“An incredible testament to the power of podcasts; the power of persistence; and the power, creativity and passion of the independent podcast community in the U.K. and Ireland today.” This was a statement about the overall Podcast of the Year winner at last night’s inaugural Independent Podcast Awards – Genevieve Hassan’s excellent Celebrity Catch Up: Life After That Thing I Did. Yet it could so easily apply to the celebratory event itself, which took place in a lively Hall One at Kings Place. Independent podcaster Em McGowan dreamed up the awards in response to a conversation that left her wondering where the energy and drive of grassroots audio creators could still be rewarded, recognised and celebrated in an increasingly corporate marketplace.

The tone of the ceremony, expertly set by host Esther Manito, struck a great balance between friendly community hug and slick celebration.

There were a lot of awards to get through. And these events can sometimes drag. Yet having just one winner in each category, and winner interviews taking place backstage, allowed things to keep moving and feel fresh and fun. Here’s our roundup of the winners:

Arts & Culture – Folk on Foot

An established podcast already, Folk on Foot sees broadcaster Matthew Banister walking with top folk musicians through the landscapes that have inspired them. The meticulous production values and intimate, immersive feel impressed the judges. Listen here >>

Podcast Artwork – Clown Sex

One of the biggest laughs of the night was the reveal of this eye catching artwork. This fiction podcast, a multiple nominee, felt like a bit of a theme of the night. Listen here >>

Books – The Bestseller Experiment

Author / screenwriter Mark Stay and coach / entrepreneur Mark Desvaux discover the secrets to writing a bestseller and attempt to put them into practice. Each week, they are guided by chart-topping authors and industry experts. The judges praised them for serving their community so well. Listen here >>

Business – Bring Your Product Idea to Life

Host Vicki Weinberg, who launched a brand of baby products, provides rich, accessible content packed with useful advice from knowledgeable guests. Listen here >>

Children & Young Adults – Bust or Trust: A Kids’ Mystery Podcast

Engaging hosts Athena Kugblena and Tiernan Douieb introduce children to the histories and cultures of different countries around the world in a fun and accessible way. The judges found the show to be well pitched for all of the family. Listen here >>

Comedy – Jackie The Ripper

One of the longest and most competitive shortlists of the night (which, ahem, included my own podcast) was topped by this pacy and dramatic show, a sex-swapped reimagining of the infamous 19th century London murders. The judges praised the acting, writing, action sequences and sound design. Listen here >>

Fiction – Eliza: A Robot Story

Tanya Reynolds (Sex Education) stars in a dark sci-fi fairytale about a robot who can feel and fall in love. The judges enjoyed the character development, writing, direction, sound design and performances. Listen here >>

Film & TV – Celebrity Catch Up: Life After That Thing I Did

Ultimately the biggest winner of the night was Genevieve Hassan’s unashamedly nostalgic and well-researched interview podcast. Who isn’t fascinated by what the likes of Dexter Fletcher, Chesney Hawkes, Tiffany and Carol Decker are up to now… and how they reminisce about their time in the spotlight? The judges thought this show was an ‘incredible achievement for a solo host and producer’. Listen here >>

Gaming – The Apocalypse Players

Another double winner, and a contender for most dramatic dash to the stage. This immersive, humorous show was praised for sound design, acting, atmospheric music and passion for the story. Listen here >>

Health & Wellness – The Wellbeing Rebellion

Hosted by corporate wellbeing consultant Ngozi Weller and psychologist Obehi Alofoje, this show is aimed at business leaders who want to make a difference for their employees and is packed with tips around burnout, mental health, inclusion and resilience. The judges describe it as an ‘essential listen’. Listen here >>

History – Beneath the Skin

Professor and museum curator Dr Matt Lodder and tattoo collector Thomas O’Mahoney explore the interconnected history of the weirdest corners of the world through the story of tattooing. This unusual perspective made it a ‘perfect example of what a podcast can be’ in the eyes of the judges. Listen here >>

Horror & Supernatural – The Apocalypse Players

As above!

Music – Sodajerker on Songwriting

Hosted by U.K. songwriting team Simon and Brian (aka Sodajerker) this show focuses on the craft of songwriting and features some of the world’s most successful musicians. They have been running for 12 years and have an archive of over 250 episodes. Listen here >>

Podcast Jingle – Brkin Bread

A fun category. We got to hear all the jingles. You still can if you head to the Independent Podcast Awards website. Listen here >>

News & Politics – Wood for the Trees

Cait Macleod asks the messy questions and explores the opposing opinions on the contemporary issues that divide us. The judges described the show as ‘elegant and well-researched.’ Listen here >>

Self-Improvement – Teenagers Untangled

Rachel Richards and Susie Asli dish out realistic advice to improve your communication with your teens and tweens. The judges enjoyed the mix of personal stories and professional insight. Listen here >>

