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CREATIVE WRITING FOR

PODCASTING
CRWR 302 ONLINE 2

THE BASICS: ALL DETAILS ARE ON CANVAS

▸ Instructor: Jennifer Moss,

▸ Email: crwr.302a@ubc.ca

▸ Office Hours: By appointment.

▸ TA Office Hours: BUCH E178, Tuesdays (TBC)

▸ CANVAS info for students: guides.canvaslms.com

▸ Course Objectives: Through a mix of discussion, creative work, lecture,

writing, listening to podcasts, and actual podcast generation, this course
equips students with a nuanced understanding of the practical and creative
parameters of podcasting, its related social impacts, and the potential it
holds for writers.
CRWR 302 3

JOBS I HAVE HAD

▸ Chief Creative Officer - JAR Audio

▸ Instructor - UBC Creative Writing

▸ Writer / Broadcaster, CBC Radio

▸ Radio producer - CBC Radio, Roundhouse Radio

▸ Interactive installation producer - SFU 50th anniversary

▸ Writer / Digital Interactive Producer - National Film Board of

Canada Digital Studio

▸ Print journalist, Vancouver Sun, HK Magazine, various & sundry

publications

▸ Mom

▸ Singing telegram & balloon decoration artist

▸ Waitress

▸ Playwright

▸ Waitress

▸ Peeler. Of Carrots.

▸ Ski Instructor

▸ Nanny
CRWR 302 4

ASSIGNMENT BREAKDOWN
▸ Assignment 1- Listen and Evaluate: Students evaluate and compare / contrast
2 podcasts from different authors & genres. (25%)

▸ Assignment 2 - Group Podcast exercise: Students form groups and co-create

their own podcasts. Finished podcast is presented to the class and discussed.
( 2 parts, 25%)

▸ Assignment 3 - Individual Podcast: Students propose, research, write, &

create their own podcast. Topics vetted by the prof or T.A. (30%)

▸ Weekly writing response assignments: This is a short written response to in-

class content in the form of an in-class journal. Time will be allowed in class for
writing. Writing will be photographed & submitted via email by students (10%)

▸ Online Participation: Participation in this class is expected to be active and

prominent, as many podcasts are niche-driven, opinion-based offerings.
Participation in weekly online discussions and activities via Canvas. (10%)
 CRWR 302 5

CITR AND YOU

▸ A NOTE ABOUT CITR: Campus Radio - an incredible resource:

▸ After Covid-19, you will be encouraged to use the studios to record

& edit for your podcasts. In the meantime — make sure to attend
their online audio training offered to this class via Zoom.

▸ In future: In order to access their studios and gear, you must first
become a member of CITR (discounted fee if you explain you are
with CRWR 302), then book a tour of their facility. Details on their
website: http://www.citr.ca/ .

▸ To learn more about opportunities at CiTR, contact music@citr.ca

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LISTENING BRINGS US

TOGETHER
 CRWR 302 7

THIS WEEK:
▸ Broadcasting Vs. Podcasting: Discuss difference.

▸ Central Question: What is lost & what is

gained with the rise of podcasting culture?
▸ Intro recording exercise: Who are you & what are your podcast
tastes?

▸ Listening Exercise: Deep End of the Pool — This American Life.

▸ Writing response: (300-500 words -- respond to a writing

prompt — 15 mins.
CRWR 302 8

BROADCASTING ROOTS
▸ Late 19th century: Serbian-
American scientist Nikola Tesla and
Italian physicist Guglielmo Marconi
went head-to-head in the race to
invent radio.

▸ 100 years later, ask any two people

who invented the radio and you'll
get two different answers.
Nikola Tesla: The Thinker

▸ Marconi beat Tesla to the patent -

but Tesla was credited
posthumously.

Guglielmo Marconi: in front of a telegraph in the

laboratory aboard his yacht "Electra", circa 1935.
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RADIO HEYDAY
1930’S - 2003 (?)
The Shadow:
Death in the Deep, 1954

War of the Worlds:

Orson Welles, 1938
CRWR 302 10

PODCASTING ROOTS
▸ Podcast = episodic series of digital media
files. Downloadable via web syndication to
the user's own local computer or portable
media player.

▸ The word comes from "iPod" and

"broadcast." By February 2007, there had
been 24 attempts to register trademarks
containing the word "PODCAST" in United
States.

▸ Among the pioneers of podcasting are

Adam Curry, Tristan Louis and Dave Winer.
Back in 2001, the three collaborated in using
RSS technology and their media content to
provide the first, albeit, prototype podcasts.
 CRWR 302 11

DISCUSS: WHAT IS A PODCAST?

