- This update is part of the FRONTIERS residency at the Carlos Simon Foundation. In her second month, Marit Bonne moved from research and planning to recording interviews and developing the podcast narrative.
Halfway already! This second month, I have joined research discussions, went into the lab with some of you, and had my first podcast interviews!
Based on my research in the first month, I made a clear overview of who I wanted to interview for the podcast and what research would be interesting in, for example, an article. I started writing the script, outlining the storyline of the podcast series and per episode. Right now, the idea is to combine interviews with voice-over and reporting – meaning going into the lab or confocal with my equipment. Exciting stuff!
Using the script, I prepared questions for researchers I wanted to talk to and build my ‘own’ studio here in the Foundation 🙂 Even though I’m a professional (meaning, I get paid) science journalist, it is my first time recording a podcast like this! What I have noticed: there are a lot of things you need to think about.
First of all, the ‘show, don’t tell’ aspect is really big in podcasting, as you (read: I) want to bring the listener along within the foundation. It is really important to tell them what a certain room looks like, how it smells or what sounds you hear. How does it feel: is it cold, windy, warm or just the right temperature? This way, you really set the scene for the listener.
At the same time, you want to bring in some information and context about the works of the research. However, you also don’t want a podcast that takes 5 hours per episode… After the first recordings (!), now comes the hardest part: selecting the important stuff for the audience while preserving the story and making it entertaining to listen to as well.
Next to the podcast, I also had training from FRONTIERS (where I got the grant from), visited the Microbes in Women’s Health congress here in Valencia, went out for drinks, visited a science museum, enjoyed the sun, and even had my first small talk conversation in Spanish. Let’s enjoy two more educational months!