In the case of the live show I saw at the London Podcast Festival, the panel consisted of Sarah Bennetto and Njambi McGrath (Empire Strikes Back) vs Abigoliah Schamaun and Sharlin Jahan (The Right Side). The third team playing was the Hive Mind of the Audience.

I wasn’t expecting a show that has a theme tune with the words “we’re short, we’re round, we’re brown or we’re queer…” to keep very much off the table when it comes to comedy fodder, and host Deborah Francis-White came hot out of the gate to acknowledge the “change of staff at Buckingham Palace.” Luckily, the audience were receptive to the quip, because there were several of the same theme that followed, culminating in the recognition of the show taking place in King’s Place.

Seeing the recording of this panel show was a peak behind the curtain and, as someone who has attempted to control a panel conversation, it was reassuringly chaotic. It’s also great to see the amount of teamwork that goes into the episode you can hear – Deborah is the host, but questions are set by Ned Sedgwick. The panel brought their stories and jokes (some more loudly than others) and the little musical ditty was played live by Mark Hodge. Even the Producer (a job that often needs coaxing out into public) Tom Salinsky was present to rile up the audience at the start and wind down the comedians towards the end of time.

There were points that highlight we are all somewhat out of practice with live shows: several segues had to be read more than once, a few jokes didn’t quite land a laugh (although listening back to the episode, they seem funnier because of that). And as an audience we needed a lot of encouragement to get involved. The Global Pillage team were perhaps sorry they encouraged us because the first answer that was given appears to have been too rude for the podcast version!

But it was fun to feel the energy in the room, and be involved in the show.

Oh, and I completely forgot that I gave an answer for the Hive Mind at around 16mins. I do like a good pun…

Listen to Global Pillage Live at the London Podcast Festival 2022 now on Apple Podcast, Spotify and other popular podcast apps.

The post REVIEW // Global Pillage LIVE at the London Podcast Festival appeared first on POD BIBLE.

Now, Liz Cheng and Patricia Alvarado Núñez (who co-created the series with Editorial Manager Chris Hastings) host and executive produce Stories from the Stage: The Podcast, based on the original broadcast series. It allow listeners to hear entire episodes of the original series as they appeared during their original television broadcasts, but it also provides bonus “behind-the-scenes” narratives and extras not included in the Stories from the Stage on-air broadcasts.

We caught up with Liz and Patricia to talk about creating the podcast series, representation, and which podcasts inspire them…

Can you introduce yourselves to the readers?

Liz Cheng: Early in my career as a print and video journalist/producer, I gravitated to the stories of individuals, caught in the headlines, who illustrated the unfortunate pressure points in America, and yet, were determined to prevail. I was especially drawn to those who embodied all the ‘differences’ that make a difference. You see, my parents emigrated from China after World War II at a time when our country thought every Asian was the enemy, so it was difficult for them to find jobs, despite having advanced degrees, and it was years until they eventually became U.S. citizens. As a result, I found myself focusing on fellow multiculturals — filmmakers, storytellers and subjects/people with diverse backgrounds, differing orientation and often challenging circumstances —who like all of us just want a safe and sustainable place in the world for themselves, the people they love and their community. Thanks to our talented staff, WORLD has evolved from a service that merely repeated the best in PBS non-fiction content to now commissioning and curating original films and storytelling with widely diverse perspectives and memorable situations – in essence, people reporting from the heart of their own multicultural communities.

Patricia Alvarado Núñez: Growing up in Panama and working at its public television station, I had always dreamed of studying in Boston and working at the powerhouse public media producer, GBH. I was fortunate to secure an internship with La Plaza, a GBH series dedicated to examining issues affecting Latino communities throughout the United States. Following my internship, I had the opportunity to produce different projects, including a documentary about Fidel Castro for the PBS series American Experience, a national studio-based series called Maria Hinojosa: One-on-One and Neighborhood Kitchens, a regional multicultural food series. I hope all my projects give people a glimpse into the diverse communities that make up our country. For this series, we have created a welcoming stage accessible to people from across the nation and around the world — of all ages, genders and ethnic backgrounds as well as those from rural and urban areas. When we create a safe place for people and their stories, we make space for empathy and a way for all of us to connect with a shared humanity.

