Consider This from NPR
Episode: The Sound of Dad
Air Date: February 6, 2026
Host: Juana Summers
Featured Contributor: Bob Mondello (NPR Film Critic)
Episode Overview
This episode diverges from the usual major headlines to deliver a personal, reflective story. NPR’s film critic Bob Mondello embarks on a poignant journey to rediscover the voice of his late father—an exploration sparked by a period film about the power of recorded sound. Through the lens of technological history and a deeply personal quest, the episode meditates on memory, loss, and the persistent resonance of a loved one's voice.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Power of Recorded Sound—and Its History
[01:38 – 04:25]
- Bob Mondello is inspired by watching The History of Sound, a drama set in 1919 featuring two young men capturing folk songs on early recording devices.
- The technological marvel of preserving voices—once only ephemeral—is explored. Mondello provides a short history lesson:
- The first attempts to capture sound were by a Frenchman in the 1850s, scratching lines onto soot-covered paper (not meant for playback).
- Thomas Edison, in 1877, advanced to recording on tinfoil and envisioned the technology for music and memory.
- By 1919, recordings were made on wax cylinders, leading up to the fictional events in the film and coincidentally the year Mondello’s own father was born.
"A discovery that would give eternal life to accents, inflections, the tiny specifics that make each voice unique."
— Bob Mondello [03:52]
2. The Personal Loss—and the Desire to Hear His Father Again
[04:25 – 06:18]
- Mondello laments never recording his own father, who died in 2007, before smartphone ubiquity.
- The only remnant was a brief, frail voicemail: “Bobby, this is your father.” He lost even that after a workplace phone system upgrade.
- The film’s climax—a character locating a decades-old recording of his deceased partner—hits Mondello hard, making him wish for the same closure.
"As I was choking up, I couldn't help wishing that my dad's story had had a coda like that."
— Bob Mondello [06:42]
3. A Rediscovered Voice Through Public Archives
[06:42 – 09:39]
- A friend reminds Mondello that his father, a government lawyer, once argued before the Supreme Court—where oral arguments have been recorded since the 1950s.
- After an archive search, Mondello finds not only a record but a recording of his father presenting a case in 1960.
- Memories flood back: Mondello describes his father’s attire for the court (morning dress), juxtaposed with the thrill and poignancy of hearing his dad's 43-year-old, confident, Bronx-tinged voice again after decades.
"He didn't sound fragile or halting. He sounded young and assured with a touch of the Bronx I didn't remember from later."
— Bob Mondello [08:29]
- The case was ultimately unsuccessful, but the significance lies in reviving a vibrant sliver of his father—his inflections, energy, and intelligence.
"I had missed that voice more than I knew, being able to hear him again, young him, a gift from Edison and that French guy and all the folks after them who perfected the recording process that's allowing me to talk to you right now."
— Bob Mondello [09:11]
Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments
- On the Film’s Emotional Impact:
"So a scene in The History of Sound caught me up short…to fully explain why, I have to talk about the end of the film."
— Bob Mondello [06:04]
- On Recorded Sound as a Gift:
"It seems a gift."
— Interviewer (as David) [06:20]
"So David sings to Lionel the song Lionel first sang to him."
— Bob Mondello [06:32]
- On the Rediscovered Supreme Court Recording:
“There was my dad.”
— Bob Mondello [08:20]
- Justice Hugo Black’s Compliment:
“Mondello, I want to add to know that I think you made a good argument, although I've been trying to say that you have a number of difficulties in your way. It's, it's a difficult case.”
— Justice Black [08:44]
Important Segment Timestamps
- Introduction of Main Story: [01:38]
- The History and Marvel of Recording Sound: [02:55 – 04:25]
- Personal Regret at Not Recording His Father: [04:25 – 06:18]
- Film Spoiler – The Gift of a Lost Voice: [06:18 – 06:42]
- Researching His Father’s Public Recordings: [07:21 – 08:19]
- Hearing the Past – The Supreme Court Tape: [08:20 – 09:39]
Tone and Style
The episode’s tone is poignant, introspective, and quietly celebratory of both technological advancement and personal connection. Mondello’s narrative is conversational, sometimes self-deprecating (“I feel stupid about that now”), and imbued with gentle nostalgia and gratitude.
Summary
By weaving together the evolution of sound recording, a touching episode from his own life, and a moving scene from cinema, Bob Mondello’s story illustrates how the ability to preserve voices transcends mere technology. It becomes a vessel for memory, connection, and solace. The rediscovery of his father’s voice—in its youthful strength—serves as both a personal catharsis and a reminder of the priceless gifts made possible by those who first captured the sound of loved ones for posterity.