Internship Opportunity!
/Hone your audio storytelling skills at Out There Podcast
“I found a job pretty much right away, after working for [Out There], and the skills that I gained from that internship were what set me apart from other applicants.”
Overview
This internship is an opportunity for an emerging audio producer to receive one-on-one mentorship in the art of audio storytelling.
You’ll gain hands-on experience developing long-form narratives, and you’ll work closely with Out There host Willow Belden to learn about all aspects of producing an award-winning podcast.
Past interns have walked away with highly marketable skills, impressive additions to their portfolios, and the confidence to thrive in a competitive industry. Nearly all have landed full-time audio and/or journalism jobs after completing our internship.
About Out There
Out There is an award-winning podcast that explores big questions through intimate stories outdoors. Each episode tells a deeply personal, sound-rich narrative, using nature as a lens to understand our own humanity.
What do we mean by “outdoors”? Anything outside your door! The outdoors is for all, regardless of where you were raised, the color of your skin or anything else about you. We celebrate the myriad ways in which humans engage with nature, and center voices that are often sidelined in mainstream media.
Here are some examples of Out There stories:
“Indoor Kid” explores what happens when the person you want to be doesn’t mesh with the person you are
“Moonlight” is about getting lost — both literally and figuratively — and about the importance of family stories in helping us find our way
“America’s Best Idea?” examines how national parks could help us right historical wrongs
Audio mix for an Out There episode
About the Internship
“My experience working with Willow ... gave me so much confidence, during a time when the job market was really, really competitive.”
We want you to be doing work you’re excited about, so we’ll tailor the internship to you, based on your goals, interests and skills.
You can expect to gain experience in:
Story development — evaluating pitches, honing story ideas, prepping for interviews
Script writing and editing — developing narrative arcs, writing for the ear, refining storylines
Audio production — recording, cutting tape, doing sound design (this would require basic knowledge of audio editing software, such as Adobe Audition, though we will work with you to sharpen your skills)
Producing your own story — if you pitch us a story that’s a good fit for Out There, we’ll work with you to develop it. So far, all of our past interns have produced stories that have aired on the show. Some have even won awards!
If there’s something you could bring to the table that’s not listed above, but that you’re excited to work on, please let us know! We love experimenting with new ideas.
scripts for Out There go through multiple rounds of edits before production begins (Photo by Willow Belden)
Time Commitment
The internship runs from October 2023 - May 2024. Exact dates are flexible, but we'd like for you to learn from the full production process, from story development to season launch.
We ask that you be ready to devote 6 - 8 hours per week to the internship. You’ll have weekly meetings with Willow via phone or video chat; outside of that, you can set your own schedule.
What You’ll Get
You will receive a $1,000 stipend for the internship, paid in four installments.
We are an independent show on a shoestring budget, and we can’t pay as much as we would like. But we work hard to make the experience valuable for you. It’s important to us that you receive more from the experience (in terms of learning, skills, and published works for your portfolio) than we get from you in labor. We see you as an integral part of the team, and look forward to helping you put your mark on the show.
About You
Diversity is key to our success as a podcast. Our mission is to amplify voices that are often sidelined in outdoor media and explore the myriad ways in which humans engage with — and learn from — nature.
To succeed in that mission, our team needs to encompass a wide array of perspectives and backgrounds. We work hard to make Out There an environment in which all perspectives are heard and valued, and no matter who you are, we promise to support you.
We also recognize that the most talented storytellers sometimes come from nontraditional backgrounds. You don’t need a degree in journalism or a portfolio of audio stories to be on our team (although those are great too). We have accepted interns in the past who lacked formal training as writers/producers, but who have made outstanding contributions to the show nonetheless.
What matters is that you have a passion for storytelling, an insatiable curiosity, a thirst for excellence, and a desire to learn and grow.
To Apply
Send a resume and cover letter to willow[at]outtherepodcast[dot]com by Sept. 15, 2023, with “Internship Application” in the subject line.
Please make sure to highlight relevant experience/skills, and tell us how you would help us fulfill our mission of amplifying underrepresented voices on Out There. If you’ve done previous audio work, please provide a link to a story that showcases your skills.
Please note: The Out There team will be out of office from July 15 - Sept. 4, 2023. If you have questions about the internship, please email us, and we’ll get back to you after we return.
