Since Loftie came on my radar, I've been a big fan. Why? Audio is an essential part of their product. Loftie makes alarm clocks and lamps designed to help us decompress from the daily digital overload - to detach from our phones.

Nature sounds, white noise, and bedtime stories are built into it. In other words, they use dynamic sound design to help us relax and slow down.

This is the type of innovation that I'm talking about. [read the full post]

I kid, but many of these sounds do elicit a visceral reaction. That's pretty powerful when you think about it.

The sound of our screens are part of everyday life. We are inundated with dings and alerts and various other notifications that keep us moving. Some I enjoy hearing, some I will always silence. But how are these sounds developed? [read the full post]

All this dependence on video is begging for a shake-up.

Video has its place, don’t get me wrong. But chat shows are one thing. Narrative audio is another.

One plus to audio-only content is that it’s less cumbersome. You don’t have to be glued to a screen, you can still be immersed in your surroundings.

Our imagination is activated differently when we just listen. When are companies going to understand this and recognize it as a STRENGTH as opposed to a weakness? [read the full post]

I’ve subscribed to newsletters only to unsubscribe five minutes later, unwilling to add to the never-ending flood in my inbox.

But today, the Calm newsletter actually broke through - I read it. And it totally resonated.

As a sound nerd, I’ve always admired Calm for how they use audio as a tool for somatic healing. I’ve used their app for that very reason. Admittedly, I am their target audience. And today, they reached me. This is easier said than done. [read the full post]

“For what is the worth of human life, unless it is woven into the life of our ancestors by the records of history?" -Cicero

Thank you Cicero for summing up our mission statement at Audio Monuments.

Sean Alexander Brennan and I think of ourselves as oral historians, helping people document their legacy through the power of audio. Because everyone has an interesting story to tell and it deserves to be told. And these stories ought to be passed on to future generations - to teach us.

Lately, we've been navigating the usual challenges of launching something new - crafting a product that's a little outside the box but incredibly meaningful. [read the full post]

Cuz I sure do.

This Gap commercial is one of my all time favorites*. I loved when it I first saw it (anyone know what year?) and I love it now. The idea is so simple but so powerful - such a vibe.

Does anyone know the history of this ad? Who made it and the concept? I feel like this was part of the Gap marketing blitz of the 2000s and it totally revitalized the brand. [read the full post]

In particular, I fell in love with the sound design. When I looked up the credits on IMDb.com, I wasn't too surprised to see that there were at least 14 people responsible for that.

I have always said that if a movie sounds bad, it looks bad. People often think that sound is secondary to visuals in film, but that's wrong. [read the full post]

Does listening to more podcasts or radio help us feel less lonely?

I’ve always believed that audio storytelling deeply connects us, that human voices are the window to the soul. And so I wonder…

Anyone come across research examining this? [read the full post]

Turns out there are plenty of sounds to consume outside of music and podcasts.

I’ve always made content with the hope of creating an emotional reaction or connection.

But I am fascinated by the idea of creating audio that has a physical effect - a somatic reaction. [read the full post]

Have we lost the capacity to be bored because of our phones? Answer: YES.

Boredom is not a bad thing. Boredom leads to inspiration.

And boredom doesn't have to be a solitary act. You can do it with friends.
[read the full post]

I was knee deep in Avid Pro Tools all weekend, editing a project to submit for Tribeca (more to come on that).

I want to be a better editor. I know enough to make things, and tools like Descript definitely help streamline. But it still takes me a while to complete a project in Pro Tools.

What's maddening is that half of the issues I face (keyboard short cuts!) could easily be answered by another Pro Tools user. Usually, that means turning to YouTube.

And yet, most Pro Tools tutorials feel geared towards music making at an expert level. [read the full post]

I’m trying to find a balance. Conversations like this one help tremendously.

Lulu Garcia-Navarro interviews Anna Lembke about the struggles and consequences of our digital world. [read the full post]

It sometimes feels like everyone just looks at what's trending and builds a product from there.

Like video podcasts. Video works for chat shows, but a NARRATIVE podcast - that is, longer form audio fiction or non-fiction - is a different thing entirely. It goes against the format, what it's aiming to be. In fact, that's called television.

Some of us got into audio because of the punk rock / DIY, anti gatekeeper-y spirit of it. Also, a (mostly) 2D medium is inherently easier to produce than a 3D medium. This is not to say that it's easy to produce well. Similar to film, if you want something truly engaging, investing in solid people and time usually creates a better product.

