Imagine gaining the ability to hear the thoughts and stories of your fellow train passengers, all without uttering a single word. With this podcast, you can do just that: sit back, plug in your earbuds, and meet the girl across from you perfecting her makeup, the man who enforces silence in the "stilte-coupe", and many others.
The Dutch Railways (the NS) commissioned me to explore innovative ways to improve the train travel experience. I noticed that many passengers often shield themselves with their phones, so I thought about using that medium to connect them with their fellow commuters. This led to the idea of a podcast series for train commuters, offering listeners an intimate glimpse into the lives of those we travel with.
Each episode of "Heen en Weer" (Back and Forth) is designed to match the length of a short commute, making it a perfect companion for your daily travels. By interviewing archetypes such as the girl putting on makeup, the civil servant with the foldable bike, and the game-absorbed traveler, listeners can easily imagine these interviews as if they were with the very people they see around them.
As a proof of concept, I brought this idea to life. How? I ran through trains, looking for people to interview, set up audio equipment, conducted interviews, and spent quite some time on audio editing. With no prior podcast or audio experience, doing this all by myself was... quite a ride. Curious about the result? Grab your headphones, hop on the train, and discover the lives of your fellow commuters with "Heen en Weer."
