Ramble
at Robinson Secondary School

Reviewed on April 10, 2021

Makenna Buhler
Woodgrove High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

Do you ever find that different experiences mean more to some than others? Everyone is different but what brings us together is the fact that we all have stories to tell. One of four podcasts produced during this COVID year from James W. Robinson Jr. Secondary School titled Ramble nails this fact, on the head. Ramble sourced its content from stories in the Robinson community, led by the all-student team they surveyed for ideas, interviewed the storytellers, and then combined and posted their resulting work as a podcast for the community to enjoy. �gEpiphany�h, their third episode, highlighted the stark differences in what epiphanies can be and their effect on our lives.

Producing a podcast is no laughing matter. Audio editing can be extensive, finding content is hard and meeting deadlines all add up, but Ramble takes all of the "what could have"s and turned its product into a clean, professional, and approachable podcast. The comedic bursts during the intro instantly transformed this audio piece into a relatable and real conversation. In addition, the clean hidden audio cuts made by Brooke Hanser and Katie Valencia made the storyteller's experiences flow and limited distractions while holding our attention.

Hosting is a demanding job, but Harry Glicklin went above and beyond with his comedic timing, down-to-earth demeanor, and his insightful questions for the storytellers. In addition, the stories told by Shailey Pratt and Erin Oedemann showcase their bravery and vulnerability.

Sunsets happen every single day but only a few may stand out because of the circumstances surrounding experiencing those sunsets. Shailey Pratts's story beautifully described her vacation to Greece and the journey she experienced finding the beauty and eventually enjoying the chance to visit one of its lesser-visited and less-renowned areas. As she concluded the time with her family, the uniqueness of the geological area, and the beautiful sunset brought her the epiphany that what may not seem special can be, if you spend it with the right people and enjoy what is given to you.

Being a woman has its challenges but being uncomfortable with an older stranger's wave and suggestive winks should not be one of them, Erin Oedemann concluded. This epiphany was not immediate as she had to overcome the stigma of overreacting and the uncomfortable feelings surrounding the incident. �Epiphany� was able to then have its Digital Manager Abigail Camp add constructive thoughts on the matter which added more depth to the production by highlighting this issue.

Despite being an audio-only production, Ramble made this episode engaging with its great stories, comedy sprinkled throughout its opening, and the musical transitions that held the different segments together creating a structured podcast that changed the way we think of epiphanies and why they may be positive or negative in their impact on our lives.

Kaitlin Molloy
Chantilly High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

In a world of consistently clashing extremes, how can the minute intricacies of each person's experienced reality matter at all? Robinson Secondary School's original podcast, Ramble, encapsulates the diminutive individuality of the human condition, highlighting the beauty of self-realization.

The student-produced podcast centered on two beautiful stories about individual epiphanies in two students' life journeys, featuring themes of togetherness, perspective, and hardship. The third episode in a series of five, �Epiphany served as a perfect midpoint with Shailey Pratt and Erin Oedemann sharing anecdotes of an ethereal trip to Meteora, Greece and personal experiences of harassment, respectively.

With exuberance in his voice and introspection on his mind, the host, Harry Glicklin, served as a metaphorical shepherd on the journey into the moments when reality becomes a little too real. Commanding a casual comedy, Glicklin established a fiercely comforting environment for issues to be discussed - much like that of a quiet fireside chat with old friends. In this, an extreme respect for each speaker was reflected in both his insightful follow-up questions and interruption-free command of conversation.

Pratt and Oedemann both proved serendipitously wonderful storytellers, contrasting from each other, yet culminating in a fantastic synthesis of self-realization together. Both guests offered unique energies in their stories, which, when paired with Glicklin's charisma, made the podcast entrancing.

Pratt's vivid imagery of monasteries atop rocky pillars painting the backdrop of a once-in-a-lifetime sunset transported listeners into the perfection of the moment. In the picturesque scene, Pratt used the sunset to describe the fleeting togetherness of her family and the need for tranquility in company of others; this immersive sentiment was underscored by Pratt's analysis of life as a collection of colors only you can see correctly.

