Story Building Tools: Characters in Podcasting

Every podcast tells a story. What story are you telling and why listeners will care? A character is a person, animal, being, creature, place, or idea within a story. Their motivation and decisions affect other characters and the narrative arc.

What is a Character?

A character is a person, animal, being, creature, place, or idea within a story. Their motivation and decisions affect other characters and the narrative arc. Anyone who is on a podcast, can be considered a character, even if they are playing themselves. By understanding the different characters types, you can create a more dynamic and entertaining podcast.

The Narrator

Narrator: Guide to the audience. Is separate from the plot but may have full awareness of the plot and characters’ thoughts and motives.

Has knowledge that the audience doesn’t have, but doesn’t reveal it all at once.
Does not have to be neutral or clear from the beginning.
Other character types may double as the narrator.
In a podcast, usually the host(s) or guest.

The Protagonist

Protagonist: The leading figure. Central to the story and makes key decisions, that propels the story forward.

Relatable and resonates well with the audience.
Possesses strengths and encounters comparable challenges.
Possesses flaws and grows from their mistakes.
Does not need to be ‘good’. Can be an antihero/heroine or villain protagonist, as long as they have the audience’s sympathy.
Is not necessarily the first character introduced.
Some stories may introduce a ‘false protagonist’ that is later revealed to be a tertiary or antagonist character.
Does not need the most time on stage.
Does not have to be a singular person. Sometimes it can be a group, society, idea, or separate individuals tied together by a common theme or conflict.
In a podcast, can be the host(s), guest, topic, or audience.

The Antagonist

Antagonist: The primary enemy of the protagonist. They actively oppose or are hostile towards the protagonist.

Relatable, though their motive is not always clear.
Some antagonists are so evil, that the hate the audience feels for them is enough to drive the story.
Some antagonists have positive traits. The interest and hope for change that the audience feels for them is enough to drive the story.
Does not have to be a singular person. Sometimes it can be a group, society, idea, or multiple individuals tied together by their opposition to the protagonist.
In a podcast, can be the host(s), guest, topic, or audience.

The Goal

The Goal: A character that is of interest or the main focus of the protagonist.

Motivates the protagonist by love, success, friendship, mystery, etc.
Usually ideal to the protagonist, but not always to the audience.
Often static, but can be dynamic.
Can easily evolve into a different type of character.
In a podcast, usually not the host or guest.

The Confidant

Confidant: A friend or supporter of the protagonist, whose goals are aligned with the protagonist’s goals, but does not always make aligned decisions.

Motivation may be the same as the protagonist’s, but does not have to make the same decisions.
Often static and meant to support the protagonist.
Background or motivation should be explained in the beginning or revealed throughout the story.
A false confidant will make decisions that appear to support the protagonist, but is either working against the protagonist or has a conflicting motivation.
In a podcast, may be the host or guest speaking in support of the protagonist. Or may be be talked about by the host or guest.

The Deuteragonist

Deuteragonist: A friend of the protagonist, but has different goals and may have their own character arc.

May evolve into a protagonist.
Almost always a dynamic character.
In a podcast, a host, guest or topic that helps drive the story, but is not the most important character.

The Foil

Foil: A character with polar opposite traits as the protagonist.

Meant to bring out the characteristics, strengths and weaknesses of the protagonist.
Not necessarily good or evil.
Not necessarily against the protagonist.
In a podcast, can be a host or guest that helps to highlight something in another host or guest.

Tertiary Characters

Brooks Hatlen plays a Tertiary character in The Shawshank Redemption

Tertiary Characters: exist in the story but do not necessarily affect any other characters.

Are almost always static.
A way to show not tell important details about other characters.
How other characters treat or react to tertiary characters can reveal a lot about them or the narrative arc.
Often stereotypes that the audience will understand, so not much detail needs to go into the character (Bartender, police officer, priest, child).
May be the narrator observing ‘more important’ characters.

What is a Character Arc?

A character arc is the path a character takes over the course of a story. Main characters are dynamic and change throughout their arc. Supporting characters are often static and only support the main characters’ arcs.

Here are the essential character types based on Christopher Booker’s book, The Seven Basic Plots: Why we tell stories:

Overcoming the monster: The main character must stop the person or force threatening them. Example: Dracula by Bram Stoker.

Rags to riches: The main character begins poor, comes into money (and/or fame, power, and love), loses it, and becomes a better person because of it. Example: Great Expectations by Charles Dickens.

The quest: The main character takes an epic journey to find something, someone, or some place, running into obstacles on the way. Example: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Voyage and return: The main character visits a new world and returns home with a new perspective. Example: Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.

Comedy: The main character experiences an escalating sequence of confusing but comedic events, which are ultimately resolved into a happy ending. Example: A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Shakespeare.

Tragedy: The main character has a flaw or makes a mistake that results in their downfall. Example: Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare.

Rebirth: The main character experiences an event that makes them a better person. Example: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

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