Sexuality & Relationships – Queer Roots & Routes

Made by a queer collective who are migrants or descended from migrants, this show has a specific USP and a focus on storytelling, community and excellent sound design. Another show hailed as a ‘perfect example of what a podcast can be’. Listen here >>

Sport – Spindrift

Aoife Glass explores bikes, cycling, people, especially women, and adventure. Stacked with interviews, assured and knowledgeable, a recommended listen targeting a niche that needs more representation. Listen here >>

Technology – The Future of You

Futurist Tracey Follows investigates all the ways that emerging technologies are going to affect our identity. This one was described as a ‘calm, thoughtful and intelligent exploration of media and technology’. Listen here >>

True Crime – Drunk Women Solving Crime

A comedy classic from hosts Hannah George, Catie Wilkins and Taylor Glenn. I have guested on this show and can attest to the welcoming, hilarious yet somehow still cleverly structured web they weave as they enlisted my help in tackling a true case. In keeping with the show, producer Amanda Redman collected the award in a camp, slapstick sprint from the balcony. Listen here >>

Podcast of the Year – Celebrity Catch Up: Life After That Thing I Did

For more information and to see the full list of nominees go to: independentpodcastawards.com

The post Winners of the Independent Podcast Awards 2023 appeared first on POD BIBLE.

Sure, you might have to sit through a couple of ads halfway through a podcast episode but generally you don’t have to pay a penny to listen (paywalled platforms like Luminary excluded, of course). So, you might be wondering why I think you should pay for your favourite podcast (if you can afford it).

I’m not referring to the main feed – keep that free – I’m talking about tantalising bonus content that’s one paywall away.

I (John) have a subscription to @empiremagazine, @PilotTVPod, @WeeklyPlanetPod, @cine_verse & Probably True. In my opinion, for bigger shows the appeal has to be the extra audio I'm getting for my money, for smaller shows it's more about supporting creators I like.

— The Dream Factory (@DreamFactoryPod) July 14, 2023

Bonus content builds on the free episodes that you love, so you get to immerse yourself further into that world. Plus, you get access to a community of people with similar interests giving you the chance to make IRL friends. So, it’s great for you but it’s also important for the creator.

That being said, I see a lot of meagre subscription offerings that I personally wouldn’t pay for – ad-free early access and a t-shirt that’s clearly going to shrink the first time that you wash it. Great subscriptions require effort, let me walk you through some of the things on the market.

The Basement Yard has a pretty basic Patreon offering and it’s hugely successful. They make at least £104 526 a month on Patreon (assuming all 23,749 subscribers are paying for the cheapest subscription). Across all three Patreon tiers, they offer early ad-free episodes, merch discounts, and a weekly bonus episode. But that doesn’t seem like very much considering a standard Netflix subscription is £10.99 a month whilst The Basement Yard’s most popular tier costs £8.50.

I am very faithful to my subscriptions as it stands. I would say additional audio and supporting smaller creators are the only two factors for me personally. I'm not fussed about video versions or any community benefits like early tickets to live shows or merch etc.

— The Dream Factory (@DreamFactoryPod) July 17, 2023

A lot of podcasts offer the same benefits as The Basement Yard and whilst some subscribers are just paying to support their favourite creators and aren’t fussed about the extras, let’s explore some of the more generous Patreon subscriptions out there.

The podcast industry is a turbulent place, in part because a handful of companies control most of the wealth. Extremely popular podcasts have been axed by big companies with little notice, such as NPR’s Invisibilia, leaving listeners shocked. Subscriptions allow your favourite podcasters to maintain control of their show and provide an income for themselves independently (instead of selling their soul and their IP to a company who can cut the cash flow whenever they want to). Case in point: RedHanded has 9,779 paying members, makes $47,810 a month, and they’re upfront about how this money helps fund their lives and creation. Their cheapest subscription offers the bog standard early ad-free episodes plus weekly bonus ‘after party’ episodes. Their more expensive subscriptions include a full-length monthly bonus episode, monthly video content, access to presale tickets for live events, merch discounts, free digital products and shoutouts on the podcast.

I’m a believer that bonus material should be of the same quality, if not better, than the main podcast but obviously that requires a lot of work for creators. That’s why I like RedHanded’s free digital products, e.g. themed lockscreen backgrounds. They are an easier lift for the creators but it’s great value for their community who want to rep the show in real life. Realistically, there are only so many bonus episodes that someone can watch (and that creators have time to edit) so I appreciate the creative alternatives that some podcasts have come up with. RadioLab, for example, ships you a magnet collection and offers annual trivia nights.

All of these offerings worldbuild and deepen the show’s sense of community. This Tweet highlights how fun that can be:

Timesuck does this really well, in my opinion. Weekly bonus episodes that are extremely interactive with fans and discounts for merch. There's even a secret handshake!

