The BBC Academy Podcast

Everything from mics and cables to acoustics and technique, BBC Academy Trainer, Marc Settle, shares advice on how to get that perfect recording every time. Dur: 18’40” Presented by Marc Settle. Produced by Sam Upton.

Lighting, stability and zooming are the focus for BBC Academy trainer, Marc Settle. There’s more to filming great video than just pointing and shooting. Dur: 14’19” Presented by Marc Settle. Produced by Sam Upton.

From frame rate, file size and aspect ratio to audio and accessories, before you start the camera rolling, make sure you’re properly prepared. BBC Academy trainer, Marc Settle, considers the set-up you need. Dur: 19’33” Presented by Marc Settle. Produced by Sam Upton.

Covering focus, exposure, composition and much more, BBC Academy expert Marc Settle shares his tips and tricks for the perfect picture. Dur: 22’12” Presented by Marc Settle. Produced by Sam Upton.

From battery, storage and connectivity to accessories and apps, be sure to get the most out of your smartphone by setting it up properly. BBC Academy trainer, Marc Settle shows you how. Dur 17’37” Presented by Marc Settle. Produced by Sam Upton.

Former managing director of Talk Radio Paul Robinson, head of BBC Audio & Music's General Factual department Ruth Gardiner and Radio 1 DJ Greg James all join Simon Smith to talk about how to get into the world of radio.

Guests: Jude Winstanley, creator of The Unit List, Shu Richmond, author of blog, So You Want to Work in Television, Elsa Sharp, talent manager, & BBC talent manager Sarah Grout.

Amanda Lyon hosts a talk with Simon Chinn, producer of acclaimed film Man on Wire. Simon talks about his latest film Project Nim, a feature length documentary telling the controversial story of a chimp raised as a human child.

Simon Smith is joined by three experts in live TV and radio. Jo Tongue, executive producer of football phone-in 606 on Radio 5 live, Gareth Collett, deputy editor of The One Show and Lambing Live series producer Sarah Gibbs discuss what makes a great live broadcast and how to avoid the pitfalls.

How do producers find the right guests for their shows? And having got them on board what techniques do they use to get the most from them whether they are out-and-out exhibitionists, amateur chefs or vulnerable young people? To discuss casting contributors with Simon Smith is Izzy Fairbairn, a broadcast journalist and documentary maker for Radio 1 and 1Xtra, Jon Lloyd, series producer of Come Dine with Me and Claire Faragher, series producer (series 1) and executive producer (series 2) of ITV’s The Only Way Is Essex.

How do producers persuade people to share their lives and secrets with the cameras? Jane Clancey discusses access with Roger Courtiour, producer of the recent Our War series on BBC Three, Steve Robinson series producer and creative director at Indus Films whose documentaries include Tribe with presenter Bruce Parry and Andrew Tait a BBC producer who’s been responsible for such works as Trouble in Amish Paradise and Leaving Amish Paradise.

What can broadcasters do to make the best use of YouTube? Jane Clancey talks to Jamie Dolling from Google, the owners of YouTube, and the BBC’s Oran Soffair who adapts and publishes BBC content on YouTube.

Simon Smith and guests discuss location, location, location: finding them, getting access to them and balancing the dreams of your director against the reality of your budget. Guests are Andrew Cooke, Jane Soans and Neil Mac.

In this special edition of the CoP Show we talk to the producers behind the BBC Three documentary series Our War. Donna Taberer joins Colin Barr, executive producer of the show and John Douglas, producer/director of episode two, to discuss how they set about bringing the series to the screen.

The pleasures and pitfalls of using personal social media if you work in the media. Joining Simon Smith are Steve Bowbrick, Editor of About the BBC, Rowan Kerek Robertson, Interactive Lead, Social Media Exec for BBC Vision and Steve Saul, writer and social media producer.

Guests are Melanie Leach, M.D. at Twofour Broadcast, Richard Shaw, head of development + exec producer at Lion Television and Victoria Ashbourne, M.D. at Victory Television.

A simple definition of transmedia storytelling is a technique used to tell stories across multiple platforms: TV, radio, games, social media, online - anywhere a story can unfold.

To discuss the dos and don'ts of tapeless production, Jane Clancey is joined by Emma Riley of Mentorn and Sunset & Vine, Donna Mulvey Jones from Maverick Television and the BBC's production innovation executive, Rachel Joseph.

