Zak & Jules - ARIAS Winners
Another live episode for this week's podcast, as Miranda Sawyer sits down with ARIAS Best New Presenters winners Zak and Jules at The Podcast Show. Zak and Jules present the Life After Prison podcast - regular listeners will remember them from our episode back in January.  The podcast does what it says on the tin - covering stories and issues related to those that have experienced the criminal...
23m Jun 07, 2023
23m
Moment of Truth - ARIAS Winner
This week's episode focuses on an ARIAS Gold Winner - Moment of Truth, which won Best Sports Show at this year's awards. Moment of Truth is a 15-episode series for BBC 5 Live and BBC Sounds that follows the second half of the 2021/2022 football season through the eyes of League One managers Paul Warne of Rotherham United and Karl Robinson of Oxford United. It's made by indie Folding Pocket, l...
23m May 31, 2023
23m
The Euro Trip - Eurovision 2023
Guest presenter Harriet Scott talks to the creators and hosts of the world's biggest Eurovision fan podcast, about the incredible fortnight of content from Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool. Rob and James started The Euro Trip during lockdown, and it quickly became a huge hit amongst Eurovision aficionados, for balancing insightful journalism alongside the fun and nonsense of the song contest. In ...
21m May 24, 2023
21m
Absolute DJs open up about Anxiety
It's Mental Health Awareness Week, and the theme of this year's campaign is Anxiety. Anxiety is a totally normal emotion in all of us - whether that's the pressure to deliver day-in day-out, our career prospects, our work-life balance, our working relationships, or anything else. At The Radio Academy, we want to learn about how we can support colleagues feeling anxiety in their work lives.  A...
45m May 17, 2023
45m
The 2023 ARIAS - Part 2
It’s the second half of the ARIAS show, with all the action from on stage, and some special backstage interviews. In this section, you can hear: Best Music Special Best Specialist Music Show Best Commercial Partnership The Comedy Award Best Music Entertainment Show Best Drama Best Audiobook or Reading Best Station Sound The Impact Award Recognition of Tim Blackmore ARIAS Guest of Hono...
40m May 10, 2023
40m
The 2023 ARIAS - Part 1
An ARIAS special this week, as Laura and Lauren report from backstage at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London and we bring you highlights from the first half of the show. This episode is part one, including the following awards: Best New Presenter Best New Radio Show Best Speech Breakfast Show Best Speech Presenter Best New Podcast Tony Blackburn receives The Pioneer Award Best Sports Show Bes...
40m May 03, 2023
40m
The Shamima Begum Story
Shamima Begum, the British teenager who left London to join the Islamic State made headlines around the world. The question of Shamima's citizenship and what to do with her divides British society. While her case was widely reported, important parts of her story remained unknown, until now. In this episode, Laura speaks to the creator of The Shamima Begum Story, a ten-part podcast series on BB...
21m Apr 26, 2023
21m
What makes a great newsreader?
Inspired by Josh Tate becoming the UK’s youngest newsreader at 16, we wanted to find out what skills, experience and knowledge are required for the job. This week, Laura catches up with Josh to see what’s happened since his first on-air bulletin. She then sits down with three people in charge of radio news to discuss being a newsreader. Laura’s joined by Lorraine Herbison (Head of News and Sp...
20m Apr 19, 2023
20m
Good morning dahlings, bore da, bore dahlings!
What a start to the year for Owain Wyn Evans - he's the new host of BBC Radio 2's Early Breakfast, which is also the first daily weekday show created outside of London. Laura caught up with him in Cardiff for a quick chat about how the show is going, working with Bengo Media, and what he enjoys most.
16m Apr 12, 2023
16m
Win your own radio station!
What an offer. That’s what the Dave Berry Breakfast show promised listeners - Absolute Radio You. It’s the second year the team at the station has run this competition and a chap called Kevin who works at a theme park suggested an idea that beat hundreds of other entries and so, Absolute Radio Kevin was born. In this week’s episode Laura is joined by Dave Murphy (Breakfast Show Producer) who ...
