February has been an exciting month for Stak and podcast enthusiasts, as Stak prepares to launch two brand new shows and signs a deal for a Jackie the Ripper adaptation with The Number 44, Goldfinch’s genre label.

Jackie the Ripper is a five-part dark comedy podcast following the investigations of lead Scotland Yard detective, Frederick Abberline, as he hunts down a female serial killer targeting men 150 years after Whitechapel’s infamous ripper. After just its first season, Stak and Goldfinch announced on February 15th that the chart-topping podcast has been optioned for an on-screen adaptation.

Elsewhere, Stak has also announced the launch of brand new speculative science show, Where’s My Jetpack? Hosted by space journalist, presenter and author Sarah Cruddas alongside Stak’s COO and Football Ramble presenter Luke Moore, Where’s My Jetpack? explores different pieces of retrofuturistic technology that never came to be: from jetpacks, to flying cars, to space hotels and colonies on Mars. Across 10 episodes, Sarah and Luke are joined by those at the very forefront of science academia and industry to find out what happened to these space age dreams, including current and former NASA astronauts, world-renowned physicists. The show takes listeners to the very limits of scientific discovery and pushes the envelope on what’s possible. Episode one was released on the 24th February, and subsequent episodes will follow weekly.

“Where’s My Jetpack? is a passion project of mine,” Sarah enthuses. “To not only help showcase why space exploration matters, but to also help inspire as many as possible about all the exciting inventions and innovations that are just around the corner. The reality is this: Science Fiction should be renamed Science Prediction, and the best is yet to come. Who wouldn’t want to take a ride into the space age future we were promised?”

Finally, Planet Weirdo with Holly H is Stak’s first collaboration with Amazon Music. Available exclusively on Amazon Music and hosted by social media star Holly H and Georgina Rivell, Planet Weirdo is a podcast all about celebrating what’s weird and unique in each and every one of us! Boasting an expressive array of celebrity guests such as Olympic diver Tom Daley, music producer Benny Blanco, and High School Musical actress Kaycee Stroh – Planet Weirdo is a delightful and light-hearted weekly romp through the weird and the wonderful. The first episode was released on the 25th of February, exclusively on Amazon Music.

“It’s been incredible working with Amazon Music on the Planet Weirdo podcast,” says Holly. “After so many epic years on social media, it’s been great to finally bring my voice to a whole new format with the help of Stak especially. We’ve had a blast recording the series and hanging out with some very cool friends and familiar faces, so I’m beyond excited for everyone to hear the first episode this Friday!”

You can listen to Where’s My Jetpack? wherever you get your podcasts. Planet Weirdo with Holly H is exclusive to Amazon Music and is available to listen via Apple Music or Audible.

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And October belongs to the king of horror himself – Stephen King! Every Monday and Thursday, Alex, Vicky and Chris are dissecting classic film adaptations of Stephen King’s bone-chilling novels for a month of King vs. King. Kicking things off with horror darling The Shining vs. Dr Sleep, Alex, Vicky and Chris revisit Kubrick’s masterpiece with plenty of humour and laughter.

Alex Zane

What was your introduction to Stephen King’s stories?

Alex: I had a misleadingly soft entry into the work of King – back to back viewings of Stand By Me and The Shawshank Redemption. Having discovered they were based on King’s work I duly purchased his short story compilation Night Shift and got a shock. The first story I read was called ‘The Boogeyman’, a child-killing monster that lives in your closet. I couldn’t sleep for a week. And now I’ve just re-read the Wikipedia plot page (to remind myself if it really was that scary) and am currently having terror flashbacks.

Vicky: A combination of being 10 years old and wanting to leave children’s books behind, and a very cavalier (read: neglectful?) parent-recommendation for anything by Stephen King. Which led me to Needful Things, which I’m not sure I got, but I knew was way more fun than Sweet Valley High.

Chris: My first exposure to Stephen King was through the movie Stand by Me, which came out when I was 8 – making me pretty much the target audience. Loved the film, so I read the short story on which it was based in the Different Season anthology, which is where I found Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption – and then I was hooked.

Vicky Crompton

What’s your favourite adaptation of King’s work?

V: ​​With apologies to Stephen King – it’s [the 1980] The Shining! The Gold Room calls to me and if I go my whole life without having an Old Fashioned in there…well, what a waste. Although, I’ve just re-watched Pet Sematary having forgotten a toddler EATS AN OLD MAN so that might nudge it. Cute!

A: I watched the Tim Curry It TV mini-series way too young and to date, it is the most scared I’ve ever been watching something. His Pennywise is one of the great Stephen King monsters. When he’s peering out of the drain at young Georgie and says that line: “They all float down here.” I get chills. I don’t even think I know what it means – like, do the bodies float? But he’s holding a balloon, and they float, so that’s confusing. Maybe I was scared of being confused!

