Chapter 2: Parts of a Podcast

Not all podcasts are stories. However, we found that thinking of podcasts with a story structure helped form a framework familiar to students; they could recall a story that had meaning to them and list the parts (intro, main content, conclusion/outro, and elements that brought the story to life in their imagination). Storytelling can be a powerful approach in podcasting. Many successful podcasts, such as “Serial,” “Radiolab,” and “The Moth,” rely heavily on storytelling techniques to engage their audience and create a narrative arc that keeps listeners captivated. These podcasts often feature a central theme or plotline, character development, and immersive storytelling techniques like sound design and interviews. Thus, we encouraged students to consider their podcast as a “story,” even if relaying factual information.

The Intro

The podcast intro is the crucial hook for listeners. They might listen to the podcast for 30 seconds before deciding to continue or stop listening (NPR, 2017). The intro has several functions in the overall podcast:

1. Capturing Attention: The intro serves as the first impression of your podcast. It’s your opportunity to grab the listener’s attention and make a strong initial impact. A compelling intro can hook your audience and entice them to continue listening.
2. Branding and Identity: A well-crafted podcast intro helps establish the brand and creates a consistent identity for your show. It sets the tone, style, and personality that listeners can associate with your podcast. A memorable intro helps differentiate your podcast from others and builds recognition.
3. Setting Expectations: The intro allows you to communicate what your podcast is about and what listeners can expect. It can provide a brief overview of the topics you’ll cover, the format of the show, or any unique features or segments. This clarity helps manage listener expectations and attracts those interested in your specific content.
4. Professionalism and Credibility: A polished and professional intro adds an air of credibility to your podcast. It shows that you’ve put thought and effort into creating a quality production. An intro that sounds professional can help establish trust with your audience and make them more likely to continue listening.
5. Familiarity and Consistency: A consistent intro helps establish a sense of familiarity and comfort for your listeners. By using the same or similar intro music, voice-over, and overall structure in each episode, you create a recognizable pattern that becomes associated with your show. This consistency can foster a connection with your audience and make them feel more engaged and invested.

Episode Content

A podcast told as a story focuses on creating a narrative experience for the listener. In listening to Podcast of the Week, Timber Wars, the students pointed how conflicting views, tension, and different voices created a richer story: “Good example of what to do and how to present multiple sides of an argument in a podcast format,” and “I liked how they included interviews from both the loggers and the activists; it really underlined how morally gray the situation was.” Students also commented on the lack of this narrative experience, as well as the audio quality, in Deer University: “This podcast was very difficult for me to listen to. From a learning perspective, I have picked up on things to NOT do while recording my own podcast (I felt the speakers were quite monotone and the feedback or hum in the background was quite distracting for me). However, these two points were major reasons as to why it was difficult for me to pay attention to the podcast and the subject matter itself.”

Here are some key content elements commonly found in storytelling podcasts:

1. Plot and Structure: Follows a narrative structure with a beginning, middle, and end. It may feature a central plotline or multiple interconnected stories. The content revolves around developing and advancing the story in a sequential manner.
2. Characters: Introduces and develops characters to drive the narrative. These characters can be fictional or real individuals. Character development involves providing background information, exploring their motivations, and showcasing their growth or transformation throughout the story.
3. Dialogue and Narration: Engaging dialogue and narration are vital for a storytelling podcast. Dialogue brings the characters to life, while narration provides the necessary exposition and descriptions to set the scene and advance the story.
4. Pacing and Tension: Pace the narrative to maintain the listener’s interest. Building tension, suspense, or anticipation can keep the audience engaged and eager to know what happens next.
5. Plot Twists and Cliffhangers: Surprise plot twists and well-timed cliffhangers can add excitement and intrigue to a storytelling podcast. They keep listeners eagerly anticipating the next episode and create memorable moments within the story.
6. Emotion and Connection: A successful storytelling podcast evokes emotions and creates a connection between the listener and the story. This can be achieved through compelling storytelling, relatable characters, and exploring universal human experiences.

The Outro

The pod outro (outroduction) rounds off the story. It often leaves the listener with something to reflect upon after the episode ends. Lack of a clear outro can leave listeners confused, such as with one of the episodes of Deer University, according to our students: “[This podcast] helps me decide what I don’t want in a podcast. I think your average hunter would be left feeling confused after this episode due to its length and lack of structure.”

