Episodes

Wish you could be in the studio with your favorite audio storytellers — journalists like Anna Sale of Death, Sex and Money and Classy's Jonathan Menjivar, a Fresh Air and This American Life alum? Sit around editorial meetings with their teams, learning how they're making ambitious, engaging, and often deeply personal work? Be there "backstage" as they voice their doubts, make mistakes, learn from their experiments — and listen back with them as, together, we deconstruct their stories? Join me on my journey as I explore the art and craft of audio storytelling in a "live learning lab" with some of today's most interesting hosts, producers and editors. Also coming up in this season: Storyboarding investigative series with Karen Given of Believable: The Coco Berthmann Story; vunerability with Weight for It's Ronald Young; and "uncomfortable" conversations with Nikki Boyer of Dying for Sex and Near Death. And plenty more. Coming September 28.

Here's a little warmup for Season 3...coming soon, and better than ever!

Famous & Gravy is hilarious and philosophical, funny and thought-provoking. It’s about dead celebrities, but really it's about life’s biggest questions. Cohosts Michael Osborne and Amit Kapoor reflect on aspects of a dead celebrity ranging from love and work to their inner lives. That leads them to reflect on their own lives, and on it will lead you to reflect on yours. All while laughing. You’ll learn a lot about creative constraints, and how crafting an extremely structured show can make audio storytelling easier, more efficient, and more creative. You’ll learn a fresh approach to co-hosting. And you’ll learn how to hook your listener in the first 30 seconds – and equally important, how to end episodes in a way that keeps your listeners coming back. This is Sound Judgment, where we investigate just what it takes to become a beloved podcast host – by pulling apart one episode at a time, together.

Pushkin Industries VP and Executive Editor Julia Barton had a dream: To create the first-ever anthology of the best audio storytelling. Fittingly, it would be in audiobook form, and it would call out the most powerful and innovative stories of the year. Barton had already been shaping Pushkin's catalogue of successful shows for years — shows like Revisionist History with Malcolm Gladwell, Against the Rules with Michael Lewis, A Slight Change of Plans with Maya Shankar, and The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos. As a lifelong journalist and editor, Barton is a master of story structure and story editing. She knows (and shares) how to engage listeners. Barton finally realized her dream. Pushkin recently released its first anthology — The Best Audio Storytelling: 2022. We go under the covers on how to craft and perform a great audio essay, with Jason Reynolds' My Mother Made Me; how to make a poetic audio documentary shine, with Erica Heilman's Rumble Strip, and how to be transparent …

Do high-stakes interviews make you nervous? Do you want to communicate better across partisan, racial, or gender divides? Or do you want to make any interview you conduct more compelling? You couldn't ask for a better teacher than Celeste Headlee. A best-selling author and global speaker, this veteran NPR reporter and host has interviewed everyone from presidents to KKK members to authors like Toni Morrison and John Updike. She's also literally written THE books on the art of conversation. Her TED talk, "10 Ways to Have Better Conversations," has been viewed 38 million times. Today, she is the host of the Slate debate podcast, Hear Me Out. In this episode, you'll learn how to interview people who hold vastly different beliefs than you do; how to have illuminating conversations, not confrontations; a helpful mindset shift for when you're nervous about conducting a hostile or difficult interview; and the brain science that explains what makes a good conversation (prepare to have some m…

When Sam Mullins was growing up in a small, almost utopian Canadian town, two boys appeared one summer as if from nowhere. They said they'd been raised in the woods, which accounted for why they were so...strange. And skinny. And would only eat fruit, and seemed to have only the ragged clothes on their backs. Sam was a teenager when a scandal exploded around the boys...and he remembered it 20 years later, when as a struggling — maybe failed — actor and writer, he was searching for a podcast to make and a mystery to unravel. On the basis of a cold email pitch from a novice podcaster, Sam's story became the acclaimed, award-winning Campside Media series Chameleon: Wild Boys. You'll learn from Sam the kinds of questions he asked multiple sources; how he convinced a reluctant protagonist to talk with him; why he didn't take the existing reporting at face value; how he uses language expertly to evoke characters and places; the critical role of the editor-writer relationship; and how to…

Actor Dana Black started her memoir and conversation show “I Swear on My Mother’s Grave” on the fourth anniversary of her mother’s death. She was grieving her loss, but she’d been grieving for years, long before her mother died. She started her show as so many podcasters do – as a way to express the unexpressed. To share the once unshareable, in hopes that we will find that, in fact, we’re not alone. That we’ve never, actually, been alone. More than most podcasters, Dana takes advantage of the audio medium to create intimacy with her listeners -- and she's created loyal fans as a result. Listen to our Mother's Day episode to learn how you can do it, too.

