How to bring history to life

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Date
02/09/2025
Time
1:00pm - 4:00pm EST
Where
Online Workshop
Cost
$100.00
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Novelist L. P. Hartley once wrote that the past is a foreign country, “they do things differently there.” At their best, history podcasts welcome you into that foreign country and allow you to understand a moment in time like no other. But whether you have interviews with first-hand sources from a generation ago or you’re telling a story from centuries past, bringing history to life through an audio-only lens presents lots of challenges.

In this practical course, producer Andrew Parsons will walk you through gathering tape, finding archival sources, and sound design tips to turn back time as an audio storyteller. Using specific examples from a variety of audio documentaries and his own work producing Slow Burn and Fiasco, you’ll discover pitfalls to avoid and learn strategies to adopt. Ultimately, you’ll leave class with the knowledge of how to use living and past sources as guides to places and times that no longer exist.

About Your Instructor

Andrew Parsons

Andrew Parsons is an award winning audio producer and the executive producer of the podcast company, Prologue Projects. He co-created and produced the first two seasons of the Slate podcast Slow Burn and was the senior producer of the history show BackStory. His work has been featured on Marketplace, The World, Studio 360 and Snap Judgment, among other outlets. Andrew has taught at his alma mater the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism and served on the Google/PRX podcast creator advisory committee.

Testimonials

The material covered was really helpful, and I loved hearing the audio examples that illustrated many of the points. It was a wonderful balance of practical advice and inspiration as well.

I have pages of notes. I think my idea for a history project is more layered than I thought it would be.

Andrew is passionate and knowledgeable about his work

Notes on this Class

Refund and recording policy: Classes will not be recorded and are non-refundable. We are not able to issue a refund if you cancel or do not attend a class. If you are unable to make a class, you are welcome to sell or give away your ticket and email the name of the new attendee to info@radiobootcamp.org. You will receive a Zoom link for the workshop the day before it begins.
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