C: Stand by Me and Shawshank are obvious contenders, but we’re talking about the Master of Horror, so I’ll go scary and pick The Dead Zone. David Cronenberg lends his icy-cold touch to King’s novel, Christopher Walken brings his unique brand of weird to the psychic central character, and the film itself felt all too clairvoyant as the world struggled through the Trump era.

Chris Tilly

… and least favourite?

C: There are more bad Stephen King adaptations than good, but Hollywood hit rock bottom with 2003’s Dreamcatcher. With William Goldman writing, Lawrence Kasdan directing, and the likes of Morgan Freeman, Thomas Jane, Damian Lewis and Timothy Olyphant starring – it should have been a home run. But the resulting film was pretty much unwatchable, with the villainous ‘shit-weasels’ a low-point not just for King adaptations, but for cinema in general.

A: I have to agree with Chris and go with Dreamcatcher – it had such talent behind it, Lawrence Kasdan and William Goldman… but, I mean… I don’t know that you can be scared of anything called a shit-weasel! The most terrifying thing about that movie is Morgan Freeman’s monstrous eyebrows.

V: Carrie – because it reminds me of periods and being unpopular at school, two things I could really do without.

Clash Of The Titles is a Stak production. Listen to Clash Of The Titles’ month of King vs. King via Acast, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts!

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Who was the real Bernie Katz, and what events led to his untimely death? In Bernie: Who killed the Prince of Soho?, journalist Mark Edmonds speaks to Bernie’s closest friends and the celebrities who knew him to better understand how Bernie became ‘The Prince of Soho’ as well as the demons he left behind.

I sat down with Pete Donaldson, who’s the Creative Director here at Stak, to talk a bit about stepping into true crime podcasts…

What was the process behind getting this podcast made?

Pete: I knew Bernie for a long time as I lived in Soho for six or seven years. He was one of the people that really made it feel like a community. Then we brought Mark Edmonds on board and he breathed life into the project with some wonderful writing. And Sami El-Nany’s sound design was instrumental as well – if you’ll forgive the pun.

What goes into producing a true-crime series as opposed to any other podcast?

P: By design, this podcast was a celebration of Bernie and his life. I loved him dearly, and every single one of my friends did too. Like Richard Bacon said in the show, I think losing Bernie means we lost a moment in time – he represented a period of our lives where we had fewer responsibilities, had more legendary nights out – and he was a man who understood Soho like so few others. More than anything else, he cared about people and he made the place come alive.

This project may have led us to pull at some difficult threads, but that wasn’t what we set out to do. As we interviewed more and more people and heard more and more audio, stories of his final weeks started to take a more complex and difficult turn. If listeners are enthralled by Bernie’s unspeakably sad end, it’s because the testimonials of our guests are so vivid and loving. The man was seriously that important to so many.

Without giving too much away, what surprised you most about Bernie’s story?

P: His funeral was a very public affair. The great, the good, the rich and the famous all rolling around Soho for an afternoon, pieces on BBC London about the sad loss of one of Soho’s greatest characters, but actually very few, save for a couple of pretty close friends, knew what the final weeks of his life were like. And, for someone who knew him but really didn’t know him well enough, I found the interviews rather shocking and wish that I’d been closer to him.

You can listen to all three instalments of Bernie: Who killed the Prince of Soho? via your favourite podcast player. Our writer and presenter is Mark Edmonds who can be found on Twitter @MEdmondsLondon, and sound design is by Sami El-Enany, @SamiElEnany on Twitter.

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Marcus Speller is one of the 4 original hosts of Football Ramble

Over the past three years, the Ramble has undergone some significant shifts. Starting in the summer of 2018, after about 10 years of weekly episodes, the Football Ramble began releasing shows daily and gradually welcomed four new presenters to its roster: Jules Breach (BT Sport, talkSPORT) and Andy Brassell (BT Sport, BBC) in the 2018/19 Season, and Kate Mason (Sky Sports) and Vithushan Ehantharajah (The Independent) in the 2019/20 Season. Since 2018, the Football Ramble has committed itself to diversifying its voice in a considered and thoughtful way. The show remains entertaining and fun, retaining its original intimacy and irreverence while also bringing football podcasting into the 21st Century.

“We felt it was really important for the largest independent football show in the UK to be genuinely representative of football fandom at large,” Luke enthuses. “We have also never been frightened of change or modernity.”

Jules Breach (BT Sport, talkSPORT) joined the podcast in the 2018/19 Season, and Kate Mason (Sky Sports) in the 2019/20 Season.

Welcoming Jules, Andy, Kate and Vish to the team was a conscious decision to expand and diversify the podcast’s scope – one that has enriched the Ramble’s feed. The Ramble entertains without shying away from the thornier topics, from tackling heavier issues such as racism and misogyny in football media and fan culture to ongoing feuds between Jules and Vish (as well as Pete’s never-ending procession of cryptic games).

