On Air Fest

The Making of Dear Alana

hello@onairfest.com (On Air Fest) — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 20:14:09 +0000

Join Dear Alana creator Simon Kent Fung and Tenderfoot TV's Tracy Leeds Kaplan as they take us through the making of 'Dear Alana,' a story of "teenage rebellion and spiritual manipulation, the price we pay to belong, and the systems that pay no price at all."

Unravelling Storytelling in Dolby Atmos

hello@onairfest.com (On Air Fest) — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 18:41:49 +0000

Hear from award-winning podcast director and producer, Shane Salk, and Dolby’s Tina Eckman on how to bring stories to life. Dolby Atmos provides a new experience for podcasts and allows creators to place sounds in a multidimensional space that creates an audio-only experience so rich and lifelike that it transports the listener into the story. Learn how Salk approaches his creative process to create immersive storytelling across podcast genres.

This talk was broadcast as part of On Air Open House 2023, at dublab. Also on site was the Dolby Atmos Experience, which gave attendees the opportunity to experience podcasts and audio experiences in Dolby Atmos in both a studio setup, and in the Dolby Atmos car.

Today, Explained: The Making Of 'A Phone Call From Ukraine'

hello@onairfest.com (On Air Fest) — Wed, 18 May 2022 14:58:35 +0000

Today, Explained co-hosts Sean Rameswaram and Noel King provide a behind-the-scenes look at what Sean describes as "one of the best episodes we've ever made on our show." When the Russian invasion of Ukraine forced the Today, Explained team to reconsider their editorial plans for their next episode, the team rallied to pull together a brand new episode—in under five hours.

Listen to Sean and Noel as they give a play-by-play on the troubleshooting and problem solving that went into the compelling Today, Explained episode, 'A phone call from Ukraine.'

In this episode:
-Today, Explained's piece from the day before the Russian invasion: Why Ukraine Matters (2-23-22)
-Today, Explained: A phone call from Ukraine (2-24-22)
-Today, Explained's piece on Afghan Refugees: From Kabul's airports to Virginia's burbs (3-9-22)
-The Soyuzivka Heritage Center in Kerhonkson, NY
-Noel promised to check in again with Kurii Vasil and his niece Yulya. They are featured again on the Today, Explained episode: Why Ukraine Won't Quit. (3-16-22)
-Today, Explained: The real and imagined history of Ukraine (2-25-22)

Jad Abumrad in conversation with Anna Sale

hello@onairfest.com (On Air Fest) — Wed, 18 May 2022 14:55:40 +0000

The 2022 Audio Vanguard Award was awarded to Jad Abumrad, creator of 'Radiolab.' In this interview with Anna Sale (creator and host of Death, Sex & Money) we celebrate Abumrad's remarkable career. Hear all about the early years of Radiolab, and how Jad and his team navigated creative challenges and transitions to make one of the most well known audio programs of our day.

At the end of the interview, cake was distributed to the audience, who stood to sing "Happy Birthday" to Radiolab on the occasion of its 20th anniversary.

Mentioned in this episode:
The First Radiolab
On the Media with Brooke Gladstone
This American Life
NPR News
Robert Krulwich, former Radiolab co-host
Ellen Horne, former Radiolab producer
More Perfect, a Radiolab spinoff
Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl, the Supreme Court case which inspired the first More Perfect story story
Joe Frank's audio drama, Rent-A-Family
Radiolab's episode on Stress, featuring Robert Sapolsky
Jad's rec: The Mantis Shrimp choir from the Colors episode of Radiolab

Maejor on Meditating Musically

hello@onairfest.com (On Air Fest) — Wed, 18 May 2022 14:49:24 +0000

Music has the power to make us feel good, but did you know that listening to the right frequency can support better sleep, lower stress and even reduce anxiety? Listen to powerhouse music producer Maejor as he discusses his Audible Original podcast, 'Maejor Frequency,' an innovative journey through sound, and the ability of different frequencies to help tackle pain relief, focus attention, and allow people to connect with a higher sense of well being.

Maejor has been an influential force in the world of music, and now he’s bringing the same passion and skills to help you recharge your own world. Moderated by Carmel Holt.

Mentioned in this episode:
Maejor Frequency
Binaural Beats
The Andean pan flute
Sonic Geometry: The Language of Frequency & Form
My Inventions: The Autobiography of Nikola Tesla

2022 Opening Keynote Speaker

hello@onairfest.com (On Air Fest) — Wed, 18 May 2022 14:46:23 +0000

On Air Fest 2022 opened with a keynote—from a special Speaker!

In this performance, audio artist Kaitlin Prest delights with an audiovisual experience dedicated to 'the language of sound': the physical experience of sound in space, the things that sound can tell us about spaces, and the frequencies, rhythms, tones, and pitches that humans use to express themselves and communicate.

