Now two decades old, podcasting is an exuberant medium where new voices can be found every day. As a powerful communications tool that is largely unregulated and unusually accessible, this influential medium is attracting scholarly scrutiny across a range of fields, from media and communications to history, criminology, and gender studies. Hailed for intimacy and authenticity in an age of mistrust and disinformation, podcasts have developed fresh models for storytelling, entertainment, and the casual imparting of knowledge. Podcast hosts have forged strong parasocial relationships that attract advertisers, brands, and major platforms, but can also be leveraged for community, niche, and public-interest purposes.
In The Power of Podcasting, award-winning narrative podcast producer and leading international audio scholar Siobhán McHugh dissects the aesthetics and appeal of podcasts and reveals the remarkable power of the audio medium to build empathy and connection via voice and sound. Drawing on internationally acclaimed podcasts she helped produce (The Greatest Menace, The Last Voyage of the Pong Su, Phoebe’s Fall), she blends practical insights into making complex narrative podcasts and chatcasts or conversational shows with critical analysis of the art and history of audio storytelling. She also surveys the emerging canon of podcast formats. Grounded in concepts from the affective power of voice to the choreography of sound and packed with case studies and insider tips from McHugh’s decades of experience, this richly storied book immerses readers in the enthralling possibilities of the world of sound.
Now two decades old, podcasting is an exuberant medium where new voices can be found every day. As a powerful communications tool that is largely unregulated and unusually accessible, this influential medium is attracting scholarly scrutiny across a range of fields, from media and communications to history, criminology, and gender studies. Hailed for intimacy and authenticity in an age of mistrust and disinformation, podcasts have developed fresh models for storytelling, entertainment, and the casual imparting of knowledge. Podcast hosts have forged strong parasocial relationships that attract advertisers, brands, and major platforms, but can also be leveraged for community, niche, and public-interest purposes.
In The Power of Podcasting, award-winning narrative podcast producer and leading international audio scholar Siobhán McHugh dissects the aesthetics and appeal of podcasts and reveals the remarkable power of the audio medium to build empathy and connection via voice and sound. Drawing on internationally acclaimed podcasts she helped produce (The Greatest Menace, The Last Voyage of the Pong Su, Phoebe’s Fall), she blends practical insights into making complex narrative podcasts and chatcasts or conversational shows with critical analysis of the art and history of audio storytelling. She also surveys the emerging canon of podcast formats. Grounded in concepts from the affective power of voice to the choreography of sound and packed with case studies and insider tips from McHugh’s decades of experience, this richly storied book immerses readers in the enthralling possibilities of the world of sound.
Prologue: The Seductive Power of Sound
1. Podcasting: Why, Who, What
2. Appreciating Audio Storytelling: The Backstory
3. Radio, Podcasting and Intimacy
4. The Aerobic Art of Interviewing
5. Milestones in the Podsphere: From Serial to The Daily
6. Podcasting as Literary Journalism: S-Town
7. Creating a Hit Narrative Podcast, Part 1: Finding the Story
8. Creating a Hit Narrative Podcast, Part 2: Under the Hood of The
Last Voyage of the Pong Su
9. Inclusion, Diversity and Equality: Pushing the Boundaries of
Podcasting
10. Podcasting: What Next?
Appendix: Podcast Recommendations and Reviews
Notes
Acknowledgments
Index
Siobhán McHugh is an award-winning writer, documentary maker, critic, and podcast producer. She has won seven gold awards at New York Festivals for coproduced podcasts including Phoebe’s Fall, Wrong Skin, and The Last Voyage of the Pong Su, and is consulting producer on The Greatest Menace, a queer true-crime podcast. McHugh has published four books of social history, including The Snowy: A History (2019). She is honorary associate professor in media and communications at the University of Sydney and honorary associate professor in journalism at the University of Wollongong.
Absolutely fascinating, and a terrific lesson in how to tell good
stories. Whether you seek instruction, or simply to know why some
podcasts are better than others, this book is for you. Considering
how rapidly podcasting is developing, McHugh manages to keep it
bang up to date, charting the latest trends and the ever-expanding
honour roll of podcasts circulating around the world. For those
looking for practical guidance in creating or improving their own
podcasting, she populates the chapters with real, living, breathing
people in all the highs and lows of their humanity, which is, after
all, the secret to great radio, journalism and outstanding
podcasting.
*Olya Booyar, head of radio, Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union*
Storytelling is Siobhán McHugh’s gift, so it shouldn’t be a
surprise that this book is written as an immersive narrative … the
ideal book for students, trainers, researchers and anyone who wants
to learn about the inner workings of podcasting.
*Kim Fox, American University in Cairo and co-chair of the Podcast
Studies Network*
An invaluable resource for anyone interested in understanding
today’s global podcasting phenomenon. I learned so much.
*Carolina Guerrero, CEO of Radio Ambulante Studios*
The most in-depth guide to the best audio storytelling around the
world. Packed with useful insights and ideas.
*Marc Fennell, creator of Stuff the British Stole*
Essential reading for anyone aspiring to make memorable audio. This
is the ultimate guide to podcasting from a master of the craft.
*Richard Baker, host of The Last Voyage of the Pong Su*
A love letter to the power of podcasting and audio, from one of the
most experienced storytellers with sound.
*James Cridland, editor of PODNEWS*
Much more than a how-to guide for aspiring podcasters … A reminder
of the power of sound and the huge potential of the podcast
medium.
*Richard Berry, University of Sunderland*
McHugh’s detailed explanations of how audio can transform words are
profound. . . . The Power of Podcasting is a reminder that audio
storytelling is an art form.
*Australian Book Review*
The Power of Podcasting draws you in from the very first words. . .
. [McHugh] recounts the incredible journal of podcasting has taken
from its birth through today. While that tale could be told by
many, hearing it from someone with such intimate knowledge brings a
sense of warmth and personality. It is like unearthing a time
capsule and being part of the action all at once.
*HPodcast*
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