Have You Heard? is a series in which the team from Pod Bible meet the people behind the podcasts you may not have heard of yet. While the Oh. My. Pod. section in the magazine gives a quick shout out to shows of that ilk, Have You Heard aims to go deeper in an effort to spread awareness for shows that deserve more exposure! In this week’s edition we sat down with Pixie Lott to discuss Stories of 29.
POD BIBLE: Who are you and what’s your podcast about?
PIXIE LOTT: My debut podcast Stories of 29 explores the age that people deem their most pivotal and memorable year. Each week, I’ll interview a different guest in the public eye (including actors, musicians and fashion icons) and each episode will be themed around a particularly memorable age chosen by the guest about why that year was so transformative. I’ve found it fascinating so far! My first guest was supermodel Coco Rocha and she shares how, at the age of 21 she got married, faced media backlash over her weight and for the first time in her life really, truly found her voice. It was so inspirational to hear.
PB: What’s the first podcast you ever listened to?
PL: The first podcast I ever listened to was Table Manners by Jessie Ware and her mum. I love that podcast – it’s gone from strength to strength!
PB: Why did you decide to start podcasting in the first place?
PL: I learnt from astrologist Francesca Oddie, that your 29th year is called your ‘Saturn Return’ which is deemed a very transformative year for everyone before hitting the big 3-0. I’m now 29 and I’m really intrigued by what this year is teaching me. And with everything that’s happened so far in 2020 there’s no doubt it’s been transformative! I wanted to launch the podcast as I’m really interested to hear if any of my guests choose this year (in a global pandemic!) or if a different age was their most life altering. I have always been fascinated by people’s stories and get so much inspiration from it. It is so interesting to learn lessons and also compare people’s stories to see if their journeys bear any similarities and how they achieved their success.
PB: Which podcasts do you take inspiration from?
PL: Louis Theroux is a big inspiration of mine.
PB: Who’s your dream guest for the podcast?
PL: Goldie Hawn – after an incredible career and aged 74, I would love to know what age she found most pivotal. I’d also just love an excuse to have a good chat with her…!
PB: What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt so far as a podcaster?
PL: My biggest lesson is to make sure you are fully prepared – make sure you read your briefing document and have your questions ready. It’s also really important to listen to your guest – it sounds so simple but I have done interviews in the past where the interviewer hasn’t fully listened to my answer, they’ve just gone onto their next question. I’ve learnt sometimes that it’s good to go off book when it feels right.
PB: Which episode would you say is the perfect introduction to your podcast?
PL: I loved one of my latest episodes with world famous photographer to the stars, publisher and film director Rankin. Rankin’s chosen year on the podcast is 2009 and the age of 43 as he tells me why it was one of the most exciting stages in his journey as a photographer after running Rankin Retrospective, and Shoot me Rankin! exhibitions at the Truman Brewery. I love the idea that the best is yet to come and that we don’t have to have had our best years in our twenties or younger. Rankin also got married at the age of 43 which is lovely to hear about.
PB: Where can the Pod Bible readers find out more about you?
PL: Check out the podcast on Spotify, Apple Music, and all major podcast platforms.
