Best Kept Secret in Radio | Lulu Miller | TEDxCharlottesville

so there’s a little known secret about

so there’s a little known secret about radio journalism it’s perhaps my

radio journalism it’s perhaps my

radio journalism it’s perhaps my favorite part of the job when you are

favorite part of the job when you are

favorite part of the job when you are working from home and you need to get

working from home and you need to get

working from home and you need to get that crisp broadcast quality audio that

that crisp broadcast quality audio that

that crisp broadcast quality audio that you hear on national airwaves how do you

you hear on national airwaves how do you

you hear on national airwaves how do you do it

do it

do it well you build a pillow fort so I first

well you build a pillow fort so I first

well you build a pillow fort so I first heard about a reporter using one of

heard about a reporter using one of

heard about a reporter using one of these things when I was a brand new

these things when I was a brand new

these things when I was a brand new intern on the show radio lab and we were

intern on the show radio lab and we were

intern on the show radio lab and we were working with this incredibly talented

working with this incredibly talented

working with this incredibly talented reporter Jocelyn Ford and she was the

reporter Jocelyn Ford and she was the

reporter Jocelyn Ford and she was the Asia correspondent to marketplace at the

Asia correspondent to marketplace at the

Asia correspondent to marketplace at the time so talented

time so talented

time so talented so good at what she does so professional

so good at what she does so professional

so good at what she does so professional and as she was uploading the draft of

and as she was uploading the draft of

and as she was uploading the draft of her final piece jad album rod the host

her final piece jad album rod the host

her final piece jad album rod the host of radio lab said you know how she

of radio lab said you know how she

of radio lab said you know how she records sound I said no and he said well

records sound I said no and he said well

records sound I said no and he said well when she’s tracking her audio in her

when she’s tracking her audio in her

when she’s tracking her audio in her noisy Beijing apartment she’s rigged up

noisy Beijing apartment she’s rigged up

noisy Beijing apartment she’s rigged up this kind of contraption that’s a

this kind of contraption that’s a

this kind of contraption that’s a hula-hoop with blankets duct-taped to it

hula-hoop with blankets duct-taped to it

hula-hoop with blankets duct-taped to it that she like lowers over herself and I

that she like lowers over herself and I

that she like lowers over herself and I thought this was the most charming thing

thought this was the most charming thing

thought this was the most charming thing in the world I thought this was totally

in the world I thought this was totally

in the world I thought this was totally renegade and kind of MacGyver II and

renegade and kind of MacGyver II and

renegade and kind of MacGyver II and while Jocelyn is those things what I was

while Jocelyn is those things what I was

while Jocelyn is those things what I was wrong about was that this was in some

wrong about was that this was in some

wrong about was that this was in some way an exception to the rule because it

way an exception to the rule because it

way an exception to the rule because it turns out adult pillow forts are not the

turns out adult pillow forts are not the

turns out adult pillow forts are not the exception to Radio reporting they are

exception to Radio reporting they are

exception to Radio reporting they are the rule as I continued on over the

the rule as I continued on over the

the rule as I continued on over the years I would hear freelancers or

years I would hear freelancers or

years I would hear freelancers or reporters or people who weren’t in the

reporters or people who weren’t in the

reporters or people who weren’t in the studio often talking about different

studio often talking about different

studio often talking about different techniques they could use pillows or

techniques they could use pillows or

techniques they could use pillows or down comforters all these things and I

down comforters all these things and I

down comforters all these things and I just loved hearing about how people

just loved hearing about how people

just loved hearing about how people would solve the problem I didn’t know

would solve the problem I didn’t know

would solve the problem I didn’t know why

why

why I loved it so much at first but over the

I loved it so much at first but over the

I loved it so much at first but over the years I started collecting photos of

years I started collecting photos of

years I started collecting photos of some of these things and so just a brief

some of these things and so just a brief

some of these things and so just a brief visual tour before I go on with why I

visual tour before I go on with why I

visual tour before I go on with why I love them so much of what some of your

love them so much of what some of your

love them so much of what some of your favorite radio professionals look like

favorite radio professionals look like

favorite radio professionals look like when they record their audio from home

when they record their audio from home

when they record their audio from home okay

okay

okay so this as you can clearly see is a

so this as you can clearly see is a

so this as you can clearly see is a radio professional under a down

radio professional under a down

radio professional under a down comforter on their bed and this is like

comforter on their bed and this is like

comforter on their bed and this is like the basic model this is like the lazy

the basic model this is like the lazy

the basic model this is like the lazy man’s home studio so your your head is

man’s home studio so your your head is

man’s home studio so your your head is the tent pole it is advised to use a

the tent pole it is advised to use a

the tent pole it is advised to use a head lamp so that you can see your

head lamp so that you can see your

head lamp so that you can see your script and it works great it actually

script and it works great it actually

script and it works great it actually really insulates all the background

really insulates all the background

really insulates all the background noise but in a nice way the the mattress

noise but in a nice way the the mattress

noise but in a nice way the the mattress and the down kind of prevents against

and the down kind of prevents against

and the down kind of prevents against echo and you get this sound that can

echo and you get this sound that can

echo and you get this sound that can host the podcast

host the podcast

host the podcast only problem is you get hot very quickly

only problem is you get hot very quickly

only problem is you get hot very quickly so many people will upgrade to the

so many people will upgrade to the

so many people will upgrade to the closet jackets provide wonderful

closet jackets provide wonderful

closet jackets provide wonderful insulation if you want to get real fancy

insulation if you want to get real fancy

insulation if you want to get real fancy you drag in a desk it’s a little hard to

