THE GRAHAM NORTON BOOK CLUB
Do you enjoy a good book? Do you love getting lost in a plot? Join the club! Graham and his virtual book clubbers debate their favourite books alongside interviews with top authors, famous audiobook narrators and recommendations on what to read next. LISTEN NOW>>

“Interesting and entertaining. Audible got the right host for this.”
Miss S

“A great idea and done really well. Inspired me to try other geners”
Lyv

DERREN BROWN’S BOOTCAMP FOR THE BRAIN
Derren Brown and a host of expert guests journey into your brain. Combining the latest scientific research with gripping real-life stories, revealing how our brains deceive and confuse us, but also how we can get the upper hand. Plus, Derren recalls many of his famous tricks and illusions, taking us to the place where science and magic meet. LISTEN NOW >>

“Informative. Fascinate. Entertaining.”
Tony

“Great presentation of a very complex subject in a very understandable way”
K Muhay

WOMEN UNLOCKED
For International Women’s Day, Audible teamed up with some of the country’s biggest female stars. Inviting you into their homes for some uplifting chat, they reveal the survival tips they’ve learnt over the lockdown and how they want tot change the world for women in 2021. LISTEN NOW >>

“Brilliant lineup”
Anon

“Listening to these women speaking from the heart with such honesty and openness makes me feel so proud to be a women!”
M Taylor

PEOPLE, JUST PEOPLE S3
Dermot O’Leary gets to chat to people from all walks of life… from Olivia Coleman and Andrew Scott to Niall Horan and Arsene Wenger. The things that links them all is Dermot’s curiosity to find out more about their lives. And their willingness to talk to him.  LISTEN NOW >>

“Excellent podcast. Olivia Coleman and Andrew Scott would be great dinner party guests”
D Newman

“Honest, funny, touching. Loved it.”
Anon

VIETAS: LAPLAND’S GREATEST HEIST
It’s been almost 50 years since once of the greatest Swedish heists tool place, and to this fay, no-one is closer to solving the case. How could a crime be committed so seamlessly in a place where everyone knows everyone else’s movements at all times. LISTEN NOW >>

“Very good short documentary”
Anon

“Intriguing story”
Amazon user

BILLIE WAS A BLACK WOMEN
Billie Was A Black Women reflects Black womanhood through the prism of legendary jazz singer Billie Holliday – widely considered to be one of the most innovative artists of all time. Each episode dives into different facets of Billie’s life and legacy, exploring what it means to defy the narrow categorizations thrust upon Black artists, Black bodies and Black women today. LISTEN NOW >>

“Riverting”
Anon

“So interesting”
Julie

—

Every month, Audible members get one credit to use on any audiobook regardless of price or length, plus unlimited access to Audible Original Podcasts at no extra cost. Listen for free with your 30-day trial. From £7.99 / month after 30 days. Renews automatically.

The post The best Audible Original podcasts – From Graham Norton to Billie Holliday, via Lapland’s greatest heist appeared first on POD BIBLE.

SOUR HALL
Sour Hall follows George and Ash, an interracial lesbian couple who move to an isolated farm high up on the Yorkshire moors. As they settle into their new life as dairy farmers, a boggart sets about tormenting both of them, exacerbating the sources of their pain and distancing the  couple from one another. Recorded in partial 360 degree sound on location in Yorkshire, this truly terrifying Audible Original is best enjoyed when listened to with headphones. LISTEN NOW>>

“This was captivating, really using the audio
format to its fullest potential”
A Maloney

“Great atmospheric podcast”
Heidi

THE GOODBYE PARTY
An audio drama set in 1984. Detective Eric O’Malley investigated the deaths of a young couple, their bodies found naked by the side of a creek in Sydney’s suburbs. The case was barely open before it was deemed an accident but O’Malley knew it was murder, he just couldn’t prove it. Thirty-five years later, O’Malley is found dead in his flat in what looks like a drug overdose. His son James knows something’s amiss. His dad was close to solving that case after all these years. LISTEN NOW >>

