Seven Audio Lab creators turn their ideas into podcasts for BBC Sounds

The first set of Audio Lab creators have been chosen from hundreds of applications to turn their ideas into podcasts on BBC Sounds, amplifying the next generation of audio creatives from under represented backgrounds

"Judging by the many hundreds of applications we received, there’s a clear need for BBC Sounds Audio Lab – a comprehensive training and development programme that amplifies next-generation podcasters and audio creatives. What really excites me about our first seven creators isn’t just their raw talent but also their fresh perspectives, original ideas and untold stories that reflect the UK’s dynamic identities, conversations and culture. Roll on Summer 2022!" — Khaliq Meer, Audio Lab Commissioning Executive

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The first set of Audio Lab creators have been chosen from hundreds of applications to turn their ideas into podcasts on BBC Sounds, amplifying the next generation of audio creatives from under represented backgrounds.

The seven successful applicants are taking part in a paid development programme which includes bespoke training, mentoring and production support, to turn their exciting range of ideas into a series of podcasts for BBC Sounds later this year.

From the hidden queer connections between filmmakers over a century of cinema and the lives of Black Britons past and present, to a journey through British museums from the perspective of colonial artefacts and an exploration of access to green space through the prism of urban nature, Audio Lab is bringing these compelling stories from thrilling new voices to wider audiences.

Khaliq Meer, Audio Lab Commissioning Executive says: “Judging by the many hundreds of applications we received, there’s a clear need for BBC Sounds Audio Lab – a comprehensive training and development programme that amplifies next-generation podcasters and audio creatives. What really excites me about our first seven creators isn’t just their raw talent but also their fresh perspectives, original ideas and untold stories that reflect the UK’s dynamic identities, conversations and culture. Roll on Summer 2022!”

Photos and biographies for the Audio Lab creators can be found here.

Full list of Audio Lab creators:

Museum Of Bad Vibes

The artefacts inside Britain’s celebrated museums speak for the first time and in the Museum of Bad Vibes, the restless spirits that inhabit the objects have plenty to say.

Hanna Adan, Audio Lab Creator says: “I really love museums and without them I wouldn’t know as much as I do about places I’ve never been to, but I felt they weren’t very neutral places and the vibe seemed off. Objects have their own stories, whether it’s spiritual or if it’s because of all the hands it has passed through. Now that conversations are going on about whether to repatriate or ‘retain and explain’, I think it’s time we listened to these objects.”

The Film We Can’t See

Exploring the hidden queer connections between filmmakers over a century of cinema through an imaginary meeting between a pioneering film director from Russia, a bisexual Hollywood actress, and a German sexologist fleeing the Nazis.

Adam Zmith, Audio Lab creator, says: “I'm obsessed with my queer ancestors, like the sexologist Magnus Hirschfeld who made discoveries about our bodies that we might think of as hyper modern, but he was campaigning for queer rights before my grandparents were born. Discovering my ancestry as a queer person through these historical figures and their amazing work is a big part of my life and work now. With this podcast I want to give people the same mind-opening moments I've had in exploring our histories. Audio Lab is giving me a blank canvas and a lot of space and time to create what I want to create, which as a producer is extremely rare and very exciting.”

Who Is Michael X?

The story of the most influential yet unchartered Black British activist Michael X, who became Britain’s preeminent Black Power leader of his time.

Hamza Salmi, Audio Lab Creator says: “I’m not just speaking about Michael X, I’m speaking about what it’s been like being Black in the UK in the past and how relevant it is today. And about colonial systems of power and how they still exhibit themselves now, using his life to explain that.

With the support of Audio Lab, I can create soundscapes and re-enactment, and elevate the content into something more than just Michael X’s story. I also have access to the BBC archive where I’ve already discovered gold like Michael X’s wife on Woman’s Hour in 1967.”

our mothers’ stories

Bringing together mothers, their daughters and a set of old printed photographs to explore what our mothers’ lives were like before they became mothers.

JN Benjamin, Audio Lab creator, says: “We’re in a moment right now that for so many reasons feels thick with a profound sense of grief. Death and loss are no doubt inevitable but I think the way it is happening has unveiled a collective sense of urgency to hear and preserve the stories of those who came before us. For the children and grandchildren of the African and Caribbean diaspora - including me - whose parents may have been born abroad, this task feels even more important. I want this project to be a provocation; a little nudge to encourage more people to seek out and preserve, in some way, their own mothers' stories.”

Weeds And Wildflowers

Celebrating the people and stories behind the wildlife through the window boxes and community gardens of UK council estates and lower socio-economic neighbourhoods, Weeds And Wildflowers is an investigation into the lack of green space access for some communities.

Talia Randall, Audio Lab Creator says: “I love how personal and intimate audio can be. I like that you can really listen to someone in a way that you can’t always visually. And when we think about nature, we don’t normally think about urban nature or council estates. So it’s a nice way for a listener to be immersed in and challenge some of the ideas about what nature is and what it sounds like.”

Colouring In Britain

Charting the stories and experiences of people of colour past and present across Britain who have influenced and shaped what the UK looks like today, and what it means to be British.

Tommy Dixon, Audio Lab creators says: “I wanted to celebrate British people because a lot of the time, when we speak about being British, we omit a lot of the people who helped Britain to become what it is now. When I was at school I didn’t get taught a lot of Black history. So I wanted to champion the people I look up to and how amazing they are.”

The Reset

A journey through life’s messy middle, activating change and contemplating themes of emotional wellbeing and possibility. Part audio diary, part mixtape manifesto, The Reset is a podcast about learning how to live.

Jade Scott, Audio Lab creator says: “This is a personal journey I’ve been on for a few years, accelerated by hitting 30 and entering a new decade. I’ve always been on this search for knowledge, particularly from global perspectives. This podcast is really about centering Black and Brown women in the conversation about wellness and exploring those themes. Life is for living but the living isn't easy.”

About

About BBC Sounds Audio Lab:

Audio Lab is the first initiative of its kind from the BBC, providing a space for the next generation of podcasters and opening up the industry to a wider range of people by giving new audio creatives the opportunity to turn their ideas into a series of podcasts for BBC Sounds. The initiative is a paid development programme with a comprehensive package including bespoke training from the BBC Academy, mentoring and production support from BBC Audio, as well as marketing and promotion for the best ideas to help amplify unheard stories with new perspectives.

Masterclasses exploring a variety of essential podcasting skills with some of the leading voices of the audio world are available on the Audio Lab site, from How To Be A Great Interviewer and Different Ways To Tell A Story to Bringing Your Story To Life Through Sound and Tech-ing your podcasts remotely.

Source BBC Sounds

January 24, 2022 4:00am ET by Pressparty  

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