Producer Profiles
Meet the Creators.
The Exchange is rife with creative talent--quirky, innovative, and sometimes obsessed radio producers of all stripes. Occasionally, we think it's worth taking a closer look at how some of these creators approach their work. If you'd like us to get inside the head of a PRX producer not on this list, email us at editor@prx.org.
February 13, 2007
Tracey Tanenbaum
"Some speak as though they're constipated..."
From The World Cafe, to Musicians on the Record, to Women Making Music, to A Musician's Life, WXPN producer Tracey Tanenbaum has made a living getting into the minds of the world's best musical artists.
So we just had to ask her what kinds of questions to ask people more used to expressing themselves in song.
January 9, 2007
John Rudolph
"I still am amazed that people will answer such intimate and personal questions when they are facing a microphone."
John Rudolph produces reports, documentaries and special programs for stations and networks around the world, and was recently honored with two awards by the Society of Professional Journalists. Intrigued? Read PRX's interview with John Rudolph.
December 18, 2006
John Dankosky
"Connecticut is not a monolithic thing."
Where We Live is WNPR's own local affairs call-in program. In the short time it's been on the air, John has already become an expert at framing universal themes with local issues in a small, but diverse state.
Read all about how he does it.
December 4, 2006
Mira Burt-Wintonick
"I wanted to find a way to capture that feeling of being overwhelmed with memory."
Mira Burt-Wintonick is an assistant producer on WireTap, whose independent documentary Muriel's Message won this year's Best New Artist Award at the Third Coast International Audio Festival. We talked to Mira at Third Coast, and later sent her a few questions through the miraculous internet tubes.
November 14, 2006
Jad Abumrad, Part Deux
"Oh my God! This is great! This is a great f**king story!"
There's a new season of Radio Lab out, an even newer one coming up, and even more mind-boggling things to discuss.
October 24, 2006
Julie Shapiro
"So it starts getting...well, completely subjective to some degree. And there are a lot of conversations about what matters. "
Julie Shapiro is the creator of the most creative public radio gatherings, The Third Coast International Audio Festival in Chicago. We spoke with Julie over the phone to ask her what we can expect this year.
August 15, 2006
Judy Carmichael
"My main criteria is that the guest be sincere, dedicated and accomplished."
Producer Judy Carmichael knows some people. In her Jazz Inspired series, she's interviewed everyone from Robert Redford to Roy Scheider; and when she's not interviewing celebrities about music, Judy manages to do a little touring of her own with her piano. How's she do it all?
August 1, 2006
Mal Sharpe
"If I could play a beautiful solo on 'I Cover the Waterfront' by blowing into the snout of a possum, I would be all for it."
A couple of months ago, PRX received a very kind letter in the mail asking for more information about uploading material. Who was it from? None other than the original "man on the street," Mal Sharpe. Now his latest program What is the Meaning Of Life? is on PRX for your listening and reviewing pleasure; we sent a few questions his way to find out more.
September 18, 2006
Barrett Golding
"I think anyone who listens to it will be shocked, and awed, and driven to laughter and tears."
Barrett Golding has been making radio happen for a quarter-century. He's the creator of HearingVoices, an unorthodox consortium of radio producers that has become one of the most successful radio production groups around, with works often airing on All Things Considered, Morning Edition, and many other programs. We gave him a call.
April 25, 2006
Outer Voices
"Somehow the police were always looking the other way."
You may have seen it on the PRX homepage a few times now: the fact is, Girls from Cambodia is compelling. We contacted producer Stephanie Guyer-Stevens for a little brain-picking.
March 28, 2006
JoAnn Mar
"I think many people fall into the trap of drawing bright line dividers between music and public affairs, when in reality the line between the two is nebulous."
JoAnn Mar's piece "Crime Pays" examines the massive influence of private prisons on the justice system, and was recently the recipient for a Polk award. When not involved in hard-hitting investigative journalism, she hosts "Folk Music & Beyond" on PRX member station KALW.
March 14, 2006
Lu Olkowski
"The best tape usually doesn't come from questions, but from some shared experience."
Producer Lu Olkowski recently won a 2006 Gracie Allen Award for her piece Born Into Brothels. She's produced for Studio 360 and Weekend America, and has covered topics from tractor love to a man who believes we're sending the wrong message to extraterrestrials.
Naturally, we had to ask about her radio work, her job at Nickelodeon, and sumo wrestling.
January 10, 2006
Jad Abumrad
"Wrap those thoughts in a good yarn and all is forgiven."
Jad Abumrad is the host/producer/curator behind WNYC's Radio Lab, the entire 2005 season of which is up on PRX. A brand-spanking new season is in the works and will be out the door nationally in March(ish?).
December 4, 2005
Jonathan Mitchell
"...when I just saw myself as a musician, I was very dissatisfied."
With impeccable production quality and a quirky sense of humor, producer Jonathan Mitchell has created over 200 public radio features--14 are on PRX. His work has aired on All Things Considered, Marketplace, Studio 360, and Radio Lab.
November 14, 2005
Susan Loewenberg
"After the first two days, I am strictly on headsets."
Susan is the producing director of L.A. Theatre Works, a group busy enjoying a surge in activity: they're celebrating a 30th anniversary in production, and just began a tour of their latest show "The Great Tennessee Monkey Trial." If "the best time slot for radio drama is 1937," how do they do it?
November 1, 2005
Justin Kaufmann
"I'm Martin Mull -- blink if you know my work."Justin is the founder and executive producer of WBEZ's Schadenfreude, and in the in the often buttoned-up world of public radio, his crew goes the extra mile for a laugh.
October 12, 2005
Scott Gurian
"...like the British guy on Animal Planet describing the hyenas eating their prey."
Producers live for a piece review this good: "this is the sort of thing that makes you proud to be a part of the human race." In fact, Scott Gurian, news director for KGOU, has gotten glowing reviews and high ratings ever since PRX launched. How's he do it?
September 20, 2005
Aaron Henkin
"I have four cats, all of whom are total bastards."Aaron, the senior producer for WYPR's the Signal, has been featured here before of course, but this time, we decided to get cozy for a little fireside chat.
September 6, 2005
Helen Borten
"The best work is always surprising."
Award-winning producer Helen Borten has met with a lot of success in the radio world, but before she invested in Pro Tools she was writing and illustrating children's books.
July 29, 2005
Nathanael Johnson
"The umbilical cord metaphor could work here too."
A freelancer and admitted story addict, Nathanael has written for such periodicals as Harper's and The New York Times Magazine, among others. Recently, he received a PRNDI award for his piece Hypnosis.
© 2005, The Public Radio Exchange