“Vish and I got on instantly when we first met, we have a brother-sister type friendship,” Jules laughs. “On one Ramble he refused to sing the theme tune from The OC and let’s just say I hammered him for it, ever since then people think he’s scared of me and that I bully him – but it’s all love really.”

Vithushan Ehantharajah (The Independent) came onboard in the 2019/20 Season.

The Ramble’s eight hosts are united by their passion for football and a shared inability to take themselves too seriously. In amongst reactions to all the sublime and the ridiculous from the latest fixtures, you’ll find Jules teaching you swear words you didn’t even know existed and Andy somehow bringing everything back to his remarkably extensive knowledge of Dutch footballers-turned-rappers.

“Jules, Kate, Andy and Vish ‘get’ the Ramble. They always have, and the show is now the best it’s ever been,” Luke adds. “We feel really privileged to have been able to diversify the show’s voices, chiefly because they’re all so good and provide fresh and entertaining takes on the game we love.”

In this football show – like any chat with your mates – anything goes.

Listen to Football Ramble on the Stakhanov website, ACAST, and SPOTIFY.

Blandine Hoge is a Podcast Producer at Stakhanov and lives in London.

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Most excitingly, this afternoon, Self Care Club is releasing an exclusive interview with Cat Lantigua, a Community Architect and Wellness leader, about the importance of sisterhood and social healing. Cat founded the Goddess Council in 2018 – a sisterhood circle and wellness community that brings women of all walks of life together. The bonus episode will also feature voice notes and emails from listeners celebrating the women that inspire them every day.

What does sisterhood mean to you?

L: Sisterhood to me is about being accepted, loved and supported by a small group of women who know me to my bones. Friends who are there to celebrate the good times with and to support each other through the bad times. It is about showing up exactly as you are, knowing you will be listened to and understood.

N: Sisterhood is probably one of the most important parts of my life. I’m a women’s coach, but I also have a sister, two daughters and girlfriends of 30 years. There is nothing more powerful and transformational than female relationships. When women open their hearts and speak vulnerably to one another, that is where the magic is.

You finish every interview on the show with this question, so today I’m asking you: what do you do for your own self-care?

L: The pandemic has shown me the importance of getting fresh air and moving my body. A walk with my dog never fails to make me feel better even on the most miserable of days. Being outside and having small social interactions with people from my neighbourhood is immensely cheering. Just seeing someone who doesn’t live in my house feels like a treat! I also indulge in trash TV to switch off my brain if it’s feeling overloaded – ‘Married at First Sight Australia’ and ‘Real Housewives’ are my go-to shows.

N: I am really conscious of looking after myself and thus very much invest the time into my wellbeing. My main self-care practice is exercise. It keeps me fit, energised and sane, and also hugely alleviates my anxiety. My guilty pleasure (like Lauren) is ‘Real Housewives’ – some people like mindfulness, I prefer catfights. Most importantly though, I am always changing it up; if it puts a smile on my face, then it’s self-care.

Listen to the Self Care Club: Wellness, Road Tested International Women’s Day special on March 8th via all major podcast platforms.

Self Care Club: Wellness, Road Tested, tests out self-care so you don’t have to! Spearheaded by women’s coach Nicole Goodman and doula Lauren Mishcon, the Self Care Club was formed over coffee when Nicole and Lauren realized that self-care had become just another weight on women’s shoulders. As such, every week, the ladies test out a new form of self-care – from practising gratitude to goat yoga – and report back to you with the results.

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In the past month, the topic of football and head trauma took the UK news cycle by storm. This week, Melissa released an episode speaking to Neuropathologist Willie Stewart, experts on head injuries within the sport, and ex Hull City player Ryan Mason, whose career was cut short due to a near-fatal head injury.  But, as she explored on Between The Lines, the game has long been aware of the research on the long-term effects of such trauma and the solutions to minimise its risk. It has chosen to press on with shoddy protocols and the only update it has offered – the trial of a permanent concussion – is unhelpful and a distance behind other sports. In tandem with other guests, the pair spotlight why head trauma can be a matter of life or death and how football can help make the game safer for players. I spoke to Melissa a bit about Between The Lines itself and the importance of the continued discussion surrounding head trauma in football.

Who are you and what’s your podcast about?

I’m Melissa Reddy, the senior football correspondent for The Independent, author of Believe Us: How Jürgen Klopp transformed Liverpool into title winners, and an analyst on Premier League Productions, BBC and Sky Sports. When I was approached to do a podcast, I agreed on the basis that my show could be meaningful and explore topics that may often get ignored. That is what Between The Lines does and even when we speak to high-profile names like Mauricio Pochettino and Gary Lineker, the conversation is not about standout games but more human elements like mental strain and dealing with intense criticism. I’m so proud of the discussion episodes we’ve done on social media abuse, policing in football and the game’s shame when it comes to head trauma. These are all such big issues to work through and they were incredibly well received.

