Handshake - Transom

Who could muster magic using a razor blade, a china marker, and three reel-to-reel tape machines? Larry Massett. And all...
05/21/2025

Who could muster magic using a razor blade, a china marker, and three reel-to-reel tape machines? Larry Massett. And all he did was record "A Trip to the Dentist." PRX, Transom.org.

Revisiting: A Trip to the Dentist - Transom

I want to steal Shaun Raviv & Johnny Kauffman's maneuvers. Their writing for "Noble," a podcast named the best of 2024 b...
05/06/2025

I want to steal Shaun Raviv & Johnny Kauffman's maneuvers. Their writing for "Noble," a podcast named the best of 2024 by the .com, is superb. I point to what I like in the latest Sound School. PRX, Transom.org.

Writing Makes All the Difference, Part 1 - Transom

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