Silver Sound Presents: The Sonic Dash

Silver Podcast Network
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Twice a year on each solstice, Silver Sound hosts the Sonic Dash. This competition gives dozens of audio makers from all over the globe 48 hours to create compelling, two-minute-long audio pieces completely from scratch — meaning no preexisting audio, music, or AI-generative material is allowed. At stake is a $1,000 cash prize and tons of industry-defining software and audio equipment. Join us as we celebrate the craft of audio storytelling. Learn more at sonicdash.nyc.

  1. Sep 4

    A Skateboarding Odyssey, Built From Sound by Colin Colfer

    The Sonic Dash Podcast continues its behind-the-scenes look into the standout pieces from the latest Sonic Dash, themed "Go For Broke." In this episode, host Cory Choy (founder of the Dash, Emmy-winning sound mixer, and owner of Silver Sound Studios) talks with finalist Colin Colfer about his piece. A filmmaker and self-described DIY advocate, Colin breaks down how he built a vivid sonic journey through Coney Island, a story that emerged from a technical idea he had for the piece's structure. Colin shares how he raced to build the piece in one day, recording field sounds along the boardwalk and composing and performing the music himself. Learn more about the Sonic Dash here: http://sonicdash.nyc/ Entries to the New York City Podcast Awards are now open! Check out all the categories and affordable entry fees at www.podcastawards.nyc The Sonic Dash Podcast is a production of the New York City Podcast Awards, produced by Emily Reeves and Christian Cucinello, with assistance from Ivan Bronson, Lauren Molina, and Zach Treanor. Thank you to our sponsors: Focusrite, Dell, Acon Digital, iZotope, Sweet Spot, Bravo Studios, Cockos, and Earthworks Audio.

    A Skateboarding Odyssey, Built From Sound by Colin Colfer

  2. Aug 28

    Making Short, Weird & Wonderfully Divisive Audio Fiction with Jeff Van Dreason

    The Sonic Dash Podcast continues its behind-the-scenes look into the standout pieces from the latest Sonic Dash, themed "Go For Broke." In this episode, host Cory Choy (founder of the Dash, Emmy-winning sound mixer, and owner of Silver Sound Studios) talks with finalist Jeff Van Dreason about his submission, "Dishwasher." Jeff shares how a frustrating encounter with an automated insurance phone line inspired the story of this demonic, capitalist appliance, and breaks down the sound design techniques he used to bring the dishwasher to life. He also talks about learning audio production from scratch while making Greater Boston, the inspiration behind EAR•WAX Magazine, and why he believes there should be more spaces for short, experimental audio fiction. Learn more about the Sonic Dash here: http://sonicdash.nyc/ Entries to the New York City Podcast Awards are now open! Check out all the categories and affordable entry fees at www.podcastawards.nyc LINKS TO THE MANY CREATIVE PROJECTS MENTIONED: Check out EAR•WAX Magazine: https://www.earwaxmag.com/ Listen to Drama Club: https://www.earwaxmag.com/drama-club/ Listen to Greater Boston: https://www.greaterbostonshow.com/?ref=earwaxmag.com Listen to Perfect Sentence: https://jeffvandreason.bandcamp.com/album/the-perfect-sentence?ref=earwaxmag.com Listen to Small Victories: https://www.wgcproductions.com/shows/small-victories Listen to Oliver Morrison's Grand Prize-winning Dash piece, Tea, Am I: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/summer-2025-sonic-dash-grand-prize-winner/id1754639596?i=1000714675686 The Sonic Dash Podcast is a production of the New York City Podcast Awards, produced by Emily Reeves and Christian Cucinello, with assistance from Ivan Bronson, Lauren Molina, and Zach Treanor. Thank you to our sponsors: Focusrite, Dell, Acon Digital, iZotope, Sweet Spot, Bravo Studios, Cockos, and Earthworks Audio.