There are so many interesting people within the world of football you could speak to, how do you choose your guests?

It’s important to me that my guests have deep stories to tell and will be open about sharing them. When it comes to the discussion episodes, my aim is to balance experts on the particular field with people who have personal experiences to share. I always want the listener to connect with the content and also gain an education from it.

Tell us about your upcoming episode. Why is it important?

Football is a far distance behind other sports in dealing with head trauma, despite changes that could save lives being so easy to implement. We’ve recently witnessed Raul Jimenez suffer a fractured skull after an aerial collision and Ryan Mason, who was forced to retire at 26 due to the same injury, shares his experience of the devastation it caused to both him and his family. Dr Willie Stewart, the neuropathologist who proved football’s link with dementia, spells out just how high the risk is for long-term brain diseases and offers ways in which the game can improve its protocols. It’s such a powerful, informative, emotional episode and one that I hope will force necessary changes.

Where can Pod Bible readers find out more about you and the show?

I’m on Twitter and Instagram and Between The Lines is available on all podcast platforms.

Melissa Reddy, host of Between the Lines podcast

If you’re interested in football and football journalism, or want to listen to the episode discussed in this article, listen to Between The Lines with Melissa Reddy via Spotify, Acast, or Apple Podcasts.

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Blandine Hoge is a Podcast Production Assistant at Stakhanov and lives in London.

This article was produced as part of a paid advertising package. To enquire about advertising with Pod Bible email info@podbiblemag.com

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With England settled into a second lockdown and the continuation of COVID restrictions all over the world, self care has never been more relevant or important. Enter the Self Care Club: Wellness, Road Tested – a podcast that tests out self care so you don’t have to. With new episodes coming out every Tuesday, women’s coach Nicole Goodman and birth doula Lauren Mishcon are trying it all: from menstrual cups to face yoga!

I interviewed Lauren and Nicole last month about the podcast and their process. I knew they’d be the perfect podcasters to speak to about what self care practices they would recommend to help us stay grounded throughout lockdown 2.0!

Give yourself permission to say ‘no’

In a desperate bid to implement those lessons learned in the lockdown first, it seems as if we all threw ourselves back into FaceTimes with friends, Zoom quizzes, and online social event after online social event. The first week of lockdown, I ended up completely overcommitting myself, to the point where I was left feeling exhausted and hoping that my friends would just forget about our plans. In that moment, I needed to give myself permission to say no and reclaim my time. In this sense, saying ‘no’ becomes a real act of self care – one that the Self Care Club ladies cover in their episode ‘Saying NO!’.

“Many of us are taught to be people-pleasers and say ‘yes’ automatically, even when we actually want to say ‘no’,” Nicole points out. “We don’t want a confrontation, we don’t want to let the other person down, we don’t want to seem selfish and we want to be likeable; but by always saying yes we risk causing ourselves stress, mental exhaustion and resentment. This leads you to be critical of yourself and spiral into negative self-talk, which can lead to symptoms of anxiety and depression. Not saying ‘no’ has serious side effects.” 

“Saying ‘no’ is also about the boundaries you set with yourself,” Lauren says. “The relationship you have with yourself very much depends on what you do and don’t allow into your space and learning how to say ‘no’ is a great place to start.” In lockdown, it may be tempting to lie in bed for hours, doom scrolling through Instagram and Twitter, and spend your waking hours numbing out and constantly consuming upsetting news. In this case, being firm with yourself and saying ‘no’ to activities that drain your energy and leave you feeling sad is a profoundly self-loving act. Keeping boundaries with yourself is just as important as keeping them with others. Although, don’t follow up your ‘no’ with an onslaught of self-shaming and guilt! It’s okay to not always be coping perfectly.

Saying ‘no’ is often the most generous thing you can do – for yourself and others. Asserting ourselves frees us from making shallow and insincere commitments and it ensures we spend time on the things we really care about. ‘No’ leaves space for us to say ‘yes’ to the things we want for ourselves. Show yourself love and honour your boundaries by saying no to activities or things that drain your energy. This is not a selfish act, but an honourable one.

Go on an ‘awe’ walk

Staying cooped up at home all day in your pyjamas can, for most people, be a one way ticket to Depression City. It’s hard to feel positive and energized when you’ve spent most of your day catatonic on the couch or in bed. For that reason, it’s good to get out of the house every once in a while for an ‘awe’ walk, a practice Lauren and Nicole tried out in October. 

