Laura Garbes

Laura Garbes examines how racial ideologies and technological shifts shape who gets heard in the world of audio production. Through studies of public radio and audiobook publishing, Professor Garbes investigates how whiteness, technological advancements, and institutional practices may marginalize or amplify the voices and perspectives of audio workers. Industry standards around “good” and “appropriate” voices often reproduce racial hierarchies, while audio workers use creativity and resistance to expand who counts as authoritative, trustworthy, and worth listening to.