You Should Listen To This: Stephen Nolan US Election Debate, Live from Indiana

I think you should listen to this:
US Election: Live Debate from Indiana Stephen Nolan

It's getting ever closer to the US elections 2016 or as it's more commonly known

I've often cited Stephen Nolan as one of my favourite broadcasters. (I would also recommend his mid morning show on Radio Ulster) he has a unique way of dealing with loud callers angrily planting their opinion flag, politics the way it is in Northern Ireland he's used to people with solid opinions. The other thing I like about him is the amount of compassion and understanding he shows to vulnerable contributors trying to tell their story.

One of the busiest people in tv and radio, he presents an evening show on BBC Radio 5 live (Thur-Sun) A recent addition of this show was live from a bar in Terre Haute, Indiana.

2nd @bbc5live special from Terre Haute starts 930pm .American audience have q's & I'll try to keep control . Well, just a little control ! pic.twitter.com/4dBWZTTGd1

— Stephen Nolan (@StephenNolan) October 15, 2016

 It's an incredible listen, I happened to come across it while it was live and have since digested the whole thing. The nature of debate and discussion around this vote, the anger, confusion, vitriol and passion of the last 3 months is amplified in this programme. Nolan is on tremendous form, commanding the discussion, at times having no choice but to shout to be heard. He manages to raise his voice in a commanding non aggressive way while also showing respect to the speakers.

'It's my show sir....Don't make me stand up' - Stephen Nolan 

With all the coverage and other debates flying around, he asks factual and honest questions and doesn't let them get off without answering them. One of my highlights is when he goes to a young voter who describes this as his 'second election' and gets his thoughts. The young man is quiet and doesn't sound to confident, but Nolan pushes him slightly and ends up getting an honest and interesting question from him. Hes a presenter who understands and uses the power of silence, and isn't afraid to pause before asking a question, making the listener lean in slightly. 

— Stephen Nolan (@StephenNolan) October 15, 2016

You should listen to this... My Dad Wrote A Porno

If you see someone covering their mouth, trying to stifle laughter on the Monday morning commute, chances are they're listening to My Dad Wrote a Porno. This now worldwide hit is in its second series and has only gotten better with age. 

Jamie Morton has the (no doubt skin crawling) task of reading out his dad’s self-published erotica (‘Self-published erotica’ should not be a thing, but it is) to his friends James Cooper and Alice Levine (BBC Radio 1). Each episode they delve into another chapter and follow the adventures of 'Pots and Pans' buisness lady Belina Blumenthal. Picking it apart, line by line, comma by misused comma with hilarious effect. 

The things that make this podcast a must listen are:

The dynamic between Jamie, James and Alice is very real, they have known each other for years and you can tell that by listning to them. A lot of double or triple headed podcasts could learn a lot from their on-mic relationship.

Simple format, strong content. The layout of each episode is formulaic and easy to follow. The brief recap is a good icebreaker and warm up for the coming episode. The content (Belinda Blinked) is a gift to us all, but mostly this podcast. You can’t predict where it is going and worryingly, become invested in the characters (‘Characters' is to be read with a question mark).

They give you just enough of the drug to keep you addicted. Each episode is very well edited. Never too long, and always packed with the best bits. The commonplace thing for a lot of podcasts of this style to do is to keep in the ramblings of conversations, when they don’t need to.

A lot of what the trio do each episode is very basic. I mean that in the nicest way. Radio as a medium is at its most powerful when;

You talk to one person.

Have core values and themes but move the narrative along.

Welcome the listener like a friend

Make them feel like they are ‘in on the joke’.
My Dad Wrote A Porno does all of the above, and it works. It works so well, it’s a regular at the top of the Itunes chart.

I guarantee you’ll be laughing your pomegranate’s off at this smutty hit. 

Here is a good place to start
BEST OF BOOK ONE

Good Faith. The pillars on which most blogs stand.

I've been thinking of different ways I could do something interesting here and have concluded that I’m not that interesting. No really I’m not Interesting.

I've mused and googled many potential blog challenges and since I don't think I can come up with a 'wannabe Buzfeed article' every day I’ve settled on the following. 

I'm going to try and write (at least) 100 words a day and commit to have it published by the end of every day. Ideally 8PM but midnight is the final cut off. 

You may think this sounds pi** easy... you haven't met me have you? 

21 Aye?

In many ways i'm lazy, bus sometimes im just too busy to do things. I turned 21 on Sunday and it was the first day in the last 2 weeks that I actually stopped and looked around. I didnt smell the roses because that's the last thing my hayfever needs.

I don't feel older and I'm certainly not wiser but 2016 so far has been a big year, not withstanding the new and events. I've been more aware of what I don't know and my own inexperience. For me that is half the battle to becoming more (stand by for wan*y blogger lingo) self aware and confident.

Someone said to me today 'It's weird to think of you as just 21 because you're mature" to which I usually reply "Ahh code for 'you look old'"

You should listen to this... More Perfect

I think you should listen to More Perfect from Radiolab/ WNCY

More Perfect is all of the above, it also stands out with the way it sounds, much like the nature of the topic's it covers, it has a dark sound to it. That feeling, mixed with relaxed conversation draws you in from the get go.

There's an uprising of programming about court cases in the US, be it Making a Murderer Serial or Untold.
All of these, while different, require similar things to be successful. This can include, but is not limited to:

A real story to tell and the patience to find it. 
Anywhere but particularly in the US there is an abundance of court cases and trials that could be made into programmes. They will have had to research into many in order to find the gems.

Thoroughly committed research. 
The ability to trawl through documents, interviews, trial tapes and talk to people.

Telling enough to keep the listener hooked. 
Starting with unanswered questions, giving information that makes them think; 'But why?'

This one is a very good place to start.
====The Political Thicket====

Free Tea, Dundee, Serial and Me.

As I write this I’m on a train, camped in the quiet coach taking advantage of the free tea and wi-fi. The journey is sunny; I can see my own reflection in the laptop. I've had a sort of half day today, went up to Dundee for a few hours now I’m heading home.

I have so far enjoyed the ‘100 a day’ challenge I’ve set myself and up until this post I haven’t really struggled to come up with something to write. 

So, i’ll leave you with this, an article by Sarah Koenig, one of the creators of Serial, the podcast that took over the world.

In this piece she breaks down how she managed to tell a story without having the material she wanted.

It’s a great insight into the amount of work and research they go into to make Serial.  It’s also a lesson on recording everything and throwing none of it away.  

====YOU CAN FIND THE ARTICLE HERE====