Podcasts · Education · Society & Culture

The BBC Academy Podcast

BBC Radio

300 episodes

Essential listening for the broadcast production, journalism and technology communities. Your guide to everything from editorial and craft skills to taking your next step in the industry. Practical advice on all aspects of TV, radio, journalism.

Episodes page 1 of 6

  1. Minipods – Smartphone journalism episode five: Audio

    · 19 min

    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.

  2. Minipods – Smartphone journalism episode four: Video part 2

    · 15 min

    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.

  3. Minipods – Smartphone journalism episode three: Video part 1

    · 21 min

    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:…

  4. Minipods – Smartphone journalism episode two: Photos

    · 23 min

    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.

  5. Minipods – Smartphone journalism episode one: Settings

    · 18 min

    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…

  6. Podcastology episode fifteen: Is video the new audio?

    · 33 min

    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…

  7. Podcastology episode sixteen: New formats, new voices

    · 32 min

    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…

  8. Podcastology episode fourteen: How to win an award

    · 35 min

    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…

  9. Podcastology episode thirteen: Going local

    · 27 min

    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…

  10. Podcastology episode twelve: Future directions

    · 27 min

    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…

  11. Vicarious trauma in journalism and the media

    · 21 min · Explicit

    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…

  12. Peer support: Opening up about mental health

    · 21 min · Explicit

    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…

  13. The menopause: How you can support colleagues

    · 22 min

    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…

  14. Minipods – Interviewing episode six: Audience

    · 17 min

    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…

  15. Minipods – Interviewing episode five: Layers

    · 13 min

    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…

  16. Minipods – Interviewing episode four: Answers

    · 12 min

    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…

  17. Minipods – Interviewing episode three: Questions

    · 13 min

    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…

  18. Minipods – Interviewing episode two: Listening

    · 12 min

    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…

  19. Minipods – Interviewing episode one: Focus

    · 9:21

    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…

  20. Minipods - Audio storytelling episode five: Writing

    · 8:40

    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…

  21. Minipods - Audio storytelling episode four: The stand up

    · 8:37

    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.…

  22. Minipods - Audio storytelling episode three: Sense of place

    · 8:01

    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…

  23. Minipods - Audio storytelling episode two: Using sound

    · 10 min

    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…

  24. Minipods - Audio storytelling episode one: Planning

    · 9:50

    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…

  25. Podcastology episode eleven: Thinking strategy

    · 19 min

    How audience insights can guide your podcast planning

  26. Podcastology episode ten: From mic to ear

    · 21 min

    The backstage technical wizardry that brings your podcast to your ear

  27. Podcastology episode nine: Political pods

    · 28 min

    How to talk about politics – and entertain as well

  28. Podcastology episode six: Future directions

    · 22 min

    Eli Sessions talks to Louise Kattenhorn, commissioning executive for the BBC pop hub network, Lloyd Shepherd, Head of Product at BBC Sounds, and Emmanuella Kwenorty, who develops podcasts for BBC Sounds. Where do they…

  29. Podcastology episode seven: Unfiltered conversations

    · 23 min

    In this episode Eli Sessions finds out how to keep conversations natural, with Hannah Hufford, producer of No Country for Young Women, and Sally Heaven, who produces Evil Genius.

  30. Podcastology episode eight: Box sets

    · 25 min

    In this episode Eli Sessions looks at those beautifully crafted podcasts that tell dramatic stories in depth. He speaks to Rami Tzaber, the editor behind 13 Minutes to the Moon – which told the story of the moon…

  31. Podcastology episode one: What makes a podcast a hit?

    · 19 min

    In the first of a five-part series on podcasting, Miranda explains: - what makes podcasts distinct from radio programmes - how the role of the presenter is different from that on radio - the typical situation of the…

  32. Podcastology episode two: What the BBC is looking for in a podcast

    · 26 min

    In part two of our podcasting series, hear from Jason Phipps, commissioning editor for podcasts at the BBC, and Louise Kattenhorn, commissioning editor for BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra.

