Bespoken Media - podcast production and training

13/10/2025

We’re celebrating big time!

Our BBC Radio 4 documentary ‘A Georgian Polyphonic Feast’ just came 2nd in Europe at the Prix Europa - and we couldn’t be prouder!

Out of 583 submissions for the various prizes from 261 media organisations across the continent, our programme stood out in the Audio Music category, earning a special commendation.

Bespoken’s Carys and Amanda went to Berlin to represent the team, joining other incredible creators to listen, discuss, and vote on the very best in European broadcasting.

We were blown away by the amazing feedback - from Luna Silva’s vibrant, spontaneous presenting style to Joel Cox’s stunning immersive sound design.

Thank you to everyone who made this sonic celebration possible - and to the Prix Europa for this huge honour! Congratulations also to those whose excellent work was shortlisted in the category.

“Joyous, a jewel of a programme” - we’ll take that!!

10/10/2025

We came second!!! More news when I’ve come down off the ceiling 🎉🎉🎉

STRAP IN EVERYONE! 🤯🤯🤯

It is now MERE HOURS until we learn whether we have won Europe’s most prestigious radio award the .

Pictured: our brilliant team representing in Berlin - Carys Wall, .hargreaves.33 and

10/10/2025

STRAP IN EVERYONE! 🤯🤯🤯

It is now MERE HOURS until we learn whether we have won Europe’s most prestigious radio award the .

Pictured: our brilliant team representing in Berlin - Carys Wall, .hargreaves.33 and

10/10/2025

Introducing “A Northerner’s Guide to London” - entirely written, produced and sound designed by Antonia Gospel.

Antonia recently joined Bespoken as part of the Multitrack Audio Producers Fellowship.

It’s brilliant to see - and hear - her work being broadcast on Radio 4. A Northerner’s Guide is a satirical audio fiction in the style of a 1949’s public information film.

Ben, a hapless northerner, has to navigate a make-or-break work trip to London - with unexpected (and hilarious) guidance along the way.

Voice cast: Freddy Bolt (Ben), Antonia Gospel (The Guide), Patrick Wallace, Amy Howard, Matt Bailey, and Nick Bailey.

A Bespoken Media production for BBC Radio 4, commissioned in partnership with Multitrack Audio Producers Fellowship, supporting new talent in audio feature-making.

We’ve been supporting Multitrack ever since Bespoken was first founded in 2020.

The Multitrack Fellowship is a brilliant programme, run by the audio industry volunteers. It’s designed to help people who may face barriers entering audio, based on socioeconomic background, race or disability.

28/06/2025

What a good boy! recording for one of our clients at a dog show today - paw-some work!

13/05/2025

"When I tell you all that went down, it will burn off BOTH of your ears!"

If you're wondering why we've gone all tie-dye...

It's in honour of the late, great Bill Walton - NBA legend, US sport commentator, and massive tie-dye enthusiast.

Bill narrates our upcoming season of Amazing Sport Stories, for the BBC World Service, launching Monday.

In 'Bill Walton's The Grateful Team', Olympic basketball, the Cold War, and legendary US rock band The Grateful Dead COLLIDE in an epic true story:

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It is 1992. The Soviet Union has collapsed, and Lithuania has just regained its independence.

The upcoming Barcelona Olympics could be the new but impoverished nation's chance to prove itself on the world stage.

In the United States, a young Šarūnas Marčiulionis is determined to raise funds to help his country’s basketball team to compete.

He meets unlikely allies - in the members of legendary rock band The Grateful Dead - and embarks on an incredible journey, not just to the Olympic podium, but to both music and sporting history.

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We're sad to say that Bill passed away during production of this series.

We're so grateful to his family for allowing us and the BBC to go ahead and release it posthumously.

Lots of hard work has gone into this one - mostly by producers Jac Phillimore and Carys Wall.

There is also an incredible soundscape across the three episodes - brought to life by audio wizard Joel Cox.

Episode 1 is live on BBC Sounds and podcast players from Monday.

But please download the series trailer now, and SUBSCRIBE and SHARE so both you and those around you you don't miss a thing.

Do that NOW, at the link in the comments. Thanks!

12/05/2025

Coming soon: our team are bringing you the best way to find and support new, independent Scottish podcasts and creators.

What follows is the text of a press release sent out to outlets last week:

We are delighted to announce the launch of 'Made in Scotland', a podcast feed showcasing the best independent podcasts and audio from across Scotland.

The first Made in Scotland series launches Thursday 22nd May. Episodes are released weekly.

Discover new and exciting audio drama, documentary, true crime, poetry, first-person narrative, conversational formats, and sound art.

The Made in Scotland podcast is an initiative from the Scotland Audio Network (SAN), which is managed by Bespoken with support from trade body Audio UK

The Scotland Audio Network supports and encourages collaboration among independent audio makers across Scotland.

