“Footnotes Podcast Art” by Christina Mumpower, a derivative of Book and Coffee by Magda K, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Image was downloaded on 2/17/26 and edited using Canva. Derivative is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.“Footnotes: Episode 1” by Christina Mumpower is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.
“Footnotes” is a weekly podcast that delves into all genres of books and brings on different guests with a special interest or knowledge on that week’s book/topic the book addresses. The soft background music is intended to create a cozy, coffee shop type feel that allows the listener to relax during the episode. I wanted it to feel like the they were getting ready to sit down with a good book themselves. The sound effect of the page turning served as a signal that the title of the book was about to be announced.
I wanted the podcast art to reflect the same feeling that the podcast has: cozy vibes and good reads. The coffee and book gives the air of sitting in a tucked away corner of a coffee shop while the green text complements the soft browns, greens, and pinks of the picture. I used some of the techniques we have learned, such as the rule of thirds, to crop the original image.
Through My Lens: Beyond the Office Work is a podcast that follows the journey of how photography can boost morale for working, office professionals, and help them find creativity and new perspectives in their everyday lives. My podcast will emphasize how moments in routine workspaces can be transfigured into impactful, visual stories using photography. My audio piece includes a narration recorded by me, an original printing and typing sound effect recorded in the office I work at (including office ambient background noise), and nostalgic music. These sound elements create a realistic workplace atmosphere while supporting the theme of finding creativity beyond routine office life.
“Quick-Time Event Poster” by John Gonzalez is a derivative that includes “Nintendo 8-bit controller” by OpenClipart, published under Public Domain. Originally downloaded on 02/16/2026 and with Canva. Generative fill was used for the background, with the prompt “Podcast advertisement for video gaming title ‘quick-time event.’ This should be futuristic, but look like something for the news.” The derivative is licensed under the Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0).
My imagined podcast, Quick-Time Event, is a short burst of information on news developments in the gaming industry. It will talk business, new releases and reveals, and also take a quick moment to highlight prominent individuals in the field. Because of this, I used chiptune based music in the background of my voice audio, along with a song dive that will lead to the music, followed by the sound effect “GO” to highlight the action starting.
“Global Heartbeat” AI‑generated anime image using the prompt: “Cherry blossom background with friends, family and cats for the Global Heartbeat” by ChatGPT, February 2026.The Global Heartbeat Podcast” by Oi Kwan Lui is licensed under (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Global Heartbeat is a monthly podcast for travel lovers and culture admirers—whether you are constantly on the move or simply dreaming of your next adventure. Each episode takes you to a different destination, exploring the stories, traditions, and hidden gems that make every place unique. Every month features a themed journey. For example, in March we might wander through Japan during cherry blossom season, soaking in the beauty of cherry blossom, spring festivals, and local flavors. Other episodes will spotlight festivals, seasonal moments, iconic landmarks, and the everyday magic of cultures around the world. “Wherever you are, let the world come to you—one heartbeat at a time.“
For the audio, I chose a gentle piano track as the background, layered with the soft purring of cats and the light chirping of birds. Japan has long been known as a cat‑loving nation, and that charm flows naturally into its anime culture as well. That is why I chose this image—it reflects the country’s deep affection for cats and the way they have become iconic in both everyday life and storytelling.
“Global Heartbeat narration”, a special guest, voiced by Joylyn Tang (CC BY 4.0)
Image : “Global Heartbeat” AI‑generated anime image using the prompt: “Cherry blossom background with friends, family and cats for the Global Heartbeat” by ChatGPT, February 2026.
“Booked and Bothered: A podcast about books, authors, and their drama” AI generated using the prompt “Album art for a podcast about literature, books, and literary figures’ lives but make it a girl gossiping to make it more fun for listeners” by ChatGPT February 2026
Booked and Bothered is a cozy, conversational podcast where I talk about books, authors, and their drama. Each episode explores the love lies, scandals, and secrets of literary figures and the stories they inspired, because the classics were never truly boring. This podcast is classic literature meets modern gossip, to make the subjects that may be daunting to some, more accessible and fun. Booked and Bothered explores the lives and scandals of famous writers, uncovering the love, lies, and drama hidden behind classic literature in a way that’s fun, cozy, and totally judgment free. While also breaking down classics, and talking about juicy themes and tidbits that readers may have not caught the first read, or that may intrigue new readers, no homework required.
I chose to open my podcast with a piano to evoke a feeling of another era, such as the Regency era. I tied that in with a cafe ambience to set a cozy mood, inviting the listener to join me for a cup of tea or coffee and a good gossip session. I added the sound of a page turning before I began to speak to give the feel that we were opening a book as we entered into the literary world of the past. Once I began to talk about Emily Dickinson, I added the sound of a pen or, in her case, a quill scribbling on paper, which she often did bent over a page, creating a new poem. At the end, I close with the sound of tea being poured into a mug to emphasize what I was saying, spilling the tea.
