Out on the Wire The Storytelling Secrets of the New Masters of Radio [Paperback]

ALibrary JournalBest Book of 2015

Go behind the scenes of seven of today’s most popular narrative radio shows and podcasts, includingThis American LifeandRadioLab, in graphic narrative.
 
Every week, millions of devoted fans tune in to or downloadThis American Life,The Moth,Radiolab,Planet Money,Snap Judgment,Serial,Invisibiliaand other narrative radio shows. Using personal stories to breathe life into complex ideas and issues, these beloved programs help us to understand ourselves and our world a little bit better. Each has a distinct style, but every one delivers stories that are brilliantly told and produced.Out on the Wireoffers an unexpected window into this new kind of storytelling—one that literally illustrates the making of a purely auditory medium.
 
With the help ofThis American Life's Ira Glass, Jessica Abel, a cartoonist and devotee of narrative radio, uncovers just how radio producers construct narrative, spilling some juicy insider details. Jad Abumrad ofRadioLabtalks about chasing moments of awe with scientists, whilePlanet Money’s Robert Smith lets us in on his slightly goofy strategy for putting interviewees at ease. And Abel reveals how mad—really mad—Ira Glass becomes when he receives edits from his colleagues. Informative and engaging,Out on the Wiredemonstrates that narrative radio and podcasts are creating some of the most exciting and innovative storytelling available today.