Oh my God: The Audio Doc – listen here


For 18 years, I gathered recordings, engaged with people on street corners, and interviewed experts—all inspired by a simple question: “When was the last time you said, ‘Oh my God’?” Using this phrase as a lens, the documentary examines personal beliefs, religious convictions, and cultural perspectives. It’s a thought-provoking story of how my understanding of the phrase has been reshaped.

THANK YOU to each person willing to share their story with a guy carrying a microphone!

Special thanks to Dr. Melissa Mohr, Dr. Sali Tagliamonte, Ali Mullin, Heather Hildebrand and Dr. Gordon Matties for offering long-form interviews.

Written, produced and narrated by David Balzer
Story editing by Ibby Caputo
Theme music by Jordan Jackiew
Voice acting by Eric Boorman
Mixing assistance by Darryl Neustaedter Barg

Oh my God: The Audio Doc entered into BEA Festival of Media Arts

I just finished producing a 29-minute audio documentary. It’s the culmination of 18 years of collecting tape, engaging countless people on street corners, finding experts and asking one question: When was the last time you said, “Oh my God”?  It’s been a remarkable journey of personal discovery through interviews, editing, writing, sound design and mixing. My collaborations included a story editor, a local composer and an audio colleague for a final mix.

The story contains five “chapters” that probe the phrase’s use in everyday conversations, landing on a surprising ending. The piece’s uniqueness is found in how investigating one seemingly invisible yet ubiquitous phrase can become a catalyst for much larger considerations about how we live together in a world of differing views and convictions.

I just submitted the audio doc to the BEA Festival of the Arts, a large competition created by the Broadcast Education Association. I excited to receive feedback from peers!

I believe in story editors!

Her bio begins like this…”Ibby Caputo is an award-winning journalist based in the United Kingdom. She has reported on U.S. prisoners in Iran for the public radio show The World, on executions in Arkansas for Slate and on the gender pay gap for NPR and Boston Globe Magazine…”

A connection I made during my time at Duke University’s Center for Documentary Studies, prompted a cold call email to Ibby in April of 2023. The experience of collaborating with her over the past 17 months has been transformative for me as a storyteller and person. I’ve become convinced about a lot things over these months, but one thing is for sure, no creative work happens without collaboration. If you want to make something, find someone to join you. Thank you, Ibby, for nurturing the vision I have carried for more than 18 years with this material. Thanks for helping me find the story in it. So grateful.

Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University inspires!

Discovering the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University in North Carolina has propelled my project into its next phase!  From July 9-22, 2017 I spent two weeks collaborating with documentarians and basking in the creative mentorship of John Biewen–award-winning audio producer and Audrey Quinn–independent producer, journalist, and instructor at NYU’s School of Journalism.

These intense and creative interactions have honed the next phase of my project.  Over the next 18 months, I’ll be tracking down interviews, sifting through transcriptions and crafting a long-form audio documentary.

Short film finds its way into diverse audiences

From a university fall retreat, to a Friday night youth event in Morden, Manitoba, to a high school in Kitchener, Ontario, the short film is finding its way into diverse screening audiences.  As producer and director of the film, observing which elements of the film provoke and prod different audience segments is always a fascinating and privileged encounter.  What do international students from China living in Kitchener find compelling about the storyline?  What resonates with young adults attending university?  And why does the interview with a bride and groom just hours before their ceremony always prompt a knowing laugh?

Thanks to CMU Fall Retreat (Arnes, MB), Westside Community Church youth (Morden, MB) and Rockway Mennonite Collegiate (Kitchener, ON) for inviting these screenings.

Rockway Mennonite Collegiate (Kitchener, ON)

Rockway Mennonite Collegiate (Kitchener, ON)

Short film screens at McLuhan Conference

It was a true delight to screen the short film in a room full of McLuhan experts.  Among the audience were Marshall McLuhan’s son and grandson, Eric and Andrew McLuhan, the keynote speakers at the conference.  Probing the themes of the film with this remarkable group proved to be invigorating.

L to R: Jonas Cornelsen, Andrew McLuhan, Eric McLuhan, David Balzer

L to R: Jonas Cornelsen, Andrew McLuhan, Eric McLuhan, David Balzer