September 30th is International Podcast Day, and to celebrate, we’ve listed some of the team’s favourite podcasts and a few reasons to inspire you to listen. From music-related shows to comedy pods, you’ll find something to delight your ears here.
How Podcasts Can Benefit Your Performing Arts Practice
Podcasts are an excellent way to tune out and relax after a long day. They’re also a fantastic source of inspiration, and many offer science-backed and educational content. So, if you’re not already, add some podcasts to your listening rotation!
Many also favour podcasts as they create a sense of community and connection with others. They allow you to listen in on conversation with people who share your interests and values — and sometimes they do the opposite!
Podcasts even help you see that ‘successful’ or ‘famous’ people also have everyday problems. This humanises them, and breaks down the illusion that money and fame solve all issues. Plus, it makes for entertaining listening.
BAPAM’s Podcast Recommendations
Whether you’re new to podcasts and don’t know where to start or simply looking for a brand-new favourite, we’re here to help.
The BAPAM team has put together a mix of performing arts-related podcasts and some recommendations from some of our team members. Check these out below:
1. Unseen Unheard from Attitude is Everything and Black Lives in Music
Unseen and Unheard is a two-part podcast series that examines extensive survey findings and first-hand experiences of intersectional prejudice. These discussions explore the experiences of Black British music creators and music professionals with disabilities or long-term health conditions in the UK music industry, calling on the industry to drive real change.
2. Sound Affects by Katy Georgiou
Johnny Marriot, one of the BAPAM patrons and lead singer in the punk band PET NEEDS, was recently interviewed on the Sound Affects podcast. Sound Affects is hosted by Katy Georgiou, one of BAPAM’s performing arts specialist psychotherapists. Through her podcast, Katy explores music, mental health, and how they intersect.
3. Beth Shum – Physiotherapy Podcast Episodes
Beth Shum is one of BAPAM’s physios, a graduate of the UCL Performing Arts Medicine programme, and a trained circus performer. With a special interest in performance physiotherapy and pain management, she regularly shares her expertise on podcasts. Learn more at:
● Beth on the Nerve Guys Podcast talking about chronic pain
● Beth talks about pain science and management for circus artists
● Beth discussing hypermobility, shoulder health, and chronic pain management
4. The Comedian’s Comedian
Fancy a giggle? Want to learn how to write better comedy? The Comedian’s Comedian is the podcast for you. Host Stuart Goldsmith interviews professional comedians about their careers, creative process, and challenges, with plenty of laughs thrown in between.
5. We Are The Unheard with Eve Horne
Listen to singer, songwriter, producer, and founder of PeakMusicUK discuss her career trajectory from the Brit School to touring internationally. Eve also reveals her personal challenges and how she promotes Black and Minority Ethnic womxn and LGBTQ+ communities within the music industry.
6. Elevate Music Podcast
The Elevate Music Podcast offers practical advice to musicians on maintaining their mental and physical health.
Episodes cover topics like managing performance anxiety, vocal strain, and creative burnout, featuring insights from industry top professionals. The podcast aims to support musicians by addressing challenges that could impact their careers and well-being. So, if you’re in the field, give it a listen today!
7. Things Musicians Don’t Talk About
TMDTA is a podcast, a blog and online platform sharing the stories of musicians and those that work in the arts/creative industries. Both through the podcast and blog the creators hope to connect to anyone who may be struggling, in whatever capacity, or those who are simply curious!
What are the BAPAM Team Listening to?
Want more inspiration? We asked our team for their podcast tips!
● Scene Change by the National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division – A resource for performers, educators, directors and agencies to learn how blind performers can and do achieve success in the arts
● Performer Talks With Bethany Unwin – Industry insight and advice from performing arts professionals
● Dance; Better – A mental health podcast for ballet dancers.
● Dance Well Podcast – Health & Wellness for Dancers
● Song Exploder – Musicians take apart their songs, and piece by piece, tell the story of how they were made
● Sound Matters – Looking at – and listening to – the sounds of the world around us
● The Melanated Social Work Podcast – Hosted by four men of colour within the field of social work – social work, mental health, politics, music, liberation and many other topics
● Changes The Podcast – DJ Annie Macmanus chats to artists, writers, musicians and a host of fascinating people about CHANGE.
● How To Fail With Elizabeth Day – Interviews with famous people about failures that have made them who they are.
● Folk on Foot – Each episode takes a walk with a leading folk artist in the landscape that has inspired their music as they sing and play on location
● Dead Eyes – Actor and comedian Connor Ratliff is on a quest to solve a very stupid mystery that’s haunted him for over 20 years: why Tom Hanks fired him from a 2001 miniseries (it’s also an illumination of the day to day reality of work, craft and life in the entertainment industry)
Or keep reading! Visit the BAPAM blog to read more news and guides for performing arts professionals now.