What drew you to this project?

Patricia: Stories from the Stage is a dream project for me. I grew up hearing stories, mainly from my aunts and my dad in our childhood home. So, while I’ve always enjoyed the art of storytelling, I never dreamed that such stories could appeal to a wider audience. We love to help people find their voice because everyone has a story to tell. Some say telling a story on stage in front of strangers is simple, but it is not, even if you are an experienced speaker, actor, writer or stand-up comic. Liz, Director and Editor Michael Rossi, Curator and Story Coach Cheryl Hamilton, and I are grateful to our storytellers for allowing us to work with them on honing their performances, as they prepare to share the best and worst moments of their lives. Sometimes storytellers think they are ready to go on stage when they are not, so we gently invite them to return another time.

There are many reasons why tellers volunteer to do what they do: the time needed to process and publicly recognize something significant that happened to them as well as the opportunity to connect with strangers, impart insight about personal experiences and help others on their journey through life. Plus, it’s an amazing adrenaline rush – until you are up on stage, you can’t imagine the energy, excitement and feeling of accomplishment.

Liz: I believe a memorable story, heard at the right time, can transform a person. These are quintessential American stories from people whose families often originated from other countries. You can be emotionally uplifted by someone who might seem, at first, very different from you: a penniless young Black refugee from civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo trying to pursue an education in the U.S.; a woman with alopecia who redefines beauty for her two young daughters; or a man, whose family fled the Holocaust, learning to come to terms with tremendous loss.  These stories can inspire empathy, action and even incite social change — it is an art form that dares to take a stand. The primal act of sharing a story is a wonderful communal experience — we can learn together through laughter, tears — and cheers!  We endeavor to move beyond  understanding in order to celebrate our differences.

What do you have to consider when making a podcast as a companion to a TV series?

Patricia: For the podcast — as a major departure from broadcast — we can reveal the thinking and expand the timeline driving this incredibly rewarding work. Liz and I share behind-the-scenes information, including what happens after a performance. For example, on stage, a mother describes rescuing her young daughter from an oxycodone house; a year later, did the daughter stay drug-free and what did she think about her story being told publicly? Often, post-performance, long-lost friends, family and those involved in a story reach out to tellers after decades of no contact. These important details add layers to a story that is already extremely impactful.

Liz: Patricia and I discuss why we choose certain storytellers and how three stories connected together can make an inspiring statement about fighting for a cause, surviving a hilarious set of circumstances, triumphing over disaster, and even finding redemption. Unlike our broadcast series — we can also talk about how we identify with tellers and their stories. After all, we’re not made of stone! If we are filled with a sense of wonder or a particular story hits home, we talk about the connections to our personal lives. The podcast allows amazing stories – for the first time — to be enjoyed by all of you outside the United States.

Are there any podcasts you draw inspiration from?

Liz: I love so many podcasts that provide daily news, political analysis, storytelling, humor and deep dives into science, history, the arts or social justice issues.  Walking the dog on weekends, I like to listen to Code Switch, Hidden Brain, On the Media, and Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me!

We like to give our listeners a point of entry to series – would you say there’s a particular episode that’s a must listen?

Patricia:  It is hard to choose among so many storytellers who have inspired and entertained us. Below is a sampling of episodes we have listened to again and again and have turned out to be fan favorites in the U.S. Enjoy!

