Transom.org (also: @transom.bsky.social)

In case you missed it, our monthly newsletter All Hear is out! It's full of grants, competitions, fellowships and other opportunities for audio creators, sound artists, podcasters, and radio journalists worldwide. allhear.substack.com/p/all-hear-mar…

A song written after a Vermont teen’s death is now sung around the world. People have sung “Hold On” in Minneapolis in front of ICE agents, in Europe, and Australia, for courage. Inspired by The Listeners, Erica Heilman tells the story. rumblestripvermont.com/episodes/hold-… (cw: suicide)

Julie Shapiro & John Delore made a pilot for the Audio Flux podcast. How did they go from pilot in 2024 to podcast in late 2025? On this ep of Sound School, a deep dive comparing the pilot to the 1st episode of the pod & the thinking behind their choices. transom.org/2026/dialing-i…

A key part of an eye-catching pitch is finding engaging characters. And that’s where a a good pre-interview comes in. Sally Herships writes about what a pre-interview is, why it matters, & how to make the best of it for audio. transom.org/2016/art-pre-i…

“The H5studio is a worthy successor to the H5 - with significant improvements in sound quality.” These are big words of praise from our very own Jeff Towne – though they come with a few caveats! Towne breaks down the pros and cons of Zoom’s new recorder: transom.org/2026/zoom-h5st…

We’re sharing pieces on responsible reporting & community trust as we prepare resources for audio storytelling w/ immigrant communities amid ICE activity. Lewis Raven Wallace’s 2020 manifesto wrestles w/ power, objectivity, & who gets to tell stories. transom.org/2020/lewis-rav…

Transom is turning 25 & we’re marking it the best way we know how: by getting together for a weekend of exceptional audio. Join us in Woods Hole, MA for a special gathering: • Workshops + talks • Deep listening • Food + beach + rest Sept 17–19. Details soon. Save the date.

If you liked Will Coley’s tips on pitching, you’re going to love his deep dive with Rob Rosenthal on the topic, with real examples and advice from other freelancers. Listen to the latest Sound School now! transom.org/2026/the-naked…

So you’ve made a beautiful piece of audio, or maybe have the makings of something special–how do you get your stories in front of people that can play it on the air or the nearest RSS feed? Will Coley breaks down the art of the pitch: transom.org/2026/pitching-…

“If you want to learn something and feel scared, find a bunch of people who are just as scared about it as you are and join forces. Transom did the work of finding these people for me.” Our latest TTW has come to a close. Read participant Swati Singh’s reflection on the week

Noel King says first things first. Before writing a story, tell a friend the story. On this archive episode of @soundschoolpod, @NoelKing says that's the approach she took at @planetmoney and it worked like a charm! Listen over at Transom: transom.org/2026/revisitin…

As we prep resources for reporting on and with immigrant communities amid increased ICE activity, we’re sharing archive pieces on trust & responsibility. Jesse Hardman wrote a how-to on civic media that’s built on deep listening instead of parachuting in: transom.org/2023/are-you-l…

How do you cover traumatic events? From the archives: hear Rob talk to NPR’s Debbie Elliot about her reporting on the Sutherland Springs church shooting, Hurricane Harvey, and the Charlottesville marches. transom.org/2018/reporting…

Until then, we're sharing pieces from the archive that might be of help. First up is Alice Wilder’s manifesto on trauma informed reporting and interviewing: transom.org/2021/trauma-in…

How do you build trust, report humanely and create audio responsibly in besieged communities? That’s something Transom’s been thinking of in light of increasing ICE raids across the country. Please msg or comment what you’d like to see from us on these topics!

Transom students this week are learning how to make an audio documentary in Bombay Beach. One student, Swati Singh, started writing a newsletter about her time there. Check it out! Thank you to our sponsor @HindenburgNews for their support. buttondown.com/a-week-at-the-…

“Remember salt in addition to sugar...Let listeners be confused sometimes…listeners are not babies ... Now that you’re old, and now that the world is ending, try to be useful.” Erica Heilman’s personal 'Rules for Radio' are sharp, opinionated, poignant, & funny. Read below!

DEADLINE THIS SUNDAY! Calling all audio storytellers and documentarians! Surrounded by quiet, trees, and water, we’re partnering with Blue Mountain Center to provide a 1 month residency at no cost with meals provided. transom.org/workshops/bmc/

In audio what we do is simple: we record & we share. It can feel small, but it isn’t. Sometimes the act of documenting can turn the tide. Erica Heilman of @rumblestripvt knows a thing or two about telling stories about neighbors. Here's her rules for how: transom.org/2026/my-rules-…