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Audio artist Kaitlin Prest closes prestigious Third Coast festival with 5 things that inspire her

The creator and director of The Shadows, a new fiction series from CBC Podcasts, presented the closing speech at the audio storytelling conference in Chicago.
Olivia Pasquarelli ·
Kaitlin Prest is the creator of The Shadows. (Eleanor Petry)

Award-winning audio artist Kaitlin Prest presented the closing speech at the annual Third Coast International Audio Festival in Chicago on Saturday.

Prest, creator of the love and intimacy​ podcast The Heart with Radiotopia and most recently, The Shadows, with CBC Podcasts, discussed five things that inspire her to push the boundaries of making audio. The Heart won gold for new radio formats at the 2015 Prix Italia awards and was a Peabody Awards finalist in 2017. Prest's podcasts, performance and installation work continue to be featured at festivals in Canada and internationally. 

Third Coast celebrates audio storytelling and brings together journalists and podcasters from around the world. Last year's keynote was presented by This American Life host and executive producer Ira Glass.

Presenting The Shadows by Kaitlin Prest and CBC Podcasts

6 years ago
Duration 2:14
Kaitlin is a struggling artist who believes in the love of Hollywood movies. But when she falls for someone who challenges her romantic ideal, she is faced with an impossible choice.

Here are Kaitlin Prest's five favourite things:

1. Wong Kar-wai's Happy Together 

Wong Kar-wai won Best Director at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival for Happy Together. (Block 2 Pictures)

"His representation of love is just so complete," she told the festival.

Prest praised the 1997 romance film by the Hong Kong director for its beauty. Happy Together tells a tumultuous love story about a gay couple who take a trip to Argentina. 

2. The Journalist and the Murderer by Janet Malcolm 

The Journalist and the Murderer by Janet Malcolm is a study on the ethics of journalism. (Penguin Random House)

Prest quoted American writer Janet Malcolm when discussing the power dynamics and ethics journalists must consider in telling other people's stories. 

"We're in a moment where documentary is entertainment," Prest said. When listenership and funding play a major role in what gets created, the podcaster explained that she often wonders how that affects the stories we tell.  

3. Intersectional feminism 

bell hooks is an American author, feminist and social activist. (South End Press/Washington Square Press/HarperCollins)

Prest cited American author bell hooks's Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center as the book that allowed her to confidently call herself a feminist. 

"She made clear that feminism is about looking at the power structures that push some people up by pushing other people down."

4. Friends and creative community

Kaitlin Prest, dressed as the main character in The Shadows, stands beside senior producer Phoebe Wang. (Evan Aagaard)

Prest spoke of the network of people who have inspired and supported her work in audio, bringing attention to the talents of her close friends Jess Grosman, Sharon Mashihi and Phoebe Wang. Earlier this year, Mashihi and Wang worked with Prest on The Shadows. Both won awards at the 2018 Third Coast festival.

5. A fateful cab ride 

Prest talked about a cab ride that left her feeling inspired. (THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Prest explained that she was recently reminded of how much she loves her job during a conversation with her taxi driver.

"No one listens to me. People listen to you," said the cab driver, after finding out she was a radio maker. He told Prest that his voice often goes unheard, noting the power of communication, especially during times of political turmoil, and the importance of her role.

You can listen to Prest's most recent work, The Shadows, wherever you find podcasts.