GROWING UP BLACK

Valerie Tutson introduces her disbelieving Black students to one of the world’s greatest explorers from Africa; and as a young girl at a predominantly Black school in Chicago, Angie Chatman has a chance encounter with a police officer she will never forget. Listen now >>

DEADLY SINS

Ashley Rose’s beloved multicultural neighborhood in Boston was destroyed by a man-made disaster; years later, she takes us back there to explore how this traumatic event turned her into a crusader for others. Listen now >>

WHATEVER IT TAKES 

Teacher and artist Annemarie Whilton describes her daughter Sarah’s descent into substance misuse disorder and her dramatic rescue from a drug den. Mother and daughter have a conversation with us about the challenging journey toward recovery. Listen now >>

SURVIVING CHILDHOOD

Comedic storyteller Susanne Schmidt shares two of her favorite childhood adventures: an “extreme camping” trip with her family, and her Janis Joplin lookalike nanny, who invented an new Olympic competition riding pillows down the staircase. Listen now >>

Where can our readers find out more about you?

You can follow Stories from the Stage on Facebook @storiesfromthestage to learn more about the series and discover new stories, or
Instagram, Twitter and YouTube using the hashtag #SFTSPodcast or by tagging @worldchannel and @StoriesFromTheStage.

Listen to Stories From The Stage now on worldchannel.org, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps.

Patricia Alvarado Núñez is an executive producer at GBH Boston.

Liz is the general manager of television for GBH’s six channels in the station’s local Boston, Massachusetts, area and for the U.S. 24/7 digital service, WORLD Channel, which is available in markets representing nearly 75% of U.S. television households.

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Who are you and what’s your podcast about?

Hear Me Roar with Ashveen Kohli is the only British podcast that actually champions the success stories of our ethnic minority heroes. We’re talking about real life legends that are our generations first brown ‘insert title here’! Our guests are winners and overachievers in their industries and communities.

Oftentimes, minority podcasts only focus on the traumas and difficulties inherent to our situation as minorities. The Hear Me Roar Podcast is about bringing to light our successes; to encourage our listeners to be bold and follow in the footsteps of the great achievers in our communities!

What was the first podcast you ever listened to?

The Receipts podcast was the first podcast I listened to and loved straight away, as it is for a lot of others. It’s like being on the sofa with the girls and a glass of wine!

Why did you decide to start podcasting in the first place?

I spent my career in investment banking being the only brown woman in the room. I always felt like there was a lack of relatable role models for people like me in the workplace and in the media. The podcast just began as a way to start meaningful conversations with people I could learn from. It just so happened that a lot of people were craving these conversations from our guests as well.

Ashveen Kohli with an upcoming guest Jaye Parson, Fashion Designer: Ashanti, Floyd Mayweather, Jhene Aiko.

Which podcasts do you take inspiration from?

I regularly ask myself ‘what would the Ikonn’s do?’, so The Ikonn’s podcast is definitely one that I’ve always found personal growth from. This wife/husband duo have a mindset that I really think is rare to come by, particularly on social media. They’re honest and very intentional about the topics they choose to discuss. Their podcasts are generally about their numerous businesses and their eco-friendly actions, personality behaviours and a bit of mindfulness thrown in. I feel like they’re the best kind of influencers out there, as it’s all authentically them.

Who’s your dream guest for the podcast?

So the Hear Me Roar producers and I sat down at the very beginning and actually made a dream guest list of people we will hopefully have on! Michelle Obama is probably at the top of my list, but there’s also Naga Munchetty and Gurinder Chadha.

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt so far as a podcaster?

To listen… like really listen. A lot of the time we go through life not really hearing other people and giving the response we think is correct, but since our podcast involves interviewing each of our guests (and whilst they might be in serious or casual environments), I’ve definitely learnt to drop the rigidness, and instead, just listen to them. Something I think the Buddhists have gotten right: “When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if you listen you may learn something new.”

Ashveen Kohli with Tom Walker from Veenpool Media & Studios (Episode 17) on Start a successful Tech business with minority business clients.

Which episode would you say is the perfect introduction to your podcast?

Probably ‘What it’s like to be a Brown Doctors in the NHS’ because you’re sitting down with friends and having a real chat about the stuff you’ve been dying to ask your Doctor but never really do. Its also very personal, a bit sassy and a whole lot of saucy too!

