Talking podcasts with Acast and Sliding Doors

In Association with Acast – home of the UK’s BEST podcasters – we catch up with one of Acast’s creators to hear what they love about making podcasts. In this interview Jennie Becker from Sliding Doors talks about her journey into podcasting, her best moments so far and what she has learnt along the way…

What was the original inspiration to start the Sliding Doors podcast?

When I was 11-years-old, Saturday nights consisted of going to the video shop down the road and renting a film… this is when Sliding Doors came into my life. I was instantly captured by THE Sliding Doors moment when Helen (Gwyneth Paltrow) is running down the stairs to catch a tube and just misses it. However, the film then rewinds, and she then catches the tube, and this is where her life splits into two moments and the premise begins. Since then, I have always been fascinated with the term ‘everything happens for a reason’ and looking into the ‘what ifs’ of my life, but also the world and people around me… fate, timing, coincidence, whatever you might call it, believing that things in our life happen for a reason.

Podcasts were always something I had looked away from as I felt like I wasn’t well known enough and that there were so many out there! However, one day when sat with my sister I started to think about what I could call my show (if I had one) ….And then the film came to me, ‘sliding doors’ a concept I had loved for so many years. I quickly got the Instagram handle @slidingdoorspod, drew my logo and I said to myself that I would ask five people I knew to come on as a guest- if they said yes then I was doing it… and they all did, and Sliding Doors was born!

Why podcasts? What is it about the medium that you love?

Podcasts are an intimate way to bring listeners into your conversation and discussion and ultimately to inspire them. A lot of my guests end the show by saying it was like having therapy, which I love, as hearing Sliding Doors moments of people’s lives is a fresh and unique way to hear their stories and learn more about them. I also love a good format – I have always been a fan of podcasts that have a structure so the conversation is always curated.

What have been the big challenges as a independent podcaster?

There are so many podcasts out there and the medium is growing everyday, which is great however it’s a lot harder to stand out. I find not having big marketing machine behind me hard, as my growth is very organic and I hustle hard to get my podcast out there. However this is also more rewarding when it does get picked up/grows as I know it’s from genuine interest in the premise and content of the show. Always make sure you celebrate successes too – we have so many jobs when we are independent but take time to acknowledge what you have done – and not focus on what you haven’t!

And what have been your best podcast moments?

My biggest achievement so far must be SD25 which was released in celebration of the films 25th Anniversary. In a sliding doors moment itself, I managed to get in contact with writer and director Peter Howitt and expressed my interest in wanting to celebrate the film somehow through my podcast. Over an 8-month period I managed to gather together the cast and crew of the film and write a mini podcast-docu series (15,000 script!), telling the amazing story of how the film was made from the people who made it. No other film has coined a global term used so much in our everyday lives and culture – so this needed to be celebrated. Over 4 episodes I tell the story of the film, investigate the theory of sliding doors, and hear anecdotes from some famous faces such as Steven Bartlett and Laura Whitmore. I also held a special anniversary screening of the film in Notting Hill with Peter and John Hannah and a room filled with people who made the film possible- the best night ever! And who would have thought 11-year-old me would be doing this one day!

What kind of advice would you give someone trying to break into the industry?

Chose a premise that you are passionate about and that is authentic to you- authenticity goes a long way and will ultimately be what makes you unique and stand out. Keep going, as success doesn’t happen over night, believe in your show and be consistent…your moment will come!

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

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Want to join the UK’s BIGGEST podcast network, alongside Jennie, Jessie Ware and Adam Buxton? Start podcasting with Acast today by heading to acast.com/start-podcasting.