Radio Diaries
Radio Diaries is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1996 that produces unscripted audio documentaries for NPR and podcast platforms, serving general public radio listeners with first-person narratives and historical documentaries funded by grants and donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersBrooklyn, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Radio Diaries does
Radio Diaries is a 501(c)(3) non-profit media organization founded in 1996 by Joe Richman and based in Brooklyn, New York. It produces unscripted audio documentaries that are broadcast on NPR's All Things Considered and distributed through the Radiotopia podcast network from PRX, reaching 10 million or more listeners. The organization pioneered a citizen-journalism methodology in which individuals are given tape recorders to document their own lives, producing both first-person "diaries" and historical "histories" series such as Teenage Diaries, Mandela: An Audio History, Thembi's AIDS Diary, The Unmarked Graveyard, the Detained series, and Orson Welles and the Blind Soldier.
The core product is the Radio Diaries Podcast, a Peabody Award-winning audio documentary series, supplemented by educational materials and live storytelling workshops conducted with youth and seniors around the country. Distribution is handled through public-radio broadcast partnerships (NPR, BBC World Service, CBC, SABC), podcast platforms (Apple Podcasts), and the organization's own website. Documentaries are produced with internationally broadcast partners including the BBC, CBC, and SABC, and the organization has collaborated with ESPN's 30 for 30 on sports-related content.
Radio Diaries is funded by a combination of foundation grants (National Endowment for the Arts, Lily Auchincloss Foundation, Horace Goldsmith Foundation, New York State Council on the Arts, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, Two West Foundation, The Omer Foundation), individual donations through a Producers Circle membership program, and general listener contributions. The board includes prominent public-radio figures such as Ira Glass (This American Life), Jad Abumrad (Radiolab), and Jake Shapiro (Apple Podcasts), which underpins the organization's editorial relationships and distribution access. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the organization operates with a small team of approximately six named editorial staff.
Radio Diaries firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Radio Diaries
- Legal name
- Radio Diaries, Inc.
- Website
- https://radiodiaries.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Radio Diaries is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1996 that produces unscripted audio documentaries for NPR and podcast platforms, serving general public radio listeners with first-person narratives and historical documentaries funded by grants and donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Radio Diaries industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Audio Documentary Production
- NAICS
- Sound Recording Industries (5122)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Radio Content Production & Studios (On-air Production, Imaging, Jingles) (MPAIAEAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Audio Production & Podcasting (BPAFAIAE), Audio Learning Content (Podcasts, Audiobooks, Listening Programs) (EDAGALAM)
Keywords
Where Radio Diaries is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brooklyn
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Radio Diaries business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Radio Diaries is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that relies on donations from listeners and supporters. Donations are tax-deductible.
- Foundation and Government Grants: Receives funding from National Endowment for the Arts, Lily Auchincloss Foundation, New York State Council on the Arts, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, Two West Foundation, Horace Goldsmith Foundation, The Omer Foundation
- Producers Circle Membership: Monthly or annual giving program where supporters join the Producers Circle with contact through [email protected]
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Donation-based support |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Radio Diaries product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Radio Diaries is a Peabody Award-winning non-profit producer of unscripted audio documentaries for public radio. The organization gives individuals tape recorders to document their own lives, producing first-person diaries and historical documentaries that air on NPR's All Things Considered and are distributed through the Radio Diaries Podcast, Apple Podcasts, and the Radiotopia network from PRX. It also produces educational materials and conducts storytelling workshops with youth and seniors across the country.
Product overview
Radio Diaries is a Peabody Award-winning podcast producer and public radio documentary company. The core offering is the Radio Diaries Podcast featuring unscripted audio documentaries. The company produces two distinct genres of stories: diaries (first-person audio diaries from individuals documenting their lives) and histories (historical documentaries uncovering forgotten chapters of American history). Key product series include the award-winning Teenage Diaries, Thembi's AIDS Diary, Mandela: An Audio History, Teen Contender, The Unmarked Graveyard, Detained Series, Orson Welles and the Blind Soldier, and The Longest Game. The company also produces educational materials and provides live events and storytelling workshops with youth and seniors. Stories air regularly on NPR's All Things Considered and are distributed through the Radio Diaries Podcast, Apple Podcasts, and within the Radiotopia network from PRX.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Stories reach 10 million+ listeners through broadcast
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Radio Diaries
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Radio Diaries technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Radio Diaries partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- ESPN's 30 for 30minorCollaboration with ESPN's 30 for 30 documentary series on The Longest Game story about the longest professional baseball game in history.
