As I’ve gotten older and my friends have started going out less, we’ve begun to swap boozy nights out for increasingly bizarre murder mystery parties. Usually, an industrious volunteer will choose a theme (space cowboys, the set of a 1970s porn film, a 1950s office party, that sort of thing…) and proceed to write a murder mystery plot line so nutty and so ridiculous that the group will spend the evening in fits of laughter. At the start of the night, we’ll usually gather in one room as the writer reads out a painstakingly detailed opening narrative as the rest of us wait in giddy anticipation for the clues that will form the night’s plotline.

I had that same feeling – of giddy anticipation – when I listened to the first episode of COLD TAPES: Winter Over from Free Turn. A murder mystery set against the backdrop of Antarctica’s six-month Winter Over, COLD TAPES centres around the suspicious death of a 33-year-old behavioural scientist Andrew Fairfield. The story is told through a series of ‘found’ tapes including phone calls, police interviews and personal recordings. We start with the moment DCI Tessa McCallister of the Met Police is invited to investigate a murder 9,000 miles away due to the ‘jurisdictional nightmare’ created by The Arctic Treaty. As the story unfolds, the listener becomes privy to the intertwined lives of a small group of international scientists and crew stationed on a remote research base, Bowers Wilson.

A nice idea for a fictional true crime podcast, sure. But what makes this show all the more interesting is the chance for audience participation. Inquisitive listeners are given the chance to win a £10,000 cash prize as well as earning the esteemed title of British Super Sleuth 2024 at Crime Con London 2024, described as ‘the ultimate True Crime event.’

To win the prize, participating detectives will need to explore up to 20 hours of audio content including the victim’s audio diaries, police interviews and other evidence. They’ll also need to demonstrate their ability to notice subtle clues, discrepancies and anomalies as well as showing their critical thinking skills. At a time when internet sleuthing is at an all time high (to a point where it’s even begun to hamper the investigation of real murders) COLD TAPES: Winter Over seems like the perfect outlet for a population hooked on true crime.

As I begin to make my way through the ‘found’ tapes, I find myself wanting to scribble down clues in a tiny policeman’s notebook. The victim’s finger appears to be fractured, there’s an untranslated tattoo written in Chinese script on the victim’s body, an inkling of a love triangle between crew mates… I’m in. To make the series, Free Turn worked with police officers, polar adventurers, and researchers to ensure the experience was as authentic as possible. And, even a casual listener would be able to tell they’ve taken the same meticulous approach to all elements of the show, including the immersive sound design. We hear phone calls cut in and out due to the poor Antarctic internet signal, latex gloves rustle their way through the autopsy and a body bag shuffle as the victim’s body is moved onto a gurney.

Also helping to bolster the show’s believability is an incredible performance from the actor behind DCI Tessa McCallister. Her persistent yet firm approach helps guide the listener through a number of difficult conversations with begrudging scientists, each with an acute case of cabin fever and many of whom are growing increasingly suspicious of the ominous sounding ‘Keony Industries’ funding the entire Antarctic mission. This story, which dances between unexplained mysterious psychotic events, interpersonal drama and strange global conspiracy theories clearly wants to be more than your average fiction podcast.

In fact, Gemma Batterby, COO and Founder of Free Turn, describes COLD TAPES as ‘a cerebral challenge and an intricate puzzle’ and that’s definitely what this is. So much so that the lengthier episodes, made to sound unedited, occasionally leave too much room for the listener to lose the thread. 20 hours of content will no doubt prove too much of an undertaking for some. But, then again, there’s nothing like the promise of £10,000 to keep people listening. A truly creative way to increase your listen-through rate.

Even more innovative than the £10k prize pot, though, is the podcast’s exclusivity model. A £5 ticket to enter the competition gives listeners the chance to binge the series ad-free, as well as giving them access to exclusive additional content. The only question that remains is how many listeners will actually be hooked enough to pay the £5 entry fee?

