Podcast Plunge brings you a sometimes-more-than-weekly newsletter that contains a podcast episode recommendation, a deep dive into a topic within that episode, and links to other internet things on that topic.
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THE PODCAST. Listen here.
Sound is so much more than music, podcasts, loud noises, or quiet mornings. It’s about frequency, wavelength, and other almost unexplainable forces. Powered by Audio is a podcast about sound in which host Randi Zuckerberg explores what we hear every day through stories.
There are sounds that inform us, keep us entertained, bring us knowledge, annoy us, distract us, and sound the alarm bell for us.
Here’s this episode’s description:
From caves to the Great Plains to farming communities and enormous cities, the environments in which humans live have dramatically changed over time. With it, the sounds we experience daily have also changed. Unfortunately, the revolution in our living environments has happened faster than our evolution. There is a physical toll caused by unwanted sound that we are simply not equipped to handle. In this episode, host Randi Zuckerberg explores how modern sounds affect us and how we can better deal with the physiological burden they bring.
Classifieds:
- Learn longform serialized podcasting at the Salt Institute this summer! This 12-week class combines online and in-person instruction, including a month in the field in Maine. Led by Nora Saks, award-winning producer of Richest Hill. Apps due 4/19 https://cs.meca.edu/salt-workshops/
- Looking for some easy and free ways to market your podcast? Here’s a resource sheet.
For this edition of Podcast Plunge, we experience noise pollution.
ENCYCLOPEDIA.COM. Read here.
When we talk about noise pollution (or sound pollution), we’re usually referring to non-natural noises, like those derived from technology, industrial activity, transportation, and propagation systems. By definition, noise pollution as a concept hasn’t been around that long. So the effects of it are still being assessed. But we do know that it impacts poor people and communities of color disproportionately because they are more likely to live closer to highways, transportation centers, and urban hubs.
THE BBC ARTICLE. Read here.
Did you know that some ocean scientists are referring to this past year as “The year of the quiet ocean?”
Professor Peter Tyack of the University of St. Andrews noted that various worldwide lockdowns have slowed down global shipping “on a scale that would otherwise be impossible.” This article explains the importance of quiet in the ocean: underwater, creatures cannot see very far, but in the right circumstances, one can hear kilometers away. Researchers plan to study sound in the oceans during and after the pandemic via 200 ocean hydrophones, “underwater microphones that are already in place around the global ocean.”
THE FIRST TIK TOK. Watch here.
From user hotvegankilljoy, who recently discovered howloud.com, a website that can tell you how loud it is at any given location. This TikTok creator just moved to Portland, OR and discovered that the loudest areas are along all major roads and that the only way to avoid noise pollution is to live in a private home, away from main roads.
ANOTHER TIK TOK. Watch here.
From user getwasteed, an overview of how noise pollution affects humans and animals. The creator defines noise pollution as anything over 65 decibels and suggests that we can combat noise pollution by choosing alternative transportation (biking) and insulating our homes with noise canceling materials.
THE INSTAGRAM. Look here.
From treehooo, we learn that trees, when planted strategically, can reduce noise pollution by up to 50%. How is that possible? Well, dense trees such as mango, macadamia, and ferns have foliage and branches that absorb and deflect unwanted sound. The trees themselves create ambient and white noise to combat noise pollution as well.
How does audio shape your environment? Listen here.
For more podcast recommendations, follow Arielle Nissenblatt.