Carrie Kaufman's Interview with Brooke Gladstone

Carrie wants critiques, so ... Ask and ye shall receive ;-D

My favorite part of the interview is not on the short version. The short interview about media issues has been covered many many places; international media, left-wing bias accusations, media shallowness... they're all things that she and other media observers have talked about before.

The REAL gems in the interview were at the beginning and end of the 15-minute version. In the beginning, Brooke opened up that her first love was THEATER. She's never talked about that on sites or put it in her bio, that was a unique angle that Carrie stumbled on. And Carrie has the same kind of background. And as Carrie pointed out, so do half of the PRTQ (me included!!!) This related to me personally, this related to BOTH interviewer and interviewee, and is one of those niche interests that gets glossed over. So I wanted to hear the two speakers in a unique discussion of the world of theater and personalities and using that training to communicate via radio.

I perked up when Carrie mentioned the PRTQ and hostiness. Brooke's critique of hosts ("hot" vs "cool" voices) was unique, and so on-the-button! And the "hot" voices she mentioned (Scott Simon, Susan Stamberg) are the same people who let their personalities and senses of humor flow into their stories, which Carrie then commented on wanting more of. They were both saying very similar things in different ways, and I'm yelling at the radio/computer YES YES YES that IS what is needed PLEASE SOME MANAGERS SOMEWHERE TAKE NOTES!

So to sum up... I think an excellent reporter or interviewer is a person who finds a nugget of gold from a guest, then can follow that vein to an audio gold mine. It may not be on the pre-planned "map" of questions, but the unique information is almost always worth more.

By the way, if it had me interviewing Brooke, I'd be stammering and searching for the right words, even if I had questions in front of me. So major kudos to Carrie.

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Life is a matinee. BroadwayMatinee.com

In today's market of radio personalities, it is incredibly refreshing when you find someone that captures your attention with such an engaging voice and style. Carrie's interview with Brooke Gladstone was superb. I found myself blurting out a comment as if I were in the room with them. My only regret is that, for right now, I can't count on listening to her over coffee every morning!

Great interview - really enjoyed the Q&A's. Carrie has a wonderful radio voice and easy listening style.
Hope we will hear more.

I have been a fan of Carrie Kaufman for almost 3 decades and applaud her professional work with PerformInk,Chicago's Entertainment Trade paper for the arts, the business and the industry. Carrie is able to translate the rhythm of the written word to the cadence of the oral interview. Her listening skills enable her to be a generous interviewer. I'd love nothing better than to tune into our local NPR and hear Carrie chat with interesting guests.

Carrie Kaufman is an excellent interviewer, but that's not news. I've been reading and have admired her work for many years. Even when the topic isn't one that I would naturally investigate, she always captures my interest and I come away stimulated, having learned something new, found a new interest. The same voice I heard in this taped interview is the one I hear in her writing, but far more flexible because of the medium. The painstaking preparation she habitually does was there along with the focus. She used fluidity of the medium, letting her preparation and focus inform the interview process, not constrict it. Her questions were a nice combination of open and thoughtful and incisive. The interview felt like a conversation in which I could be a participant, but better.

Her choice of Brooke Gladstone as an interviewee was an interesting one for many reasons. I am going to focus on their voices. Ms. Gladstone's voice is immaculate, warm and thoughtful. There is no doubt that she is a professional with years of experience. Carrie's voice has many of those same qualities and I'm sure that within a very short time indeed she will smoothly grow into her own. Carrie's inexperience did show, but not for long. The hesitency I heard didn't detract from my enjoyment of the interview, rather it made me feel that the interviewer actually had something going on upstairs, was actively involved in the process rather than simply reading from a list of questions and follow-ups. She may need a bit more experience in the medium but I'm not sure that a perfect voice, a perfect delivery is what captures an audience. A pretty picture doesn't hold your interest for long if there is no substance. Carrie Kaufman's work has substance.

I had no idea who Brooke Gladstone was, so extra double thanks for introducing those of us out of the loop. The interview was so well done. I felt like I was right there with the two of you, having and conversation about an important subject. I am so happy that you are still doin' it. Thank you.

props for keeping on keeping on :)

My entry at Public Radio Quest:
http://www.publicradioquest.com/audio/user/7572

My College Radio Myspace (feel free to friend me!):
http://www.myspace.com/girlsongprimerradio

Carrie is an outstanding radio interviewer. She asks interesting questions and her voice is very intriguing and listenable. She brings out great things in the interviewee as well, obviously making them think about things in new ways, not just providing pat answers.

I found this interview in particular to be excellent and, in fact, would have liked to hear a lot more from both parties involved in it.

I'm very sorry Carrie was cut but hopefully we'll be hearing more from her on the radio--some way, some how-- in the days to come.

Rob Baker

And after listening, I now feel slightly deficient as a journalist for not having any acting background. I like the point about the media being as good as it's ever been and as bad as it's ever been. Sometimes we over-romaticize the "good old days" when people in fact struggled with many of the same issues we do today. I think the difference today is that things can move so quickly in a 24-hour environment, there's a chance that even when journalists make mistakes and make a proper correction, the story may already have circled far and wide while the correction we all know will probably languish. Nice interview Carrie. You hit a lot of points that I talk about with my friends. It was nice to have your voices in that conversation.

I thought Carries interview with Brooke was very insightful. Try to use a few less "ums" but other than that it was a pleasure to listen to the interview. You should never have gotten the boot before Round 3. I give you a lot of credit for continuing with your interview. I can definitely see a job in your near future. Good luck with everything.

You were cut???!! With your insight, talent and true understanding of the subject matter while interviewing Brooke Gladstone, I'm sure the judges now see their mistake. Pleasing voice, modulated, with clear diction and even clearer understanding and sensitivity to the subject matter.... all I can say is WHAT WERE THEY THINKING! Great interview, I could listen to you all day...but alas. Keep talking Carrie... there are those of us who want to listen.

Nancie
From the Hoosier State

While listening to Carrie's interview with Brooke Gladstone, I felt like I was at a table next to them. I thought their conversation was so interesting that I wanted to hear it all. It was all so easy to listen to. I truely enjoyed it, and would love to hear more.

Kbern

Okay, so there are a lot of folks who might do well on the radio. I've been following this contest. Let me just say that one of the things I listen for is a voice that makes me calm and keeps me intrigued. Smart questions and interesting cadence. Ira Glass has a unique cadence. His intonations, pace, etc. You can't replace it. I'm still reeling about the fact that he's on TV now. I haven't watched it. I don't know if I want to watch him. I have been comforted by listening to him for so long.

So then Carrie comes along. Fresh. A voice that allows me to comfortably either be driving to work in a suit or laid out on my lawn with a glass of lemonade...She is invested in the topic. She's not just talking about a topic to get through the time...you can feel her REALLY digging. She is the manifestation of a childs curiosity combined with the well-read and intelligent perspective of someone who has been in journalism for years. Really learning as the interview continues. Each time,she is growing along with me as an audience... HOW FUN! Great voice and cadence. She's smart and handles herself comfortably in all situations on air. She's human and doesn't try to be more than that. Love that.

I know you have to make a choice in competitions. Without taking away from other contestants, I know I speak for 14 of my friends AND myself when I say, "cutting Carrie is a big disappointment".

My desire to listen to radio regularly had been revived. Bummer.