“Maple Street Murder” by Melody Murray, licensed CC by 4.0, derivative of original design template by @lutberbel via Canva.com
Maple Street Murder combines my love of mystery, horror, and dramatic true crime media all in one! I knew I wanted to create something spooky for this assignment, so I utilized ChatGPT (for the very first time! In order to save brain space for the meatier aspects of this assignment) to generate a short “Unsolved Murders” reminiscent script, and Maple Street Murder was born. The overall vision for this podcast would be to follow this particular (fictional) case alluded to in the narration.
Since I recruited my boyfriend for the audio narration, both of our names are on the title card with the idea that we would be hosting together. We used my closet as our sound booth to record the audio narration portion. I found the PERFECT “The X-Files” vibe music to accompany the narration (I gasped at how well they went together!) I was also able to find a spooky/ethereal forest ambience audio that complemented the other two audios well. I then added a couple fades, as well as a podcast filter for his voice. I am overall very happy with how this turned out!
The podcast “Maple Street Murder” by Melody Murray is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.
Sources:
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“Maple Street Murder” by Melody Murray, licensed CC BY 4.0, derivative of original design template by @lutberbel via Canva.com.
My podcast is entitled History After Dark, essentially composed of weekly recaps of History’s most infamous events around the world. I chose the world map as an implication of interconnectedness, that which occurs on one side of the world is often reverberated or connected to other parts of the world. The beginning of this episode begins with a catchy, melodramatic interlude, as to draw in the listener. I then include a cymbal that comes into play as I announce the podcast name, to enunciate that this podcast brings history to light, even in the darkness. The background singers that come into focus as I narrate is made up of a Russian choir, appropriate for the context of this episode that focuses on the Russian Revolution. I raise the volume on the singers as I conclude my introduction so as to culminate the episode with a type of tension that would emphasize the episode’s focus and dramatic details.
Marginalia is a literary podcast exploring memory, attention, and everyday experience. Inspired by Marcel Proust’s reflections on involuntary memory, this opening episode considers how quiet moments — a passing thought, the turn of a page — can subtly rearrange the present.
In this first episode, I reflect on the figure of the flâneuse (the feminine form of the French term flâneur), a woman who wanders city streets, observing urban life with an attentive yet independent perspective.
Sound Elements
Incorporates three sound categories:
Voice (Narration): Recorded by author.
Music: Introduction and Tarantelle (Op. 43) layered beneath narration.
Sound Effect (Original Recording): A live page-turn sound performed and recorded by the author while the music was playing, used as a transition immediately before the narration begins.
The page-turn signals entry into the reflective space of the episode.
Introduction and Tarantelle (Op. 43) Written by Pablo de Sarasate (1844–1908) Performed by Mischa Violin and Josef Adler Recording date: Orange, N.J., 1921 Track URL: https://www.openmusicarchive.org/audio/Intro_And_Tarantelle.mp3 License: Public Domain
Podcast Cover Image – Marginalia Image generated using ChatGPT (OpenAI image generation tool). Prompt and final composition directed by author. Prompt used for image generation: “Vintage literary podcast cover titled ‘Marginalia’ featuring antique books, journal, warm amber lighting, Parisian atmosphere, nostalgic tone.” Tool: ChatGPT . February 2026.
Booked is a weekly podcast for readers who want to be involved in all types of conversations centered on books and the book community. Tune in to stay in touch with the latest hot topics for readers everywhere. With frequent special guests and heated topics, we are diving headfirst into all conversations, debates, suggestions, and reflections!
The cover is meant to convey the podcast’s lightheartedness. I liked that the photo included earbuds, since a large portion of the book community is online and many topics are hot on BookTok, Bookstagram, Booktube, and so on. The background for the title is meant to bring in more of the podcast’s fun vibes, with a wavy feel and fun fonts to accompany it.
The podcast uses voice-overs, sound effects, and music. The podcast uses fun, bouncy music to match the fun topics and help offset the conversations that can be very polarizing. The music begins as soon as the podcast starts, but is kept low, with the voiceover as the main focus. This is done intentionally to keep the entire intro bubbly and fun. When the special guest is announced, a clapping sound effect is added and fades in to create excitement about who is joining the podcast. The voiceover is meant to be lighthearted and intriguing for anyone looking to tune in to what the book community is discussing. Our first narrator, the host, introduces the episode, and our second narrator, the special guest, adds a fun, personality-filled sneak peek toward the end.
The Ravenclaw Common Room is an imagined, fantastical podcast set within the world of Harry Potter. Broadcast from the Ravenclaw Common Room, as the series name suggests, it’s dedicated to the students of Hogwarts filled with curiosity, intelligence, and the pursuit of knowledge. Each episode explores magical theory, ancient runes, forgotten spells, and the deeper questions behind the wizarding world.
The combined sound elements present a tone of calmness, thoughtfulness, and slight mystery. The episode opens with soft and instrumental fantasy styled music, with an ambient wind effect playing underneath, to set the scene of being in a magical tower high above Hogwarts. The music quietly continues under my spoken narration, recorded by myself. Sound effects include a page turning and a quill writing to create the atmosphere of scholarly investigation. The music subtly swells towards the end of the intro to build excitement towards announcing this week’s topic before officially diving deep into it.
