The Art of Storytelling
This week it’s the WBHM’s Membership Drive – your opportunity to support non-profit journalism and all the programs you enjoy.
I wrote about our specific on-air messaging last week and how at WBHM we thought long and hard about what to include. I hope you’re noticing a difference (for the better!) on the air.
This week, I’m writing about The Moth whose motto is True Stories Told Live. The Moth is many things, but probably the one you’re most familiar with is the radio show and accompanying podcast. The Moth Radio Hour is on WBHM Saturdays from noon to 1 and Sunday afternoons from 5 to 6. You may also have heard of The Moth StorySLAM, a live storytelling event held in Birmingham, although the performances were ultimately paused during the pandemic.
Now, the curators of The Moth have published a new book, How to Tell a Story. If you’ve ever heard a story live or on the radio and wondered How do they do that? this book has your answer. It’s the definitive guide to telling an unforgettable story in any setting.
On Tuesday, May 3, I’ll interview The Moth’s Artistic Director and Alabama native Catherine Burns live at Thank You Books in Birmingham. The conversation starts at 7 p.m., and the event is free.
I’ll talk with Catherine about the art of crafting your own unique story and some pitfalls to avoid. And we’ll discuss how storytelling in general is seeing a resurgence before we take audience questions. Hope to see you there!
(Through “Programming Notes,” we hope to keep you connected to what is happening at WBHM both internally and on-air. Have feedback you’d like to share? Or a programming question? Let me know!)
Incoming Transmission! Pt. 2
You may remember earlier this year when WBHM held a special Transmitter Drive. With your support, we raised the final $50,000 to purchase and install a new transmitter. In total, this project cost $230,000. For this edition of Program Notes, I checked in with WBHM’s engineer Darrell McCalla who oversees this project for an update […]
Meeting You Where You Are
Last week, I attended the Public Radio Content Conference – the premier gathering for non-commercial programmers, content managers and leaders in the public media ecosystem. This was the first in-person conference in more than two years and, it was good to reconnect with my colleagues in person — not just because of the pandemic, but […]
Rise and Shine
I spent early August substitute hosting Morning Edition for Miranda Fulmore who was on a well-deserved vacation. And while everyone has their routine, I thought I’d share a little bit of what goes on behind the scenes in the very early hours of the day. I get up at 3 a.m. which also means I really try […]
There’s Lots of Moth’s in the Air
This week, I’m writing about The Moth – not the insect, the storytelling phenomenon! If you haven’t heard, The Moth is true stories told live, without notes. It’s personal storytelling that connects us as human beings. These stories are told in different ways to millions of people each year including right here in the Heart […]
Welcome Back to Program Notes!
I spent a (mostly) restful two weeks off visiting with extended family – most of us hadn’t seen each other since before the pandemic. But even on vacation, I still listen to public radio wherever I am. Sure, I could (and often do) listen online, but there’s a part of me that’s also a fan […]
Deliberate Indifference – Inside Alabama’s Prison Crisis
You’ve probably heard of our new narrative podcast, Deliberate Indifference. And, given all the heavy news the past few months alone, you may think this is the last thing you want to listen to. I urge to reconsider. As citizens, we have a right to know how more than 500 million of our tax dollars […]