19m Apr 05, 2023
19m
Dogs With Jobs
When the nation was clapping for the NHS, Kate Fairweather thought we should celebrate the frontline workers of the canine world too. And so, Dogs With Jobs was born. Within two years, the monthly show won ‘Podcast of the Year’ at the Community Radio Awards 2022. It was recognised for its inspiring content and the passion of its host. This week, Kate talks to Laura about Dogs With Jobs, which...
20m Mar 29, 2023
20m
Rosie Wright in Conversation
For anyone wanting to know how to get a foot in the door of the radio industry - this is for you. Rosie Wright is Times Radio’s recently appointed Early Breakfast presenter. With only six weeks under her belt she joined The Radio Academy’s podcast host Laura Rawlings in conversation at our ‘Last Mondays’ event. These are our highlights of the chat - and they focus on Rosie’s career journey fr...
21m Mar 22, 2023
21m
The Salisbury Poisonings
It made headlines around the world. The sleepy city of Salisbury - the location of the Novichok Poisonings. To mark the fifth anniversary of this huge event, a new series on BBC Wiltshire and BBC Sounds looks back at what happened, with those who were there. How do you tell the story of a landmark moment in history? How do you create a series that works on radio and as a podcast? Laura speak...
17m Mar 15, 2023
17m
Emma Barnett in Conversation
To celebrate International Women’s Day, Laura shares one of her favourite pieces of Radio Academy content from the last year - Emma Barnett, live at The Radio Academy Festival in September 2022. Emma is best known as the chief presenter of Woman’s Hour on BBC Radio 4. She has won multiple awards - including Best Speech Presenter at The ARIAS in 2022.  That Gold led to an appearance on The Fest...
20m Mar 08, 2023
20m
Raising Money on the Radio
From massive pan-network national campaigns, to your nearest station raising for the local good cause, with silly stunts, marathon broadcasts, and heartfelt packages - radio has long known how to pull on the heart strings of listeners to raise substantial sums for charity. But when times are tight, how do you encourage people to part with their cash? How do you craft a campaign that keeps list...
21m Mar 01, 2023
21m
Pete Black in Conversation
Pete Black is Bauer’s Director of Music. It’s a new role and with only a few months under his belt, he joined KISS Content Director Rebecca Frank in conversation at our ‘Last Mondays’ event. In these edited highlights, you'll hear Pete talking about his new role and transition from the music industry to radio. He and Rebecca share advice on how to get production teams working well with artists...
20m Feb 22, 2023
20m
6 Music Goes Back
Hear how BBC 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq show celebrated the station’s Goes Back month in January with four exclusive remixes of iconic albums. Laura finds out how Matt Tasker (6 Music and Radio 2 producer) persuaded some of the biggest names in electronic music to rework their tracks. It provides a great insight into working to a broad brief and tailoring it to a specific show and podcast series....
21m Feb 15, 2023
21m
Dance Britannia
Laura Rawlings takes the reins of The Radio Academy podcast, and begins by talking to Andi Durrant, Director of indie This Is Distorted and Exec Producer of Dance Britannia - the KISSTORY series of interviews with dance music legends hosted by Sister Bliss. Andi shares how the team at Distorted worked with Sister Bliss to put the shows together with some of the biggest names in British dance m...
21m Feb 08, 2023
21m
Help I Sexted My Boss
In Christian's final Radio Academy Podcast episode, he's joined by co-presenter William Hanson and producer Ben Cartwright from the hit podcast Help I Sexted My Boss. The guys are on to talk about how they've successfully transitioned in to TikTok. But they also cover how they've grown the podcast, why it's worked so well, William and his co-host Jordan North's chemistry - and why Jordan could...
24m Feb 01, 2023
24m
Life After Prison
Life After Prison is a new podcast for anyone who has an interest in what it's like to have spent time behind bars, and how to adjust to life after. It's also an ideal resource for anyone who's spent time in prison, or who has been affected by the criminal justice system. This week Christian is joined by the show's presenters Zak Addae Kodua and Jules Rowan, as well as producer Beth Madden fro...
21m Jan 25, 2023
21m
How to win at The ARIAS
The Audio & Radio Industry Awards are the premium awards scheme in the sector, recognising the talented individuals and teams in UK audio and radio who excel at their craft and produce the very best body of work in the world. And this week Christian is joined by two head judges, Phil Riley and Helen Thomas, for an invaluable insight on the dos and don'ts of entering the awards.  There's also a...