Dave Howard, Bespoken Media director and SAN founder, says:

“There are so many creative audio projects being led by fantastic independent producers and companies all over Scotland. We have created Made in Scotland to give these projects and teams the pedestal they deserve. We see this as an important step towards a stronger, more cohesive Scottish independent audio sector.”

Chloe Straw, CEO of industry body AudioUK, says: "We are proud to support the Made in Scotland podcast feed, showcasing the creative and technical expertise of podcast producers and teams based in Scotland. Highlighting and supporting podcast businesses across the UK is an important part of our work, and we’re thrilled to see this initiative from Bespoken Media come to life.”

The first 4 episodes of Made in Scotland will feature:

1: “‘Push and Pull’ – A Journey to Barra and Vatersay by Bike” – from immersive travel podcast Wild For Scotland, produced by Kathi Kamleitner.

2: “Bauhaus Opens Its Doors” – an episode of Bring Again the Now of Then (The Bauhaus in Weimar), written and directed by Kenny Burnham. Bring Again the Now of Then (The Bauhaus in Weimar) is an audio drama series telling the story of the spiritual years of the Bauhaus in Weimar.

3: “Ursula” – an episode of FONDS, produced by Flora Zajicek. FONDS uses people's stories about beloved objects to unravel the untold narratives, passions, and memories that breathe life into the vibrant community of Govanhill, Glasgow.

4: “Jessie” – an episode of Who Is The Cheese Wire Killer?, produced by Ryan Ogilvie. Who Is The Cheese Wire Killer? is a true crime series investigating one of Scotland’s most notorious unsolved murders.

Links in comments - including how to submit your podcast to be showcased in future episodes.

05/05/2025

How was your relationship with your parents when you were younger?

It’s one of the most important and impactful relationships many of us will ever have, but it can be fraught with difficulty and confusion.

Today is a big day for one of Bespoken’s longest standing clients. Launch of series 3 of ‘My Family, Mental Illness … and Me’.

In this one, TV legend shares about her confusing and often chaotic relationship with her mother.

MFMIAM is a community for anyone who grew up with chaotic or mentally unwell parents, created by for the for children of parents with mental illness (or COPMI).

It is hosted by Jenkins whose own life has been shaped by her mum’s severe and enduring mental illness.

Each episode is a sharing of stories - sometimes sad, sometimes funny, always real, always truthful.

As well as the Davina episode *live today*, there are nearly 20 past conversations in the feed - with people like Joe Wicks, Alistair Campbell’s daughter comedian and many others.

We say this a lot - but *particularly* for this one, please share with anyone you think might be interested, or affected by these issues.

LINK: https://pod.fo/e/2d0aab

01/05/2025

“Your work feels like emotion woven into atmosphere.”

“An absolute bloody joy. It makes me so excited about audio’s potential in storytelling.”

“You are a role model for newbies like me.”

Just some of the responses from attendees, as we welcomed multi award-winning maker and artist Axel Kacoutié as April’s Scotland Audio Network Q&A guest.

Axel shared thoughts on making stand-out work for the Guardian, Falling Tree, LBC, and the BBC.

There was wisdom on being authentic and staying true to your art, even while working in big corporate roles.

There were questions about knowing your worth as a freelancer - and making sure you are paid properly for your work.

And of course, there were tips on how to layer and texture sounds, to create properly immersive and beautiful audio storytelling.

Huge thanks to Axel for taking the time - and to Bespoken’s Carys and Katie for organising and running the session.

The Bespoken Team created the Scotland Audio Network for audio people to meet, collaborate, and share.

Give us a follow here on Instagram -

We run free sessions and community socials every month - some virtual like this one, and some in person in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

08/04/2025

Another award shortlist for our mini-series Chasing Mountains!

We produced Chasing Mountains for the BBC World Service 'Amazing Sport Stories' strand.

Today, we learned it's been shortlisted for the AIPS Sport Media Awards - from the International Sports Press Association (AIPS)

Only 15 percent of all submissions (over 2000!) reach this stage so we are pretty chuffed!

It's been a good few months for Chasing Mountains. This award news follows nominations for the Celtic Media Festival Awards, and the international Ondas del Podcast.



Yet more congrats and thanks to everyone involved - co-hosts Joanna Jolly and Kathy Karlo, production team Leeanne Coyle, Carys Wall, and So Jeong Lee, sound designer Joel Cox, exec producer Dave Howard and, from the BBC, Jon Manel and Jonathan Hill.

Of course - it wouldn't be possible to tell this story without the incredible efforts and achievements of the five women at its heart: Edurne Pasaban, Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner, Nives Meroi, Oh Eun-sun, and Go Mi-young.

There's a link to listen to the series in the comments.