“Scientists have revealed that a short awe walk – where you make a conscious effort to look for things to be amazed by – can combat negative emotions and help to maintain a healthy mind,” Lauren explains. “Feelings of awe increase positive emotions like compassion and gratitude, reduce self-focus and promote social connection. Our problems may seem big and overwhelming, but awe shifts our attention outward. When we feel awe, we feel small in the relation to the rest of the universe but we feel more connected to the world and people around us.”

“The benefits of awe walking are plenty,” Nicole adds. “It’s been found to boost your immune system, improve your memory and attention span, as well as reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease in middle age. A 20-minute stroll in a place that makes you feel in contact with nature is enough to significantly lower your stress hormone levels. It relaxes the brain.”

Awe can be found in any environment – whether you’re traipsing through a storybook forest or walking about your city neighbourhood. You are also more likely to feel awe in a new place where sights and sounds are unfamiliar. So, if you’re in the city, maybe try wandering around streets you would not normally go down – so long as you remember your way back! It’s not so much the destination that matters, rather the journey itself. “Wherever you are, the key is to be in the right frame of mind,” Lauren points out, “turning your ordinary walk into a series of awe inspiring moments.”

Declutter!

Although it may sound like more work, decluttering can actually do worlds of good for your mental health. Clutter and mess can cause distress, so why not spend a day or two restoring order to your surroundings?

“Decluttering is the process of putting the miscellaneous physical things around you away where they belong,” Lauren describes. “While it’s probably not something that you dream about spending your precious free time doing, decluttering can actually be one of the most successful forms of self care and one of the most effective ways of making you feel better in the long term.”

Scientific studies have shown that there is a direct relationship between clutter and stress. While we may not always realise it, clutter can have a negative impact on your life. What is the clutter in your home stealing from you? Definitely your time, space and energy. But it can also steal your peace as well. Living in a cluttered space is associated with reduced productivity and chronic procrastination.

“When there’s lots of clutter, you lose control over your physical environment – which  can feel very defeating and bring on stress, depression, or anxiety,” Nicole continues. “It can take a toll on your social life, too, if it gets to the point of embarrassment where you won’t have people over. Clearing out the clutter means you literally give yourself more space in your home. And more space means you create breathing space, making rest and relaxation easier.”

Sometimes we don’t even realise how heavy and overburdened our stuff makes us feel until we start letting it go. Once you start letting go, you can experience a huge relief as you feel lighter, happier and begin to feel the benefits of having less. It is freeing in so many ways. Letting go of the excess “stuff” that fills your home often feels like a weight is lifted from your life. Instead, you have the opportunity to fill your life with what matters most to you.

Lauren and Nicole just recently tried out decluttering, so give this episode a listen for tips on where and how to start.

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The Self Care Club has become a valuable tool for those who want to put more energy into taking care of their mental health, but who might be intimidated by the sheer amount of options available to them. This lockdown, put some time aside to take care of yourself – you deserve it! 

If you’re interested in self care and mental health,  or want to learn more about the practices we described, listen to Self Care Club: Wellness, Road Tested every Tuesday via Spotify, Acast, or Apple Podcasts.

Blandine Hoge is a Podcast Production Assistant at Stakhanov and lives in London.

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Shocktober kicked off with the original Wicker Man – one of the weirdest, wildest and most disturbing movies you are ever likely to see – pitted against the disastrous and unintentionally hilarious Nicolas Cage remake. The episode also featured FrightFest founder and Wicker Man super-fan, Paul McEvoy. “It wasn’t really a fair fight,” admits Chris, “But it did give us an excuse to properly analyse that infamous scene with the bees.” Next, the Clash trio followed that up with a pair of classic slasher movies, with A Nightmare on Elm Street and Freddy Krueger’s razor-sharp glove doing battle with Candyman’s deadly hook. The third matchup of the season is Scream and The Cabin in the Woods, and James Moran – writer of Severance and Cockneys vs Zombies – will be coming into the arena to help Alex, Chris and Vicky with both deep dives. As for the last films of the month, each member of the team picked a pair of witch movies, and the listeners voted for their favourite online. The choices were The Wizard of Oz v Bedknobs and Broomsticks (Chris), Teen Witch v The Craft (Vicky), or The Witches v Hocus Pocus (Alex). The latter was the runaway winner, so Clash’s Halloween shows will feature Angelica Huston’s witch going toe-to-toe with Bette Midler’s!

Finally, if you’re looking for other great Halloween flicks to put on this fall – I asked each Clasher for some spooky recommendations for the season. Alex suggests romantic horror The Fly – which Clash Of The Titles discussed back in February in ‘The Fly (1986) vs Hellraiser (1987).’

As for Vicky, she recommends a more heroic horror film in the shape of The Crow, which the trio analysed back in August in ‘Darkman vs The Crow.’