I also think for the more CEO-savvy listeners, ‘How to be a Tech Entrepreneur’ with Tom Walker was a lot of fun! It was recorded very late into the night in the studio, and it was such an easy conversation, and it also covered a lot of my favourite topics, including business, technology, and talking about the examples set by reigning captains of industry, e.g. Nike’s, Phil Knight!

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

The podcast is available on all platforms, including Apple, Spotify, Amazon, Google, and Youtube! Just search “Hear Me Roar with Ashveen Kohli”. Check out our Instagram handle @HearMeRoar_Pod or email me directly if you want at ashveenkk@gmail.com!

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Who are you and what’s your podcast about? 

We’re best friends, blogger Amanda Millie and screenwriter Amelia Fergusson. So, what do you do when you don’t have a name for your podcast? Un-name it of course. Our podcast is Name To Be Determined:  we get together in Amanda’s London Hackney abode to talk sh*t. Literally! Okay, maybe literally is the wrong word. But, if you’re like us and love a good chit chat on topics ranging from being kidnapped at birth (yes, that happened to Amanda) to nearly being roped into joining a religious cult, to crazy dating stories, and motherhood (yes, we’re also mothers!) you’ll love Name To Be Determined. We are no holds barred and not afraid to say the opinions that some people may have but are too scared to vocalise themselves. 

What was the first podcast you ever listened to? 

Amelia’s first podcast was Casefile and the first one Amanda ever listened to was the first season of Serial with the Adnan case.

Why did you decide to start podcasting in the first place? 

We have always had some funny discussions and some interesting life experiences and we wanted to share them with a wider audience. (Surely we’re not the only ones who’ve experienced what we have). We wanted to be able to share our passion on a platform where we had creative control and could put out something that we love.

Which podcasts do you take inspiration from? 

3ShotsofTequila is one we like. From an audience perspective we really enjoy Small Town Murder and have been listeners of their podcast since inception. We love small town murder and 3ShotsofTequila because you can just tell that they are being authentic and try to themselves. They’ve all managed to build successful brands based on being who they are. They’re also all super funny and we love to laugh.

Who’s your dream guest for the podcast? 

We haven’t really got round to inviting guests yet. But if we could have one guest that would excite the both of us, it would be Dave Chapelle. He is the king of comedy in our eyes, and we have spent so many lazy Sunday afternoons in our younger days, just binge watching his videos.

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt so far as a podcaster? 

Preparation is key, having talking points. And the importance of editing! Also, to not be scared to be our authentic selves. There’s so much political correctness these days! At its core, our podcast is just two friends talking about a range of topics that interest us without any filters.

Which episode would you say is the perfect introduction to your podcast? 

Our first episode, Where we’re meant to be, is quite poignant as it introduces us in a way that allows us to ponder on how the moment of recording may never have happened at all. Amanda was kidnapped at birth and Amelia was returned to social services as a baby. From a cosmic perspective, we were certainly supposed to come together in this life. We also discuss our own journeys in motherhood. So, overall a great introduction to us both!

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

Check out the show via https://kite.link/nametobedetermined or find us on Instagram @nametobedeterminedpodcast & @mandsmillie

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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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Who are you and what’s your podcast about? 

My name is Cherise Hamilton-Stephenson. I am a presenter and producer born and raised in South London, embedded in UK culture. I have a passion for contemporary politics and social issues, and committed to platforming underrepresented, diverse and minority voices. The disconnect between traditional news and minority Millennials/Gen-Z, the feeling is that their stories were not being platformed and this inspired me to create my podcast Interconnected Voices. Interconnected Voices takes you behind the news headlines and combines insightful political commentary with personal stories from a wide variety of underrepresented, diverse and minority voices. I tell their stories through a mixed-media format of visual and audio.

What was the first podcast you ever listened to? 

Scene on Radio – I was hooked from the first episode, exploring the relationship between race, class and sports in American Society. I was intrigued by the interesting facts and the archive footage that was sourced. The hosting was informal, making it an easy listen, coupled with a sensitive approach to contributors who shared their stories on difficult topics.

Why did you decide to start podcasting in the first place? 

