I’ve been an avid podcast listener for many years. Initially for the entertainment value, but then as a tool for learning the craft of storytelling. I am fascinated by the different techniques they use to create narrative structures. It’s a bit like listening to musicians, each one with their own unique style. And besides, we should always be learning from other storytellers. Like music, story is a mystical format, infinitely variable in content.
Whenever I mention this to people who ask me about the best way to become a better storyteller, they immediately ask for recommendations. What should they be listening to in order to hone their story skills? With the new year kicking off - Happy New Year by the way - and the conclusion of this crazy pandemic still many months away, it’s an opportunity to up our story game. So I wanted to share 8 (out of many) favorites which will (hopefully) enlighten and inspire. (listed in alphabetical order)
Pick a few that sound most interesting to you, most in alignment with your objectives, then give a listen. And leave me a comment as to any insights gained, or tell me about the podcasts you’re listening to for valuable storytelling tips. (I’m up for learning too!)
99% Invisible
Founded by Roman Mars (yes, he really did start this podcast from his own bedroom) 99% Invisible is about all the thought that goes into the things we don’t think about — the unnoticed architecture and design that shape our world. While the focus is on objects and infrastructure, the stories, naturally, involve people and history. As you listen, realize that every story could consume days to fully explore, yet they do so in 30-60 minutes.
Ear Hustle
Co-founded by Bay Area artist Nigel Poor and two former inmates, Earlonne Woods and Antwan Williams, this is a special podcast for me. As many of you already know, for two years I helped produce a pair of TEDx events inside a California State prison. Ear Hustle was the first podcast created and produced in prison, featuring stories of the daily realities of life inside California’s San Quentin State Prison, shared by those living it. the podcast now tells stories from both inside prison and from the outside, post-incarceration. Anyone telling stories about difficult topics should tune in and pay close attention to the combination of narration and interview questions that form their stories.
Longform
What I love about the Longform Podcast, is that it’s not about stories, so much as it is about the storytellers. The Longform Podcast is a weekly conversation with a non-fiction writer on how they tell stories. The podcast is produced by Longform in partnership with The Atavist and is hosted by Aaron Lammer, Max Linsky, and Evan Ratliff. The interviews they conduct are brilliant as they explore how renowned journalists and authors find their stories, craft their narratives, and navigate working in the publishing industry.
Radio Diaries
I have to admit that I continue to be captivated by the remarkable format in which the subjects are given tape recorders to capture the story of their life in the moment, after which the Radio Diaries team crafts a compelling narrative based on those recordings. Radio Diaries tells the extraordinary stories of ordinary life. We’ve collaborated with teenagers and octogenarians, prisoners and prison guards, gospel preachers and bra saleswomen, the famous and the unknown…and along the way we’ve helped pioneer a new form of citizen journalism. Joe Richman is a master at finding raw stories of our shared humanity. After hearing a few episodes you may be tempted to try this format out yourself.
Snap Judgement
This is something special. Narration, interview, personal story, with production values that make these stories sizzle. The Snap Judgment radio show and podcast mixes real stories with killer beats to produce cinematic, dramatic, kick-ass radio. Snap’s raw, musical brand of storytelling dares listeners to see the world through the eyes of another. This is storytelling… with a BEAT!!. It’s a format beyond words, but the focus is all about creating impact, something founder Glynn Washington has mastered.
The Memory Palace
Historically significant people & events are chronicled in a format which captures your attention to the point that you have to remember to breathe. As the AV club once said, The Memory Palace podcast is among the most potent pieces of audio being produced today; the show’s short tales are so emotionally concentrated that, upon listening, they bloom in the space between one’s ears, like a single drop of dye propagating through an entire glass of water. If your personal story includes historical references, listen to how Nate DiMeo is able to compress hours of narrative into episodes that are typically 10-15 minutes in length.
The Moth
If your main goal is to stand on a stage and tell a personal story, then you need to listen to The Moth. We want to hear stories from all over the world and from all sorts of people, and we hope to inspire people to tell their stories who might not be heard otherwise. We teach what we know to help elevate these voices. Our directors spend hours working with the storytellers, helping them turn the true events of their lives into art onstage. The speakers receive some professional guidance beforehand, but their stories are as real as it gets, with humor, sorrow, and insights. Much story wisdom will be gained by listening to this podcast, produced by Jay Allison and his amazing team.
This American Life
Ira Glass has been producing this radio masterpiece for 25 years, and it remains an icon of storytelling. Narration, interviews, reporting are employed to produce short segments that will capture your attention, make you laugh, and have you examining your own life. Mostly we do journalism, but an entertaining kind of journalism that’s built around plot. In other words, stories! Our favorite sorts of stories have compelling people at the center of them, funny moments, big feelings, surprising plot twists, and interesting ideas. Like little movies for radio. I must admit that I’ve listened to every episode. Seriously. Do it.
There you have it. Eight podcasts that, if you let them, will take over you life as they have done mine. Every episode a gem. Every story a glimpse into our own storyline.
I hope that you enjoyed this post. If so, please share your wisdom and insights below. And don’t forget to subscribe. You can also find me on LinkedIn and Twitter, or even drop me a line with any thoughts or questions you may have about your storytelling.
My dad passed recently and I wrote about it in what I think is a unique way here: https://lyle.substack.com/p/how-to-write-better-stories-in-4
It was so cool to see it resonate with a lot of people too.
I listen to most of these podcasts all the time. I love them.