— JOSH (@joshtayloraudio) July 14, 2023

This is especially crucial for creators from underrepresented backgrounds, who are often neglected by podcast charts, which tend to be dominated by similar shows created by people from similar backgrounds. These shows rely on their communities heavily. Subscriptions keep their diverse storytelling alive and prevent shows/creators that don’t look like those ‘top shows’ from being wiped out because they don’t get the same algorithm boost or have access to the same funding. As one of very few British Indian women in the podcasting industry, I know that it’s harder for certain groups of people and certain types of shows to get sponsorship. If your favourite podcast is lucky enough to secure ad revenue, it’s often not sufficient to cover all production costs and ensure the creator’s livelihood. If those advertisers don’t have the budget next year, then that might be the tipping point for the show.

These creators often take the time to interact with their communities through bonus content – whether that’s through a Discord server, allowing listeners to vote for what the next episode will cover, or a monthly livestream where you can ask questions and paint figurines along with a NADDPOD host.

A huge chunk of each bonus episode consists of the host reacting to & and answering listener voice messages and emails.

— JOSH (@joshtayloraudio) July 17, 2023

By busting through that one paywall, you’re not only supporting your favourite creators and getting some great exclusive benefits, but you’re also helping shape the future of storytelling by ensuring that the loudest voices on the podcasting battlefield don’t all sound the same.

Meera’s Podcast Subscription Recommendations:

The Amelia Project is a comedy fiction podcast about an agency that help people fake their deaths.  Check out their Patreon >>

Radiolab’s membership programme offers exclusive access to behind the scenes perks and more. Read more >>

Not Another D&D Podcast is an actual-play D&D podcast. They offer bonus content, livestreams and other free stuff. Check out their Patreon >>

Redhanded podcast started as a passion project between friends. Their Patreon has nearly 10,000 supporters >>

And this article from the New Statesman argues that it’s the corporate age of storytelling and many stories aren’t being funded.

And if you want to support the only independent podcast magazine in the UK, Pod Bible has a Patreon too! >>

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But maybe you’re looking to get some metal, punk, hip hop and ska into your earholes. These are some of my favourite alternative music podcasts – bonus points for diversity in music culture!

Shout Louder

Originally an online punk magazine, founder Sarah Williams added the Shout Louder Punk Podcast to her repertoire of projects. She brings ‘the view from down the front,’ for those of us missing the mosh pit right now. Check out the recent live episode if you want to see if Robin Leitch from Random Hand and Dani Rascal from Faintest Idea can resolve their differences over a game of thumb war. Listen now >>

Hell Bent for Metal

Just as it is refreshing to hear female voices finally from the punk and metal scene, it is also invigorating to hear those from the LGBTQIA+ community. This weekly podcast will grab you from episode one, adorably entitled Gay Satanic Love Songs. Hell Bent for Metal gives you the LGBTQIA+ perspective on metal, and metal moments that have touched this community, and of course, lots and lots of Rob Halford (the Judas Priest frontman who, for an age and a half, seemed like the only gay metaller). Listen now >>

The Bridge: 50 Years of Hip Hop

This podcast makes it to the list because of the undeniable influences and amazing collaborations between the worlds of hip hop and rock. Who doesn’t love Walk this Way (Run DMC/Aerosmith)? Or Numb/Encore (Jay Z/Linkin Park)?! Hosted by Nas (one of the greatest 90s rappers) and Asian American journalist Miss Info, and with guests such as Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Mary J. Blige, Cypress Hill and Salt-N-Pepa, this podcast is a nostalgic walk through the 90s on the path that hip hop took from underground resistance genre to worldwide phenomenon. Listen now >>

That’s Not Metal

Although the title of this podcast puts me in mind of those guys who demand you name three songs of the band whose t-shirt you’re wearing to prove you’re a real fan, this podcast is anything but toxic masculinity. For a start, their occasionally changing line up of hosts includes the wonderful Sam, the non-binary metal fan. Launched in the early era of podcasts (yes, all the way back in 2015), it is the perfect place for honest album and festival reviews. Don’t know where to start out of their 435 episodes and counting? Try one of their annual Albums of the Year episodes. Listen now >>

The Dummy Room

With a Ramones-style theme tune and a tagline referencing veterans Screeching Weasel, it is clear off the bat that you are going to get some classic, 3-chord, fast-paced punk from this podcast. As hosts Jody and Nate play full songs (sure they are punk songs, so on average about 1:28 mins long), this podcast feels more like listening to a pirate radio station. Discover your next favourite underground punk band, support their work by buying their merch and look super cool at your next gig/embarrass your kids at the next parent’s evening. Listen now >>

Ska UK

If you love when metal and ska meet, treat yourself to Play Some Ska by Random Hand. Yes, that’s the second Random Hand mention, and yes, I might be obsessed with them. But also, check out this podcast. Hosts Lester and Sandra wrap up all the ska music, culture and fashion each month and tie it up with a bow in the form of musical interludes, again making it sound more like a radio station. There have been no episodes in 2023, so let’s hope this isn’t the end of ska in the UK. Listen now >>

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