Article: Go "Behind the Voice" with Sean Aronson

[Sarah]

“Babies for everyone!” was one of St. Paul Saints broadcaster Sean Aronson’s more memorable calls during the 2016 season. (It referred to a hitting tear Saints third baseman Nate Hanson went on after returning to the lineup following the birth of his child.) Throughout the year, sports fans let a few dulcet-toned folks into their lives on a daily basis to bring them the sights and sounds of their favorite pastime. Did you ever wonder who these people are when the headsets are off? Aronson does, and he brings their stories to life with his podcast “The Voice Behind the Voice.”With nearly 40 episodes since beginning earlier this year, the hour-long chats feature broadcasters from all four major professional sports and some NCAA Division I programs. Past guests have included Buck Martinez of the Toronto Blue Jays and Bob Davis of the Kansas Jayhawks, as well as local guys such as Cory Provus and Mike Grimm.

 

Aronson says he got the idea from his friend Jamie Flam, a booker at the Hollywood Improv, after he created a podcast titled “The Gatekeeper,” in which Flam takes listeners behind the scenes of his industry. J.W. Cox, the Saints broadcast assistant, helps him with the technical side, and another co-worker designed the logo. He pays a small monthly fee to a podcast service, which distributes each episode to iTunes and other platforms.

 

He only does interviews in person so his guest list depends on who comes to town or where he may be visiting. “So far I’ve had about an 85% success rate for the interviews I’ve requested,” says the Southern California native who called his 1,000^th game for the Saints in September and was recently named Minor League Broadcaster of the Year by Ballpark Digest. “Most of the declines are due to time constraints or travel schedules. Yes, I have tried to get Joe Buck – haven’t heard back from Fox on that one. I would also love to get female announcers but there aren’t that many out there. I’m really focusing on play-by-play, not color commentators or sideline reporters.”

 

More than other sports, baseball’s leisurely pace dictates that announcers must have plenty of content to fill sometimes lengthy games. This seems to fit in with Aronson’s approach to his podcast – he estimates spending at least a couple of hours to research each guest and doesn’t shy away from controversial topics, such as his talk with Dave Sims about being one of the few African-American broadcasters in Major League Baseball.

 

“These podcasts are unedited and I’ve never had anyone place any kind of parameters on what I can ask them,” he says. “But I’m not TMZ and don’t have any ‘gotcha’ questions. Everyone has a story and I simply appreciate my guests letting me share theirs.” One of his more memorable moments came when he asked Vikings broadcaster Paul Allen if he ever thought about what he would say when announcing a Minnesota Super Bowl victory. “To my surprise, he said ‘Yes I have, and here it is.’” (You’ll have to listen to the podcast to hear Allen’s response – it’s episode #6.)

 

 

So who is Sean Aronson, the voice behind the quirky, beloved independent team across the river? “I’m a minor league guy who grew up listening to Vin Scully and have known this is what I’ve wanted to do since I was seven years old. Would I like to get to the major leagues? Of course I would. But I can honestly say I am living my dream.”

 

Be sure to listen to all of Sean's episodes of "The Voice Behind The Voice."

 

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[Seth Stohs]

https://thevoicebtv.libsyn.com/page/1/size/15

 

A couple of my favorites are the Cory Provus and Dick Bremer interviews. I also liked the Jack Michaels one, in large part because I do radio with him in Fargo from time to time.

 

I encourage people to take a look at the link and see if any of them might be interesting to you. 

[theBOMisthebomb]

The Paul Allen episode is brilliant, give it a listen.

[Thrylos]

Sorry folks, other than the Minnesota part and that the Saints is an independent league baseball team,  I have no idea what this has to do with the Minnesota Twins.

 

Please enlighten me.

[Sarah]

Thrylos, he has interviewed both Cory Provus and Dick Bremer (as well as Ted Robinson, former Twins announcer). They are all great interviews especially the Bremer one - he brings up some stuff I never knew and I've been watching Dick Bremer on Twins broadcasts my whole life. It would be cool if he could get Pat Hughes at some point since he was a Twins announcer way back when. But I'm guessing he's a little busy right now considering he just called the Cubs first World Series victory since 1908! 

[Mr. Brooks]

Sorry folks, other than the Minnesota part and that the Saints is an independent league baseball team, I have no idea what this has to do with the Minnesota Twins.

 

Please enlighten me.

This is the other baseball forum.

[TheLeviathan]

 

The Paul Allen episode is brilliant, give it a listen.

 

Whelp, found a way to like him less.

 

Didn't think that was possible.

[theBOMisthebomb]

Whelp, found a way to like him less.

 

Didn't think that was possible.

PA is the only KFAN host I can stomach on a consistent basis. Maybe because he is the only one who really talks sports routinely. The interview with Aronson was enthralling.

 

Now, the Bremer interview was insufferable. Dick's stories about his hometown are even more overwrought and painful to listen to when Dick is given time to add details.

[TheLeviathan]

PA is the only KFAN host I can stomach on a consistent basis. Maybe because he is the only one who really talks sports routinely. The interview with Aronson was enthralling.

Now, the Bremer interview was insufferable. Dick's stories about his hometown are even more overwrought and painful to listen to when Dick is given time to add details.

I have concluded you are PA's mother. Only conclusion I can use to make sense of this post.

 

Edited December 12, 2016 by TheLeviathan

[theBOMisthebomb]

No, I am dating PA's mother.

[TheLeviathan]

 

No, I am dating PA's mother.

 

Well played.