Your podcast Sliding Doors is about to reach a big milestone – 100 episodes! Congratulations! For those unfamiliar, could you tell us a little about yourself and the podcast?

Thank you so much! I am Jennie Becker and three and a half years ago I founded the podcast Sliding Doors. Ever since I was 11 years old and used to go to the video shop on Saturday nights and rent the film Sliding Doors, I’ve been fascinated with the moment when Gwyneth Paltrow did and didn’t catch the train, and how we can have those what if moments in our lives. So when I decided to start a podcast, it was only fitting that I called it Sliding Doors and decided to delve into the Sliding Doors moments in people’s lives.

Have you ever had a sliding door moment – a decision or opportunity that could have gone either way that leads to two very different futures? Everybody has a sliding door moment in their lives – they don’t have to be big or flashy – but they can send you down a unique path you never expected…I’m fascinated by ‘what if’ moments – what they look like, what we can learn from them – and how we can begin to embrace them.

Since I started the podcast I’ve been on an incredible journey helping guests join the dots on the small decisions or moments that made a big difference and built the path of their lives.

From Olympians to presenters, actors to entrepreneurs (and even the cast of the movie!), each episode I get to meet amazing people and ask them what could have been, if they’d chosen differently…

Jennie Becker

In the Sliding Doors universe, you’re living the version of events where you started the podcast but on the flip side, in the timeline where you didn’t start the podcast, what do you think you would be doing now? Would you have started a different podcast instead?

That is such an amazing question! I can’t even begin to think of a world without having Sliding Doors in it! The podcast has not only changed my life but it’s changed me as a person so much over the past three and a half years. It has made me more confident; it has taught me so much, it has given my life inspiration and it has made me feel like I have a purpose in life. To be honest I feel like if I had started a podcast on anything else but Sliding Doors I don’t know how committed I would’ve been to it, but also I don’t know if I would’ve thrived off the interviews and enjoyed it as much as I have and really pushed through to consistently keep going for three and a half years. When it comes down to it, the reason why I keep going as an independent podcaster is because of my love of the conversations that I have and the sliding doors moments I get to delve into and dissect. To answer your question, I just think I’d be unhappy in my job in my life and still searching for something that gave me joy and filled my cup.

100 episodes is a great accomplishment! Can you tell us the most important things you’ve learnt from creating the podcast?

I think for me the most important thing is perseverance and consistency. The podcast world is so big and there are so many shows, but if you really believe in your ability and your premise you’ve just got to keep going at it. I know that the reason why I do this is because of the great conversations that I have. So for me, I think I’ve really learnt that. It’s really important to have something that feels like it’s my own. I think I’ve also learnt so much from my guests over the years and how certain things can happen in life and you have to believe in the decisions that you make and the path that you take. It’s going to lead you to where you’re meant to be and I’ve taken so much inspiration when I’ve had hard times in my life from listening to my guest stories and being able to look into the ‘what ifs’ of their lives.

What have been some of the highlights for you, over the course of your podcasting journey?

My biggest highlight was writing and producing the Sliding Doors 25 podcast documentary with all the cast and crew from the film. I created a four-part documentary series where I told the story of how the film was made. I got to interview a lot of the cast and crew and had some really great celebrities to tell their best Sliding Doors moments! The highlight for me was bringing everybody together at the electric cinema in Notting Hill watching the film, interviewing the writer and director and being able to celebrate the film that changed my life.

Sliding Doors 25

Do you have a favourite episode of the podcast, or one you are proudest of?

I get asked this question all the time and it’s so hard for me to answer because I genuinely come off most interviews so full of life and enjoyment after our chats! But I think for me the one that I am most proud of is my hundredth episode with Tony Blackburn, because it was such an amazing milestone and it was so great to meet him in person, as someone that not only I have loved listening to, but my family have for such a long time. If you had told me three and a half years ago, I would’ve been really proud.

Who would be your dream guest for the podcast?

I think Gwyneth Paltrow has to be one of them, but I also love Fearne Cotton and she’s one of the main reasons why I got into podcasting as I love her as an interviewer.

But I’d also love to interview Paul McCartney as I’m such a big fan of the Beatles and have so many questions I’d love to ask him.

Tony Blackburn on episode 100!

Is there an episode that you think is a great starting point for new listeners?

This is another great question…I would say out of the 100 episodes that I’ve done the best place to start (although you can really listen to any of them in any order), is Rachel Stevens, Bradley Walsh, or Andrea Mclean…some of my favourite moments!