Serving as a juxtaposition, Oedemann's frank recount of her personal experience with harassment and objectification consequently mirrored a less beautiful, yet utterly important realization, that unfortunately, many women face. The commentary around assault and harassment resulted in a message from the digital manager, Abby Camp, making the anecdote all the more powerful and relevant.

With the adaptation to virtual performance allowing for more creative freedom, the creation of the audio-exclusive experience brought an exceedingly humane aspect to the content presented as it drew attention to the stories being told. Most impressively the audio editing resulted in incredibly precise conversation that naturally progressed, with the flawless flow adding to the engaging nature of the podcast. Through a massive publicity effort, the crew engaged with the community through livestreams, related content, and a vast web of social media engagement. In addition to the extensive publicity, the podcast was streamed using direct transcription software in order to make the experience more accessible to others.

In an unexpected fashion, Robinson Secondary School's auditory experience, Ramble, transcended the space of performance to invoke philosophical musings among listeners while it simultaneously used the clash of beauty and fear to reveal the inner workings of the human condition: perspective.

Aidan Ramee
Chantilly High School
Submitted for publication to FCPS Community News

What does the word perspective mean to you: is it as simple as the way one sees something or are there hidden complexities behind the term? If you are confounded by philosophical conundrums, then you will love Robinson Secondary School's production of Ramble, where frame of mind and real life events were shared from cast members and friends alike.

Ramble was a podcast developed by Robinson High School with the goal to open the listener's eyes and ears to differing, real experiences and viewpoints on what it means to be human. Our lovable host, Harry Glicklin, led the audience through introspective stories shared by our intuitive readers, Shailey Pratt and Erin Oedemann.

Glicklin welcomed and invited the audience to a delightful podcast. Even without being seen, Glicklin stole our attention and guided us through a terrific show with his tranquil, therapeutic voice. His respect for the other speakers was admirable; with zero interruption and all his attention, he asked meaningful questions and allowed the audience to deeply empathize with their messages.

Shailey Pratt was a phenomenal first-up storyteller. Her words were to paint as our ears were to canvas as she re-lived a powerful moment from a family trip to Greece. Her imagery and concise speech left everybody picturing their version of paradise as they listened, and her message was nothing to sleep on. Pratt taught us that even if some things seem meaningless at first glance, there was still magic to be found.

Erin Oedemann offered an intriguing take on the experiences that women face with unwanted advances and harassment. Oedemann's story was a common occurrence for many, which made her words very relevant, especially today, and with the help of Abigail Camp, Digital Manager, they both put a spotlight on the issues that women faced in their daily lives. The positive and negative contrasts between Pratt's and Oedemann's stories were truly beautiful, both honoring a simple, yet important takeaway: perspective, between people, will always be different.

The idea to ditch the camera and excel with a podcast format was a bold choice, yet it paid off charmingly. The sound transformed the meaning of the performance, rather than sitting in the audience watching a show, the listeners were in that room, listening intently to friends talk about their stories and experiences. The audio edits (Brooke Hanser, Katie Valencia) allowed the dialogue to flow uninterrupted from unwanted ums and awkward pauses, which brought the audience easily to the conclusion of each story. The musical chimes between sets of dialogue sealed the podcast feel, leaving the audience compelled to listen to the rest of the Ramble installments.

Robinson Secondary School presented a spectacularly unique performance with Ramble and gifted each audience member with their own epiphanies for life's wide range of impactful moments. The meaning behind every word spoken left an impact on the listeners, which made the show infinitely memorable.

Maura Pelczynski
Chantilly High School
Submitted for publication to Patch (Fairfax/Alexandria)

We've all felt a moment of sudden realization; the jolt through one's skin, the feeling that something has just been hatched. An epiphany, illuminating new inches of our perceived reality. Epiphanies were the theme of the third episode of James W. Robinson Jr Secondary School's podcast, Ramble. The episode, concisely titled "Epiphany" told the real stories of two guests, and tackled the question: "What is reality, and how do moments in our lives change how we perceive it?"

