What was your favorite story that didn't make the cut?
We all have plans that don't go the way we hoped or anticipated, and I'm sure the same goes for TAL. Do you have a favorite story that was under development for broadcast that didn't work out as planned and was never aired? What was it and why did you decide to pull the plug? Looking back, would you have done anything differently if you were to attempt it today?
How Does the Team Create TAL?
Each episode has a coherent theme, which you would think would limit your reporters to going out and finding very specific stories to report on. But I find the idea of that process hard to believe. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'd love to know: how does the team report on such unique stories that still keep a throughline?
What makes an interesting story a good story to tell on the show?
Sometimes when I try to tell my wife a story I heard on the show (she does not share my interests in podcasts) she often doesn't have the same response as I had when I was listening to the show. I realize, that I am often failing to retell the story as I either try to hit the same narrative and emotional beats and lose her and or I am going straight for the "lesson" which leaves so much out that it's just not as impactful. With the latter, I've come to understand some stories are rather "mundane" but elevated through your way of telling them (i.e. a kid's first ride on the schoolbus). So, how do you know if a story, as interesting as it might be on itself, has what it takes to make a good on the show? When can you tell if it has what you need? Also, are you after all these years able to listen to a story or read a book without thinking about turning into a piece? P. S. Long-time first time. TAL means more to me than I can describe here!