“An incredible testament to the power of podcasts; the power of persistence; and the power, creativity and passion of the independent podcast community in the U.K. and Ireland today.” This was a statement about the overall Podcast of the Year winner at last night’s inaugural Independent Podcast Awards – Genevieve Hassan’s excellent Celebrity Catch Up: Life After That Thing I Did. Yet it could so easily apply to the celebratory event itself, which took place in a lively Hall One at Kings Place. Independent podcaster Em McGowan dreamed up the awards in response to a conversation that left her wondering where the energy and drive of grassroots audio creators could still be rewarded, recognised and celebrated in an increasingly corporate marketplace.

The tone of the ceremony, expertly set by host Esther Manito, struck a great balance between friendly community hug and slick celebration.

There were a lot of awards to get through. And these events can sometimes drag. Yet having just one winner in each category, and winner interviews taking place backstage, allowed things to keep moving and feel fresh and fun. Here’s our roundup of the winners:

Arts & Culture – Folk on Foot

An established podcast already, Folk on Foot sees broadcaster Matthew Banister walking with top folk musicians through the landscapes that have inspired them. The meticulous production values and intimate, immersive feel impressed the judges. Listen here >>

Podcast Artwork – Clown Sex

One of the biggest laughs of the night was the reveal of this eye catching artwork. This fiction podcast, a multiple nominee, felt like a bit of a theme of the night. Listen here >>

Books – The Bestseller Experiment

Author / screenwriter Mark Stay and coach / entrepreneur Mark Desvaux discover the secrets to writing a bestseller and attempt to put them into practice. Each week, they are guided by chart-topping authors and industry experts. The judges praised them for serving their community so well. Listen here >>

Business – Bring Your Product Idea to Life

Host Vicki Weinberg, who launched a brand of baby products, provides rich, accessible content packed with useful advice from knowledgeable guests. Listen here >>

Children & Young Adults – Bust or Trust: A Kids’ Mystery Podcast

Engaging hosts Athena Kugblena and Tiernan Douieb introduce children to the histories and cultures of different countries around the world in a fun and accessible way. The judges found the show to be well pitched for all of the family. Listen here >>

Comedy – Jackie The Ripper

One of the longest and most competitive shortlists of the night (which, ahem, included my own podcast) was topped by this pacy and dramatic show, a sex-swapped reimagining of the infamous 19th century London murders. The judges praised the acting, writing, action sequences and sound design. Listen here >>

Fiction – Eliza: A Robot Story

Tanya Reynolds (Sex Education) stars in a dark sci-fi fairytale about a robot who can feel and fall in love. The judges enjoyed the character development, writing, direction, sound design and performances. Listen here >>

Film & TV – Celebrity Catch Up: Life After That Thing I Did

Ultimately the biggest winner of the night was Genevieve Hassan’s unashamedly nostalgic and well-researched interview podcast. Who isn’t fascinated by what the likes of Dexter Fletcher, Chesney Hawkes, Tiffany and Carol Decker are up to now… and how they reminisce about their time in the spotlight? The judges thought this show was an ‘incredible achievement for a solo host and producer’. Listen here >>

Gaming – The Apocalypse Players

Another double winner, and a contender for most dramatic dash to the stage. This immersive, humorous show was praised for sound design, acting, atmospheric music and passion for the story. Listen here >>

Health & Wellness – The Wellbeing Rebellion

Hosted by corporate wellbeing consultant Ngozi Weller and psychologist Obehi Alofoje, this show is aimed at business leaders who want to make a difference for their employees and is packed with tips around burnout, mental health, inclusion and resilience. The judges describe it as an ‘essential listen’. Listen here >>

History – Beneath the Skin

Professor and museum curator Dr Matt Lodder and tattoo collector Thomas O’Mahoney explore the interconnected history of the weirdest corners of the world through the story of tattooing. This unusual perspective made it a ‘perfect example of what a podcast can be’ in the eyes of the judges. Listen here >>

Horror & Supernatural – The Apocalypse Players

As above!