Finally, Chris wants you to have some laughs with your scares, so his pick is Shaun of the Dead, which Clash Of The Titles covered last Halloween in ‘Shaun of the Dead (2004) vs Zombieland (2009).’

Even though this year we cannot leave our houses to celebrate Halloween the proper way, the Clash Of The Titles trio are here to keep the festivities going! So why not spend this season curled up on the couch with some hot chocolate, watching (and listening!) your way through the Clash Of The Titles’ Shocktober Spooktacular?

Listen to Clash Of The Titles every Monday and Thursday via Spotify, Acast, or Apple Podcasts.

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Both Nicole and Lauren have worked with women for decades; Nicole as a women’s coach and Lauren as a birth doula. “We realised how aligned we are in our passion for women’s wellness and self care,” Lauren explains. The idea for the podcast sparked out of the blue after the two met for a coffee one morning and were discussing how women’s mental load seems to be increasing by the day and how even self care has slowly become just another chore. That day, The Self Care Club was born! “We wanted to figure out what really works so women can concentrate on looking after themselves without wasting more of their precious time,” Lauren and Nicole enthuse.

In the week leading up to a recording session, the ladies give one form of self care a good old college try with an emphasis on how it made each of them feel as well as the science and research behind each method. Throughout the experiment, Lauren and Nicole record their impressions and take stock of their reactions and experiences as they go along. Once the week is up, they sit down together and compare notes to answer the big questions: is this form of self care viable? Is it worth your time? Does it make a noticeable difference?

The show’s setup is rather unique, what do you think are the benefits of this format?

“We are so different – what one of us despises, the other adores,” Lauren laughs, “We do exactly the same practice each week but walk away with such unique responses—” 

“Which we hope mirrors the different reactions a broad spectrum of women listening may experience themselves,” Nicole chimes in.

“We never discuss how we have found the practices (which is hugely challenging as we speak at least twice a day, every day!) so when we meet in the studio to record the podcast each week we come to it completely fresh with no idea what the other will say.”

Both women thoroughly enjoy the practices and challenges they set for one another each week—“It’s a great exercise in pushing our boundaries and going outside of our comfort zones.”

“We always ask the same questions at the end of the show so we can summarise what we have learned and how the listeners can apply it to their own lives in a way that doesn’t create extra work.”

If all were to fall into place and money were no object, what would be your dream episode?

“A silent retreat in Bali where no one can make contact,” Nicole quips, “No phones, no work, no kids, no washing, no one – just silence, massages and lots of cauliflower.”

As for Lauren? “A weekend with the guys from ‘Queer Eye.’ In the daytime, doing Equine therapy on a fabulous ranch somewhere in America run by cowboys who all look like Bradley Cooper and in the evenings having wine, one on one life coaching, and personal book group sessions with Oprah.” Nothing too flashy, really.

All in all, The Self Care Club’s innovative format and bubbly, lighthearted tone make the podcast an invaluable tool for those who want to put more energy into taking care of their mental health, but are intimidated by the sheer amount of options available to them. Lauren and Nicole remind their listeners to maintain a learning mind, empowering women as they go. If you’re interested in self care and mental health, listen to Self Care Club: Wellness, Road Tested every Tuesday via Spotify, Acast, or Apple Podcasts.

Blandine Hoge is a Podcast Production Assistant at Stakhanov and lives in London.

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Jules is a broadcast journalist and host of BT Sport’s Score, and has also presented for UEFA, Premier League and ESPN. Jules grew up in Brighton, as well as Mauritius and Jamaica. She has a wealth of experience with and knowledge of football, and her perspective as a successful WOC working in the football media world is absolutely invaluable. Kate is also a presenter, working for Sky Sports. A keen Spurs fan and long time Ramble listener, Kate brings sharp wit and a wealth of knowledge to the podcast as well as her skills as an adept and experienced host. She’s also hosting the Football Ramble Book Club—featuring intimate conversations with football’s most revered and exciting authors—as part of the Ramble’s new sister stream, Football Ramble Presents. Both Kate and Jules have used the Ramble’s platform to call attention to the difficulties and harassment that female presenters (and fans) face in a male-dominated space—an issue that’s all too often overlooked by the wider community. We had a chat with Kate and Jules about what representation means to them and their experience as part of the Football Ramble team.

What do you believe are the benefits of female representation in sports media?

JULES: “It’s so important to have strong, knowledgeable, good female journalists, presenters, hosts and contributors in sport. As a teenager I was obsessed with sport and knew it was an area I wanted to work in. I also loved the idea of working in the media, and always had a fascination, a sense of intrigue when it came to journalism, and just in general—I love talking, asking questions, and having good conversations with other humans.”