"Epiphany" focused on two storytellers, Shailey "Shay" Pratt and Erin Oedemann, as they narrated a moment when they experienced an epiphany of their own. Shay recounted a time she found unexpected beauty in the Greek town of Meteora, and Erin described a night where she felt harassed by a nearby construction site worker. Through a scripted retelling of their memories, and further questions asked by host Harry Glicklin, a narrative of each moment was woven together with illuminating detail.

From the very first minute of the podcast, Harry Glicklin's charming personality shone through with his calming voice and casual humor. He set a relaxed environment, a safe space for vulnerability, that remained consistent throughout the episode. As the host, Glicklin asked especially introspective questions to his guests. The interviews set up the stories well, and then helped elaborate the narratives further following the retelling.

The script, written by Haven Townsend, painted a picture book through audio alone. The details of both Shay's and Erin's story were vivid, from the breathtaking sunset atop Meteora's cliffs, to the skin-crawling wink from the invasive construction worker. The contrast between a positive and negative epiphany was well written, and segment producer Gabby Smith-Stutzer chose the storytellers perfectly. The content of the script was mature and thoughtful. Great care was given to talking about the nature of how being a woman can affect the way one perceives reality, and the dangers that can come with someone's gender. When diving deeper into talking about harassment women can face in their day to day lives, Glicklin kindly stepped back to have the female digital manager, Abigail "Abby" Camp, speak on the issue with sincerity.

Ramble's editing, run by Brooke Hanser and Katie Valencia, added a layer of polish to the production. The soft music of the transitions cleanly stitched each segment together. The audio quality was clear, and no two voices sounded the same. Robinson Secondary School's podcast was also greatly benefitted from its strong social media presence, thanks to digital manager Abby Camp. Episode 3 ended with a quick plug of the many social media accounts linked with the podcast, as well as the team's email, to encourage engagement with listeners.

Through humor, care, and polish, James W. Robinson Jr. Secondary School's podcast, Ramble, sought to connect with the audience. By telling real stories with detail, and following through with insightful interviews, the podcast successfully illuminated parts of life that may lie overlooked. Episode 3, "Epiphany," provided a lens to see reality through other's eyes and told touching stories with messages of beauty and feminism. Every epiphany is one to hold onto, one to take with you into a new reality. So, when you feel that jolt in your skin again, when understanding hits you like a freight train, be sure to cherish all that you have just learned.

Oscar Lazo
Westfield High School
Submitted for publication to Connection

Intricacies within our everyday human experiences are many times lost in time--but Robinson Secondary School�'s "Epiphany" podcast made sure that these stories are shared with audiences far and wide. From stories of visiting the beautiful coasts of a country to the feeling of being safe and sound, the podcast series shared stories from within the Robinson community. Without further adieu, Let's Ramble!

"Epiphany," a one-episode installment for a podcast series titled Let�'s Ramble dived into the meaning of epiphany and shared the stories of two community members of times in which they were struck with a sense of realization. Produced in January 2021, the podcast aimed to find common themes between drastic stories and connect even the most separate realizations together.

Hosting the show with absolute charm, Harry Glicklin approached the audience with a confident and welcoming persona--creating an atmosphere that made the audience feel included within the conversation between the host and the interviewee. Not only did he make the interviewees feel comfortable, but was also conscious of the material being discussed, paving the way for the right speakers to cover the material if needed, as he did in the second story regarding a women's rights issue.

The first interviewee, Shailey "Shay" Pratt, tells a story of a time she visits Meteora. Pratt, who went by Shay in the podcast, captured the beauty of the Greek monastery with description and passion for her travels. Although hesitant on embarking on her travels to Greece, Pratt soon realized that even the most unknown places could be one of the most beautiful places she could visit--and through the way she described Meteora, beautiful was an understatement!

Following Pratt's story, Erin Oedemann shared a less pleasing story: one of discomfort, fear, and disgust. After being approached in a parking lot, she realized that the situation was far more inappropriate than she believed, and she told her story in a sincere way. Despite the scary situation, Oedemann had her epiphany and came to terms with the seriousness of the situation and did so with a mature and honest way which respected the severity of the situation.

