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.

"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

Bradley Campbell thought "If I could just figure out story structure, I'd have the keys to the kingdom!" So he grabbed a...
04/22/2025

Bradley Campbell thought "If I could just figure out story structure, I'd have the keys to the kingdom!" So he grabbed a pen and a napkin and started drawing. This archive episode includes a new napkin drawing from Bradley!
NPR, This American Life, Radiolab, PRX, Transom.org

Revisiting: My Kingdom for Some Structure - Transom

This Tuesday. On Sound School. NPR PRX Transom.org
04/17/2025

This Tuesday. On Sound School.
NPR PRX Transom.org

This Tuesday. On Sound School. NPR, PRX, Transom.org
04/17/2025

This Tuesday. On Sound School.
NPR, PRX, Transom.org

Set the "Wayback Machine" for the 1930s! Julia Barton & Sarah Montague take us on a short walk to radio's old days. Put ...
04/09/2025

Set the "Wayback Machine" for the 1930s! Julia Barton & Sarah Montague take us on a short walk to radio's old days. Put your ears on for classic works by Norman Corwin and Archibald MacLeish. PRX Transom.org

Champions of Old Radio - Transom

Seems like a no brainer. Empire City wins best history podcast at The Podcast Academy  . Hear how Chenjerai Kumanyika ap...
04/04/2025

Seems like a no brainer. Empire City wins best history podcast at The Podcast Academy . Hear how Chenjerai Kumanyika approached the storytelling in this live episode of Sound School. Wondery, Crooked Media, PRX, Transom.org.

Amen, Chenjerai - Transom

Two-way... tape synch... shotgun... dead cat... EQ... butt cut... This is the lingo of audio producers. But, chicken bom...
03/31/2025

Two-way... tape synch... shotgun... dead cat... EQ... butt cut... This is the lingo of audio producers. But, chicken bomb? This American Life, PRX, Transom.org

Beware the Chicken Bomb - Transom

Let a hundred chicken bombs bloom (boom?)! On this episode of Sound School we mark the 20th anniversary of "chicken bomb...
03/26/2025

Let a hundred chicken bombs bloom (boom?)! On this episode of Sound School we mark the 20th anniversary of "chicken bomb" entering the audio storytelling lexicon. With help from Ira Glass of This American Life. PRX Transom.org

Beware the Chicken Bomb - Transom

Address

Falmouth, MA

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Sound School Podcast posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Share