KATE: “Like Jules, I’ve loved sport my whole life and I want the world of sport to welcome everyone. That’s why I made it my mission to break into football broadcasting. I wanted to tell the stories that fascinate me and make everyone—girls and boys, young and old, and everyone in between—feel a part of that special atmosphere you only get when watching the world’s most popular and fascinating sport.”

JULES: “But growing up there were hardly any female sports personalities, no one I could identify with, so I was never sure whether it would even be a possible career path. Nowadays, there are so many inspiring women working in sport, especially football, and hopefully young girls will be encouraged to follow their lead.” 

KATE: “I still remember so clearly the first time I heard a female voice commentating on Match of the Day: it was Jacqui Oatley, unbelievably only 11 years ago. She took so much heat and paved the way for all the women who came after her in football. When I’ve had people push back against giving me chances in the game—‘We don’t want a woman’s voice on this’—it’s made me work harder and want to live up to the example of all of those extraordinary women who came before. In fact, we’re getting to speak to one of them for Ramble Book Club at the start of the new season: Julie Welch, Fleet Street’s first female football writer. It’s wicked that the Ramble is sharing stories like hers.”

JULES: “Football is for everyone so there should be, and needs to be, more of a diverse representation in the media for the audience that indulge it. Ramble has done an amazing job putting together such a fun, diverse team, and me and Kate are proud to be the ladies flying the Ramble flag!”

How have you enjoyed working as a part of the Ramble team?

JULES: “I joined the team last summer and was super excited to be part of such a fun group—and to be the first regular female voice on the Ramble! The whole team welcomed me with open arms and have always encouraged me to be myself and show my personality. In the last year I’ve worked regularly with the incredibly knowledgeable and lovely Andy Brassell on a weekly pod looking into the wider stories in football as well as talking in depth about specific football moments or players. Now, in the new Ramble format, it has taken things to a whole other level! We’re one tight knit group of mates who just love football, get frustrated at football, and laugh about football, and that’s now what you get to hear Monday through Friday on the Ramble. It’s been the most fun and we are all so excited for the new season!”

KATE: “Getting to work with your mates is the dream isn’t it? It’s an honour to make the pod because I think we just get to represent the kind of people who are following football today, and who always have. But now more of a range of football fans are getting a voice. I mean, my mum was going down to Molineux in the 70s and she says she never had any problems, but you maybe wouldn’t have expected to see people like her in fanzines back in the day. At the Ramble it’s not just the people you hear on the pod every day, but all of the crew who make it fit together too who are such a fun, clever and welcoming bunch. There’s even a new canine member of the team too, isn’t there Jules?”

JULES: “Yes! Pablo! My new dog is the newest addition and he’s maybe everyone’s favourite… The team doesn’t treat me and Kate like girls. We’re just treated like other members of the Ramble family, like any other member of the team. And that’s how it always should be.”

Blandine Hoge is a Podcast Production Assistant at Stakhanov and lives in London.

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It was the 25th of November of last year. I was sitting in a Cafe Nero in Edinburgh, it was a Sunday and I was barely halfway through a 2000 word essay on the Faerie Queene due at noon the next day. Needless to say I was procrastinating. Big time. When I decided to contact Stakhanov that day, it was a complete shot in the dark. I’d heard of them through YouTuber Jaackmaate’s podcast, Jaackmaate’s Happy Hour, which is produced and recorded by Stakhanov. Stakhanov is a podcast production company based in London, it works with such notable shows as Football Ramble Daily, Berkhamsted Revisited and The Offensive. At the time, when I sent that email, I was certain I would not hear back. Mainly because I’d mentioned in the email that I was a fan of Jack’s show, which made me certain that they’d think I was a crazy stalker and send my email straight to trash. And yet—in early December—I was both surprised and overjoyed to see that not only did they email me back, but they also wanted me to come in for two weeks in July. By June, two weeks became seven and I was very excited to get started.

Since I’d never had a job before I had absolutely no idea what to expect. I wasn’t sure what work they’d want me to do, how strict the hours would be (I’m a chronic oversleeper), what I was and wasn’t allowed to wear (this was very important to me as a borderline goth), etc. Meeting Jon and Luke (two of the three owners of Stakhanov) for the first time was extremely nerve-wracking. Luckily for me they turned out to be very nice and extremely laid back people. During that initial meeting, they talked me through what they expected from me and showed me around the Stakhanov studio. The studio itself is absolutely beautiful, I was very impressed by it. I‘d seen parts of it before in Happy Hour’s YouTube clips and the specs were remarkable—especially compared to my station’s tech back in St. Andrews. Jon and Luke were very receptive to even my silliest questions and insisted that they wanted this experience to be as valuable as possible for me.

Over the course of my seven weeks, I ended up working on quite a variety of projects—both small and big. On my first day, Jon asked me to find out more about football commentary audio rights and whether a purchasable license for those rights even existed.