Mentioned in this episode:
Charles Spearin's The Happiness Project

The Paris Review: An Audio Odyssey

hello@onairfest.com (On Air Fest) — Tue, 5 May 2020 21:15:31 +0000

Listen as the pages of The Paris Review come to life. Hear excerpts of an interview with Toni Morrison live scored by musicians, then Pulitzer Prize–winning poet Vijay Seshadri reads his poem “Ailanthus”; actor Quincy Tyler Bernstine reads “A Story for Your Daughters, A Story for Your Sons” by Rebecca Makkai; finally, Emily Wells provides live scoring for Bill Callahan's rendition of Adrienne Rich’s poem “A Tree.” Executive producers John DeLore, Emily Nemens, and Brendan Francis Newnam guide the performance.

Music Saved Me: Meshell Ndegeocello and Joan As Police Woman

hello@onairfest.com (On Air Fest) — Tue, 16 Jul 2019 19:17:26 +0000

In an act of mutual admiration, musicians Meshell Ndegeocello and Joan As Police Woman joined us at On Air Fest to play each other's songs and talk about each other's lyrics. These two artists are linked by a particular candor about their history, and the relationship between pain, growth and the healing power of music. In this episode, hear a far-ranging conversation between the two artists, and exclusive live recordings of their music.

One of the most powerful storytellers out there making music today, Meshell Ndegeocello is a bassist, singer-songwriter and vocalist who has collaborated with the likes of Madonna, Chaka Khan and Missy Elliot, she holds ten Grammy Award nominations. Joan As Police Woman trained first as a classical violinist before moving into experimental collaborations with everyone from Lou Reed to Rufus Wainwright. Her latest album, Joanthology, was released in early 2019.

Artforum and the Story of Critique

hello@onairfest.com (On Air Fest) — Tue, 4 Jun 2019 19:29:43 +0000

Artforum is the leading international art publication. Each issue writes the history of our visual culture, and demonstrates how art is the most iconic measure of what’s urgent in the here and now. In this conversation, Editor-in-chief David Velasco, sits down with contributing writer Tobi Haslett to explore what role a magazine like Artforum can play in structuring our resistance to power. Together, they discuss this moment in artistic production and the value of art criticism today.

ESPN 30 For 30: How Sports Stories Explain America

hello@onairfest.com (On Air Fest) — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 16:16:51 +0000

For the tenth anniversary of ESPN’s iconic documentary series 30 For 30, Podcast host Jody Avirgan sat down with Ezra Edelman, Oscar-winning director of OJ: Made In America. The two explored the power of sports storytelling, and their approach to documentary work through their chosen medium. At one point in the conversation, Edelman describes documentary making as a leap of faith. Part plan, part following the story to see the unexpected places it will evolve, and being open to the work having a mind of it’s own. Let’s see where it goes.

Design Matters Live with Roxane Gay and Debbie Millman

hello@onairfest.com (On Air Fest) — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 14:42:41 +0000

Hear author Roxane Gay interviewed by one of our all time heroes, Debbie Millman, host of the podcast Design Matters. Through her deeply personal writing, and prolific tweeting, Roxane Gay has reshaped how our culture talks about race, sexuality and the body. In this interview, the two talk about the difference between bravery and strength, clap backs, and Gay's ambition to rule the world.

Jenna Wortham and Mona Chalabi in Conversation

hello@onairfest.com (On Air Fest) — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 13:59:46 +0000

In this episode, Jenna Wortham in conversation with Mona Chalabi. Journalists, cultural critics and friends who support each other's projects and ambitions. In their work, both Jenna and Mona have an incredible way of picking up on cultural phenomena and trends, teasing out what these observations say about this moment in time. Together they talk about their careers, and then, take an important side step, moving into a necessary conversation on caring for the self.

Tape: The Jad Abumrad Interview

hello@onairfest.com (On Air Fest) — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 18:53:45 +0000

In this conversation, hear Founder and Co-Host of Radiolab, Jad Abumrad interviewed by Mooj Zadie. The conversation touches on Abumrad’s relationship to doubt, his intoxication with audio, and the moment from his career that will stick with him forever.

Mooj started his podcast, Tape, as a way to understand the personal evolution of his radio heroes. Not only how they make their work, but who they are. He has an unexpected, honest interview style that uncovers a human dimension behind the voices who make great radio. At On Air Fest, Mooj and Jad sat down for an in-depth interview covering the breadth of Jad's creative career.

Dan Taberski and Nick Quah in Conversation

hello@onairfest.com (Nick Quah, On Air Fest, Dan Taberski) — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 18:46:27 +0000

Dan Taberski is the host and producer of two influential podcasts, Missing Richard Simmons and Surviving Y2K. Both shows are long form documentaries that track the kind of bizarre stories that prove truth is stranger than fiction. Both shows also hold pieces of Dan’s own story.

In this interview with Vulture podcast Critic and HotPod Editor Nick Quah, hear how Dan chooses his subjects, what it feels like to release personal projects into the world, and what happened to him the night of December 31st, 1999.

Mentioned in this conversation:

Dan's documentary projects including Missing Richard Simmons and Surviving Y2K
His newest project is Running From Cops
Nick's in-depth insight into the business of the podcast industry is over at Hot Pod
The kid's show on Cartoon Network Destroy Build Destroy
True False Festival in Columbia, Missouri

Special thanks to First Look Media and Leital Molad for helping bring this conversation to the stage.