Audio Talks

with Dr. Sean Olive In this episode of Audio Talks, host Oisín Lunny sits down with Sean Olive, former Senior Fellow at HARMAN and one of the most influential figures in modern audio research. Known for his groundbreaking work on the HARMAN Sound Curve, Sean has helped elevate the entire industry’s understanding of sound quality - bridging the gap between how we hear and how we measure sound. From struggling with poor recordings of his own piano recitals and jazz orchestrations to his mentorship under audio legend Dr. Floyd Toole and leadership as President of the Audio Engineering Society, Sean’s mission has always been to transform the way we experience sound. Here, he shares the personal and professional journey that led him to reshape how we think about listener preferences, headphone equalization, and predictive modeling of sound quality. Check out the latest AKG headphones: https://uk.akg.com/ Learn more about the Audio Engineering Society here: https://aes2.org/ Look out for the upcoming fourth edition of Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers, Rooms and Headphones here: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9781003477495/sound-reproduction-floyd-toole-sean-olive-todd-welti For Sean's upcoming keynote at the 2025 AES International Conference on Headphone Technology visit:https://aes2.org/event-extra/2025-aes-international-conference-on-headphone-technology-program/ Our Audio Talks Playlist: https://listen.tidal.com/playlist/6d14f4ad-f1c7-404d-ba82-fe8d0a320b93 Make sure to follow us on Social Media and visit our Art of Listening website to get a full view on how HARMAN helps people get the most out of each moment they spend listening: Instagram @audiotalkspodcast Instagram @HARMANintl Twitter @HARMANintl Facebook @HARMANint LinkedIn @HARMAN International https://artoflistening.harman.com/

with Carsten Olesen and Guy Hammett In this episode of Audio Talks, host Oisin Lunny explores the rich history and exciting future of portable audio with Carsten Olesen from Harman International and Guy Hammett from Futuresource Consulting. From the vinyl Dansettes of the 1950s to today’s AI-enhanced Bluetooth speakers, the conversation traces the cultural, emotional, and technological evolution of music on the move. The guests discuss pivotal innovations like the JBL Flip and JBL Charge series, the rise of rugged party speakers, and the transformative potential of Bluetooth LE and Auracast. With personal stories, industry insights, and a look at what’s next, this episode is a celebration of how portable audio continues to shape our lives. ---------------------------------------- Check out the latest JBL reviews from WhatHifi?: JBL Flip 7: https://www.whathifi.com/speakers/wireless-speakers/jbl-flip-7 JBL Charge 6: https://www.whathifi.com/speakers/wireless-speakers/jbl-charge-6 Our Audio Talks Playlist: https://listen.tidal.com/playlist/6d14f4ad-f1c7-404d-ba82-fe8d0a320b93 Make sure to follow us on Social Media and visit our Art of Listening website to get a full view on how HARMAN helps people get the most out of each moment they spend listening: Instagram @audiotalkspodcast Instagram @HARMANintl Twitter @HARMANintl Facebook @HARMANint LinkedIn @HARMAN International https://artoflistening.harman.com/

with David Seubert and Gerald Seligman In this episode of Audio Talks, host Oisin Lunny engages with audio preservation experts David Seubert and Gerald Seligman to discuss the critical importance of preserving master recordings and audio heritage. They explore the devastating impact of the 2008 Universal Fire at Universal Studios, which destroyed countless irreplaceable recordings, and the broader implications for music history and cultural memory. The conversation delves into the challenges faced by both public institutions and commercial record labels in preserving audio, the fragility of audio heritage, the role of technology in restoration efforts, and how listeners can contribute to preserving sound history. ---------------------------------------- Listen to the broadcast recordings referenced in today's episode: Fountain Hughes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTdDuXvc1lI Winston Churchill: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkTw3_PmKtc Martin Luther King Jr.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdPGXmKmBZ0 Visit the Discography of American Historical Recordings here: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/ Visit the UCSB Cylinder Audio Archive here: https://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/index.php For Gerald Seligman's photography visit: https://vero.co/geraldseligman Our Audio Talks Playlist: https://listen.tidal.com/playlist/b0444612-f8b5-408c-bbb6-819df4a3f7cb Make sure to follow us on Social Media and visit our Art of Listening website to get a full view on how HARMAN helps people get the most out of each moment they spend listening: Instagram @audiotalkspodcast Instagram @HARMANintl Twitter @HARMANintl Facebook @HARMANint LinkedIn @HARMAN International https://artoflistening.harman.com/

with Claire O'Neill and Katy Templeman-Holmes In this extended episode of Audio Talks, we explore how the live events industry is rising to the challenge of the climate crisis. Recorded on Earth Day, Oisin Lunny discusses what a greener live music industry could look like with Claire O’Neill - CEO and Co-Founder of A Greener Future and Katy Templeman-Holmes - Senior Director of Product Strategy & Sustainability at Harman Professional. From cultural shifts across the live music industry, innovative solutions like Act 1.5, and the impact of power consumption, hear how everything from powerful collective action, food choices, and innovations in manufacturing are helping the industry reduce its carbon footprint and accelerate towards a greener future. ---------------------------------------- More about A Greener Future: Website: https://www.agreenerfuture.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agreenerfuture_/ More about Grid Faeries: https://www.gridfaeries.live More about Act 1.5: https://www.act1point5.org/ https://documents.manchester.ac.uk/display.aspx?DocID=75448 Our Audio Talks Playlist: https://listen.tidal.com/playlist/b0444612-f8b5-408c-bbb6-819df4a3f7cb Make sure to follow us on Social Media and visit our Art of Listening website to get a full view on how HARMAN helps people get the most out of each moment they spend listening: Instagram @audiotalkspodcast Instagram @HARMANintl Twitter @HARMANintl Facebook @HARMANint LinkedIn @HARMAN International https://artoflistening.harman.com/

with Linda Coogan Byrne and Vick Bain In this energy-loaded episode of Audio Talks, host Oisín Lunny is joined by two leading voices for change in the music industry: Linda Coogan Byrne, music publicist, DEI strategist, and author of Why Not Her?, and Vic Bain, music business consultant, academic, and founder of The F-List for Music. Together, they dive into deep-rooted gender inequalities in the industry, discuss latest data and share their personal journeys as activists, researchers, and change-makers. Tune in for a vivid conversation about resilience, representation, and rewriting the soundtrack of the future. ---------------------------------------- Vick Bain: https://vbain.co.uk [https://vbain.co.uk] The F-List Directory of UK Female+ Musicians: https://thef-listmusic.uk/ [https://thef-listmusic.uk/] Why Not Her: www.whynother.eu [http://www.whynother.eu] ---------------------------------------- Our Audio Talks Playlist: https://listen.tidal.com/playlist/b0444612-f8b5-408c-bbb6-819df4a3f7cb [https://listen.tidal.com/playlist/b0444612-f8b5-408c-bbb6-819df4a3f7cb] Make sure to follow us on Social Media and visit our Art of Listening website to get a full view on how HARMAN helps people get the most out of each moment they spend listening: Instagram @audiotalkspodcast Instagram @HARMANintl Twitter @HARMANintl Facebook @HARMANint LinkedIn @HARMAN https://artoflistening.harman.com/ [https://artoflistening.harman.com/]