As writers, journalists, podcasters, we often deal with hard subjects – topics that are painful to explore and to tell. So why do we do it? Because, done well, telling the hard stories lead to change. They can lead to help and healing. May is Mental Health Awareness Month. We could think of no better way to help raise awareness than to re-release one of my favorite episodes of Sound Judgment. It’s a conversation with Stephanie Wittels Wachs, host of Last Day. We talked about the Last Day episode "A Love Story." In it, we meet a couple named Larry and Shannon, who lost their son to suicide. And just like life, it’s tragic, but there’s also laughter and pride and celebration. "A Love Story" won a 2023 Webby Award for best documentary. There's a lot to learn from how Wittels Wachs and her team researched this story, built a relationship with sources, did tricky field reporting on a gun range in Montana and in the living room of a grieving couple, and wrote, edited, and voiced an episo…

When the Center for Public Integrity decided to look into who was pulling the strings behind Trump's 2017 tax bill — one reporters would ultimately call a swindle that benefited only the wealthiest Americans — they turned to award-winning reporter Sally Herships. In this episode, Herships pulls back the covers on the making of The Heist, and in particular, an investigation of Trump's treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin -- the man once known as the "foreclosure king." If you've ever wanted to report, host, or produce a longform audio documentary series or an investigative piece, this is the episode for you. You'll learn several ways to add drama to a complex story; how to use scenes wisely and ethically to immerse listeners; tactics for persuading people to talk with you, even if they're scared to talk; how to make sure you have the facts; and when a red Porsche says something important about a character's personality — and about how power works in Washington. And you'll get to watch El…

How do you successfully pitch a narrative story or series to podcast network or a public radio station? If you dream about making an audio documentary or a limited series, this episode is for you. Katie Colaneri is the thoughtful, fast-rising editor at the head of New Hampshire Public Radio’s audio documentary team — the same team behind the blockbuster hit "Bear Brook." She spent the last year crafting one of the clearest greenlight processes in public media and podcasting. She spec’ed out what pitches this station says yes to, what it says no to, and along the way, what makes for suspenseful, impactful longform storytelling – storytelling that matters in New Hampshire, across the country, and even across the globe. She shares that pitch process with us. And we dissect a This American Life story that started in a one-room New Hampshire school house.

Why do we trust one voice over another? Why do we find one voice trustworthy — and a different host or producer, perhaps with equal knowledge, not? In Part 2 of my conversation with voice actor and Audio Branding host Jodi Krangle, we explore what it takes for audiences to trust us. We explore: What we mean when we want “authenticity?” How do we get there? How audiences are changing, and how hosts and voice actors need to change in response What Gen Z audiences want now (hint: belonging and feeling seen, not talked down to) The role of diversity and cultural competence in being a great host or voice actor The art of the interview — and why learning this was so challenging for Jodi, even though she’s one of the most successful voice actors in North America!

Audio — whether used in podcast, radio, or marketing — is great at storytelling and conveying emotion. We know this intuitively. It’s how we react to a scene or an idea that often prompts us to share with others and generate word of mouth. We say, “This spoke to me, you have to hear it.” But why and how? Today’s conversation: How great storytelling and hosting engages audiences and influences listener behavior! We’re going under the covers with Jodi Krangle, host of Audio Branding. Curious about how a professional voice actor engages audiences? Welcome to Part 1 of a two-part episode with Jodi Krangle. In addition to hosting Audio Branding, Jodi is a Toronto-based voice actor whose voice is heard on commercials for Dell, HGTV, Nespresso & Kraft, among thousands of others.