Music – Sodajerker on Songwriting

Hosted by U.K. songwriting team Simon and Brian (aka Sodajerker) this show focuses on the craft of songwriting and features some of the world’s most successful musicians. They have been running for 12 years and have an archive of over 250 episodes. Listen here >>

Podcast Jingle – Brkin Bread

A fun category. We got to hear all the jingles. You still can if you head to the Independent Podcast Awards website. Listen here >>

News & Politics – Wood for the Trees

Cait Macleod asks the messy questions and explores the opposing opinions on the contemporary issues that divide us. The judges described the show as ‘elegant and well-researched.’ Listen here >>

Self-Improvement – Teenagers Untangled

Rachel Richards and Susie Asli dish out realistic advice to improve your communication with your teens and tweens. The judges enjoyed the mix of personal stories and professional insight. Listen here >>

Sexuality & Relationships – Queer Roots & Routes

Made by a queer collective who are migrants or descended from migrants, this show has a specific USP and a focus on storytelling, community and excellent sound design. Another show hailed as a ‘perfect example of what a podcast can be’. Listen here >>

Sport – Spindrift

Aoife Glass explores bikes, cycling, people, especially women, and adventure. Stacked with interviews, assured and knowledgeable, a recommended listen targeting a niche that needs more representation. Listen here >>

Technology – The Future of You

Futurist Tracey Follows investigates all the ways that emerging technologies are going to affect our identity. This one was described as a ‘calm, thoughtful and intelligent exploration of media and technology’. Listen here >>

True Crime – Drunk Women Solving Crime

A comedy classic from hosts Hannah George, Catie Wilkins and Taylor Glenn. I have guested on this show and can attest to the welcoming, hilarious yet somehow still cleverly structured web they weave as they enlisted my help in tackling a true case. In keeping with the show, producer Amanda Redman collected the award in a camp, slapstick sprint from the balcony. Listen here >>

Podcast of the Year – Celebrity Catch Up: Life After That Thing I Did

For more information and to see the full list of nominees go to: independentpodcastawards.com

The post Winners of the Independent Podcast Awards 2023 appeared first on POD BIBLE.

So this year, here are a few tips that you may want to add to your own agenda:

1. Why Audiences Respond to Comedy Podcasts – with Dan Schreiber, Luisa Zissman, Paul Chowdry and Chris Lander
Wednesday 11.30am – The Studio Stage

In this panel discussion, Global’s Head of Comedy Podcasts Chris Lander unpacks new research into audience attitudes to comedy podcasts with a stellar panel of comic talent. Pod Bible coverstar Dan Schreiber of No Such Thing As A Fish who will no doubt be giving a nod to his new show We Can Be Weirdos.

2. Evolutions in True Crime and Investigative Journalism
Wednesday 1pm – Gallery Stage

This sounds like a fascinating discussion for fans of Serial and all the excellent true crime pods that have followed. What are the new directions, innovations and ethical considerations in this space? What does the future of the genre look like? Panellists are set to include Matthew Shaer of Campside Media, Alexi Mostrous of Tortoise Media and David Waters of Novel.

3.  Duos In Podcasting: How to Not Get Professionally Divorced
Wednesday 3.15pm – The Origin Theatre

As someone who has spent years writing and speaking about breakups, both the personal and professional kind, this title really caught my eye. How do you keep a podcast partnership going even when you’re driving each other mad? Roman Kemp interviews podcasting duos Sam Thompson and Pete Wicks (Staying Relevant) plus Adeola Patronne and Mariam Miss (Pressed) to find out.

4. Pod Bible Live – Creating a Community and Network Around Indie Podcasts
Thursday 11.30am – Talking Podcasts ‘Creator 1’

Come and see Pod Bible Digital Editor Fran Turauskis quizzing Kobi Omenaka (cofounder of Stripped Media and host of Flixwatcher, Simple Politics and The Wire Stripped), Tom Dark (Head of Darkside Media, ex Head of Podcast Promotions at Warner Records and host of Monkey Tennis – The Alan Partridge Podcast) and yours truly all about building networks and communities around our podcasts.

