How to Make Storytelling a Habit: Enhancing Your Podcast Consistently

In the final episode of Showmakers' five-part miniseries on storytelling, Ed Barker from Studio 1878 explores the importance of making storytelling a consistent habit in podcast creation. Ed emphasizes that without intentional storytelling, podcasts can become dull and forgettable. He offers actionable tips on embedding storytelling into every stage of the podcast process—from planning and recording to editing and promoting. Ed also encourages podcasters to review their previous work with a storytelling lens and consider storytelling as a continuous practice. This episode concludes with a recap of the mini-series and an invitation for further support and collaboration.

00:00 Introduction

00:43 The Importance of Intentional Storytelling

01:19 Starting with Story in Episode Prep

02:14 Developing Story Radar

02:53 Storytelling in the Edit

03:13 Building a Storytelling Culture

04:21 Storytelling as a Practice

05:12 Series Recap

06:21 Closing and Next Episode Preview

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Shaping Stories Through Editing: Techniques for Narrative Podcasting

In this episode of Showmakers, Ed Barker from Studio 1878 explores the art of editing and highlights the importance of narrative shaping in post-production. Ed emphasizes that editing is more than just cutting audio; it's about uncovering and structuring the story within the conversation. He offers practical tips for both DIY editors and those working with editors, including identifying the story arc, removing non-essential dialogue, and reordering content for better impact. He also stresses the value of human moments and encourages editors to develop their unique style. This episode is geared towards ensuring that every podcast episode tells a compelling, well-structured story.

00:00 Introduction

00:44 The Purpose of Editing

01:25 Finding the Story Arc

02:06 Being Flexible with Content

02:27 Removing Verbal Scaffolding

03:22 Reordering Content

04:00 Rhythm and Flow

04:43 Working with Editors

05:37 Developing Your Style

06:18 Closing and Next Episode Preview

About Your Host

Ed Barker has been producing and recording podcasts since 2009. After a long career as a corporate marketing and strategy executive (and then a VC), Ed launched Studio 1878 (www.1878.studio) in early 2025 with the goal of making brand and business podcasting much better. Ed is a Brit, working out of Seattle, and podcasting worldwide. 🌎

Studio 1878

A podcast development studio for the modern brand. We believe everyone has a story worth telling. Specializing in business and brand podcasts, we’ll help build your story from ideation to distribution, transforming concepts to real connection with your audiences. We produce our own shows but our core proposition is in helping businesses and creators produce something truly compelling and authentic. We’d love to help you tell your story. 😈

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mastering Storytelling: Listening for Key Moments in Your Podcast

In this episode of Showmakers, Ed Barker from Studio 1878 dives into the essentials of recording for storytelling in podcasts. He explains how key moments such as changes, emotions, details, stakes, and surprises can transform an okay episode into a great one. Ed shares tips for hosts and producers alike on how to identify and leverage these storytelling elements while recording, making the final edit sharper and more engaging. Tune in to learn how to make your episodes memorable and authentic by capturing the raw material for your story arc in real-time.

00:00 Introduction

00:21 The Importance of Live Recording

01:01 What to Listen For: Change

02:09 Capturing Emotion

03:18 The Power of Detail

04:01 Understanding Stakes

04:56 The Element of Surprise

05:39 Solo Episode Tips

06:41 The Role of Silence

08:00 Closing Thoughts

About Your Host

Ed Barker has been producing and recording podcasts since 2009. After a long career as a corporate marketing and strategy executive (and then a VC), Ed launched Studio 1878 (www.1878.studio) in early 2025 with the goal of making brand and business podcasting much better. Ed is a Brit, working out of Seattle, and podcasting worldwide. 🌎

Studio 1878

A podcast development studio for the modern brand. We believe everyone has a story worth telling. Specializing in business and brand podcasts, we’ll help build your story from ideation to distribution, transforming concepts to real connection with your audiences. We produce our own shows but our core proposition is in helping businesses and creators produce something truly compelling and authentic. We’d love to help you tell your story. 😈

