Aspiring podcasters can now access professional recording equipment and advice thanks to Wilfrid Laurier University's podcasting studio and inaugural podcaster-in-residence, Avery Moore Kloss.
Located in One Market at Laurier's Brantford campus, the studio, which is part of the Creativity Hub project, will be open to students, staff and instructors as a teaching and learning tool, as well as to public podcasters.
"The podcast studio offers practical experience to students, faculty and the wider community by providing access to equipment, resources and skills development in an emerging creative medium," said Tamara Louks, a coordinator of the Creativity Hub project.
Laurier's podcaster-in-residence program offers a residency to Canadian podcasters creating stories that connect communities. Moore Kloss is the founder and lead creator at her podcasting and personal history company Folktale Studio. As a journalist, marketer, podcast host and award-winning radio documentarian, Moore Kloss' passion is helping others tell their stories through audio. As host of the podcast Grown Up, Moore Kloss interviews regular people about the work they do and how their careers evolved.
"I do this work because I love hearing the stories of the people around me," said Moore Kloss. "This residency gives me the rare opportunity to sit down with people outside of my own circle and help bring their ideas and stories to life through audio."
As part of her residency from Jan. 23 to April 30, Moore Kloss will hold drop-in hours on Thursdays from 1 to 4:30 p.m. at the studio, lead faculty and community workshops and pursue her own creative projects. A Paris, Ont. resident, Moore Kloss also runs a marketing campaign called ShopBrantford.com, sharing stories about local business owners to help connect people in the community.
"Audio storytelling as a medium is incredibly popular and easily accessed," said Adrian Beam, a coordinator of the Creativity Hub project. "Avery's expertise and enthusiasm for long-form journalism and audio productions will offer exceptional learning and networking opportunities for anyone interested in podcasting."
The podcast studio, made possible through a $15,000 grant from the Samuel W. Stedman Foundation in 2019, will be open to creators, businesses, non-profit organizations and educational institutions looking to harness the impact and popularity of podcasting. Information about the studio and drop-in hours with Moore Kloss can be found on the podcast studio's website.
