Last night, I had the opportunity to listen to the first episode of the ESC podcast on DS106 radio. The episode explored how an episode of an old radio drama, Escape, was produced. The episode that was focused on was Three Skeleton Key, and the podcast host focused on the techniques used in order to make certain noises as well as how the cultural context behind the drama’s narrative influenced the show’s sonic design. A few very interesting techniques were discussed, including the use of a downed telegraph wire’s hum as ambient noise and how pressing wet cork against glass can create a good rat-squeak sound effect. The thing that interested me the most, however, was the way the host linked the story of Three Skeleton Key to the folktale of the pied piper of Hamelin. He was able to connect the two stories based on the cultural significance of rats at the time each story was created and through a careful analysis of the audio storytelling techniques used in the radio drama. This podcast was incredibly interesting, and I am glad that I was able to get a chance to listen to it last night.