“Excellent characters and a brilliant plot which
kept me guessing, did not want it to end”
Anon

“This is an extremely hard to stop
listen, finished it in one day”
Anon

BROOKLYN NORTH
A true story of how four black men were wrongfully convicted of murder. Louis Scarcella. Jonathan Fleming, Sundhe Moses, Jabbar Washington and John Bunn were among dozens of innocent New Yorkers, who spent decades in prison. This Original documentary follows their relentless fight to unveil an insidious pattern of police and prosecutorial corruption in Brooklyn in the 1980s and ‘90s. LISTEN NOW >>

“A brilliant listen”
Anon

“One of the most impactful listens ever”
K Dolen

BRUCE DAISLEY: NO OFFICE REQUIRED
In 2020 remote working became the norm, but our desire to swap the office for the home has been around for decades. This podcast is a practical guide on how to win at remote work hosted by best-selling author and internationally acclaimed CEO, Bruce Daisley. LISTEN NOW >>

“Great insights into the “new” ways
of working”
Kindle Customer

“Work from home mandatory listen”
Daniela

BIAS DIAGNOSIS
Junior Doctor, Ivan Beckley, speaks to real people, with real stories, uncovering one of the biggest injustices in modern medicine. Research shows that black people and people of colour die more often and have worse health outcomes in a variety of illness and across different medical fields. Ivan investigates the origins of this bias and debunks the misinformation that has existed for centuries. LISTEN NOW >>

“Everyone needs to
hear this!”
Simone

“This is a sociological investigation – and a shocking one at that”
The Guardian

DONOR 9623
When scores of aspiring parents turned to the fertility industry to start families, they chose a music prodigy and gifted athlete who had a genius IQ, movie star looks, and perfect health to be the biological father of their children. Except it was all a lie. Host Dov Fox unravels the case of Donor 9623, examining the complex forces and competing agendas behind the biggest reproductive hoax of our time. LISTEN NOW >>

“A compelling & complex story,
teased out beautifully”
Anon

“Excellent podcast. I thought I had made up my mind
until the last episode. Recommended.”
Victoria

—

Every month, Audible members get one credit to use on any audiobook regardless of price or length, plus unlimited access to Audible Original Podcasts at no extra cost. Listen for free with your 30-day trial. From £7.99 / month after 30 days. Renews automatically.

The post The best Audible Original podcasts – ghost stories, police documentaries and medical investigations appeared first on POD BIBLE.

Whether you’re a podcaster yourself, or promoting a business, being a guest on podcasts is a great way to get in front of your target audience for free. And it takes way less effort than guest blogging. No-brainer really.

But as a marketing strategy, it only really works if you’re able to make a genuine impact on the listening audience. If they come away from the interview thinking “meh”, it’s not going to do much to help build your brand.

Keep in mind that most regular podcast listeners consume a lot of content (more than 7 hours a week on average). So all that competition makes it harder to stand out.

But you don’t need to be a comedian or professional entertainer to get listeners to remember your name. It just needs to be extremely clear you’re passionate about what you do and you know exactly what you’re talking about.

An Easier Way to Book Podcast Guest Slots

The traditional approach to booking guest slots involves researching shows in your niche, tracking down email addresses for hosts and producers, writing pitch emails, and keeping tabs on all your outreach in a spreadsheet.

That process still works for some. But here at Podcasts.co, we know that it eats up a lot of time, especially during the research phase. So we created a new platform to speed it all up. MatchMaker.fm is a free online booking service that matches podcasters with ideal guests. You can find lists of relevant speaking opportunities with a few clicks.

After creating a profile by filling in some basic details about your background and experience, you can start browsing the database of podcasts. There are thousands on there, and you can quickly filter shows by category, location, language spoken, and more.

