How I Podcast: Eleanor Kagan Interview - Legal & Political Insights

The Accessibility of Podcasting

Podcasting stands out as a uniquely accessible medium. It’s remarkably straightforward to both create and enjoy content. Consequently, each podcast adopts a distinct approach, reflecting the individuality of its creators.

A wide range of hardware and software options are available to aspiring podcasters. Setups can vary dramatically, from professional NPR studios to simple USB Skype configurations – the latter of which gained prominence during recent global events.

Insights from Leading Podcast Professionals

We consulted several respected podcast hosts and producers to gain insight into their workflows. They shared details about the equipment and software they utilize to successfully produce their shows. The following individuals contributed their expertise:

• Articles of Interest’s Avery Trufelman
• Sarah Enni of First Draft and Track Changes
• RiYL remote podcasting edition
• Family Ghosts’ Sam Dingman
• Anita Flores of I’m Listening
• Justin Richmond of Broken Record
• Criminal/This Is Love’s Lauren Spohrer
• Jeffrey Cranor of Welcome to Night Vale
• Jesse Thorn of Bullseye
• Ben Lindbergh of Effectively Wild
• My own podcast, RiYL

“Welcome to Your Fantasy”: A Production Overview

“Welcome to Your Fantasy,” a new podcast launched by Spotify and Pineapple Street Studios (in association with Gimlet), delves into the compelling true crime story surrounding the 1980s Chippendales phenomenon. Historians Natalia Petrzela, Nicole Hemmer, and Neil J. Young meticulously unravel this narrative over eight episodes.

The series required 18 months of development and benefited from substantial resources provided by Spotify. Eleanor Kagan, Senior Producer at Pineapple Street (known for Another Round, See Something Say Something, and Thirst Aid Kit), details the equipment used for both in-person and remote recording during the production process.

On-Location Recording Equipment

For interviews conducted outside of Pineapple’s Brooklyn studio, a standard reporting kit was employed. This included a Zoom H5 recorder, equipped with two XLR channels. This allowed for providing a Rode NTG-2 shotgun microphone to both the interviewer and the interviewee. Microphones were always mounted on stands to minimize handling noise.

A Rode pistol grip was utilized for capturing audio in dynamic environments, such as when seeking interviews near the former Chippendales club in Los Angeles. The team sought perspectives from individuals familiar with the club’s history and the surrounding neighborhood. A cross-body camera strap was adapted to comfortably secure the recorder during fieldwork. The kit also contained Sony MDR-7506 headphones, XLR cables, a deadcat windscreen, extra SD cards, an Electro Voice RE50/B microphone, writing implements, refreshments, release forms, and a plentiful supply of batteries.

Adapting to Remote Recording

The onset of the pandemic necessitated a shift to remote recording. While most interviews had already been completed, additional interviews and host tracking still needed to be done. A recording kit was shipped to Natalia, including a Zoom H6 recorder, a Shure SM7B cardioid dynamic announcer microphone, a CloudLifter CL-1 Microphone Activator, a broadcast arm, XLR cables, and a windscreen.

Natalia established a recording space within her closet, utilizing soft materials like blankets and cushions to absorb sound and reduce echoes. Engineers provided remote guidance on optimizing the setup. Natalia successfully took on the role of recording engineer in addition to her hosting duties.

Remote Interview Techniques

Remote interviews were conducted via Zoom, with both the interviewer and interviewee recording their audio locally. The Zoom recording served as a backup. Producers guided interviewees through the process of self-syncing their recordings.

Teamwork and experience were crucial in efficiently assisting interviewees with recording setup and troubleshooting technical issues. Guides and visual aids were utilized to simplify the process. While remote interviews lacked the immediacy of in-person encounters, participants demonstrated remarkable patience and willingness to contribute to the project.

Ultimately, approximately 70 individuals were interviewed for this series. The first episode underwent 26 revisions, and over 100 hours of archival footage were reviewed. The story of Chippendales continues to offer further avenues for exploration.

Regardless of location, the necessary tools for podcast creation are readily available to anyone.