Dr. Helen Wolfenden

Biography

Helen Wolfenden is a Senior Lecturer in Radio at Macquarie University. Prior to joining Macquarie, she taught radio and podcasting journalism at Salford University and the University of the West of Scotland in the UK. She spent part of her professional life as a radio broadcaster, working as a presenter, producer, manager, and researcher for organizations like ABC and BBC. Helen's research is centered around spoken word audio, with her PhD investigating how ABC radio presenters construct their on-air identity and the authenticity of performance. Her work also addresses the emergence of online streaming during pandemic lockdowns. She has co-published audio works inspired by German philosopher Günther Anders, contributing to a collection of essays on the moral dimensions of humor. Helen's research interests extend to the cultural shift in audio, particularly the exponential growth of podcasts and audiobooks, exploring how these media form a means of human communication. She consistently merges her professional and academic knowledge to enrich her teaching and research within this evolving field.

Research Interests