I became bored of consuming news that I could not relate to. I also felt that the reporting did not explore how issues and topics would affect young people. Starting a podcast was a good way for me to combine my passion for giving a voice to those presently voiceless, utilising my journalism and radio production skills to connect with young audiences that no longer consume news through traditional channels.

Which podcasts do you take inspiration from? 

Before I created Interconnected Voices, I listened to a few politics podcasts to get a general idea of formatting, such as, Gaslit Nation. However, I would say that feedback from my listeners really helped me to develop the mix media style and contemporary format of Interconnected Voices. I was keen to have strong visuals and branding to capture people’s attention.

Who’s your dream guest for the podcast? 

I really admire female political commentators, with strong points of view and a desire to make equality the norm in our society. I would love to interview Afua Hirsh, broadcast journalist and author platforming issues on race, class and gender. It would be great to gain her point of view on how to improve the criminal justice system and race relations in the UK.

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt so far as a podcaster? 

I have learnt two big lessons: consistency is key; as humans we create habits. The best way to build a listenership is to consistently put out content, as much as you can. Also, have fun! The best thing about creating audio is the freedom to change your format, style, and sound, experimenting with different interview styles to fit your chosen topic; evolving your podcast and not letting it become stagnate. For example, my new series ‘Black Voice Collections’ is a series of anecdotes and reflections portraying the realities of being Black and British – the highs, the lows and all that’s in between. The episodes are a completely different style to series 1 & 2, they are 3 – 6 minute long episodes with beautifully designed soundscapes and fire promo videos for each episode created by Bridey Addison-Child and Phoebe Langley Gussin.

Which episode would you say is the perfect introduction to your podcast? 

Each podcast series has a different theme, topics and production style; therefore, I feel there’s an episode for everyone. However, I would say Series 2, Episode 3, ‘The Universal Credit Trap’, is an insightful episode highlighting how the UK’s benefit system affects minority millennials/Gen-Z. It’s a perspective that is not often given a platform in mainstream media. Also, in this episode, we executed Interconnected Voice’s production style with an eclectic mix of archive, soundscape and balanced narrative.

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

They can find out more about me on my personal Instagram: @ailliyah_cherisex and Twitter: @AilliyahCherise. For Interconnected Voices episodes and exclusive content, they can follow @interconnected_voices on Instagram.

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When Burn It All Down started in 2017, what made the group decide that a podcast was the right medium for this particular discussion?

Jessica: It all initially started as a private DM group on Twitter put together by Shireen Ahmed. The point was initially and throughout to encourage each other’s work and to commiserate about being women in sports media, a very male-dominated field, but naturally turned to us discussing and debating issues at the intersection of sports and culture.

Shireen: A podcast was suggested by former co-host Julie DiCaro. She worked in radio and felt it would be a good fit. We all have very distinguished voices but live in different parts of the US and Canada. A podcast was something we could do remotely and from home. Plus, no one was offering us a T.V. show. 

How do you all feel podcasting has changed in the 3+ years you’ve been creating your program?

Jessica: Podcasting continues to grow as a medium. There is more diversity in sports podcasters than what we were seeing 3+ years ago. Burn It All Down recently joined a sports podcasting network, Blue Wire, which is not necessarily something we could have even conceived of 3 years ago, either that such a network would exist or that our very feminist, very pointed sports and culture podcast would have a place on such a network.

Shireen: The video and audio quality have improved hugely for those who do not have access to a studio (ergo: us). I know little about technology but I also appreciate Aaron (Jessica’s husband) advising us diligently to restart our computers.

How has the program itself changed over its lifetime?

Shireen: We took a break for August and recharged. We hadn’t had a break since we started. We are very committed to this show and love our team greatly. But getting a break was essential. Martin Kessler is our producer extraordinaire, along with Tressa Versteeg, who produces our interviews. We changed the format so the interviews are stand-alone and I think that works well. Shelby Weldon came on to do our social media and website roughly 18 months ago and has been a wizard. She has revamped our website, created marvelous social media posts and been on top of everything on our social media accounts. We are very lucky to have a team as talented as ours. We are all so beautiful and smart.

