        Out of the five, sight is the sense I think of first when it comes to visual interpretation.  While being able to physically see an illustration may make it easier for readers to understand and analyze the message of the piece, it limits their scope of imagination and the number of possible interpretations. By listening to a podcast, the story and its message are conveyed to the audience using only audio, which forces people to compensate for the lack of visual aspects with their imagination. In the podcast "Don't Touch a Thing," sound effects, tone of voice, and vivid descriptions are implemented to show how those with mental illness can develop selfish mindsets that make them blind to the fact that their actions affect the dynamics of their loved ones' lives as well. 

        From the very beginning, the sound effects used in this podcast assist the audience in determining the look, feel, smell, and general experience of the surrounding atmosphere. Even before story begins, we hear the sound of flies buzzing, which when put together with the background information allows us to imagine the filth of the mother’s house. Sounds like hospital monitors and the serious tone of Tina, the daughter, allow us to determine the location and situation the mother is currently in. By the Tina’s concerned tone of voice when speaking of how her mother’s condition has gotten completely out of hand, the severity of the situation is established. The anger in the mother’s voice and her tendency to snap at her daughter shows a part of the damage that has been done to their relationship because of this mental illness. As expected, the daughter expresses feelings of concern, anger, and frustration with her mother through her tone of voice and slightly argumentative comments. Her husband, Larry, shows sympathy and makes generous suggestions that make him appear to be deeply concerned for both his mother-in-law and the strain her situation has put on his wife’s wellbeing. However, the mother seems to disregard any concern they have for her, as she is so paranoid about anyone touching her things in her house. Her mental illness keeps her from seeing her loved ones’ good intentions and desire to help her overcome this disease. Tina’s attitude and troubled tone show the amount of stress she is being put under from her mother’s issues. 

As the background noises transition from hospital monitor beeps, we are able to determine that Tina and Larry are in their car driving to her mother’s house. Simply the change in scenery and the absence of her mother seems to relieve some of her stress, as her tone of voice becomes much calmer and not as aggressive. Her mood seems to change from anger to hopelessness, and the brave, tough act she puts on for her mother seems to fade away. Larry’s voice seems concerned and empathetic towards his wife, as it appears to be very difficult for him to not only watch his wife go through this but to experience it himself too. 

Entering the house, Tina and Larry help us visualize and smell the mess in the house by describing the stench of rotten meat. The clanking of objects as they walk around make us realize just how cluttered the space really is, and the eerie background music along with the fear in their voices foreshadows the extent of horror in the house. A slight change in Tina’s voice allows us to realize a flashback is taking place, where Tina is in the same house with her parents years before. The tone of anger and hostility between Tina and her mother seem to be about the same back then if not even more than in the present. As we see both a glimpse of Tina’s past and present, it is clear this problem has been going on for quite some time and has continued to haunt and impact her life for years. Tina’s father seems to be the mediator of the family, and his calm voice and attitude make us believe that he is used to dealing with his wife’s unhealthy habits and living situation. His conversation with Tina, who is frustrated and ready to leave the house for good shows that Tina feels almost sorry for her father and encourages him to leave as well. Both Tina and her father seem to be fed up with the mother’s unwillingness to seek or accept help, but only Tina is heard packing up her things quickly with a voice of irritation and resentment. The language of the mother used towards Tina in the end of the flashback and the sound of a slap from her mother lead Tina to tears. This flashback shows the overall unhappiness of the entire family and is consistent with the present. 

Back in the present, Tina and her husband sift through the piles of junk in her mother’s house, and though the situation is stressful they seem to make the most of it with occasional laughs and a calm tone of conversation. Despite the negative consequences her mother’s condition has had on her family, it appears to have impacted Tina in a positive way as well. Because of her parents dysfunctional relationship and watching the damage her mother’s selfishness has done to her family, Tina seems to try hard to maintain a healthy and happy relationship with Larry. 

As Larry and Tina continue going through the mother’s house, Larry stumbles upon what he thinks is a mannequin in the attic. When Tina comes to look at it she notices a familiar sweater, and as her voice becomes more shocked and uneasy, we realize that this is the corpse of her father. Her bursting into tears and the fear in her voice make the audience see just how much this mother’s mental illness has taken over her mind. When informed of her husband’s dead body found in her home, the mother seems to care only about the fact that people were going through her things. Her anger and desire to simply be left alone show that this disease has indeed taken over her morals and priorities. 

        The lack of visual aids in this story allow the audience to use their imagination in hand with the given sound effects, tones of voice, and vivid descriptions to create the look of the house and to feel the emotions of the characters in this situation. By imagining and creating the story in one’s head, it makes it more relatable, which makes readers more empathetic to the issue at hand. I could see how Tina, Larry, and the father were all affected by the mother’s illness, and this made it easier to understand just how much the mother’s selfish personality changed all of their lives both positively and negatively. 
