How To Create An Effective Podcast
23rd May 2022 9:15am - 24th May 2022 1:00pm
Please note that this course is focused on the communication skills of podcasting, and not the technical skills needed to record and edit a podcast. We are also running Sound Starter training, which will introduce the technical skills involved in recording and editing podcasts.
This course will take place online on Zoom. There are two sessions and you must be able to attend both: 9.15am to 1pm on 23rd & 24th May 2022.
Podcasting is one of the fastest-growing means of communication for universities, be it a recorded series of lectures, a snapshot of research, or an advertisement to attract new students and/ or funding. There is no doubt podcasts are one of the most accessible “windows” through which to view your university, and your podcasts should reflect the quality of your institution.
What strikes one about university podcasts is that although the production quality is important, it is the communication skills of the podcaster, and their ability to tell a good story, that makes it effective. Yet surprisingly little attention has been paid to communicating effectively with podcasts to a wide variety of audiences. With MPI’s wide experience in broadcasting, and training at 40 British universities in the past 12 years, we are ideally placed to fill that gap.
Technical capabilities vary from university to university, while our course enables the participants to get the best out of whatever technical expertise or resources they may have. We help them to pitch their podcast correctly to the target audience, to organise their thoughts and consider the best ways to present them. We will give them the skills to present the podcast in a talk format, and the interviewing skills to make an interview/conversation style podcast.
All participants will have the opportunity to practise both formats, an audio/video straight talk and an on-camera/audio interview.
The workshop does not offer in-depth training in technical skills (recording and editing a podcast) because of the variety of software and hardware options, but the trainers supply the participants with a list of useful ‘how to’ links, as well as giving them some technical tips during the course.
Tim Grout-Smith is an Oxford English graduate with 26 years of varied experience in journalism at the BBC, and since leaving set up MPI, advising governments and charities on media relations, and training academics at 40 British universities, and several Max Planck Institutes, to publicise their research through the media
Lily Poberezhska Is a London-based graduate of Kiev State University with 10 years of BBC journalism and presenting experience and a diploma from the London School of Public Relations. Since leaving the BBC she developed and delivered workshops on media and podcasting for academics, charities and medical professionals in the UK and countries across Europe.
Previous Course Feedback
“Really useful and enjoyable . Good mix of delivery style. Great deliverer knowledge- 8 hours flew by!” Francesca Slattery, Outreach Officer for Oriel and St Hilda's Colleges
At Birmingham, Medical and Dental Sciences PhD candidate Ana Verissimo, who subsequently won the university’s prize for best podcast, wrote
“Both trainers made everyone feel comfortable, and the amazing preparation on everyone’s subject was remarkable and unexpected”
And here’s more feedback, from our Zoom workshops:
“The practical advice was just excellent: technical detail was to the point and always useful, the content of the seminar was structured extremely well. The links provided are for relevant and comprehensive materials. The slides are first class”. Cath Kennedy, PhD Biblical Studies, Sheffield
“Trainers Tim and Lily were incredibly well informed, and I felt that the workshop was really tailored to my needs. They had clearly read everyone’s questionnaire before the class that helped the participants feel at ease. The feedback I received was really helpful so too was the decision to spread the workshop out into two days – I couldn’t have managed a full day on zoom!” Caitlin Rankin-McCabe, PhD English, Durham
“This was probably the best LAHP training I have taken part in. The conveners have clearly thought carefully about how to structure and deliver the course. They come across as very knowledgeable. Most importantly though, they seem to be genuinely interested in the research of participants and want to help them reach a wider audience. Fantastic.” Peter Paine, Theology PhD Kings
“Lily and Tim are brilliant at bringing the focus onto the storytelling and structure, to make sure the content is strong, and appropriate for the format, as well as giving clear and relevant advice on how to present yourself, and communicate well.” Olivia McCannon PhD English and French, Newcastle