Which Podcast Did You Choose to Listen to, and Why?
I listened to an episode from Strange Tales (Old Time Radio), which is one of the few podcasts I’m subscribed to. I got burnt out on true crime podcasts years ago and started listening to old radio shows after that, mostly because I love the men’s voices. The episode was The Thirty-Second of December by Suspense, and it originally aired on radio on December 28, 1958, uploaded by Strange Tales on July 19, 2026.
How Did the Host’s Delivery (Pitch, Pauses, Rate of Speaking, and Volume) Impact the Overall Effectiveness of the Podcast?
The Strange Tales (Old Time Radio) host’s delivery was okay; a bit sped up, higher pitched, and had some music that reminded me of the Wicked Witch of the West riding her broom, then the second host was just…there… but the Suspense host’s delivery was great; very succinct, but atmospheric, creepy, and…suspenseful (I have a thing for male voices). Although it’s a podcast, since “the beginnings of personal relationships are fraught with uncertainties” (Griffin et al., 2019, p. 105), hearing the deep voice and orchestral music made me think of The Twilight Zone and lessened my uncertainties.
Was a Podcast the Best Way to Communicate this Information, or Would a Video Presentation have been More Effective?
A video probably would have been more effective, but considering the time period, televisions weren’t as popular as they are today and radio shows were a very popular form of entertainment. Even with those constraints, they were very immersive and entertaining, which is one reason I like to listen to them.
Who was the Intended Audience for this Podcast?
Originally, I would say the intended audience was people who had radios in their home and/or didn’t own televisions. These days, I think the intended audience is the older crowd and those who like to watch or listen to media from all decades. I love watching old movies and TV shows as well as listening to old music. I think it is very limiting to only tune in to current entertainment.
References
Griffin, E., Ledbetter, A., & Sparks, G. (2019). A first look at communication theory (10th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education. (Chapter 9: Uncertainty Reduction Theory)
