Telling Stories

Ariana is a multimedia artist making images, objects, and audio documentary. Ariana started out working with physical art and sculpture. What we fell in love with was Ariana’s ability to translate the physical world - objects, architecture and space - into sound. Ariana says you don’t need to be an expert in Pro Tools to create good stories. If you can harness soft-skills like observation and recording real-world detail you’re well on your way to creating amazing stories and capturing sound-rich locations. In this episode we discuss their piece “Perfect Love” for The BBC, Between the Essay.

James is an audio artist and designer who is pushing all sorts of storytelling boundaries. His work is bold, experimental and moving. Redzi and I had been getting lost in his audio zine, scraps of documentary and podcast: U+1F60C. It's really brilliant and we recommend listening! James uses rhythm and repetition in ways that allow you to really feel the work. He creates something that is whole audio, whole art, whole immersion: a total sensory experience.

And please join in our audio challenge to create a story based on your last 5 internet searches, through sound! You can send your challenges to [email protected]

Bea and Tess are the founders of ELAN, the Entry Level Audio Network. They create a space for people starting out in their audio careers to share work, connect and ask questions in a judgement-free and supportive environment. In this episode you'll learn interview hacks. We'll also reflect on authenticity, blind-spots and being vulnerable without being confessional. 

And please join in our audio challenge to recreate the feeling of waking up from a dream, through sound! You can send your challenges to [email protected]

Axel is a sound artist and poet. Redzi and I listened to “How To Remember”, Axel’s piece about discovering himself within a world that tries to shape and deny black people their own identity and experience. Listening to the piece was the same as reading a novel - after those short 11 minutes we felt like we had voices and ideas that were swimming around in our minds long after the audio had ended. How does he do it? Learn from Axel about truth, identity, and valuing your creative self.

And please join in our audio challenge to capture the song of an emotion! You can send your challenges to [email protected]

Arlie is a producer Redzi and I have admired for some time. We first heard his “The Toilets at Home Are All Gender Neutral” piece on BBC Shortcuts and were blown away by how gripping, funky and vulnerable it was. In this episode we talk to Arlie about his piece for The Dig, International Trans Person Helpline. We also explore trans health care in the pandemic, music choices and creating work that’s personal.

Please join us in our audio challenge to create a story with a sonic transfer! Send us your challenges to [email protected]

A school for sharing ideas and inspiration around good storytelling.

“What makes a good story?”, “What excites us most about stories?”, “How can we be better at engaging with this fragile and robust art form?”

Each week Phoebe McIndoe and Redzi Bernard speak with a well-known storyteller to receive their golden insights and advice.

Like all good schools, at the end of each episode they're left with some homework; a unique storytelling challenge which you are invited to partake in as well.

Everyone has the potential to become a better storyteller; especially if we share feedback, knowledge and ideas. Telling Stories will be a space where you can practise and submit work,  learn from experienced storytellers, and find links to other inspiring stories recommended each week by our guests. The more we connect, the more we learn, the bigger our community becomes.

Coming Soon… episodes with Arlie Adlington, Axel Kacoutié, Ariana Martinez, Bea Duncan, Tess Davidson.