Week 9 Blog - Production

Hi everyone and welcome to my week 9 blog! This week, I put together the first rough draft of my initial podcast episode and showed it to my internal advisor, Mr. Betcher. After reviewing it together, we discussed ways to make the podcast more conversational and accessible for listeners. Mr. Betcher reminded me that since the Muwekma’s fight for federal recognition remains largely underreported, my storytelling needs to genuinely convey the Muwekma perspective rather than just listing facts or sounding overly formal, like a professional speech or essay. This feedback was incredibly helpful in shifting my approach to ensure my podcast resonates more naturally with listeners who may not be familiar with the topic.

Taking this advice to heart, I revisited my script and began restructuring it to better highlight the voices and experiences of the tribe members I interviewed. Instead of just presenting a linear series of events, I focused on creating a narrative that truly captures the emotional and cultural significance of federal recognition for the Muwekma community. I incorporated more quotes and stories from Bernadette Quiroz and Joey Iyolopixtli to help listeners form a deeper emotional connection and gain a better understanding of why recognition matters so much.

Overall, this week was all about transforming raw interviews and factual content into a coherent and compelling series that authentically portrays the Muwekma’s journey. With each revision, I feel closer to achieving my goal of presenting a clear and engaging narrative that not only informs but also genuinely connects with listeners. I’m excited about how the podcast is shaping up, and I’m looking forward to continuing to refine it in the coming weeks.