A series of personal interviews recorded by teenagers in Dorset
The students from a variety of local schools were attending Bankfest, a festival of words in Weymouth on the south coast of England


Music from the Free Music Archive
Transmissions
Motivational Corporate Yuri Megis

Students from Dorset schools attended Bankfest, a festival of words featuring speakers who use words in their careers. A sports journalist, speech writer, song writer, surgeon, novelist and more.
In the Podium workshops they had the chance to interview each other and give their feedback on the event












Music from the Free Music Archive, Motivational corporate by Yuri Megis

In this episode, we dive into how experiences as a student can shape the way one later teaches.
Ifrah Faheem, a Master’s student at the University of Sussex with a background in working alongside people with Down syndrome in Pakistan, chats with Zahra Halai, now an early preschool teacher for children with Down syndrome in Pakistan. Their conversation blends personal memories and professional insights, as Zahra shares how her own time as a student shapes the way she sees her classroom today, showing how teaching and learning continue to influence and transform one another.

Special thanks to Zahra Halai and Shayan Zafar for their time and support.

KDSP - A Down Syndrome Organisation (KDSP), a non-profit organization, was launched in March 2014 by a group of concerned parents and passionate individuals who due to limited support and resources available in Pakistan, realised a need for a platform for those with Down syndrome. KDSP was formed with the mission to advocate the value, acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome living in Karachi and aims to provide them with the opportunity to lead independent and fulfilling lives. KDSP understands the needs of individuals with Down syndrome and their loved ones and so from the moment a family with a child with Down syndrome is introduced to us, KDSP embarks on a journey with them, until they feel empowered, included and equal members of society. 

 https://www.kdsp.org.pkInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/kdsp_adownsyndromeorganisation?igsh=Zm92OTF3MzlrNnd6 

Credits:Jazz lounge sofa & couch By Music by Lundstroem source - Free Music Archive, License - CC BY 4.0Door opening and closing 1 by JakLocke --https://freesound.org/s/261091/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Interested in sports journalism?  Emile Nuh, Freelance Sports Journalist was a huge inspiration to teenagers at Bankfest 2025 in Weymouth, Dorset

He spoke to Podium producer Camilla Byk after the event about his career

‘We take inspiration from all these well-renowned superstars but sometimes they take inspiration from seeing us as well.’

'My main advice is just do it
I said to someone at the Athletic that I’d love to be a writer and he said ‘what are you writing ? Where’s your blog?’

‘Believe you are a sports journalist, you can never start too early.’

‘You never know if it’s a good idea until you try it it might just need adapting’

‘Thinking less and doing more and just doing it is a massive piece of advice, don’t rule out anything’

‘That one person who sees your work might be someone who knows someone who can get you one opportunity and that opportunity might turn into 2’

'My unique characteristic is my heritage and where I’m from'

'I love that being in this industry I’ve been allowed to actually open up and really show that side'

'I’ve got the confidence to really shout to the rooftops about my heritage and about my background and about my story. And that’s what I love about journalism, it empowers me to tell the story but I also feel that it empowers those who are telling the story on'

What music do you hate (but have never admitted to hating?)
Maya Arkane asks the difficult questions about why people can't stand certain genres and artists and we get to hear the answers, along with some great impressions

Ifrah Faheem discovers the fables behind the unique craft of October, an initiative started by Pragya Aggarwal during her master's at UCL.

'Textiles are more than fabric, they can carry memory, culture, and connections across borders.'  Producer and presenter Ifrah Faheem from Pakistan has completed an internship in the UK with Podium.me and this was a piece she pitched and made.

The podcast was recorded remotely from the Himalayan foothills of Jammu, and features the voices of the young and older craftswomen as they print and create new designs based on old stories.


A huge thanks to October’s team specially Lovepreet, Shivani, and Mehak.

Voiceover credits:
Aiman Nouman
Aiiesha Khalid
Anzal Abbas Jaffari
Khadeeja Mashood

Other credits:

Sewing Machine by Damiana79 -- https://freesound.org/s/765253/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0

Crows and Rooks 3 by Jagadamba -- https://freesound.org/s/222041/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

crow sound by hardwareshaba -- https://freesound.org/s/577870/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Nadia Koch interviews Aurora Sillars about her experience competing in the Ocean Globe Race as the youngest female British competitor. Not only was Aurora the only Gen Z on board, but the race prohibited the use of any modern technology. She opens up about the pressures of being the youngest sailor in the team, the challenges of learning traditional sailing techniques and methods, and reveals how 8 months without technology changed her. 