5.  A Podcaster’s Manifesto: How Pod Save the U.K. Can Change the World
Thursday 2.15pm – The Origin Theatre

Crooked Media, who launched Pod Save America in the wake of a certain President Trump’s inauguration, have teamed up with Reduced Listening and Nish Kumar to tackle our political landscape head on. Nish will share his view on political podcasting and how the medium can create change.

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In between sessions, don’t forget to visit the Pod Bible stand (Stand J13) to say hello to the team and pick up copies of the latest issue and back catalogue.

There’s hundreds of stalls to visit including Pod Bible Lead Partner Audible, and Media Partners Stak and Auddy. And if last year is anything to go by, the Spotify stand should be worth a visit to see what treats and goodies they have up their sleeve. (Last year they offered personalised tote bags – printed on demand with your pod art – and signature juices to provide welcome rehydration for frazzled podcasters…)

Enjoy the show!

The Podcast Show is the biggest international festival for the business of podcasting and will bring together thousands from
the global podcast community under one roof. Day passes are still on sale and extra 10% off selected passes when you use the code “PODBIBLE” until 22nd May.

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Personally speaking, I can’t believe that nobody has previously thought of this topic as the perfect one to explore through the confessional intimacy of podcasting. Our crushes are a guilty secret that we rarely discuss openly. Yet they are an important part of our personal growth, pushing us to be more curious, creative, ambitious and resilient. I mean … what could be better than achieving something that gets the attention of your crush? Momentarily you can exist in their world!

These unrequited fantasies can even help us to form a sense of who we might want to become ourselves, by making us consider what it is about the person, their values, beliefs and interests that is so attractive.
So we absolutely must celebrate our crushes rather than cringe over them, with Margaret Cabourn-Smith as a suitably fun and probing guide.

What inspired you to start a podcast about crushes?

I love podcasts as a form and I wanted to make something I would want to listen to. And I wanted to choose a subject that I was an expert in!

Have you learned anything from your guests?

I think I learn something from every interview I do. It’s so universal as a theme but also so individual. I find it genuinely therapeutic to learn that we all have this stuff churning inside. I’m also really nosey so just hearing the mad stories and fantasies are hugely enjoyable whatever.

Do you think a crush can be psychologically healthy? (As you know, I think they can be quite motivating )

I think I’m coming to the conclusion that they’re ESSENTIAL psychologically. We have to admit that fantasy is necessary for us to accept and enjoy reality.

Is there anything else you have enjoyed listening to or reading on themes of unrequited love that has informed the podcast?

Oh God almost everything. My favourite unrequited love song is “We Get On” by Kate Nash, book is One Day by David Nicholls and film is Cyrano De Bergerac.

Have any stories surprised or shocked you?

The one people always talk about is Chris Neill, who persuaded his crush Paul that he needed to watch him rehearse the oboe for his homework. So funny, so heartbreaking. I laugh a lot at these stories but often find myself with tears in my eyes.

Do you have a dream guest that you haven’t had on yet?

Ooh a few – Jane Garvey, Monica Lewinsky, Adele, Alison Hammond. And um… Ryan Reynolds.

Have any of your guests, to your knowledge, heard from their old crushes as a result of being on the show? (I’m considering sending my episode to my first crush Kate )

Do! Report back please!

What inspired you to use a fun numerology game at the end of the show to test compatibility of people’s names?

That was just a nod to my old teen self where we all did it all the time. That’s the most potent time for such mad nonsenses. And also, it’s SCIENCE.

What is next for Crushed? Any plans?

We’d definitely like to do live shows and make the whole thing more interactive as I love hearing people’s stories. Watch this space!

Listen to Crushed now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps >>

The post Margaret Cabourn-Smith from Crushed: “I find it genuinely therapeutic” appeared first on POD BIBLE.

To celebrate the start of The Championships, after a two-year hiatus, podcaster and tennis fan Rosie Wilby dusts off her whites, dishes up some strawberries and serves up a few questions to one of their three hosts, David Law.