Can you tell us anything about the 100th episode? Are you doing anything exciting to celebrate?

I am so excited to launch my 100th episode! As I mentioned it’s with the legendary broadcaster Tony Blackburn and we recorded in person which was just amazing and it’s a brilliant way to celebrate this milestone for me. I am launching new podcast artwork which has been really exciting to put together. And I’m also going to be doing a little celebration with some of my podcast guests, and people who helped me and worked with me, and my friends of the podcast, as I think it’s so important to celebrate milestones. I really feel like this is just the start of a new journey for me and I’m really excited to get it out there and also for everyone to see my other guests for this monumental series.

What are your future plans for Sliding Doors?

I just want to keep bringing out brilliant stories and interviews with some amazing guests and I would love to do more live shows to connect more with my audience and really start to build a community with the people that love listening to Sliding Doors but are also fascinated with the Sliding Doors theory…watch this space!

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

You can find out more about me on Instagram @jenbecks28 and @slidingdoorspod and you can keep up-to-date with all the things that are going on for Sliding Doors and look out for some community news coming very, very soon!

Listen to Sliding Doors on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other popular podcast apps >>

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Over the last four years, Fearne has spoken to guests from all walks of life – from household names like Dawn French, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Dame Kelly Holmes, to individuals finding happiness in the hardest of times, and even her own family.

As with all podcasts, there is a wider team behind the microphone sourcing these interviews, producing the sound and updating the socials. Reaching this milestone gives them a good chance to reflect on their favourite episodes too. And if you’re new to the show and finding the episode list a bit overwhelming, here are five episodes to start with, recommended by the Happy Place team:

Fearne Cotton, Happy Place Founder:
‘Björn Natthiko Lindeblad’

I chose Bjorn Nathiko the forest monk. I feel so honoured that I was able to have such an open discussion about life and death with this wise human. Knowing he didn’t have long to live gave him an expansive understanding of life. His words have never left me. I’m so grateful to have had such a special hour with Bjorn.

Sarah White, Senior Talent Manager, YMU, Fearne Cotton + Happy Place:
‘Björn Natthiko Lindeblad’

Bjorn’s episode was the first posthumous podcast we’ve released on Happy Place. It was incredibly poignant to be organising a recording with a guest knowing that when the podcast went live to our listeners, he would no longer be with us. He spoke about life with such optimism, and death with such eloquence.

Holly Bott, Global MD, YMU Entertainment:
‘Dawn French’

This was the first episode we ever recorded. To be invited into Dawn French’s house and for her to speak so warmly and with no restraints, was the point we realised that this idea was not just a good one on paper, but something important and that could work.

Anouszka Tate, Happy Place podcast Producer:
‘Ashley Cain’

Knowing that we’ve spent a number of years creating a safe space for mental health to be explored, athlete and TV personality Ashley Cain chose the podcast as the place he would talk out loud for the first time about losing his eight month old daughter to leukaemia, educating listeners about the disease, and making others feel less alone in the process. That he made the decision to do that shows what a beautiful community Fearne has created with Happy Place beyond the podcast.

This episode also featured relatively little of Fearne – which feels like a counter intuitive reason for her unapologetically proud producer to pick this episode – but it’s real testament to her world-class skills as a storyteller. She knows when there’s more power in listening than talking. In a world where everyone wants to be the loudest voice, have the strongest opinion, be the centre of attention, we need more people like Fearne who know exactly when to use their platform to pass the mic to someone else.

Amelia Kanaris, Senior Social Media Manager, Happy Place:
Lin Cotton ‘Mother’s Day Special’

One of the most memorable for me is the Lin Cotton Mother’s Day special episode. Fearne and Lin exploring the mental wellbeing throughout generations of their family made for an heartfelt and raw listen. The response from our community to take action and talk with their relatives about their own experiences was incredibly moving. It’s moments like this which really show that Fearne has created something so special with Happy Place.

Listen to Happy Place now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps.

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If you could go back to just before you recorded your first episode and give yourself one piece of advice, what would it be?

Whatever opinion you express on an episode, people will hold you to that forever, and in years to come you will be challenged on  something you said in a throwaway moment in a garage.

What it it about podcasts that appeal to you?

You’re not trying to appeal to anyone, it can be niche and specialist, and you don’t really have to make any concessions at all to the audience or a network or anything – which means that the content is raw and exactly what the hosts and producers want to deliver, for better or worse. We’re seeing many podcasts now that are network backed or come form official channels, but even they seem to not impose too much editorial constraint on the podcasters which I think can only be a good thing.