William Frederic "Bill" Burr is an American comedian, writer, and actor. He is best known for his stand-up
comedy specials.
CRWR 302 12

WHAT MAKES A PODCAST

DIFFERENT?

Inquiring Mind
CRWR 302 13

WHAT MAKES A PODCAST DIFFERENT?

▸ Length isn’t everything. Podcasts are usually less
constrained than broadcasts in terms of length. Commercials,
if there are any, can be slotted in anywhere.

▸ In terms of topics, niche is nice. The personal and arcane are

welcome. Many successful podcasts rely on a greater degree
of intimacy.

▸ Format is looser. You don’t need to frame and re-identify

your show & your guests as constantly as you do in live radio.
Your audience has downloaded you. They know who you are.
CRWR 302

THE END OF ABSENCE: MICHAEL HARRIS

▸ “But today, How quickly, how irrevocably, THIS KILLS
THAT.”

▸ “What will we carry forward? And what worthy things

might we thoughtlessly leave behind?”

▸ “A new medium is never an addition to an old one, nor

does it leave the old one in peace.” (Marshall McLuhan,
Understanding Media)

▸ DISCUSS in the context of radio & podcasting.

CRWR 302

LOST WITH PODCASTS GAINED WITH PODCASTS

▸ sense of commonality ▸ customization

▸ element of surprise ▸ variety

▸ unwanted ads ▸ more tailored, personal ads

▸ being part of a larger environment ▸ your own private bubble

▸ enforced listening ▸ opportunity to ‘hate-listen’

▸ curated listening ▸ hyper-curated listening

▸ clear sense of what is commercial ▸ sense that all stories can find
an audience
CRWR 302

LISTENING

▸ Listen: Is
“customizable” media all it’s cracked
up to be? Freakonomics - School of One: (@14 mins)
▸ Discuss: What is the difference between browsing &
choosing your media vs. experiencing sound as it comes at
you, predetermined by the radio, or the environment?
CRWR 302, INFOGRAPHIC
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HOW A PODCAST IS

BORN
CRWR 302 18

A FACE FOR PODCASTING

▸ Ira Glass: Creator of This American
Life

▸ Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich,

creators of RadioLab

▸ Sarah Koenig of Serial

▸ Megan Tan of Millennial

▸ …
CRWR 302 - Class Listening Exercise: 19

THIS AMERICAN LIFE

EXPLORES:

THE DEEP END

OF THE POOL
CRWR 302 - DISCUSSION AFTER LISTENING 20

EXPANDING AN IDEA
▸ How does the theme carry over
between 3 storylines?

▸ The first story was literally about

the deep end of a pool.

▸ The second story was about just

jumping into unknown professional
territory & learning on the fly.

▸ The third, about going off the

psychological deep end while
following an official state program.
CRWR 302 - INTRODUCTORY RECORDING EXERCISE 21

WHAT IS YOUR NAME?

WHAT IS YOUR PASSION?
WHY DO YOU LIKE/HATE PODCASTS?
WHICH PODCASTS ARE YOUR FAV’S?
WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE CLASS?

Use your phone to record & upload to Canvas.

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CLASS PODCAST

PODERNERA
By the end of this class, you will create your own
podcast episode to potentially add to this
soundcloud archive. You may also start your own
audio archive, if you don’t already have one.
 CRWR 302

WILL RADIO KILL THE VIDEO STAR? …OR NOT.

▸ “The success of Serial is the most spectacular evidence
of the return of radio, a trend that has been growing for
the last few years. Suddenly our grandparents’ mass
medium is cool again. In a twist of fate (and with
apologies to The Buggles) radio is killing the video stars.
Or at least giving them some serious competition.”
Shannon Rupp, SWERVE https://vimeo.com/63436140

▸ http://calgaryherald.com/life/swerve/podcast-success-
means-that-radio-is-not-dead-its-resurgent
CRWR 302

ASSIGNMENT 1 - LISTEN AND EVALUATE

▸ Pick a sampling of two podcast episodes from different
authors & genres. From the list in the syllabus, or your own
selections.

▸ Use your analytical skills to write constructive critiques of

these podcasts, comparing & contrasting the samples based
on set criteria, and ultimately giving them a rating out of ten.

