Talk Paper Scissors

Send a text Lights! Microphone! Podcast -- Episode 3 Host Alex sits down with Javon Martin to get real about building a podcast that's actually a business in disguise. His show, "100 Ways to Make $100K," isn't just content: it's the front door to something bigger. In this conversation, Javon breaks down how he created the "Millionaire Machine," a guest booking system he developed between episodes 30 and 55 that became the engine for his entire operation. You'll hear about the difference betwe...

Send a text Lights! Microphone! Podcast -- Episode 2 What goes into creating a piece of music that defines a cultural moment? Nick Thorburn, the composer behind Serial's unforgettable theme, sits down with host Shana to tell the story. Spoiler: it all happened in a weekend, and he had no idea the show would become a global phenomenon. Nick walks through his creative process: how he approached the project as a straightforward freelance job, why he drew inspiration from Twin Peaks,...

Send us Fan Mail Lights! Microphone! Podcast -- Episode 1 Ever wondered what goes wrong behind the scenes of a podcast? The production team from "Ctrl Alt Narrate" is here to tell you everything. Sneesha (creative lead), Alisha (logistics and marketing), and Victoria (design) join host Alex to talk about the reality of collaborative podcasting: the good, the messy, and the lessons that came from nearly derailing the whole thing. This episode is packed with practical advice for anyone making c...

Send us Fan Mail Introducing: Lights Microphone Podcast In Fall 2025, a group of graduate students set out to learn about podcasting from the ground up and Lights Microphone Podcast is the result. Created inside a podcasting special topics course within the Master of Digital Media program at The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University, this six-part series explores what it really takes to start and grow a podcast. The series features conversations with composers, producers, v...

Send us Fan Mail Down the rabbit hole we go! Each conversation in this series connects in unexpected ways. Every new episode spurring a new line of inquiry, like tunnels turning off in different directions, each with an origin that’s traced back to episodes 273, 276, and 280. This episode features net.art pioneer, Olia Lialina. She is credited with founding one of the earliest web galleries, Art Teleportacia. She is cofounder and keeper of One Terabyte of Kilobyte Age archive and a professor ...