Research and Fact-Checking in Non-Fiction Podcasts

Our chosen theme today: Research and Fact-Checking in Non-Fiction Podcasts. Welcome to a space where accuracy fuels storytelling, curiosity meets rigor, and audiences trust what they hear. Dive in, swap notes, and subscribe for field-tested practices that turn great reporting into unforgettable, truthful episodes.

Building a Research Workflow That Scales

Start with a hypothesis, not a conclusion. Turn your episode pitch into a structured map of questions, potential sources, and verification paths. Share the map with collaborators, invite challenges, and revise your assumptions early to avoid narrative traps later.

Building a Research Workflow That Scales

Document every claim with a precise source trail: author, date, link, archive, and confidence rating. Use a citation manager and web archives to prevent link rot. Label unverified items in bold, so nothing accidentally slips into the script as established fact.

Fact-Checking Methods for Audio Storytelling

Primary vs. Secondary Evidence in Sound

Prioritize primary sources: original documents, raw tape, court filings, contracts, and direct data exports. Use secondary sources to triangulate or provide context, never as the sole foundation. Track each claim to the strongest available evidence before writing narration.

Interviewing with Integrity

Build a concise dossier: biography, affiliations, prior statements, and potential biases. Write questions that probe, not lead. Keep a list of claims requiring documents. Share your episode’s focus beforehand when possible, so contributors understand the fact-checking standards you uphold.

Interviewing with Integrity

Define terms before recording. On the record means usable with attribution; on background shapes understanding; off the record stays off the show. Reconfirm boundaries after sensitive disclosures, and always label your files with their agreed usage rights and restrictions.

Open-Source Intelligence for Podcasters

Use reverse image searches, web archives, domain registries, and public records to validate identities and claims. Cross-check social posts with geolocation cues or event schedules. Keep screenshots with timestamps and URLs, so your evidence survives deletions and shifting online narratives.

Libraries, Archives, and Paywalled Goldmines

Lean on librarians, subscribe to key databases, and request interlibrary loans. File public records requests early, and track deadlines. Many crucial sources live behind institutional walls; partnerships with universities or newsrooms can unlock archives that elevate your reporting dramatically.

Case Files: Lessons from the Field

We once misread a rate as absolute numbers, inflating a trend. A late-night double-check flipped our conclusion and reshaped the narrative. Share your own near-miss in the comments, so others can learn before the same blind spot bites.

Case Files: Lessons from the Field

A charismatic source had a cinematic arc—but documents wouldn’t land. We killed the episode and published a short explaining why. Listeners respected the decision, and several offered better leads. Sometimes integrity delivers the best long-term audience growth.

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