Amy Hands is a student at Global Academy who pitched this idea to My Podium.  She is fascinated by the current breakdancing scene and chats to Barnaby Wooldridge and Joseph Mann about their firsthand experiences of the competitive breakdancing scene.

Interviews with three US graduates, Anat Gilligan Steinberg, Ely Talbot, and Emily Peña on the challenges of getting hired in America today.

Rachel White is a teacher and journalist currently based in Valencia, Spain. She studied Italian and Spanish at University College London, where she developed a deep interest in education, language, and social justice. She writes in The Window Seat, a Substack newsletter where she shares reflections on culture, activism, and everyday life. Through her work with Podium.me, Rachel aims to shed light on the issues affecting her generation and spark conversations. 

In the final episode of Francesca Maria Lorenzini's series focusing on Italian journalism, she speaks to Carlo Giuliano, 25 and Alessia Passarelli 24 about the art of cinema criticism.

'Cinema is not just cinema, it’s a constellation of many other realities, like music or literature.'


'It’s not just a technological evolution, but also a cultural revolution.'

'The world is my option'

Francesca Maria Lorenzini is the host of this episode covering Italian journalists and their options.

Beyond Borders
With thanks to the following guests for their interviews:
Alessia Balducci, 22
Matilde Pozzato, 23
Tommaso Baronio, 25
Giulia Leo, 24
Elena Gastaldo, 24
Cate Zanardi, 23

In this mini series focusing on Italian journalism, Francesca Maria Lorenzini speaks to:

Andrea Carcuro 24
Delia Cascino 23
Federica Capitani 23


' not being properly taken into consideration is personally frustrating.'

'I’ve always believed that good journalism means a high-quality democracy.'

Francesca Maria Lorenzini is a multimedia reporter based in Amman, specializing in human rights, identity, and social justice, with work spanning the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East.
She graduated from Columbia Journalism School in 2024.

For this series, Francesca talks to young Italian journalists who have each made different choices in order to develop their journalism careers.

Francesca brings a global lens to underreported stories and has guest reported and edited this series of 3 episodes for My Podium.

A Glasgow hospital, a granny, two adult granddaughters and a dog.  Doug the dog is one of the highlights of this energetic and very Scottish drama.

This audio drama is the result of 5 years working with young writers across the UK.  The project was funded by 21st Century Fox and took place in Belfast, Edinburgh, Derby Oxford, London and online. 

All the dramas in this series are written during the time of Covid lockdowns, or soon after the restrictions were changed.  The dramas reflect society and the unusual, stressful, and sometimes bizarre consequences of recent historical events

.Doug the Dog is written by Susan Aitken

Gran - Joan Walker
Doug and security guard - Flynn Hallmann
Lizzie - Julie Maisey
Fiona - Kirsty McKirdy
Sound design - Mat Clark
Director - Laurel Lefkow
Producer Camilla Byk


Susan Aitken is an experienced performer, photographer, facilitator, and community-based artist with a history of working in the performing arts industry. 

Find out more about what we do at Podium.me  www.Podium.me

If you are inspired by this episode, and want to get involved in one of our projects, we’d love to hear from you.  Please see the Podium.me website www.Podium.me for resources you may find useful. You can find further information about us on instagram @podiumdotme
Calling All Young Writers & Documentary Creators

Are you aged 18-25 with a passion for storytelling? Do you have a gripping drama script or a compelling documentary idea that deserves to be heard?

Podium.me, the award-winning podcast platform, is looking for fresh voices to create bold, original audio stories. Whether you're an aspiring playwright, a documentary maker, or just someone with a unique perspective, we want to hear from you.

Drama Writers – Submit a short script (5-15 mins) that works in an audio format.
Documentary Creators – Pitch an idea for an engaging real-life story that needs to be told.

This is your chance to bring your ideas to life and reach a wide audience.

How to apply: Send your script or pitch to camilla.byk@podium.me

Don’t miss this opportunity to make your voice heard

The romance of meeting by the sewage works near the Oxford ringroad is waning during lockdown walks. What will they find to talk about over their picnic this time?

This audio drama is the result of 5 years working with young writers across the UK.  The project was funded by 21st Century Fox and took place in Belfast, Edinburgh, Derby Oxford, London and online. 