    Making Short, Weird & Wonderfully Divisive Audio Fiction with Jeff Van Dreason

  3. Aug 21

    Dashing Through Finals Week

    The Sonic Dash Podcast continues its behind-the-scenes look into the standout pieces from the latest Sonic Dash, themed "Go For Broke." In this episode, host Cory Choy (founder of the Dash, Emmy-winning sound mixer, and owner of Silver Sound Studios) sits down with finalists Alex Strong and Arun Chhetri to dissect their piece, "When I Wake Up." Alex and Arun, two student producers with the Stanford Storytelling Project, share what it was like to take on the Sonic Dash during finals week. They break down how they divided the work according to their strengths and leaned on principles of product design, using rapid prototyping to figure out what was — and wasn't — working. Alex, who led the story development, shares his approach to interviewing and shaping a compelling narrative, while Arun explains how he built the piece's score from his tiny dorm-room studio, using the sounds and instruments he had at hand. Learn more about the Stanford Storytelling Project: https://storytelling.stanford.edu/ Learn more about the Sonic Dash here: http://sonicdash.nyc/ Entries to the New York City Podcast Awards are now open! Check out all the categories and affordable entry fees at www.podcastawards.nyc The Sonic Dash Podcast is a production of the New York City Podcast Awards, produced by Emily Reeves and Christian Cucinello, with assistance from Ivan Bronson, Lauren Molina, and Zach Treanor. Thank you to our sponsors: Focusrite, Dell, Acon Digital, iZotope, Sweet Spot, Bravo Studios, Cockos, and Earthworks Audio.

    Dashing Through Finals Week

  4. Aug 14

    Lynn Ermann on Finding a Story On-Site

    In this episode, host Cory Choy (founder of the Dash, Emmy-winning sound mixer, and owner of Silver Sound Studios) sits down with Sonic Dash finalist Lynn Ermann, the reporter and producer behind "There Used to Be a Statue." Lynn shares how, through assembling the right "ingredients" (a source she was familiar with and an intriguing location), she was able to find a story on-site and lean into spontaneity. She also shares how movement influences her creative process, along with the editing challenges she faced while shaping the story. One note: Lynn wanted to offer a correction to a detail in her Dash piece. The statue was stolen, not relocated. Learn more about the Sonic Dash here: http://sonicdash.nyc/ Entries to the New York City Podcast Awards are now open! Check out all the categories and affordable entry fees at www.podcastawards.nyc The Sonic Dash Podcast is a production of the New York City Podcast Awards, produced by Emily Reeves and Christian Cucinello, with assistance from Ivan Bronson, Lauren Molina, and Zach Treanor. Thank you to our sponsors: Focusrite, Dell, Acon Digital, iZotope, Sweet Spot, Bravo Studios, Cockos, and Earthworks Audio.

    Lynn Ermann on Finding a Story On-Site

  5. Aug 7

    How Two Journalists Made a Dash-Sized History Podcast

    The Sonic Dash Podcast continues its behind-the-scenes look into the standout pieces from the latest Sonic Dash, themed "Go For Broke." In this episode, host Cory Choy (founder of the Dash, Emmy-winning sound mixer, and owner of Silver Sound Studios) sits down with finalists Nathan Burke and Audrey Hill, two freelance journalists who brought their reporting instincts to the Dash for the first time. Nathan and Audrey break down how an hour of Googling in the park led them from the phrase "Go For Broke" to the story of Japanese American soldiers during World War II, and to the diary of Stanley Hayami, the real-life hero of their piece. Learn more about Project Khthon: https://www.projectkhthon.com/ Listen to Advocating for Justice: https://wbai.org/program.php?program=267 Learn more about the Sonic Dash here: http://sonicdash.nyc/ Entries to the New York City Podcast Awards are now open! Check out all the categories and affordable entry fees at www.podcastawards.nyc The Sonic Dash Podcast is a production of the New York City Podcast Awards, produced by Emily Reeves and Christian Cucinello, with assistance from Ivan Bronson, Lauren Molina, and Zach Treanor. Thank you to our sponsors: Focusrite, Dell, Acon Digital, iZotope, Sweet Spot, Bravo Studios, Cockos, and Earthworks Audio.

