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Even without microphones, the usual two radio voices create an immersive sound image smoothly in the room. Sara Stenholm and Ginna Lindberg are sitting on a sofa in Studio 11, at Radio House in Östermalm. The US presidential election is approaching, and the “America Podcast” attracts listeners like never before.
– Up to 140,000 listeners in recent episodes, says Ginna Lindberg.
The duo have extensive radio experience. Ginna Lindberg is Ekot’s foreign director and Sara Stenholm presents “Good morning, world!” and P1. They are both former US correspondents. But four years ago, they were beginners in the podcast format.
Ginna Lindberg had realized how much interest there was heading into the 2016 US primaries. New presidential candidate Donald Trump was particularly fascinating. Lindberg proposed that Sveriges Radio produce a podcast about the election, in order to take advantage of the special interest and offer a broader in-depth study than was included in the news.
In passing, she asked her SR colleague Sara Stenholm if she wanted to host the podcast.
– I answered yes, then I went home and Googled what a podcast was, says Stenholm and laughs.
With a recurring panel of knowledgeable guests from the US, the “American group” will soon be approaching 300 episodes. The number of listeners has steadily increased over the past four years. According to the authors themselves, this is due to a mixture of experience and chat in the coffee room.
But how is it to look and comment on politicians like Donald Trump with an opinion-neutral spirit of public service?
This is a common question, says Sara Stenholm. But neither she nor Ginna Lindberg think it’s a difficult task.
– It is clear that it is a bit complicated that the main character right now is a person who often says things that are not true, says Ginna Lindberg. When we point it out, it can be seen as biased, but it’s just ordinary basic journalistic work. This is also happening in American journalism right now. Investigation and fact-checking are considered biased, precisely because the president often says things that do not correspond to reality.
Ginna Lindberg emphasizes again how important the podcast’s tone is.
– We are public service employees and we also have to hold that banner high up in the pod. It is important to have balance and reflect both sides. But that does not exclude a fun and relaxed tone. I think then it will be easier to assimilate the subject.
Ginna Lindberg and Sara Stenholm.
Photo: Magnus Hallgren
Sara Stenholm, like now He knows the world of podcasts well, he says that the fun is being able to differentiate yourself from the usual radio broadcasts.
– In P1, the presenters are usually very attached to the script. And I think it’s great to read accurate, well-written scripts. But it’s also a lot of fun to do the opposite. For the podcast, I can write three dots on a napkin when we have lunch, and that’s our script.
Before the election, the podcast will broadcast seven episodes live from the United States, in addition to the usual Wednesday episodes. Both Ginna Lindberg and Sara Stenholm are in the process of traveling across the Atlantic to continue their surveillance at the scene.
What excites you the most before the elections?
– When the election result is ready, says Ginna Lindberg. And everything that can happen when it comes to counting votes by mail.
– Yes, all the excitement is this time in the days after the elections, agrees Sara Stenholm. Then another tension is the question of whether there will be violence. I think it’s like a sad fog over the whole election.