  33. Podcastology episode three: How to produce a podcast

    · 23 min

    Georgia Catt is a producer in BBC radio documentaries, who has made an award-winning podcast, Missing, for the Untold series. She also produced Fortunately with Fi Glover and Jane Garvey. Emma Conneely is a producer…

  34. Podcastology episode four: Finding an audience for your podcast

    · 21 min

    Promoting a podcast can mean anything from creating an audiogram – a clip from the podcast to promote on social media - to making other digital assets such as quizzes or articles to place online and draw attention to…

  35. Podcastology episode five: Behind the scenes on two top BBC podcasts

    · 22 min

    This episode of the Podcastology series includes a discussion about You, Me and the Big C. We recorded it before the death of Rachael Bland. Although the first podcast featured in this episode is about sports – but…

  36. Essential kit for the field producer

    · 21 min

    What production kit should you take when producing radio content in the field? Join BBC Academy trainer Sam Upton and newsgathering field producer Tom Quinn as they talk about what sort of equipment you need for radio…

  37. Man Like Mobeen

    · 19 min

    BBC Three's new comedy Man Like Mobeen has made a big impact through social media. BBC Birmingham director Joe Godwin spoke to executive producer Ben Cavey, as well as star and co-writer Guz Khan, to find out about the…

  38. From memoir to movie: the story behind the Boy with the Topknot

    · 15 min

    The BBC Two drama The Boy with the Topknot was based on a true story. That made the jobs of its writer, producer and director all the more complicated as they worked with actors, commissioners and those who are…

  39. How do they make the Archers?

    · 22 min

    It's been running continuously since 1951, comes in 12 and a half minute episodes and was originally billed as "an everyday story of country folk". It's sandwiched between bursts of the unforgettable Barwick Green…

  40. Inside daytime television: Ideas, reveals and hard work

    · 25 min

    Daytime television was once thought of as the nursery slopes of a TV career. Today its complex formats and production requirements are seen by many as more challenging than peak-time programming. “You will learn more…

  41. Data Journalism: More important than ever?

    · 22 min

    In an era where fake news is fashionable, data can help distinguish the facts from the fiction. But how do you interrogate a spreadsheet and hold the data to account? And how can journalists use data to find stories?…

  42. Cyber-security: How to protect yourself online

    · 22 min

    With more and more cyber-attacks in the headlines, including this year's NHS attack, BBC Information security specialist Andrea Walker and BBC News technology broadcast journalist Chris Foxx cut through the jargon to…

  43. How to get a job: Women in technology

    · 15 min

    The BBC wants more women to apply for engineering jobs but the advice given at a recent BBC Design & Engineering event could be useful to everyone. In this podcast you’ll hear: - what it’s like to work at the BBC -…

  44. VR and 360 video: The path to popularity

    · 24 min

    Virtual reality (VR) and 360 video are the new cool kids on the media block but how will this impact media organisations? Over the past couple of years, projects have been produced on a wide range of subjects, such as…

  45. Making Radio 1's breakfast show with Nick Grimshaw

    · 24 min

    The Radio 1 breakfast show with Nick Grimshaw achieves more than five million listeners a week, thriving on a diet of the latest music releases, news and guests. The BBC Academy's Roxy Ebrahim-Khan spoke to producer…

  46. Following your audience on 'dark social'

    · 23 min

    Billions of people are using chat apps. Can brand owners and broadcasters make themselves part of these private conversations? And should they? The BBC World Service, the Weather Company USA and youth-led creative…

  47. How to edit a documentary

    · 25 min

    Editing an hour-long factual film can take a couple of months. The editor and director work closely to make the most of what’s been shot and to tell the story as clearly and engagingly as possible. This week’s podcast…

  48. How has BBC Three adapted to online?

    · 24 min

    BBC Three won this year's Royal Television Society Channel of the Year award despite no longer being on television. But how have its commissioning and production processes changed? The BBC Academy's Jas Rao spoke to…

  49. Working with sound

    · 24 min

    You can use sound to tell stories in different ways - whether that's a soundtrack, a character's voice or sound effects for a radio drama. A recent Producers’ Forum session at the BBC studio used by The Archers and…

  50. Coding: The next step for journalists?

    · 24 min

    In this era of data journalism and interactive online content, what else can people trained in writing and broadcasting do to tell their stories and reach wider audiences? Coding is one answer. BBC data journalist…

Shows are listed from Apple Podcasts' charts and directory, and Podcast Index where it is used. Every show and episode belongs to its publisher and plays from the publisher's own feed; this site hosts none of them. Explicit shows are for adult profiles only, and children’s profiles hear only children’s shows. More about this list.