We aired the documentary on 9/11 and one listener called to say it "was the most fascinating thing [she'd] ever heard about 9/11" and that she had to stop what she was doing just to listen.
I was turned on to the podcast and this curated series by Jeff Hansen and Arvid Hokanson at KUOW, who "discovered" Tobolowsky for radio. Stephen tells a mesmerizing story. Most are hilarious, some are quite moving, but his voice and style draw you in and keep you listening. Here's a podcast that became a radio show - KUOW is running these edited versions, and I hope other stations will give it consideration, too. (WFPL will)
Megan's documentation of her transition to Miles is filled with emotion and power, but without melodrama or anything artificial or contrived that gets in the way of the story. Probably one of the best things I've ever heard.
As much as New Orleans has been covered by journalists and feature writers since Katrina, and now after the oil spill, I discovered a new perspective of the city from this episode - one of the best segments for me was the piece on Bounce in segment C.
I think one of the hardest things for a host and producer is to capture the essence of a place they've never been, or have visited rarely, and have it come off in a way that feels true. But having grown up in Iowa and having lived in Des Moines, I was blown away by what Al Letson accomplished. The show feels credible and true to a local like me, and even after the "reduction" required by a 1hr time frame, this documentary captures the excitement of Des Moines and how that city (and state) continually surprises me.
I think Letson is one of the most important emerging voices in public media. Each episode in this series tries to dig under the surface to explore the tensions and threads that make up a community. I've heard nearly all of them and have aired nearly all of them. But hearing this episode, knowing this place like I do, was an eye-opener because I felt I had the backstory to recognize the quality of his craft.
Comments by Todd Mundt
Comment for "All Available Boats: Harbor Voices From 9/11"
Todd Mundt
Posted on September 07, 2011 at 08:17 AM | Permalink
An hour long driveway moment
We aired the documentary on 9/11 and one listener called to say it "was the most fascinating thing [she'd] ever heard about 9/11" and that she had to stop what she was doing just to listen.
Comment for "Journey of the Asian Carp"
Todd Mundt
Posted on February 25, 2011 at 04:52 PM | Permalink
Compelling
Grabs you and pulls you in - excellent production!
Comment for "The Tobolowsky Files Ep. 6 - The Price of Nothing"
Todd Mundt
Posted on October 28, 2010 at 10:49 AM | Permalink
You Can't Stop Listening
I was turned on to the podcast and this curated series by Jeff Hansen and Arvid Hokanson at KUOW, who "discovered" Tobolowsky for radio. Stephen tells a mesmerizing story. Most are hilarious, some are quite moving, but his voice and style draw you in and keep you listening. Here's a podcast that became a radio show - KUOW is running these edited versions, and I hope other stations will give it consideration, too. (WFPL will)
Comment for "Finding Miles"
Todd Mundt
Posted on June 26, 2010 at 04:10 PM | Permalink
Amazing.
Megan's documentation of her transition to Miles is filled with emotion and power, but without melodrama or anything artificial or contrived that gets in the way of the story. Probably one of the best things I've ever heard.
Comment for "New Orleans, LA: The Big Easy"
Todd Mundt
Posted on June 01, 2010 at 10:53 AM | Permalink
A New View of New Orleans
As much as New Orleans has been covered by journalists and feature writers since Katrina, and now after the oil spill, I discovered a new perspective of the city from this episode - one of the best segments for me was the piece on Bounce in segment C.
Comment for "SOTRU - Des Moines: Heart of the Heartland"
Todd Mundt
Posted on April 29, 2010 at 11:11 AM | Permalink
Compelling and Credible
I think one of the hardest things for a host and producer is to capture the essence of a place they've never been, or have visited rarely, and have it come off in a way that feels true. But having grown up in Iowa and having lived in Des Moines, I was blown away by what Al Letson accomplished. The show feels credible and true to a local like me, and even after the "reduction" required by a 1hr time frame, this documentary captures the excitement of Des Moines and how that city (and state) continually surprises me.
I think Letson is one of the most important emerging voices in public media. Each episode in this series tries to dig under the surface to explore the tensions and threads that make up a community. I've heard nearly all of them and have aired nearly all of them. But hearing this episode, knowing this place like I do, was an eye-opener because I felt I had the backstory to recognize the quality of his craft.
HIGHLY recommended.