Go behind the scenes with me as I talk with Bone Valley co-hosts Gilbert King and Kelsey Decker about their award-winning audio documentary series. The podcast has been called "one of the best of 2022" and "the best true crime podcast ever" by outlets ranging from The New Yorker to Slate to The Atlantic. The New York Times continues to report on developments in the case Bone Valley explores — the wrongful conviction of Leo Schofield, who has been in prison for the murder of his wife, Michelle, for 35 years. To create a good work of narrative nonfiction, let alone a great one, requires phenomenal reporting, structuring and writing skills. Gilbert King is a master. Bone Valley is King's first foray into audio journalism. It would take him on a wild ride into a new world of sound-designed, multi-voiced, intimate storytelling. He would grow a whole new set of skills. Over the course of the investigation, Bone Valley would be heavily shaped by King’s co-host, Kelsey Decker. She was…

Whether you’re building a new show or developing a single story, the first question you should ask yourself is always, “Who is my listener?” The second: “Why do they care about this story or show right now?” Spend time with LWC Studios founder and CEO Juleyka Lantigua, and you’ll come away knowing the third question: “Am I doing everything in my power to put my listener at the heart of everything I produce?” Lantigua knows exactly who her listener is. Her name is Kenya. She is a 32-year-old Afro-Latina. She got married last year. She’s a digital native, college-educated, culturally fluid, multi-lingual, and a bridge between generations. Kenya is ever present within the walls of LWC Studios, the podcast and film company Lantigua founded in 2017, after working as a writer, editor and producer in places like TED, The Atlantic, and NPR. She and her staff talk about Kenya’s exploits, her favorite music, and what her mother said to her this time. She’s a friend. There’s jus…

When I invited Dinner Sisters Co-Host Betsy Wallace on the show, it was with a couple of aims in mind. First, with Valentine’s Day approaching, I wanted to speak with a cooking show host to find out what she'd learned—over 200 episodes and the growth of a wildly devoted Facebook community—about the connection between food and relationships. Second, I wanted to unpack what Betsy and her sister and co-host, Kate Schultz, had created that inspires so much love from listeners. One answer: An impeccably crafted structure and the discipline to stick to it. Another: As a listener, you probably won't notice the structure, because the rapport between the sisters and their comfort on the mic is so evident. They work hard behind the scenes to make this production-heavy show easy on the ears. So easy, in fact, that the Food Network came calling, and the sisters found themselves contestants on the Great Food Truck Race. Listen to this episode to learn about setting purpose, values, and struct…

Jay Baer’s binge-worthy podcast, Standing Ovation, does for public speakers what Sound Judgment does for podcast hosts – but he did it first. On every episode, Baer, a member of the National Speakers Association Hall of Fame, and another famous speaker unpack a story from a guest’s keynote speech. The goal: To learn exactly what makes that story work. To me, his show was popcorn: Once I started listening, I couldn’t stop. Jay is funny, snappy, and — as you can see — wears plaid suits as just one of many deliberate tactics he’s used to build thought leadership in marketing communications. (Read one of his six books on attention and marketing for many more.) He’s also one of the nicest, most thought-provoking, curious podcast hosts I’ve met. Today, Jay and I dissect an episode of Standing Ovation. We pull apart a hilarious piece told by top speaker David Horsager. In the process, we learn: * How to stand out in an increasingly crowded field * How tiny shifts in craft and performanc…

To a lot of listeners, Glynn Washington is a legend. His show, Snap Judgment, has been on the air across the country and in our ears continuously since 2010. It’s snapped up two million times a month by people who love his particular, recognizable brand of storytelling—as he calls it, storytelling with a beat. He’s one of only three people in the world who have had three podcasts hit number one on the Apple charts at the same time—Snap Judgment and his two other shows, Spooked, and a limited series called Heaven’s Gate. When people describe Glynn, and Snap Judgment, the words that come up are curiosity. Music. Empathy…and WONDER. And… no wonder. Because who else other than Glynn would include this statement in the credits of a podcast episode? “We love the universe of life in its glorious splendor.” Glynn and I delve into hostiness, empathy, surprise and why you should go small when storytelling, not big, on this episode of Sound Judgment, where we investigate just what it …