Taking inspiration from interviewers to boost listeners for Let's Ramble, Digital Manager Abigail "Abby" Camp also handled publicity and pulled quotes to promote the podcast on Instagram and regularly updated the podcast's Instagram story and feed. In addition to the publicity, Harry Glicklin, the host, and Gabby Smith-Stutzer had to tackle new challenges in the virtual theatre era: recording a podcast. To accomplish this, they recorded interviews for the podcast through video-communication platform Zoom, allowing for clean and concise recordings.

Robinson High School's "Epiphany" is one of many installments for podcast Let's Ramble that shared the stories of community members that would otherwise go unheard, and shared the connections between our unheard epiphanies. Audience members were sure to question if their previous experiences held more weight than they originally thought!

Justin Pokrant
Westfield High School
Submitted for publication to Fairfax County Times

Hello and welcome to the third episode of Ramble, a podcast where students from Robinson Secondary School illustrated two profound personal anecdotes linked by their epiphanies; "No fiction, no fantasy, just a true retelling of impactful moments in people's lives." Let's ramble!

Ramble is the perfect combination of a talk show and a storytime. Despite any preconceptions suggested by its title, Ramble is far from meaningless conversations. The third episode, titled "Epiphany," featured two intimate realizations sculpted into one cohesive narrative. The podcast featured a variety of discussions with relevant topics ranging from perceptions of reality to gender biases. Following a spirited introduction delivered by the charming host, Harry Glicklin, the storytellers, Shailey "Shay" Pratt and Erin Oedemann, were introduced. Shay recounted her epiphany amid a magical sunset in Meteora, while Erin shared her epiphany after an alarmingly close call with an ill-willed man.

The podcast drew listeners into the conversation through its fluidity and casual humor. The audio was recorded over Zoom, edited with SoundTrap, and published to Spotify. Choosing to tell the story through a podcast provided an accessible platform that matched the easy-going nature of the show; where it lacked in traditional flamboyant theatrics, �Epiphany� compensated with its mellow, inviting ambiance. The thoughtfully crafted script, paired with the actors' authenticity, fueled a steady pace for the performance; the story was concise yet casual.

�Epiphany's� charismatic host, Harry Glicklin, was the beating heart of the podcast. His lively personality and easy-going nature cultivated a safe, welcoming environment for both the storytellers and the audience. Through his introspective questions, Harry navigated listeners through each story, and following Erin's narrative, he respectfully refrained from speaking on behalf of women; instead, he invited Abby Camp to address the subject.

While the epiphanies expressed by Shay Pratt and Erin Oedemann illustrated contrasting experiences, both speakers captivated the audience with their passion and authenticity. Shay told her story of finding beauty in an unexpected place by immersing listeners in the majesty of Meteora; her adoration for the breathtaking collections of earthen pillars shone brighter than the crimson sun as it crossed the endless horizon. On the contrary, Erin's anecdote featured the darker side of reality. Through her recollection of a frightening experience with a catcaller, Erin shed light on the unsettling prevalence of sexual harassment and discrimination against young women.

Overseen by the producer, Brooke Hanser, �Epiphany's� technical elements greatly contributed to the continuity of the performance. Like assembling pieces of a puzzle, Gabby Smith-Stutzer's clever compilation of narratives not only aided in "�Epiphany"'s� storyline but also established an overarching cohesion for the entire series. The scriptwriter, Haven Townsend, transformed the speakers' experiences into a concise, theatrical script, all while maintaining the laid-back nature of a conversation. To tie any loose ends into a nice bow, Brooke Hanser and Katie Valencia (sound editors) used SoundTrap to remove unnecessary pauses, added sound effects that aided in establishing distinct sections, and dictated the pace and seamless flow of the story. To promote the podcast, Abby Camp utilized Instagram, an especially accessible platform for teenage audiences. Through flashy posts, stories, and livestreams known as "Hydrate with Harry," Camp provided a way for viewers to engage in live interactions with the actors, all while promoting Ramble to a larger audience.

Through the podcast's comprehensive technical construction, the speakers' captivating tales, and the host's witty charm, Robinson Secondary School's podcast, "Epiphany", reminds listeners that although no two stories are identical, we are all connected by our epiphanies. This concludes today's episode of Ramble. Thanks for tuning in!