Cappies Review: 'Ramble' At Robinson Secondary School

By Maura Pelczynski of Chantilly High School

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.

The performance may be experienced at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YfEzbbsMPnyanYrV6av5xv0xUhoI8TiN/view.