Jessica: The first major change was the co-hosts ourselves. Within the first few months of production, Julie DiCaro left BIAD to pursue other opportunities and we were very fortunate to add Dr. Amira Rose Davis to our co-host quintet. It’s hard to imagine the show without her at this point. We have also subtlety shifted the format over time, though the basic framework — a weekly podcast during which a combination of the co-hosts, whoever is on that week, talk about an issue or issues within sports, metaphorically burn things that week in sports that have made us angry or sad, uplift women and non-binary athletes and people in sports doing great work, and interviewing someone within the sports world with an interesting story to tell — has remained constant. But we added on “hot takes” (get it?) for special episodes that are more timely even than a weekly show can be or are more narrow in scope. Most recently, when we brought on our producer, Martin Kessler, during our break in August 2020, we decided to break the interview off into its own episode each week, and streamline the main episode so that it comes in as close to 45 minutes as we can get it. We wanted space for the interviews to breathe instead of cramming them into a show and we wanted to tighten up the conversations we were having each week.

What is it like creating a podcast as a team? Do you create episodes with each person assigned a task, or do you all participate in every aspect of the show?

Shireen: It was a lot of collaboration, discussion, and discussion in Slack. Google docs and calendar helped us strategize. The team got even stronger when Amira came on board. She recently got us hooked on Asana for project management software. We all have different ways of operating and that’s something we have had to adjust to and work out. There is a lot of trust and mutual respect. That’s the only way it can work.

Jessica: It can be challenging to create as a team but mainly, it’s very good and very rewarding. We are definitely better because there are five co-hosts. We each have our own expertise and experiences that we bring to the discussions and interviews, and that only serves to make what we do more well-rounded. As for each episode, every week, one co-host is in charge of the episode (this is on a rotating basis and based on each person’s availability that week). They are in charge of shepherding everyone participating in that week’s recording through the brainstorming process, leading the pre-production meeting, and hosting the episode itself. We all participate in interviews: contacting people, scheduling them, doing the interviews themselves. And our producers then do the editing to tighten all of this up and create a final product we all are proud of.

What is your relationship like with your producer/editor and how important are they to Burn It All Down?

Shireen: MARTIN KESSLER IS THE MOST TALENTED AND DEDICATED PRODUCER ON THE PLANET!

Jessica: For most of the life of the program, we were our own producers. We record every Sunday and the goal is a Tuesday turn around. Whichever person was the lead on that episode would write up editorial notes — where to cut audio, where to add bumper music, etc. — and we’d send it off to We Edit Podcasts, a service that would then, per the name, edit the podcast. Last year, we hired the talented Kinsey Clarke, who is now with Vogue’s podcast team, as our first-ever producer. We worked with her for a few months and we learned more about what a producer can do for us. In August, Martin Kessler came on as our senior producer and he has helped us tighten the show up, has shown us how important pre-production is (we were mainly relying on post-production changes up to this point), and has encouraged us to bring in outside audio to enhance the listening experience. Even more recently, we hired Tressa Versteeg to work with us on the interview episodes and she now edits those for us.

I think it’s safe to say that we have learned that producers and editors are incredibly important to putting out a quality product and for keeping us focused on track. I have always been proud of Burn It All Down but am more proud of what we are creating now than ever before. I know our producers are a large part of that.

In the past, podcasts had often been referred as a place for mostly white men to discuss sports like associate football or the NFL, and was not thought of as a medium welcoming to a diverse array of voices. How have you seen this change during your tenure as a show, and what do you hope your contribution to that change is?

Shireen: Our existence challenges that exact notion. We are redefining what Sports Talk can be. It can be anti-oppressive; it can be smart; it can be relevant; it can be funny; and it can include other people than white, cis het men.