18m Jan 18, 2023
18m
Disaster Trolls: Marianna Spring
What happens when tragedy makes you a target? Why would anybody accuse terrorism survivors of being liars and "crisis actors"? On this week's Radio Academy Podcast, Christian talks to the BBC's Disinformation and Social Media Correspondent Marianna Spring. For her Radio 4 series Disaster Trolls, she's been investigating how people caught up in the Manchester Arena bombing and other UK terror ...
21m Jan 11, 2023
21m
Craig Charles: A year on 6 Music afternoons
For the first Radio Academy Podcast of 2023, Craig Charles and his producer Helen Weatherhead join Christian to look back on the first year of their 6 Music afternoon show. The pair talk about their presenter/producer dynamic, and what they wanted to do with the show when they launched it.  They discuss their plans for the second year, just how unique the show is and, well... a few questions y...
22m Jan 04, 2023
22m
Michelle Visage live at The Festival
In the UK, Michelle Visage is perhaps best known in the UK for sitting alongside RuPaul as a judge on Drag Race - the format is a global hit and has turned Michelle in to a superstar. But her journey didn't start on Ru's catwalk, or in the Strictly ballroom... Michelle Visage is a radio lover through and through. And to celebrate the final Radio Academy podcast of 2022, Christian picks his fav...
18m Dec 21, 2022
18m
How to make Christmas radio
It's commonly known in radio as the C-word. CHRISTMAS, of course. This week Christian is joined by Ben Woolford, Head of Music at the Magic network, Stuart Davies, Content Manager at the Virgin Radio network and Gary Bones from the music team at BBC Radio 2. They start by discussing the best time to "go Christmas" - Magic goes early and they flip their playlist to 100% Christmas, while Radio ...
21m Dec 14, 2022
21m
Farewell to My Dad Wrote a Porno
It truly is the end of an era. My Dad Wrote a Porno is a podcasting powerhouse. Its final episode is out later this month and this week joining Christian is the man whose Dad really did write a porno, Jamie Morton. Jamie explains his emotions as the series draws to a close, talks us through some of the magic moments (from sell out world tours, to a listener in space) and gives some brilliant ...
20m Dec 07, 2022
20m
How to Put On a Huge Radio Event: Magic at the Musicals
From The Radio 1 Roadshow, to Capital's Summertime ball, radio has long known how to put on a big bash for its listeners. But what goes in to planning these events? How long does it all take? And how do you make sure it's just as good for listeners who aren't there, as those who are lucky enough to have a ticket? This week Christian is joined by Andrew Wyke from TBI, a company which specialis...
15m Nov 30, 2022
15m
Nick Grimshaw in Conversation
It's been more than a year since Grimmy hung up his BBC Radio 1 headphones. Now, he's written a book, started a new podcast and had a chat to Radio 1's Arielle Free for us here at the Radio Academy. This week's episode is highlights of that event, in which Grimmy talks about discovering his love for radio, getting a foot in the door of Radio 1 and life after his time there. If you love this a...
19m Nov 23, 2022
19m
How to make a companion podcast
"Ralph and Katie" is a BBC One sitcom. "Inside the world of Ralph and Katie" is its companion podcast on BBC Sounds. This week, Christian talks to the team from Audio Always behind that podcast, who talk about how the project came about, and what they think is key to a good accompanying pod. Jo Meek is the podcast's Executive Producer and Audio Always' Head of Factual and Development. Becky G...
18m Nov 16, 2022
18m
Sky News Daily
In a very competitive market, what's the key to a great daily news podcast? Sky News think they've cracked it and this week joining Christian are two guests. A main face of Sky News on TV, Niall Paterson has recently taken over as host of a revamped Sky News Daily, while Paul Stanworth joined Sky at the start of the year and has been in charge of Sky News' new push on audio content. Niall and...