- Radiotopia from PRXcoreRadio Diaries is a proud member of Radiotopia, a curated network of podcasts produced by PRX (Public Radio Exchange). This partnership provides distribution, promotion, and network credibility for their podcast content.
- NPR (National Public Radio)coreRadio Diaries has a dedicated broadcast home on NPR's All Things Considered, reaching 10 million listeners. Their work is featured within NPR's daily news coverage, giving their content added resonance and credibility.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Radio Diaries competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Reveal (Center for Investigative Reporting): Reveal is a public radio investigative journalism podcast distributed by PRX, producing long-form documentary audio. Comparable in distribution (Radiotopia/PRX ecosystem), public radio medium, and documentary editorial format, though broader in journalistic scope.
- This American Life: This American Life is a flagship WBEZ/Chicago public radio program and podcast that has featured Radio Diaries stories and shares the same editorial ecosystem. Comparable as a larger, broader-scope public radio narrative show; its founder Ira Glass sits on Radio Diaries' board.
- Serial Productions / The New York Times: Serial is a flagship narrative podcast brand now produced under The New York Times, with a comparable focus on serialized long-form audio storytelling. Comparable in narrative audio format and award-winning status, though operating on a commercial subscription-supported model.
- American Public Media (APM): APM is a major public radio content producer and distributor, parent of Marketplace and other flagship programs. Comparable in mission and public radio distribution model, though operating at a much larger scale with broader programming breadth.
Direct peers
- The Moth: The Moth is a non-profit storytelling organization producing a flagship podcast and live events centered on personal, true stories told in front of audiences. Closely comparable in mission, non-profit structure, public radio distribution, and live workshop programming.
- StoryCorps: StoryCorps is a 501(c)(3) oral history non-profit that records and broadcasts first-person audio stories on NPR, using a similar methodology of empowering individuals to document their own lives on tape. Most direct comparable: same funding model, distribution partner, and citizen-journalism approach.
- Radiolab: Radiolab is a WNYC-produced public radio podcast and show known for narrative-driven audio documentaries on science, history, and culture. Strongly comparable in public radio distribution, narrative audio format, and Peabody-tier editorial positioning; founded by a board member of Radio Diaries.
- Ear Hustle: Ear Hustle is a narrative podcast produced inside San Quentin State Prison, telling first-person stories of incarceration. Directly comparable to Radio Diaries' Prison Diaries series in subject matter, intimate documentary approach, and NPR distribution.
- Snap Judgment: Snap Judgment is a public radio storytelling show and podcast hosted by Glynn Washington, with a focus on personal narrative and audio documentaries. Comparable in format, public radio distribution, and storytelling-first editorial approach.
Others
- PRX (Public Radio Exchange): PRX is a public radio distribution platform and operator of the Radiotopia podcast network, of which Radio Diaries is a member. Functionally an infrastructure enable rather than direct competitor, but central to Radio Diaries' distribution and monetization.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Radio Diaries social profiles
Digital presenceRadio Diaries financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Radio Diaries leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Radio Diaries funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Radio Diaries M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Radio Diaries
What does Radio Diaries do?
Radio Diaries is a Peabody Award-winning non-profit producer of unscripted audio documentaries for public radio. The organization gives individuals tape recorders to document their own lives, producing first-person diaries and historical documentaries that air on NPR's All Things Considered and are distributed through the Radio Diaries Podcast, Apple Podcasts, and the Radiotopia network from PRX. It also produces educational materials and conducts storytelling workshops with youth and seniors across the country.
Is Radio Diaries a public or private company?
Radio Diaries is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Radio Diaries founded?
Radio Diaries was founded in 1996. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Radio Diaries based?
Radio Diaries is headquartered in Brooklyn, United States, in the North America region.
How does Radio Diaries make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are foundation and Government Grants and producers Circle Membership.
Who are Radio Diaries's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Reveal (Center for Investigative Reporting), This American Life, Serial Productions / The New York Times and American Public Media (APM). Direct peers are The Moth, StoryCorps, Radiolab, Ear Hustle and Snap Judgment. PRX (Public Radio Exchange) is listed as an others.
Does Radio Diaries have an API?
No public API is recorded for Radio Diaries.
What industry is Radio Diaries in?
Radio Diaries's product category is Audio Documentary Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAEAL, Radio Content Production & Studios (On-air Production, Imaging, Jingles), with a secondary code of BPAFAIAE, Audio Production & Podcasting. Its NAICS code is 5122 and its SIC code is 4832.