Yes, there is room for video podcasts. But it's not everything, and it's not a reason to stop investing in narrative work. [read the full post]

Only the left side works, but I still love them with all my heart.

Something about vintage audio equipment and stereo systems, especially from the 70s - the design to me is so beautiful. It's the same way I feel about cars from the 60s. There was a warmth and elegance to it.

In our digital world, design feels more icy cold. Still sleek, but cold - singular. [read the full post]

For those unaware, ASMR stands for autonomous sensory meridian response.

ASMR videos are all over social media, especially YouTube, TikTok andInstagram Reels. There are also apps specifically designed for ASMR consumption, like ASMRtist and Tingles. It is ultimately SOUND content, because it's the sound that gives the desired effect - that relaxing, tingling sensation people crave.

These ASMR creators often have hundreds of thousands if not millions of subscribers / followers. There are tons of sub-genres - soap cutting, noodle eating, medical role-play. It's a world unto itself (exploring it would be a riveting podcast - anyone want to help me make it?).

My question: is ASMR sleep content? [read the full post]

Waited for the A train at Utica Avenue, early commuter time. It was relatively quiet except for this rumbling sound, which had an eery rhythm to it. It pulsed loudly.

The sound itself was electric. Lights? Loudspeaker? Who knows. I pulled out my phone and hit record. Thank you Voice Memo app.

Even when things seem quiet, they are sometimes punishingly loud, creating their own, chaotic symphony. [read the full post]

As in, how do we bring that intimacy of radio / podcasts out into the world and share that with each other? How do we use sound to create more ceremony and connection in our lives?

Narrative stories are part of it. But I think it’s also creating new experiences out in the physical world. [read the full post]

A couple years ago, a writer named Rick Paulas created a radio play / tour, called The Lady in Greenpoint - “a 3 mile walking audio ghost story starting at the Pulaski Bridge”. Link below.

Some friends and I followed the story for about an hour, marveling at the blend of fiction & non-fiction. [read the full post]

How we consume it, how it's changing, where it's going. And I ask myself:

- What do I genuinely want to make as a creator?
- What do I actively want to engage with?

I also think about the power of sound as a medium and driver of content, how it's under-appreciated in its ability to make us feel connected and relax our nervous system. Not always - apps like Calm, Headspace, and Insight Timer have robust, audio focused content that does this very thing, and well, albeit in a very specific context.

In my super biased audio producer opinion, I do think we are inundated with imagery in a way that is debilitating, at least for me. [read the full post]

I felt seen when I read it, because I too am slightly worried about how we listen to music now. The rise of Spotify and listening apps has changed not just what we listen to, but how we listen.

Hsu verbalized my concern, how we’ve lost so much of the context behind the music we consume and the artists who create it. Instead, we’ve leaned into a culture of constant background noise, where music is something to fill silence rather than something we immerse ourselves in.

Whatever happened to the quiet pauses and moments of anticipation that came with putting on a record? Or the thoughtful silence of a CD playing its last song, creating that built-in space to reflect on what we just heard?

Listening to music used to have a sense of ceremony, of intimacy, an experience that could bring people together. But we've traded that for convenience and access. [read the full post]

It has to be made into a video. Am I mistaken? Is there some work around I'm not aware of?

I get that we can always share links to podcasts or other websites (like Audio Monuments) but it feels a little crazy to me that there's no option for WAV, mp3, or m4a.

For those of us who work in sound and who love audio as a medium, it feels limiting and short sighted. [read the full post]

Now enjoying the quiet of snow falling. Hello January.

Any audio producer will tell you, quiet is a powerful thing. The pause of someone’s story - that moment of reflection - or the weight and silence of a room that’s never truly silent. It calms and slows.

In audio, quiet holds space. Sometimes that’s where the magic happens, where the meaning settles and connection deepens. [read the full post]

Starting the year off with a friend hang - a long walk and some intention setting.

What are your New Year’s Day rituals? How do you want to feel in the year ahead? What vision do you have for yourself?

These are the words I find myself returning to, in no particular order:

Leadership - Creativity - Exploration - Prosperity [read the full post]

It’s a way to slow down and connect in an increasingly busy world.

Think about a concert you went to - not at the arena, but the more intimate one. Where you and the musicians felt close, intimately connected, and in tune (pun intended!).

Storytelling can be like that too.

That a phone call is more effective than texting or seeing your friend on Instagram.

This doesn't surprise me. The human voice is a powerful thing. People talk about scent as a strong memory sense, and it is. But a close runner up has to be sound.

Voices are part of that. [read the full post]