Jessica: I second Shireen’s comments here. Our continued existence and success is our contribution — showing that you can put together a sports show where women are the co-hosts, where we almost exclusively interview women and non-binary folks, where we are explicitly feminist in our analysis. I think we are seeing more of this kind of work as time goes on and I like to think we have helped that along.

What is the relationship between Burn It All Down and the listeners? How do they factor in to each new episode you create?

Shireen: We get a lot of emails and suggestions- particularly about The Burn Pile. Some of them we try to incorporate, and we also take the interview suggestions into account. We love our listeners. We call them “Flamethrowers” and they have been so dedicated and invested since day one.

Jessica: We love our listeners. They are so passionate and dedicated. We have long had a Patreon and without the financial support of our patrons, what we do would be impossible. We try to use that platform to give them behind-the-scenes access to the production of the show, to us the hosts, to additional discussions you can’t find anywhere else, things of that nature. There’s little that can make my heart soar as high as it does as when someone tells me they listen and love the podcast because I know we wouldn’t be here without those people. We hope they understand that, too.

During the lockdown and the halting of live sports, how did you decide to go on and keep creating content, and what drove you to continue?

Jessica: Well, in short, we did it because for 3 years we have always done it. As my co-host, Lindsay Gibbs, has said before, Burn It All Down is the one truly consistent thing in our lives. I think I was the one to say that I worried we’d run out of topics to cover and things to burn, but I was proven wrong week after week. Of all the many things laid bare by COVID, the importance of sports to our society was one of them, and so we continued to have things to talk about even as live sports stopped.

We are human, too, though, so we did end up taking a month-long break in August 2020 — our first ever since we started. But that point, lots of sports had already returned in some form so we were back on the content train. 

Shireen (centre) and Jessica (far right) along with the other hosts of Burn It All Down. Photo by Michael T. Davis. 

Listen to Burn It All Down on Spotify, your podcast app or the Burn It All Down website. You can follow them on Twitter and Instagram. 

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Run Pod

What’s its vibe? What I love about this podcast is not knowing every guest she has on and yet still finding the episodes so engaging and informative, not to mention hilarious. From the cast of Eastenders, many of whom were getting into running for the first time for charity, to radio and TV presenters you would never think were into running. There is no ego here, as Jenni says, if you can move one foot in front of the other, you are a runner and Jenni is ready to welcome you into the RunPod running club with open arms and miles!

How’d you hear about it Lou? I actually think I came across this podcast via the wonderful Pod Bible! 

Recommended episode: That’s a tricky one, but I have to say the chat with endurance runner Susie Chan. I loved hearing about her running journey and how she never set out to be a runner but stumbled into it – truly inspiring. And her Instagram account has had me lacing up and hitting the trails, almost (I ain’t no endurance runner!) every time! 

How to Fail with Elizabeth Day

What’s its vibe? Ever had an honest and positive conversation about failure? It’s not something which comes easily to most, certainly not in British culture. Building on discussions from her book How to Fail: Everything I’ve Ever Learned From Things Going Wrong, Elizabeth holds honest and deeply personal interviews with some incredible guests on the topic of failure. She provides the space for each guest to be able to share and explore their failings and the learnings they have and can take from them. For me, these are conversations we should be having more – after all, we do some of our best learning when we fail! 

How’d you hear about it Lou? Good question!I’ll be honest, I cannot remember but I am so glad I did, however it happened! 

Recommended episode: The one which has really stuck with me is her interview with the formidable Meera Syal. From discussions on race, ageing, embarrassing smear tests and womanhood, I was engrossed with Meera’s honesty and vulnerability throughout their conversation, especially when she spoke about her failure to raise her second child in the way she wanted to and instead being fixated with rigid regimes. This is a discussion of true self-reflexivity and guidance.

Louise Jenkins is a feminist based in the UK. She is a freelancer in women’s and girls’ rights whose work focuses on ending all forms of violence against women and girls, and the power and importance of feminist movements to bring about such change. When her ears aren’t glued to music or her heads in a book she can be found losing her ears and mind to an eclectic list of podcasts, primarily ones led by strong, passionate women.

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