Hi PJ/Alex/Sruthi. I really appreciate how you guys tell your stories. My favourite episode of all time of Reply All is #86 “Man of the People”. The way the narrative is structured really impressed me since it’s non-chronological and I find that John Brinkley is an incredibly detailed and interesting story to tell.
• How did you find out about John Brinkley? Was it through research, reading, randomly.
• How do you come up with the narrative structure? “Man of the People” is non-linear (starts with a cold open about an old Mrs. Brinkley and kids in the neighbourhood). I also find that this story in particular has “pivot points”, meaning particular instances where the narrative takes major detours.
• How do you know when to cut something out? There’s a book written about John and a movie about him as well, yet you only have a 1 hour podcast to tell his story. How do you choose?
• Do you believe you have to entice listeners at the start to keep them listening? If so, how do you do it?
• I find that you have a great partnership with Breakmaster Cylinder and think that their music really suits the style of the show. Not only that, their music really helps drive home the point sometimes. Like in the latest episode, I find that the “India Theme” really sets the tone. How do you decide on the music? And is there a certain way that you use it (in terms of fading it in or when exactly to play it)
• Could you explain more in-depth on how you guys lay out the story to each other? From what I understand, one person does the research and tells the other on-air the entire thing, in order to still have shock value.
Thanks for answering these questions. I’m a huge fan of the show and finding out more about your creative process would really mean a lot to me!
MisterBigWang36 karma
Hi PJ/Alex/Sruthi. I really appreciate how you guys tell your stories. My favourite episode of all time of Reply All is #86 “Man of the People”. The way the narrative is structured really impressed me since it’s non-chronological and I find that John Brinkley is an incredibly detailed and interesting story to tell.
• How did you find out about John Brinkley? Was it through research, reading, randomly.
• How do you come up with the narrative structure? “Man of the People” is non-linear (starts with a cold open about an old Mrs. Brinkley and kids in the neighbourhood). I also find that this story in particular has “pivot points”, meaning particular instances where the narrative takes major detours.
• How do you know when to cut something out? There’s a book written about John and a movie about him as well, yet you only have a 1 hour podcast to tell his story. How do you choose?
• Do you believe you have to entice listeners at the start to keep them listening? If so, how do you do it?
• I find that you have a great partnership with Breakmaster Cylinder and think that their music really suits the style of the show. Not only that, their music really helps drive home the point sometimes. Like in the latest episode, I find that the “India Theme” really sets the tone. How do you decide on the music? And is there a certain way that you use it (in terms of fading it in or when exactly to play it)
• Could you explain more in-depth on how you guys lay out the story to each other? From what I understand, one person does the research and tells the other on-air the entire thing, in order to still have shock value.
Thanks for answering these questions. I’m a huge fan of the show and finding out more about your creative process would really mean a lot to me!
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