Episode 296: Leon Neyfakh

*Slow Burn* reconstructs historical crises by prioritizing the lived experience of precarious moments over conventional, well-trodden narratives. By focusing on overlooked figures like Martha Mitchell, the series challenges listener assumptions and provides a fresh perspective on the Watergate saga. The production process demands meticulous scripting and the strategic use of archival audio to ground the storytelling, while navigating the significant financial and logistical hurdles of licensing historical materials. Moving from print to audio requires a fundamental shift in technique, favoring direct, unsparing prose and clear, functional transitions to maintain listener focus. Ultimately, the series seeks to capture the ambiguity and uncertainty of past political upheavals, allowing audiences to process historical parallels without relying on explicit, heavy-handed comparisons to contemporary political figures.