2024 – Best of narrative Podcasts & a pep talk
Here's some of the best audio storytelling I've come across this year & some other updates
Ok. Let’s get right into it.
I may have taken a bit of a Substack break, but I definitely haven’t stopped listening to podcasts (although.. is it just me, or has there been significantly less output this year?). And what is the end of November if not the perfect time to publish my favorite narrative audio of this year, and a look ahead at the things that I find really exciting.
Here’s what' you’ll find in this issue:
1. A pep talk and/or a reality check
2. Best of 2024
3. Some gems to look forward to
If you enjoy this newsletter, it would make me super happy if you “bought me a coffee here”. I love coffee and analog film, and every little bit helps free me up to write these newsletters.
1. A pep talk and/or a reality check
What a year it’s been.
In terms of the audio world, this year started with all of us recovering from the shitshow that was a certain company’s decision to disinvest in narrative podcasts, seemingly signaling to everyone else in the industry and listeners that neither journalism nor narrative series were worth the time, money and attention that had been dedicated to them. Well, they’re wrong.
So, there we were at the beginning of the year. Many freshly laid off, trying their best to build communities, think sustainably, cheering on whatever was left of the bastions of creative audio… when BANG! BBC decides to end Short Cuts. A show that had been home for short-form creative audio pieces, encouraging first-time producers to make things and nurturing them along the way. What a loss for the industry. A big NOOO! could be felt and heard in the community, just as it was felt when Heavyweight was canceled, and Mystery Show years prior. The list goes on.
Which leaves us with… what exactly?
Change starts with us, creators, journalists, producers, and lovers of the craft.
That doesn’t mean that we stop being idealistic. It’s smart to have a vision and know what the dream is. But the more I listen to people vent about the industry in the context of their own work and ideas, the more I think, we need to live in a space where the venn-diagram of idealism & pragmatism overlaps.
If there’s one thing I learned in the last two years, it’s this:
I can’t wait around for someone to buy my idea to get started on it.
I can’t wait for someone to establish a space to playfully explore my craft.
I am done waiting for and asking for permission.
I’m just gonna give it my best shot.
Things falling apart means we GET to rebuild them.
Which means! We need to stop being in the business of (mostly) selling our own ideas. Instead, our belief in our ideas could mean, we can stop asking for permission to make them happen.
Of course, this is a hugely privileged thing to say.
But think about it: That’s where community comes in (— you don’t have to do it alone). That’s where sustainability comes in ( — you don’t have to do it within 5 months) That’s where pragmatism comes in ( — you do need to make sure you have enough money to pay rent and know that narrative audio is probably not the thing that will end up paying your rent). That’s where realistic thinking comes in (— make first. See if there’s an audience. And then try to sell it if you truly want to.)
Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.
Now let’s get into why you’re ACTUALLY here:
2. My favorite narrative audio of 2024
My criteria:
Was I emotionally affected by it?
Did I learn something new, or was there an aspect of it that felt new to me? (Either in terms of the story, or the way it was made)
Did I remember it months later and did I remember parts of the story? (A big feat considering how forgetful I am)
Did I find myself talking about it several times this year?
I’m happy to report. It’s a yes for all of the following.
Here’s some of the best narrative audio I heard this year
Delejos / Love Me(Tribeca winner Best Non-fiction 2024)
Radio Workshop / A Mother’s Letter
Question Everything / Episodes 1 & 4
Articles of Interest / Nudity
Gay Girl Gone (CBC)
Shocking. Heartbreaking. Transformative (Radiotopia Presents)
1. Mind Your Own
Since this came out, I’ve listened religiously. This is the Snap Judgment full of stories for and by and with people from the African continent, diaspora or not. You can tell there’s Snap Judgment DNA in it. Lupita Nyong’o’s honesty about struggling to find her own voice. The stories from places and lives that I, personally, relate to more than 80% of the stories in This American Life. Finally, a show with accents, made with love and oh… such good music! These stories stay with you. A new star on the campfire-storytelling-audio-sky. Possibly my new favorite. Best place to start your binge listening session is truly episode 01.
2. Love me / Delejos
Well deserved winner of Tribeca’s non-fiction prize for audio. I got strong THE HEART-vibes. But it is very much it’s own thing. It came out on the Love Me feed, which is also one of the pillars of heartfelt storytelling in the audio world. A feed that looks at the beautiful mess of our human condition. Delejos feels raw and emotional. And honest. I am very much here for it. This first story deals with grief. The way it’s told feels cinematic and literary at the same time.
They seem to plan to put out a new season beginning of 2025 and I cannot wait. Lu Olkowski and producer Julie Piñero and a bunch of other brilliant folks were behind this great first episode that put an end to a 5 year hiatus on their feed.