All the dramas in this series are written during the time of Covid lockdowns, or soon after the restrictions were changed.  The dramas reflect society and the unusual, stressful, and sometimes bizarre consequences of recent historical events.

Home Brew is written by Katie Sayer

Callum - George Naylor
Mary - Lily Anne Lefkow
Sound design - Mat Clark
Director - Laurel Lefkow
Producer Camilla Byk

Katie Sayer credits:

The Skewer: Three Twisted Years - BBC Television - lead writer.  Love’s A Beach - Soho Theatre - co-writer  The Skewer - BBC Radio 4 - lead writer: series 8 - 11, commissioned writer: series 5-7, additional material writer: series 2-4 (60+ credits) The Naked Week - BBC Radio 4 - writerDead Ringers - BBC Radio 4 - writer.  One Person Found This Helpful - BBC Radio 4 - writer.  Marco Pantani: Death of a Pirate - BBC 5Live - writer, showrunner and producer (10 part series) Pick of the Year 2022 - BBC Radio 4 - POTY Radio Academy 30 Under 30 - 2023 Audio Production Awards - Best Sports Producer - Nominee
As part of the Skewer: 3x Gold ARIAs, 9x NYF Awards, 2x BBC Audio Drama Awards, and a BPA

Find out more about what we do at Podium.me  www.Podium.me

If you are inspired by this episode, and want to get involved in one of our projects, we’d love to hear from you.  Please see the Podium.me website www.Podium.me for resources you may find useful. You can find further information about us on instagram @podiumdotme

Calling All Young Writers & Documentary Creators

Are you aged 18-25 with a passion for storytelling? Do you have a gripping drama script or a compelling documentary idea that deserves to be heard?

Podium.me, the award-winning podcast platform, is looking for fresh voices to create bold, original audio stories. Whether you're an aspiring playwright, a documentary maker, or just someone with a unique perspective, we want to hear from you.

Drama Writers – Submit a short script (5-15 mins) that works in an audio format.
Documentary Creators – Pitch an idea for an engaging real-life story that needs to be told. This is your chance to bring your ideas to life and reach a wide audience.

How to apply: Send your script or pitch to camilla.byk@podium.me

A young couple working on a dairy farm in Derbyshire start to imagine what might be going on in the outside world during lockdown. Complete with a cast of cows and imaginary drama involving long-lost friends.

This audio drama is the result of 5 years working with young writers across the UK.  The project was funded by 21st Century Fox and took place in Belfast, Edinburgh, Derby Oxford, London and online. 

All the dramas in this series are written during the time of Covid lockdowns, or soon after the restrictions were changed.  The dramas reflect society and the unusual, stressful, and sometimes bizarre consequences of recent historical events.

Saving Mel Spencer is written by Simon Marshall

George- Sam Stafford
Dan- George Naylor
Sound design Mat Clark
Director Laurel Lefkow
Producer Camilla Byk

Simon Marshall is a playwright, writing facilitator and dramaturg from Derbyshire, living in Sheffield.  Associate Artist of Derby Theatre, part of initiatives in Derbyshire and South Yorkshire enabling disadvantaged people to explore their creativity.

One such project 'Odyssey' a VR Audio Play with Plus One, went on to win a Stage Award for Digital Project of the Year 2023. My writing and facilitating practice seeks to empower rural and marginalised narratives and LGBTQ+ individuals, and has been informed by collaborating with charities, care-experienced groups and communities local to me.​​

Recent work​​​
Below Decadence (Queer Folio 2023 Commission, Amplify Festival at Nottingham Playhouse October 2024)Follows Sebastian from 'The Tempest' reimagined to a present-day megayacht, in the pursuit of personal gain.The piece is part stand-up comedy, part monologue, performed by Curtis Dunn and directed by Alice Fitzgerald (Purple Snowflakes and Tittywanks, Stage Debut Awards Best Director Nominee 2022). 

Find out more about what we do at Podium.me  www.Podium.me

If you are inspired by this episode, and want to get involved in one of our projects, we’d love to hear from you.  Please see the Podium.me website www.Podium.me for resources you may find useful. You can find further information about us on instagram @podiumdotme


Calling All Young Writers & Documentary Creators

Are you aged 18-25 with a passion for storytelling? Do you have a gripping drama script or a compelling documentary idea that deserves to be heard?

Podium.me, the award-winning podcast platform, is looking for fresh voices to create bold, original audio stories. Whether you're an aspiring playwright, a documentary maker, or just someone with a unique perspective, we want to hear from you.

