Listen Up, It’s Time To Talk with Alex Reads

POD BIBLE: What made you want to get into podcasting? What about the audio format intrigues you or made you feel it was the right medium for your topics and themes?
ALEX ‘READS’ HOLMES: I got into podcasting in 2015, when I realised that I wanted to hear more Black British voices speaking about things I was interested in: books, health and wellbeing. I started with a podcast called Mostly Lit which I started with friends, and joined a network called the ShoutOut Network, which was really my learning ground for all things podcasting – RSS Feed, mics, editing, interviewing – until I stopped Mostly Lit in 2019. I created my own podcast in 2018 – Time To Talk with Alex Reads – and I have enjoyed every moment of it. There is something so intimate about the audio conversation. I love how it gave people some comfort in dark times and made them laugh on their commutes. Podcasting is my favourite form of communication (after writing, of course!)

PB: You delve into many serious and deeply personal topics on your show. How does a host create a safe space for their guests when discussing issues like mental health?
ARH: For me, I genuinely care about my guests. I spend a considerable amount of time with them trying to get a sense of who they are, what stories they have inside of them, and how they are feeling. I smile a lot and listen deeply. If that all fails, I bribe them with snacks – always works!

PB: How do you select guests for your podcast and how much research do you do prior to recording with them?
ARH: I do a lot of research. Hours, sometimes days, and if it’s an author I have to read at least 3/4 of the book to make sure I get a good sense of what they’re saying. It’s eye-watering, but I love it. I find people through reading, blogs, Instagram and sometimes people suggest guests to me. There is nothing wrong with cold-calling a few people and just hoping they pick up, or answer emails. You have to be bold and courageous. I made a hit list and keep an eye on what people are doing. I am interested in people, and if I think that they have the best stories to share with my audience, I’ll try to find a way to make it work. 

PB: Podcasts about books are often thought of as its own genre. Why was it important for you to incorporate a reading list into your show?
ARH: I love books, and I am working on a book segment for the show to come in September. I think if people listen to the show, they can get an idea that I love reading and suggesting books that move me, inspire me, and help me to live courageously. There is always something to learn. I am a beginner in everything, so there is always something to be gleaned from a good book, and I hoped a reading list would help people get on the way. 

PB: How has the podcast evolved since you began in the fall of 2018?
ARH: It has changed so much and bounced from studio to studio. It has reached Top 50 UK Mental Health Podcasts on Chartable, and was on the Top 100 Health list on Apple Podcasts. It also changed from the original name of What Matters with Alex Reads, which my friend Clarissa Pabi helped with at the time. I changed it to Time To Talk because I was writing an essay about why it was “Time to Talk” about mental health and wellbeing, and it just stuck. The essay is turning into a book that is due out in April 2021, and I can’t wait for everyone to read it. It is a conversation around love, connection and belonging from the perspective of men and masculinity. 

Alex ‘Reads’ Holmes is a writer and podcaster from the UK, and the host of Time To Talk with Alex Reads. He is currently writing his first book, Time To Talk: How Men Feel About Love, Belonging and Connection, to be released in April 2020. For more on Alex, visit his website and follow him on Instagram.