Podcast Development and Production

Podcasts combine the craft of narrative and the knowledge of semiotics with the emotional power of music, audio capture, and sound design. This course focuses on three main areas of study. 

First, students will explore the content and styles of contemporary podcast forms — from the most popular of interview, journalistic, and narrative shows produced by the largest media companies and public radio stations, to the niche and experimental podcasts produced independently. Students will learn about the various genres, styles, structures, and subject matter of today’s podcasting world. 

Second, students will develop ideas for their own sample podcast episodes, switching from academic engagement with the material to the development of creative projects. Through this aspect of the course, students will collaborate to generate ideas, develop pitches, learn project management skills, script episodes, coordinate interviews, and more in order to take their shows from concept to reality.

Third, students will produce (capture audio, work on sound design, and edit) original podcast episodes and deliver the creative content for class workshops with their peers. In this facet of the course, students will have the opportunity to execute their creative vision, receive constructive criticism, and revise and polish their original podcast episodes.