Audio storytelling, when done correctly, can be entirely more captivating than any other form of digital storytelling. As Jad Abumrad states, “radio is empowered by the absence of picture.” An audio story creates a sense of co-authorship for the listener of the story, and leaves their imagination to visualize the story as they please.

Ira Glass has some helpful tips about how to create an interesting audio story. He explains that a story must be a sequence of events, with one thing moving to the next to make you, “feel, inherently that you’re on a train that has a destination.” This method will keep the listener enticed, and to further draw them in their must be a consistent sequence of putting out questions to the listener and later answering them. Lastly, to make the story truly worthwhile, there must be a moment of reflection that points to the bigger point of the whole story. While a story can be captivating and keep a listener drawn in, if the end comes and there is no larger message to it, then the listener’s time has essentially been wasted, and their interest has been built up for nothing. A well executed story will have both appealing content and delivery as well as a reflection on that content.

One other important point Ira Glass makes in his videos is that a storyteller should not settle for creating mediocre stories. He goes on to say that one of the most underestimated components of storytelling is how long it takes to find a story worth telling. A true professional storyteller must be able to “kill” a story that is not up to standards, in order to make oneself available to produce a greater story. His final point is that a storyteller should not try to be someone they are not, and to not try to imitate others. Be yourself, and create your own storytelling personality.