Other goals of a good outro include:

1. Summarizing and Reflecting: Provides an opportunity to summarize key points, themes, or takeaways from the episode. It allows the host or hosts to reflect on the discussion or content presented, reinforcing important ideas and ensuring the audience leaves with a clear understanding of what was covered.
2. Closing on a Strong Note: Helps to end the episode on a high note. A good outro can leave a lasting impression and make the final moments memorable and impactful or solidify the main message.
3. Transitioning to the Next Episode:  Can tease or introduce the next episode, creating anticipation and encouraging listeners to tune in for future content. It provides an opportunity to briefly mention upcoming topics, guests, or exciting developments, generating excitement and keeping your audience engaged.
4. Promoting Engagement and Interaction: May include a call to action, inviting listeners to engage with the podcast or its community. This could involve encouragement to subscribe, leave a review, follow on social media, join a mailing list, participate in discussions, or share the episode with others. The outro is a valuable moment to nurture a podcast’s relationship with its audience and cultivate a loyal and active following.
5. Branding and Sign-Off: Reinforce your branding and leave a final imprint on listeners. It typically includes the podcast’s tagline or catchphrase, the host or hosts’ names, and any closing remarks that align with the overall tone and personality of the show. This consistent sign-off helps to strengthen your podcast’s identity and build recognition among the  audience.

Background Music and Sound

One element we discussed at length with students is the importance of good audio, for speaking, background music, and sound effects. In their feedback on Podcasts of the Week, poor sound quality was something students noticed and discussed right away. One student said, “Minor audio things drove me crazy in the first 1/3 (soft talking in the background),” referring to a Reply All episode. Other students discussed Deer University:

I’ll be honest, I couldn’t make it all the way through this one, and even when I was listening, I zoned out often. The cadence of the voices was not captivating. As we discussed in class, the audio quality left much to be desired. OverallI found this more of a lesson in what NOT to do while making a podcast. However, knowing what not to do can be just as valuable as knowing what to do, so while I did not find this podcast enjoyable, it was educational.

This podcast episode contained some good examples of good and poor audio quality. There was a persistent hum in the background, and the guest speaker sounded farther away from the microphone than the host. The guest also sounded slightly less enthusiastic about the topic. I actually do enjoy the music in this podcast, as I feel that it goes well with the theme and pace of the show…I look forward to hearing other podcasts/series in the future.

We cannot overemphasize how much sound quality matters in a podcast. While most students recorded on mobile devices or desktop computers, we also provided some on-campus resources for more professional recording. Most students noted time constraints in their schedules as barriers to using this equipment. We suggest considering the following guidelines for developing music and sound in podcasts:

1. Accessibility: Well-balanced audio makes it easier for those using assistive devices or relying on transcripts or captions to engage with the content. This inclusivity allows a wider audience to access and enjoy the podcast.
2. Listener Engagement: Clear audio allows listeners to focus on the content without distractions or interruptions caused by poor sound quality. It enhances the overall listening experience, increasing the chances of retaining and attracting a loyal audience.
3. Improved Clarity and Understanding: High-quality audio ensures that voices, dialogue, and any accompanying sounds are understandable. It reduces background noise, echoes, or distortions that can hinder comprehension. Clear audio enhances the delivery of information, making it easier for listeners to follow along, grasp concepts, and absorb the content effectively.
4. Professionalism and Credibility: A podcast with high-quality audio conveys professionalism and credibility. It shows investment and effort into delivering a polished production. Professional sound quality helps build trust with the audience, positioning the creator as an authoritative and reliable source.
5. Branding and Differentiation: Good sound quality becomes a recognizable attribute of a given podcast, fostering its identity and making it stand out in a crowded podcasting landscape.
6. Retention and Recommendations: Podcasts with high-quality audio retain listeners and receive positive recommendations. When listeners enjoy a podcast with crystal-clear sound, they are more inclined to stay engaged, listen to more episodes, and share the podcast with others. Positive word-of-mouth recommendations can help grow an audience.

