APAP Podcast Story Submissions

Submit your story idea to the ARTS. WORK. LIFE. podcast.

Season 4 arrives in Summer 2025.
INTRODUCTION

ARTS. WORK. LIFE. is an award-winning podcast from APAP that amplifies the bold, untold stories from performing arts workers like YOU.

The podcast is comprised of first-person narratives about a personal experience related to life working in the performing arts.

AWL is produced by the Association of Performing Arts Professionals with the support of the Wallace Foundation. The podcast has received a bronze Anthem Award (A Webby), and it won Gold for Best Podcast at the Association Trends "Trendy" Awards.

You can listen to Season 1, 2, and 3 on your favorite podcast app.

Do you have a story to tell? We want to hear it! Our stories matter.

The Season 4 submission deadline has passed. You are welcome to submit a story idea for future consideration.
HOW TO SUBMIT:

We're looking for story ideas that:
- Are personal and center your experience.
- Reflect an aspect of working in the performing arts.
- Share the story from behind-the-scenes. (We especially want to hear from presenters, agents, producers, and managers.)
- Are relevant in 2025.
- Provide a story or a perspective that we haven't heard before.
We are not interested in stories that:
- Lack a personal story.
- Don't provide a perspective what it's like to work in the performing arts.
- Are overly self-promotional.
- Are submitted by a third party, unless done so as a matter of accessibility.
- Use language that can be interpreted as false or defamatory, profane or indecent, sacrilegious, a form of hate speech, directed at an individual or a group, or otherwise scandal provoking.
Need more ideas? The best stories are about a specific experience you had that shifted your perspective. .
- Have you personally tackled a tough industry issue or an issue that effects your work?
- What does a day-in-the-life at your job look like?
- Have you faced a challenge and overcome it? Or have you taken a risk that paid off?
- Do you have an inspiring or thought-provoking story about your life as an arts worker that you’d like to share?
- Do you have an experience that is especially relevant in 2025?
If your story is selected:
- A professional storyteller will interview you and help you find the best way to tell your story.
- A professional podcaster will help you record your story. (No audio equipment or audio experience necessary!)
- For your recorded and aired story, you will receive an honorarium of $200.
VERY IMPORTANT: Story ideas do NOT need to be fully-written pieces. We are looking for the seed of the story. Please help us understand your story and what might be compelling for listeners to hear by answering the questions below.

ALSO: Please send this form to other performing arts workers in your network! This is a great opportunity for colleagues to share stories of their unique, lived experiences about working in the arts.

We are currently accepting submissions for Season 4. The priority deadline is March 20, 2025. The final deadline is April 10, 2025.

Have questions or need assistance submitting your story? Contact us at podcast@apap365.org.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST!

You can listen to and follow the podcast by searching "ARTS. WORK. LIFE." on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, or your favorite podcast app!

Season 1, 2, and 3 are out, and episodes are available to listen to forever!
SUBMIT YOUR STORY IDEA BELOW

Please complete the following form to make your submission.

* indicates a required field
Name**

First NameLast Name
Location**

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province/Country (if not U.S. or Canada)

Postal / Zip Code
Email**
example@example.com
Phone Number*
Please enter a valid phone number.
How would you describe your work or what you do in the performing arts?**
You can put a title here or briefly describe what you do.
Do you work for an organization? Do you work for yourself? Or something else?**
If you work for an organization, put their name here.
For the open-ended questions below, you may submit a written answer OR submit an audio or video file by including a link to that file under each question.

(Audio and video files are just to give you another option if you prefer to express yourself out loud rather than in writing. Audio and video will not be used for the podcast itself. You may be the same file for all questions. Please be sure to make sure the file is accessible to anyone with the link.)
Tell us a brief version of your story. (150-500 words OR 2 mins or less if providing audio/video) *
What happened? Was there a conflict? Was there a turning point? Was there a resolution? How did the events make you feel at that moment? How do you feel now?
When and where did this story take place?*
Give us a sense of the environment/scene where the main events and realizations took place.
What makes this story compelling?*
Tell us what you think will resonate with listeners and capture their attention.
What makes your story relevant in 2025?*
Tell us why your story is timely and important for people to hear right now.
In a few words, what kind of workforce, workplace, work culture or other worker-related issue does this story involve?*
Would you be interested in participating in a new "Day In The Life" feature which would involve you recording yourself as you go through your day?

YesNo
If you answered YES above, tell us about what your day involves (where do you go? what do you do? with whom do you engage?) and most importantly, what sounds are there to capture?
Feel free to add any details you think would make a good "Day in the Life" story.
If you answered YES above, are you comfortable recording yourself throughout your workday?

YesNoNot interestedOther
Is there any other information you'd like to add to your submission?
Share anything else that you'd like us to know about you/your story.
Are you a member of APAP?**

YesNoNot sure
Have you subscribed to "ARTS. WORK. LIFE." on your favorite podcast app?* (If not, do it now!)*

YesNoNot sure
How did you hear about ARTS. WORK. LIFE.?*

APAP emailA friend or colleagueFacebookLinkedInInstagramOther
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

Please provide the optional demographic information and submit your form below.
What best describes your current work status?*

Full-time employedPart-time employedGig workerSelf-employed or business ownerUnemployedRetiredPrefer not to answerOther
What is your age?*

18-2425-3435-4445-5455-6465+Prefer not to answer
What is your gender identity and orientation? (Select all that apply.)*

Agender/non-binaryCis-gender femaleCis-gender maleGender variant/non-conformingTransgender femaleTransgender maleStraight/HeterosexualGay or LesbianBisexualPansexualQueerPrefer not to answerI prefer to self-describe
What is your racial/ethnic identity? (Select all that apply.)*

AsianBlackLatinXNative/IndigenousPacific IslanderWhitePrefer not to answerOther
Do you have any of the following disabilities? (Select all that apply.)*

I am deaf or have difficulty hearing.I am blind or have serious difficulty seeing, even with corrective lenses.I use a wheelchair.I have another physical disability that limits my movement.I have a mental disability.I have none of the disabilities listed.Prefer not to answer.Other
In what disciplines do you work? (Select all that apply.)*

DanceMusicTheaterMultidisciplinaryOther
Describe the genre(s) in which you work. (Put N/A if doesn't apply.)*
Will you be attending the APAP|NYC 2026 conference (January 10-14, 2025)?*

YesNoOther
Thank you for filling out this form. Click SUBMIT below to complete your submission!
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Submit your story idea to the ARTS. WORK. LIFE. podcast.