‘I listen to a lot of podcasts, but narrative non-fiction storytelling has a special place in my heart as that is what I like to create as an audio producer. The beauty of it is that you get to work with interviews, writing, music and sound to create something that is crafted and original.’
Writers on Writing is our regular conversation with a writer or industry professional about the writing craft, industry insights, and their own practice. This week, we spoke to internationally recognised audio producer in radio and podcasting, Lea Redfern, about the benefits and joys of the podcasting medium, ahead of her Podcasting 101 workshop at Writing NSW on 9 September.
How important is high-quality sound recording equipment for a first-time podcaster?
These days, there are many devices such as mobile phones that can make excellent sound recordings. You do need to understand mic technique and recording environments to make the best of them – but you also need these skills to use professional gear properly. The equipment is less important than being able to listen well and hear bad-quality recordings – and avoid making them.
Do you have any concerns that podcasts will replace radio in the same way that streaming services have been popularised over TV channels?
I’d argue podcasting is an extension of radio, not a competitor. It helps to think of podcasting as a delivery system rather than a genre of audio. While some things are particular to podcasting – for example, a podcast listener is more likely to be listening through headphones – they won’t always be, and radio listeners can listen with headphones too. There are lots of characteristics that cross over, so you can’t be absolute. I’m for a field of many flowers, as a former boss used to say. More awareness of what audio can bring to listeners is good for both radio and podcasting.
What’s your favourite kind of podcast: interviews, topic discussions or fiction storytelling?
See above – I love a field of many flowers. I listen to a lot of podcasts, but narrative non-fiction storytelling has a special place in my heart as that is what I like to create as an audio producer. The beauty of it is that you get to work with interviews, writing, music and sound to create something that is crafted and original.
What great Australian podcasts do you recommend?
We are really blessed with some great podcasts in Australia.
I don’t think enough is made of how successful ABC Conversations is – as both radio and podcasts. It’s a long-form interview expertly presented by Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski with an excellent team of producers behind them. Every episode seems to have at least one (and often many) gem of an idea or moving moment. It’s a form of audio alchemy that they manage to produce so many interviews of such exceptional quality. And in narrative non-fiction, Louisa Lim’s King of Kowloon is a recent(ish) standout. Stuff the British Stole brings issues like colonialism and racism to the fore while being an entertaining listen. Like Audible’s The Greatest Menace, has garnered many well-deserved awards and is rightly internationally recognised.
The 7 am podcast by the Monthly and the Guardian’s Full Story both deliver a deeper understanding of the forces behind the news and politics. Both are standouts. I could go on!
Lea Redfern is a lecturer with the Department of Media and Communications at the University of Sydney, specialising in audio and podcasting. Lea is known for her innovative creative and student-centred teaching. She is passionate about the possibilities of audio and energised by the creative freedom of podcasting.
Lea has over 20 years of experience at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and has been awarded both in Australia and internationally, with an Australian Human Rights award for documentary radio, and the 2016 inaugural Sarah Award for radio drama in New York.
Join Podcasting 101 with Lea Redfern at Writing NSW on Saturday 9 September, 10am-4pm.
