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  • Stuff You Should Know

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    Bradley Jodoin [Student]
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    Serial's first episode is more engaging as it introduces a compelling idea - that the convicted murderer may be innocent - and organizes the timeline clearly. It also uses impactful audio clips like a voicemail. In contrast, the first Stuff You Should Know episode introduces its topic slowly and lacks suspense in its organization. It relies only on narration with some music. Overall, Serial is a superior model of podcasting through its compelling content and masterful use of audio.

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    Serial's first episode is more engaging as it introduces a compelling idea - that the convicted murderer may be innocent - and organizes the timeline clearly. It also uses impactful audio clips like a voicemail. In contrast, the first Stuff You Should Know episode introduces its topic slowly and lacks suspense in its organization. It relies only on narration with some music. Overall, Serial is a superior model of podcasting through its compelling content and masterful use of audio.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    65 views4 pages

    Stuff You Should Know

    Uploaded by

    Bradley Jodoin [Student]
    Serial's first episode is more engaging as it introduces a compelling idea - that the convicted murderer may be innocent - and organizes the timeline clearly. It also uses impactful audio clips like a voicemail. In contrast, the first Stuff You Should Know episode introduces its topic slowly and lacks suspense in its organization. It relies only on narration with some music. Overall, Serial is a superior model of podcasting through its compelling content and masterful use of audio.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
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    of 4

    Brad Jodoin

    Mr. R. Thomson

    ENG4UO-03

    March 9th, 2023

    The Price of Attentiveness: a comparison of Ideas, Organization, and sound and audio in Serial and

    Stuff You Should Know

    Podcasts have become a popular medium for delivering informative and engaging content.

    With all visual aspects of sharing information removed, podcasts aim to deliver their information

    purely through speech and sound. With the competitive and vastly growing selection of podcasts,

    the effective use of voice and sound elements are imperative for an engaging podcast. An effective

    demonstration of these elements is presented in Sarah Koenig’s Serial; a podcast which focuses on

    uncovering the truth behind the murder of Hae Min Lee. Another option on the podcast market:

    Stuff You Should Know, narrated by Josh Clark and Charles W. "Chuck" Bryant, has the same goal in

    mind, to use similar techniques and elements to hook listeners into their show. Despite substantial

    differences in the material presented in each podcast, the podcast Serial presents a more effective

    use of the elements of ideas, organization, and audio clips and sound, which proves it to be the more

    engaging introductory episode.

    Serial and Stuff You Should Know differ significantly in the topics they cover. While Serial

    centers on the murder case of Hae Min Lee, Stuff You Should Know covers a singular topic per

    episode, this one being “How Grassoline Works." However, despite the difference in topics, both

    podcasts try to use creative and captivating ideas to hook their listeners. In Serial's first episode,

    Sarah Koenig reveals that the convicted murderer, Adnan Syed, might not have committed the crime.

    This idea immediately hooks the listener into the episode, urging them to continue listening to find

    out more about the case. Comparatively, in Stuff You Should Know's first episode, "how grassoline

    works," Josh Clark and Charles W. "Chuck" Bryant begins the podcast slowly, firstly talking about
    him and his editor, then moving on to a fact about the topic: "switchgrass is one of the feedstocks for

    biofuel". Although it is related to the main topic of the episode, this particular fact fails to captivate

    the listener's attention in an exceptional manner, which can make them feel uninterested and

    possibly lose interest. Thus, Serial is the only podcast that effectively uses creative and captivating

    ideas to engage their audience. Even with different topics, Stuff You Should Know does not have a

    thoughtful beginning that aims to captivate listeners.

    In addition to ideas, the organization of a podcast is critical in maintaining the listener's

    attention. Serial's first episode is highly organized, beginning with an introduction of the case and

    the main characters involved. Sarah Koenig then proceeds to break down the timeline of the murder,

    providing details about the day Hae Min Lee went missing. The episode then ends with an interview

    with Adnan Syed, the convicted murderer. This organized structure allows the listener to follow the

    story easily, making it easier for them to keep track of the different characters and events involved.

    In contrast, the introductory episode of Stuff You Should Know, while informative, lacks the same

    level of organization and suspense structure as Serial. Throughout the episode, Clark and Bryant

    cover the topic related to "grassoline," including history of the concept, examples of how it's used,

    and the way in which it is made. While interesting, the organization of this episode by the host is

    lackluster, which fails to captivate and engage the audience, this problem further exacerbates the

    lack of material and substance in the episode.

    Lastly, the use of audio clips and sound, which is vital in creating an engaging podcast, is

    utilized effectively and done vastly superior in the first episode of Serial, compared to Stuff You

    Should Know . Serial's first episode utilizes audio clips effectively, beginning with a voicemail left by

    Hae Min Lee's friend after her disappearance. This clip adds a personal touch to the episode, making

    the listener feel more connected to the story. Additionally, the use of background music as the

    narrator is discussing Adnan’s demeanor after his disappearance adds suspense and drama, making

    it more engaging. By contrast, the audio in Stuff You Should Know is limited primarily to Clark and
    Bryant's narration, with occasional musical interludes. While this narration is clear and engaging, it

    lacks the same level of immersion and sensory detail as the audio in Serial.

    In conclusion, while both Serial and Stuff You Should Know are engaging and informative

    podcasts, the introductory episode of Serial stands out as a superior example of effective

    podcasting. Through its clear and compelling organization, its well-crafted ideas and arguments,

    and its masterful use of audio and sound elements, Serial hooks listeners and draws them into the

    story in a way that Stuff You Should Know cannot match. Serial acknowledges the significance of

    articulating ideas that encourage contemplation and emotional investment on the part of the

    audience, arranging them in a manner that entices listeners to delve further into the content, and

    utilizing sound clips to augment engagement. As such, Serial represents a model of effective

    podcasting that aspiring podcasters would do well to emulate. In the increasingly crowded world of

    audio entertainment, podcasts must contend for the attention of their listeners as the competition

    continues to grow.
    Works Cited

    Koenig, Sarah. "Season One: The Alibi." Serial, episode 1, This American Life, 2014.

    Clark, Josh, and Chuck Bryant. "Stuff You Should Know: How Grassoline Works." Stuff You Should
    Know, episode 1, Spotify, 2008.

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