Show Notes is an interview series with members of The Signal Awards Judging Academy: the architects, instigators and trailblazers of the podcast medium. In this edition, meet Lauren González. Lauren has maybe one of the coolest jobs in podcasting. She oversees the pitching and greenlighting process for new shows and series at NPR. She also oversaw NPR's first dual-language co-production with Futuro Studios: La Última Copa / The Last Cup and spearheaded NPR's strategic working group on better reaching Latino audiences.
Signal Awards:
What was your first job in the industry and what did it teach you?
Lauren González:
My first job in the industry was at The Moth. It taught me how to look out for the specific and the surprising out of any story. It also taught me the value of deep listening, good coworkers, and mindful breathing before showtime.
Signal Awards: What is the first memory you have of deciding to pursue the podcast medium?
Lauren González: It feels ordinary and expected, but listening to Radiolab. It was the episode Juicervose, specifically. I did laps around my apartment building so I could keep listening. I realized I wanted to share stories that made people want to take the long way home.
SA: What is a past audio project you are proud to have worked on and why?
LG: It’s really hard to pick just one so I’ll say that there’s a common denominator to the kind of work that lights me up. It’s getting to see hosts I really respect and admire get to try their hand at a whole new project, and hearing from strangers who find insight, delight, or wonder from these shows.
SA: You’re part of The Signal Awards Judging Academy, which means that you’ll be listening to many podcasts made in the last year and weighing which deserve broader recognition. When you’re listening to a show, how do you know when it’s good? What does ‘good’ feel or sound like?
LG: There’s always a mysterious alchemy to what makes something good. Some hosts have an undefinable ‘it’ factor; others just land on a fascinating story by happenstance. And yet, there are ways to increase your “luck”. Find a story or an idea that feels prescient or relevant to the current moment, find a frame or way into it that feels distinct, be comprehensive in your research and interviewing, and play around with production elements to step out of the mold and create something different!
SA: What has working in podcasting taught you about life or about who you are?
LG: I’ve recognized that in work and in life, I enjoy being a soundboard. I like being a place where you can bring your ideas and find some help in expanding and shaping them.
SA: Is there a show or creator whose work you think people should be paying more attention to?
LG: I’m enjoying Selects – Ben [Riskin] is curating old-school public radio and bringing it to our RSS feeds. I recently listened to The Lemon Tree, which aired on Fresh Air in 1998.
SA: What is a non-podcast sound that you adore?
LG: I’ve been collecting voice memos of NYC summer soundscapes. I prefer it over taking pictures!
SA: What do you look forward to most as a Signal Award Judge?
LG: Selfishly, I’m looking forward to discovering a new show I really like and adding it to my queue! But really, it’ll be a great thing to uplift creators and voices who’ve worked hard on their shows and bring them to a whole new crop of listeners.