Jane Clancey and guests tackle the subject of Visualising Radio, explaining the why and how of this intriguing area.

Simon Smith and guests with some practical advice on using user centred design techniques. When designing a website or product for the web, a game or interactive application it’s very easy to think about your needs and not those of your users. In this episode we look at user focused design or how to make sure that what you build really works for the people you are making it for.

What are the differences between a digital team and a traditional broadcast team? What kind of skills and people do you need to build successful digital products? With Simon Smith to discuss building the perfect digital production team are guests Paul Bennun, director of digital at Somethin' Else, Dan Heaf, digital director BBC Worldwide Ltd and Katherine Campbell, senior content producer of Radio 4's History of the World.

Simon Smith and guests discuss the practical techniques that content producers can use to build audiences. They look at examples of good social media practice, how to find your audience and then connect with the people who will influence them. Also under discussion is viral marketing, what works, what practical steps can be taken to make your content go viral and how to plan for when it all goes wrong. Simon is joined by Caragh Salisbury, editor of the BBC’s user acquisition team, Marie Corin, senior marketing executive for 4oD and Chris Quigley from Rubber Republic, a specialist in viral marketing and social media advertising.

Simon Smith brings us his report on transmedia storytelling from South by Southwest (SXSW), the annual music, film and interactive conference and festival held in Austin, Texas.

A mobile application, or app, is a downloadable piece of software that allows rich interaction with services and content via your mobile phone. As well as being complex and useful, apps can also be stupid, silly and fun. In this week’s CoP Show the rapidly growing mobile apps market is put under the microscope as host Simon Smith asks why you should or shouldn’t think about creating an app. Magnus Jern, managing director and founder of Golden Gekko Ltd, a developer of mobile marketing apps, Jessica Gwyther, global content manager for the Vodafone group and Mark Bamber from the BBC mobile applications team join Simon in the Academy studio.

Search engine optimisation (SEO) is used to improve the visibility of a website or web page in search engines via the 'natural' or unpaid search results. Very few of us look beyond the first few results we get from a search engine. The higher a site appears in the search results list, the more likely we are to click on it. So what are the tricks of the trade that content publishers use to lift pages higher in search results? To answer this question Simon Smith is joined by Duncan Bloor, a BBC search specialist; Jo Pham, a BBC producer and Doug Platts, head of natural search at iCrossing, a digital agency specialising in search.

Exactly what it is that makes a podcast a podcast? What does it offer content producers and how does a format that allows fans to subscribe and download audio onto their portable device somehow change or influence the way a podcast episode is put together? Joining Simon Smith in the studio are Helen Zaltzman and Olly Mann from the award-winning Answer Me This! comedy podcast; Andy Jones, Radio 2 and 6 Music’s podcast guru; and Jamillah Knowles presenter of Radio 5 live’s Outriders technology podcast.

In this CoP Show we look at Twitter, the microblogging service used worldwide by an estimated 190 million users. Simon Smith hosts the discussion on how Twitter can influence programmes and brands, what it offers and how to do it better. Joining him is champion of Twitter and Father Ted creator Graham Linehan; journalist Alex Hudson who looks after BBC Question Time's Twitter feed; and comedy writer Steve Saul more famous as the Twitter voice of the X-Factor.

Blogs have been used by TV and Radio programme teams to offer an insight into the production process, to add extra information for audiences and offer an immediate and responsive means of getting feedback via the comments on posts. They are easy to use, ubiquitous and inherently a part of the world of web 2.0. But all too often things don’t always go the way you want, the wrong tone, the wrong message, and poor moderation can often lead to disaster, sometimes very public disaster. So how can you make sure that a blog is a good addition to your programme, and if it is, how should you get the best from it? To answer this question Simon is joined by Jem Stone, Dan Biddle and Barry Pilling, who are all at the heart of the BBC’s blogging success.

As large percentages of younger audiences come to podcasts via YouTube, we ask, is video the new audio? The line between video and podcasts has become blurry in recent years. It's getting harder to say that a podcast is an ‘audio only’ thing. People have been uploading video recordings of their podcasts for years. But what is a ‘video podcast’ - and how do you make a great one? And what about the purists who say, if you don’t have an RSS feed - it’s not a podcast? To help us answer this puzzle, we speak to Alison Lomax, Managing Director, YouTube UK & Ireland and the BBC’s Head of Visualisation, Joe Harland. You can view the visualisation edition of this episode at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUexDfHP2DI

In this episode of Podcastology, we’ll discover some of the ground-breaking new formats pushing the boundaries of what podcasts can do. Often, these innovations come from voices and communities who don’t always get heard. We find out who they are, and how they are taking podcasts in exciting new directions. We’re joined by Nicky Birch, who is the Editorial Executive for new formats in BBC Sounds, and Jesse Lawson, a multi award-winning freelance audio producer, sound designer and community facilitator who makes very innovative podcasts with a vast array of young people and previously unheard voices.