What inspired you to start the podcast?

Catherine Whitaker and I started working together in tennis in 2007 when podcasts were in their infancy. We would often talk about those we enjoyed listening to. At the time that meant The Ricky Gervais Podcast and later the Alan Davies Arsenal Podcast, now known as The Tuesday Club. They made us laugh and we fell in love with the medium. Then one day in May 2012, I messaged Catherine and said, ‘how about we start our own tennis podcast?’ And off we went.

I was convinced we needed big-name guests every week. And we did that for the first year but it’s very difficult to keep up. Catherine felt that we could do it without because those were the shows we enjoyed listening to. She was right. We still do interviews but we get bigger audiences for pub conversations about what’s happening in the sport.

How do you make such a visual sport sound so interesting and exciting?

Haha thanks for the kind words. To us it is an interesting and exciting sport. So we’re just saying how we feel about it. Hopefully that comes across. I’ve been commentating for BBC 5 Live on tennis for the last nineteen years and it’s my job to make a visual sport sound interesting and exciting without pictures. So that probably also helps.

How do you plan to cover Wimbledon? Is it all the more exciting after a two year gap?

It really is. After a year in which Wimbledon didn’t happen, we can’t wait for it to return. We will produce a podcast every night during Wimbledon. And after eighteen months of recording remotely via zoom, we will finally be able to be in the same room – Catherine’s flat! We will also provide a daily Twitter commentary (@TennisPodcast) and produce daily newsletters which feature Matt’s Stat (courtesy of our third voice, Matt Roberts), trivia and predictions for the following day.

Can Roger Federer and Serena Williams win what might be their last Wimbledon?

They’re not the favourites any more but they can definitely win it. I think their entire years this year, and in fact the remainders of their careers, have been pretty much planned to target this particular Wimbledon. They are both thirty-nine years old. It’s now or never.

What inspired you to look back at tennis history in your Tennis Re-Lived series during the pandemic?

We were left with a black hole of six months without live tennis when lockdown began. We had promised daily shows during the Grand Slams to the 1467 listeners who crowdfunded us at the start of 2020. So, in the absence of live action, we decided to go back and watch classic matches together and make daily podcasts about them throughout what would have been the French Open and Wimbledon 2020.

The concept evolved into us speaking to players who were involved with those matches, coaches and commentators who were there and also producing documentary podcasts about pioneers like Althea Gibson, the first black Wimbledon champion. At the same time, we offered all of our 1467 backers a refund for the year because we knew it wasn’t what they signed up for. Only one person took up the offer. Tennis Re-Lived brought us closer to the sport than ever and gave us a chance to understand its history.

Listen to:

Billie Jean King – The Interview. 18 January 2021.

Once you’ve listened to the daily Wimbledon episodes for up-to-the-minute tennis news, seek out this fascinating interview with the inspirational champion and activist who campaigned for equal prize money in the 1970s, launched the women’s tennis tour and was recently depicted by Emma Stone in the film Battle of the Sexes. Listen now >>

Tennis Aggro – parts 1 & 2. 31 December 2020 / 4 January 2021.

A celebratory countdown of the best and funniest on-court tantrums and arguments. Yes, John McEnroe does feature. Although only at number six. You’ll have to listen to see who tops him. Listen now >>

Sliding Doors – part 1. 21 December 2020.

The team discuss some fascinating ‘what if…’ questions, including how Monica Seles’ career might have unfolded if she hadn’t been stabbed by a deranged Steffi Graf fan in 1993. Listen now >>

US Open Re-Lived: Althea Gibson & US Open Re-Lived: Arthur Ashe. 26 August 2020 / 28 August 2020.

Two of the more documentary-style storytelling shows looking back at pioneering players and activists who changed the game. Listen now >>

Wimbledon Re-Lived 1993-98: The Jana Novotna Story. 4 July 2020.