Drama Writers – Submit a short script (5-15 mins) that works in an audio format.
Documentary Creators – Pitch an idea for an engaging real-life story that needs to be told.

This is your chance to bring your ideas to life and reach a wide audience.

How to apply: Send your script or pitch to camilla.byk@podium.me

Don’t miss this opportunity to make your voice heard

An elderly lady meets a young stranger.  Loneliness and connection across generations is an unexpected outcome of this short drama recorded on location in Folkestone, Kent. 

This audio drama is the result of 5 years working with young writers across the UK.  The project was funded by 21st Century Fox and took place in Belfast, Edinburgh, Derby Oxford, London and online. 

All the dramas in this series are written during the time of Covid lockdowns, or soon after the restrictions were changed.  The dramas reflect society and the unusual, stressful, and sometimes bizarre consequences of recent historical events.

Open is written by Emily Reader

Vanessa - Diane Langford
Mae - Madeleine Leslay
Manager - Oliver Gower
Audio production - David Sharp
Director Cordelia Galloway
Producer Camilla Byk

Emily Reader is a script writer specialising in audio and television. ‘Growing Through Goldsmiths‘. She has was awarded a distinction for her Script Writing MA at Goldsmiths University, and won the Script to Screen Award for the Best UK Short Screenplay at the Kingston International Film Festival, meaning her short film, Swan Song, is being produced to be screened at next year’s festival. She works with Wilkinson Productions Audio as a scriptwriter and associate producer, regularly pitching to the BBC.

Her stage play, Rumours, was performed both in Exeter and at the Inter-University Drama Festival in Glasgow in 2018. In May 2020, she adapted the script into a radio play. She has a portfolio of scripts available for production. Emily’s work has been produced and distributed by Thematic Theatre, Indie-Clips, Eva’s Echo Theatre Company, Ragged Foils, and the Haringey Fringe.Emily has also written for BBC Radio Newsjack. Her scripts have been shortlisted by ‘Owdyado Theatre, Ghostcow Productions, and her work has been read at scratch nights lead by Scriptwriters & Co, Dapper Sandwich, Newsroom Theatre Company, and Lonely Penguin Productions.

Find out more about what we do at Podium.me  www.Podium.me

If you are inspired by this episode, and want to get involved in one of our projects, we’d love to hear from you. 

Please see the Podium.me website www.Podium.me for...

An Irish mother and daughter wait at home with a coffin.  Will the recently lifted lockdown restrictions mean that their friends will come to the wake? Or will they find a football match and the pub more appealing?

This audio drama is the result of 5 years working with young writers across the UK.  The project was funded by 21st Century Fox and took place in Belfast, Edinburgh, Derby Oxford, London and online. 

All the dramas in this series are written during the time of Covid lockdowns, or soon after the restrictions were changed.  The dramas reflect society and the unusual, stressful, and sometimes bizarre consequences of recent historical events.

The Biscuit Tin is written by Ciara Jayne Stagg

Dympna - Joan Walker
Cara - Avena Mansergh-Wallace
Sound design Mat Clark
Director Laurel Lefkow
Producer Camilla Byk

Ciara Jayne Stagg is a Dublin-based writer, focused on theatre and short fiction. Her plays include Landlines (Fishamble's New Play Clinic, 2020) and Hardhat (Brian Friel Theatre, 2016). Her short stories Say When and Lollipop Yellow were published in Shorter Stories Ireland (2022). She is currently developing Ctrl+Alt+Grieve, a new play exploring loss in the digital age.

Find out more about what we do at Podium.me  www.Podium.me

If you are inspired by this episode, and want to get involved in one of our projects, we’d love to hear from you.  Please see the Podium.me website www.Podium.me for resources you may find useful. You can find further information about us on instagram @podiumdotme



Calling All Young Writers & Documentary Creators
Are you aged 18-25 with a passion for storytelling? Do you have a gripping drama script or a compelling documentary idea that deserves to be heard?
Podium.me, the award-winning podcast platform, is looking for fresh voices to create bold, original audio stories. Whether you're an aspiring playwright, a documentary maker, or just someone with a unique perspective, we want to hear from you.

Drama Writers – Submit a short script (5-15 mins) that works in an audio format.

Documentary Creators – Pitch an idea for an engaging real-life story that needs to be told.
This is your chance to bring your ideas to life and reach a wide audience.

How to apply: Send your script or pitch to camilla.byk@podium.me

Don’t miss this opportunity to make your voice heard