What are the magic ingredients judges are looking for - and do they even exist?? Well, yes, according to awards judges. But how do you quantify them? And what do you need to think about if you are setting out to make an outstanding podcast? We’re joined by people who know the answers to some of these questions: Tomi Dixon, who won ‘best new podcast’ at the Arias, for Colouring In Britain, and Talia Randall, who won silver at The British Podcast Awards in the Environment category, and the Sustainability Award at the 2023 Audio Production Awards, for Blossom Trees and Burnt out Cars. We’re also joined by Hannah Hufford - who is a podcast development producer at BBC Audio and was a judge at The British Podcast Awards.

This sounds like a contradiction - after all, you can listen to podcasts anywhere, and the most successful podcasts have a universal appeal. But, all stories come from somewhere, and as we discover, being rooted in a local patch can bring a real richness to your podcast. There is also a growing trend for podcasts which grow from a local community. We speak to award-winning podcast makers who know what it means to tell local stories: Andy Whittaker, a Sony award-winning radio host and podcast presenter based in Nottinghamshire, and Zoe Chamberlain, producer and presenter of the Brummie Mummies podcast. We’re also joined by Chris Burns, who is Controller of Local Audio for BBC Local and in charge of the 39 Local Radio stations in England.

We’ll look at where the medium is now, and where we think it's headed. We consider the future of podcasting, and what's coming next. What does the growing Gen Z audience want? Can technology make listening a more personal, tailored experience? Will your next podcast be presented by a bot? With some geeky language around ‘personalisation tools’ and the effect of artificial intelligence, we gaze into the future with Aniruddh Dimri, BBC Sound’s Head of Product, Cat Agostinho, Co-Director of Imagen Insights, who researches the Gen Z audience, and the Editor of Pod News, James Cridland.

This podcast tackles sensitive and distressing subject matter, including discussion about extremist groups, suicide bombings, chemical attacks and trauma. You don't have to directly visit a traumatic scene to be affected by it. Vicarious trauma affects those viewing or hearing disturbing material or hearing second-hand the testimonies of those directly affected by a traumatic incident. In this podcast the BBC's Chief Medical Officer Dr Clare Fernandes speaks to journalist Abdirahim Saeed, who works for the BBC Monitoring Team which monitors and verifies social media to pull into the BBC's reporting. You'll learn: • what vicarious trauma is • where it can affect colleagues in the BBC, including the types of roles and subject matter • how to safeguard your health, including limiting exposure to trauma and coping mechanisms • how to support and protect your colleagues • where to turn to for help Abdirahim talks about what he's seen when covering extremist incidents, including ISIS and Al Qaida attacks and the…

When our mental health is fragile at work it can often be difficult to know who to talk to, where to get help or just find someone to listen without judgement. It can be helpful to talk to someone who understands the pressures of the work environment but isn't necessarily a close friend or team member. At the BBC, this role is fulfilled by members of the Peer Support Network. In this podcast the BBC's Chief Medical Officer Dr Clare Fernandes talks to peer supporter and South-East Today Presenter Natalie Graham. You'll learn about: - how peer supporters can support mental health difficulties, including anxiety, depression, stress or crisis situations in work - what a BBC peer supporter is - and what they're not - other support available at the BBC, including the Employee Assistance programme A transcript is available on the programme page for this podcast. This episode is part of the BBC Academy series on wellbeing and mental health in the workplace. Though this podcast is aimed at BBC staff, you might find…

How comfortable are you talking about the menopause at work? Given that 70% of those going through menopausal changes are employed and one in ten of those under 45 have symptoms, chances are a colleague or a member of your team may be experiencing it right now. In this episode, part of the Academy series on wellbeing and mental health in the workplace, the BBC’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Clare Fernandes speaks to content producer and BBC menopause champion Justine Bateson. Justine talks about her experiences of perimenopause, how it affected her physical and mental health and about the support she received working at the BBC. In this podcast you’ll learn: • insights into the menopause, including common symptoms and how it can affect your mental health • how to get support for yourself, a colleague or a member of your team • the importance of sensitive line management • the types of support available at the BBC, including Support at Work and the Women at the BBC staff network This episode is aimed primarily at…

