Last year students contributed to 826LA’s premier podcast company, 826LA OUT LOUD, as part of a workshop designed by Azniv Korkejian and Laura Burhenn.
Students learned what exactly a “podcast” is and how to create an episode around a theme using existing content from the students’ stories in published chapbooks. As the inaugural episode of this podcast series, we chose the theme, “In the Beginning.” Inspired by the format of “This American Life,” the students explored the theme, took turns reading and recording their own segments as presenters, with hosts Azniv and Laura narrating.
This episode features the following stories:
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“The Ooze that Transforms into Anything” by Arturo
“The Instrument of the Day” by James, age 9
“Lucky Wednesdays” by Luis, age 13
“The Pair of Jeans” by Teresa, age 8
“The Youngest Kid to Go to College” by Ryuichiro, age 11
“[Colorful Post-It Note]” by Emma, age 8
“Bye Bye” by David
“Where Did Water Come From” by Alex
“Social Injustices” by Jorge
“The Reset Button” an ad created by the students during the podcast workshop
“The Kindling” by Diego
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spent this afternoon editing a podcast of kids’ stories from @826LA. heard the sound of HOPE in the voices of the generation who’ll save us.
— The Mynabirds (@themynabirds) December 20, 2016
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A musician and sound editor, Azniv Korkejian graduated with a BFA in sound design from Scad University. Since moving to Los Angeles 5 years ago she has spent much of her time editing dialogue, sound effects, and music for television as well as writing and recording music under the pseudonym Bedouine. Volunteering in the past making audio books with children at a literacy center, she hoped to put the experience to good use in her Los Angeles community.
Laura Burhenn is a singer-songwriter living in Echo Park by way of Omaha and her hometown of Washington, DC. She has released records on Saddle Creek and toured the world with her own band, The Mynabirds, and as member of Bright Eyes and The Postal Service. She has a Bachelors in Literature from The Catholic University of America, has given a TED talk on revolutionary American women, helped found Omaha Girls Rock, and loves working with kids through creative writing and songwriting workshops to help them discover and learn how to use their voices.
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This episode features the following songs:
“Good Medicine” by Laura Burhenn, “Places” by Georgie James, “Monument” by Efterklang, “Glimmering Lights” by The Album Leaf, “Many Rivers to Cross” by Jimmy Cliff, performed by Harry Nilsson, “Time After Time” by Cyndi Lauper, “Once in a Lifetime” by Talking Heads, “The Distance” by Cake
To sign up for workshops, click here.
If you have any general questions, or questions about Echo Park, please email Pedro. For questions about Mar Vista workshops, please email Rebecca.
If you want to volunteer at these workshops or other innovative programming by 826LA, go here.