The emotional story of the 1998 Czech champion who had once cried on the shoulder of the Duchess of Kent after a defeat to Steffi Graf. Listen now >>

Listen to The Tennis Podcast now on ACAST, SPOTIFY or your favourite podcast app.

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Scrummy Mummies

Scummy Mummies is a ‘fun and filthy chat show that is vaguely about parenthood’ according to comedian and co-host Helen Thorn. She and Ellie Gibson started in 2013 as ‘an excuse to drink together on a Friday night’. They now have fans in over 150 countries. Helen says, ‘We love hearing about parenting from all around the world. It is basically all the same – iPads, biscuits and bribery.’

Listen to: ‘Our episode How Not to Get Divorced with the comedian Sam Pamphilon. He and I both talk about getting divorced… which is funnier than it sounds.’ Listen now >>

Funny Mummies

Funny Mummies is hosted by comedian and ‘mum of two wild boys under five’ Hatty Ashdown. She suggests that nobody should follow the advice dished out by her and her rotating outspoken panel of comedy mums. She began podcasting after working at BBC Radio London and Soho Radio: ‘So many of my comedian guests were becoming mums. It gave us an angle.’

Listen to: ‘Margaret Cabourne-Smith is a regular. We did a live record with her in front an audience just before the first lockdown last March. Her story of the worst advice given on a bus is something that will haunt you forever.’ Listen now >>

Some Families

Some Families is a podcast ‘for and about LGBTQ+ families’, says Lotte Jeffs, who lives with her wife and daughter in South East London. She and cohost Stu, an adoptive dad of three, welcome a diverse array of guests: ‘This season we speak to a lesbian couple who gave birth on the same day, a trans dad, black lesbian adoptive mums, single adoptive dads, a woman fighting for IVF equality and so many more.

Listen to: ‘One interview that really taught me a lot was with lesbian foster mum Annabelle Avis.’ Listen now >>

How to Be a Girl

How to Be a Girl tells the story of Marlo Mack and her trans daughter. They’ve been producing the show from home for seven years, after ‘doting mum’ Marlo bought a cheap recorder to preserve the sounds that her baby made. She believes that podcasting has made her ‘a better parent and maybe a better person. When I record my daughter, I find that I listen more closely. She knows she matters.’

Listen to: ‘Start at the beginning with Mama I’m a Girl. You can hear a fierce three year old telling her mother she isn’t a boy after all. She also tells you some interesting facts about aliens and princesses.’ Listen now >>

The Mother of All Losses

The Mother of All Losses explores the ‘often unfathomable death of a mother’ and originated from a book anthology project that writer Anna Burtt was pitching to publishers. Although it didn’t get picked up, she put a callout on Twitter for a collaborator who might want to revisit the idea with her as a podcast. She met Emily Benita and fell in love with her show Big Wendy, which she had written about her mum: ‘I’ve made a friend for life and we’ve brought something really special, meaningful and fun into fruition.’

Listen to: ‘Our introduction episode. We ask each other “How is your grief today?” and “How did your mum live?” I think it’s important for us to be vulnerable and prepared to answer the questions we now ask other people.’ Listen now >>

Discovering Dementia

Discovering Dementia was created by former nurse and radio journalist Penny Bell when her mum was diagnosed with dementia: ‘We weren’t given a lot of information about the road ahead. So I started doing my own research. Then I thought it might be helpful to share what I found.’ She loves the ‘free nature’ of podcasting that allows for a really organic way of bringing people together who might be seeking support and advice.

Listen to: ‘The first episode of season two is a great way to meet mum. You really begin to hear how dementia is affecting her memory. But she still remains her chatty, cheerful self, itching to practise the piano.’ Listen now >>

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If you listen to these podcast, please tell us what you think! Tag us on social media @PodBible. Listen to the Pod Bible Podcast for podcast recommendations and to find new podcasts.

