Comments on: Jesse Thorn: “Anything that I can do to make a more profound connection with the audience is…my job”

By: Jesse Thorn on the future of radio and the benefits of being small » Nieman Journalism Lab

Mon, 11 May 2009 23:37:35 +0000

[...] Here’s Part 2 of my interview with Jesse Thorn, the host of public radio’s The Sound of Young America. (Here’s my intro post and Part 1.) [...]

By: Jesse Thorn on gathering your online audience in the real world » Nieman Journalism Lab

Mon, 11 May 2009 23:36:34 +0000

[...] Jesse Thorn, host of public radio’s The Sound of Young America. (Here’s my intro post, Part 1, and Part [...]

By: Terry Gross 2.0 « The ConverStation

Terry Gross 2.0 « The ConverStation — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:16:44 +0000

[...] recently interviewed and blogged about Thorn and his show. The interview audio is archived here: Part One | Part Two | Part [...]

By: Danforth

Danforth — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 22:05:50 +0000

I think the show is very in-depth. It might be because the show is unapologetic about being for comedy nerds. Jesse has on some people who would never be on major talk shows, but who are directly responsible for big chunks of the best comedy output in the last 20 years. For example, Letterman’s writers might not be household names, like Letterman himself, but they’re working comedy writers who have a lot of insight into creating the comedy that millions of people tune in to see every night.

It used to be that when a new SOYA popped up in my iTunes with a guest I had never heard of, I’d say “Who the hell’s that?” and skip it, but now I think, “If Jesse has him on his show, he must be somebody worth knowing about” and I listen and am never disappointed. So there. Jesse’s got tastemaker status in my book!

By: Jesse Thorn

Jesse Thorn — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 21:21:17 +0000

Thanks for your candid comments, Richard. Obviously, I disagree with you about my show — I think our depth stacks up with almost anyone, and certainly anyone on weekends — but I really appreciate your interest in public radio serving a wider audience. I also wonder if anyone would accuse Garrison Keillor or The Splendid Table or Car Talk of not being deep enough.

By: Joshua Benton

Joshua Benton — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 18:36:23 +0000

FYI, Richard, your comment wasn’t moderated — it never entered the system.

By: Richard Mitnick

Richard Mitnick — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 18:33:04 +0000

I wrote a comment here, I must have been moderated off. I said that I do not like the program, which I hear on WNYC, in the prized 6:00PM Sunday slot. I think is is shallow and that the guests are fourth rate.

But, I also said that the program is important and needs to be included at WNYC because it will draw young people to Public Radio, and Public Radio needs to attract younder audiences.

I hope that this time my comment sticks.

By: Joshua Benton

Joshua Benton — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:01:16 +0000

Thanks for the catch, Nate — fixed.

By: Nate

Nate — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 19:44:50 +0000

transcript typo: He says he “definitely” thinks of himself more as a podcaster, not “defiantly”.