Beforehand: listen and learn

All participants listen to exemplary science podcasts on our online learning platform. Reflection questions about these examples encourage them to think about topics and narrative forms for their own stories. A key lesson is that podcasts are more than recorded interviews; they consist of numerous ingredients, from sound and music to voice-over.

Session 1: What is an audio story?

What is a podcast? What are the possibilities and limitations of the medium? And how do you tell a story through sound? In this session, participants receive an introduction to both audio and sound as well as storytelling. Using numerous examples, the coach raises critical questions that will be addressed throughout the training.

The session is divided into three parts:

1. Understanding the medium
   We dive into the medium. What can you hear, and what can you do with it in a podcast? What are frequencies and spaces? How can you intentionally create sounds, and in what ways—direct, representative, or suggestive—can sound be used in storytelling?
2. Crash course in storytelling
   What are stories, and how do they work? What forms can you use without falling into clichés? And how do you determine which form best suits your content?
3. Exploring participants’ ideas
   Finally, we discuss participants' stories concretely. In a group discussion, everyone presents their idea, and together we brainstorm possible ways to develop them.

Session 2: How do you design an audio story?

Now that participants understand what a podcast and a story are, we focus more concretely on implementation. How do you get started practically? What sounds do you record? This session consists of two parts: using voices (interviews, voice-over, scenes) and the functions of music and sound design. In addition to practical issues like preparing interviews and recording techniques, the following questions are addressed:

• Which speakers do I use?
  How do I ask questions that suit audio? What interview techniques can help me? When is it better to use a scene instead of a traditional interview?
• When do you use music and sound design—and when don’t you?
  What does sound design involve besides bass and explosions? What are the functions of music and sound design in a podcast? How can sound influence what a listener feels or imagines? How do you use sound to create pacing, slowdowns, or emphasis in your podcast? Which sounds can you borrow from databases, and which should you record yourself?

Sessions 3 and 4: How do you create an audio story?

How do you work with your collected recordings and editing software? During two sessions, participants edit their own audio stories with guidance from the coach. They receive technical, content-related, and stylistic support. Participants get a crash course in editing (cutting and splicing, etc.), learn to select and structure their material, and determine the best form for their story. Key questions include: What structure and format make your story as gripping and engaging as possible? A mix of collective and individual feedback ensures constant interaction. Participants can ask the coach questions while working on their podcasts. After each session, a listening moment is organized for participants to provide feedback on each other’s work.

Afterwards

We provide support to help you finalize your podcast technically.