20m Nov 09, 2022
20m
George Bowie: 25 years at Breakfast
This week Christian hands over the Radio Academy Podcast mic to a guest presenter, Garry Spence from Clyde 1. Garry is chatting to George Bowie, one of Glasgow and Scotland’s best-known radio personalities. He's been at the top of the game for a quarter of a century. He's celebrating a quarter of a century on breakfast, and also his cult dance show GBXperience. George talks about the highs an...
20m Nov 02, 2022
20m
Brown Gal Can't Swim
This week, BBC Radio Leicester presenter Summaya Mughal talks to Christian about her Brown Gal Can't Swim podcast for BBC Sounds. As part of the Commonwealth games legacy, money has been given to Swim England to help people from diverse communities in the West Midlands learn to swim. Figures also show that 98 per cent of British South Asian women can't swim. Summaya is one of them and in the ...
16m Oct 26, 2022
16m
How to Make a Branded Podcast
Is the radio industry known for its fashion sense? We'll let you draw your own conclusions there. But this week, Christian Hewgill is joined by Alex Lawless from production company Somethin' Else. They were tasked with bringing one of the fashion world's biggest names in to the world of audio, with the Chanel Connects podcast. Alex and Christian talk about: The importance of determining who y...
19m Oct 19, 2022
19m
BBC Radio 1Xtra at 20
BBC Radio 1Xtra has been celebrating its 20th birthday throughout this year. It launched on 16 August 2002, and has become a vital part of Black British culture and the music scene in the UK. This week Christian talks to drive host Reece Parkinson about what the station has achieved in those 20 years. Reece discusses his personal journey in radio, why he was so keen to be part of 1Xtra, and wh...
18m Oct 12, 2022
18m
How to interview the Prime Minister
Last week all ears turned to BBC Local Radio, as Prime Minister Liz Truss faced a round of local interviews ahead of the Conservative Party conference. Given the huge impact of the recent so-called "mini budget", and the PM's absence from the media circuit since it was announced, the interviews were closely followed by not just BBC local radio's loyal listeners, but by journalists in the lobbi...
26m Oct 05, 2022
26m
Radio Academy Festival Highlights
This week it's a bumper edition of the podcast, as we break our own 20-minute rule to bring you an hour of highlights from the 2022 Radio Academy Festival. Christian Hewgill has a selection of highlights from just some of our brilliant speakers and panelists. Hear from the teams and bosses at KISS, talkSPORT, and 6Music, and we've got in-conversation chats with Michelle Visage, Sam Ryder, Jon ...
59m Sep 28, 2022
59m
How radio covered The Queen's death
In-line with most broadcasters in the past week, this episode of The Radio Academy Podcast is a break from our scheduled programming, as we talk to the leaders of three radio stations about how they covered the sad death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II last week. Joining Christian this week is Nick Pitts (Content Director of Jazz FM and Deputy Chair of The Radio Academy); Rebecca Frank (Cont...
29m Sep 14, 2022
29m
How to take a Breakfast Show on tour
This week Christian talks to Rob Tobin and Grace Hopper, producers of KISS Breakfast with Jordan and Perri. When the boys went off on tour with their group Diversity - the dance troupe made world-famous by Britain's Got Talent - KISS grabbed the chance to take the show on the road, making some big event radio along the way. Rob and Grace tell Christian... The challenges of launching a breakfa...
19m Sep 07, 2022
19m
How to make news for the whole world
Alongside its cousins the weather and the travel, the news is a massive part of radio.  And this week we're taking a look at one of the flagship news programmes on the BBC World Service, which has hundreds of millions of listeners across the globe. Jackie Leonard is one of The Newsroom's main presenters and its podcast The Global News Podcast is celebrating 15 years on air. It's become a huge ...
18m Aug 31, 2022
18m
Scott Mills - 24 years on Radio 1
After nearly a quarter of a century at BBC Radio 1, Scott Mills is leaving to take over BBC Radio 2's afternoon show. From early breakfast, to drive, afternoons and hundreds of breakfast cover shows - Scott has soundtracked a generation of Radio 1 listeners lives. This week, in an extended episode, Christian Hewgill talks to Scott about his unforgettable time at the station he wanted to work ...
