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Sound School Podcast

Rob Rosenthal/PRX/Transom.org
Audio Storytelling
NPR
Transom
Podcasting
Public Radio
PRX
The Good Whale
Hillary Frank
Climate Change
Radiolab
Class
Immigration
Sound Design
Storytelling
Keiko
Humor
Journalism
Narrative Tools
Personal Storytelling
WCAI

The Backstory to Great Audio Storytelling, hosted by Rob Rosenthal, for Transom and PRX.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes393Founded15 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
How ToEducation

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Artwork for Sound School Podcast

Latest Episodes

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 t... more

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... more

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 Memo... more

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 Sch... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Sherre DeLys
Sound artist and creator of If produced for The Listening Room
The Listening Room (ABC)
Episode: Old School Sound School — "If" by Sherre DeLys
Annie Cheney
Story subject in Life Stories series; documentary storyteller
Independent/Radio Diaries projects mentioned in episode
Episode: Old School Sound School – Concerning Breakfast
Jamie Loftus
Comedian and podcaster; created Lolita Podcast and My Year in Mensa
Self-described as comedian and podcaster; creator of Lolita Podcast and My Year in Mensa
Episode: Revisiting: Remember to Breathe
Joe Dunthorne
Author and storyteller featured in Half Life segment
BBC/History podcasts (as described in episode)
Episode: Sounds Cool!
Olivia O'Flynn
Senior podcast producer and writer for Audiocraft; writer/narrator of Nocturnal Worlds
Audiocraft (Australia)
Episode: Meditating with Platypuses, Penguins, and Wombats
Cloe Axelson
Senior Editor of Cognoscenti at WBUR
WBUR Cognoscenti
Episode: Deploy This One Tiny Maneuver to Improve Audio Essays
Rev. Carol Pickett
Prebataillon Minister, chaplain and witness to executions
Walls Unit death house chaplaincy
Episode: Witness to an Execution
Jad Abumrad
Producer, co-creator of Fela Kuti, Fear No Man
Audible / Radio Lab
Episode: Jad and FayFay Talk "Fela Kuti: Fear No Man"
FayFay Odudu
Nigerian producer, culture broker
Radio Workshop / Audible
Episode: Jad and FayFay Talk "Fela Kuti: Fear No Man"

Host

Rob Rosenthal
Host of Sound School (intro and framing); guides conversations and teaches craft

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 474 ratings
  • Always engaging

    I love the way Rob invites guests to talk about the art of podcasting. He curates conversations that are as much about the skill of storytelling as they are about understanding the people who doing the storytelling. A delightful and helpful show!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bay Area Lizzie
    United States2 years ago
  • Great resource

    This show always gets me thinking of audio and storytelling in new ways — endlessly helpful (and just fun to listen to)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    fil--
    United States2 years ago
  • Love it

    Always inspiring.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Maarten Dallinga
    Netherlands2 years ago
  • Sound School Podcast started my audio obsession

    Sound School Podcast, formerly “How Sound”, started my audio obsession. I started listening when I worked on a project with Island communities who were starting their own radio stations, and beginning to experiment with audio documentaries. The beauty of “Sound School” is that you can be systematic and educate yourself, step by step in audio storytelling, or, you can dip in and out, like having an “audio tasting menu”. Later, when you’ve finally made your first audio pieces, you can return to fa... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DDWD1972
    Ireland3 years ago
  • continuing education for salties and seekers of truth and narrative everywhere

    Rob gets it and he wants you to get it too. Thanks for making this show Rob!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Flyawayfarm
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Consistently teaches craft with generous episodes and practical tips for sound design and interview technique.
Listeners praise the show as a master class in radio production and storytelling craft.
The host curates conversations that are as much about the skill of storytelling as they are about understanding the people who do the storytelling.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#158
United States/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#200
Canada/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#70
Italy/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#129
Australia/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#138
France/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#13
Denmark/Education/How To

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Old School Sound School – Concerning Breakfast
Q: What is this story about?
It's about how breakfast memories and daily rituals illuminate family history, trauma, and resilience, and how personal storytelling can preserve difficult experiences for future generations.
Meditating with Platypuses, Penguins, and Wombats
Q: What is this podcast about and who is narrating?
The host and Olivia discuss Nocturnal Worlds, a Sleep and meditation podcast with science education elements; Olivia explains the dual role of storytelling and guided narration.
Revisiting: A Cow A Day
Q: What drew you to the concept of following a cow for a day as the basis for a radio piece?
The guest explains that the project begins with an observed curiosity about everyday life and the city, and that the lack of a traditional narrative becomes the point of the work, inviting listeners to reflect on their own perception and attention.
What If the Main Character Narrates?
Q: If you had narrated the story, do you think it would have been a different story?
Yes, it would have been a really different story. I think that you would hear a lot more about Dr. Primo as opposed to perceiving him.
It’s Magic
Q: What can you tell me about how you came to that ending?
Champika explained that they wanted to capture a sense of magical realism and spirituality in the concluding segment of their story, which was influenced by their experiences and observations in the dump.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Sound School Podcast

What is Sound School Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show consistently centers craft and practice in audio storytelling, with a strong emphasis on sound design, interviewing technique, and editorial decisions that shape narrative. Episodes feature practitioners from documentary and narrative podcasting, exploring how to structure pieces, select sounds, and guide listeners through complex topics while maintaining ethical storytelling. Noteworthy is the mix of hands-on production insights, cross-cultural collaborations, and discussions about the evolving landscape of audio journalism, making it a practical resource for aspiring and seasoned creators alike.

Where can I find podcast stats for Sound School Podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Sound School Podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Sound School Podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Sound School Podcast get?

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What are the audience demographics for Sound School Podcast?

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How many subscribers and views does Sound School Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Sound School Podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Sound School Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Sound School Podcast:

1. This American Life
2. Radiolab
3. 99% Invisible
4. Articles of Interest
5. the memory palace

How many episodes of Sound School Podcast are there?

Sound School Podcast launched 15 years ago and published 393 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Sound School Podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Sound School Podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Sound School Podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Sound School Podcast?

Recent guests on Sound School Podcast include:

1. Sherre DeLys
2. Annie Cheney
3. Jamie Loftus
4. Joe Dunthorne
5. Olivia O'Flynn
6. Cloe Axelson
7. Rev. Carol Pickett
8. Jad Abumrad

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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