Recorded for students on MDS 30021 Podcasting and Radio module. Former R1 Producer now Podcast innovator Andy Taylor talks about why podcasting is so popular, what is the difference between podcasting and radio and what skills you need to make a podcast.

Podcasting And Radio: What's the difference? (Andy Taylor, Bwlb and former Radio 1 Producer)

In this episode, Geoff Jein from TBI Media explains the difference between having a 'notion' and an 'idea', what to consider when developing an idea and how media companies and platforms (ie BBC Sounds) commission ideas. Geoff talks through TBI's the 5 'F's framework to benchmark ideas against and the killer question - whether an idea can be monetised.

Developing the idea with Geoff Jein (Head of Audio TBI Media)

This episode focuses on audio storytelling, how to come up with good ideas  -  and how to narrate them in an engaging way. In the first part of this podcast, Geoff Gein, Head of Audio at TBI Media shares examples of good storytelling and talks about how to identify a story that will work for audio. The second part features Steve Wilson, chief strategy officer from US podcast, Studio QCODE on how QCODE approach audio fiction storytelling.

The art of audio storytelling with Geoff Gein (TBI Media) and Steve Wilson(QCODE)

'‘You need a good name, a good strapline and a good solid concept – and preferable something that isn’t the same as something already out there’ - Andy Taylor and Geoff Gein discuss how to pitch your audio idea.

How to pitch your podcast idea with Andy Taylor (Bwlb and former BBC Radio 1)

This week's expert interview is Steve Wilson from audio fiction podcast studio QCODE in which he shares advice on how to market your podcast effectively and how you can monetise it. Steve has previously worked in marketing for Apple as a podcast exec which is where I met him when I ran the editorial side of the Open University's iTunes U channel, which reached over 75 million downloads in 2011.

How to market your podcast effectively with Steve Wilson (formerly Apple now QCODE)

I met JP when we were both working for the BBC's Radio & Music Interactive team (R&Mi)back in the early 2000s. For the past fourteen years he's been a staple of Radio 4's Saturday Live programme as a producer, reporter and presenter. Before that he worked with the legendary John Peel on 'Home Truths'.

We caught up at BBC HQ in New Broadcasting house to chat about finding interesting personal stories and how to turn them into compelling radio features.

This episode is part of an audio series, 'Sound Advice', aimed at anyone with an interest in, and a passion for, radio production. It's produced by me, Catherine Chambers, a lecturer in media production at Birmingham City University and features interviews with  industry experts  including my former colleagues who are still making great radio for the BBC.

 If you've any suggestions for future episodes please get in touch at catherine.chambers@bcu.ac.uk  

Thank you for listening.

(Music: Robert John - Slinky. CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

How to create compelling radio features  - JP Devlin (BBC Radio 4)

Louise was the first producer I worked with when I started at BBC Radio 1 back in the early 2000s, working on specialist music shows. Having produced some of the industry's broadcast legends, she's now Commissioning Executive of BBC Radio 1 & 1Xtra Stories, Radio 1’s/1Xtra's documentary strand for 15" visual and audio content on iPlayer, on air and podcasts. We caught up at Radio 1 HQ in New Broadcasting house to chat about her radio journey, what makes good radio, the skills you need to work in the industry - and how to get a foot in the door. 

This episode is part of an audio series, 'Sound Advice', aimed at anyone with an interest in, and a passion for, radio production. It's produced by me, Catherine Chambers, a lecturer in media production at Birmingham City University and features interviews with  industry experts  including my former colleagues who are still making great radio for the BBC.

 If you've any suggestions for future episodes please get in touch at catherine.chambers@bcu.ac.uk  

Thank you for listening.

(Music: Robert John - Slinky. CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

What makes good radio - Louise Kattenhorn (BBC Radio 1)

I first met Marverine when we both started lecturing at Birmingham City University. Marverine has  handled countless major breaking news stories, broadcasting to an audience of millions worldwide for Sky News and worked as a Newsreader and Reporter for the BBC, ITV News, and 5 News.

Marverine’s media career spans 30 years, the last 15 of those as a Journalist and Broadcaster, across local, national and international broadcasters, winning several awards for her work. She’s clocked up over 3,500 hours of presenting live on television - in studios and on location. She’s also produced documentaries for BBC 5 Live and BBC Radio 1Xtra, and continues to be involved in documentary-making for BBC Radio 4.

Marverine is also a high profile commentator, often appearing in the media discussing issues around diversity and inclusion in the journalism profession and media industry.

This episode is part of an audio series, 'Sound Advice', aimed at anyone with an interest in, and a passion for, radio production. It's produced by me, Catherine Chambers, a lecturer in media production at Birmingham City University and features interviews with industry experts including my former colleagues who are still making great radio for the BBC. In this episode, Marverine talks about how to prepare for an interview, the type of questions that will elicit the best response, how to build a rapport with you interviewee and how to handle difficult interviewees.

If you've any suggestions for future episodes please get in touch at catherinechambers165@gmail.com or catherine_c via Twitter.

Thank you for listening.

(Music: Robert John - Slinky. CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

The art of interviewing - Marverine Duffy (Course Director, BA Hons Journalism, BCU)

Podcasting is booming - 6 million people in the UK listen to podcasts per week according to communications regulator Ofcom (2018). The democratisation of the medium has resulted in a burst of new talent and in turn, new approaches to audio storytelling; podcasting has also revolutionised radio in terms of presentation style and delivery. With the diversity and range of podcasts available, how can budding podcasters make a name for themselves in such a crowded market? I met up with Amanda Litherland, producer and presenter of BBC Radio 4 Extra's Podcast Radio Hour, in a cubby hole in the BBC's Broadcasting House to talk about her favourite podcasts, the influence of podcasting on radio and audio storytelling, how to make a successful podcast and get it noticed and how to build your audience.

How to make a great podcast and grow your audience - Amanda Litherland (BBC R4 Extra)

A lecturer in radio and podcasting, previously Birmingham City University now as an aside from my day job as Director of Keele Institute of Teaching and Learning Excellence at Keele University. These interviews were produced by me for BCU Introduction to radio module and I developed a podcast module for Keele this year.

A former BBC producer with a background in radio, online and learning, I spent 7 years working across BBC Radio at various networks (Radio 1, 6Music, Radio 4, 5 Live) encompassing different roles including being one of the first visualisation producers (5 Live). More recently I worked at the BBC Academy as a senior producer across their digital & learning content.  

I've also worked as a commissioning producer for the Open University & a music journalist for Kerrang!

How to create compelling radio features - JP Devlin (BBC Radio 4)

Sound Advice: Podcast and Radio Production