    How Two Journalists Made a Dash-Sized History Podcast

  6. Jul 31

    Tessa Flannery on Building a Spaceship from Household Sounds

    The Sonic Dash Podcast continues its behind-the-scenes look into the standout pieces from the latest Sonic Dash, themed "Go For Broke." In this episode, host Cory Choy (founder of the Dash, Emmy-winning sound mixer, and owner of Silver Sound Studios) sits down with finalist Tessa Flannery to dissect "Space Junk," the Dash entry she created with Allie Kroeper. A four-time Dasher and three-time finalist, Tessa shares how her approach has evolved across the competitions, from early submissions built around theatrical performances to "Space Junk," a highly sound-designed piece set on a spaceship. Tessa walks us step-by-step through her creative process, from scripting to building the spaceship's sonic world from her own air conditioner, fan, and fridge. See Tessa's play Raging of the Shrews at NYC's Under St Marks Theater: https://tickets.frigid.nyc/event/6897:1480/ Learn more about the Sonic Dash here: http://sonicdash.nyc/ Entries to the New York City Podcast Awards are now open! Check out all the categories and affordable entry fees at www.podcastawards.nyc The Sonic Dash Podcast is a production of the New York City Podcast Awards, produced by Emily Reeves and Christian Cucinello, with assistance from Ivan Bronson, Lauren Molina, and Zach Treanor. Thank you to our sponsors: Focusrite, Dell, Acon Digital, iZotope, Sweet Spot, Bravo Studios, Cockos, and Earthworks Audio.

    Tessa Flannery on Building a Spaceship from Household Sounds

  7. Jul 24

    Sport, Story, and Sound in Browen Livingstone's 'Shooting My Shot'

    The Sonic Dash Podcast continues its behind-the-scenes look at the winning pieces from the latest Sonic Dash, themed "Go For Broke." In this episode, host Cory Choy (founder of the Dash, Emmy-winning sound mixer, and owner of Silver Sound Studios) sits down with Glasgow-based audio creator Bronwen Livingstone, who took home third place with her piece "Shooting My Shot." Bronwen walks through how she distilled a deeply personal and vulnerable story into just two minutes of audio. She discusses her scripting method, including a handwritten "paper sound edit" where she marked emotional cues and sound effects before ever opening a DAW. Plus, she shares more about her journey as a para athlete and how the discipline she's gained from sports shows up in her creative approach. Learn more about the Sonic Dash here: http://sonicdash.nyc/ The Sonic Dash Podcast is a production of the New York City Podcast Awards, produced by Emily Reeves and Christian Cucinello. Thank you to our sponsors: Focusrite, Dell, Acon Digital, iZotope, Sweet Spot, Bravo Studios, Cockos, and Earthworks Audio.

    Sport, Story, and Sound in Browen Livingstone's 'Shooting My Shot'

  8. Jul 17

    How Michael Satow Turned His Errands Into a Prize-Winning Piece

    The Sonic Dash Podcast continues its behind-the-scenes look at the winning pieces from the latest Sonic Dash, themed "Go For Broke." In this episode, host Cory Choy (founder of the Dash, Emmy-winning sound mixer and owner at Silver Sound Studios) sits down with actor and director Michael Satow to discuss his piece "Free Piano," which took home the second-place prize at this summer's Dash. Michael, the co-creator of the true-crime parody podcast The Murderer Killings, walks us through how he built "Free Piano" almost entirely from real life. Rather than planning in advance, he let his daily schedule shape the piece's structure. Listen to hear how Michael uses his acting and directing skills to capture spontaneity through tape gathering, voice-over, and more. Listen to The Murderer Killings here: themurdererkillings.com Learn more about the Sonic Dash here: http://sonicdash.nyc/ The Sonic Dash Podcast is a production of the New York City Podcast Awards, produced by Emily Reeves and Christian Cucinello. Thank you to our sponsors: Focusrite, Dell, Acon Digital, iZotope, Sweet Spot, Bravo Studios, Cockos, and Earthworks Audio.

    How Michael Satow Turned His Errands Into a Prize-Winning Piece
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About

Twice a year on each solstice, Silver Sound hosts the Sonic Dash. This competition gives dozens of audio makers from all over the globe 48 hours to create compelling, two-minute-long audio pieces completely from scratch — meaning no preexisting audio, music, or AI-generative material is allowed. At stake is a $1,000 cash prize and tons of industry-defining software and audio equipment. Join us as we celebrate the craft of audio storytelling. Learn more at sonicdash.nyc.

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