You then add any podcasts that look like a good fit for you to your favorites list.

Writing Your Podcast Guest Pitch

You can quickly pitch to podcast hosts through MatchMaker’s instant messaging feature. This will help you line up guest slots much quicker. But most producers and hosts tend to be picky about who they’ll have on their show. They only want guests who they think their listeners will enjoy. And the more popular a podcast is, the more guest pitches they’ll receive. So if yours doesn’t stand out, it’s going to get buried with all the rest.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when crafting your initial MatchMaker message:

• Understand who you are pitching to by listening to an episode of the show
• Personalise your pitch, avoid generic copy-paste templates. They’re easy to spot
• Keep it clear and concise (it’s a pitch, not your life story)
• Suggest a few topics you could discuss on the show
• Proofread for typos and mistakes before hitting ‘send’

How to be a Great Podcast Guest

And now you’re booked as a podcast guest! But the process isn’t finished yet. During the interview, you need to wow listeners. And that takes preparation. So here are a few things you can do to get the most value out of each podcast appearance.

Do Your Research

Before appearing on a show, we advise listening to at least two episodes beforehand. Knowing the answers to the questions below will help you feel more relaxed before the interview, and it’ll prevent anything from catching you off guard

• How long are the episodes on average?
• Is it a standard interview show? Or are the conversations edited?
• Are there any recurring segments in the episodes?
• What are the main talking points or themes that usually come up?
• Are the intros pre-recorded or done live at the beginning of the episode?
• Is there an opportunity for guests to pitch their product or service at the end of the interview?

Rehearse Key Answers & Prepare Anecdotes

Think about the kinds of questions the host is likely to ask you and write them down. Then practice your answers so they’re tight, crisp, and deliver your message clearly.

Also try to think of any relevant stories or anecdotes you could use to illustrate your points. People tend to remember information much better when it’s presented in a relatable narrative format. But it can be hard to think of the perfect story when you’re put on the spot! So having a few anecdotes stashed in your back pocket can be a big help.

Don’t Ramble

When the host asks you a question, keep your response focused and on track. A few tangents here and there are fine and generally help to give the interview a more natural feel. But you should always aim to guide your answers back towards the host’s original question. Repeatedly going off-topic can be quite frustrating for both the host and listeners.

Consider Sound

Don’t let all your preparation go to waste by failing to consider sound quality. To be blunt, your internal laptop or phone mic aren’t quite good enough. If you’re going to be doing a lot of podcasting, you need to invest in a dedicated microphone. Fortunately there are loads of great plug-and-go USB microphones on the market that won’t break the bank.

Think about where you are recording as well. You don’t need to soundproof entire rooms. But make sure you choose a nice quiet space where you’re unlikely to be interrupted or pick up pesky background noises. If possible, move fans or other things that make a lot of noise into another room. Recording in a room that’s carpeted can also help as it dampens echoes.

Avoid Filler Language

We all tend to have our own unique filler language – things like “umm’s” , “ahh’s”, “you know’s” or other words and phrases you say out of habit. Filler words aren’t a major issue, but they can be distracting and may take away from the message you’re trying to get across. Make note of any you use often and work on cutting them out when you’re talking. This takes practice, but it’s worth being mindful of.

Promote Your Episode

If you’ve gone to the trouble of doing the interview, then it only makes sense to promote it as best you can. Most hosts will be keen for you to help them amplify their voice by sharing the interview across your own channels. Some hosts may even send you unique graphics or audiograms you can use to advertise the episode on social media – if they do, use them! And also make sure you tag the host where possible for added visibility.

Ready to Start Booking Interviews?

By following these tips, it should boost the quality of each interview you do – which will ultimately help to establish your authority in your field and win some new fans in the process.

If you impress the audience enough, a percentage of the listeners will want to learn more about you. Of those who make their way to your website, some may be convinced enough to start checking out all the other things you’re involved in. And this kind of interest compounds over time. Every interview you do makes a small contribution to the growth of your brand.

