“Welcome to Radio Church!” That’s how Rob Rosenthal, veteran storyteller and host of The Sound School Podcast, kicked off the latest event from The ECCO, a storytelling-driven initiative founded by Jasmin Bauomy to uplift and amplify marginalized voices through retreats, workshops, and audio-centric gatherings.
Held in Engels, a living-room-style bar tucked in the basement of a bustling café in Neukölln’s tree-lined, hipster borough, the vibe was cozy yet dynamic.
From that first beat, the room shifted. You could feel it: an anticipation for the kinds of stories that wouldn’t just sit with you but dig in and stay awhile.
Rosenthal started us off with audio samples from his students at the Transom Story Workshops—each piece a masterclass in turning everyday scenes into compelling narratives. The first example? Andrew Norton’s portrayal of an artist’s model. Norton faced a unique challenge: how do you tell the story of someone whose life is about being seen but not heard? The answer: let them shine in their own quirky, raw glory. The subject’s personality jumped out of the audio, a reminder that sometimes, the quietest roles can speak the loudest.
And then Rosenthal dropped a golden rule: If someone says they can do something, don’t just take their word for it—ask them to prove it. Capture the spark, the realness. Treat your microphone like a camera, zooming in on details that paint a vivid picture for the listener. You’re not just recording audio; you’re creating an experience that goes beyond sound.
Next up was Jamie Yuenger’s story, thick with tension and frustration. She set out to capture the intensity of a moose hunt but wound up unearthing the complex dynamics of a couple’s relationship. She camped out in their bedroom, sacrificing her comfort for the story, and what she captured transcended her initial goal. Yuenger embodied what Rosenthal calls "shoe leather journalism"—putting in the miles, sweating the details, and staying open to wherever the story takes you.
A key Rosenthal tip: Use lists in your storytelling. Lists are hooks, rhythms, something for listeners to latch onto. His reading recommendation? Walt Harrington’s Intimate Journalism, a call to write for your tribe and craft stories that resonate on a deeply personal level.
Then came Bente Birkland’s exploration of love—the kind that stands, “in sickness and in health.” Her subject, a man caring for his wife with Alzheimer’s, refused to let her record his wife’s voice. So, how do you convey that depth of emotion without her actual words? By leaning into the details: the sound of a car door, greetings from care staff, the hum of an old love song. A sonic landscape that made you feel her presence, even in her absence. Sometimes, the constraints make the story hit harder.
And then, Ryan Sweikert’s piece on addiction. This was no single story—it was a patchwork of voices, a communal echo of struggle and recovery. Sweikert’s work evoked something I remembered from a project shared by Mark Curran, a former lecturer during my studies in visual and media anthropology. Curran’s former student presented a study on addiction, with interviews woven into an immersive setup that replicated the sacred circle of an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, allowing people to listen through headphones. Sweikert’s piece created that same raw intimacy, a shared space of anonymity where vulnerability became a link between strangers.
Finally, Molly Menschel rounded things out with her story about a dead whale. But really, it was about everything else that cycles through life and death, especially in a tight-knit, sometimes struggling community. This wasn’t just about a carcass washed up on the shore; it was a mirror to the community’s resilience and the harsh beauty of nature’s ebb and flow.
Throughout the session, Rosenthal and Bauomy shared practical advice:
Pitch by focusing on why. Why does this story matter? What makes it timely or timeless?
Know your own voice. Record yourself, journal, leave yourself voice messages. Learn to hear your voice before trying to tell someone else’s story.
And the basics? Keep it simple: wear headphones, carry extra batteries, and most importantly, tell the truth.
Rosenthal left us feeling that storytelling is more than capturing sound—it’s capturing the human experience, in all its messy, beautiful complexity.
Rob Rosenthal: As the creative mind behind The Sound School Podcast and an acclaimed educator in audio storytelling, Rob Rosenthal teaches storytellers how to craft narratives that resonate on a human level. With decades of experience, he’s a cornerstone in the world of narrative audio, showing creators how to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.
The ECCO: Founded by Jasmin Bauomy, The ECCO provides a sanctuary for creators to dive deep into the art of storytelling. Through audio, film, and writing, this community fuses innovative ideas with tradition, creating a space for those driven to tell stories that reflect and resonate with the world.
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