Brian Allison

Technical Director

Brian is a technical director with the media production team at Marketplace. His job is to make sure the shows get on the air and sound as good as they can.

Before coming to Marketplace in 2016, he was a freelance audio engineer with clients such as Nickelodeon, Disney and Los Lonely Boys. Prior to that, he worked as an engineer at Interscope Records in Los Angeles with artists such as Usher, Christina Aguilera, Black Eyed Peas and American Idol.

Brian graduated from Berklee College of Music in 2008 with a degree in music production and engineering.

Latest from Brian Allison

May 17, 2022
FDA takes more steps to mitigate baby formula shortage
Christopher Pearce/Getty Images
Help is on the way for the baby formula shortage, but it’s going to take some time. Plans are underway to reopen a plant in Michigan that, when it was in operation, was the largest formula producer in the United States. However, the process of restarting the plant and producing enough formula to start filling empty spaces on store shelves will take weeks upon weeks. A program that helps people pay for heating now has to pivot to concerns on the other side – air conditioning. We look into some of the dynamics behind condo prices, which remain high.
Read MoreDownload
May 17, 2022
How global threats can bring nations together
Getty Images
If the world is going to find solutions to its toughest problems, it’s going to need a new infrastructure that fosters cooperation among nations. That’s the argument made by Ian Bremmer, president of political-risk consultancy Eurasia Group, in his new book “The Power of Crisis.” We look into the driving forces behind consumer spending in the face of inflation and economic uncertainty.
Read MoreDownload
May 17, 2022
Sri Lanka has officially run out of fuel
Getty Images
From the BBC World Service: Sri Lanka is now a country with an empty tank, as the worst economic crisis in its independent history continues to spiral. Also, what the White House’s shift in approach to Cuba could mean for the island’s economy, and we hear memories of McDonald’s in Moscow as the golden arches get set to be packed up for good in Russia.
Read MoreDownload
May 16, 2022
The labor shortage from the perspective of nursing
Allison Dinner/AFP via Getty Images
The shortage of nurses in hospitals and other healthcare facilities is affecting care across the country, and providers have tried plugging the gaps. We spoke to Deborah Burger, president of National Nurses United, the largest nursing union in the country, about the issues that contribute to the current nursing environment. Online delivery could provide help to areas that don’t have easier access to groceries with fresh food, but there are still some obstacles to consider. The BBC checks in on China’s economy (the world’s second largest) as there are growing COVID-19 lockdowns and a rising jobless rate.
Read MoreDownload
May 16, 2022
Solar panels’ origin story could dim prospects for industry, U.S. projects
Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images
The Department of Commerce is investigating whether solar panels imported from Southeast Asia are really coming from China, and if so, should be subject to tariffs. Trade groups say the investigation casts a shadow on the industry and is also slowing down progress on certain projects. The labor shortage has affected Walmart to the point where the retail giant has launched a program to find store managers, hoping to entice college grads with the chance at eventual six-figure salaries. This year’s Memorial Day sales could provide a glimpse into how both retailers and consumers view inflation.
Read MoreDownload
May 16, 2022
China unemployment rate near pandemic peak
Getty Images
From the BBC World Service: China’s jobless rate rose to the highest level since the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic. It comes as widening lockdowns led to a sharp slowdown in activity for the world’s second largest economy. Also, Switzerland votes to force global streaming giants to pay towards making more Swiss content. And the impact India’s new ban on wheat exports could have on global prices.
Read MoreDownload
May 13, 2022
Elon Musk casts doubt on his acquisition of Twitter – through tweets
Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images
Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted that his purchase of Twitter is “temporarily on hold” as he works to acquire more information on spam and fake accounts on the platform. The claim has been met with some skepticism. We have the second part of our chat with Marketplace’s Kai Ryssdal about his discussion with Fed chair Jerome Powell. The U.S. and its allies are talking about ways to stabilize oil prices. One idea comes from Italy’s prime minister, who suggested banding together against oil producers. The gambling industry has recovered to the point where its putting up pre-pandemic numbers.
Read MoreDownload
May 13, 2022
Add stablecoin instability to the stack of cryptocurrency troubles
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
A bank run. Panic selling. These are some of the not-so-enviable descriptions of what’s going on right now in cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin looks set for a record seventh week of losses, and so-called stablecoins have shown weakness. What’s going on? Also, we hear the first part of our discussion with Marketplace’s Kai Ryssdal about his sit-down interview with Fed chair Jerome Powell.
Read MoreDownload
May 13, 2022
How many jobs has the war in Ukraine cost?
Getty Images
Ukraine’s former economy minister gives us a sense of the job losses the war has caused, and on the rebuilding plans already in progress. Also, the dollar shortage causing a crunch for Kenyan businesses.
Read MoreDownload
May 12, 2022
Despite new faces, diversity appears elusive to other parts of the Fed system
Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images
The Senate confirmed Philip Jefferson this week as just the fourth Black man to serve as a Federal Reserve governor in Washington. He joins Lisa Cook, the first Black woman to serve as a Fed governor. However, a new report shows that the pace of diversity has been slower at the 12 regional Fed banks. We speak with the BBC’s Victoria Craig about London vying for position at the top of the cryptocurrency world.
Read MoreDownload