The narrator is everything to narrative podcasts — these three got it right — There are a few rules that I’ve come to when it comes to how to choose the right narrator for a series, and these are basically immutable: The narrator must have a personal connection to the story. Without a personal connection, it’s very hard to care; it’s perhaps the bridge…

Six reasons why the public doesn’t trust the science about Covid origins…but maybe should — In case you haven’t seen the image of the latest animal thought to have led to the zoonotic spillover of SARS CO-V2 in late 2019 at the infamous Wuhan Huanan Market, let me describe it for you: If you crossed a corgy with a raccoon, gave it a blow dry…

Those stories that we weren’t supposed to know, but we did — By the time I got to High School, I wanted to be the next Chet Baker. I was First Trumpet, First Seat, which meant I got all the good solos. For the Dance Band, I practiced the trumpet solo from String of Pearls endlessly until I nailed it. For my…

Yes, this is a recipe…but it offers so much more. — This week many Jewish, and in my case Jew-ish, families are getting ready for their Seder dinners. This tradition is embraced equally by un-religious families, even basically non-practicing families, along with the most devout families. Religion can play any level of importance in this meal, but it’s tradition and storytelling…

Because this Indigenous woman embodies what North America we should all aspire for — I recently reviewed a narrative podcast series that chronicles the life of the folk singer-songwriter, and global icon, Buffy Sainte-Marie. I’ve seen her play live in New York City, and I’ve listened to her music over the years, but I actually had no idea how much of a sensation she…

Buffy Saint-Marie’s life story embodies Women’s History Month — If you grew up in the 1970s, you might remember Buffy as a regular on Sesame Street, palling around with Kermit and Big Bird, breast-feeding her son. If you’re a folk-music junkie, you’ll likely be able to sing along to her best-known songs: Universal Soldier, or Bury My Heart At…

Because it’s about sex — I woke up from a disturbing dream this morning. But as I was waking up from it, my half-awake brain sorted some important things out. Calling all parents of teenage girls here Listen up, and please, set your prudish, virginal, deluded thoughts of who your daughter *actually* is to the side. And your judgment too. Here was…

An interview with Zayd Ayres Dohrn, creator of Mother Country Radicals podcast series In the world of podcasting, making the Listicle season — the Best-Of lists — is basically the equivalent of winning an Emmy. If you’re a podcaster, this is the goal you’re reaching for. And if you find…

We’ve all been contributing to it for years — My brother-in-law is a professor at a leading UK University who teaches innovation studies in a business school. After learning about ChatGPT my husband asked him what he thought about it: Well, there was a time when people were worried about what would happen to all the horses … after…