What are the biggest questions you have about becoming the best podcast host you can be? And how podcasting affects not just your work, but your life? We're answering your deepest questions on today's episode, a look back at Season 1 and the surprising things we learned in 2022. And our hosts share the unexpected ways in which hosting their shows has changed their lives. Hosts and producers featured on this episode include John Barth of Marketplace and PRX; Pabel Martinez of Quien tu Eres?, Laura Joyce Davis of Shelter in Place and the Stanford Storytelling Project, Sarah Stewart Holland, co-host of Pantsuit Politics, Jay Baer of Standing Ovation, Emma Courtland of Crime Show, and Glynn Washington of Snap Judgment, sharing some of their most heartfelt dilemmas and joys. I share some deep lessons that I learned in this first season of Sound Judgment — insights and ideas that changed me—and my perspectives on hosting—in ways I didn't see coming. Here are six lessons, with accompanying …

As hosts, we have very little time to hook new listeners. We know this, because as listeners ourselves, we make decisions to listen to a new show—or abandon it—almost instantly. Likewise, we may have only half a minute for someone new to decide our show isn’t for them. So how do the best hosts hook their listeners—and what can we learn from them? In this solo-hosted episode, I explore four elements of effective intros through the insights and practices of Last Day’s Stephanie Wittels Wachs; Crime Show’s Emma Courtland; and Anne Bogel of What Should I Read Next?

On Sound Judgment, today's best hosts unpack their magic. When Anne Bogel was offered the plum gig of moderating a panel discussion with four famous authors at the Bookmarks NC Festival of Books and Authors, she knew it would be fun. But she had no idea of the turn it would take when her guests -- authors TJ Klune, Andrew Sean Greer, Brendan Slocumb, and Tia Williams, began one-upping each other with wild tales from book club experiences like no other. Anne Bogel's been hosting her literary matchmaking show since 2016. As of this moment, it's at the top of the Apple charts, just below the New York Times Review of Books podcast and well above the New Yorker's show. There's a reason for that: Anne is purposeful about how she hosts, whether that's holding a deep conversation about a guest's reading life in the studio, or fielding unexpected stories, and a ton of laughs, on stage in front of hundreds. This episode is full of actionable takeaways that will help you improve your hosting …

Sound Judgment has become a quest to identify the universal qualities and skills of "hostiness." If I’m on a quest, Pabel Martinez is on a mission—in his case, to redefine professionalism and to empower members of Latinx community to be their authentic selves 100% of the time. He’s sharing stories of Latinx professionals who are tired of playing the assimilation game in corporate America. Like him, they are rebelling against it, after lifetimes of pretending to be other than who they actually are. And we discover a new hostiness quality: That who we are as human beings has everything to do with how we show up on the mic, and whether—or not—we connect to our audiences.

How do you know who, exactly, you ARE behind the mic? What you sound like versus what you wish you sounded like? How to stand out as a host while being your unique self? Not to mention telling a gripping story or weaving a conversation listeners won't stop talking about tomorrow? Laura Joyce Davis, host and executive producer of the award-winning show Shelter in Place has answers...and they're gems. We learn what the rules are for hooking listeners and how to break them, with an example from Laura's interview with her friend, Pulitzer-Prize-winning author Anthony Doerr (Cloud Cuckoo Land, All the Light We Cannot See, and more). You'll hear Laura grapple with how much of her doubts and fears to share, along with how much of her personal life (Kids' names? Fights with her spouse?) and get tips from her Broadway-actor brother on how to get over the dreaded readerly voice on the mic for a natural, conversational, intimate sound. You'll be a better host after listening to this episode — an…

Last year, Crime Show's Emma Courtland was nominated for a Podcast Academy Ambie Award for best host -- most likely because of her measured, engaging delivery; her vivid, cinematic storytelling; and the humanity, nuance, and suspense of the stories she and her team uncovered. We dissect "Paging Dr. Barnes," an episode rescued from the cutting room floor and transformed into a beautiful exploration of a son discovering that his father was a con artist.

Research shows that young podcast listeners seek two specific things: a fresh, unique perspective and a sense of belonging. At Pantsuit Politics, co-hosts Beth Silvers and Sarah Stewart Holland have been bringing fresh perspectives and a sense of belonging to their listeners — who now number in the millions — for seven years. From the start, Pantsuit Politics was different. They were analyzing the ways politics shape how we live and how we feel about it. It takes skill, chemistry, and diplomacy to work together seamlessly the way Silvers and Stewart Holland do. We talk about their very different approaches to hosting, and how they perform as interlocking puzzle pieces — and why they feel it's even more important for the show to serve them than to serve their ever-growing, devoted audience.