Podcasting Oral Histories
A story this morning on MPR reopened an idea in my head. A while back, I registered the domain tenthousandvoices.com and put up a quick static site there. I haven't had the time to go back to it, but I've got a half-written email to local improv groups looking to do a bunch of non-serial podcasts of spoken word audio from Minnesota (hence, the 10,000 reference). I love podcasts, but most of them seem stuck in the model of a series instead of individual documentaries, mini-series, etc.
IT Conversations does something different from most podcasts in their capturing of IT conventions as basically 1-time events. Other ideas include recording local lectures, audio tours of places like the sculpture gardens, a day of storytelling, stand-up comedy, etc. I'd also love to be able to do more exclusive (possibly commercial) audio theater, etc. and pay performers to do it. Give away Act 1 of a murder mystery and charge for the rest, etc. I'd rather the podcast be a brand for high quality Minnesota spoken word content than that you get the *same* content every episode.
If you had enough stuff, you could do custom CD's and share the wealth. Lots of ideas have been bouncing around my head regarding this project (and I'd love to talk with anyone in Minnesota interested in the idea. I know Garrick does a lot of podcasting locally, any others I should talk to?)
All of that said, one of the things that's been nagging at me that would be part of Ten Thousand Voices is to capture oral histories and personal biographies from older generations of Minnesotans. I already love sitting down with Shelly's grandfather to hear all of his stories and there are stories like his all over the place. I'd give copies of the raw audio to the interviewee and their family and probably edit down the conversation for distribution.
What I'm wondering is if anyone has suggestions for how to go about finding people who would like to be interviewed. My first idea is to talk to senior-serving charities and see if they have ideas to find volunteers.
The resulting podcasts would be distributed via Ten Thousand Voices under a Creative Commons license. I expect I'd also need a release of some sort. Anyone know where I could find a legal template?
February 22nd, 2006 at 7:50 am
There's a huge need for something like this. NPR is doing something similiar with their StoryCorp project, but they only capture a limited number of stories.
I think the best way to get started is to get started. Hit record and show people how it works. Encourage them to start their own.
February 22nd, 2006 at 8:48 am
Yes. StoryCorp is an intriguing project. I just always want a little more context and am more facinated with stories from elder generations than my own.
Last time we visited Shelly's grandfather (in Wisconsin) he told a whole series of stories I had never heard before, including how growing up farming (behind a horse and plow) pushed him to leave home early, get his cheesemaking license, work for a few years doing that and eventually move on to be a master interior carpenter. The time constraints on a StoryCorp booth just don't capture the depth of the stories out there.
I agree with the "just start" mantra. I'm always a big fan of the flawed project that actually gets done instead of the perfectly planned one that exists only on paper. I have the email of someone with the state "aging board". I'll drop them a line as well as posting something on Craigslist and see if I can find my first interviewee.
It'd be great if the result was both product and process that others could follow.
February 22nd, 2006 at 8:59 pm
Excellent. From my perspective, I think the word needs to get out on how easy it is to record conversations (distribution is a different conversation)- oral history or otherwise. I think if we're not comfortable recording the banal conversations, there's no way we'll be comfortable recording the important ones.