Best of the Best is Third Coast’s annual ode to audio storytelling, taking listeners on a journey through the full breadth of what’s possible in stories made from sound. 

This episode showcases two of the winning stories from the 19th annual Third Coast / Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Competition: the Best Documentary Honorable Mention, Bronze & Silver Award winners, plus a behind-the-scenes interview with producer Neena Pathak.

A Sense of Quietness [Excerpt], produced by Eleanor McDowall for Lights Out, a Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4.

Winner of the 2019 Best Documentary: Bronze Award

In a beautifully flowing narrative, the stories of four unrelated women in the UK and Ireland connect in unexpected ways, as they discover the quiet power and hidden dangers of speaking out about abortion. Listen to the full piece here.

ROW-cub, produced by Neena Pathak.

Winner of the 2019 Best Documentary: Honorable Mention Award

After Aaji innocently asks if her granddaughter, Mithu, is bringing her "friend" home for the holidays, Mithu struggles to translate her heartache. [Note that this story is bilingual, but it can still be understood by non-Marathi speakers - to view a subtitled version of ROW-cub, go to RadioAtlas.org]

This Is Not A Drill, produced by Jazmín Aguilera with Anna Sussman for Snap Judgment from WNYC. With co-producers John Fecile, Erika Lantz, Nancy López, and Eliza Smith; original score by Renzo Gorrio; sound design by Renzo Gorrio, Leon Morimoto, and Pat Mesiti-Miller; edited by Anna Sussman and Mark Ristich; with executive producer Glynn Washington.

Winner of the 2019 Best Documentary: Silver Award

For exactly 38 minutes on January 13th, 2018, the state of Hawaii was thrown into a state of panic. This story recounts what it was like for residents on that unforgettable morning as they tried to wrestle with impending doom, death and destruction.  

You can hear all the winning stories from the 2019 Competition at ThirdCoastFestival.org.

The program is made possible with support from the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation and distributed to public radio stations by PRX.

Music in this hour by Pablo Torri (“Retorno” & “Volta”), Skill Borrower (“Heartstring Hotel”), VicthorA3 (“Los Derechos Se Consiguen En La Calle”), and Aviscerall (“Sanctuary”).

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