AES Fall Convention 2022

Making podcast series is a team effort, but imagine a podcast about a subject that spans over 30 years. Suave is a podcast about the system that sentences juveniles to life in prison, a story of incarceration, redemption, and the unusual relationship between a journalist and a source.

In 1988, David Luis “Suave” Gonzalez was found guilty of first-degree homicide. A Philadelphia judge sentenced him to life in prison without parole for a crime committed when he was 17 years old. Acclaimed journalist Maria Hinojosa met Suave 27 years ago when she was invited to speak at a graduation ceremony at Graterford prison in Pennsylvania. They kept in touch over the decades by phone, letter, and occasional visits. Eventually, she began to record those conversations. Originally, she maintained contact in order to have a source inside the prison system. But over the years, they became close. Suave thought he would die in prison, but three decades later a Supreme Court decision granted him another shot at freedom. But Suave soon realizes there are limits to how much freedom he can ever truly have, and Maria realizes there are limits to how much she can help him. And the more Maria learns about Suave’s crime, the more she comes to question the events that put Suave in prison — and the system that puts away children to life in the first place. This podcast tells that story spanning several decades through those recorded conversations. 

In this workshop, we will discuss the project with Director of engineering, Stephanie Lebow on the mix and master of this podcast - working with tape spanning decades and producer Julieta Martinelli on how to manage and organize that much tape as well as how to identify the most important pieces to tell a compelling story.

The expanding world of podcasting and audio storytelling can present many opportunities for audio professionals. For current or matriculating students looking at this part of the industry, or existing professionals, here are some case studies from professional engineers working in podcasting on the skills they rely upon and look for in new hires.