you drag in a desk it’s a little hard to

you drag in a desk it’s a little hard to see but it’s a it’s a desk without a

see but it’s a it’s a desk without a

see but it’s a it’s a desk without a lamp with like a little telltale cord

lamp with like a little telltale cord

lamp with like a little telltale cord coming out of the closet when you close

coming out of the closet when you close

coming out of the closet when you close the door a flowerpot makes a great

the door a flowerpot makes a great

the door a flowerpot makes a great microphone stand but then you start to

microphone stand but then you start to

microphone stand but then you start to get your real innovators mark Bram hill

get your real innovators mark Bram hill

get your real innovators mark Bram hill uses an umbrella and a fuzzy blanket

uses an umbrella and a fuzzy blanket

uses an umbrella and a fuzzy blanket when he records audio for his podcast

when he records audio for his podcast

when he records audio for his podcast welcome to McIntosh and he gets great

welcome to McIntosh and he gets great

welcome to McIntosh and he gets great sound in there like check out that

sound in there like check out that

sound in there like check out that podcast it’s really luscious it sounds

podcast it’s really luscious it sounds

podcast it’s really luscious it sounds really professional he’s too adorable so

really professional he’s too adorable so

really professional he’s too adorable so I’m just gonna show more slides of him

I’m just gonna show more slides of him

I’m just gonna show more slides of him tally Abuk asus who recently started a

tally Abuk asus who recently started a

tally Abuk asus who recently started a podcast about returning to work after

podcast about returning to work after

podcast about returning to work after five years as a stay-at-home mom it’s

five years as a stay-at-home mom it’s

five years as a stay-at-home mom it’s called first day back she records her

called first day back she records her

called first day back she records her audio in her children’s Lego tent

audio in her children’s Lego tent

audio in her children’s Lego tent when not in use she qualified and she

when not in use she qualified and she

when not in use she qualified and she gets tremendous sound again that really

gets tremendous sound again that really

gets tremendous sound again that really intimate and and that podcast is so

intimate and and that podcast is so

intimate and and that podcast is so thoughtful and lovely first day back you

thoughtful and lovely first day back you

thoughtful and lovely first day back you should check it out um ari Shapiro host

should check it out um ari Shapiro host

should check it out um ari Shapiro host of a little thing called All Things

of a little thing called All Things

of a little thing called All Things Considered when he’s on the road

Considered when he’s on the road

Considered when he’s on the road covering White House press conferences

covering White House press conferences

covering White House press conferences or an Air Force One records audio in his

or an Air Force One records audio in his

or an Air Force One records audio in his jacket there’s actually a whole hashtag

jacket there’s actually a whole hashtag

jacket there’s actually a whole hashtag Irish appear under coats if you want to

Irish appear under coats if you want to

Irish appear under coats if you want to check out more photos of that I won’t be

check out more photos of that I won’t be

check out more photos of that I won’t be offended if you stop paying attention

offended if you stop paying attention

offended if you stop paying attention you just look at the hashtag okay but

you just look at the hashtag okay but

you just look at the hashtag okay but the point is there is a decent chance

the point is there is a decent chance

the point is there is a decent chance when you are listening to your favorite

when you are listening to your favorite

when you are listening to your favorite podcast or radio story that the host is

podcast or radio story that the host is

podcast or radio story that the host is under a quilt that’s how I started doing

under a quilt that’s how I started doing

under a quilt that’s how I started doing invisibie Lea before I had access to a

invisibie Lea before I had access to a

invisibie Lea before I had access to a studio or a blanket or a comforter or

studio or a blanket or a comforter or

studio or a blanket or a comforter or inside a closet maybe with tapestries or

inside a closet maybe with tapestries or

inside a closet maybe with tapestries or inside a sleeping bag or underneath a

inside a sleeping bag or underneath a

inside a sleeping bag or underneath a bunk bed with Christmas lights and a

bunk bed with Christmas lights and a

bunk bed with Christmas lights and a beanbag chair stopping just short of a

beanbag chair stopping just short of a

beanbag chair stopping just short of a parents keep out sign so why do I love

parents keep out sign so why do I love

parents keep out sign so why do I love these things so much okay it is partly

these things so much okay it is partly

these things so much okay it is partly their sloppiness you know they represent

their sloppiness you know they represent

their sloppiness you know they represent this sort of low bar to entry to getting