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You’ll Do

Comedians and real-life couple Catherine Bohart and Sarah Keyworth charmingly debunk all of our romantic fairytales by unveiling the day-to-day domestic mundanities of living together, monogamy, ageing, shopping, taking out the bins, changing nappies and cat litter. Ingenious rounds of questions, including one based on the infamous ‘thirty-six questions’ that psychologists believe can accelerate the falling in love process, are fired at guests who, you’ve guessed it, are also partners in real life. Highlights include Zoe Lyons telling the story of meeting her wife Sindy by, quite literally, ‘falling off the back of a van’ in Lesvos. Listen now >>

A Single Serving

Host Shani Silver aims to change the narrative around singledom from taboo to celebration. Having the freedom, independence, time and headspace for friendships and dreams sounds ever so tantalising to this exhausted coupled-up listener. Highlights include the episode Enjoying the Zebras and Giraffes with author and fellow podcaster Francesca Specter, who has coined the word ‘Alonement’ in order to reclaim solo time as a joyful and precious thing a million miles away from loneliness. Listen now >>

Good Sex/Bad Sex

The presenter pairing of self-confessed ‘professional prude’ Bibi Lynch and former sex worker Miranda Kane gives this conversational exploration of all things sex a truly accessible, and often hilarious, feel. However, it’s the episodes where they look beyond the ins and outs of erectile dysfunction, sex toys, orgasm gaps and vaginismus that really fascinate and add an extra dimension. Broader discussions on asexuality, polyamory, coming out, dating apps, disability and sex, heartbreak and menopause are deftly handled with big hearts and open minds. Move over Marvin. These ladies provide all the sexual healing we need in 2021. Listen now >>

Where Should We Begin with Esther Perel

Renowned Belgian therapist, speaker and author of books Mating in Captivity and The State of Affairs, Esther Perel invites anonymous real couples to unpack their most intimate stories of infidelity, grief, betrayal and heartbreak in a one-off session. She believes that ‘an affair can even be the doorway to a new marriage… with the same person’, a concept that I was keen to explore when I first discovered her work while writing my first book Is Monogamy Dead? Most of us don’t fully understand what our entangled emotional decisions to begin or end relationships are actually based on. Listening to Esther calmly helping others gets us all a little bit closer to articulating our own conflicts and struggles. Listen now >>

Masala Podcast

This award-winning show, hosted by Sangeeta Pillai, features South Asian women busting taboos around sex, sexuality, periods, menopause, mental health, shame and sexual harassment. Highlights include the episode on Being Transgender and South Asian. A compelling interview with Britain’s first out Muslim drag queen, Asifa Lahore, is complemented with a fascinating exploration of the culture and history of the traditional Hijra community, one of the oldest transgender communities in the world. Listen now >>

The Breakup Monologues

Full disclosure. This is my own podcast! Working on the premise that ‘tragedy plus time equals comedy’, I have spent three seasons inviting esteemed guests including Richard Herring, Dolly Alderton, Katy Brand and Ayesha Hazarika to share their tales of breakup and recovery with me. The podcast stems from my trilogy of solo comedy shows The Science of Sex, Is Monogamy Dead? and The Conscious Uncoupling and, as such, combines humour with some of the real science and psychology underpinning heartbreak. Recent themes have included whether, in the near future, we might be able to take a pill to help reduce the trauma of a breakup. Could the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind come true? Our fourth season launches this February, with The Breakup Monologues book to follow in May.  Listen now >>

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Rosie Wilby is an award-winning comedian who has appeared many times on BBC Radio 4 programmes including Woman’s Hour, Loose Ends, Midweek, The Human Zoo and Four Thought. Her first book Is Monogamy Dead? was longlisted for the Polari First Book Prize and followed her TEDx talk of the same name, a trilogy of internationally-acclaimed solo shows investigating the psychology of love and relationships and a decade of immersive research.

Rosie also presents The Breakup Monologues podcast, which was nominated for a British Podcast Award and has been recommended by Chortle, BBC Radio 4, The Observer, Metro and Time Out. She writes for publications including the Guardian, Cosmo, The Sunday Times and New Statesman and regularly appears as a commentator on sexuality, dating and love on radio and TV programmes including Good Morning Britain.

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