I’m tired of learning how to drive.
And maybe, I’m also a bit scared.
I’m in my twenties, and I don’t have my drivers’ license. I feel like getting your license is one of those milestones you pass in your teens, not in your 20s. And not reaching that marker does feel a bit frustrating.
I think my reasons behind not having my license are partly practical and partly my anxiety. But I’ve also realized that this huge task of learning to drive may also be a reflection of how your 20s can feel.
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Behind the scenes
Okay so if you haven’t listened to the episode yet, do that and come back here, because I am giving some major updates.
This episode was really fun to make. It’s probably one of my most lighthearted episodes, and I do think a lot of the humor comes out in the ways I embarrass myself (which I do often, and most times I share those kinds of moments freely).
I wrote and edited this episode as a project for the Pod People mentorship program. Pod People is a global podcast community where people find and share podcast work, tips, and news. They launched a mentorship program, and originally I had wanted to grow in my sound design skills, so I applied and was accepted!
My mentor Jaxson, a long-time audio editor and producer in the podcast industry, first in Australia and now in California, taught me a lot about writing for the ear, writing to amuse, and also how to think about sound design in tandem with scripting, as opposed to afterwards. He also taught me what an Australian sausage sandwich is, and apparently how much better chocolate is over there than in the United States. I still have yet to try it!
With this episode, there is a story arc in my narration but there is also an arc within all of the driving clips that you hear; that was very important to me. I also wanted these separate arcs to work together to build the story; it was difficult, but worth it. With sound, I painted different scenes: the DMV, the busy streets of New York City. There was a lot of thinking that went into how to make the words and sound effects work together, and that’s why I feel this is one of the best podcast episodes I’ve made to date. Thanks Jaxson for going on this journey with me, and helping me to make an episode I am truly very proud of; you rock.
Updates since this episode was recorded: I drive on the street now everyone! I can go up to 23 miles per hour (personal record). I’m kind of parallel parking. I started taking official lessons at a driving school along with Nick’s teaching.
I still ask a lot of questions. I still need a lot of reassurance. But I am so much more confident that I can drive, and that I can handle the road. I still have a long way to go, but honestly re-listening to this episode helped me recognize how far I’ve come from driving in cemeteries and parking lots at 10 miles an hour.
If you are learning to drive in your twenties, or even if you feel a bit behind in life, know that you are having your own journey, unique to you, and you should enjoy that one-of-a-kind experience over thinking about anyone else’s. You are exactly where you need to be, and you will get where you need to go.
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