Before there were podcasts, there were grandparents
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The last time I saw my grandmother was in July 2019. We’ve never lived in the same country, but usually, I visit once a year or so.
One afternoon during that trip, my sister and I went over to her apartment to bake banana bread with my cousin’s daughter. It was her bat mitzvah, and she wanted to bake something with all of the women in her family to mark the occasion. Meanwhile, my grandmother, Safta Ettie, was occasionally shouting directions from the living room—make sure not to use that spoon, don’t put too much flour or it’ll get dry. Once the loaves finished baking, we served ourselves slices, boiled the kettle for tea, and joined her in the living room.
I don’t remember how we got my grandmother to talk about her childhood, but at some point, I realized I should record her. All I had was my iPhone. Looking back, I should have at least moved my phone to be next to her—I would not be pleased if someone sent me audio of this quality to edit.
As far away as she sounded, the room felt intimate. She told us about her childhood growing up in Lithuania, helping her mother run a tavern, and about fleeing to South Africa in 1938. I’d heard bits and pieces of the story before, but I’d never heard her tell it.
This week’s recommendation is 70 over 70, a new show from Pineapple Street Studios, which got me thinking a lot about intergenerational podcasting. Whether podcasts are something you listen to while you’re walking or cooking or doing whatever, or whether it’s your job to make them (hello, it’s me, I’m both of those people), I think we can all learn a bit about how to create intimate spaces for special conversations.
Lots of us haven’t been able to see our parents and grandparents over the course of the pandemic, so next time you give them a call, why not try recording them (after you get their consent, of course)? See what happens! Let us know if you get something good.
70 over 70 is a new show from Pineapple Street Studios. Each week, host Max Linsky interviews a different person over the age of 70. The guests are impressive: Sister Helen Prejean, Dionne Warwick, and Michio Kaku have all been interviewed in the episodes that have come out so far. I love that these conversations get at the kinds of questions that can eat away at you but are hard to ask—are you afraid of dying? What do you think comes next? 70 over 70 pairs well with a contemplative walk in nice weather, and if you haven’t taken one in a while, I highly recommend doing that, too.
On the blog, freelance publicist Sabina Wex has a piece about whether your company should make a podcast.
Last week, we told you about the new podcast we’ve been working on, called Building Good. In the season two premiere, hosts Jen Hancock and Tim Coldwell talk to psychiatrist Dr. David Goldbloom about how to build good jobs that support mental health.
Shout out to executive producer Jay Cockburn and associate producer Kattie Laur for making the show, and to digital producer Emily Latimer for promoting it on socials!
This week on Well Said, Thomas King joins guest host Amanda Gauthier to talk about the importance of Indigenous storytelling, and about his new book, Sufferance.
eOne is hiring a senior producer to oversee production and operations at their podcast network.
This is a big-picture-thinking kind of role, so if you’ve got production experience with a soupçon of project management, apply on LinkedIn.
Calling all Francophone music lovers! Spotify is hiring a junior editor to curate playlists with a focus on Francophone content.
This is a permanent job based in Toronto, but don’t worry—the new high frequency rail project* that was just announced will bring you back to La Belle Province in no time.
*Caveat: there is no completion date, we have no idea when we’ll be able to reliably travel by rail from Toronto to Montreal, and in the meantime you will likely get stuck on the track behind a freight train for longer than feels comfortable.
In other Spotify jobs: Gimlet is hiring a senior producer for Stolen, the investigative series from Connie Walker. They’re looking for someone with experience in trauma-informed interviewing.
The job can be remote as long as you’re in Brazil, Canada, Mexico, or the U.S.
Here’s this week’s roundup from the CBC:
Unreserved is CBC’s weekly radio show for “Indigenous community, culture, and conversation.”
They’re looking for a senior producer, and you have until EOD July 13 to apply.
The Cost of Living is looking for a new producer!
This is a show that looks at how our individual lives are tied to the larger economy.
Apply by EOD June 19.
Surprise!
It’s not too late to apply for The Sunday Magazine’s one-year producer position.
You now have until July 19.
Earlier this week, Misha Euceph wrote a Twitter thread about rates and payment in podcasting. Bookmark this for the next time someone asks you how much it would cost to make a show, what your day rate is, etc.
Vocal Fry’s very own senior producer Ellen Payne Smith is hosting a workshop with CJLO at 4 p.m. on Monday, July 19. It’s about what role the interview has in crafting and communicating climate stories. Participants will have the opportunity to create their own audiogram!
The Writer’s Co-op is hosting another workshop: this time, on how to make journalism more efficient! If you’ve ever over-reported a story (hello, moi) and want to improve your hourly rate, then join Wudan Yan and Jenni Gritters on Wednesday, July 21 at 2 pm EDT/11 am PDT. Tickets are $25 USD.
We want to hear from you! What are you looking for in your podcast news? Let us know on Twitter, Instagram, or by email at info@vocalfrystudios.com. Thanks to Emily Latimer for editing this newsletter, and to Katie Jensen for designing it.
We’ll see you again on July 16. Until then, here’s an update from producer Max’s cat, Cynthia, begrudgingly keeping cool beneath a frozen washcloth. Same, Cynthia, same.
Yours in friends and fries,
Michal
