ears" /> about the sound of young america
The Sound of Young America is a public radio show about things that are awesome. Each week on the show, host Jesse Thorn, "America's Radio Sweetheart," hosts in-depth discussions with personalities from the world of entertainment & the arts. Think of it like Conan O'Brien on public radio, or "Fresh Air," but more fun.

The program is carried on public radio stations around the country, and was the first public radio program west of the Mississippi to podcast. It has received plaudits from publications like Time Magazine (which called it "Pick of the Podcasts") and Salon.com (which wrote "If you've never heard The Sound of Young America, then The Sound of Young America is the greatest radio show you've never heard."). It also was honored as a "classic" podcast in iTunes Best of 2007. Since July of 2007, the show has been distributed by Public Radio International.

We also produce several podcast-only programs, including The Kasper Hauser Comedy Podcast (a weekly sketch comedy series), Coyle & Sharpe: The Imposters, The College Years (which highlights the Young America archives) and Jordan, Jesse GO!, a comedy talk show.


your host
Jesse Thorn, 26, is the host and producer of The Sound of Young America. Thorn's radio experience includes a two-year stint as news director of KZSC, and time as the host of a contemporary soul music program. A graduate of UCSC, Thorn gained his degree in American Studies, with a focus on expressive cultures.

Before entering UCSC, Thorn, a San Francisco native, spent four years studying theater at School of the Arts in that city. He currently writes and performs with the sketch comedy group Prank the Dean. In his free time, he enjoys listening to hip-hop and classic soul and cracking wise.


contact
All these contacts go directly to me, Jesse, and I love to hear from you.

by email: jesse@maximumfun.org
by telephone: 206-984-4FUN
via snail mail: 720 S. Normandie Ave. #512 / LA CA 90005
Get our monthly email updates
on myspace
Frappr Map
Facebook Group


internships
If you're interested in working with The Sound of Young America as a student intern, we offer internships year-round at our office in Los Angeles. Students work directly in the production of The Sound of Young America. More information and application deadlines are available here.


advertising & services
If you're interested in supporting the production of The Sound of Young America and gaining valuable exposure for your enterprise, consider underwriting the program or advertising on our website. Inquiries are handled on a case-by-case basis; email Jesse with details about your business and objectives for more information.

If you're interested partnering with Jesse to produce your corporate or informational podcast, in having Jesse provide your enterprise with audio production training or advice, or in hiring Jesse for voicing or narration work, that's great. Email him with information on your project.


press
Esquire (09/07) Part of the Esquire 100 feature: "Finally, a public radio show that's specifically designed not for the kind of people who carry around canvas NPR tote bags. The hour you'll spend listening to host Jesse Thorn interview guests with youthful humor and enthusiasm won't feel like a civic duty".

Santa Cruz Sentinel Profile (April 2005) Wallace Baine wrote this piece which I think totally "gets" the show and is really wonderful. A lot of background on the show, with a sort of David & Goliath angle. I understand it made the rounds at NPR.

Salon.com's Audiofile (11/05) This is the most laudatory article ever on the show, and it was in Salon! I flipped out when I heard about it.

Time Magazine (6/06) "Pick of the Podcasts"

Wall Street Journal (7/06) This piece focuses on our blog, rather than the podcast. A very nice writeup.

TSOYA in PC Magazine (10/07) PC Magazine name TSOYA as one of their five favorite podcasts for 2007.

Filmmaker Magazine (08/07) The Super 8: Eight things that will keep you in the know.

MediaBistro's FishBowl LA (07/07) Described TSOYA as Terry Gross on Mescaline.

The Long Island Press (05/07) Interview with Mo Ibrahim of the Long Island Press.

Various (04/07) Various interviews featuring TSOYA including "Moldawer in the Morning" podcast and talking with Megan Berru in The Coming.

Metro Santa Cruz (8/06) I wrote this one -- it's excerpts from my 12,000 page memoir. Focuses on "The Santa Cruz Years."

Montreal Mirror (6/06) A nice little look at the show from Montreal's alternative paper.

Stay Free! Magazine (5/06) Joe Garden of The Onion picks TSOYA as an "essential" podcast.

Interview on Small World Podcast Lots of background and perspective. Basically me running my mouth.

Podcasting Piece in the Santa Cruz Sentinel Remember when you couldn't turn around without whacking your nose on an article about podcasting?

Extensive Interview on JustAsLoude.org (6/05) This is a listener's blog -- a pretty exhaustive review of where the show stood at the time, not to different from where it stands now.

The Philadelphia City Paper (4/06) A writeup from a Philadelphia comedian and comedy enthusiast.

The Python Clip on DailyLlama (3/06)

Another cool write-up in Salon (3/06)

The New Sincerity hits the Metro Santa Cruz (3/06)

Same sort of deal in the Santa Cruz Good Times

A Mention of the Sound in the Metro Santa Cruz (5/05)

Review of The Sound of Young America in Vox Monitor
"One Hundred Novelties, invented, planned, and performed only by himself; including the most wonderful and startling illusion, entitled the cataleptic couch."