Sound Judgment Season Three Is Here: Masterclass for Speakers, Storytellers & Hosts

 I did a talk in front of third-graders last week about writing. Now, I know this audience is not known for its discriminating tastes in speakers. After all, it wasn't a TED Talk. 

Normally, in large groups, I'm about as interesting as Mike Pence on Xanax. You may not believe this (You can call Jaden's Mom to verify) but I was good. Better than past performance would indicate. 

Why? Because I've been a faithful listener of the Sound Judgment podcast. Now, I know that the podcast focuses on audio storytelling more in a podcast format, but I've picked up a lot of helpful tips in the first two seasons. I'm not sure if I should tip the host, Elaine Appleton Grant. I mean, is 15 percent the standard for servers and podcast hosts of extraordinary skill? 

Anyway, my learning -- and hopefully yours as well -- continues because Sound Judgment just launched a third season, taking listeners into the studios — and the minds — of your favorite audio storytellers.

Unlike virtually every other show about podcasting, Sound Judgment explores the audio storytelling craft, not the business of podcasting.

In each episode, journalist Elaine Appleton Grant and a top audio
creator deconstruct an episode of the guest’s show. It’s not just a
revealing conversation about the art and craft of audio storytelling,
it’s a sound-rich narrative interview: Grant plays back clips from
her guest’s podcast. Together, they explore the storyteller’s
creative choices in a “living learning lab.”

In its first year, the critically acclaimed podcast has been called
“your online master’s degree in audio storytelling” by Whisper,
Speak, Roar Media; “a masterclass in podcasting” by Ear Worthy,
and “required listening for our profession” by the supervising podcasting producer at ABC News. Grant made Ear Worthy’s list of the ten best podcast interviewers, just behind Audie
Cornish. Tink Media’s Lauren Passell gives Sound Judgment “456654 stars!” and says “The takeaways at the end are hugely valuable.”

  Classy’s Jonathan Menjivar, of Audacy's Pineapple Street Studios and alum of Fresh Air and This American Life, sharing strategies and self-doubts on the challenge of making a gripping podcast about class in America (September 28)

Upcoming episodes include:
● Iconic host Anna Sale of Death, Sex and Money, revealing her interviewing and tone-setting techniques (October 12)
● Nikki Boyer, of Wondery’s hit podcast Dying for Sex and Dying for Media/Lemonada’s Near Death on her passion for uncomfortable conversations;
● Showrunner Karen Given of Dear Media’s scam podcast Believable: The Coco Berthmann Story on following a twisty investigation;
● Ronald Young, Jr. on Weight for It, a podcast for fat folks and all folks who can't keep weight off their minds. 

● And many more.

More and more serious creators are eager to improve the quality of their content as the measure of success in podcasting shifts away from downloads to what really matters: listener engagement and loyalty. And they’re seeking as much learning about storytelling and hosting as they can find — especially from the artists they admire the most.

Not only does Sound Judgment provide a valuable “fly on the studio wall” experience to hosts, producers and editors eager to learn from masters of the craft, it serves as a discovery engine.
Listeners often binge-listen to the shows to which they’re introduced on Sound Judgment, becoming fans in the process.

Host Elaine Appleton Grant is a magazine journalist (Inc Magazine, Fortune Small Business, AARP The Magazine, US News & World Report) turned award-winning public radio broadcaster and podcast producer (NPR affiliates and Wondery's Business Wars Daily,
American History Tellers and American Scandal).

Sound Judgment is a production of Denver-based Podcast Allies, LLC. Podcast Allies is an audio production and consulting firm offering services to public media, mission-driven
organizations, and higher ed. 

You don't have to be in the podcast business to gain insight into hosting, public speaking, or storytelling. Sound Judgment can help you in your everyday life become a better and more interesting communicator. 

If you don't believe me, just ask Jaden's Mom.