Have you heard??! Press play, the shows are live!

Hello, dear readers! The PRX Big Questions Project shows are here! This has been a busy month as each of our 4 shows have launched and we even had a live showcase to debut each show with special performances. Join us as we reveal how we receive feedback, brainstorm, and get supported when we’re in the creation process & ultimately what gets released to the world.

Part 1: Our shows have launched!

We've launched an array of series that delve into contemporary issues and narratives. Discover "Second Sunday," a fresh take on spirituality and religion from overlooked LGBTQ perspectives, and the narrative podcast "Rock That Doesn’t Roll," which analyzes the Christian pop music industry's impact on American culture. "Moral Repair" explores our relationship with technology in today's information age by providing Africana wisdom, while "Mother is A Question" unravels the complexities of motherhood through various lenses. 

Part 2: Creative Reviews 

Before going live with our shows, we craved some constructive criticism. This included a creative review facilitated by the dedicated content development team from PRX. Here, our podcast producers pitched their podcast concepts to a panel of seasoned industry experts.

This step was much more than a routine evaluation; it was an opportunity for creators to burst the bubbles of their own perceptions and see their ideas from fresh perspectives. The feedback gleaned during these reviews helped turn raw ideas into golden opportunities for development, connection, and engagement.

Part 3: Outside the PRX Box

This journey would not be complete without venturing outside the PRX sphere for more wisdom. Each month, our creators gathered for masterclasses, engaging in dynamic exchanges with industry leaders who generously shared their expertise. These sessions––brimming with a fusion of experience and curiosity––proved instrumental in honing our creators' skills and expanding their horizons. 

I’m honored to share the list of guests who have generously shared their time with us:

Ian Fox: Building a Robust Brand

Ian Fox, a product manager at the Harvard Business Review podcast network, shared his insights on leveraging multi-platform strategies for brand strengthening. Ian’s session was a masterclass in expanding one’s reach without diluting the essence of authenticity, a vital lesson for creators eager to carve out a unique space in the podcast realm.

Rob Rosenthal: Perfecting Your Introduction

Rob Rosenthal, host of the podcast Sound School from PRX and Transom, is a seasoned story editor and producer with a rich history in teaching documentary reporting. Rob unpacked the art of introducing podcasts to audiences. His session guided us in honing the fine art of first impressions in the podcasting domain.

David Pogue: The Symphony of Audio Storytelling

David Pogue, correspondent for CBS Sunday Morning and the host of the Unsung Science podcast, captivated us with the art of audio storytelling. His session taught us to create symphonies with words that enthrall audiences and leave them wanting to subscribe to the next episode.

Tennesha Wood: Bridging Connections

TV personality and renowned dating coach, Tennesha Wood, opened our eyes to connecting with target audiences. Her session was a testament to the power of genuine connections, urging us to craft content that resonates deeply with our listeners.

Dr. Alok Patel: Decoding Science

Dr. Alok Patel is a true maverick in the world of healthcare - a multifaceted professional who's not just a doctor, but also a journalist, producer, host, and on-camera correspondent. His masterclass in public engagement was a lesson in helping us navigate the intricate world of science with ease and engagement.

Nadia Bolz-Weber: Narrative Decision Making

Renowned pastor, author and host of The Confessional from PRX and The Moth, Nadia Bolz-Weber unveiled the artistry in narrative decisions, encouraging us to craft evocative and heartfelt stories.

Tara Boyle: Simplifying Complexity

Tara Boyle, the supervising producer behind Hidden Brain, transformed our approach to complex discussions, teaching us to break down intricacies into writing that works for the ear.

BruceRants: Content Creation with a Splash of Humor

Social Media Influencer BruceRants infused our masterclass with humor, showcasing the role levity, consistency & structured pace can play in the success of content creation.

Part 4: Don’t forget about the Voices of Tomorrow Live Showcase

The “Voices of Tomorrow" show was more than just an event—it was an experience. From the intricacies of birth and motherhood to the complexities of belonging, from the musical influences of yesteryears to the digital dilemmas of today, the evening was a testament to life's many intersections. Through its various segments, the event invited attendees to reflect, resonate, and reimagine their personal and collective narratives.

Feel free to watch the event and take part in the amazing experience that the night was!

Stay tuned for more updates, links for our trailers & episodes at www.prx.org/bigquestions! 

The Nitty Gritty of the Big Questions Project Production Process

Welcome back to our behind-the-scenes exploration of the PRX Big Questions Project! We're buzzing with excitement as we gear up for the launch of all 4 podcasts on October 4th and would like to personally invite you to our live showcase “Voices of Tomorrow" in New York on October 5th! Join us as we celebrate our launch with sneak peeks, live performances and fun chats with the brains behind all four of our new podcasts! Join our show from wherever you are with free tickets for both virtual and in-person attendance.

