Mining African stories with narrative podcasting

Young people in Zambia are flocking to the mining sector - a familiar phenomenon for the country. A new copper boom is drawing a generation back to one of the country's oldest trades, fueled by hopes of prosperity and a more secure future. But Zambia has experienced mining booms before and many have ended in disappointment, leaving communities to grapple with unfulfilled promises. So, what might be different this time? And what does a story about copper mining have to do with narrative podcasting?

The story of young Zambians drawn to the country's latest copper boom is featured in “Copper Town,”a recent narrative podcast episode by the South African NGO Radio Workshop, a DW Akademie partner. At the same time, it serves as the backdrop for “Audio Storytelling, Step by Step,” a new video tutorial series on the craft of narrative podcasting. It guides creators through every stage of production, from story development and research to recording, editing and final distribution.

Locally rooted, globally relevant

Naomi Grewan, producer and communications manager at Radio Workshop, was at the heart of the production.

“We found that there are so many storytellers on the African continent, who don’t have the skills to turn that ability into a narrative podcast,” Grewan said on initiating the project with DW Akademie. “Our intention was to make something accessible for all those incredible storytellers.”

“It is a very exciting time for narrative audio storytelling in Africa,” Grewan continued. “So I think it is coming in at the perfect moment. Many people are leaning into narrative because the interview style podcast industry is oversaturated.”

Barbara Gruber, project lead for DW Akademie’s PodcasTraining program, stated that the project is filling an important gap. “Narrative podcasting gives journalists the opportunity to tell stories that are deeply human, locally rooted and globally relevant,” she said. “Supporting these storytelling skills is central to DW Akademie's mission of strengthening independent journalism and amplifying diverse voices.”

Guiding learners through each step of production

Filming the video tutorials on their podcasting set in Zambia, the team built the storyline around a real-life example to make the production process more tangible. The tutorials walk learners through key stages, such as identifying protagonists, creating an interview schedule and navigating bureaucratic hurdles and other challenges. The example demonstrates not only what goes into developing a narrative podcast project and what the final results can look like, but also how compelling narratives often evolve during production and why the ability to pivot can be essential to successful storytelling.

“Audio Storytelling, Step by Step” is a practical, hands-on resource for podcast creators. Across six comprehensive episodes, it guides learners through every stage of the production process, offering concrete advice and inspiration — especially for those who are unsure where to begin their creative journey.

“The biggest thing to figure out is your why,” said Grewan. “Why do you want to start this podcast? Why do you want to tell this story? Once you have a good understanding of why this is important, everything just flows, because it’s coming from a place of passion or belief in what you are doing.”

After the launch, the tutorial series will be presented at festivals and conferences and in a dedicated episode of our PodCircle meet-up to make sure creators on the continent and beyond can access the free learning resource. The series will also be included in workshops and trainings.

“For DW Akademie, narrative podcasting is more than a format - it's a powerful journalism skill and can be a catalyst for change”, said Gruber. “Great stories help audiences understand complex issues through human experiences, and through this collaboration with Radio Workshop, we want to support journalists and content creators around the world with the skills and tools to tell those stories.”

Audio Storytelling, Step by Step: Episode Guide

Episode 1: How to make a narrative podcast

In this episode, we speak about the why: Why does your story matter? Why should you choose audio storytelling to get it out there? You will also learn about the five key elements you need to get straight before starting to turn your idea into an actual story.

Episode 2: Research and pre-reporting

In this episode, we will talk about the preparation that goes into the production of your podcast. It looks at aspects such as equipment, interview partners, contacts and pre-interviews, quick chats to select participants before scheduling your actual interviews. You will also learn what a focus statement is and why it is an essential part of preparation.

Episode 3: Planning

In this episode, we look at preparation steps – and why being prepared is key to making your audio story a success. What does your shooting schedule look like? When are your sources available? And who do you absolutely need to see? Leave room to linger! Find out why you should interview your main characters in two locations. 

Episode 4: Interviewing

In this episode, we look more closely at your interviewing techniques: What do you need to take into account in terms of technical equipment and sound preparation? How do you store your material? And what do you need to record beyond your actual interviews? You will also learn why it makes a lot of sense to ask questions you already know the answer to. 

Episode 5: Writing and editing

Time to turn your interviews and material into a great audio story: a blend of writing, type and sound. In this episode, we talk about aspects to consider, like getting an editor involved, and outlining your story. What is the best way to package your information to send your listeners on a journey.

Episode 6: Distribution

The final episode of the podcast series (to be released in the Fall) looks at distribution: how do I market my podcast so that it reaches its target audience? Which platforms are suitable? And which other steps do I need to take into account?

The video tutorial series “Audio Storytelling, Step by Step” is a collaboration between DW Akademie and Radio Workshop. It was funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).