What makes a great podcast guest?

Somebody who is willing to be open and honest – that’s it really. you can feel when they are restricted in what they want to say. We have guests from hip hop, comedy, presenters etc, and the best ones are the ones who just say what they think and are happy to talk about anything. We are not trying to trip anyone up. Sometimes people feel like they’re going to get found out about their lack of in depth knowledge but we don’t care about that.

What makes a great podcast host?

I think that a great podcast host is willing to cater the episode to their guest. If it’s a funny guest, then let’s be funny, if the guest is serious then just roll with that. I don’t think you should force it. But all of that is flannel compared to the requirement to really be in the conversation. I know hosts have questions they want to ask but the best hosts engage with the conversation and are happy to go with it rather than waiting for the pause to ask their next scripted question. This coming from a guy who has a set of six questions he always asks.

What’s been your worst podcast moment?

I did one of the Distraction Pieces Drunkasts with Scroobius Pip, Brett Goldstein and the guys from Hardcore Listing (ep #130). I got way too hammered and said some shit I really regret. I was a real twat on that. The worst moment for me was when Pip revealed to me that it’s not edited. He said it live on the podcast so that went in too. I was smashed but knew enough to know that was bad news.

What’s your podcast pet peeve?

I find it annoying when you’re drunk on a podcast and they only tell you it’s not being edited when you’re on it and smashed.

There there anything you found annoying as a podcast listener… but then understood when you started making your own?

I used to find advertising annoying, but then I realised that has to happen as you’re not being paid to deliver content and the advertising actually helps you keep making quality content. We make advertising revenue on our podcast and almost all of it goes back into the pod, though listening I’d imagine you’d be hard pressed to figure out how.

Which ONE podcast episode of your own means the most to you?

I think when we had Afrika Baby Bam from the Jungle Brothers on the podcast was when I first realised that this thing that started off as a hobby had somehow enabled me to be in the same room as legends who had shaped my life, and people who I admire so much. That felt really amazing to me.

Which ONE podcast episode (not of your own) means the most to you?

Adam Buxton is one of my favourite people in the world, so to be able to go and do his podcast and have a relaxed chat with someone who I admire so much was a really wonderful experience.

On Hip Hop Saved My Life. Romesh Raganathan talks to comedians, presenters and music industry legends about thier love for Hip Hop and what it means to them. Listen on ACAST, SPOTIFY and OTHER PODCAST APPS. Follow Romesh @romeshranga // @HHSMLpodcast

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PB: Why do you love podcasts?

KT: In an age of 140 characters and ever shorter content creation I love the fact that podcasts celebrate the art of long form, uninterrupted conversation. With voice notes, texts and WhatsApp leading the way we tend to communicate these days, we’re in danger of losing the ability to talk and podcasts fly in the face of that, so long may they live and long may we continue to love eavesdropping on the way people talk.

What was the first podcast you ever listened to?

Probably Desert Island Discs, but I did that on i-player so I’m not sure that counts. Which would make Unfiltered with James O’Brien my first podcast obsession. He recorded 50 brilliant long-form interviews for Joe.com with a smorgasbord of interesting, intelligent but inherently different subjects and I was devastated when he called it a day. Thankfully he’s up and running again with Full Disclosure which is just as good. He’s a brilliant interviewer, a broadcaster who never quite gets the props he deserves in my humble opinion.

Which podcaster makes you laugh the most?

Russell Kane on Boys Don’t Cry. Why this man doesn’t have his own show in a great slot on TV is beyond me – he’s laugh your arse off funny!

Which podcast has educated you the most?

Ted Talks Ted Radio Hour, it’s a mash up of great Ted Talks, which they revisit across a theme with updated interviews and you come away knowing all kinds of wonderful things you didn’t realise you wanted to know.

Can you recommend a podcast our readers may not have heard of?

That’s the question I ask all my friends! For me, I love How To Fail with Elizabeth Day, Ctrl Alt Delete with Emma Gannon, Boys Don’t Cry and Annie Mac’s podcast, which is a truly lovely listen.

White Wine Question Time, with Kate Thornton, is the podcast that brings together three well-known friends, three bottles of wine and three thought provoking questions. Discover the friendships behind the entertainment headlines, and listen in on their conversations for a side to the celebrities you’ve never heard before. Listen to Kate Thornton’s podcast now on Acast, Spotify or all other platforms.

Read more Podcast Disciple articles in the Pod Bible magazine, which you can read online or buy in our shop. 

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