Mother's Day seems like it should be a Hallmark moment. But for many, reality is far different. Dana Black started her very personal podcast, I Swear on My Mother's Grave, for listeners suffering from complex mother loss — meaning not only people who have lost their mothers to death, but also, in life  by estrangement, illness, addiction, circumstance. Sensitivity warning: This conversation touches on alcoholism and addiction. Audio storytellers can learn design the tone, writing, and mood of a podcast to foster  intimacy with listeners. They can grapple with the defining the role of the podcast host. They will learn how to make guests, and listeners, feel seen, and to create a sense of belonging. We also discuss the power of scenes to convey memory, character, relationship and feelings. At the end of every episode, I give you a few of the many takeaways from these conversations. Here are today’s:  We say podcasts are an intimate medium. But that’s really not the case. What’s true is that podcasts have the capacity to feel intimate – but it takes a clear sound vision to make that happen.  Dana has it. She thinks carefully about how she wants her listeners to feel. “Come here come here come here,” she whispers. She talks to them directly, as if they’re right there. “Sit by the fire with me. Grab a cup of cocoa. Put on warm socks.” She wants them to feel they’re in on a secret and so she writes, voices, and sound designs with that goal in mind.  There’s no intimacy without trust. “The only way to gain the trust of someone I’ve never met,” Dana says, “I have to share myself, so that they will share themselves.”   There is so much power in scenes. A 45-second scene – in Dana’s case, about getting American girl dolls for Christmas – we get a distillation of who her mother was. Scenes done well are beautiful shortcuts to both facts and feelings – and inevitably have listeners conjuring up memories from their own lives.  One reason listeners are hooked on I Swear on My Mother’s Grave: At the end of every episode, Dana reflects on what that conversation meant to her, often in surprising ways. Listeners can’t wait to find out what she’ll say. Links mentioned in this episode:Mother's Grave Retreat, June 8-11, 2023I Swear on My Mother's GraveSound Judgment Ep 5: Finding Your Voice with Shelter in Place host Laura Joyce Davis***Bring lessons on hosting and producing into your inbox! Did you know Sound Judgment is also a free newsletter? Every two weeks, get storytelling, hosting, and journalism strategies taken straight from the on-the-ground experiences of today’s best audio makers, no matter the genre. Newsletters feature examples for you to try in your studio; essays on the challenges and rewards of this craft; and news about fellow audio creatives making the kind of work we all aspire to. Click here to subscribe. ***Follow Elaine on LinkedInHelp us find and celebrate today’s best hosts!  Who’s your Sound Judgment dream guest? Share them with us! Write us: allies@podcastallies.com. Because of you, that host may appear on Sound Judgment.Work with us!We make original podcasts for NGOs, purpose-driven brands, and universitiesWe also offer podcast strategy and consulting servicesOr contact us about our public media and individual training services for content creators and on-air talentVisit podcastallies.com or email us at allies@podcastallies.com for more information. ***Credits Sound Judgment is a production of Podcast Allies, LLC. Host: Elaine Appleton GrantPodcast Manager: Tina BassirSound Designer: Andrew ParrellaIllustrator: Sarah Edgell
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