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In this episode, I speak with Sophie Bearman, the Director of Special Projects at the San Francisco Standard. Sophie shares her journey from New York to San Francisco, detailing her career in journalism and video production. We dive into her passion for documentary filmmaking and how it led her to the world of podcasting. Sophie opens up about her experience hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, a six-month adventure that provided her with a much-needed break and a fresh perspective. Her story is a testament to the importance of taking risks and following your passions, even when the path isn't clear.
We also discuss her latest project, the podcast "Life in Seven Songs," where she interviews fascinating individuals about their lives through the lens of seven songs that have shaped them. Sophie explains how this unique format allows guests to share personal stories and memories that they might not have revealed before. From San Francisco Mayor London Breed to global architect Norman Foster, the podcast offers a fresh and intimate look at the lives of its guests. Sophie’s warmth and genuine curiosity make for engaging conversations that are sure to resonate with listeners.
Join us as we explore the power of music and storytelling in this exciting new podcast.
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00:00:00: Introduction
00:00:33: Sophie's New Project
00:01:09: Life in New York
00:02:30: Journalism Beginnings
00:03:58: Early Video Production
00:05:16: Transition to Audio
00:07:33: First Podcast Experience
00:09:56: Podcast Production Process
00:10:18: Joining the San Francisco Standard
00:13:05: Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail
00:15:25: Trail Experience
00:16:45: Return and Podcast Genesis
00:19:16: Podcast Format and Guests
00:20:24: Interview Process
00:21:43: Interview Skills and Preparation
00:24:45: Surprising Interview Moments
00:25:27: Episode Release and Promotion
00:27:19: Internal Feedback and Goals
00:29:00: Emotional Responses in Interviews
00:30:24: Holding Space for Emotions
00:32:21: Power of Silence in Interviews
00:33:01: Sophie's Seven Songs
00:34:41: Recent Changes in Perspective
00:36:10: Misunderstood Aspects
00:37:09: Closing Remarks and Future of Local News
00:39:09: Where to Find the Podcast
"Growing up in New York is amazing. I didn't learn to drive until my twenties, which shocks a lot of people, but for a New Yorker, that's par for the course. You could just do whatever, and it was very freeing in that sense."
"I think my passion that I discovered in college was actually documentary filmmaking. I had pretty grand ambitions of making feature films, but I got lucky. I also wrote for the college paper, the Harvard Crimson, and my first job out of college combined journalism and video production."
"The hardest part was tracking and writing narration. Writing is hard, and it's even a higher bar when people can't see what the place looks like. The sound can help describe it, but you have to write to that too."
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiebearman/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/stbearman
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Mentioned in this episode:
Podcast Blueprint 101