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Unlocking Story Shapes in Podcasting: Practical Applications

In this episode of Showmakers, Ed Barker, founder of Studio 1878, continues his storytelling series by exploring practical ways to use storytelling in podcasting. He introduces various 'story shapes' such as the hero's journey, before-after-bridge, the mountain, list with a twist, and spark and expansion. Ed explains how these narrative structures can help make podcast episodes more engaging, structured, and memorable. He also discusses how to choose the right shape for your content and emphasizes the importance of intention and repetition in creating a polished podcast. Whether you're developing a new podcast or refining existing content, Ed offers tips to incorporate these story shapes effectively.

00:00 Introduction

01:32 Hero's Journey

02:33 Before-After-Bridge

03:13 The Mountain

03:54 List with a Twist

04:33 Spark and Expansion

05:12 Choosing the Right Shape

05:57 Repetition and Recognition

06:23 Conclusion

About Your Host

Ed Barker has been producing and recording podcasts since 2009. After a long career as a corporate marketing and strategy executive (and then a VC), Ed launched Studio 1878 (www.1878.studio) in early 2025 with the goal of making brand and business podcasting much better. Ed is a Brit, working out of Seattle, and podcasting worldwide. 🌎

Studio 1878

A podcast development studio for the modern brand. We believe everyone has a story worth telling. Specializing in business and brand podcasts, we’ll help build your story from ideation to distribution, transforming concepts to real connection with your audiences. We produce our own shows but our core proposition is in helping businesses and creators produce something truly compelling and authentic. We’d love to help you tell your story. 😈

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Power of Storytelling in Podcasting

Ed Barker from Studio 1878 kicks off a five-part series on storytelling, focusing on its critical role in making podcasts successful. In this episode of Showmakers, Ed explains why storytelling works, especially in a business context. He discusses the importance of making storytelling practical and concrete, rather than vague or cliché. Ed highlights how stories help people understand and feel connected to the content, making them essential in podcasting. He also provides a preview of the upcoming episodes, which will cover different types of story structures, how to find story moments during recording, shaping stories in the edit, and making storytelling a consistent part of the creative process. Ed emphasizes that storytelling is the engine of a compelling podcast and invites listeners to consider the stories they are telling in their own shows.

00:00 Introduction to Show Makers

00:48 The Power of Storytelling in Business

01:37 The Emotional Impact of Stories

02:56 Structuring Your Story

03:34 Practical Storytelling Examples

04:17 Upcoming Episodes Preview

04:58 Final Thoughts on Storytelling

05:39 Sign-Off

About Your Host

Ed Barker has been producing and recording podcasts since 2009. After a long career as a corporate marketing and strategy executive (and then a VC), Ed launched Studio 1878 in early 2025 with the goal of making brand and business podcasting much better. Ed is a Brit, working out of Seattle, and podcasting worldwide. 🌎

Studio 1878

A podcast development studio for the modern brand. We believe everyone has a story worth telling. Specializing in business and brand podcasts, we’ll help build your story from ideation to distribution, transforming concepts to real connection with your audiences. We produce our own shows but our core proposition is in helping businesses and creators produce something truly compelling and authentic. We’d love to help you tell your story. 😈

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mastering Your Podcast Intro and Outro

In this episode of Show Makers, Ed Barker from Studio 1878 discusses the crucial elements of creating effective podcast intros and outros. Ed emphasizes the importance of making a strong first impression within the first 30 seconds and outlines the key components of a compelling intro: stating the show's name, clarifying the target audience, and maintaining a consistent yet engaging structure. He also delves into the significance of music selection for branding purposes. The outro is highlighted as a valuable opportunity to reinforce the episode's content and encourage audience action, such as subscribing or sharing. Throughout, Ed advises on simplicity, consistency, and staying on brand. The episode concludes with a teaser for an upcoming series on storytelling in podcasting and an invitation for listeners to reach out for personalized podcast development assistance.