No matter what the outcome, Free Turn is clearly thinking of creative ways to incentivise listeners to pay for podcasting. Which, in such a turbulent time for industry, feels desperately needed.

COLD TAPES: Winter Over is out April 15th. The competition to solve the case closes on Friday 6th September, 2024. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps >>

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Beth Watson is a freelance writer and full-time podcast enthusiast, currently working as a Content Discovery Manager for BBC Sounds. Prior to the BBC, she was Marketing Lead at Message Heard where she worked on launching and growing impactful podcasts such as Conflicted, Power Lines and Who Robs a Banksy.

The post REVIEW // COLD TAPES: Winter Over appeared first on POD BIBLE.

On the 26th November 1977, Southern Television, a TV station located in the quiet Hampshire countryside, was having a day like any other. Five o’clock came and with it the early evening news bulletin. The reporter, Ivor Mills, began as usual but then, all of a sudden, came a distortion. The sound of the reporter faded and a mysterious voice began to speak. The individual identified itself as the alien ‘Vrillon’. For six minutes, it delivered an urgent plea for all humankind to disarm their “weapons of evil” and bring about peace.  Forty-five years later, it’s become the obsession of internet conspiracy theorists, but no investigation – official or otherwise – has come close to finding the culprit. ‘The Interruption’, a new podcast from Stak, dives into this murky world of UFO religions and pirate radio to try and solve the 45-year-old cold case. We sat down with host Tommie Trelawny to discuss the upcoming series.

WHAT DREW YOU TO THE SOUTHERN TELEVISION INTERRUPTION OF 1977?

The deep monotonous voice of “Vrillon” that broke onto British TV has been circulating online for a while now. The internet has allowed lost stories like these to resurface. Ever since I first heard the audio of the incident, it’s been swirling around my mind. The intruder’s bizarre message of peace, love, and flying saucers has so many unanswered questions surrounding it. No one was caught and no one came forward. It’s a mystery too intriguing to be left unsolved.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO REOPEN THIS 45-YEAR-OLD COLD CASE IN THE FORM OF A PODCAST?

I don’t think I officially “opened” this investigation. It’s more a case of gradually falling down the rabbit hole. I suppose it began with a dusty Wikipedia article and a few YouTube videos and then, all of a sudden, I’m trawling through archives, securing leads and finding suspects. That, in essence, is the beauty of podcasting: it invites listeners into a deeper narrative. The listener gets to be part of the journey and experience the mystery unravelling it in real time.

WHAT WAS THE MOST UNEXPECTED THING (OR PERSON!) YOU CAME ACROSS THROUGHOUT THE INVESTIGATION?

I did not anticipate how much an investigator influences their investigation. My experiences, beliefs, and suspicions dictated where I searched, and who I talked to. All in subtle, unconscious ways. I guess I didn’t quite understand what an “open mind” really meant. Making the show took me to some surprising places. I visited the Aetherius Society (Britain’s oldest UFO religion), infiltrated online groups, and even interviewed Vrillon themself with the help of a channeler. The most unexpected encounter was with the celebrity illusionist Uri Geller. He was entangled in the investigation pretty early on. On a whim, I sent him an email asking for a comment. Later that day I was interviewing him on the phone. We still chat on WhatsApp every now and then.

FROM WHAT YOU KNOW NOW, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE RECIPE FOR AN INVESTIGATIVE PODCAST SUCCESS?

Leave no stone unturned.

The Interruption is a new eight-part investigative podcast series from Stak, with two new episodes dropping every Monday. It’s available to listen to now – just search ‘The Interruption’ in your podcast app, or find it on Apple Podcast, Spotify and other popular podcast apps.

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Stak produces podcasts that entertain and inform, including some of the UK’s biggest and most popular shows – boasting a combined 4 million monthly listens and over 45 years of podcasting experience. Whether recording remotely or in our broadcast-grade London studio, we specialise in every stage of the podcasting process. To find out more or get in touch, visit out website at stak.london!

The post Who – or what – was behind ‘The Interruption’? appeared first on POD BIBLE.