Strangers (podcast)
| Strangers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Presentation | |
| Hosted by | Lea Thau |
| Genre | Storytelling |
| Language | English |
| Updates | Current |
| Length | 30-60 minutes |
| Production | |
| Production | Lea Thau, Paul Dreux Smith |
| Publication | |
| Original release | January 12, 2012 |
| Provider | KCRW, Radiotopia |
Strangers is a podcast hosted by Danish-born[1] producer Lea Thau.[2] Initially part of KCRW's Independent Producer project, Strangers became a founding member of PRX's Radiotopia podcasting collective in 2014.[3] Thau announced in November 2017 that Strangers would be leaving the Radiotopia collective.[4]
History
[edit]After a decade as executive and creative director for the storytelling organization The Moth and having created both its short-form podcast and The Moth Radio Hour,[5] Thau was awarded a 2010 Peabody Award[6] and radio station KCRW offered that she produce her own show.[7][8] Lea's concept for Strangers was to bring strangers together to share stories. Thau kept creative control and only used KCRW to mix the final product.[3] By 2017, the show had 500,000 monthly downloads, and two full-time employees besides Thau.[9] Slate highlighted the show's 2014 arc on Thau's "life-altering heartbreak" as among the best in podcasting.[10] Los Angeles magazine recommended the podcast in 2014,[11] and Southern California KPCC listeners rated it their favorite podcast in 2015.[12]
Episodes
[edit]In 2014 Thau created the miniseries "Love Hurts" about dating after being dumped by her fiancé while she was pregnant with their child.[13] Slate ranked one installment of the series among "the 25 best podcast episodes ever."[14] In April 2017 Thau released another miniseries called "Lea in Trumpland" as an exposé on Donald Trump-supporters around the U.S. The series was a departure from the show's usual showcase of "extraordinary stories of humanity."[15] In another episode, "Debbie's Story," Thau interviews a young Iranian Jewish immigrant to the U.S about femininity, religion, and her family's harrowing experience in crossing borders.[16]
Awards
[edit]In 2015 Strangers won KPCC's Public Radio Bracket Madness, beating stalwarts Radiolab, This American Life and Invisibilia for best podcast of the year.[17]
References
[edit]- ^ Duran, Harry (November 23, 2015). "Lea Thau Interview". Podcast Junkies. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
- ^ Misfeldt, Mai (August 16, 2017). "Historier på scenen og i æteren". Kristeligt Dagblad (in Danish). Retrieved 16 August 2017.
- ^ a b "Lea Thau, Creator and Host of Strangers, episode #87 of The Wolf Den on Earwolf". The Wolf Den. Earwolf. September 3, 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
- ^ ""Strangers" Leaving Radiotopia". Podcast Problems. 22 November 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
- ^ Miller, Kerri (May 16, 2016). "Lea Thau on learning to let down her guard". Retrieved 18 August 2017.
Lea Thau ... started "The Moth Radio Hour," and she currently hosts the podcast "Strangers."
- ^ "Lea Thau on Earwolf". www.earwolf.com. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
- ^ "Successful Podcasting". Retrieved 26 October 2017.
- ^ "Strangers". PLayer FM. 24 February 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
- ^ Dowd, Keara (March 22, 2017). "Heres What It Takes To Make It As A Financially Successful Podcaster". GOOD Magazine. Retrieved August 13, 2017.
- ^ Haglund, David; Onion, Rebecca (December 14, 2014). "The 25 Best Podcast Episodes Ever". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339.
- ^ Duelund, Theis (November 18, 2014). "15 Podcasts to Add to Your Permanent Playlist". Los Angeles. Retrieved August 13, 2017.
- ^ Southern California Public Radio (April 7, 2015). "'Strangers' wins the 2015 KPCC Public Radio Bracket Madness!". Southern California Public Radio. Retrieved August 13, 2017.
- ^ Eckel, Sara (17 February 2015). "A Woman Faces the Men Who Rejected Her -- and Makes a Surprising Discovery". Huffington Post. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
- ^ Haglund, David; Onion, Rebecca (14 December 2014). "The 25 Best Podcast Episodes Ever". Slate. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
- ^ Leasca, Stacey (30 May 2017). "A Podcaster Reveals A New Side Of Trump Supporters In America". GOOD Magazine. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
- ^ Funch, Anne (18 June 2017). "Hun vil finde det bløde punkt, også hos en seriemorder". Berlingske (in Danish). Retrieved 16 August 2017.
- ^ Roe, Mike (7 April 2015). "'Strangers' wins the 2015 KPCC Public Radio Bracket Madness!". Southern California Public Radio. Retrieved 16 August 2017.