3. Proxy with Yowei Shaw
Along the lines of the little TED Talk at the beginning of this article, Yowei Shaw just did it.. without asking for permission. And: it’s a fantastic show. I did a whole write up in the June 2024 issue.
Since I wrote about it, Yowei put out a bunch of new episodes. There’s one about how proxy conversations are used in restorative justice settings. It’s absolutely fascinating and I’d recommend everyone listen.
I cannot wait to hear the new season that she’s working on.
If you’d like to support this indie show, consider joining Yowei’s patreon.
4. Radio Workshop / A mother’s letter
The folks at Radio Workshop in South Africa have really been upping their game in the last two years and the hard work paid off. This episode had me in tears. It’s about acceptance by society, but mostly within the family. The hardest thing to stomach if it is lacking. This story stayed with me. Actually, I think I might just listen to it again today. Definitely one of the best things I’ve heard all year.
And I can’t emphasize enough how happy I am to hear more stories coming to us from the Global South these days.
4. Pack One Bag
This won Tribeca in 2023. And now that the entire season came out, it definitely made my best-of list. This was a fun listen. The imagined conversations with the grandparents. It’s playful and full of golden nuggets of history. It’s joyful, a good listen. Might’ve gone slightly overboard with the fake Italian accents, but oh well. Still fun. For fans of Stanley Tucci.
I did a whole write up in the June issue of this year. You can find it here.
6. Question Everything / Episodes 01 & 04
Brian Reed, the journalist behind S-Town got a lot of flack when S-Town came out. It made him question his role as a journalist and the ethics of the business he’s in. So, in this new ongoing show, he takes on these questions in what feels like a genuinely honest way.
In a time where journalism and journalists are under attack, it’s essential we look ourselves in the eye, examine if we’re on the right track, and admit our mistakes if and when we make them. Brian does exactly that.
I think this is a show for anyone interested in the ethics and makings of journalism. It’s definitely nerdy, a bit inside-baseball sometimes. I love it! Ethics in journalism is my jam!
Episodes 1 and 4 are my favorite so far. You should check them out.
8. Articles of Interest / Nudity
Avery Trufelman. Not only just a lovely human being, but just such a talent when it comes to putting abstract themes into context. Like nudity. One of my favorite episodes I’ve heard this year.
I did a whole write up in a prior issue. But let me just say: Would you go and sit in a naked stand-up comedy audience with someone you worked with??
9. Gay Girl Gone (CBC)
A jaw-dropping story. Takes place in Syria. Incredible production. Very well told. An absolute highlight. Here’s my write up from February 2024.
10. Shocking, Heartbreaking, Transformative (Radiotopia Presents)
I said it once. I’ll say it again. Ethics in journalism is my little nerd heaven.
This show taps into it. Jess Shane sets out to do an experiment to re-invent the way she makes audio docs, and at the end of it all, she becomes the target of A LOT of cricism.
Whether or not, you can appreciate what Jess did here (I for one do, because she poked the bear at a very inconvenient time.), he show managed to do the thing it set out to do: It has us talking about best practices in journalism, about empowerment of subjects, about who gets their stories told vs who doesn’t.
It’s a must-listen for journalists, and it’ll forever be on my GOAT list in terms of podcasts.
3. Things to look forward to:
2025 I think is going to be pretty exciting. Not just on a personal level (you’ll see I have some great plans), but also I think in terms of the way the industry will develop.
But before 2025 even starts, there’s one thing I need to tell you about.
Dec. 5th — Launch of a new show
I’m coming out with a show on Dec 5th. This show is for lovers of Snap Judgement, Heavyweight, or Mind Your Own. The first episode drops on December 5th. I’ll post about it on my social channels. You can find me everywhere as @jasminbauomy, but I’m probably most active on Instagram.
2025 Highlights
Hopefully new seasons of Delejos and Proxy
There shall be loads of new beautiful creative short audio. Audio Flux is planning a bunch of new circuits (I recommend you check out their 4 circuits of the past year). And I am planning at least 2 new cohorts with THE ECCO (the callout will probably happen in Dec/Jan)
Hopefully new homes for some of my favorite shows: Heavyweight, Mystery Show, and … if I could make a dream reality: Short Cuts. If you, too, would like to take a stand to support Short Cuts, please consider signing this open letter to those responsible at the BBC.
Events (just off of the top of my head):
Resonate (I had the best time this year)
XMTR festival in the UK
Sonohr in Basel
Maybe something fun on the sidelines of the London Podcast Show
International Journalism Festival in Perugia (I usually go every year. It’s for free. But I could use a bit more of an audio crowd there)
What else am I missing? Let me know in the comments.
And that’s it!
If you enjoyed this edition, please share it with others.
You can support me by buying me a coffee here.
And if you have tips for other podcasts I should listen to, please send them over! Otherwise, I run the danger of offering you recs out of my own echo chamber.
Happy listening everybody!!