Faxina Podcast
FAXINA is a first person narrative podcast about revealing stories that have been swept under the rug, such as stories of Brazilian house cleaners in America. On FAXINA, you will hear Portuguese language immigrant narratives infused with original music composed by Brazilian musicians.
Overview
The podcast is hosted by Heloiza Barbosa, who understands the nuances and challenges these workers face, given her background and personal connections to the community. The aim is to give these often voiceless individuals a platform to share their experiences, struggles, and triumphs in an engaging and humanizing manner.
BACKGROUND
Podcasting as an industry has experienced rapid growth over the past decade, reaching an estimated worth of over $1 billion in 2021 (Podmaker team - can update this stat to 2023). This growth is not just in the number of podcasts but also in the diversity of content and storytelling methods employed. One key reason for this expansion is the unique way podcasting can simplify complex ideas and convey them through engaging, conversational formats.
The Challenge
The primary challenge for the "Faxina" podcast was multifaceted: Narrative Complexity: Conveying the intricate lives and stories of the domestic workers in a way that is compelling yet respectful. Language Barriers: Ensuring the content remains accessible to its primary Portuguese-speaking audience while potentially expanding to English-speaking listeners. Content Approval: Carefully running all narratives by the storytellers to guarantee their comfort and consent, reflecting ethical storytelling principles. Production Quality: High-quality production involving meticulous editing, use of sound effects, and background music to create an immersive listening experience.
Strategy
To address these challenges, Adam collaborated with Heloiza and leveraged several storytelling techniques and podcast production strategies: Ethnographic Storytelling: Drawing inspiration from anthropological storytelling, Adam focused on grounding each episode in ethnographic details that capture the complexity of each subject's experience without oversimplifying it. Narrative Structure: Stories were scripted and edited to maintain a narrative arc that would keep listeners engaged while providing deep insights into the lives of the domestic workers. Sound Design: Incorporating music, sound effects, and ambient sounds to enhance the emotional and immersive experience for the listeners. Bilingual Content: Initially focusing on Portuguese-speaking audiences, plans were made to include English subtitles on platforms like YouTube to cater to a broader audience.
Implementation
Interview Process: Heloiza and team conducted in-depth interviews with domestic workers, allowing them to share their stories in their own words. These interviews were then reviewed, and content was shared with the storytellers to ensure it accurately represented their experiences. Editing & Production: A professional approach was taken to editing each episode, integrating sound design elements that highlight key moments and emotions within each story. This not only made the narrative more engaging but also brought the listeners closer to the lived experiences of the featured individuals. Community Engagement: Leveraging platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook, "Faxina" built a community around the podcast, fostering a space where listeners could share their thoughts, experiences, and support for the stories being told.
Results
The "Faxina" podcast has been successful in multiple ways: Listener Engagement: The podcast has resonated deeply with Portuguese-speaking audiences, both in Brazil and among the diaspora in the United States and Portugal. Social Impact: By bringing attention to the lives and struggles of domestic workers, "Faxina" has helped to elevate the conversation around migrant labor and domestic work, giving these workers a newfound visibility and voice. Expansion Plans: The initial success has laid the groundwork for future episodes to potentially include subtitles and translations, making the impactful stories accessible to a broader global audience.
Adam's Professional Insights
Reflections on storytelling techniques in organizations Bridging gaps between expertise and public understanding Intentional crafting of ethnographic stories
Conclusion
The "Faxina" podcast stands as a powerful example of how media storytelling, particularly in the podcasting world, can address complex social issues by humanizing those affected and engaging listeners through meticulously crafted narratives. By focusing on detailed, ethical storytelling practices and leveraging high-quality production techniques, we created a podcast that not only informs but also inspires and mobilizes its audience toward greater empathy and understanding.
My role
Producer - Editor
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