Teaser for Next Episode

Students did not have to link the short (individual) and long (group) podcasts in this course. However, we gave learners the option to frame their podcasts as if they were part of a larger whole. In considering making a multi-episode podcast, we asked them to consider:

1. Generating Interest, Anticipation, and Intrigue: To entice listeners continuing to listen and anticipate future content.
2. Promoting New Episodes or Series: To provide a sneak peek or highlight   compelling aspects of upcoming content.
3. Teasing Exclusive Content or Guests: To attract new listeners who are interested in the featured content.
4. Maintaining Momentum: To keep listeners involved with continuity within the podcast.

Suggestions for Teaching:

• Provide students with an overview on parts of a podcast in a slide deck or other medium
• Use specific examples with existing podcasts; provide both high and low-quality samples (such as sounds)
• Chunk up the parts of a podcast for scaffolded assignments; allot time to give productive feedback
• If your LMS allows, provide a space where students can share both preliminary and final work. For example, we used a Media Gallery widget on the course homepage where students could share and comment.

Sample Student Podcast Example

In this example, we break down a student podcast called Just a Bit of Information: About Cats by student podcaster Justine L. Smith (used with permission). We found this to be an exceptional short, introductory podcast with good sound quality, listener engagement, and strong elements of storytelling.

Intro:

In the intro, the student establishes context for a podcast called Just a Bit of Information with this episode being About Cats. Words like murder, hungry, and decimated plant imagery in listeners’ minds.

“Did you ever hear the tale of the tragedy of an ecosystem that suffered from the introduction of an invasive species? Hm. I thought not. It is not a story the every-popular murder mystery podcasts would tell you. This is an ecological fact. An invasive species… a plant or animal that is so quick to reproduce and so hungry for just about anything. They can use up all available resources around them and leave the land… decimated and void of nutrients. It is even said that invasive species are widely responsible for many wildlife and plant… extinctions. (laugh if possible) My name is [name], and this is Just a Bit of Information.”

Main Content:

Within the main content, the podcaster links her story with one that is well known, Star Wars and the planet Tatooine. By referencing that planet’s background, and how it became a sandy wasteland, context is set for the listeners on how harmful invasive species can be to an ecosystem.

“Hello everyone, today I wanted to give you a glimpse into what an invasive species is, and I thought the best, and most exciting way for me to do that, was to relate it to a planet in Star Wars. An invasive species, according to the USDA (or the United States Department of Agriculture), is a “non-native to the ecosystem under consideration and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health”. Let me give you an example: our beloved cats at home, Felis catus. These cats are found across the globe, on every continent. It is one of THE most widespread invasive species on the planet. While cute and fluffy and making biscuits, one thing we may not all recognize is that they are responsible for at least 63 mammal, bird, and reptile extinctions. Nothing is safe from the domestic cat. These cats actually share similar traits with other, very successful invasive species. They can adapt quickly to their surroundings, can reproduce any time of the year, and multiple times of the year at that, have a large litter of 4 to 6 kittens, and have a wide range of food they can consume.Alright, so I’m sure you’re sitting here thinking “okay she just talked to me about cats. Where, and how, does Star Wars come into play”. The thing is, invasive species, if not managed early enough, can have significant negative consequences on where they’re introduced. I’ll take you to the planet Tatooine, the desert planet we were first introduced to in Star Wars: A New Hope back in 1977. It is literally just sand. There is no vegetation, you see no wildlife running around, and people have to use something called a “moisture vaporator” to collect water out of the air just to have water. Believe it or not, Tatooine was not always just sand though. According to legend, Tatooine was a lush, green, and nutrient rich planet. A new alien species shows up to the planet, and absolutely decimates it. This new species forces the natives into hiding while they ravage the planet’s surface. Eventually, the native species forced the alien off the planet, but not without dire consequences. The planet’s surface was utterly destroyed and became the dune planet we were introduced to in the first film.”

Music and Sound:

The student podcaster began the episode with clear background music that dipped when she began speaking. When she references Star Wars, we hear a small snippet of the cantina theme. All music effects are blended seamlessly. The tone of the podcaster’s voice is clear, of appropriate level to be heard, and unrushed.

Outro:

The podcast concludes with an idea for further reflection on cats and also invites listeners back for the next episode.

“Now, I’m not saying that the Earth will eventually become a desert planet because we brought cats into our homes. What I am saying is that we should be cognizant of when we do introduce a species somewhere new. Cats were introduced because they make great house pets and helped manage rat/mouse infestations. However, look at what was left in their wake. Thanks for joining me today on Just a Bit of Information. I hope you look forward to our next mini-episode!”