On Air Fest

Join Dear Alana creator Simon Kent Fung and Tenderfoot TV's Tracy Leeds Kaplan as they take us through the making of 'Dear Alana,' a story of "teenage rebellion and spiritual manipulation, the price we pay to belong, and the systems that pay no price at all."

Hear from award-winning podcast director and producer, Shane Salk, and Dolby’s Tina Eckman on how to bring stories to life. Dolby Atmos provides a new experience for podcasts and allows creators to place sounds in a multidimensional space that creates an audio-only experience so rich and lifelike that it transports the listener into the story. Learn how Salk approaches his creative process to crea...

Today, Explained co-hosts Sean Rameswaram and Noel King provide a behind-the-scenes look at what Sean describes as "one of the best episodes we've ever made on our show." When the Russian invasion of Ukraine forced the Today, Explained team to reconsider their editorial plans for their next episode, the team rallied to pull together a brand new episode—in under five hours. Listen to Sean and Noel...

The 2022 Audio Vanguard Award was awarded to Jad Abumrad, creator of 'Radiolab.' In this interview with Anna Sale (creator and host of ​Death, Sex & Money ​) we celebrate Abumrad's remarkable career. Hear all about the early years of Radiolab, and how Jad and his team navigated creative challenges and transitions to make one of the most well known audio programs of our day. At the end of the inter...

Music has the power to make us feel good, but did you know that listening to the right frequency can support better sleep, lower stress and even reduce anxiety? Listen to powerhouse music producer Maejor as he discusses his Audible Original podcast, 'Maejor Frequency,' an innovative journey through sound, and the ability of different frequencies to help tackle pain relief, focus attention, and all...

On Air Fest 2022 opened with a keynote—from a special Speaker! In this performance, audio artist Kaitlin Prest delights with an audiovisual experience dedicated to 'the language of sound': the physical experience of sound in space, the things that sound can tell us about spaces, and the frequencies, rhythms, tones, and pitches that humans use to express themselves and communicate.   Mentioned in t...

Listen as the pages of The Paris Review come to life. Hear excerpts of an interview with Toni Morrison live scored by musicians, then Pulitzer Prize–winning poet Vijay Seshadri reads his poem “ Ailanthus ”; actor Quincy Tyler Bernstine reads “ A Story for Your Daughters, A Story for Your Sons ” by Rebecca Makkai; finally, Emily Wells provides live scoring for Bill Callahan's rendition of Adrienne...

In an act of mutual admiration, musicians Meshell Ndegeocello and Joan As Police Woman joined us at On Air Fest to play each other's songs and talk about each other's lyrics. These two artists are linked by a particular candor about their history, and the relationship between pain, growth and the healing power of music. In this episode, hear a far-ranging conversation between the two artists, and...

Artforum is the leading international art publication. Each issue writes the history of our visual culture, and demonstrates how art is the most iconic measure of what’s urgent in the here and now. In this conversation, Editor-in-chief David Velasco, sits down with contributing writer Tobi Haslett to explore what role a magazine like Artforum can play in structuring our resistance to power. Togeth...

For the tenth anniversary of ESPN’s iconic documentary series 30 For 30, Podcast host Jody Avirgan sat down with Ezra Edelman, Oscar-winning director of OJ: Made In America. The two explored the power of sports storytelling, and their approach to documentary work through their chosen medium. At one point in the conversation, Edelman describes documentary making as a leap of faith. Part plan, part...

Hear author Roxane Gay interviewed by one of our all time heroes, Debbie Millman, host of the podcast Design Matters. Through her deeply personal writing, and prolific tweeting, Roxane Gay has reshaped how our culture talks about race, sexuality and the body. In this interview, the two talk about the difference between bravery and strength, clap backs, and Gay's ambition to rule the world.

In this episode, Jenna Wortham in conversation with Mona Chalabi. Journalists, cultural critics and friends who support each other's projects and ambitions. In their work, both Jenna and Mona have an incredible way of picking up on cultural phenomena and trends, teasing out what these observations say about this moment in time. Together they talk about their careers, and then, take an important si...

In this conversation, hear Founder and Co-Host of Radiolab, Jad Abumrad interviewed by Mooj Zadie . The conversation touches on Abumrad’s relationship to doubt, his intoxication with audio, and the moment from his career that will stick with him forever. Mooj started his podcast, Tape, as a way to understand the personal evolution of his radio heroes. Not only how they make their work, but who the...

Dan Taberski is the host and producer of two influential podcasts, Missing Richard Simmons and Surviving Y2K. Both shows are long form documentaries that track the kind of bizarre stories that prove truth is stranger than fiction. Both shows also hold pieces of Dan’s own story. In this interview with Vulture podcast Critic and HotPod Editor Nick Quah, hear how Dan chooses his subjects, what it fee...