▸ Evaluation: You will be evaluated on clarity of expression,

demonstrated understanding of analytical criteria, and
originality of thought. 1500 words, double-spaced, 12-pt font
(25%)
CRWR 302

ANALYTICAL CRITERIA:
▸Focus: Is the focus of the podcast clearly identified
and explored?
▸Expression: Is the writing style compelling?
▸Sound: How is sound employed in the storytelling?
▸Support: How do the examples given in the
storytelling support the thesis?
▸Resolution: Is there a 'strong finish' to the writing?
Which podcast do you like best and why?
CRWR 302

OLD WAYS NEW WAYS GOOD WAYS BAD WAYS MY WAYS YOUR WAYS
▸ Losing collectivity as a culture: Rarely is everybody
listening to the same thing at the same time. Is this good
or bad? What are the consequences?

▸ Every new technology is regarded with suspicion…

sometimes with good reason: http://www.therichest.com/
rich-list/most-shocking/the-10-worst-inventions-in-history/

▸ The writer Jean Cocteau (1889 - 1963) thought the radio

was a “faucet of foolishness” that was going to wreck
people’s minds. In what ways was he right/wrong?
CRWR 302

POWER OF COLLECTIVE SOUND EXPERIENCES

▸ “The distant horn is heard,

and even sweeter music
floats upon the breeze.”
▸ (ACT V, Scene i, The Merchant of
Venice).

▸ Collective pot-banging in Vancouver

during COVID-19 lockdown, 2020:
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=sG8pcgOTYD4
CRWR 302

SHAKESPEARE REIMAGINED

▸ “The distant horn is

heard, and I taketh
out mine earbuds to
mute said reviled
horn in favour of a
private symphony of
mine own.”
CRWR 302

AUDIO AND EMPATHY

▸ How Radio Creates Empathy: Jad
Abumrad (Radiolab)

▸ http://bigthink.com/videos/how-
radio-creates-empathy

▸ What is the relationship between

audience and podcaster?

▸ How is this relationship

developed?
CRWR 302 30

HOMEWORK:
▸ Please read through Syllabus and NOTE IMPORTANT
ZOOM and DUE DATES.

▸ Start thinking RIGHT AWAY about Assignment 1.

▸ Do your writing prompt and activity for this week.

▸ Read through the “Further Explorations” materials on

Canvas and choose something to post about to the weekly
online discussion. 

CRWR 302 31

SOME GREAT PODCASTS (LISTED IN YOUR SYLLABUS)

▸ Serial http://serialpodcast.org/

▸ This American Life http://www.thisamericanlife.org/canada

▸ The Moth http://themoth.org/

▸ Radiolab http://www.radiolab.org/

▸ Reply All https://gimletmedia.com/show/reply-all/

▸ Strangers http://www.kcrw.com/news-culture/shows/strangers

▸ The Heart http://www.theheartradio.org/

▸ The Truth http://thetruthpodcast.com/The_Truth.html

▸ Bioneers http://media.bioneers.org/radio-series/

▸ Radio Diaries http://www.radiodiaries.org/

▸ The Allusionist http://www.theallusionist.org/

▸ Death, Sex & Money http://www.wnyc.org/shows/deathsexmoney/

▸ Dinner Party Download http://www.dinnerpartydownload.org/

▸ WTF with Marc Maron http://www.wtfpod.com/

▸ Unfictional http://www.kcrw.com/news-culture/shows/unfictional

▸ Snap Judgement http://snapjudgment.org/

▸ Start Up https://gimletmedia.com/show/startup/
CRWR 302 32

SOME MORE GREAT PODCASTS

▸ With Special Guest Lauren Lapkis http://www.earwolf.com/show/with-special-guest-lauren-lapkus/

▸ CBC’s Under the Influence podcast http://www.cbc.ca/radio/undertheinfluence

▸ It’s all journalism: http://www.podcasts.com/its-all-journalism/episode/117-amy-oleary-tyson-evans-the-new-

york-times

▸ The Mortified Podcast: http://getmortified.com/podcast/

▸ This I Believe podcast: http://thisibelieve.org/essay/32/

▸ Another Round: Hilary Clinton http://www.buzzfeed.com/adamdavis/listen-to-hillary-clintons-interview-with-

buzzfeed#.umJM4O9bWL

▸ Hello from the Magic Tavern: http://hellofromthemagictavern.com/2015/03/09/1-hello-from-the-magic-tavern/

▸ Mystery Show: https://gimletmedia.com/show/mystery-show/

▸ Love&Radio: http://loveandradio.org/2015/03/the-living-room/

▸ Love Me - CBC: http://www.cbc.ca/radio/loveme

▸ 99%Invisible: http://99percentinvisible.org/

▸ The Turnaround with Jesse Thorn: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-turnaround/id1248446620