The Pod Lab

What’s the secret sauce for composing music for narrative podcasts? Matt McGinley pulls back the curtain on creating music for hit shows like This American Life, Serial and Nice White Parents. Plus, we dig into tips for getting a well-known guest on your podcast...even if your podcast isn't well-known.

The Pod Lab is a Podcast Movement original series.

Robyn Edgar of Pacific Content swings by to answer a frequently asked Podcast Movement community question: How much of the “ums” and breaths should you cut from your podcast? Plus, we'll dish out three tips for overcoming creative roadblocks.

The Pod Lab is a Podcast Movement original series.

Want to tell better stories? You've come to the right place. Renowned storyteller Shannon Cason stops by to answer a Podcast Movement community question: How can I dig deeper and be more authentic with the personal stories I share on my show? Plus, we'll talk about the importance of podcast production organization.

The Pod Lab is a Podcast Movement original series.

Help for awkward interviews is on the way. Alie Ward, host of the hit show Ologies, is here to help us de-cringe our conversations with expert advice. Bonus: She blesses us with the tale of her most awkward interview ever. Plus, we'll look at three tips to give your guests—and you—a better experience.

The Pod Lab is a Podcast Movement original series.

How do you hook listeners from the opening minutes of a story? What elements should you keep in mind to lure them into your world…and make them never want to leave?

Aaron Mahnke, the legend of Lore himself, stops by to answer a Podcast Movement community question: How can you create better openings for a narrative podcast? Plus, we'll take a quick dive into atmospheric sound effects.

The Pod Lab is a Podcast Movement original series.

Silence. It's an amazing tool for both interview and narrative podcasts. We'll take a dive into actionable advice for harnessing the power of silence for your show. Plus, Josh Miely (Director, Radio Operations for the National Association of Broadcasters) stops by to answer a Podcast Movement community question: If you could go back to your very first interview, what advice would you give yourself? (The Pod Lab is a Podcast Movement original series.)

In today's Let's Build a Scene, we talk storytelling, a trouble-making goat, and man’s second-best friend: donkeys. Ah, nothing like an uplifting story to donkey-kick the day into high gear. Plus, Matt Shilts (senior producer at Gimlet Projects) stops by to offer pro tips for your podcast trailer. The Pod Lab is a Podcast Movement original series.

Today we’re looking at using foley and other types of sound effects to bring your podcast to life. We build a bank robbery scene to dissect sound design layering, scene mapping, and modifying sounds with a high pass filter. Quick, get in the van! Plus, Grammar Girl herself, Mignon Fogarty, stops by to answer a Podcast Movement community question: What's the secret to staying creative with your podcast, episode after episode?

Our first Let’s Build a Scene episode breaks down a scene from a podcast I've produced. This one is a doozy. It centers around Elie Honig, a former federal and state prosecutor who's prosecuted countless mafia cases.

We dive into narrative structure, the importance of details, and toeing the line between too much and not enough sound design. *pets lap cat, quotes The Godfather all afternoon*

Plus, Natalia Petrzela (host and producer of Welcome to Your Fantasy and co-host of Past Present) stops by to answer a Podcast Movement community question: What's the best way to prepare for an interview?

In our first episode, we're talking about the shortest distance between your podcast and a listener’s emotions: music. We'll dive into choosing better songs for your podcast from two perspectives: intro music and narrative music. Whatcha waitin' for? Hit play and let's rock this joint.