Join MatchMaker.fm today for free – if you’re a podcaster looking for guests, or if you have expertise and stories to share with the world.

James Deeney is the Head of Content at Podcast.co. He’s been into podcasting since the pioneering days of The Ricky Gervais Show back in 2006! James graduated in Science Communication at the University of Manchester after writing his masters thesis on how podcasts are influencing the way people learn new information. James also hosts his own show, which you can find by typing ‘meet the podcasters` into Google.

—

This article was produced as part of a paid advertising package. To enquire about advertising with Pod Bible email info@podbiblemag.com

The post How to get booked as a podcast guest and engage listeners appeared first on POD BIBLE.

HAPPINESS AND HOW TO GET IT
In each episode of Happiness…and How to Get It, comedian Charlie George and anthropologist Mary-Ann Ochota dive into a topic, trend or technique and speak to world-class experts, try some self-experimentation and discuss the science behind the headlines. The result? Practical advice to help make you happier.

“Fun easy points to remember and apply to life”
– Tammi

“Great series with many practical and evidence based ideas”
– Anon

 Listen now on Audible >>

KURUPT FM 2
The Kurupt FM crew are back. Due to (they claim) overwhelming demand from the fans, the pirate radio veterans return to provide vital insight on six burning issues: Nature, Politics, TV & Film, The Future, History, and Travel. Prepare to come away, if not better informed, certainly with a better understanding of what a garage MC reckons about some stuff.

“Exactly what I need right now!”
– Anon

“This is the funniest show since… well, ever actually”
– Peter M

Listen now on Audible >>

FASHIONED
Broadcaster Clara Amfo and fashion historian Amber Butchart uncover the secret history of fashion, from the Middle Ages to the 20th Century. The series looks at the legacy fashion has left, to its influence on feminism, civil rights, and the environment.

“Very good series which is also educational and enjoyable”
– Anon

“Recommend for history nerds, fashion aficionados and those interested in women’s history”
– Frankly

Listen now on Audible >>

SHELTERED
Post-apocalyptic sci-fi sitcom, Sheltered, starring Gemma Whelan, Sindhu Vee, Rufus Hound and Marek Larwood, follows the story of innocent simpleton Gary and social climber Veronica as they leave Fallout Shelter 7421, in search of life in the world outside…they soon regret ever leaving.

“You guys really need to make a part 2”
– S Woodward

“Brilliant sci-fi comedy, immersive production, with a great cast – perfect for getting lost in…”
– Anon

Listen now Audible>>

HELL CATS
Hell Cats tells the lost story of history’s most progressive pirates, Anne Bonny and Mary Read. Their tale of cutthroat adventure and an enduring love affair remains largely forgotten – overlooked by historians who prioritised the achievements of their male peers, until now.

“This was amazing. The sound design is like watching a series with your eyes closed”
-Marie

“Brave bold women taking their rightful place in a man’s world”
-L Willby

Listen now on Audible>>

SOUNDSCAPES
Unlike canned nature sounds created in a studio, renowned acoustic ecologist Gordon Hempton gives you the real deal, having travelled the world to record remarkable locations that capture the essence of the place itself. These soundscapes feel as if he has truly brought a slice of the world into your home.

“Relaxing sounds take you to the destination”
-T Neen

“This tape is essential to my getting a good nights sleep and unbroken rest”
-Anon

Listen now on Audible>>

Every month, Audible members get one credit to use on any audiobook regardless of price or length, plus unlimited access to Audible Original Podcasts at no extra cost. Listen for free with your 30-day trial. From £7.99 / month after 30 days. Renews automatically.

The post The best Audible podcasts – from progressive pirates to post-apocalyptic sitcoms appeared first on POD BIBLE.

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 >>

—

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.

The post Valentines listening – 6 of the best sex & relationships podcasts appeared first on POD BIBLE.