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The Spot: True Stories & Random Tape

This week on KALW's showcase for the best stories from public radio podcasts and independent radio producers...

"Best Couple," reported by Victoria Cruz for WNYC's Radio Rookies, June 2009.

Just in time for PRIDE week here in the Bay Area, Reporter Victoria Cruz shares her prom story for WNYC’s Radio Rookies. You can find the Radio Rookies' podcast oniTunes, and you can listen to all of their past stories on their website.

 

"Architecture in Sand:Archisand," produced by Open Orchards Productions for the radio show Fresh Picked, September 2013.

Like Radio Rookies, Open Orchard is another radio project where high school students take on all the work to research, report, and produce stories from their communities.

In the spirit of the summertime, here is an interview where they dig into the art form of sand sculpture with architect and sculptor, Greg LeBon. You can find out how to subscribe to their podcast at their website.

Drakes Beach in Point Reyes hosts a sand sculpture contest every September. You can find out about the next one on Drakes Beach's official website.

 

Suspicious Man with the Wing-Tip Shoes,” originally aired on the True Story podcast, 2014.

The local podcast True Story knows that some of the best storytelling moments come when you’re gathered in a small group on your home turf. Each episode of the podcast showcases a story that was recorded in a home, amongst friends.

True Story is produced by Will Rogers, Xandra Clark, Daniel Steinbock, and Kevin Townsend. You can find the True Story podcast on iTunes, and if you’re interested in hosting True Story party of your own, find out how at their website.

 

"Captain Tom Wins a Ham," produced by David Weinberg for the podcast Random Tape, January 2012.

Most radio producers use the term “tape” to describe the uncut audio from an interview. Though digital recorders are now the standard, using the term “tape” still remains strong. The show Random Tape was created by radio reporter and producer David Weinberg as a place to house random cuts of tape that were too interesting not to share, yet didn’t have a place in a larger story. When David was a deckhand on a glacier tour boat in Alaska, he used to hang out in the wheelhouse and listen to Captain Tom tell stories. A few years ago, he caught up with the captain, and asked him to recall one of his favorite stories. 

You can subscribe to Random Tape on iTunes

David is teaming up with the podcast Tape, which interviews radio producers about their craft, to host this summer’s Tape Festivalin New York City. Everyone is invited to participate by submitting their favorite pieces of tape or recorded conversations to their Golden Tape competition. You can find out all the details at tapefest.org; the contest closes on June 30th. 

 

This week's episode featured music from: Black Moth Super Rainbow, Django Reinhardt, The Pica Beats, and Singing Guitars.

If you have a suggestion for a podcast or an audio project we should feature, please drop us a line at thespot@kalw.org.

Tune in next week for another episode of The Spot, only on KALW San Francisco.