Podcasting on the go - how to record 32 great podcasts in 35 days
Meet Kate and Jack Lennie, the dynamic duo behind "We are Makers," armed with just a camera and the Nomono Sound Capsule, they're on a global quest to uncover the untold stories of makers and share them with the world.
The buzzing of tools, the tap of the hammer against the anvil, the brushing of the loom’s shuttle against the threads. And the echo of it all against utilitarian walls. Like the smell of sawdust or the glint of metal, the sounds of the workshop add essential richness to the maker's story, yet pose a big challenge when telling that story through the medium of a podcast.
Kate and Jack talk to Dominic Chinea in his metal workshop. (Photo: We are Makers)
Kate and Jack Lenny of We are Makers, a Scotland-based print magazine and podcast dedicated to makers and their craft, wanted to immerse listeners as much as possible in the experiences of the makers they profile. As a maker herself, Kate understands the connection between makers and the workshops where they practise their craft.
“This is their sacred space. It's a space that they've built over many, many years. There's a respect that comes with that. They’re letting us into their space.”
- Kate Lennie, We are Makers
Kate and Jack knew from early on that their mission to tell makers’ stories would require them to travel to the makers and to meet them where their stories unfold. Spending time together with the makers in their workshops gives Kate and Jack the opportunity to establish relationships. The trust they build in the workshops allows the makers’ crafts to be showcased and their rich stories to be told with true authenticity.
“There are a lot of visual cues being in someone's space that I think help the conversation flow and bring honesty and a laid-back feel.”
- Jack Lennie, We are Makers
Kate and Jack talk to Florian Gadsby in his pottery. (Photo: We are Makers)
But getting there, and recording in workshops, posed some significant challenges. Since each location was unique, Kate and Jack had to prepare for every eventuality, which meant lugging around a lot of kit. We are Makers is just the two of them, and they quickly found it difficult, distracting, and exhausting to ensure quality recording on site.
“It's just too much stuff! Travel restrictions, set-up restrictions, measurements, 100 metres worth of cabling, and power. Power is one of the big things. We've been in people's workshops who have hand tools only and have no power. We can't rely on all of these variables being studio quality. So we need to bring the studio quality to the podcast and to the location.”
- Jack Lennie, We are Makers
They feared that their reach would be limited to their corner of Scotland. Until they discovered Nomono. With the Nomono Sound Capsule, they can bring a reliable, professional-quality recording studio with them wherever they go. Clocking in at only 1.3kg / 3lbs, small enough to fit in hand luggage, and securely carrying - and charging! - the wireless Space Recorder and four Stellar Mics, the Nomono Sound Capsule can go anywhere. Simple design, combined with powerful hardware and advanced processing algorithms, provides for an incredibly easy set-up and allows Kate and Jack to focus on having great conversations with makers.
Kate and Jack set up their Sound Capsule in Oliver Pett’s autonomer workshop. (Photo: Nomono)
Recently, We are Makers toured the US with their Sound Capsule, recording 32 podcasts in 35 days, all in workshops. Nomono’s groundbreaking, patented audio processing technology, and the intuitive workflow software from Nomono Cloud give Kate and Jack the creative power to tell stories in each maker’s unique context. Nomono allows them to embrace the sounds of the workshop instead of worrying about them. Traditional gear would have slowed them down. Only Nomono provides the quality, speed, and flexibility they need, virtually anywhere.
“We were able to podcast outside in front of a waterfall. We were able to podcast with a saddle maker whilst he was working. Right now it feels like the possibilities are endless. You know, it's almost too easy, isn't it? There's one red button on the front of the Sound Capsule. You hit the red button and... conversation starts.”
- Kate & Jack Lennie, We are Makers
With Nomono Sound Capsule and Cloud, Kate and Jack can focus less on tech and more on regularly producing great content. And listenership for We are Makers has grown in step. For Kate and Jack, the reward comes from the community they have built.
“Community is really important for We are Makers. We've created a platform where makers can share their story and have a platform to show who they are. The more we can do, the more we can produce, and the better we can represent the makers of the world.”
- Jack Lennie, We are Makers
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