this sort of low bar to entry to getting

this sort of low bar to entry to getting started in podcasting all you need is a

started in podcasting all you need is a

started in podcasting all you need is a big idea and a medium-sized pillow it’s

big idea and a medium-sized pillow it’s

big idea and a medium-sized pillow it’s partly that you just get to climb back

partly that you just get to climb back

partly that you just get to climb back into childhood a couple times a week as

into childhood a couple times a week as

into childhood a couple times a week as part of your day job it’s partly that

part of your day job it’s partly that

part of your day job it’s partly that they’re this sort of ode to human

they’re this sort of ode to human

they’re this sort of ode to human innovation just look at the range of

innovation just look at the range of

innovation just look at the range of what the human mind will dream up to

what the human mind will dream up to

what the human mind will dream up to this problem of annihilating background

this problem of annihilating background

this problem of annihilating background noise but as I’ve sat with it I realize

noise but as I’ve sat with it I realize

noise but as I’ve sat with it I realize it’s something else

it’s something else

it’s something else our eyes our organs capable of

our eyes our organs capable of

our eyes our organs capable of tremendous evil

tremendous evil

tremendous evil there are countless studies that show

there are countless studies that show

there are countless studies that show that based on a glance of somebody’s

that based on a glance of somebody’s

that based on a glance of somebody’s face we will rate them as more hostile

face we will rate them as more hostile

face we will rate them as more hostile less intelligent more dangerous

less intelligent more dangerous

less intelligent more dangerous aggressive will even sit further away

aggressive will even sit further away

aggressive will even sit further away from them in a

from them in a

from them in a based on one glance not that we need any

based on one glance not that we need any

based on one glance not that we need any of those studies we see glaring evidence

of those studies we see glaring evidence

of those studies we see glaring evidence of it every day in who we rent homes to

of it every day in who we rent homes to

of it every day in who we rent homes to on Airbnb one glance who we hire who we

on Airbnb one glance who we hire who we

on Airbnb one glance who we hire who we give pain medicine to who we elect for

give pain medicine to who we elect for

give pain medicine to who we elect for president and who we shoot if I have any

president and who we shoot if I have any

president and who we shoot if I have any hope for our judgmental species it would

hope for our judgmental species it would

hope for our judgmental species it would be that we begin to try to mistrust our

be that we begin to try to mistrust our

be that we begin to try to mistrust our eyes that we wait just a second longer

eyes that we wait just a second longer

eyes that we wait just a second longer half a second before we think we

half a second before we think we

half a second before we think we understand somebody’s story this is not

understand somebody’s story this is not

understand somebody’s story this is not easy to do this is the work of ignoring

easy to do this is the work of ignoring

easy to do this is the work of ignoring intuition but until then we have radio

intuition but until then we have radio

intuition but until then we have radio this space we have invented where we are

this space we have invented where we are

this space we have invented where we are deprived of our eyes where we don’t get

deprived of our eyes where we don’t get

deprived of our eyes where we don’t get to see any visual information somebody’s

to see any visual information somebody’s

to see any visual information somebody’s hairdo or outfit or skin color or way

hairdo or outfit or skin color or way

hairdo or outfit or skin color or way that they awkwardly stand or stand too

that they awkwardly stand or stand too

that they awkwardly stand or stand too aggressively or shift aliy look to the

aggressively or shift aliy look to the

aggressively or shift aliy look to the side one of my problems in interviewing

side one of my problems in interviewing

side one of my problems in interviewing we have to actually wait to hear

we have to actually wait to hear

we have to actually wait to hear somebody’s story before making it up

somebody’s story before making it up

somebody’s story before making it up from a glance and I think because of

from a glance and I think because of

from a glance and I think because of this patience this openness we end up

this patience this openness we end up

this patience this openness we end up connecting with all sorts of people that

connecting with all sorts of people that

connecting with all sorts of people that we actually would write off in real life

we actually would write off in real life

we actually would write off in real life this is a precious effect it makes us

this is a precious effect it makes us

this is a precious effect it makes us more open than evolution wired us to be

more open than evolution wired us to be

more open than evolution wired us to be and I think it’s from this place of

and I think it’s from this place of

and I think it’s from this place of openness of a daring tenderness actually

openness of a daring tenderness actually

openness of a daring tenderness actually from this place

where we are no longer bodies no faces

where we are no longer bodies no faces just voices just souls actually

just voices just souls actually

just voices just souls actually encountering each other without our fear

encountering each other without our fear

encountering each other without our fear that we might begin to experience the

that we might begin to experience the

that we might begin to experience the kind of empathy so desperately needed to

kind of empathy so desperately needed to

kind of empathy so desperately needed to take that rigid seeming moral arc and

take that rigid seeming moral arc and

take that rigid seeming moral arc and bend it a little bit more toward justice

bend it a little bit more toward justice

bend it a little bit more toward justice and the pillow fort in all its hulking

and the pillow fort in all its hulking

and the pillow fort in all its hulking lumpy quilted glory is the perfect

lumpy quilted glory is the perfect

lumpy quilted glory is the perfect mascot for just how much when we are

mascot for just how much when we are

mascot for just how much when we are listening to a radio story we cannot see

listening to a radio story we cannot see

listening to a radio story we cannot see [Applause]