Deploy This One Tiny Maneuver to Improve Audio Essays

Sherre Delys says she sometimes thinks of her documentary "If" as her "hit single" — the piece she's best known for. We think of it as one of the coolest, most ear-catching documentaries of the last 30 years and it's featured on the next episode in the series "Old School Sound School."

Whatever happened to handing tape decks to people so they can document their lives? These "radio diaries" offered an intimacy unavailable to most reporters. A perfect example is Annie Cheney's "Concerning Breakfast," produced for Jay Allison's series from the 1990s, "The Life Stories Collection." Annie's story is today's feature on the Sound School series "Old School Sound School." 

Sound School is launching a new series, Old School Sound School featuring classic and rare documentaries 20-plus years old. The series begins by marking the 25th anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center in September of 2001. The Sonic Memorial Project is a remarkable, hour-long documentary from The Kitchen Sisters piece produced in 2002 on the very first anniversary of the attack. This is The Kitchens Sisters at their best. 

Rob has a small but mighty collection of old audio documentaries on CDs. And even more audio files crammed on his computer. "Bazillions," he says, "and it's time share the ear candy!" In September, Rob's launching a series called Old School Sound School featuring deep cuts and classic docs and sound works from 20+ years ago. Please listen. Your ears will thank you.

A breath may seem like the most insignificant detail in an audio story. But, actually, the opposite is true. For proof, all you have to do is listen to stories where the breaths are cut out. On this episode of Sound School, a primer on editing breaths. Perfect for people teaching audio storytelling. 

Sounds Cool!

"(An) unstoppable, one-of-a-kind reporter." That's how NPR reporter Elizabeth Arnold is described in her recent obituary. Hear what that means in a story she reported at the North Pole, where she says "Nature doesn't want you here.... Maybe that's part of the pull. You come to defy it." I'm pleased to honor Elizabeth on the latest episode of Sound School. 

Nocturnal Worlds is certainly a curious podcast. A unique mix of science, nature, meditation, and lush soundscapes from Audiocraft, an Australian production company. Why mix science education and meditation? Olivia O'Flynn, the host and producer of Nocturnal Worlds, lays out the how and why of the show. 

Cloe Axelson, a senior editor at WBUR, was feeling like the essays she produced that were written by listeners weren't sounding conversational enough -- until she deployed this one simple trick. It's a trick any producer could use to help narrators sound more like themselves.

How powerful can audio storytelling be? So powerful that distraught listeners stand-up, wave their arms, and yell "Turn it off! Turn it off!" That's how good the documentary we're featuring on Sound School is.