Note to Self was a podcast hosted by Manoush Zomorodi that focuses on the impacts that technology has on everyday life.[1][2][3] Before she began hosting Note to Self, Zomorodi was a television reporter for the British Broadcasting Corporation.[4] Note to Self debuted in September 2012 under the name New Tech City. It was renamed to Note to Self in 2015, and ran until 2019.[5][6]

Note to Self
GenreTechnology Talk Show
Running timeca. 30 min.
Country of originUnited States
Language(s)English
Home stationWNYC Studios
Hosted byManoush Zomorodi
Created byWNYC Studios
Produced byAriana Tobin
Executive producer(s)Jen Poyant
Recording studioNew York City
Original releaseSeptember 2012 –
October 2019
PodcastPodcast Index

Note to Self was produced by WNYC Studios and released new podcast episodes every Wednesday. A shortened version of the podcast aired Wednesdays at 5:50am and 7:50am on 93.9 FM and AM 820.[7]

Format

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Manoush Zomorodi described Note to Self as "the tech show about being Human".[8][9][10] The content of the podcast was a combination of facts and research as well as real life experiences and personal stories.[11]

Topics covered ranged from racism on Facebook, to a neuroscientist's view on information overload, to a piece by performance artist Marina Abramović which involved an audience sitting in total silence wearing noise-canceling headphones for 30 minutes before a live performance of J.S. Bach's The Goldberg Variations.[8][12]

History

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Zomorodi has worked as a journalist for 20 years, and before joining WNYC, she reported for Reuters and the British Broadcasting Corporation. While working for the British Broadcasting Corporation, Zomorodi lived in Berlin for two years.[8]

Note to Self debuted on September 10, 2012 under the name New Tech City. [5]

On May 27, 2015 New Tech City changed its name to Note to Self, in response to listener suggestions. The name was inspired by the audience communicating to Zomorodi that they listen to the show because they are interested in the "purposeful use of technology."[13]

Zomorodi released a book entitled "Bored and Brilliant: How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Productive and Creative Self" with St. Martin's Press in September 2017.[14] Based on a series of episodes of Note to Self from 2015, the book expands on the benefits of removing distractions to increase well-being and stimulate creativity, and includes feedback from listener responses to the podcast.[15][14]

Zomorodi left the show in April 2018 to launch a new cryptocurrency supported podcast that was not affiliated with WNYC.[16]

Awards

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Award Year Category Result Ref.
Academy of Podcasters 2017 Technology Won [17]
iHeartRadio Podcast Awards 2019 Best Science & Tech Podcast Nominated [18]

References

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  1. ^ Copage, Eric V. (2015-11-24). "Josh Robin and Manoush Zomorodi Find Balance in Technology and Teamwork". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-02-05.
  2. ^ "18 Best Podcasts for Entrepreneurs in 2016 | P2Binvestor". 2016-05-05. Retrieved 2016-08-30.
  3. ^ "These are the best podcasts you should be listening to right now". Retrieved 2016-08-30.
  4. ^ "15 questions with Manoush Zomorodi - CNNMoney". CNNMoney. Retrieved 2016-02-05.
  5. ^ a b "WNYC Radio — WNYC just launched New Tech City, a weekly..." WNYC Radio. September 2012. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
  6. ^ "Note to self: WNYC's tech podcast has a new name and it's Note to Self". Poynter. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 2016-04-20.
  7. ^ "Note to Self | WNYC". WNYC. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
  8. ^ a b c "15 questions with Manoush Zomorodi - CNNMoney". CNNMoney. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
  9. ^ "Inside Infomagical, Note to Self's crowdsourcing project to find out how people deal with information overload". 2016-07-04. Retrieved 2016-08-30.
  10. ^ "The Challenge of Managing Media for Your Kids". 2016-05-23. Retrieved 2016-08-30.
  11. ^ Henry, Alan (6 June 2016). "What Space Is Really Like, Using Algorithms to Improve Your Life, and Some Beautiful Natural Spaces". Retrieved 2016-08-30.
  12. ^ "Possibly the best way to listen to music: First listen to silence". CNET. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
  13. ^ "Note to self: WNYC's tech podcast has a new name and it's Note to Self". Poynter. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
  14. ^ a b "Bored and Brilliant: How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Productive and Creative Self". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2018-03-08.
  15. ^ "Book – Manoush Zomorodi". Retrieved 2018-03-08.
  16. ^ Peiser, Jaclyn (16 September 2018). "They Left Public Radio to Try Their Fortunes on the Blockchain". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-12-23.
  17. ^ "Academy of Podcasters: Past Winners". Academy of Podcasters. Podcast Movement. Archived from the original on October 3, 2017.
  18. ^ "iHeartRadio Podcast Awards: See The Full List of Nominees". iHeart. 22 October 2018. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
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