00:00 Introduction

00:37 Let's Start With The Intro

01:13 So What Makes a Good Intro?

02:14 Let's Talk About Music for a Second

03:04 Now Let's Talk About Outros

03:51 Keep it Tight, Keep it Repeatable

04:19 In The Spirit of Eating My Own Dogfood

About Your Host

Ed Barker has been producing and recording podcasts since 2009. After a long career as a corporate marketing and strategy executive (and then a VC), Ed launched Studio 1878 in early 2025 with the goal of making brand and business podcasting much better. Ed is a Brit, working out of Seattle, and podcasting worldwide. 🌎

Studio 1878

A podcast development studio for the modern brand. We believe everyone has a story worth telling. Specializing in business and brand podcasts, we’ll help build your story from ideation to distribution, transforming concepts to real connection with your audiences. We produce our own shows but our core proposition is in helping businesses and creators produce something truly compelling and authentic. We’d love to help you tell your story. 😈

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Showmakers, host Ed Barker, founder of Studio 1878, talks about the intricacies of conducting stellar podcast interviews. Touching on everything from preparation to execution, Ed offers valuable advice on making guests sound confident and engaging. Key points include the importance of thorough research, the utility of pre-calls, technical preparations, and the art of active listening. Listeners will learn the nuances of asking open-ended questions, managing the flow of conversation, and maintaining an engaging dialogue

00:00 Introduction

00:40 Interviewing is a Skill

01:31 Great interviews Start with good prep

02:37 Do The Tech Check

03:32 In the Interview, Start Warm

04:15 Remember to Make Space for Your Guest

05:06 And if They Go Off Track ...

06:02 Remember Your're Goal is to Make Them Sound Great

06:31 Get It Right, Your Audience Will Talk Away With Something

About Your Host

Ed Barker has been producing and recording podcasts since 2009. After a long career as a corporate marketing and strategy executive (and then a VC), Ed launched Studio 1878 in early 2025 with the goal of making brand and business podcasting much better. Ed is a Brit, working out of Seattle, and podcasting worldwide. 🌎

Studio 1878

A podcast development studio for the modern brand. We believe everyone has a story worth telling. Specializing in business and brand podcasts, we’ll help build your story from ideation to distribution, transforming concepts to real connection with your audiences. We produce our own shows but our core proposition is in helping businesses and creators produce something truly compelling and authentic. We’d love to help you tell your story. 😈

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Showmakers, Ed Barker from Studio 1878 dives into the benefits and drawbacks of scripting your podcast. Learn about the three levels of podcast scripting - fully scripted, bullet points, and off the cuff - and discover when each approach might be best for your show. Ed also discusses how scripting can aid in focus, brand voice consistency, and accessibility, as well as the potential downsides like sounding flat and lacking spontaneity in interviews. Get tips on finding the right balance between structured content and natural conversation, and hear why practice makes perfect. Tune in to determine the best scripting strategy for your podcast!

00:00 Introduction

00:29 What is podcast scripting?

01:16 Benefits of scripting

02:24 Disadvantages of scripting

03:30 Finding the right balance

04:11 Final recommendations

04:33 Next episode preview and outro

About Your Host

Ed Barker has been producing and recording podcasts since 2009. After a long career as a corporate marketing and strategy executive (and then a VC), Ed launched Studio 1878 in early 2025 with the goal of making brand and business podcasting much better. Ed is a Brit, working out of Seattle, and podcasting worldwide. 🌎

Studio 1878

A podcast development studio for the modern brand. We believe everyone has a story worth telling. Specializing in business and brand podcasts, we’ll help build your story from ideation to distribution, transforming concepts to real connection with your audiences. We produce our own shows but our core proposition is in helping businesses and creators produce something truly compelling and authentic. We’d love to help you tell your story. 😈

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.