30m Aug 24, 2022
30m
Absolute Radio Pirates
If you listen to this podcast you probably love radio. So thank goodness for the pirates. For one day only, on Friday 12th August, Absolute Radio Pirates was born. A pop-up station celebrating the music and personalities of the pirate radio stations of the 1960s, 55 years after they were brought to an end. Executive Producer of the project, broadcaster Jon Holmes, tells Christian Hewgill how ...
16m Aug 17, 2022
16m
Radio 1's Giant Jigsaw
Radio 1 Breakfast with Greg James has become known for its big summer stunts. From hiding its presenter and making listeners and find him, to trapping him in an escape room, to locking him in a caravan! Its not easy being Greg James, you know. This year's event sounds simple enough - a giant jigsaw with pieces hidden all over the UK. But organising that was quite a mission. Talking to Christia...
20m Aug 10, 2022
20m
Stories of Outstanding Bravery
Christian Hewgill takes the reins of The Radio Academy Podcast, and kicks things off by talking to Darren Coventry from the BFBS podcast Tea & Medals. It proudly shines a light on stories of "valour, courage and bravery" and sees Darren, himself a former solider, hear from men and women who've received the highest honours the military has to offer. In this episode Darren shares his story - go...
15m Aug 03, 2022
15m
How to produce Slow Radio (with Honey the Dog)
This week’s episode is a masterclass in escaping through audio, as Roisin talks to the producer behind BBC Radio 3’s Slow Radio episode, A Day in the Life of Honey the Dog.  Faith Waddell from Tandem Productions lovingly gathered Honey’s soundtrack, from waking up in the morning all the way through to her daily walk and dinner time. She shares her tips for working with animals, finding the rig...
15m Jul 27, 2022
15m
In Conversation with Simon Mayo
Highlights of Roisin’s recent conversation with broadcasting legend Simon Mayo, recorded at our recent summer social to launch the ReelWorld Radio Academy 30 Under 30. Simon talks about his move from BBC to commercial radio, sharing his experiences in the industry through the years, and reflects on 18 months hosting the Greatest Hits Radio drivetime show. Roisin is joined by co-host Christian...
22m Jul 22, 2022
22m
Virgin Radio Pride
Until the end of August, Virgin Radio has a pop-up station to champion the LGBTQ+ community called 'Virgin Radio Pride'. It's the second time the station has been on air, having initially broadcast last summer.  In this week's episode Roisin is joined by co-host Christian Hewgill who has been making sports documentaries for the station, and speaks to Shivani Dave who presents an evening show. ...
17m Jul 13, 2022
17m
A Conversation with Tim Blackmore
Radio Academy MD Sam Bailey speaks to UK radio veteran Tim Blackmore, who has recently learnt that he as an inoperable brain tumour, and that he likely has a few weeks left to live. Tim is one of the founding parents of British pop music radio. He helped launch Radio 1 in 1967, helped reboot Capital in 1977, and practically invented the independent audio sector with his company Unique in the 1...
25m Jul 06, 2022
25m
Glastonbury Festival's Radio Station
How could we not talk about the biggest live music event on the planet… especially when it has its very own volunteer-run, community radio station on site!?  The team at Worthy FM have been covering Glastonbury festival since 2007, with everything on-air from Guinness World Record attempts to spontaneous cabaret performances.  In this episode, Roisin chats to presenter Gez Smith about what it...
14m Jun 29, 2022
14m
Hits Radio: Meet The Team
What makes an award-winning Station of the Year? Fresh from their ARIAS Gold win, we sat down with the team behind Hits Radio for an online Radio Academy event. For this week's podcast, we’ve taken some of the highlights from that discussion, focusing particularly on the Breakfast Show content, and the thought that went into putting togethertheir stand-out entry. Programme Director Paul Gerra...
18m Jun 22, 2022
18m
Soundtracking with Edith Bowman
This week’s episode features Edith Bowman in conversation with fellow ARIA-winner Abbie McCarthy, about her hugely successful podcast Soundtracking.  We didn’t want you to miss out on this live chat they did for the Radio Academy at The Podcast Show 2022 - so we’ve selected all the best bits for you to listen to.  Edith explains how she combined her passion for music and film to get the idea ...
18m Jun 15, 2022
18m