In this blog post, we give you an inside look at our production process. From discussing the decisions we've made to a sneak peek of our production meetings and the nuggets of wisdom we've gathered along the way. We hope this guide will assist independent creators with their own production process in a way that works for them. 

Our Progress So Far

We've been quite busy! All four teams have been working diligently to complete their first seasons. We are launching October 4! We're also crafting trailers that capture the essence of each show to create a buzz for the exciting journey that lies ahead.

Decisions We've Made

Creating a podcast is an intricate process that involves making a multitude of decisions. We've deliberated over the guests to feature, the number and length of episodes, musical scores, episode formats, and even how to introduce new topics to our audience. We’ve wrestled with the methods to tell our main story, episode topics, and if we need special effects. With every decision, we've been mindful of our mission and the story we want to tell.

A Glimpse into Our Production & Editorial Meetings

Picture a lively symposium, filled with discussions, debates, and occasional bouts of hearty laughter. Our weekly production meetings are arenas of dynamic brainstorming where we discuss our progress and learn from each other.

It's a time when we also collectively confront challenges, whether it's refining an episode outline or finalizing sound design. It's where we draw upon our combined experience and creativity to explore novel scenarios and determine the best course of action. It's all part of our commitment to supporting each other in this complex journey of podcast creation.

How We Construct a Show / Episode / Season

Constructing a show is akin to building an intricate puzzle. Each season begins with a central theme or big question, serving as the puzzle's border. The smaller themes then form the interior pieces, each becoming an episode that fits into the larger picture.

We deliberate over the guests who can enrich our narrative, similar to selecting puzzle pieces with the most vibrant colors. The roles our hosts play are similar to the unique shapes that determine how these pieces interlock. Finally, the format, the time, the structure––these are the details that give our puzzle its depth and texture.

Who Decides What and How?

The executive production team offers guidance and poses questions, but the ultimate decision-makers are the hosts and creators of each show. This collaborative approach ensures that the shows remain authentic to their vision and resonate with their target audiences.

Pearls of Wisdom We've Gathered

During our production process, we’ve gathered some valuable insights that we hope can be helpful along your own personal journey:

• Organizing and transcribing interviews is like mapping your treasure chest of knowledge, making sure no gem is overlooked.

• Establishing clear host roles ensures your conversational dance is always in step, with each partner contributing to a captivating performance.

• Consistent sonic branding sets the stage, informing your audience of the show's mood and tone.

• Crafting a show tagline is like designing a compelling show poster, attracting and informing potential listeners.

• Engaging in mock interviews and test recordings is similar to a dress rehearsal, perfecting your performance before the curtain raises.

• A detailed production schedule is your production playbill, ensuring everything runs smoothly and on time.

• Be transparent about the podcast's goals and value proposition: This helps establish a connection with your audience.
  

Our journey through the production process of the PRX Big Questions Project is one marked by triumphs, challenges, and a whole lot of learning. As we proceed, we remain committed to fostering opportunities for creators who might otherwise not have this chance. We invite you to stay tuned and join us as we continue exploring the magic of podcasting, one big question at a time and don't forget to visit us at www.prx.org/bigquestions for more updates.

What does it look like to create a podcast from scratch?

In our previous introduction to the PRX Big Questions Project, we delved into the origin of our initiative, the foundation of our four teams, and the selection process that brought together these emerging voices to explore profound scientific, philosophical, and spiritual questions. Today, we'll invite you into the workshop, revealing how our podcasting teams are built, what they've accomplished during production, advice that you can use when creating, and the timeline that keeps us all on track.

Assembling a Production Team

Once we had our winning teams, our initial step was to form a production team that aligned with each team’s unique needs. We evaluated every aspect of the Big Questions teams: their audio history, production skills, hosting prowess, team size, podcasting knowledge, writing ability, geographical location, cultural background, and the unique talents of each member.

We interviewed potential production team members from across the globe. Each candidate brought experience in various areas such as host direction, strategic planning, audience understanding, scriptwriting and editing, narrative development, episode structuring, guest preparation, sound design, creative direction, and post-production supervision.

In our capacity as executive producers, we assembled a team for each podcast that included a senior producer, editor, engineer, and associate producer. Their mission? To collaborate with each team from inception to release, crafting narratives, sourcing guests, building season arcs, producing and sound designing episodes, and discovering the audience for each show.

Production in Action 

The creation process began with crafting the pilot episode, essentially a "test run" for each podcast. A pilot is invaluable for evaluating the podcast's concept, format, tone, and technical aspects, as well as for gathering initial feedback.