The next day, I remember sitting in Starbucks, researching audio rights on my laptop, frantically texting my Dad about how I was totally out of my depth. I felt like I was going in the completely wrong direction, certain I’d turn up the next day and be forced to waffle my way through my presentation. Luckily enough it turns out I was on the right track and just panicking for no reason at all, as per usual. Crisis averted. While it was quite nerve wracking, this first project did teach me that I had to be more confident in my abilities and leave my self-doubt in the dust.

During my second week at Stakhanov, I had the opportunity to follow Jon and Pete (the third owner of Stakhanov) to several meetings. I was a bit nervous and ended up arriving at the meeting spot about half an hour early. In the morning, we had three meetings one after the other with various agents. I acted as a fly on the wall, sitting and listening to the creative process unfurl. I really enjoyed watching the discussion, following the ideas being thrown back and forth. The opportunities presented to Stakhanov were inspiring, and I loved listening to the podcast ideas, the potential collaborations with important names in all sorts of spheres. Later that afternoon, Jon took me with him to meet Stakhanov’s PR agent. It was equally as interesting to sit in on this meeting, as the majority of my PR knowledge comes primarily from Agatha Raisin. We met the agent in an uber trendy hotel cafe, she had a messy bun and looked effortlessly cool. On first impression, very Agatha Raisin after all. But once the meeting began, I started to realise that I had no idea what moves a company needs to consider to both build their brand and keep their image pristine. I enjoyed following the conversation, chipping in sometimes when I felt like my input would be semi-valuable. This day of meetings made me realise that, as dumb as this is going to sound, there is a lot more to a company than I anticipated. Wild.

During my internship, I got to do a lot of very interesting and creative projects. My favorites were working on podcast pitches for two of the companies that we spoke to during the aforementioned meetings, which was very cool indeed. I really had a lot of fun coming up with those ideas and I hope they end up getting made, we’ll see if the companies like them . I also was in charge of coming up with several concepts for lifestyle, fashion and pop culture podcasts. I loved having the opportunity to do creative work and I really appreciate the trust that Jon put in my opinion. Hopefully that wasn’t a mistake on his part!

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Before I leave you, dearest reader, I find myself compelled to reflect on what I’ve learned throughout this experience. Because that’s what one does when one writes about an experience. One has to reflect. So this is for your benefit, by the way. You’re welcome. Let’s get into it then, shall we?

The first lesson I’ve learned—and please don’t cringe too hard—is you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. Yikes, I know, but there’s a reason why people say it. I’ve always been quite shy and as a result, I felt extremely uncomfortable reaching out to people or companies via email. I’m not sure why it stressed me out so much, but at the end of the day taking a chance will always pay off. The worst you’ll suffer is a “no” and, here’s a life hack, you’ll more likely just never hear back, so no actual straight up rejection! If you’re a student and you’re trying to figure out how to find internships, your best bet is to just fire out your CV to as many people as possible—even if you think they’ll never get back to you. Remember, it only takes one yes in a sea of no.

The second lesson I’d like to impart to you is the importance of creative writing and good writing skills. I did not expect just how useful my writing skills would be and writing actually became my main work while I was at Stakhanov. I was in charge of providing feedback on all written copy, from podcast synopses to tweets. I also started to write the monthly Football Ramble Daily Patreon blog post, which I will continue doing at university. Writing is very easy to learn, all it takes is a basic understanding of grammar and practice. Seriously. Like playing an instrument or running a 5K (which I will never do), it takes practice to hone and improve your writing skills. There are also a lot of writing courses and classes available online, which in my opinion is the best way to improve as the hardest part of writing is motivating yourself to write for the sake of writing. My mom has been telling me for years that I need to focus on my writing, and yeah. As much as I hate to admit it, mother knows best time and time again.

On a more serious note, my overall experience interning for Stakhanov was immensely positive. I’m very happy that I took a shot in the dark and sent that email all the way back in November. I guess it all worked out in the end! As I’m writing this, it’s the final days of my seven weeks with Stakhanov. It’s all gone by so fast, I still can’t believe it’s coming to an end. I never really felt like an ‘intern’ when I was at Stakhanov, which I think is really worth noting. Obviously, my workload was very different from my colleagues, but I felt like a part of the company and not somebody whose sole purpose—without trying to be too cliche—was to do the work no one liked or always get coffee for everyone. Instead I felt like my input was both valued and heard. Interning with Stakhanov helped me gain a lot of confidence in myself and my abilities, it was an absolutely invaluable experience. While I am looking forward to going back to university, I am sad that it’s already ending. This year will be my last at university and while I don’t know where life will take me, I know that these skills and lessons I’ve learned during my time here will follow me for years to come. There are very exciting opportunities in the future—for both me and for Stakhanov, so stay tuned.

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