Never forget your audience is there. On occasion you can use them to your advantage to challenge the position of an interviewee. In this minipod, BBC TV and Radio Presenter and Academy Interviewing coach, Julian Worricker explains how the audience can be your invisible fan club. This is the sixth in a series of minipods on Interviewing where Julian shares his expertise to take your interviewing skills to the next level. Dur 17’06”

Forensic listening allows you to respond to your interviewees’ questions and delve deeper into the story, peeling back the layers of an argument as you do so. In this Minipod, BBC TV and Radio Presenter and Academy Interviewing coach, Julian Worricker, gives the low-down on digging into the detail. This is the fifth in a series of Minipods on Interviewing where Julian shares his expertise to take your interviewing skills to the next level. Dur 13’10”

A confident interviewer needn’t ask long questions. Be curious and wear your knowledge lightly. In this minipod BBC TV and Radio Presenter and Academy Interviewing coach, Julian Worricker, talks about how to frame your questions and to know when to hold back. This is the third in a series of minipods on Interviewing where Julian shares his expertise to take your interviewing skills to the next level. Dur 13’05”

If you’ve done your research the chances are that you’ll already have a rough idea of what your interviewee is going to say. In this minipod, BBC TV and Radio Presenter and Academy Interviewing coach, Julian Worricker shares his tips on how to prepare for what your interviewee might say. This is the fourth in a series of minipods on Interviewing where Julian shares his expertise to take your interviewing skills to the next level. Dur 11’45”

Pay attention! Listening really carefully to your interviewee can give you the clues you need to unlock whole new areas for discussion. BBC TV and Radio Presenter and Academy Interviewing coach, Julian Worricker shows how really paying attention can pay off. This is the second in a series of minipods on Interviewing where Julian shares his expertise to take your interviewing skills to the next level. Dur 11’38”

Want to be a more confident interviewer and get the best from your interviewees? BBC TV and Radio Presenter and Academy Interviewing coach, Julian Worricker shows how focusing on what you want from an interview can make all the difference. This is the first in a series of minipods on Interviewing where Julian shares his expertise to take your interviewing skills to the next level. Dur 9’21”

Good writing connects you to your listeners, grabs their attention and makes them remember your story. BBC Academy trainer, Sam Upton, shares some tips to take your writing to the next level. This is the fourth in a series of minipods on audio storytelling, where Sam shares some insider tricks and tips that'll help enhance your podcast, montage or radio package. Dur 8’40” Produced and presented by Sam Upton.

Let your listener experience what’s happening, as it happens, and give extra magic to your storytelling with a stand-up. Academy trainer, Sam Upton, explains how the stand-up can lend your piece an extra dimension. This is the fourth in a series of minipods on audio storytelling, where Sam shares some insider tricks and tips that'll help enhance your podcast, montage or radio package. Dur 8’37” Produced and presented by Sam Upton.

When you’re tell a story on location, do all you can to take your listener with you. In this minipod, BBC Academy trainer, Sam Upton, shares tips for using writing, sound and stand-ups to give that vital sense of place to your podcast or radio package. This is the third in a series of minipods where Sam shares some insider tricks and tips that'll help enhance your audio storytelling. Dur 8’01” Produced and presented by Sam Upton.

If you don’t use sound to help tell your audio story you make it easier for your listener to “tune out”. Sound can give detail, create atmosphere, act as punctuation, vary texture and more. But how much sound is enough? Listen to find out as BBC Academy audio trainer, Sam Upton, explores the many ways that sound can supercharge your podcast or radio package. This is the second in a series of minipods where Sam shares some insider tricks and tips that'll help enhance your audio storytelling. Dur 9’46” Produced and presented by Sam Upton.

Want to bring stardust to your audio storytelling? In this minipod BBC Academy trainer Sam Upton shares some insider tricks and tips that'll help enhance your radio package, montage or podcast. In this first episode Sam explains how planning your piece can give extra depth to your story. With examples from some of the best in the business she digs deep into the elements which, if used carefully, can make your story stand out from the crowd. It’s not just who you talk to but where you talk to them. And sound really matters. Dur 9’35” Produced and presented by Sam Upton.

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