Blogger issues sorted

So now I have no excuses for not keeping you up-to-date here ;-)

Blog difficulties

I'm still having difficulties with anything under https://google.com, so my blog posts will continue to be irregular – sorry!

Beginnings (sort of)

A recent post to the Radio Lab blog reveals the first ever piece made by Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich.

It rather wonderfully reminded me of a piece I made myself.

This is the item I made for London Huayu Chinese Radio, with another volunteer, Jia Nuo. It was her first ever radio piece.

The first voice you hear is CD host Chen Li, then the corny (pre-presenter-training) me, then Jia Nuo.

Have a listen.

I'll provide a text translation if someone asks for it.

I was working in the BBC World Service at the time, so it wasn't a challenge to get the sound effects, and in the wondrous Bush House Grams Library: "I'd like some 16th century Spanish court music please".
"Sure there you go"

I think I may have recorded the coins myself though.

I admit there is a corniness to it – intentionally, really. Because this is informative radio for immigrants – and we reckon that's not a space for Ira Glass' Big Ideas.

Ok so Ira Glass and This American Life producer Julie Schnider both said the proto-Radio Lab was awful. Whaddya think?