While crafting the pilot episode, our teams concurrently outlined the remaining episodes for the season. This approach allowed them to structure each show, contact potential guests, and begin molding the narrative to fit within the overarching season story arc. Once satisfied with the pilot, the teams plunged into producing the remaining episodes, armed with a clear foundation and direction.

Production Timeline 

Our aim is that each podcast will launch this fall.A flexible production calendar is crucial in this creative environment, where sudden changes – such as a guest not being available – and unanticipated ideas can flip plans upside down. The calendar provides benchmarks and guardrails to keep us on track and ensure we’re ready for launch.

We dedicated January through March for pre-production, a planning phase where concept development, episode planning, technical setup, and scheduling take place. From April to August, we transitioned into the production phase, executing the actual recording of the podcast episodes, scriptwriting, directing, monitoring audio quality, and capturing additional audio elements. Also this summer, our engineers will sound design and score the episodes.

Advice from the Team

Creating a podcast can be a challenging yet highly rewarding process, but certain strategies can make this creative journey a tad easier for independent creators. First up: organize and transcribe your interviews by topic and purpose. This practice allows you to sift through the mountain of information you've amassed, highlighting key points and honing the narrative structure of your podcast. Think of it like clearing the clutter from your room, which subsequently clarifies your mind. It helps you assess whether the impact of the episode remains consistent from the time of recording to post-production. 

For shows that have multiple hosts, it may be important to define clear roles for the hosts. Assigning specific roles like the "Speaker" and "Reactor" cuts redundancy, keeping your conversation engaging, dynamic, and resembling a well-choreographed dance. 

One more piece of advice: emphasize the importance of transparency about the podcast's goals and the value proposition.

Looking Ahead

In the spirit of sharing this journey, we've endeavored to provide an inside look at our podcast development process. We remain committed to supporting creators who would otherwise lack these opportunities, fostering growth and sustainability in podcasting.

We measure success not only in listening metrics, but in the connection we establish with an audience yearning for these deep, structured conversations. After all, it's all about the journey… and the destination!

Join us as we continue this adventure in our next article, and don't forget to visit us at www.prx.org/bigquestions for more updates. 

Introducing the Big Questions Project | “Voices of Tomorrow: A First Look at the Big Questions Project”

We have Anna Rainey and Esther Ikoro diving into spirituality and religion from marginalized perspectives. Andrew Gill and Leah Payne are investigating the Christian pop music industry and its impact on American culture. We’re also fortunate to have Reverend Annanda Barclay and Dr. Keisha McKenzi, exploring how we stay well as technology pushes us to extreme places, and Julia Metzger-Traber and Natasha Haverty embarking on a multifaceted exploration of motherhood. 

Now, you might be wondering, "How did we choose these podcast concepts?" Well, our trusty open call process opened the submission process to anyone far and wide. Then, our team of audio professionals reviewed every pitch to identify four untapped voices focusing on uniqueness of concept, diversity, and potential. They also made sure each chosen concept matched what our grant funder – the John Templeton Foundation – is looking for. This approach has led to highly successful podcasts, such as the award-winning show Ear Hustle. 

We’ve had the pleasure of working with a dream team of experts for our selection process. Huge thanks to David Pogue, who brings his insightful reporting on science to CBS Sunday Morning; James Ryerson, with his distinguished career as a senior editor at The New York Times; Michael Rota, with his esteemed reputation as a philosophy professor at the University of St. Thomas; Nadia Bolz-Weber, who inspires as a public theologian and podcaster (“The Confessional,” which is brought to listeners by PRX); Dan Lothian, who leads as an award-winning correspondent and executive producer of the daily public radio show “The World” from GBH and PRX; and Dr. Alok Patel, with his impressive resume as a TV producer, host, and physician, and his impactful contributions as an ABC News correspondent. 

But, we're not just about choosing the right projects; we're also here to help them flourish by providing editorial, production, and marketing support for at least two seasons of their podcasts through our own acclaimed production house, PRX Productions. 

Of course, we can't leave our teams hanging when it comes to the business side of podcasting. We'll provide training on sponsorships, distribution, and marketing, ensuring sustainability and high-quality production. By sharing this process, we hope to offer a guide for independent creators looking to make their own mark in the podcasting world. Stay tuned for future articles as we’ll look to give you a behind the scenes view of these crucial parts of podcasting.

So join us as we embark on this adventure with our four teams. Together, we'll explore new ideas, challenge the status quo, and elevate intellectual discourse in the audio space. 

Be on the lookout for our next article, where we'll be exploring what it takes to create a podcast from scratch. 

For more information about our work and to stay up-to-date on all our latest content, visit us at www.prx.org/bigquestions.