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About this Episode
In late 2017, with no previous experience in audio-making or storytelling, Lori Mortimer simply decided it would be a good idea to start a podcast. Then she learned how hard it was. "Since then, I've studied the art and craft of podcasting, audio editing, interviewing, nonfiction storytelling, sound design, and podcast marketing. Through more classes and workshops than I can count, and the support found in online and in-person audio communities, I've stitched together the basic set of skills needed to get a show off the ground. It's taken a village to get me to the point where I consider myself a creator and podcaster. It's been a life-changing and affirming experience for me, which I am thankful to have had the privilege of experiencing."
Twitter & Instagram @mementospodcast
Lori Mentions
http://www.arianamartinezstudio.com/
TRANSCRIPT
Lori Mortimer
One thing I would change overall, if I could go back in time is that I would have made more time for this side of myself when I was younger, I think no.
Liz Sumner
I'm Liz Sumner. And this is I always wanted to the podcast where I interview people who are doing things that others longed to do. What have you always wanted to try?
Liz Sumner
Hi, everyone. In the three and a half years, I've been making podcasts. I've learned a lot about the industry and met some wonderful colleagues. One of my favorites is my guest, Lori Mortimer and her show Mementos. Lori and I have different approaches to podcasting, but we suspect our audiences have similar taste. We interviewed each other in our own styles to introduce one another to our listeners. I'm making this bonus episode to recommend Lori to you, and to tell newcomers about I Always Wanted To. In my podcast, I highlight regular people who've taken bold steps and tried something new. My intention is to encourage others that their dreams are within their reach. A recurring theme that I love to hear is how my guests discover that they're more creative and courageous than they ever realized. And Laurie is a perfect example. I'll be releasing the full version of my conversation with Lori at the end of January. But this will give you a little taste of what I always wanted to is all about. I hope you enjoy it. Here are some excerpts from our interview.
Liz Sumner
My guest today is Lori Mortimer. Lori is the creator of Mementos, a beautifully produced podcast about the emotional backstories to the objects we keep. Lori and I've been getting together to talk about podcasting, what we love and hate about the process. We really liked each other's shows. And I think we have some crossover audience. So we decided to showcase each other and our own styles. Welcome, Lori.
Lori Mortimer
thank you glad to be here.
Liz Sumner
We have a very different style in how we build it and what they sound like so so tell me some of the choices that you made to to make Mementos sound the way it does?
Lori Mortimer
That's a great question. This is another kind of result of the community of people, you know, like the Work It trip where you know, had a small community in the car, but they're all from the Boston area audio community, I attended an event at the Podcast Garage. That was sort of like a speed dating event. They had mentors from the field, who were all like, lined up in a, like a snake-shaped set of chairs, and they lined up chairs across from them. And we just, and those of us who were makers and who wanted to talk to people from the industry about our ideas came and we started in a chair. And you had I think we had three minutes with each person. And you literally talked to every single one of those mentors over the course of I don't know, two hours. And one of the mentors who was there was Ariana Martinez. And their feedback was that they like the concept and all that, but their feedback was "think more art than journalism."
Liz Sumner
Ooh, nice.
Lori Mortimer
Yeah. That that. never forgotten that.
Liz Sumner
That's, that's it. That's the difference. Well said.
Lori Mortimer
Yes, exactly. That one sentence has stuck with me. And so I was like, Ah, okay, I get it. And that helped me see that it wasn't going to be like an interview show. Right? It was going to be a storytelling show. Somebody tell me a story about this object and what it means to you. And so that kind of influenced the style of show. And then over the last couple of years, I've really tried to develop an ear for sound design on top of that, you know, and try to make the sound of the show kind of enhance what the person is telling us about this object. Then, last fall of 2020, I had an opportunity to have a one on one consultation with Alex Sujong Laughlin. She was doing a she was doing a fundraiser. And she and I met, it was the Monday or Tuesday of Thanksgiving week. So before Thanksgiving, we had a 30 minute conversation, she listened to the two episodes that I had out. And what I wanted at the time was to just get some feedback on how it was going and I knew I wanted to keep moving forward. And Alex is somebody who works in the field and she had been an instructor and one of the classes one of the many classes I took she had been an instructor on. We had our conversation and one of the first thing she said on the call was, you know, I was trying to figure out where you worked. And you don't work in audio, do you? And I was like, No, I worked for a textbook publisher. And she's like, I listened to your episodes. And I had no idea that you weren't already a producer, I thought you were a producer. And this was your side project. And when she said that, I just still I'm getting goosebumps now even thinking about it. Like when she said that, I thought, Oh, my God, I tricked her. You know, like, she didn't know that I was a complete noob for those two episodes. And that just gave me this huge burst of confidence on that call of like, oh, I can't really do this, right. And so we, we talked for the rest of the half hour about the show and some ideas, but she said she loved it. You know, she loved the show. And she was looking forward to more episodes and all of that. And I literally clicked off of that Zoom call, and went upstairs to my husband's home office. And I was like, We need to talk right now. And I was just so excited. And I said, I think I think I need to leave my job, so that I can focus on this podcast next year. And you know, we talked about it over the holiday week and stuff. And he agreed, like, Yeah, let's try that. Because she just gave me that extra boost. To think that if I just had the time, if I just had the time I can make this work.
Liz Sumner
In our full conversation, we talked about the value of a professional community, and the training and inspiration that Lori received. I asked her what, if anything, she would have done differently when she was starting out.
Lori Mortimer
One thing I would change overall, if I could go back in time is that I would have made more time for the side of myself when I was younger, like I never thought of myself as a creative person. ever really, you know, like I've, you know, been around very creative people, including my husband, my whole life and didn't see myself that way at all. And the podcast has allowed me to see myself as a creative person in a, you know, at all, and to see myself in a very different light. And I think that current Lori would say to younger, Lori, nurture that side of yourself some give yourself some space to play around with things and try things and dedicate some time to that for yourself. That's the thing, I think, I won't say I've wasted years or anything like that. But I it's certainly a missed opportunity to have been more involved in creative things that, you know, could have brought me joy, you know, and pleasure the way that this is doing so, and also to just know myself a little bit differently. So yeah,
Liz Sumner
My thanks to Lori Mortimer. You can find out more about her and Mementos in the show notes. If you like what you hear, please visit ialwayswantedto.net or look on your favorite podcast app to see all my previous episodes. There'll be new ones coming in the beginning of the year. I invite everyone to write and tell me what you've always wanted to try. I'm Liz Sumner, reminding you to be bold, and thanks for listening
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